Meet Melissa

I’m Melissa Hickman — a designer, writer, and lifelong creative. Shadeflower Studios began in 2008 as a way to blend my roles as a mom and a maker, creating meaningful design work while raising a family.

What started as a custom wedding stationery shop has since blossomed into a full-service design studio helping small businesses and nonprofits bring their visions to life through thoughtful branding and websites.

Before launching my studio, I earned a degree in Mass Communication from Winona State and began my career in radio, television, and publishing. As Managing Editor of Carolina Bride magazine, I fell in love with layout and design — the magic of words and visuals working in harmony.

I specialize in working with passionate people: indie authors, nonprofits, artists, educators, herbalists, and everyday dreamers. My aesthetic leans nature-inspired — textured, bold, and a bit magical — shaped by my connection to plant wisdom, folklore, and the unseen threads that tie art, spirit, and story together.

I’m also proud to give back which is why I created The Giving Garden initiative, in which I donate a third of my working hours to design projects that help communities grow — including my children’s school, a children’s cancer nonprofit, a neighborhood garden club, and other community-based projects.

Outside of design, I hold a cottage license to create small-batch herbal teas and botanical gifts using plants I grow and forage myself. I’m also an intuitive Reiki practitioner and Tarot reader.

When I’m not designing, you’ll find me painting, hand-embroidering, canning tomatoes, or exploring the country in our RV with my husband and our three kids.