The Boutique Next Door: Daisy Lane

Nestled in the quiet community of Park View, Iowa, Daisy Lane is more than just a boutique—it’s a celebration of creativity, community, and small-town charm. At 606 Parkview Drive, passersby are drawn to the inviting storefront showcasing whimsical garden décor, cozy handmade gifts, and locally crafted treasures. But behind the cheerful atmosphere is Michelle Praught, the boutique's founder, who poured her passion for community and handmade goods into every corner of the store.

Q: What inspired you to start Daisy Lane? 

Michelle's journey to opening Daisy Lane began across the river, where she and a friend, Eddie, co-owned a shop on the Illinois side. But when a spot opened in her hometown of Eldridge, the idea of bringing her vision closer to home was too good to pass up.

“This opportunity came up in the North Scott area,” Michelle recalls. “I live in Eldridge, so it just made sense to move the shop here. That’s how Daisy Lane came to be.”

Q: How long has Daisy Lane been open?

“Next month will be three and a half years,” Michelle shared, a proud smile crossing her face.

Q: Is there a meaning behind the name Daisy Lane? 

Despite the frequent curiosity, the name "Daisy Lane" doesn’t carry a deep backstory. “Everyone asks that,” she says with a smile. “I just love daisies. When we were tossing around names, that one came up and stuck.”

Q: How do you select items and contact local makers? 

“Most of the vendors find us through Facebook or local craft shows I participate in,” she explains. “It’s a lot of local networking.” She’s careful not to overcrowd the boutique with too many similar items. “The shop isn’t huge, so I try to keep it diverse. I just go with what I find cute, interesting, or useful for customers.”

Today, Daisy Lane features the work of over 20 local makers—22, to be exact. From crochet animals and graphic tees to baby gifts and home décor, each item is hand-selected by Michelle with intention.

Michelle describes her customer base as “mostly moms and grandmas,” but she beams while mentioning her younger clientele: “There are a lot of little girls who come in with their moms and call me their best friend.”

Popular items shift with the seasons, but handmade children’s items—like hooded towels and bibs—are always in demand. Lately, one item has stood out above the rest: quirky, colorful garden bugs made from recycled materials.

“They’ve been a huge hit,” Michelle says, gesturing toward the front window where they’re displayed. “They’re so unique—upcycled jars and bottles turned into these adorable little creatures. You won’t find them anywhere else.”

Although her days are mostly filled with managing the shop, Michelle still creates some of the graphic apparel designs sold in-store. “It’s dwindled a bit since I’ve been busier running things,” she admits, “but it’s something I still enjoy doing.”

Q: What sets Daisy Lane apart from other boutiques?

Walking into Daisy Lane feels like stepping into a treasure trove of carefully chosen items that speak to all kinds of shoppers—from young girls and moms to home décor lovers and local sports fans. Michelle Praught, the shop’s owner, takes pride in the boutique’s unique variety.

“I’d say it’s our variety that really sets us apart,” she says. “There’s something for everyone—from the little girls who come in for what I call ‘Taylor Swift bracelets’—those colorful friendship ones—to boutique clothing and even some high-end home décor.”

Recently, Michelle brought in something new that’s already turning heads: clear purses designed for large sporting events. “A maker just brought in some clear North Scott and Iowa bags that are perfect for stadiums. They’re super cute and have been a big hit with a younger crowd.”

Q: How important is supporting local makers to Daisy Lane?

Supporting local is not just a preference—it’s the heart of Daisy Lane’s business model.

“Pretty much the whole shop is local,” Michelle says. “We do have a small section in the back that’s a hobby for Eddie and me—Target liquidation pallets—but 95% of what we carry is handmade by local vendors.”

Michelle describes the shop as a curated, physical version of a local Etsy feed. “All the makers set their own prices. You’ll usually find things more affordable than on Etsy because there are no shipping costs and it’s all local. It’s super important to me to help them get their goods out into the world.”

Q: How has the community supported Daisy Lane?

With over 25 years of living in the Eldridge area, Michelle has deep roots in the North Scott community—and that connection shows.

“I’ve known a lot of people out here for a long time, and they’ve definitely helped,” she shares. “The North Scott Chamber shares our posts, and the local library just reached out because of our farmers market. I also have a lot of local women who support the shop—they’ll share our Facebook posts and thank me for having the shop here. That support means a lot.”

Facebook, Michelle notes, has become a vital tool for connection and outreach. “That’s where we market a lot. And people really get on board. It feels like a shared effort.”

Q: Did you start the North Scott Farmers Market?

As it turns out—yes, Michelle was the driving force behind the North Scott Farmers Market held in Park View during the summer months.

“I’m always looking for ways to build awareness for the shop, and the market was one of those ideas,” she explains. “One of the girls who sells her items here also lives in Park View and manages the market, so she helped me get it going. We’re actually going to do it again this year—people have already started asking about it.”

Unlike larger markets in Davenport or the Freight House, Michelle wanted the North Scott market to feel low-key and community-centered. “That’s why we do it on Tuesdays. You can’t compete with the big ones, but you can catch people on their way home from work, keep it convenient.”

The market will take place on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, from 4:00 to 6:30 PM, running from June through September. Michelle is also working on bringing in food trucks to add to the atmosphere, as they’ve been a popular addition in the past.

Q: Can you tell me more about your craft classes?

“We offer lots of different classes—canvas painting, chunky hand-knit blankets, cookie decorating, even crochet classes,” Michelle says, motioning toward the workspace. “It’s been a fun way to get people involved in something hands-on.”

The classes tend to draw a mix of repeat visitors and new faces. “Some of the same ladies come in every time. It’s like their little outing,” she smiles. “It’s definitely building a small community.”

The boutique advertises its classes through Facebook and on its website, where guests can register. While the schedule slows down during the busy summer months, Michelle says fall is the prime season for crafting.

“Fall is when we pick things back up. Everyone’s looking for something to do indoors, and the vibe just fits. That’s when we really see it take off again.”

Q: Do you have a specific favorite event or memory that you’ve had so far with Daisy Lane?

Michelle didn’t hesitate before answering. “Well, we just had a really fun bus trip,” she said, smiling. “We’ve done two now. I don’t know if you saw it when you were looking online, but I rented a bus and there were 32 of us ladies who went out on a Saturday.”

The group started their day at Daisy Lane before heading to downtown Geneseo and LeClaire, visiting other small businesses and restaurants along the way. “It was so fun,” Michelle said. “We laughed so much. It was just getting all of the women who support the shop and love to support small businesses, and we just took that love to other communities. That was a really fun day. I loved that day.”

She also talked about another community-focused event: winter Bunco nights. “We did Bunco through the winter too—it ended in March. I think we started it in October. There were 16 ladies,” she said. “It’s like an old lady dice game,” she joked, laughing. “Don’t laugh—but it’s fun!” They’d gather at Daisy Lane, each bringing a dish to share. “It was just getting together, you know? That’s all. And having fun.”

Q: What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a small business owner?

“Oof—that’s a good question,” Michelle said. “I would say probably just getting the advertising, getting the word out. Because I mean, advertising’s not cheap, and small businesses don’t have a big budget for that stuff.” She explained that even after three and a half years in the Park View location, she still meets customers who had no idea the shop was there. “People live right here in Park View and still haven’t heard of us, because you know, day-to-day life, you’ve got your blinders on.”

She said the challenge is really just exposure—bringing in new customers so that “everybody does better.”

Q: How has the business evolved since you opened?

“It’s grown a lot,” Michelle said. “We’ve had to push back—so we started out, see up there, where that line is across the ceiling?” She pointed to a spot in the shop. “There used to be a curtain there. The shop only went that far. And now we’ve added more display pieces, more makers, more classes.”

She said the growth has been exciting and even surprising at times. “When I first looked at this building, I remember thinking, ‘I’m never going to fill this thing.’ And now I’m busting at the seams,” she laughed. “Some of that is just me being crazy and getting into pallet stuff as a hobby—but still!”

From startng in a small shop in Silvis, Illionois with around 15 makers, the business has since evoleved to encompass an entire builidng with work from over 20 local makers.

Q: Do you have any other social media besides Facebook?

Michelle laughed at the question. “I have Instagram and TikTok,” she said, “but I’m gonna show my age here. I post on Instagram, but I don’t get a lot of feedback. I don’t feel like I get a lot of engagement.” 

Michelle continued to say that she would be interested in high school volunteers who wanted to help with her social media, saying, "That would be awesome."

Q: Are there any future plans or expansions you're working on for Daisy Lane?

Michelle lit up at the question. “I always have lots in my head,” she said with a grin. “Not necessarily with the maker side, but I would love to open up a liquidation side—like a whole store just for that.”

She laughed and added, “I keep telling my landlord I want the guy next door to move out, so I can expand Daisy Lane all the way back.”

But that’s not all. “I just bought another store in town,” she said casually. “It’s called Christmas Cottage. You’ve probably never heard of it—it only opens ten days in November.”

The shop, located near Texas Roadhouse in the old Neckers building, is a seasonal retail event that’s been around for 47 years. “It’s like this store on steroids,” she explained. “A lot of it is Christmas, but also gifts, because people are shopping for the holidays. It pushes everybody to come out because it’s only open for ten days.”

She’s hoping to use the popularity of the Christmas Cottage to grow Daisy Lane as well. “Like maybe ‘Christmas Cottage by Daisy Lane’ or something. I haven’t figured it out yet, but I want people who find us there to follow us out here.”

As for the liquidation store idea, Michelle said it would likely be a joint venture with her friend. “It just works out better having help,” she said. They’ve already started branding it: “We have a Facebook group, and we call it ‘Crazy Daisy Deals.’ So that’s probably what we’d name it. It’s connected to Daisy Lane—but not obviously.”

Q: What do you love most about running Daisy Lane?. 

Michelle smiled and reflected for a moment before answering. “That’s a good question. Probably just being my own boss and being flexible, for the most part, that’s what I would say. And just meeting the people that come in. I’ve met a lot of cool people being up here that I didn’t know beforehand.”

Q: Have you always wanted to own a boutique?

“Yeah,” Michelle replied enthusiastically. “I can go back probably to like when I was maybe even your age, knowing I wanted to own a store." When asked if she had owned any other stores before Daisy Lane, Michelle replied, “No, just the one that Eddie and I co-owned. Yeah, no others.”

Q: For someone who’s never visited Daisy Lane before, how would you describe the store to advertise it to them?

Michelle described Daisy Lane as a “lifestyle boutique” that offers a variety of items. “I usually say that it’s like a lifestyle boutique, meaning it kind of has everything—from home décor, clothing, food items, knickknacks... made by local artisans and crafters, sewers, growers,” she said. She added with a laugh, “We have tomato plants. That’s what I was with the lady who was here—one of our makers gardens and she brought in starter tomato plants. You can get it all here. You can have it all here at one stop.”

Park View's Hub of Creativity

Daisy Lane is a vibrant part of the Park View community, where owner Michelle Praught’s passion for handmade goods and local connection fills every corner. Featuring over 20 local artisans and events like the North Scott Farmers Market and craft classes, the boutique is more than a store—it’s a hub of creativity and community. With plans to expand and a strong commitment to supporting small businesses, Daisy Lane continues to grow while offering a one-of-a-kind shopping experience.

Be sure to follow Daisy Lane on Facebook for updates on upcoming events—a permanent jewelry pop-up is happening May 10, and a sidewalk sale is set for May 3!