www.clownflower.com

“I'm just a person with an interesting job and an interesting family,” she said.

Eventually, however, she admitted that she's really half-clown and half-human.

How did it happen? Once upon a time, Violet was a banker.

“But when I became pregnant I was like, I'm going home, I'm going to stay home with my kids,” she said. “Being Violet gives me that opportunity.”

She was just looking for a job that would allow her to be home with her children during the week. One day, the clowning world came and knocked on her door.

“I went to the phone book and I called a clown and asked her if she would come to my daughter's birthday party,” Violet recalled. “And I talked about what she did, and I thought, 'I'm definitely cut out for this.'”

The clown told Violet it was a shame that she couldn't attend the Shriner's Clown College in town that weekend because she wasn't a Shriner or a Shriner's wife.

“And I really thought, 'No one tells me I can't do anything',” said Violet. “So I called all the hotels and found the one that had the clown convention, and I said, 'Can I speak to the president of that organization, please?' ”

Violet finally convinced him to let her participate, and she drove to the convention with two daughters through a snowstorm in a rickety old minivan. She sewed her own first costume.

“Being a clown has changed my life,” Violet said. “This has just been the best solution.”

In the years since, all five of Violet's children have attended clown college.

“It's parties, pretty much,” said Violet's daughter, Arianna. “They teach you how to walk into walls and not hurt yourself.”

Violet has found her niche in working with children six years old and younger.

“I do silly stuff where the kids know what's going on and I don't,” she said.

“Clowns have a reputation for being sort of fumbly and making mistakes. What I try to do is always make the kids the ones who make (the magic trick) happen, so I'm still in my character of not getting anything right, I mess up things, I mess up their ages intentionally.”

According to Violet, children of that age love knowing more than a grown-up, especially a grown-up with a bright red nose.

“Are you married?” Violet asked a five-year-old-girl.

“No,” the child solemnly responded.

The kids at the Birthday Wishes event kept coming back when their balloons popped from being played with too vigorously. Violet never encouraged the children to be careful with her creations.

“My primary goal as a clown is nurturing and loving. I always try to make the kids feel very important and make sure everybody gets eye contact, name recognition, and respect,” she said.

“Being a kid isn't easy. Sometimes kids struggle with some very difficult things. I love to just make the kids feel good. Making people laugh is my favorite thing.”

Even the youngest children seemed less frightened of Violet than they did the other strangers present in the gymnasium, perhaps due to the warmth of Violet's personality. Or maybe it's her outfit.

“I'm a mommy clown,” Violet emphasized. “That's why I don't wear gloves. I tell the kids, see my hands? I'm just like your mom; I'm just a little different. I never want them to be scared.”

Violet the Clown has a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee, but no one has ever asked for his or her money back.

“I'm very lucky. Repeat business is probably the biggest part of my business, so that right there is a huge compliment.”

Violet's most ambitious addition to her bag of tricks is called Teddy Town, which is something of a misnomer, as children can choose, stuff, and accessorize anything from a unicorn to an elephant to a frog.

“We bring everything to you,” said Violet. “So it's all about convenience and affordability. And the kids love it.”

What is the secret behind all of Violet's magic?

“I can't tell you that,” she said.