Our Story
Nestled in the heart of downtown Lake Charles, it has been a pleasure to provide beautifully curated designs to brides for the past 15 years. We pride ourselves In offering you the best experience while walking you through one of the most exciting times in your life. Thank you for allowing us to get to know you.
Here is a little about us.
Photos by Malise Gardiner and September Company
Sara
The Smith behind PaperSmith is Sara Schindler Smith. Her home is a quaint brick cottage in Lake Charles' Charpentier District, with her Cock-a-poo, Harley. Harley can be often be found relaxing at the foot of her computer chair or greeting guests who come by the store. She's been a decorator, children's clothing designer, event planner, & mutli-media artist. She enjoys traveling, especially with her children, good food, & a good project, most of all. She is always interested in the little things, loves taking the ordinary and making it special, & adding a thoughtful touch.
Emily
Emily Self is the stylist at PaperSmith. She is a wife, mom, & creator, sharing Sara’s love for the little things. PaperSmith allows her to focus on those fine details as she get to know each client’s vision. A feeling of lightness & tranquility rush over her each time she steps into this space & her hope is for each client to have that same feeling when they choose papersmith for their paper goods to celebrate life’s special moments.
Cyndi
Mother of four and grandmother of six, Cyndi loves spending time with her family. Married to Casey, the youngest of nine kids, her family always has plenty going on! She’s always on the hunt for a good project, and is ready to tackle even the most daunting. Cyndi is an accomplished artist, working with various styles and mediums. She’s well known for her painted and gold leafed wine glasses, which are quite collectable! She enjoys working in her yard, and taking trips to beach with friends and family. This is her second go-round as a shop girl, and PaperSmith is thrilled to have her back.
The Story of La Grenouille
When Sara would visit her grandmother in Gueydan as a child, she always loved watching and finding little rain frogs. Her grandmother told her they were “grenouilles” which is French for Frog. Over the years she found herself being drawn to things with frogs and often for them as gifts. it kind of became her thing. She has a variety of art and jewelry featuring frogs. When opening her first paper studio she knew immediately it would be perfect and meaningful to name it “la grenouille” which is what it was until changing it to PaperSmith & Co. She decided to keep the frog even after changing the name. Now the frog’s little foot print reminds us of leaving a stamp or mark behind, which is something we aim for in everything we do.