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Lauren grew up on the SC coast, moving to the upstate to attend Clemson University for graphic communications…and then changed her major to Language and International Trade…and then changed it again eventually earned a degree in Communications with a minor in Advertising.
Having used all three of those study areas and garnering experience in small business, the service industry, non-profit and international manufacturing, she has loved most and learned from all experiences. The Olive Shoe, a serving dish given to the artist by her grandmother, inspired a side hustle that has now become Lauren’s full time gig.
“I have always been passionate about art and design, beginning by painting with watercolor and drawing with pastels in early childhood, pursuing my blossoming interest in graphic design as early as middle and high school on serving both newspaper and yearbook staffs and freelancing for several local business owners”. The Olive Shoe began as a blog, a creative outlet after a particularly adverse time in the artists life. She then created a baby shower invitation for a friend, then a wedding suite for another friend, then some notecards for another…and people just kept asking. So she kept creating. She used what she had learned in other positions and industries to build a small business, and in March of 2019, she left her corporate position of nearly a decade at lunch on a Friday afternoon. Her ribbon cutting at The Olive Shoe Paperie and Goods was at 3 PM that same afternoon. In 2018, she produced over 18,000 pieces of stationery and has worked with 300+ clients over the last five years.
A self-proclaimed “creativity crusader”, Lauren believes everyone has the ability to be creative. She enjoys watercolor painting, dabbling in acrylic and other mediums, and graphic design. She loves supporting small businesses and co-hosts the “Pink Door Podcast” with her landlord and fellow small business owner, Stephanie Irby, owner of Smoore.Designs.
She is an active member of First Presbyterian Church, and enjoys serving her local community through the Junior League of Anderson County, the Anderson Arts Center, and United Way. No “About” section would be complete without also mentioning her marriage to the love of her life, Van James, as well as her love for hostessing – especially family and ‘framily’ gatherings, cheering on her Clemson tigers, and getting into DIY projects at home.
blog.theoliveshoe.com 
Art is to you as breathing is to others…so thrilled to see you share your creative spirit!
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Thanks Mom! Love you!
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So happy for you, so proud of the strong women that you’ve become, so fortunate to be included in your family of friends. I look forward to watching you follow your dream. You go Girl!!! Luv ya, Donna
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Thank you Mrs. Donna! Love back!
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A few things to add to the biography:
– Lauren has always been artistically inclined, and her creativity has always stood in abundance. Even as a youngster, she contributed to the family landscaping business by illustrating the company logo on wooden signs to perfection so that her father could market his business while on job sites. Her brother (speaking) was envious that he couldn’t contribute to her caliber and quality.
– She was an integral member of a national award-winning yearbook staff in middle school.
– One of her earliest artistic ventures was scrapbooking. However, “scrap” was hardly an appropriate descriptor of her work. From the photography to the construction, they were unparalleled. They perfectly encapsulated and shared a moment in time, immortalizing the memorable moments she chose to depict. They were, in a word, priceless.
– On a more personal note, she introduced me to photography, my current career, and empowered me with confidence and limitless creativity by example. If it were not for her, I can confidently say neither my career or my passion for creativity would be as fervent; one could present a feasible argument they may not even exist.
Lauren’s creativity is limitless, both in capability and application. From canvases to kitchens, from quotes to coats, from cities to songs, she has an incredible aesthetic and an undeniable impulse to immerse herself in all the things that shape and influence the local, national and global culture. The only things she loves more than tantalizing her own figurative and literal palettes? Contributing to the experience – and sharing it with others!
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You made me misty! Love you Drewski.
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Lauren is so-o-o talented and we are so proud of her. But, indeed, we have a right to be prejudiced. And, as you know, sweetie pie, we love you. /s/ Grandpa and Grandma Mense in Myrtle Beach.
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