Special Feature
Janey Carter of Jasper, Ala. was just 17 years old when she was involved in a car accident that changed her life. “I dislocated my skull from my spine and damaged my spinal cord,” Carter says. The car accident left her “paralyzed from the neck down.”
Carter shares she always loved to paint. After her accident, “I had to learn how to be creative in a new way,” she says. Thanks to technology, she can continue to use her gift to create greeting cards. Carter’s business, Paper by Janey, came to be during the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2020. “Stores were closed, and we couldn’t go shopping,” Carter recalls, adding, “I wanted to make something people could give their moms for Mother’s Day.” Paper by Janey has grown tremendously since! “In 2020 and 2021 combined, I had a total of less than 300 orders on my website. In 2022, I had almost 3,000!” In just the two first months of 2023, she received 2,600 orders! Her heart behind each card is to bring happiness to every person who receives a Paper by Janey card. “I hope my cards bring a smile to each person that receives one,” Carter says.
Stop by Cottontail’s Village on March 3-5 at the BJCC to meet Carter and browse her selection of cards. “I will have cards for Easter, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day. There will also be birthday cards, notepads, and more,” she says. “Most of my business is online, so I love to be a part of Cottontail’s Village because I enjoy meeting new people.”
In addition to Paper by Janey, Cottontail’s Village will welcome over 200 vendors from across the United States. Products you can expect to find include arts, crafts, clothing food, and more. Shop March 3-4 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and March 5 from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. For more details, visit www.cottontailsfestival.com.
-Melissa Armstrong
