Explore every episode of Paper Talk
| Pub. Date | Title | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 May 2019 | Episode 1: Crafting from the Heart with Wendy Middaugh | 00:24:57 | |
In our very first podcast, we are featuring the wonderful Wendy Middaugh of WJM Paper Floral Designs. We met Wendy at our Masterclass in Seattle this past spring and was so impressed by her art and personality. Wendy resides just southwest of the Twin Cities in Minnesota, U.S.A. She’s been making paper flowers for about 1.5 years, picking up the craft via YouTube tutorials. She currently works full time as a lab technician, however, you can find her making paper flowers all the time and selling them via her website, WJM Paper Floral Designs. She’s also got an Instagram presence, sharing her craft with her followers under @wjmpaperfloraldesigns. Listen to Wendy as she talks with Quynh, Jessie, and Priscilla, about her paper flowers, her growing business, and her paper flower journey, on the PAPER TALK PODCAST. In addition to our chat with Wendy on Paper Talk, are some of the things that Wendy told us about her paper flowers, her business, and her overall philosophy regarding self-investment and the paper flower industry: Let’s first get to know Wendy! 1. Where do you get your inspiration from? Mostly from looking at fresh flowers and photographs of floral arrangements on Pinterest. I love artists from the late 19th century like Renoir and Manet. 2. How would you describe your paper flowers and/or aesthetic? I try to be on the realistic side. I’m still crafting my aesthetic but like the airier arrangements with soft edges. 3. What do you love about making paper flowers? Seeing the happiness it brings into people’s lives. My business slogan is “Crafted from my heart to yours” and I really mean that. 4. What advice would you give to new paper flower artists? Don’t undervalue yourself! I’m struggling with that too. 5. What’s your favorite tool and/or material to use? I would be lost without my wooden handled scribe tool. I utilize both ends depending on what I’m doing. Also, I work almost exclusively with “washed” doublette. I’m always trying new ways to blend the colours for a more natural look. 6. What’s your favorite flower to make? I don’t have one. But if I could make a David Austin rose, that would be my favorite! 7. What’s one thing you want people to know about paper flowers or the paper florist industry? That it is not a cheap substitute for fresh flowers! 8. How did you decide to invest in your business, WJM Paper Floral Designs? It started with The Paper Florists Masterclass. From there, I’ve been working with a branding consultant, which is a fun process because I get to be the client! I am going to an all-day intensive workshop on how to use Instagram to build a business. It includes an audit of my page. I never thought I would have a need for social media as I am not a picture taker nor social. I also found several associations and groups for wedding and event professionals and creatives that I want to be involved in. I witnessed and learned at the Masterclass that it takes hard work and perseverance to be successful in business. It’s not like opening a car wash where people know what it is and what to expect. The paper florist has to find their clients and make them realize they need our services. The hardest part of that for me is putting myself out there and meeting new people. I am going to a Meet and Greet arranged specifically for wedding and event professionals. This is not something I naturally feel comfortable with, but I know I have to do it to move ahead. I want to show myself the investments paid off! THANK YOU Wendy for sharing your wonderful story with us. We look forward to following along with you as your artistry and business grow. | |||
| 06 Jun 2019 | Episode 4: Providing Color Solutions with Jodi Duncan | 00:29:13 | |
In this podcast, we are in conversation with Jodi Duncan of Design Master. Design Master is a company that provides colour solutions to the fresh floral industry. Internationally, they are associated with Oasis-Smithers. Jodi herself has years of experience as a fresh floral designer and she is very well known in the fresh floral industry. Her knowledge about the colour products is astounding. At the 2019 Masterclass, she demonstrated how to use Design Master products on both fresh and paper flowers. We love using Design Master spray paints because they come in a wide spectrum of colours, are light weight enough to sit on top of the crepe papers, and dry in a few seconds, so we are excited to hear from Jodi that our paper flower community is now on Design Master’s radar.
Listen to Jodi as she talks with Quynh, Jessie, and Priscilla, about her involvement in Design Master and how she believes her products can help our community.
Let’s get to know Jodi and Design Master first: 1. We know that Design Master has been around a long time. Can you tell us the history and how you got involved with Design Master? Mark Addison created DM. The idea was born around a kitchen table in 1961. Mark was an art-loving accountant who saw a need and an opportunity and Design Master was born. He is very much retired but he is still active and can be found around our headquarters in Boulder, Colorado from time to time. Design Master was born to serve florists who needed colors that were unavailable. In 1961 distribution looked much different than it does today. Design Master was born as a color solution and remains so today across multiple diverse surfaces. We create color for the floral artistic community. Attributes of our products include: Multi-surface. Fast-drying. We work with chemists to develop our formulas and our Color Tool formula was the original. Our founder Mark was passionate about education and we are still to this day very much interested in supporting color education for artists in multiple mediums. I started doing stage demonstrations and hands-on classes for Design Master in 2008. I was a fierce floral competition designer and won many regional, state, and national titles. That put me on their radar so they began to ask me to travel and teach and do programs for them nationwide. I began to develop relationships with the great team at Design Master and they found out I was more than just a designer & speaker, but also could help with marketing, social media, and product development. So it was & is an evolution. Now I have a retainer contract with them and I’m on board for all kinds of creative color endeavors with the fantastic team at Design Master.
We have basic common sense info on the can as well as our website, dmcolor.com. Ventilation. Don’t spray around the flame. Common sense. Check the label. Non toxic when dry. The application part needs attention. There are certain ways we use ALL tools. For instance, don’t run with scissors!
3. Any precautions we need to be aware of and how to store the spray paints? Just avoid temperature extremes. Nothing above 120degrees. It lasts 20-30 years in the can so it does not get old...just shake vigorously.
4. You have so many beautiful colors of spray paints and tints and we want to know if you have a plan to expand your color line? Yes, they will be released in July! We are so excited to show you the new trends in colour that we have been working on bringing to the market. Gretchen and I are very aware of the color trends and hyper aware of what is happening with color and how it develops as well as consumer responses to color.
5. Are there any colors that you are retiring? We have several colors that are still available but retiring. Coral Bell and Platinum are about to go away. Modern Metals is also about to disappear, as is Cherry Wood Tone. Aspen Yellow is going, to be replaced with a new yellow. Almond and Terra Cotta are also being retired and replaced with fresher versions. Fashion does not stay the same and neither does the color world!
6. Also, is there a spray that will help us preserve the colors over a long period of time? We are looking into that with our team of chemists.
7. We love that you support the Paper Flower Community so much by highlighting so many amazing paper florists’ works via Instagram and Facebook. If a paper artist wanted to get a feature on your IG and Facebook feed - what’s the best way to tag you to get noticed? Just tag us and give us permission to share the posts and projects. We love user-generated content! Bring it ON! Send us a DM or just tag us.
8. What other ways does Design Master support the community? Our ways of supporting the paper community are as fresh as the community itself. We underwrite many educational endeavors and workshops for paper florists and look forward to being a part of the growth of paper florists. We are always excited to develop relationships with distributors to get our cans in your talented hands. We are always at Creativation and showed paper floral in our booth and had a tremendous response in January.
9. What are some questions that you might have for the paper florist community? What are the avenues of growth you see for your products? Home decor? Nursery? Commercial displays? Weddings? Other directions on the horizon? Do most paper florists operate with tax license? Or as an enthusiast?
10. What are some things that you would like people to know about Design Master that we haven’t already covered? Our emphasis is about color on surfaces. We are not just an aerosol. We are not just hardware store paint. We are of diverse color. And we are color education.
11. Finally, where can we find your products? We have a diverse distribution channel that serves the consumer market with Michaels, AC Moore, Ben Franklin, and regional craft chains. We have on our website different options for places to purchase online. If you have a TAX id license you can buy professionally at floral wholesalers across the country.
Here is Jodi’s Ted Talk on Flower Powered: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zD15Jst02xo
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| 30 May 2019 | Episode 3: How We Got Started with Quynh, Jessie & Priscilla | 00:21:34 | |
In this week’s podcast, we have a frank chat over coffee about how we each started our paper flower journeys. Although we all have a similar passion for making paper flowers, we each took it up at different points in our lives and for all together different reasons. I think how we got started also shaped our business model and approach to paper flower making. We each faced a turning point where we could decide to do nothing and continue our lives as they were, or decide to do something and pursue that new path - our passion. We each ultimately chose to change the trajectory of our lives, and in this episode, we discuss the reasons why we did it and how we made our life-changing choice.
You can view more of our work by following each of us on social media: Quynh Nguyen, Pink and Posey Website: www.pinkandposey.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/pinkandposey
Jessie Chui, Crafted to Bloom Website: www.craftedtobloom.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/jessieatcraftedtobloom
Priscilla Park, Sophia, and Rose Collective Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SophiaandRoseCo Instagram: www.instagram.com/sophiaandrosecollective | |||
| 23 May 2019 | Episode 2: Chatting With the Crepe Paper King with Mike Benson | 00:27:23 | |
In our second podcast, we are chatting it up with the king of crepe paper (at least on this side of the ocean), Mike Benson of Carte Fini. Carte Fini is based in San Diego, California and it is an online distributor of Cartotecnica Rossi Italian crepe paper and ships worldwide. We first met Mike at the 2019 Masterclass in Monroe, Washington, where he generously sponsored part of our swag bag for the attendees. He even enthusiastically participated in paper flower making for the first time (and did a darn good job!). Mike is an ardent supporter of our craft and has made it his mission to work with our community to promote emerging and established artists alike.
Listen to Mike as he talks with Quynh, Jessie, and Priscilla, about his entry into the paper flower industry, his involvement with artists, and his take on the growth of the crepe paper community in the PAPER TALK PODCAST. In our second podcast, we are chatting it up with the king of crepe paper (at least on this side of the ocean), Mike Benson of Carte Fini. Carte Fini is based in San Diego, California and it is an online distributor of Cartotecnica Rossi Italian crepe paper and ships worldwide. We first met Mike at the 2019 Masterclass in Monroe, Washington, where he generously sponsored part of our swag bag for the attendees. He even enthusiastically participated in paper flower making for the first time (and did a darn good job!). Mike is an ardent supporter of our craft and has made it his mission to work with our community to promote emerging and established artists alike.
Listen to Mike as he talks with Quynh, Jessie, and Priscilla, about his entry into the paper flower industry, his involvement with artists, and his take on the growth of the crepe paper community in the PAPER TALK PODCAST.
In addition to having a candid conversation with us, Mike was kind enough to address our pointed questions offline: 1. Can you tell us how Carte Fini first began and how long have you been in business now? Our company has been in business since 2008. I first began Carte Fini after acquiring the inventory and original business plan from a friend that decided to exit their business for personal reasons. The “original” business strategy focused on fresh flower florists as an alternative wrapping to the traditional and popular tissue paper. However, we quickly learned that it was the crafting community that embraced this sturdy, stretchable and high-quality crepe paper…. this continues to be the primary and growing mark.
2. Let’s talk about your paper. What types of crepe paper do you carry and where can people buy your crepe paper? Carte Fini specializes in the finest quality Italian-made crepe paper. Our supplier has always been Cartotecnica Rossi that has manufactured their product in Arsiero Italy since 1878. Currently, we offer the very popular heavy-weight 180 gram, 140 gram water-resistant, and lighter-weight 60-gram crepe papers.
3. You have so many beautiful colors of crepe paper and we want to know if you have a plan to expand your color line - is there any color that you are retiring? With very few exceptions, Carte Fini carries ALL of the colors that our supplier offers in the weights described. In the last couple of years, Cartotecnica Rossi has been busy adding additional colors on a seasonal basis that we readily include in our own offering. We have no plans on retiring any of the colors that we offer as long as they are relevant to our customers.
4. What’s your relationship with Cartotecnica Rossi? Cartotecnica Rossi has been our supplier and partner since the beginning. We are happy to be their primary distributor and seller in the United States!
5. Now that the paper florist industry is getting more popular and more people are starting to sell paper, how does Carte Fini stand out and stay at the head of the crepe paper industry? Any tips for paper florists facing similar situations as our industry grows the field gets a bit more crowded? It is wonderful that we are seeing the paper florist industry growing at such a robust pace. Carte Fini is proud to have been one of the early players and sources for the kind of materials that these talented crafters and artists are seeking for their creations. Our intention is to continue to be the most relevant and useful source of products, inspiration, and support for our existing and new customers. As for the many paper artists that are currently working in this industry and those that may be just be starting out, we’ve always found that you will succeed by emphasizing your own, singular value. For paper florists, everyone's creations are uniquely their own and that distinction alone will set them apart. And, of course, providing the best customer service possible will build a strong reputation and referral base well into the future.
6. We love that you support the Paper Flower Community so much by highlighting so many amazing paper florists’ works every day via Instagram and on your website. If a paper artist wanted to get a feature on your IG - what’s the best way to tag you to get noticed? The best way is to tag us in your post as well as to use the hashtag #cartefini or #cartefinicrepepaper - However, since a lot of people are doing that already, reaching out via Instagram Direct Message would be your best option. We are always happy to help support any of the great artists via social channels and love discovering new talent.
7. What are other ways that Carte Fini supports artists? From the very beginning, we have always teamed up and worked with artists. For example, our relationship with Tiffanie Turner actually goes back 8+ years and we are so proud and happy to see how far she has come with her business and art! As many of you may know, Tiffanie has actually helped design and curate her own collections of colors that are extremely popular! We also recently started working more with new artists. Each collaboration is unique and different. We encourage paper artists to reach out to us if they are interested in working with us. There is almost always some way to collaborate and we are always open to new ideas. We are also currently in the process of developing an artist profile feature on our website. If that sounds interesting, please reach out directly to me at mike@cartefini.com.
8. What are some questions that you might have for the paper florist community? We would love to know what they want more of? And if there is anything we could improve - we are always open to constructive feedback and comments.
If you weren’t aware of it already, for customers that live in the continental US, you get FREE shipping for 8+ rolls! Also, be on the lookout for new segments on our website that will include regular Artist Profiles, Listings for upcoming workshops throughout the United States (and the world!), and more DIY tutorials!
We will continue to support our customers with the products, informational content, and inspiration that they are most interested in. At the same time, we will strive to encourage new and existing artists, crafters, and anyone that seeks to become part of this creative and supportive community! | |||
| 27 Jun 2019 | Episode 7: Let’s Talk Shop with Kelly Grace Gibbons, Susan Bonn & Jessa Parker | 00:27:01 | |
Today we are chatting with three talented Paper Florists, Kelly Grace Gibbons, Susan Bonn, and Jessa Parker, about their businesses and honing their craft! All three lovely ladies were at the Masterclass in the spring so it was incredibly nice to come together again and hear their stories.
Get to know Susan Bonn’s paper flower journey:
Get to know Jessa Parker’s paper flower journey:
Get to know Kelly Grace’s paper flower journey:
You can learn more about each of these creative ladies on their social media platforms: Susan Bonn, Susan Bonn Designs (website/Instagram) Jessa Parker, 14keys_design (Instagram) | |||
| 20 Jun 2019 | Episode 6: The Etiquette for Sharing on Social Media with Quynh, Jessie & Priscilla | 00:14:07 | |
In this week’s episode of Paper Talk, we discuss the proper etiquette for sharing photos on social media and what to do when you are not properly credited. This can be a bit of a hot topic for some people who aren’t familiar with the ins and outs of social media and don’t understand why it’s not ok to share a photo that isn’t theirs without permission. Many of us have been in a situation where someone takes one of our photos, something we worked very hard to create and uses it for their own purposes without properly crediting. This can be so frustrating! Our hope is that our talk will help clear up any confusion and provide clear steps to take when this does happen or if you’re someone who is unsure if you can use a photo that doesn’t belong to you. | |||
| 12 Jun 2019 | Episode 5: Building Your Own Creative Brand with Margie Keates | 00:33:24 | |
In this Episode, we are chatting with the beautiful and lovely Margie Keates of The Lovely Ave! We met Margie at the Masterclass and we immediately became smitten with her down-to-earth character and bubbly personality (yes - she really is as friendly and fun as she appears online!)
Listen to Margie as she talks with Quynh, Jessie, and Priscilla, about her business, her “house”, and her new studio space. Margie is such a well-spring of information for paper florists and had some great insights to share with us!
Check out what she has to say about branding, style, and persevering. Per Margie: I found my branding style with the help of a brand specialist. I reached out to her about a month after a started Instagram because I knew that I needed help with my logo and how I wanted to present this new company. She helped me get all of my ideas out and then she sifted through what she felt would look best over time. I call these the "walls of my business". My foundation is my why and my branding was the structural beams that needed to be built so that I could continue to grow. The branding helped me stay focused and allowed me to grow inside my "house" without straying too far outside my brand. This created consistency and helped my brand become more recognizable. My brand has of course evolved as I have evolved as an artist. This evolution comes from pushing yourself to try new techniques and try new ideas. This only happens when you truly figure out the direction you want to take, however, that is not as easy as it sounds. It took me two years to realize that I didn’t want to be in the wedding industry and that I wanted to focus on home decor. I still struggle with that choice since we do still offer wedding options through our site. In the end, you have to focus on what makes you happiest, and learning how to say no is super important. As you can see, I am still trying to take my own advice but I believe in baby steps and not making decisions too quickly.
The struggle I am currently facing is being forced into a new studio space since our old Pickle building was sold. We found a new studio, however, it is almost double the cost of what we are used to paying. This obviously makes it harder to just create for fun (which is how I believe new ideas and new styles come about) and makes your days all about how to make more money. This is going to be something I will truly have to work on and make sure that I don’t lose sight of what is truly important, my why.
3. How have you made your paper flower voice stand out in the crowd? One word: CONSISTENCY. I knew from the very start that it was important that I created something every day and then I would share my work on a regular basis. This helped make me a better artist but also helped with my brand recognition. I also made a point to stop comparing my work to other amazing artists. I know, I know...that is so much easier said than done, but truly, you have to stop. Your work is already unique because YOU made it. Keep creating and your own quirks and style will become more apparent and that is how you will be recognized. Consistency with your way of doing things and not comparing yourself to others who may be on a different level than you are. The perfect example is my anemones. They don’t like realistic... far from it, and I have tried to change them multiple times. But every time I do, I realize that my new and more realistic anemone looks like everyone else's and it just gets lost. So stay true to yourself and put those blinders on! I do want to make it clear that you can grow as an artist and gain better skills and still keep your style so don’t be afraid to grow as an artist because your style will always follow.
My customer base is the person who wants something lovely in their home that will start a conversation or spread joy to others. They want to gift our flowers because they know the joy they felt when they saw our blooms for the first time and they want to share that joy. Our customers are everyday consumers who are excited to find something new and share it with their friends and family.
5. How did you narrow down your ideal customer when you were starting out? Honestly, I didn’t. I tried every avenue and did almost every project. I didn’t know what made me truly happy so I just took every job. I recommend doing this for at least your first year. It's almost like trying on a wedding dress. You may think you know what silhouette you want, but you try on every type because it turns out a mermaid shape is actually very constricting and how are you supposed to drop it low on the dance floor if you cant move?! It's the same when you're trying to find what your ideal customer is. You really can only find out when you take an order of every type and see how it makes YOU feel. You're going to be doing this job for a very long time, might as well make sure you absolutely love every aspect of it!
6. What advice would you give to a paper florist that is starting out today? And one that is about to give up? My advice is actually for both scenarios. I want to remind them how important they are to this community, to this art form, and to the world. They are creating something magical with their hands, how amazing is that?! Stay in that powerful thought and let it empower you. If you're just starting out, remember that your flowers will not be perfect, but they will be yours and that is huge. Also, nature isn’t perfect so you're already doing something right, GET IT BOO!! Remember to create something every day, even if you don’t have orders. This will allow you to practice your craft while also allowing potential clients to see what you are capable of. OH and one last thing: COMPARISON IS THE THIEF OF JOY, hunny, don’t let others' work sway you from being you. If you're about to give up, please reach out for help. Its okay to admit that this job is crazy hard and that sometimes, maybe all of the time, it feels like you're not going to make it. Please know that we have all felt this way in one form or the other. Talk to your fellow paper florist, get some feedback on your work, and maybe just take a break...but please don’t give up. Your work is needed in this world and you started this journey for a reason. Reflect on that reason/your why and keep pushing. We are all here for you!
7. Do you have any paper flower-making tips to share with our listeners? PUT DOWN THOSE TUTORIALS. I know, I get it, I like following the rules too. But trust me, when you make your first flower from scratch you will realize how powerful your hands and mind truly are. This is so important as an artist and as a human being. Learn what techniques you can from other florists but in the end, your hands are your own, and I for one what to see what you can do with them! Create just for yourself and show the world!
8. What would you say is your signature flower? It’s a three-way tie between my wild garden rose, my classic peony, and now my peony bombs.
9. Tell us about your subscription service! When I first started this business I knew I wanted to have a subscription service. After doing this job for 3 years, I realized that my original thought of having bundles of blooms shipped out would be too hard. It wasn’t until my close friend suggested I think smaller and only start off with one flower a month. Its been a wonderful 6 months where I have learned SO much about myself but also about my clients. I cannot wait to see where this will take me as an artist and also where it will take my tiny little company.
10. How adding a subscription service has changed your business? It has provided me with consistent income and work. This is HUGE in an online world, especially in a market where we are creating everlasting blooms that make it hard to retain customers. This service brings in a cash flow that we haven’t seen before and that is helpful in multiple ways. However, it also brings a little bit of headache. No matter what, we are shipping anywhere from 50-150 orders a month. That is A LOT. Its been a struggle to keep up with inventory, packing materials, and what is truly important: creating for just me. So even though it helped my company be more financially stable, it's also tricky to keep everything else balanced. Talk to me in 6 months and we will see if we have survived! | |||
| 11 Jul 2019 | Episode 9: How to Conduct a Bridal Consultation Quynh, Jessie & Priscilla | 00:20:11 | |
Join us this week as we discuss how we consult with potential clients/brides that approach us for unique commissions. Each of us has varying but extensive experience with wedding inquiries, so we often get questions about how we go about communicating with our clients, what issues to address and confirm during our communications from the initial contact to delivery, and what questions to ask so you don’t get burned. We all approach our consultations slightly differently, but we all agree that there are a number of topics that must be part of the discussion early on. We hope that our frank conversation in this Episode of Paper Talk will enlighten anyone who has to speak with a client - any type of client - about a commission or sale. | |||
| 16 Jul 2019 | Episode 10: Drawing Inspiration Close to Home with Stine Evenson | 00:24:19 | |
This week, we get to know Stine Evensen, the artist behind the IG account, @tabletakes! With only watercolour paper and paint, Stine is able to create these wonderfully intricate wildflowers and common flowers that she sees every day around her surroundings. Her IG account is filled with bright and beautifully photographed images of her creations. She was a bit of a mystery to us as she seldom (if ever) shares much of her personal self on social media so it was a joy to finally meet her face to face (albeit virtually) and get a chance to hear her talk about herself and her art.
Read and listen to Stine as she talks with Quynh, Jessie, and Priscilla, about her process, her inspiration, and her art.
Let’s get to know Stine a little bit first: 1. Stine, tell us a bit about your paper flower business. I make wildflowers based on plants I find growing freely in my neighborhood. If I’m traveling, I photograph plants and make them later. If someone needs a specific flower, I love making that too, and I even enjoy coming up with the occasional fictional flower.
2. How would you describe your paper flowers and/or your aesthetic? The flowers I make are made from watercolor paper and watercolors. Give me some floral tape and some metal tread - and I would have no idea what to do with it! I really like Tiffany Turner’s book and to see what crepe paper- or other paper florists do, but I’ve never followed a tutorial. I like to come up with my own ways. Just like with cooking. It means we sometimes eat failed food, but usually, it works out fine. I also have fun with expanding the field a little, for example by making lichen growing on small paper stones; they are simple, everyday objects that feel magical when you look closely.
3. What do you find the most challenging and rewarding about having a paper flower business? What I love most is how this practice has put me in contact with all these fantastic makers and flower lovers out there. The continuous search for new flowers has also made me feel at home in my own city. Now I know all these hidden corners of green treasures. Designing standardized objects and approaching markets outside of my circle of friends and family is challenging. Working with the display is also not a favorite thing of mine, but I make a lot of self-standing flowers- and stone objects. They can sit on their own on a desk or a shelf.
Work from real models whenever you can, even when realism isn’t your main goal. It’s such a rewarding task to highlight our immediate, natural environment.
5. What’s one tool you unexpectedly fell in love with and now use regularly? What I like most is that I have so few tools needed. All I use can fit in a small box. That said, they are usually spread out in a big mess.
Want to learn more about Stine? Follow her on her Instagram @tabletakes to continue to see her amazing paper botanical art. | |||
| 04 Jul 2019 | Episode 8: Staying True to Yourself with Lynn Dolan | 00:28:40 | |
Today, we are in conversation with the amazing and always thoughtful, Lynn Dolan. Lynn started her paper flower journey nearly 7 years ago and before long, she was teaching how to make paper flowers and botanicals at Castle in the Air. She currently teaches workshops at Etui (Fall workshop schedule forthcoming).
Be sure to listen to Lynn as she talks with Quynh, Jessie, and Priscilla, about her art and inspiration.
Lynn has been around the block for a while now so it’s no surprise that she’s got tons of useful insight into the paper flower art form and why she does what she does: Let’s first learn a bit about Lynn: 1. Who is Lynn Dolan? I'm an ordinary person in love with the world and the different types of humans in it - and especially in love with the natural world. It blows my mind that there is so much going on, just on our little blue planet, that an entire lifetime is not enough for anyone to become acquainted with all of it. Not being an expert at any particular thing myself, I'm grateful for and really admire experts - scientists, naturalists, writers, painters, craftsmen, musicians, cooks, etc. I would like to keep learning from others as I continue to "grow up". In my daily life, I'm also a mom to a young teen who doesn't quite "get" my plant fascination, but is pretty patient about my projects and corny "mom humor". I was also supposed to have been a nurse by now, but I took a little detour until my son is a little older.
2. How did you find your branding style? How has your brand and style evolved to what it is today? This is a tricky question - I don't see myself as having a "brand". I'd like certain freedom to evolve and indulge in whatever project interests me at any given moment - even if it's not "popular". I'm not obsessed with realism, but I aim to be respectful of whatever it is that makes a type of flower/plant what it "IS". So, a certain level of detail is important to me, but you're going to see it through my eyes and hands. I am influenced by old paintings and botanical illustrations - especially Persian and renaissance depictions of plant life. Not a lot of it is "realistic", but you definitely know what it is that you are looking at, and it is quite graceful and the works have a unique finger-print to them. I keep all of my old work in my IG gallery -- you can scroll all the way down to the first post to some of my "dorkier" stuff and see the 'evolution' of my paper art. a lot of "halfway-done' projects are there too! If you need a short answer - you could say my brand is: Plant portraits!
3. What are some of the challenges you've faced during your paper florist career? The number one challenge: Simply explaining to others WHAT it is that I do. I think people hear the words, "paper flowers", and immediately picture something 'cutesy' or 'crafty' in a quick, simple way. I'm still reluctant to call myself an artist -- it's okay to feel like I am something in between a "crafter" and an "artist'. However, I STILL get a lot of inquiries for projects, collabs, commissions and there's a pattern: "You are so talented, your work is beautiful - blah -blah" - "Can you make (some absurd number of thing) for (an absurdly low cost) in an (absurdly short time frame)" - I used to see the disappointment /balking at my reply coming and try to come up with a defense/explanation of my work because I understood that they equated crepe paper with "quick, easy and cheap". I usually would not even get a reply back. Now, I just give my rate, turn-around time, and a simple, "thank you for your interest" and let it go. I'm not emotionally invested in those interactions anymore. A lot of people still misunderstand what it is that I am doing and approach our work with some weird notions about its value -- in a way they would not other art using paper as a medium. I also long ago decided not to work in the wedding industry (although I think there is a healthy market for our craft in it!) because it didn't allow me to do the type of work that is personally gratifying to me.
4. How have you made your paper flower voice stand out in the crowd? I just do my own thing - I don't know that I stand out?? Some things strike a chord with others and some of my favorites are only my favorites! I know some makers feel anxiety if they feel their work isn't received in a way they'd like - I choose to see a kind of freedom in it - no one owes me a "like" and I don't owe anyone any content! I confess to getting a little bored of seeing the same things over and over sometimes - but I totally understand that there are certain flowers with wide appeal and that there is definitely an arc that people follow when they first get into this particular craft with certain "gateway flowers" - I did too! I'm happy when I see more people putting their own twist to the work and I'm working at being better at showing my appreciation when coming across subjects or work that is original.
5. How would you define your customer base? For the most part, they are plant and natural history lovers, and lovers of botanical art in particular. They love objects, display pieces - and things that have an element of a 'joke' to them (hence, the boxes). They are fantastic entertainers, love a beautiful table, and are also great gift-givers. Usually, my commissions have a personal reference to them - a certain plant or something done in an unusual color - in honor of a loved one or memory. I make sure my clients understand that this material is not archival quality - so they are ready to embrace the fading of the paper or any of the changes this medium undergoes over a period of time. My clients are very cool in that they "get" that!
6. What advice would you give to a paper florist that is starting out today? And one that is about to give up? Oh, this is heavy --- I am aware that I am doing this for different reasons than many paper flower crafters. I KNOW that I would continue to do this even if no one else cared. I claim ownership of my work as something I ultimately do for my own pleasure and am truly grateful that I am able to indulge in it as much as I am able to these days. I am grateful to have been able to connect with others who share the same spirit. I think you really have to sit down with yourself and examine (actually write down) what are the material and emotional returns you are wanting to get out of doing this thing? What sacrifices are you willing to make for those goals? If any of it sounds cringe-y to you afterward, alter your course. I think there are actually many who get into this "scene" with the same attitude as some of my would-be clients - "OOH! pretty, fast, cheap, paper!" - and it shows in their work. This has made me a kind of a snob when it comes to e-commerce sites like Etsy, because I see the pages flooded with work that I actually think is underpriced for the amount of time/effort that has gone into pieces - not to mention, customers who can't tell the difference between a detailed piece and the productions stuff because it's "all just paper". IF YOU PRICE YOUR WORK TOO LOW, OTHERS WILL NOT SEE VALUE IN WHAT YOU DO NOT VALUE - AND you bring down the value entire market really. Incidentally, Instagram amplifies that need for instant gratification by implying that you need to quickly cultivate a market or audience and do those weird "engagement growth" tactics, etc. I've been doing this paper thing on IG long before a lot of bigger accounts came on the scene. I saw the switch from personal/social accounts to marketing a business on quite a few - they'd be better to ask for business advice. I made a deliberate choice to keep a low-tech social approach to my own account. I'm on here to make real friends! I am an observer by nature - and I did notice people talk about negative feelings associated with work comparisons, the pressure to be innovative or "keep up", getting approval from others, and the struggle associated with hustling 'to make it' to a business goal. I saw others who turned to marketing aggressively with their accounts and then they just kind of "dropped out" altogether - which felt inauthentic and merely transactional, but to each his own! Why are you giving up? Did you have clear goals realistic from the beginning? Did you place some unrealistic time frame on your goals? More importantly, are those goals rooted in business or in art? Did you imagine a potential for "easy" income? Is this something you are ultimately doing for personal development? Are you merely following a trend? Do you know that trends come and go? Would you STILL do this thing if no one else cared?? If you really do LIKE what you are doing, you will be more fearless about it and the right language to describe your work will come naturally to you. In the end, I enjoy this art/craft. The process is therapeutic and I find joy in the act of making these things. It gets me out of doors and using my eyes in new ways. That there are people willing to pay me for the results is merely a bonus - I'm happy that they understand the basis of what I do and that they are sympathetic! I'm not making income hand over fist, just enough to feed my passions! The only solid business advice I have is from personal experience. You are not obligated to please people. It is OKAY (and sometimes beneficial) to say NO to projects and other requests. Respect your work pace and make room for being a well-rounded human being - or it will show in your work. I firmly believe in not becoming a mere 'producer'. This is why I turn down most production work - but that's just me. I realised how unhappy and bored I was making too many of one thing at a time - and then the entire lot of that work was never really appreciated by the client anyway. I'm anti hustle!
I think this applies mostly to beginners --- there is a tendency to be too precious with the paper. Ironically, "It's just paper!" does apply in this case, when you are looking at the paper in its raw state, NOT post-transformation as your finished work. Experiment! Try coloring techniques on scraps. Look at colors as "base colors" not as the final color you are aiming for, and see potential new color palettes open up to you. Don't be heavy-handed with the glue or the coloring tools, it's always better to have to add more of those than try to mitigate a soggy over-saturated mess. Then, there's the more philosophical advice: Invest in the process - SLOW DOWN. Ask yourself questions as you look at your work in progress. "Is it the right silhouette? Are the petal margins really this perfect? Do I notice certain patterns or 'behaviors' in the real thing? Avoid making clones of things (that's actually just my pet peeve - WHY would you want 5 roses that are EXACTLY alike in a bouquet?) Use Google images as a great resource tool - lookup botanical prints and macro images of your subject matter. I think 75% of my work is observation and choosing colors.
8. Do you have a favorite tool you use on a daily basis? I LOVE using wooden skewers to curl leaves, petals, thin wire. I also use them to score surfaces, poke holes, make textures in paper clay, etc. So simple, yet so useful! I also try to make my class projects accessible so that you don't feel like you MUST buy a ton of sprays, coloring tools, etc. You can really use a bunch of things that are on hand at home if you don't get yourself hung up on another person's techniques. I'm constantly having to improvise - mostly because I have chaotic (translate: BAD) habits! The quality of your scissors is non-negotiable though! You will work more efficiently and save wear and tear on your joints, if you decide that you want to make a lot of things, by investing in the right pair of high-quality scissors!
Want to learn more about Lynn? Follow her on her Instagram @lmdolan75 to keep admiring her beautiful paper flowers. | |||
| 01 Aug 2019 | Episode 12: Teaching what You Love with Amity Libby | 00:24:38 | |
Some of you may not be aware, but Amity Libby of Flower and Jane (formerly Florabeane) was highly involved in The Paper Florist Collective when the idea of organizing an international community of paper florists was in its infancy. At the time, she was known by her maiden name, Amity Beane. Now, she’s more focused on her family and spreading the word of paper floristry in another way and by doing what she does best - teaching. She has built a successful business through her online courses (and fresh flower farming) while living in a small town in Maine.
Listen to Amity as she talks with Quynh, Jessie, and Priscilla, about her recent elopement, her comfort in going Live, and her ambitions to live in Portugal.
Let’s first get to know Amity a bit: 1. Who is Amity Beane/Libby and how did you discover paper floristry? My name is Amity Libby. Now, as I got married in May, mom of one, Maine-based global citizen! I discovered this lovely art via the Design Sponge Instagram feed. I fell in love with all the featured artists and soon ordered my own paper to play with! I was about four months pregnant when I started and it was a wonderful way to spend that time.
2. How did you find your branding style? How has your brand and style evolved to what it is today? I’ve been playing with branding styles since I started my first business in the seventh grade (Ami-Tees, tie-dyed shirts). It’s always been fun for me to think of names, slogans, and what fonts go with what. I’m a bit of a style stickler, years of teaching yearbook. I studied book arts in college, at UMaine Machias, and even owned my own Kelsey Excelsior press at one point. When it came to Florabeane, I wanted my brand to be strong, minimal, and natural. I’m toying with a change of name this year to recognize I’m no longer the Beane in Florabeane. I’m also not just a paper florist. My flower farm grows year by year!
3. What are some of the challenges you've faced during your paper florist career? Well, there are certainly many things others have helped me overcome. Tiffanie Turner was instrumental in encouraging me to get work into a gallery and kind of coached me through the process last year. It was a challenge for me to take that step and she helped! Finding space and time to work are challenges for me. I’ve been so so fortunate to have the support of patrons through my studio subscription. I was able to rent a church last year and this year I’m in a tiny room but it’s all mine and has air conditioning. And now we have daycare! My daughter has a wonderful daycare she attends that allows me to actually work in long spurts of time.
4. How have you made your paper flower voice stand out in the crowd? Teaching others is the way people get to know me and my work. I think creative people gravitate towards my coloration processes and all my little hacks for doing things, developed because I never had enough time before when my daughter was a baby. People remark on the realism of my paper sculptures. That’s always been my goal.
5. How would you define your customer base? I have two types of customers. Those that collect beautiful things and those that make beautiful things. My collectors have a clear profile. They are all go-getters who purchase my work to elevate their own environments or businesses. My makers are a little different. They are eager to learn, and they are visual learners. They want to see it and do it!! Often they come to the craft for a special occasion (like a wedding or a party) and they get hooked. There are more men involved - yes, guys make flowers and good ones! And I have a huge diversity of nationalities who learn from me which makes me so happy. It feels like we are one big global group of makers. My biggest joy is hearing from a maker that something I shared with them allowed them to have a breakthrough. That right there motivates me. I just had an artist message me that she had a very successful weekend of sales. She said it had everything to do with the confidence she had gained after taking my master class. I mean, does it get any better to hear that?
6. What advice would you give to a paper florist that is starting out today? And one that is about to give up? If you are just starting out, remember to make twelve of a thing to really get the knack for it. Don’t make one rose, make twelve. You’ll see such a difference by the end. As for one about to give up? Hey, sometimes you need to pivot. You’re not giving up your creativity, you’re just putting down the scissors for a spell. Be still, and make room for the new things coming your way. It’s okay to quit.
7. Do you have any paper flower making tips to share with our listeners? Use a stapler to keep paper in place when you batch cut. Use a baking sheet to cut and organize your projects. It keeps things tidy and you can stack them. To really sculpt petals, use a painter’s paddle to smear the thinnest layer of glue over the petals and wait for it to tack up before manipulation into a final shape. And above all else ventilate your workspace and take care when using colorants.
8. What would you say is your signature flower? I just love seeing the ranunculus from Pure Romance Studio Florabeane out in the world. I see it and instantly recognize it as my design. I can’t say that about all of my other flowers, a rose looks like a rose, so let’s say the ranunculus is it!
9. Do you have a favorite tool you use on a daily basis? My brain. It helps me know when to say no and when to say yes. My heart would have me say yes to everything. But I trust and love my brain and it comes up with some great ideas in this business.
10. Anything else that you’d like us to know about you? I’d love to know from your listeners what they would like to learn more about - feedback, it’s so important!
Want to learn more about Amity? Follow her on her social media: WEBSITE | www.flowerandjane.com INSTAGRAM | @flowerandjane | |||
| 08 Aug 2019 | Episode 13: Reviving Crepe Paper Art with Lia Griffith | 00:19:24 | |
It’s nearly impossible to make paper flowers and not have heard of Lia Griffith, the internationally renowned designer, educator, and author. When we started our crepe paper flower journeys years ago, Lia’s lifestyle website was one of the few that provided paper flower tutorials for crepe paper. As a leader of the craft industry, Lia’s business model has evolved to a subscription model to provide consistently amazing handmade craft projects for “a handcrafted lifestyle”. She’s partnered with some big brands such as Joann’s and Cricut; she has a line of her own craft tools with Fiskars; and she has her own line of crepe papers, frosted tissue papers, paper flower kits. In addition to creative projects, Lia’s team consistently pumps out easy, quick, and beautiful paper flower tutorials for beginners and ultimately provides a popular “gateway” into paper flower art for many crafters and artists. From her studio in Portland, Oregon, Lia’s goal is to teach and help others “find joy in crafting and reopen the door to their creative soul.” Lia’s first paper flower book, “Crepe Paper Flowers: A Beginner’s Guide to Making and Arranging Beautiful Blooms” is now available for sale on her website and on Amazon.
Listen to Lia as she talks with Quynh, Jessie, and Priscilla, about Lia Griffith and her goal to “handcraft your life”!
You can learn more about Lia and her team by following them on Instagram at @liagriffith, and their website: www.liagriffth.com. | |||
| 25 Jul 2019 | Episode 11: Uncommon Paper Flowers with Kate Alarcon | 00:19:07 | |
Most of you know Kate Alarcon’s work through her IG account, @cobralilyshop, and her unique paper flower tutorials on Design*Sponge. This week, we are sitting with our friend to discuss her art and her forthcoming paper flower book, Uncommon Paper Flowers: Extraordinary Botanicals and How to Create Them, now available for purchase and to be released October 15, 2019.
Listen to Kate as she talks with Quynh, Jessie, and Priscilla, about her paper flower art and her book.
Let’s get to know Kate a little bit first: 1. Who is Kate Alarcon? I'm a paper artist, plant geek, and mom/dog mom.
2. What are some of the challenges you've faced during your paper florist career? Besides some intense health stuff in the last few years, the challenges for me are probably the challenges we all face. On the business side of things, it's tough not knowing what's coming down the pike: what opportunities will arise that I feel I can't turn down but will require me to drop everything so I can do an impossible amount of work for outcomes I can't fully predict in advance? (I bet most of us have had the experience of turning our lives upside down to do a project that falls through or barely gets promoted.) How much money is coming in this month (how many pieces will sell? how full will the workshop be?) What's my forecast for the next year? The next five years? Will the paper flower trend eventually start to wane, and what will I do then? On the creative side of things, Instagram is a blessing and a curse. I love the way it connects us and has allowed us to build a community of paper flower artists. It’s been the single biggest factor in helping me establish myself as a flower maker. And I find the process of posting work and getting immediate, measurable feedback very motivating, but at the same time, it's hard not to work specifically toward numbers of likes and comments. I think doing that makes it harder to develop a very specific voice and easier to get discouraged when something doesn't "hit." More than once, I've felt excited to explore a new idea, posted a pic of my progress, got crickets, and then (unwisely) scrapped the idea. But honestly, that stuff pales in comparison to the pressure of seeing so much unbelievable work just pour out of my phone every single time I check Instagram. Sometimes it feels like all the ideas have been taken, everyone's better than me, and there just isn't room for or need for my work. I can tell myself all day long that every artist has something unique to offer and I shouldn't compare myself to others, but that pressure and anxiety is real, and it can be really hard to shake.
3. How have you made your paper flower voice stand out in the crowd? I think the things that made me stand out initially were topic (unusual plants) and range - I did cacti, succulents, mushrooms, carnivorous plants, fish, etc. I also have a kind of in-betweeny style that is realistic-ish but also stylized. My flowers are a little bit stripped down to the main idea rather than hyper-realistic.
4. How would you define your customer base? I'd say they're women from their twenties to their sixties who are serious about doing something lovely for themselves. It gives me so much joy to be a part of that. One of my favorite types of customers is the retiree who has spent her whole life juggling stuff and taking care of everyone, and now it's her turn to enjoy the interests and passions that have been on the back burner. That lady deserves an awesome workshop. There are so many pressures on women not to take time for themselves. To teach someone who has broken through all that (whether we’re talking about childcare or eldercare responsibilities, work crunches, social anxiety, etc, etc.) is an honor. I take that very seriously.
5. What advice would you give to a paper florist that is starting out today? Enjoy the beginning! Hitting my first hundred followers was every bit if not more exciting than hitting 10k. Getting a like from a flower maker I looked up to. Getting my first repost, getting my first order. Don't wait to feel like a serious, established flower maker before you can be proud of yourself and savor what you've accomplished. In the beginning, there’s a lot more freedom to make whatever you want, and that is precious and will likely diminish over time as you start needing to make specific flowers for specific jobs.
6. And one that is about to give up? I feel really strongly about this: it's ok to quit! Making the decision to quit can be harder and braver than hanging in there when something is not working. It's ok to walk away and try something brand new - maybe paper flowers have helped you build skills and self-knowledge that will set you up for your next big adventure. But there can also be different levels of quitting - do you need to quit wholesaling? Teaching in person? Posting to Instagram? Trying to rely on your business for a full-time income? Trying to make money at this at all? Are there parts you still like? Is there a way to nurture that without hanging on to every part of running a paper florist business? What if you took a break and just sort of sat with the question? Let's be real, trying to do any kind of handmade business involves some serious downsides - working alone a lot of the time, not knowing what your income is going to be, having projects and supplies and equipment all over your living space, worrying about hurting your hands, often terrible hours, the kind of feast and famine thing that happens with creative businesses that makes work/life balance tough, a broader cultural attitude that we should happily work for free for "exposure," not having employer-provided health insurance or retirement plan, not having a clear path to advancement. I wish we could talk about that stuff more honestly rather than squelching it with "don't quit your daydreams"-style boosterism. But sometimes the desire to quit can be a passing mood that’s tied up with insecurity and discouragement. When I feel like the world does not need my art, and I should just stop because it isn't a good fit any more blah blah blah, I try to ask myself whether I would be feeling all this if I had a REALLY good day on Instagram. You know those days where everyone gets what you were trying to do right away and is blown away and happy for you and the likes just keep rolling in? Usually, the answer is, if I had a day like that, I’d be in a completely different headspace. I’d feel happy with my work and confident as an artist. That helps me see the bigger picture a little better.
7. Do you have any paper flower making tips to share with our listeners? If you use a bone folder and a ruler to score crepe across the grain and then fold along that score line, you get a nice crisp fold. I discovered that while making a cactus, and it has served me well!
8. Do you have a favorite tool you use on a daily basis? I love my awl!
Kate’s book, Uncommon Paper Flowers: Extraordinary Botanicals and How to Craft Them, is now on sale! | |||
| 22 Aug 2019 | Episode 14: How to Run a Workshop with Quynh, Jessie & Priscilla | 00:35:48 | |
Join us this week as Quynh, Jessie, and Priscilla talk about their passion: Hosting workshops around the world! After the success of the Seattle Masterclass in April 2019, it became obviously clear that there is a growing interest in the art of paper flowers and more importantly, an interest in how WE made OUR paper flowers! As a result, we quickly began to plan our next workshop and paper flower retreat. The culmination of all of our efforts is this Fall’s 2-Day Paper Flower Workshop in Toronto on September 14th and 15th. We have worked incredibly hard to jam-pack the curriculum to include our favourite skills and techniques that we have learned and evolved over the course of our paper flower journey. Listen to us as we talk about how we plan and run our workshops.
You can learn more about us and our work by following each of us on social media: Quynh https://www.instagram.com/pinkandposey/ | |||
| 29 Aug 2019 | Episode 16: When to Say Goodbye with Quynh, Jessie & Priscilla | 00:20:18 | |
Join us this week as Quynh and Jessie say goodbye to their friend and confidante, Priscilla, as she embarks on a new path in September. In this touching Episode, Priscilla explains why she’s decided to move on from her wildly successful paper flower business, when she knew it was time, and what she intends to do next. The paper flower community will miss you dearly Priscilla!!!
You can learn more about us and our work by following each of us on social media: Quynh https://www.instagram.com/pinkandposey/ | |||
| 23 Aug 2019 | Episode 15: Introducing Paper Flowers in Asia with Jasmine Sing | 00:21:38 | |
We first met Jasmine Sing at our Masterclass back in April of this year and we were just captivated by her warmth and friendliness. Not only is she hilariously funny and frank, but she is also fiercely ambitious. Since moving from Singapore to South Korea, her adopted country, she is forging her own paper flower path and introducing crepe paper flowers to crafters in Asia through her workshops and online courses.
Let’s get to know a little bit about Jasmine: 1. Tell us a bit about your paper flower business I am a craft enthusiast and I love making things with my hands. I started making paper flowers as a hobby and recently started conducting workshops in Korea and Singapore. I am currently based in South Korea and I am very excited to be one of the first to introduce crepe paper flowers here. I have also started my online classes for a Korean app platform and planning to create more contents for English speakers as well. I am pretty new to this industry but, I do have a big dream. I hope to become the bridge between the Western and Asian markets and share my knowledge on everything such as materials, tools, techniques, and different styles for this amazing art.
2. How would you describe your paper flowers and/or your aesthetic? I am still exploring different styles but, I do enjoy and challenge myself to create flowers that are realistic looking.
3. What do you find the most challenging and rewarding about having a paper flower business? That would definitely be placing and marketing my business in the Korean market as a foreigner. It is really challenging to fit into the Korean culture but very satisfying to know they love my work and enjoy my classes.
4. What advice would you give to new paper flower artists? Enjoy the process, love your creations, and try as many mediums as possible.
5. What’s one tool you unexpectedly fell in love with and now use regularly? I don’t really have many to begin with. But I do love my Kai scissors and also skewers of all sizes to curl my petals.
Want to learn more about Jasmine? Follow her on her Instagram @merremade and check out her website/classes at https://www.merremade.com/. | |||
| 05 Sep 2019 | Episode 17: Collaborating with a Florist with Alicia Schwede | 00:28:16 | |
We have all seen the incredibly helpful rose colour studies on the Flirty Fleurs blog that are scattered all over the web. In fact, if you have yet to check out the blog, you should do so immediately! The blog is written by no other than the internationally renowned florist, Alicia Schwede. It includes resources and workshop information for florists but is equally relevant to paper florists. Back to Alicia - she’s has been in the florist industry for more than 16 years and runs her floral studio, Bella Fiori, out of Seattle, Washington. She offers floristry services for weddings and events and instructs floral workshops all over the world. Next spring, she’ll be in Tuscany for a week-long floral retreat, and in October (October 22, 23, & 24, 2019), with our very own Quynh in California for a Wedding Intensive Workshop.
Let’s first learn about Alicia: 1. Who is Alicia Schwede? Oh gosh, this is a tough question! Well, I am a person who truly cares about the floral industry. I want people to want flowers – flowers in all forms. Flowers bring happiness and calmness to people, and I think we could all use more of that in our lives! I want to share my passion with others, spread happiness, and encourage others to follow their dreams.
2. How did you get started in floristry and in the floristry business? I did not start off ever thinking I’d be a florist. After college, I took a position with a software development company in San Francisco. I found sitting in front of the computer for 8-12 hours a day to be rather daunting and depressing – so to keep my hands and the creative side of my brain happy I took all kinds of artistic classes in the evenings and weekends. One day I signed up for a 6-week floral design class at the local community college. I was hooked by the third class, and the rest as they say … is history.
3. Tell us about Flirty Fleurs. My wedding business name is Bella Fiori which launched in March 2003. I had been blogging for my business and found myself always wanting to talk more about the floral industry so in May 2010 I decided to launch Flirty Fleurs – where I could talk flowers all the time! At that time social media wasn’t so strong and having a blog was a great source of information and a way to share a passion and interest. Over the years it has evolved in many ways and now has grown to 9 years of topics saved in one place!
In some ways, I would say I’ve moved with the times and with how the look of weddings has evolved. Yet, the logo I use for Bella Fiori was created for me by one of my brides over 10 years ago! I like that it is classic. Flirty Fleurs has changed more – since it is my creative outlet I can follow my whims and give it tune-ups as I wish. At the base for both – I like feminine looks, cursive text, lots of pinks, greens, and whites. Bright and airy.
5. What are some of the challenges you've faced during your florist career? It definitely hasn’t all been a walk in the park. I think often when people are first getting started they think it’ll be a walk in the rose garden, pun intended – ha! Unfortunately, it isn’t always that easy. First is always putting myself out there to find new clients. That is one thing about weddings, the brides (are most likely) one-time customers. Sure their sisters or friends might come along, but for the most part, it is a one-time business transaction. So as a business owner I have been marketing and putting myself out there for 20 years now. It’s a lot of committed work to keep marketing out there, keep fresh, keep the drive. As a fresh florist, there is always the challenge of sourcing fresh flowers week after week. Flowers are obviously very dependent on weather – one hail storm and an entire farmer's crop can be destroyed, and the florist won’t be getting those perfect dahlias that week! Gosh, one time I had ordered in flowers to come in from the Dutch Auction, well there was a volcano issue in Iceland which meant no planes flying between North America and Europe – that means no flowers!
There is a saying in the wedding industry – You are only as good as your last event. Someone said that to me early on and I quickly realized that I could have a phenomenal wedding, but it would quickly be forgotten so I’d have to find ways to keep what I was doing out there and being viewed. I jumped onto all things related to websites, blogs, social media early on and have kept at it all for years. It probably helps that at that post-college job I had was cutting edge on websites back in the day and I learned so much while working there.
7. How would you define your style? How did you find your style? I grew up in Northern California, had my business Bella Fiori in Colorado for 10 years, and now call Washington home. So I have had a good amount of moves in my life over the past 20 years. Yet, I find the style that appeals to me the most is the one that is found in the wine country of California – it’s full of puffy flowers like garden roses, peonies, dahlias, and branches of fruit. Give me the wine grapes, the fruit on branches, the vines. That’s still my favorite! I call it wine country style and I always seem to come back to that style when I design as I wish.
Tenacity is everything – for those who are just starting out and those who are about to give up. Tenacity to keep going even if one client gives you a rough time, or if you didn’t get one of the jobs you bided on. Take a deep breath, re-set, keep your head high. You know what you want to do and follow your dreams! And if you’ve been doing this awhile and feeling drained – step back, take some time off and do what you need to do to get your energy back. For me, I love to travel and a trip to Europe is always good for my soul!
9. Do you have any floristry related tips that could be helpful to Paper Florists? Take lots of pictures. The majority of flowers are seasonal so get as many pictures as you can to draw inspiration from when the flowers might not be available. I also recommend the book by Robbie Honey – Accidental Botanist: The Structure of Plants Revealed. Robbie deconstructed all these different flowers, it’s so interesting to see the structure – and the perfect images for a paper florist who is building up flowers!
Communication is everything! Both paper florists and fresh florists are creative minds, and sometimes it can be difficult or forgotten to voice concerns and/or thoughts. So try really hard to make sure you are always communicating as a team.
Learn more about Alicia, Flirty Fleurs, and Bella Fiori by following on social media: WEBSITES:
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| 16 Sep 2019 | Episode 18: Paper Passion with Heather Sauer | 00:30:51 | |
This week, we talk to Heather Sauer, the owner, and operator of The Paper Place located in downtown Toronto, Canada. Being one of the few brick-and-mortar paper stores in Canada, Heather’s store carries a vast array of paper products, from crepe paper to Japanese washi paper, Rifle paper goods and kits, to birthday cards and origami products. Everything you see in the store is a feast for the eyes! In fact, Jessie’s paper flower journey started here four years ago when she bought her first fine crepe papers, and soon thereafter, she began teaching crepe paper flower workshops at the store. The Paper Place generously sponsored our German double-sided crepe paper for our 2-Day Paper Flower Workshop in Toronto in September. Listen to Heather as we talk to her about how she got started selling paper, her entrepreneurial journey, and the challenges of operating a brick-and-mortar paper store.
Let’s first learn about Heather: 1. Who is Heather Sauer? I am an artist, the mother of two incredible girls, and an entrepreneur with two retail shops on Queen St. West in Toronto, The Paper Place, and Curiosa.
2. Tell us a little bit about your educational and entrepreneurial background. How did you become the owner of The Paper Place? I went to school for Archaeology & Museum Management. When I moved to Toronto I started working at The Japanese Paper Place and eventually, with my former business partner, purchased the business back in 2005. The Japanese Paper Place continued on in a wholesale capacity after that so we changed the name of the shop to The Paper Place. My business partner left in 2009 and I have run it ever since.
3. Tell us about your business, The Paper Place. What do you sell, where are you located, how long you've been in business, etc. We are located in the art & design district of Queen St. West and have been operating as The Paper Place since 2005. We have a vast and eclectic product offering but specialize in paper, with over 2000 available at the shop. Beyond paper, we also carry a variety of art & craft supplies, greeting cards and stationery, party supplies, gifts and journals and so much more.
4. When did you start selling crepe paper? How did this come about? We started carrying crepe paper in the shop back in 2013. A number of customers had been requesting it for several years as it was almost impossible to come by here in Canada. I had been trying to order it directly from Germany for quite some time, even going so far as to have a friend compose fax for me in German, but I wasn’t able to make it happen. Fortunately, in 2013, I met a supplier of German craft supplies who was just testing the waters bringing in crepe paper so I was thrilled to finally have access to bring it to the shop for our customers.
5. How has the paper business changed over the years? We have definitely seen trends changing rapidly over the last few years in terms of what kinds of products our customers are looking for and also what they are using our papers to make. For instance, in our early days, the bulk of our business was people purchasing paper and envelopes to make wedding invitations, now that makes up a very small percentage of our business. Because of these changes, we are constantly adapting to what it is our customers are looking for now and trying to make sure that our product offering reflects what is new and exciting in the paper/stationery world.
6. What are some of the challenges you've faced in your business? For us brick-and-mortar shops, there is a lot more competition from online stores that don’t have the overhead that retail storefronts do and/or larger companies who are able to negotiate discounts with suppliers and offer products at a lower price than we can. It is a huge challenge for us as we try to balance staying competitive with our pricing with making enough money to keep our doors open.
7. Who are your ideal clients? Because of our extremely varied product offering, we don’t have a specific ideal client. Our first customer of the day may be looking for a greeting card, the next may be a conservator, then someone looking to make 100 paper flowers for their wedding, etc… It definitely makes our day interesting and inspiring because we get to work with so many different customers on such an amazing variety of projects.
8. What type of workshops does The Paper Place offer? Our workshop offering is constantly changing as we try to anticipate what projects may interest our customers. Some of our most popular past ones include paper flowers, calligraphy, bookbinding, and jewelry making!
Learn more about Heather and The Paper Place by following on social media: WEBSITES: The Paper Place | |||
| 18 Sep 2019 | Episode 19: Paper Flower Powerhouse with Eileen Lim | 00:36:48 | |
Eileen Lim of Miss Petal and Bloom has been on the paper flower scene for more than 5 years and she has truly made a stamp in our paper flower community. Her Instagram feed is filled to the brim with bright and colourful blooms and high-end collaborations with designers (like Ferragamo, Coach, and Olivia Burton) and stores (like Mamonde and Keds). It’s no surprise that her recognizable style is also a true reflection of her bubbly and friendly persona. She works out of her home studio in Singapore and regularly teaches workshops. Now, she’s on Teachable as well, offering paper flower online courses. We always look forward to viewing her Monday Bloom Crush on her Instagram Stories where she shares posts of other artists that inspire her! We love paper florists who support each other!
Listen to her talk to us about the paper flower community in Singapore, how she found her brand and style, and her upcoming collaboration with The Body Shop.
First, let’s get to know Eileen:
Hi, I’m Eileen and I’m just a girl who loves crafting and making pretty things in my home country - sunny little Singapore.
2. How did you get started making paper flowers? The quick answer - Instagram! I’ve always loved crafting and while exploring flowers on Instagram, I somehow chanced upon the amazing crepe paper blooms by Margie Keates. Needless to say, I fell in love instantly. I did my research, sourced for Italian crepe, and started experimenting on my own as a side hobby. At that point in my life, I was working in the education team at a local museum. It was great working with students and being in that art scene, but it wasn’t as fulfilling as I would have liked it to be - my fingers were still itching to craft and create. So, I took that leap of faith and left my job to start Miss Petal & Bloom. I have to add, Margie was a big reason why I decided to take that leap of faith, I had reached out to her asking if she could spare any advice, and she replied with so many helpful tips and such kind words that her generosity blew me away. I don’t think I would have started my paper flower journey without her and I really think she’s such an inspiration and role model!
3. Tell us about your business, Miss Petal & Bloom. MP&B is really simply about making pretty paper flowers and spreading the joy of crafting. I make every bloom to order, so usually I’ll have customers reach out with their ideas and requests and I’ll do my best to create something beautiful and lasting for them. I also enjoy teaching - it is so fulfilling to witness someone learning a new skill and unlock that sense of pride within themselves.
4. How would you define the style of your flowers? How did you find your style? I like to see my flowers as vibrant, happy, and whimsical. My style is a reflection of my personality and aesthetic preferences - I’m just naturally drawn to bright colours and cute fluffy things. I’m not so keen on achieving botanical accuracy, I simply want my blooms to be pretty, haha. It definitely took a lot of time and experiments to solidify my style though.
Honestly, when I first started out, I had no experience building a business so I did not really think too much about branding. I just knew I wanted to stay true to who I am and I wanted my flowers to reflect that. My brand name “Miss Petal & Bloom” was a random thought I had and it stuck because I felt like it sounded whimsical and cute and had a nice ring to it. Of course, after 3+ years I’m more aware of the importance of branding and I do try to be consistent in my artistic style and how I present my flowers - I always want my blooms to have a cheerful and vibrant feel to them.
6. How have you made yourself stand out in the crowd of other paper florists? Oh, this is such a crucial question and I think one of the more important questions for any new paper florist starting out. For me, this links back to my style - I really want my blooms to look unique and reflect my personality. I feel that's one of the biggest compliments you can get as an artist when someone instantly recognizes your bloom. Hence, I was careful to avoid watching too many tutorials and reading too many paper floristry books (I’ve bought so many books though because I’m such a big fan of those artists! I, however, avoid reading them because I fear I might subconsciously copy someone else’s stylistic choices). I think that is very important to me - having a unique artistic voice. And I do hope that makes me stand out from other paper florists? I’m not sure how successful I am, haha, but I am happy to get occasional positive feedback from the online community!
7. What are some of the challenges you've faced in your business and/or art? Oh, I think the biggest challenge is dealing with my own insecurities - my business is my biggest pride and joy (it’s like my baby) but also my biggest insecurity at the same time. In Singapore, crafting is not exactly a career choice that is highly regarded by the general public - in fact, I would say a great deal of Singaporeans still look down on freelance artists/ crafters, there’s that misconception that freelancers have lots of “free time” when in fact, we might be working as hard, if not harder, than most people with regular 9-5 jobs. Honestly, I think the people in my country are so accustomed to measuring success by the size of your pay-check, hence I wasn’t taken very seriously when I first launched my business. To this day, I struggle sometimes with being steadfast in knowing my own value and worth as a small craft business owner, and such insecurities and public perception inevitably trickle down to things like how I price my items, how I price my time, etc. I’m actually really glad I got to spend 4 years in the U.S. when I was in university - that really opened my eyes to how amazing the crafting culture was there and how supportive and non-judgemental the general public was towards crafters and artists. It truly inspired me and showed me that it was possible to be a full-time crafter and creative. Now that I’m more established than I was when I first started, I do feel more confident and comfortable with my career choice. I’ve accepted that not everyone will accept, understand, or support my business, and at the end of the day, I don’t need everyone’s validation, and it’s up to me to define what success means to me.
8. What advice would you give to a paper florist who is starting out today? And one that is about to give up? Oh, there is so much advice I could share, but I think one big thing I’ve learned is that you have to be true to yourself. If you’re just starting out, don’t rush into it, give yourself time to develop your artistic voice, which will help you stand out from the rest! Be patient, you’re not going to grow your following overnight, you’re not going to get all the orders overnight - it takes time. Have patience and faith in your skills and your creative voice. If you’re feeling tired, jaded, and about to give up, give yourself a break! Try a different craft, do something outside the box, pick up a new skill in a different medium - this always helps to remind me that there is such great joy in making art - I don’t think I will ever tire of that sense of fulfillment and achievement that comes from creating something truly and uniquely yours. Even if you’re frustrated with the business end, just doing something new might be refreshing and reinvigorating, and remind you of the true purpose of your craft business.
9. Do you have any tips that could be helpful to other Paper Florists? DON’T COMPARE YOURSELF TO OTHERS. Haha. This was something Margie shared with me in her first email to me, and I’ve kept it close to my heart all these years. You shouldn’t compare your first step to someone’s 100th step, everyone is on a different path, it’s not a race!
10. Is there anything else you'd like to share with the listeners? I can be a pretty shy person and I’m easily intimidated when I meet people face to face! Haha which means I can be pretty awkward, especially if it's a big group setting, and I’m usually not the one who takes initiative to meet people. So if you’d like to chat with me or fan-girl with me over other amazing paper florists (like Jessie and Quynh and Priscilla), or if you’re ever visiting Singapore, please don’t hesitate to reach out and say hello! I promise I’m not as shy or awkward once we get to know each other.
Want to learn more about Eileen? Follow her on her Instagram @misspetalandbloom and check out her website/classes at https://www.misspetalandbloom.com. | |||
| 02 Oct 2019 | Episode 21 - How to Preserve Your Paper Flowers with Quynh & Jessie | 00:13:41 | |
Join us this week as Quynh and Jessie have a frank discussion about how they preserve their paper flowers to minimize the effect of fading and damage. This is a common topic among paper florists and one that is much talked about on The Paper Florist Facebook group. | |||
| 26 Sep 2019 | Episode 20 - What to Expect on a TV Segment with Quynh & Jessie | 00:20:19 | |
Join us this week as Quynh and Jessie chat about Quynh’s recent appearance on a local television segment. With some help from her friends (Kate of @cobralilyshop, Kelly Lemon of Kelly Lemon Photography, and Angela Evans of @makeupartist.angela). Quynh was able to pull off a thrilling 10-minute segment on King 5’s New Day daily talk show, while also plugging the paper flower community.
Watch the TV segment here! | |||
| 10 Oct 2019 | Episode 22: Lighting the Way to Success with Caroline Tran | 00:24:37 | |
Quynh first got to know Caroline Tran of Caroline Tran Photography when the photographer shot her sister’s wedding a few years back. Fast forward to today and Caroline and Quynh are frequent collaborators on many projects together across the United States from workshops to photography sessions. She, along with Kelly Lemon, was one of the photography instructors at The Paper Florists Collective Masterclass in Seattle back in April 2019. Caroline first got her feet wet in photography when pursuing a creative side hustle. Eventually, she discovered that her ultimate love was photography. Known for her airy and bright style and her ability to create beautiful images of intimacy, Caroline is based in Los Angeles, California.
Listen to Caroline as she describes how her creative side hustle turned into a business, how she stays inspired, and her decision to offer online education.
First, let’s get to know Caroline: 1. Who is Caroline Tran? I am a Los Angeles-based photographer who is constantly working on the art of balancing running a photography business and being a mom to two young boys. I started in weddings and portraits, and have since expanded into content creation, branding, and commercial photography. I have also started to offer online education as well to help creatives run a successful business.
2. How did you get started in photography? I always knew I wanted to own a creative business. While doing market research for one of my businesses (I was designing and sewing doll clothes), I realized that brands with better photography were able to charge up to 100 times more! While learning how to better photograph my designs, I found my love for photography. I started photographing my co-worker’s children and my friends after work for fun, as a hobby and that’s how I started my portfolio.
3. Tell us about your photography business, Caroline Tran Photography. What I love most about what I do is that I become my client’s lifelong photographer. I photograph them from engagement to wedding to babies, and for the past few years, I have also started to do more commercial work, including content creation for brands, and branding/lifestyle shots for people’s personal brands as well. I love telling stories so these are all so much fun for me.
4. How would you define your style? How did you find your artistic style? How has your style evolved to what it is today? My photos tell stories. They’re romantic, emotional, and freezes a person’s legacy. I found my voice when I stopped comparing myself to others… when I stopped doing what I THOUGHT I was supposed to do (based on what everyone else was doing) and allowed myself to do what I FELT. I eventually attracted more people who connected with what I did, which further strengthen my voice.
5. What are some of the challenges you've faced during your career as a photographer and as an entrepreneur? Growing pains… everything works until it doesn’t. For example, if I up my game in marketing and get more leads, I might not be able to keep up with the increased volume and become susceptible to unhappy clients. So many growing pains, but it’s a good problem to have.
6. How have you made yourself stand out in the crowd of other photographers? By not looking at what others are doing and just focusing on my own art.
7. Give us one tip that would improve our images/photos of our paper flowers. LIGHT! LIGHT! LIGHT! Bad light is bad light! You can’t fix bad light later. Use good light to take the photo and you’ll be more than halfway there. You can read more tips on lighting on my website: https://carolinetran.net/photography-tips-for-perfect-indoor-lighting/
8. Tell us about how you got into teaching photography. Backtrack a few years, the inspiration for where I came up with education. I used to be a high school teacher, so that’s where my educational background is from. I love mentoring, inspiring, and helping people in general. I left teaching to pursue photography. When I started photography, I used to have small cohorts where we would meet up at industry events over the years. One thing that occurred to me was year after year, I would need to form new groups because many of my colleagues were no longer in the business anymore. I started teaching photography and education to help others to succeed.
Learn more about Caroline Tran by following her on social media: WEBSITES: Caroline Tran Photography Caroline Tran Education INSTAGRAM: @carolinetran PINTEREST: Caroline Tran | |||
| 25 Oct 2019 | Episode 24: Building Lasting Relationships with Kelly Lemon | 00:30:59 | |
Today, we talk to one of our dearest friends, Kelly Lemon of Kelly Lemon Photography! Based in Seattle, Kelly travels all over the world as a wedding and lifestyle photographer to document her client’s special life moments. Her passion for people defines her art and her life. In her words: "I am the photographer for the adventurous couple that values real connection." As a one-armed photographer, she has faced many challenges in her life. Her perseverance and her faith have helped her push through these hardships with dignity. She was recently on King 5 a local Seattle network sharing her story - and what an inspiring one it is.
We will let her share this with you in her own words: 1. Who is Kelly Lemon? I’m a talkative extrovert, a hugger, inspirational speaker, wife, dog-mom, Jesus lover, chocolate chip cookie connoisseur, and a Seattle-based wedding + lifestyle photographer. I am also a mom to be! We have a baby girl on the way via surrogacy and we are due this January! I feel at home when I’m near mountains and I’m an enneagram 2w3. Simply put - I love people and am excited about the challenge of capturing someone’s story - either through a wedding/elopement or my women empowerment photography.
2. How did you get started in photography? It’s actually a great story! I loved photography from a young age but was in a serious car accident when I was 12 that paralyzed my right arm. So after adjusting to life with one arm and learning to use my left arm - I approached a high school film photography teacher and asked if I could join their class and they told me that photography was a “two-armed” art and that I wouldn’t be able to do it, so I should try something else. So I took that as a challenge and joined another class the following year and learned to roll film with my feet! Just after that experience I studied abroad in Ecuador at the age of 16 and learned that I was much more drawn to photographing the people I was meeting more than the landmarks of the cities I was visiting. When I went to college I thought I would just do photography as a hobby or maybe a side job, but joined the college newspaper photography team. I was sent to a photojournalism conference at the age of 18 and was way out of my league. But in between sessions, this man came over and saw my photos on my laptop over my shoulder and started flipping through them. I was so embarrassed because they weren’t edited or sorted but we started talking about photography and at the end of the conversation he said something that changed my life. He asked, “So let me get this straight…you spend all of your free time doing photography, you spend your money on equipment, you are only 18 and these are your photos…remind me why you don’t think this should be your career?” That really stuck with me. I went to the next session at the conference and he walked out on stage and was introduced as the photo editor of the New York Times! I was inspired that he saw something in me, so I switched my degree to fine art photography, studied for 4 years, and started my company the year I graduated in 2010, and here we are almost 10 years later!
3. Tell us about your photography business, Kelly Lemon Photography. I am primarily a wedding and elopement photographer and I have a heart for the community - like real, let's hang out and do life - kind of community and that is the heart behind my business. The KLP couples are laid back, adventurous, they are people who value people more than things, they believe in marriage, don’t mind getting their dress dirty, and like to push the limits! I love being out in nature so when I can be in the beautiful outdoors and celebrate a couples’ love story - my heart is happy! I also photograph women empowerment and I have recently started to branch out into lifestyle shoots and photography for business owners and that has been a fun project - to tell the story of someone’s business. For me, it comes down to storytelling and that's what excites me!
I would say my style is warm, emotional, and natural. I strive to create photos that make you feel something. When it comes to tones and editing - I think your artistic style is often a reflection of you. I think it’s important to not just look at the trends because they come and go but trust your gut and how you see the world and explore that. My style began to evolve as I really took the time and examined what I was drawn to artistically - not just with photography, but with other types of art. If you are trying to figure out your brand style for your business and you aren’t sure where to start - look at your closet. What colors are you drawn to? What type of interior design inspires you? When I was in the process of rebranding my business 5 years ago - my designer encouraged me to really dig into the things that I love - across all art mediums. I created a Pinterest board of photos that I was drawn to and started seeing a theme. My closet, brand colors, and photos all have a similar vibe of earth tones and natural textures and that is naturally what I began to create with my photo style once I learned to ignore the trends around me and focus on the art I want to create.
5. What are some of the challenges you've faced during your career as a photographer and as an entrepreneur? Self-care. I think like an entrepreneur - for most businesses you are a one-person show - so everything falls on you - and that can be really exhausting. I have found it hard to create boundaries around work life and make time for your family and friends. So blocking off weekends to be work-free, consider outsourcing the projects that don’t require you directly, and scheduling in time for you. It’s a continual struggle but so important for the long term.
6. How have you made yourself stand out in the crowd of other photographers? I think the community I have built with my clients and the overall client experience is something really unique. I host events 3x a year - where past and present clients are loved and given a pretty special experience that goes beyond the wedding day. My Sailing Soiree event is something really special and you can see a peek at it in my recent promo video! See it here: https://legacy.mediazilla.com/cphk1s1R1
7. You are incredibly passionate about your Empowerment Photography project. Tell us about it. I would love to! I am really passionate about empowering women to love the skin they are in! We live in a culture - where the beauty standard is so narrow and it causes women to think they aren’t skinny enough, or curvy enough, or fill in the blank and I have loved creating a space to break those beauty standards and celebrate women of all shape, size, and color! I also love empowering women with physical differences - because when I was growing up I had a lot of surgery scars and people told me they were disgusting and I needed to cover them up and that really impacted how I saw my body. So I love encouraging women to see their scars or physical difference as symbols of what they have overcome. It’s a part of them that we don’t have to cover or hide but it also doesn’t define them. We have had women who have battled cancer, organ transplants, amputations/limb loss, vitiligo, Cerebral Palsy and it’s been such an honor to share their stories. But all women are invited to our Women Empowerment Events - where we photograph 5-7 women and have their sessions back to back and it's a really special time of community!
8. Give us one tip that would improve our images/photos of our paper flowers. Learning about natural light! If you can learn how to use natural light to show off the depth in your flowers - that will be the ticket!
9. Is there anything else you'd like to share with us? Just want to encourage you as Paper Florists - if you are starting your business - remember to serve and love people well. It sounds simple but it’s easy to forget when there are so many other things you are trying to learn. And have fun with it! Try crazy ideas! Meet other people in the industry and create just to create for fun!
Learn more about Kelly Lemon by following her on social media: WEBSITES:
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| 03 Nov 2019 | Episode 25 - What’s in Our Toolbox with Quynh & Jessie | 00:22:57 | |
Join Quynh and Jessie as they chat about the tools in their toolboxes such as their favourite cutting tools, glue, and paper shaping tools. The bottom line - use what you have and what works for you. Take a listen as they share their inside tricks and tip, including their “Golden tool”. Wondering where to get the items mentioned by Quynh and Jessie? Here are some of the items they mention in this Episode (**As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions for qualifying purchases made through Amazon.com and the links below): | |||
| 16 Oct 2019 | Episode 23: Sugar Flower Artistry with Jacqueline Butler | 00:36:49 | |
As paper florists, we ultimately found our artistic medium in paper. Jacqueline Butler of Petalsweet Cakes found her perfect medium in gum paste. Based in San Diego, California, but internationally renowned, Jacqueline specializes in creating and teaching sugar flower art. She teaches around the globe and is the author of “Modern Sugar Flowers Vol 1” (which Jessie owns and believes every paper florist should have on their shelf). In it, she generously shares her experience, tips, and tricks. Her style is forever tasteful and stylized; her techniques innovative and applicable across disciplines (like our’s!). In addition to being a generous teacher of sugar artistry, she is also incredibly personable and humble. Now, Jacqueline is publishing her second book, “Modern Sugar Flowers Vol 2”, available for preorder on Amazon UK, Amazon US, and Amazon CA. It will be released on November 1st in the UK and November 19th in North America. We are so excited to get our hands on it!
Listen to Jacqueline as she talks about how she go started making cakes and sugar art, how she found her artistic style in the gum paste medium, and her new book, “Modern Sugar Flowers Vol 2.”
First, let’s get to know Jacqueline: Sugar flower artist, former wedding cake designer, baker, author, dog lover, red wine and burrito lover (not together!), trail runner, world traveler, and wife to my wonderful husband Keith!
I had a great dollhouse when I was young and used to buy miniature kits and make all the furniture and accessories for it. I also modeled tiny plates of food and desserts with polymer clay for the dolls’ kitchen and dining room tables. I think this is where I learned to love using my hands and making little things. As an adult when I was baking and making cakes as a hobby, I found a small book that featured simple sugar flowers, and I was immediately drawn to the art form! As I learned more about sugarcraft, I was fortunate to take classes with a few great artists I admired (Colette Peters, Scott Woolley, Nicholas Lodge, and Ron Ben Israel) and I learned a strong foundation in sugar flower making techniques. This gave me the confidence to try making sugar flowers on my own, and over time these flowers became the signature style for my business, Petalsweet Cakes.
3. Tell us about Petalsweet Cakes. Officially founded in 2005, I created my wedding cake business after being a longtime hobby baker outside my day job at a national non-profit organization. I finally decided to make the leap to building a business and knew I wanted to focus on wedding cakes with sugar flowers. I created cakes full-time for about 6 years, servicing San Diego and a bit in the Bay Area where I’m originally from. Around that time, I began getting a lot of inquiries from colleagues in the industry who wanted to buy my sugar flowers or learn how to make them. I started teaching a few classes and sharing the results on Flickr and Facebook (remember this was before Instagram!). Because of social media, I had a lot of interest from lovely folks all over the world and started saying yes to invitations to teach overseas. I was enjoying the teaching so much I cut back on making cakes, and really the rest is history! I rarely make any cakes these days, spending almost all my time developing content and focusing on instruction.
4. How would you define your style? How did you find your artistic style? How has your style evolved to what it is today? When I started my business, I was making stylized sugar flowers in soft pastels. My “formula” was to mix them with green and white for a fresh, modern look and feel. Everything was light and soft. The flowers also came together quickly because they didn’t need much work to finish before going on a cake. I interpreted flowers in my own way, getting rid of parts I didn’t find pretty or useful, or that took too long to create. I considered sugar flowers a “confection” since they were going to be placed on a cake, so my style was not botanically correct. Much of my style was born from functionality. I wanted to create (and teach) sugar flowers that were achievable and profitable for someone who was running a business, including me! There are some incredible sugar flower artists out there who make truly jaw-dropping sugar flowers. I am blown away by their talent. Not everyone can replicate that type of work, nor can they make money doing it. So, it’s always been important to me to have a balance between pretty and cost-effective, and I think my students have appreciated that. Today, with the constant exposure to IG and other social media, I can’t help but be inspired and influenced by so many amazing real flower florists AND paper flower artists such as yourselves (Quynh and Jessie). The trends in cake design have been shifting towards more realism in sugar floristry and towards fine art mediums and textures for cake finishes. The result is the cake industry has been beautifully elevated, which makes me so happy, but that can also mean much more time and work for makers to meet those levels of artistry. So, it’s both exciting and stressful at the same time. I’ve been expanding my color palette to include deeper and brighter colors, and I’ve been creating a lot of new flowers or re-tooling older flowers to include more details. All while still trying to balance the time involved in making them. I also started using darker backgrounds for some of my photography, which initially made me nervous. In my head, I thought I had to stay with soft pastels on a light and bright background to fit my brand. I thought anything else would be rejected by my students and followers. But I couldn’t have been more wrong! I’ve felt incredibly encouraged by so many lovely messages and comments about the changes, and I’m feeling more open to trying new things than at any other time before in my sugarcraft career.
5. What are some of the challenges you’ve faced during your career? Being a creative person running a business (even with a lot of leadership experience from my previous career) has been very challenging. I don’t have a lot of natural business acumen and it’s hard for me to see the big picture. My strength is in the details. I’ve struggled with all aspects of my business, from finance and growth to marketing and now scaling. I’m grateful to get great help from my brilliant husband and a few wonderful mentors, but I’m still very much a work in progress. I spend a lot of time learning things that have nothing to do with sugar flowers, and I’m only recently learning to welcome it instead of fighting it! I also really struggled when I first began teaching internationally. I didn’t know anyone doing the same, so I had to figure it all out myself. I was thrilled for the opportunities to teach in Australia, Europe, and Asia, but there were so many other things to figure out beyond the actual time spent teaching the class. Preparation and organization at home, the exhaustion of travel, schlepping tools and equipment, cultural differences, and not having access to similar supplies were all part of the adventure. And while difficult at the time, they did hone my problem-solving skills quickly and forced me to become better at asking for exactly what I needed and standing firm in those expectations.
6. How have you made yourself stand out in the crowd of other sugar artists? My brand is well established within the industry, but a lot of that is simply some luck mixed with good timing. I created Petalsweet at a time when there weren’t many known sugar flower artists in the world, and access to them or information about learning sugar flowers was very limited. It was a great time to build a brand. Also, my style is very clean and achievable, so I think a lot of artists starting out find my work a good starting point for them. I’m one of the more “seasoned” sugar artists now, and a lot of the younger artists today kindly point to me as their initial inspiration when they started their businesses. It’s very kind, and the OG status isn’t lost on me, ha ha! I do my best to continue to work on the content that reflects what I think is pretty and what I think students will enjoy making for their cakes and clients. I also pride myself on being kind and helpful to anyone who is looking for information or wants to learn more about sugarcraft, and I think that goes a long way. I was fortunate to have a few amazing artists help me, in the same way, years ago – it’s a great honor and pleasure to pay it forward.
7. What advice would you give to an artist who is starting out today? And one that is about to give up? Don’t try to be everything to everyone and pay attention to the art you enjoy creating most. When you are starting out, many times you must take on a wide range of orders to pay the bills, but that doesn’t mean you have to do those things forever. One of my favorite exercises with my students is to give them a blank 4 tier wedding cake and tell them to decorate it however they wish. And to pay attention to the decorations they choose. It can tell them a lot about a direction they might want to pursue, as well as the types of cakes they DON’T want to make. I’d also ask them if the reason they wanted to give up was founded in comparing themselves to someone else. I’m guilty of doing it and it always makes me feel poorly about myself and my work. It’s not easy to get out of that headspace, so the more you can focus on your own path the better. Easier said than done these days when we are surrounded by beautiful photos of outstanding work. It’s hard – you must focus on what is in front of you and make that meaningful. And the more you can enjoy the process of creating over results, the better.
8. Tell us about your books, Modern Sugar Flowers and MSF Volume 2. Both books are sugar flower how-to instructional manuals with added inspirational photos and cake projects so readers can learn how to use their flowers once they have made them. Filled with tips and techniques that have worked well for me all throughout my business. Writing a book was a longtime dream of mine, and I was thrilled for the opportunity to share my processes for making and finishing flowers with the folks at David & Charles. And to do it twice! Turns out my brain is good at breaking things down into achievable steps, so the technical writing came easier than I expected. The cake projects and the creative design for all the flower chapters were quite challenging for me, but I loved the process of styling the photos. The books are a true set. We carried over the fonts and layouts to the second book so they can sit side by side on the shelf. The flowers and cake projects in Volume 2 are different from the first book but are all broken down the same way. The only overlap from book 1 to book 2 is the hydrangea and filler flowers which are staples we use in many cake designs. We wanted to include them so the second book could stand on its own, and readers could learn my arranging skills without having to start with the first book. It’s been an incredible amount of work over several years now, and a lot of highs and lows. But I love hearing from students who have used the first book and seeing them get excited about making sugar flowers has been amazing. I hope the second book is well received and that everyone enjoys making the new flowers!
Just so grateful to both of you for inviting me to talk with you on your podcast, and to share the news about my new book, thank you so much! We didn’t have a chance to chat about the tools and processes that might be shared across our two mediums, so I’d love to come back another time to talk about it! Thank you again!
Jacqueline’s books are now available for purchase worldwide! Modern Sugar Flowers Vol 1
Modern Sugar Flowers Vol 2 | |||
| 07 Nov 2019 | Episode 26: Pricing in Retail and Wholesale with Marlo Miyashiro | 00:34:56 | |
In this week’s Episode, we talk to Marlo Miyashiro, the owner and visionary behind the retail gallery, The Handmade Showroom. Located in downtown Seattle, The Handmade Showroom showcases handcrafted local goods of various kinds that are carefully curated by Marlo. As a former jewelry designer, Marlo now operates two brick-and-mortar stores as well as an online store that offer products at retail prices. Her most recent store, Bezel & Kiln, is an extension of The Handmade Showroom and offers handcrafted upscale jewelry and home goods. In addition, Marlo also has a passion for mentoring emerging artists and has arts consulting business called Creative Arts Consulting. Her passion is quite apparent as she offers so many great tips about pricing and marketing throughout our discussion! Listen to Marlo as she talks about the difference between wholesale and retail pricing, what to consider when pricing your labour, and her passion for business mentorship.
Let’s first get to know Marlo: 1. Who is Marlo Miyashiro? I am a former jewelry artist, a current mentor and teacher, a serial entrepreneur, and a creative person who is passionate about supporting and promoting artists and their work.
2. What type of artistic pursuits are you involved in? I am working on getting back to designing and creating jewelry. Since opening my stores, I haven’t had much time for my own creative pursuits, but I am working on making time to get back to designing and creating jewelry. I really miss making things!
3. Tell us about The Handmade Showroom. The Handmade Showroom is a gift store inside Pacific Place Shopping Center in the heart of downtown Seattle’s shopping district which is also home to some well-known brands like Tiffany & Co, Michael Kors, and Kate Spade. Our mission is to elevate handmade by showcasing the work of our more than 100 independent artists and educating our customers all about the aesthetic and intrinsic value of handmade.
4. How did the idea of The Handmade Showroom come about? How has that project/business evolved? I had been the organizer of the local Seattle Etsy team originally known as Etsy RAIN and later, Seattle Handmade, for about 10 years when the then-marketing director of Pacific Place approached us via our Meetup group in the spring of 2015 with the possibility of opening a local artist pop-up at the mall. The most interesting thing about the timing of their inquiry was that I had been looking for a retail space to launch The Handmade Showroom for an entire previous year and had just made the decision to stop my search when the email showed up. With the help of our team’s co-organizer, Kayce Quevedo, we negotiated our way into an in-line storefront and opened The Handmade Showroom with 1200 sq. ft. and 35 artists as a weekend pop-up concept in the summer of 2015. That winter, we took the plunge and began opening every day as a full-time storefront, and over the next 2 years, we grew to use the full 2400 sq. ft. and expanded our artist list to work with more than 100 artists from all over the Pacific Northwest. In the summer of 2018, we had an opportunity to move to the prestigious 1st floor in a 3700 sq. ft. space right next to Kate Spade. We jumped at the chance and had a fantastic holiday that year! Then, in the middle of the holiday season, renovations at Pacific Place were ramping up and one of the larger chain retailers needed a space to occupy, so we were informed in December 2018 that we needed to move yet again – this time into a much smaller 1000 sq. ft. storefront. Between the choice of closing and moving, we chose to move, culling our product mix down so we could continue to work with as many artists as possible while bringing on some new artists outside of the Pacific NW to keep our offerings fresh in the eyes of our customers. We’ve been in our new space since Valentine’s Day 2019 and have plans to move once more to a larger space sometime in 2020.
5. How would someone interested in being in The Handmade Showroom apply? We have an artist application on our website at https://thehandmadeshowroom.com/pages/apply-to-become-a-handmade-artist that we encourage everyone to read through and then submit an application if their work fits the criteria outlined there. We are currently full in most categories, so we tend to keep all of the applications on file for future consideration. As a result, artists may not hear from us for a while so re-applying, when new items and designs are added, is encouraged.
After our move to the 2nd floor, we continued to actively look for a larger storefront with the hopes of having more square footage by holiday. When we found out that the space next door to The Handmade Showroom was becoming available, we considered our options and quickly jumped at the chance to expand our jewelry and housewares categories toward a new gallery-style concept! Bezel & Kiln opened in September 2019 and features an upscale collection of artisan-made jewelry, meaningful accessories, and fine housewares from artists from all over the world. Many of the collections we have chosen have never been seen in the Seattle area, making our collection unparalleled in the Pacific Northwest!
7. You also provide business consulting services. Tell us about that. One of the benefits of working in the retail/wholesale business fields for almost 30 years is the wealth of knowledge gained from a lifetime of trial and error. I love helping emerging artists achieve their goals from the inside out by offering my consulting services via Creative Arts Consulting. With a LOT of help! With the full support of my wonderful partner in life and business, we have an incredible team of managers and helpers who are all super-dedicated to our mission so every day is a joy to come to work. I’ll be the first to admit that not all things get done, but one thing I’ve learned over the years is to let go of the idea of perceived perfection and allow things to come together in due time.
9. What are some of the challenges you've faced as a female entrepreneur?
10. What advice would you give to other female entrepreneurs in the art field? Be careful who you accept advice and criticism from. Know who your end customer is – most of the time, it’s your family, your friends, or even yourself. Pay attention to your inner instincts when it comes to making decisions. If you’re not quite in touch with that part of yourself, work on making that connection through meditation, physical activity, and/or therapy. You are capable of so much more than you give yourself credit for. Don’t let anyone stand in the way of what you know to be true and right for you and your business!
Thank you so much for this opportunity to share my story! If anyone is interested in a free hour phone consultation, please get in touch with me at marlo@creativeartsconsulting.com and mention this podcast. I’ll send over my quick questionnaire and then we’ll set up a day and time to chat. I look forward to meeting some of you!
Learn more about Marlo Miyashiro by following her on social media: WEBSITES:
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| 21 Nov 2019 | Episode 28 - Clever Designs with Laura Richey | 00:37:48 | |
This week, we talk to Laura Richey, the artist and face behind 2CLVR Designs. From her home studio in London, Ontario, Canada, Laura specializes in using card stock paper to create beautifully realistic and detailed paper flowers for weddings, home decor, and gifts. One look at her work and you’ll be blown away by her attention to detail and colouring techniques. In this episode, we talk to her about how her paper flower journey began, her challenges juggling her family and a successful business, and her experiences with card stock, flower wall rentals, and related topics.
First, let’s get to know a little bit about Laura: 1. Who is Laura Richey? Hi, I am Laura Richey. A wife, and a mother of two boys Max and Sebastian. Max is 10 soon to be 11 and Sebastian is 9 and has autism.
2. How did you get started making paper flowers? Why did you decide to focus on card stock as your main medium? Why did I start making flowers...well the reason is Sebastian. Once he was diagnosed it rocked my world and I had to leave my job and stay home so I was accessible by the programs and therapists for him. I started making cards and scrapbooks with little flowers and then I was hooked and wanted to just make flowers. My first wedding came and I had to make a seating chart with flowers after that I dove into weddings. Why did I pick card stock well at the time that was the only medium I knew. I also had a ton from making cards and scrapbooks so why not. Over the years I have learned more about different weights of paper and how I can use them.
3. Tell us about your business, 2CLVR Designs. What services do you provide? How has your brand and style evolved to what it is today? My late mother-in-law named my company, she came up with the name because she always said how clever I was. I provide all types of paper decor from single blooms to giant self-standing blooms, full paper floral walls, home decor florals, and a few paper sculptures.
4. Tell us about your recent rebranding. Why did you decide to change your brand and/or business model? I am working on rebranding my business in 2020 to start doing what I want to do more. I want a new feel to my business and want to be seen as something a little more then. Change is good, right?
5. How would you define the style of your flowers? How did you find your style? The style I feel is more realistic blooms. I try my best to make them look more realistic like what you would see in a florist fridge or garden.
6. How have you made yourself stand out in the crowd of other paper florists? I feel like I have made my business stand out by adding the unique colouring technique and inking. It’s my most asked technique on every flower.
7. What are your ideal clients and/or ideal projects? Ones that pay...lol. But really the ones that love art and understand the time that it takes to make the flowers and know that my heart and soul are in each petal.
8. What are some of the challenges you've faced in your business and/or art? Time and pricing. It's always a struggle to get paid for the time it takes to make a single bloom and feel that your product is worth the value it truly is.
9. What advice would you give to a paper florist who is starting out today? And one that is about to give up? Pick a target and stay with it. Don't try to do everything, you will burn out and your product won't be how you want it to.
10. Do you have any tips that could be helpful to other Paper Florists? Keep the passion for your craft, keep improving your skills until you feel you have mastered it. Don't feel bad if you need to give up on a flower and move on.
11. Is there anything else you'd like to share with the listeners? I want to thank everyone that I have touched in some way or another. I am truly blessed to be a part of this amazing community.
Want to learn more about Laura and 2CLVR Designs? Follow her on social media: WEBSITE | https://www.2clvrdesigns.ca. INSTAGRAM | @2cvlr_designs | |||
| 14 Nov 2019 | Episode 27 - Paper Flower Art with Jessie Chui | 00:14:48 | |
In this week’s Episode, Quynh and Jessie talk about Jessie’s book, Paper Flower Art: Create Beautifully Realistic Floral Arrangement, published by GMC Publications. A year after writing and shooting the book, Jessie shares the types of flower tutorials and arrangements in the book and how she hopes readers/crafters will use the book. Paper Flower Art is now available for order and pre-order and it will be released on November 7, 2019, in the UK and January 7, 2020, in USA and Canada.
GIVEAWAY!!Jessie is giving away a copy of Paper Flower Art to one lucky winner! To qualify for the giveaway, leave a comment below this post (along with your full name and email address/contact information) to enter! The winner will be drawn on December 1, 2019. Read the full Terms & Conditions below.
Purchase the book here:
Learn more about the book and Jessie here:
Watch the “Paper Flower Art” book trailer:
Paper Flower Art Book Giveaway (November 2019) from The Paper Florists Collective HOW TO ENTER: You can enter the Giveaway by writing a comment in the Comment Box in the Paper Talk Post, “Over Coffee: Paper Flower Art”, at https://www.thepaperflorists.org/paper-talk/episode27, and by leaving your full name, email address and/or contact information in the same comment. GIVEAWAY TERMS & CONDITIONS:
The receipt by Winner of the Prize offered in this Giveaway is conditioned upon compliance with any and all federal and state/provincial laws and regulations. ANY VIOLATION OF THESE OFFICIAL RULES BY ANY WINNER (AT THE PAPER FLORISTS COLLECTIVE’S SOLE DISCRETION) WILL RESULT IN SUCH WINNER’S DISQUALIFICATION AS WINNER OF THE GIVEAWAY AND ALL PRIVILEGES AS WINNER WILL BE IMMEDIATELY TERMINATED. | |||
| 27 Nov 2019 | Episode 29 - Craft Show Success with Kristen Rask | 00:37:01 | |
Urban Craft Uprising organizes and creates makers events in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Its objective - to establish a strong makers community and to create a showcase for crafters - is facilitated by its President, Kristen Rask. Kristen, an artist in her own right, has been involved with UCU since 2008. She has organized and curated numerous craft shows and has a vast knowledge of vendor and artist experiences.
Listen to Kristen as she talks about her involvement in a large craft show and her advice for crafters who want to enter craft shows.
Let’s first learn a bit about Kristen: 1. Who is Kristen Rask? Oh, man! I am a daughter, sister, fiance, maker, businesswoman. More or less that's me!
2. What type of artistic pursuits are you currently involved in, if any? I love making stuff for my home right now as we just bought a house. But I just don't have much time for making these days.
3. Tell us about Urban Craft Uprising. What is it? How did you get involved? UCU has evolved over the years. We produce many events ourselves in the year that provide opportunities to small business makers to sell their work and we team up with other events to activate spaces (like Amazon) and we put on a small business camp once a year that focuses on various topics to grow a business for small creative businesses. I started ten years ago in PR and Marketing. I am now the President.
4. What are the different types of shows that Urban Craft Uprising produces? Our winter show, shows with Amazon, plant events with Amazon, etc.
5. Tell us about the application process for an artist/vendor who wants to be involved in one of your shows. It's pretty simple but takes time. All info can be found on our website.
6. What type of artist/vendor are you looking for when considering applications to the Urban Craft Uprising show? Oh man, there are so many things we think about. It's weird to say but the show presents itself as we jury.
7. What does an artist/vendor have to do to succeed at a craft show like Urban Craft Uprising? Have a good setup, talk with customers, realize you are there not just for financial reasons but to connect with potential new clients in the future.
8. Tell us about the consulting services that Urban Craft Uprising provides. We don't really provide those anymore. Not enough time in a day.
9. What kind of challenges do you face organizing a large craft show like Urban Craft Uprising? Ha, where to start? Making maps is really hard. Saying no to friends. I feel like I have like 150 children I want to care for and put a lot of pressure on myself to make everyone happy.
Learn more about Kristen Rask and Urban Craft Uprising by following her on social media: WEBSITES | Urban Craft Uprising INSTAGRAM | @urbancraftuprising FACEBOOK | Urban Craft Uprising | |||
| 05 Dec 2019 | Episode 30: 2019 Paper Talk Recap with Quynh & Jessie | 00:27:00 | |
In the second last Episode of the year, Quynh and Jessie discuss the importance of taking a break to reflect, to recollect, and towards making plans for the future. This Episode reminds us that although there is no perfect time to take a break when you’re an artist and/or entrepreneur, it’s something we all need in order to grow. And what is a more perfect time than during the holiday season? Exactly. Not to mention that it coincides with the start of Jessie’s maternity leave! Looking forward to returning in the New Year with more fascinating talks with artists and friends alike! | |||
| 11 Dec 2019 | Episode 31: When to Take a Break with Quynh & Jessie | 00:14:58 | |
In the last Episode of the year, Quynh and Jessie discuss the importance of taking a break to reflect, to recollect, and towards making plans for the future. This Episode reminds us that although there is no perfect time to take a break when you’re an artist and/or entrepreneur, it’s something we all need in order to grow. And what is a more perfect time than during the holiday season? Exactly. Not to mention that it coincides with the start of Jessie’s maternity leave! Looking forward to returning in the New Year with more fascinating talks with artists and friends alike! | |||
| 31 Jan 2020 | Episode 32: Setting Goals for the New Year with Quynh & Jessie | 00:20:10 | |
Welcome back! In this first Episode of the new year, Quynh and Jessie discuss the special events that took place over the holidays and how they set/manage their goals for the new year. Catch up with us while we talk about what we are hoping to achieve for Paper Talk and The Paper Florists Collective this year. | |||
| 14 Feb 2020 | Episode 34 - Between Dreams and Reality with Yang Liu | 00:33:20 | |
We first took notice of the minimally styled paper flowers of Yang Liu in her blue phase. This blue phase turned out to be her artistic collaboration with Anna Chedid at the VSCO studio. Influenced by her Chinese heritage, her dual Canadian-American nationalities, and her current hometown of San Francisco, Yang’s work strives to sit somewhere between dreams and reality. Her paper flowers are showcased in a consistently clean and modern way. She does not shy away from creating various types of botanical objects, from dahlias to pear branches to dumpling boxes. Listen to Yang as she shares her love for paper flowers.
Let’s first get to know Yang: 1. Who is Yang Liu? I was born in Shanghai (hence my Instagram name, @shanghai.1984). I am currently a dual Canadian-American citizen residing in the San Francisco Bay Area. Besides flowers and paper art, I also love having tea with friends!
2. How did you get started making paper flowers? What drew you to this art form? I first came across paper flowers at the De Young Museum, where I saw Tiffanie Turner’s show and was amazed by what you could achieve in paper. From there I ended up taking classes with Tiffanie Turner and Lynn Dolan, both of whom are just amazing artists and teachers. I just fell in love with the medium and found crepe paper so intuitive for the way I wanted to express myself in flowers.
3. How would you define the style of your flowers? How did you find your style? How has your creative style evolved to what it is today? I think my style continues to evolve, but I would say that my current style is introverted, romantic, and a little moody. It’s influenced by my Chinese heritage and my desire to create work that sits somewhere between dreams and reality. I definitely have a natural “messiness” to my artwork - it took some time for me to embrace this as part of my natural artistic style and not something that I needed to control. I like asymmetry in my petals and leaves. I also enjoy creating intentional flaws in my work like bug bites or bruising to reflect that life is not perfect. I honestly think that I found my current style just through making a lot of art and being willing to experiment. Sometimes my experiments do not work out and I start over, but this is a natural part of the creative process and something which I have learned to embrace.
4. How have you made your paper flower voice stand out in the crowd? Mostly by being willing to experiment. I try to choose colors, papers, and materials that not everybody is using in their work. You are forced to create your own technique this way. Naturally, that can help your final product look different from the crowd.
5. What are your ideal clients and/or ideal projects? I’ve really enjoyed my collaborative projects with fellow paper artist Anna Chedid, also known as @floresdaannita. We shot our first project, “Botanical Impossibilities,” focused on the colour blue at VSCO Open Studios, which was just an amazing space to work in. Our second project “Motherland Flora” focused on flora from our respective homelands and we used both Brazilian and Chinese papers in our work. I hope to do more collaborative projects as I feel it’s a great way to push yourself beyond your normal work as well as get to learn from another artist in a fun way. More recently I’ve enjoyed working with an art gallery as my work was featured in “tiny,” a group show at STUDIO gallery in San Francisco. This is definitely an area I’d like to explore more.
6. What are some of the challenges you've faced in your business and/or art? I think there’s always the natural feeling of disappointment when you submit your artwork to an organization and it doesn’t get chosen. However, I try to take this in stride and just continue submitting my work to as many different places as much as possible.
7. What advice would you give to a paper florist who is starting out today? Just try to learn as much as you can and don’t be afraid to experiment with techniques, materials, composition - the sky is the limit! I think having fun is pretty key to wanting to make paper flowers are they are time-consuming - so it’s ideal for people who really enjoy the process.
8. What advice would you give to a paper florist who is about to give up? I would say take a break and try something new, whether it be a new medium, an art class you’ve been meaning to take, or just walk around outside and explore what nature has to offer. I think we get creatively exhausted if we are doing the same thing over and over again. I also love yoga when I need to just mentally reset.
9. Do you have any paper flower tips to share with our listeners? Take time to really observe and look at real flowers and leaves as much as possible before you start your work and while you are building out your artwork. Observation really helps me figure out things like petal placement and how to join the leaves to the main stem that mimics reality. Also, I would say try freehand cutting to get a more natural look!
10. What is your favourite tool? I have to say once I got my own set of pink Kai scissors, it was pretty life-changing.
Want to learn more about Yang? Follow her on social media:
WEBSITE | https://www.shanghai1984.com/ | |||
| 07 Feb 2020 | Episode 33 - Overcoming Workshop Fears with Emily Paluska | 00:31:10 | |
We welcome our first artist of this brand new year - Emily Paluska of Revery Paper Flora - on Paper Talk to learn about her paper flowers and business. Known for her colourful and realistic paper flowers, Emily strives to make each and every piece special and unique. In addition to making paper flowers on commission, for wholesale, and events, she’s a prolific workshop instructor. In 2019 alone, she taught a total of 35 workshops in the Washington, D.C. area and Austin, Texas! Can you believe that before her very first workshop, she was so terrified that she considered not showing up?
Listen to Emily as she shares her workshop experiences through the lens of a successful entrepreneur. You won’t want to miss her tips and tricks invaluable for anyone considering teaching workshops.
First, let’s get to know a little bit about Emily: 1. Who is Emily Paluska? I'm the owner and botanical artist behind Revery Paper Flora. I live in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, DC. I balance running my business with trying to keep my two young children alive, one of whom is named Poppy because my love for flowers runs deep!
2. How did you get started making paper flowers? What drew you to this art form? I started making paper flowers after my son was born. I was experiencing postpartum depression and was desperate for an outlet after I put the baby to bed at night. I was never a crafty or DIY type of person so I'm not sure why I thought doing something like this would be fun. I credit it to how dark of a place I was in. It made me desperate to cling onto something to keep me afloat. It was a toss-up between paper flowers or those really detailed coloring books. Paper flowers ended up winning out. I made a paper flower every day for a year. It was my therapy and saving grace on the darkest of days. I'm not sure what made me choose flowers (honestly it was probably because it was the cheaper option that night on Amazon) but I'm so happy I did. I had first stumbled upon paper flowers when I saw Lia Griffith's website. I found them appealing initially because I hated spending money on fresh flowers and thought paper flowers would be a fun alternative for me to have flowers around my home that I wouldn't have to take care of.
3. How would you define the style of your flowers? How did you find your style? How has your creative style evolved to what it is today? Oh, this question is a hard one but I would say realistically unique. Some of the flowers I make are a lot more detailed than others, others are simpler and more understated. It also depends on the client and the specific project in question. I found my style through a lot of practice. I make a lot of my flowers over a hundred times and through all those renditions, they evolve into something better, not just because of the practice but I am able to see it more clearly. I can see what things can be tweaked and how I can make the flower just a little better the next time. Having my flowers look real is very important to me. Color has also become integral to achieving realism. For the majority of my custom projects, I will always start with white paper so I can achieve the exact shade necessary.
4. How have you made your paper flower voice stand out in the crowd? I think the reason why I stand out in the crowd is that I do a lot of different types of work. I have my own personal projects, commissions, events, workshops, pop-ups, wholesale, and window displays. I think being able to show the wide range of the things you can do can showcase the value of what you bring to the table.
5. How did your name, Revery Paper Flora come about? I named my business after my favorite Emily Dickinson poem called 'To Make a Prairie.' I'll share it with you now: "To make a prairie it takes a clover and one bee, One clover, and a bee. And revery. The revery alone will do, If bees are few." I loved this poem since the time I was a teenager. Revery is defined as a release from reality or a daydream. I love the idea that something like says a flower can spark a memory and bring you back to a different time and place. I want my flowers to feel like a little piece of magic to their recipients.
6. What are your ideal clients and/or ideal projects? My ideal client is someone that gives me a lot of carte blanche to bring their vision come to life. I love it when I get just the basics like colors or a couple of flowers they like but the rest is up to me in how I can bring it all together. I don't really have an ideal project. So many of my commissions are wildly different and I like that. I never want to feel pigeonholed into doing only one type of work. That would get boring and I can get restless easily so I find the constant change is good for me!
7. What are some of the challenges you've faced in your business and/or art? A big challenge I've found is finding the time to balance it all. If I could have my way, I would only make flowers and do no other parts of the business but that's not how it works. The administrative part of your business is integral to its success. Thankfully in the new year, I'm bringing someone on to help me with this! Another challenge is that you should always get things in writing. If you are working with third parties or clients, you should protect yourself. Your expectations for a project or event may not be the same as the party you're working with. Make sure you're on the same page and have the paper to prove it.
8. Tell us about your workshops - how many do you do per year, where are your workshops located, why do you like to teach workshops, what is your teaching philosophy? I taught 35 workshops in the last year in the DC area as well as in Austin, TX. I teach in a variety of places around the city. Some businesses have dedicated workshop spaces like The Paper + Craft Pantry, Steadfast Supply, The Lemon Collective, etc... and others have been special events like with Appointed Co. I enjoy teaching workshops because a lot of my work is just me, sitting in a room by myself listening to true crime or foreign policy podcasts. I am a true introvert. If I could live in a house in the middle of nowhere and never talk or see humans again, I would be okay with that. All that being said, that's NOT healthy and it's really good for me to connect with the outside world. It surprises people when I tell them that I am introverted but social interaction can really drain me. As I've gotten older, I've learned that putting myself out there is very important for my mental health. Feeling like you're a part of the world is crucial to keeping yourself grounded. It's also nice to talk to adults when you're surrounded by toddlers. My teaching philosophy is that you're here to learn a new skill but you're also here to have fun. I never want people to feel pressure to be perfect. I always tell everyone at the start of class that nature isn't perfect so your paper flower shouldn't be either. After elementary school is over, unless you go into an art-related field, you're not being forced to be creative or make a piece of art. I think stepping away from your daily life for a couple of hours to create something with your hands that you had no idea you could do before, is the ultimate self-care. I want people to enjoy themselves and use it as a temporary escape from the everyday grind.
9. What advice would you give to a paper florist who is starting out today? My best advice is to just have fun with it. Don't start making paper flowers because you want to make money or turn it into a business. You can absolutely do that later but if you go into a new art form with that intention, people can see that. You want your art to be genuine. Practice, practice, practice. You can read all the books or watch all the tutorials in the world but unless you build the muscle memory and skill yourself, it won't amount to anything. Be kind to yourself. Let yourself make mistakes. Give yourself room to grow.
Unplug. Do not look at Instagram. Do not look at Facebook. I think most people want to give up because they play the comparison game and in that game, there are no winners. Take a walk outside. Breathe. Maybe take an extended break from making. Remember what made you drawn to this art form in the first place. Maybe the break brings you back to it with a fiery heart ready to go or maybe it leads you elsewhere. Your art shouldn't drain you; it should bring you to life.
11. Do you have any paper flower tips to share with our listeners? Say yes to the scary things. I think ever since I started my business I've been uncomfortable and scared SO MANY TIMES but I've found there is a 100% positive return on saying yes. You learn so much and you learn where your boundaries are and what things you love doing and the things that don't bring you joy.
12. What is your favourite tool? I use a bead reamer for curling paper. I would be lost without it!
Want to learn more about Emily and Revery Paper Flora? Follow her on social media: WEBSITE | www.reverypaperflora.com INSTAGRAM | @reverypaperflora | |||
| 10 Mar 2020 | Episode 37 - Inspirations from Alexandra Farms with Teresa Schafer | 00:26:55 | |
When Quynh went to Florabundance Design Days in January 2020, she met the lovely Teresa Schafer of Alexandra Farms. Alexandra Farms is the largest grower of garden roses in the world. Located in Bogotá, Colombia, the farm grows 60 varieties of those fragrant garden roses that florists (and we!) covet. Teresa is the Communications Manager at Alexandra Farms and an expert at garden roses. We were thrilled when Teresa agreed to talk to us about all things garden roses and to learn more about her company We are also excited to announce that we will be working with Alexandra Farms on a collaboration later this year! We cannot wait to get Alexandra Farms garden roses in our (and in our students’) hands! **After this Episode aired, we had to cancel/postpone this workshop due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Let’s first get to know Teresa and Alexandra Farms a bit: 1. Tell us about Alexandra Farms. Alexandra Farms is a boutique grower specializing in nostalgic, romantic fresh-cut garden roses. Our farm is located in the incredibly fertile savannah of Bogotá, high in the Andes Mountains of Colombia, where the warm days and cool nights are perfect for growing roses. The company began in 2005 when our founder Jose R. Azout met David Austin and began testing his newly-launched cut rose varieties. We worked with other long-established breeders from Europe and brought more varieties back to Colombia, where we established Alexandra Farms and began growing on a two-hectare farm. Over the next couple of years, we tested around 500 varieties to see how they performed in vases and to determine how best to ship them. In 2008, we moved to a bigger farm and began to grow 12 varieties that made it through years of testing. Our company continues to grow each year! We test and launch new varieties and phase out others as demand and trends change. We are fortunate to be the world’s largest garden rose grower, harvesting more than 300,000 stems per week - that’s nearly 16 million stems per year!
2. What types of roses are grown at Alexandra Farms? We grow 60 varieties of garden roses. They fall into four collections: Deluxe Garden Roses, David Austin Wedding Roses (we are the largest licensed grower of David Austin Wedding Roses), Princess Japanese Garden Roses, and Wabara Garden Roses. We collaborate with rose breeders around the world and follow meticulous production techniques. The result is garden roses with rich colors, full shapes, and long vase life. Many also have a fantastic fragrance. They are truly special flowers!
3. Where does Alexandra Farms ship their flowers? Our garden roses are available all around the world! We ship to every major market.
4. Who purchases your flowers and how are your flowers purchased? How can one of our followers get a hold of your flowers? Floral wholesalers and importers purchase our flowers and make them available to florists around the world. Florists can find our blooms at floral wholesalers, and the general public can purchase from their favorite florist - we recommend asking for the roses by name: "Alexandra Farms Garden Roses". They are also available through floral wholesale websites such as GardenRosesDirect.com.
5. What is your role at Alexandra Farms? As Communications Manager, I handle marketing, advertising, partnerships, social media, education, outreach, website, and more for Alexandra Farms. I work closely with our customers, influential designers, and industry organizations around the world, supporting their business, design, and educational efforts.
Once a year, we host the first-place winners of our annual Garden Rose Design Contest (https://www.alexandrafarms.com/garden-rose-design-contest) and their guests at the farm. We tour the greenhouses and see where/how the garden roses grow; we tour the post-harvest area where our garden roses are graded, sorted, and packed by hand; and we view varieties that we're testing for possible future release. We also enjoy some time sightseeing in Bogotá before everyone returns home. Occasionally we host influential designers or educational groups, as well.
7. Is there anything else you would like to share with our listeners? Alexandra Farms is certified under the Florverde Sustainable Flowers seal. Florverde is an environmental and social certification confirming our commitment to environmental best practices, employment protections and the responsible treatment of people, and health and safety requirements. At Alexandra Farms, we believe in the importance of quality education. To that end, we support the efforts of groups like European Master Certification, the American Institute of Floral Designers, the Society of American Florists, and more, as well as respected floral designers around the world, in their teaching efforts. Our website is a great resource for everything from proper care and handling techniques to learning how to pronounce the names of our varieties.
Learn more about Alexandra Farms by following them on social media: WEBSITE | www.alexandrafarms.com INSTAGRAM | @alexandrafarms | |||
| 21 Feb 2021 | Episode 35 - Over Coffee: Q & A with Our Community | 00:19:29 | |
Welcome to our new Over Coffee segment called “Q & A with Our Community” where we answer questions from listeners about anything paper flower related. Be sure to leave your questions in the comments below or email us at any time! In today’s episode, we answer questions about how to pack for shipping and what shipping methods we use. We also talk about the different paper mediums we use and how we decide which one to use for which flowers. Be sure to leave your questions in the comments below or email us at any time! In today’s episode, we answer questions about how to pack for shipping and what shipping methods we use. We also talk about the different paper mediums we use and how we decide which one to use for which flowers. | |||
| 28 Feb 2020 | Episode 36 - Earning Passively with a Purpose with Farren Haygood | 00:36:48 | |
Farren Celeste is a paper flower company that offers templates for paper goods. Farren Haygood is the artist and face behind Farren Celeste. She is currently based in The Netherlands, but she is originally from the US. After moving to a country where she had no family and did not know the language, she had to reinvent herself and establish a new form of income. She found solace in making her own paper flower cardstock templates and began selling them on her Etsy site in August 2019. Since then, her business has grown significantly. In this podcast, she shares with us her secrets to success, from how to use social media to your advantage to how to earn passive and evergreen income to the pros/cons of using Etsy to sell. During the podcast, you might hear a new voice…a baby’s! That’s Cillian, our baby intern, and Jessie’s new baby. You might hear him on some of these episodes as he tries out his voice at podcasting!
First, let’s get to know a little bit about Farren: 1. Who is Farren? I’m a registered nurse turned creative business owner while living abroad in The Netherlands with my husband and dog, Callie.
2. How did you get started making paper flowers? What drew you to this art form? I originally made and sold custom party decor and invitations while I was working full-time as a registered nurse. A customer requested invitations and a high chair banner for a “floral” themed the first birthday. She had a real floral high chair garland saved on her Pinterest board. I thought, “How can I make something that looks like real flowers but won’t die?”…I saw some garlands made out of felt, but I preferred working with paper. I found some flower templates that I could use with my Cricut or Silhouette cutting machine. By tweaking the templates a bit, I was able to make the high chair banner completely out of paper greenery and paper flowers. From there, I was hooked. I fell in love with making cardstock paper flowers, because I can use my cutting machine to cut the petals. But, I was disappointed with the templates that were available. The flowers didn’t look very realistic, and they didn’t come with instructions. So, I learned how to make my own! I now design and sell SVG cut file paper flower templates for cutting machines.
3. Tell us about Farren Celeste. I launched Farren Celeste, Cardstock Projects for Cutting Machines in August 2019. The name is the combination of my first and middle names. Our move to The Netherlands allowed me to take a break from nursing to focus on my business full time, but it also required a HUGE pivot. Prior to the move, I would design and sell paper products on the side using my Cricut cutting machine. Over several years, I taught myself how to design my own SVG files (digital cutting templates for cutting machines) so that I could offer unique products. I NEVER intended on sharing or selling the original SVG files. I knew that shipping internationally would be expensive and potentially complicated, so I decided to transition to teaching people how to make my designs themselves!… I also, discovered, that for creative people, like myself, half the fun is in the making of something with your hands! So, I also purchased a Silhouette cutting machine and learned the software so that I can offer my SVG files to both Cricut and Silhouette users. I currently offer paper flower, invitation, and card SVG cut file templates. I also offer a limited amount of paper flower commercial licenses, so other paper florists can use SVG templates to make physical paper flowers for sale.
4. What advice can you give to a paper florist who finds himself/herself suddenly transplanted to another country and wants to continue to be creative? First, give yourself grace. It is quite an adjustment to move somewhere new, let alone a completely different country (especially when you don’t speak the native language). Simple things like going to the grocery store can be completely overwhelming! Once you feel a little more settled, try to connect with other local creatives. We are so fortunate to live in a time where there are social media! Just by posting on Instagram and tagging the location, I’ve been able to talk and meet with locals. They’ve been so helpful in helping me find supplies and I’ve been able to make some friends in the process.
5. Tell us about your Etsy Shop. How have you been able to stand out in the crowd of Etsy shops? First, my paper flower templates stand out because the flowers look realistic, but they are approachable to make. Most can be made with or without stems, which makes them perfect for adding to garlands or other decors. Second, I am able to stand out on Etsy because of the experience I provide my customers. Each of my SVG cut file templates is like an online workshop. Each template comes with 1. Video Tutorials for Cricut Design Space and Silhouette Studio that show customers exactly what to click in their cutting machine’s software 2. An Assembly Video Tutorial and 3. A material guide with paper recommendations. Some of my largest orders have come from repeat customers.
6. What strategies do you use to monetize on Etsy and on social media? But, you can’t just sell, sell, sell, on social media. You have to remember that social media is meant to be social. You have to provide value to your followers other than just the products you offer, and you need to engage! I try to respond to every single comment and direct message. I try to post a mix of content that is inspiring, educational, or entertaining more than I post about what I currently have for sale.
7. What are some of the challenges you've faced in your business and/or art? Moving to the Netherlands has provided me with the time to focus on my business, but it has made every other aspect so much more challenging. Specifically, sourcing supplies. Supplies are very limited here compared to the States, and one of my favorite cardstock suppliers does not even ship to The Netherlands. Even though I have a trade account with a different company, international shipping is extremely expensive. And, I also have to pay a 21% VAT tax plus import duties on anything I purchase from outside The Netherlands.
8. Tell us how you incorporate the use of a cutter like Cricut in your business. My Cricut and Silhouette cutting machines are integral to my business. I literally cannot make my paper flowers without them. The detail on my paper flowers such as the anemones and blue thistle are so delicate, there is no way I’d be able to cut them by hand.
9. Do you have any tips (about paper flowers, social media strategy, Etsy, etc.) to share with our listeners? Paper Flowers - First, decide what kind of paper florist you want to be. My paper flowers are intended more for the gift and party space as opposed to fine art. By choosing this path, it helps me to stay focused on the types of flowers I want to create and intentional in who I am creating them for. I currently do not offer any physical paper flowers at all. So, when I’m designing them I have to think, will my customer also be able to make this successfully? Social Media - If you aren’t already utilizing video, you need to be. I know, video sounds completely overwhelming when it’s hard enough to come up with a variety of still photos to post. Start small by utilizing features like Instagram stories. Then, start experimenting with video content for your feed. People love seeing behind the scenes. So share, a bit of what you are working on! Etsy - Utilize all the space that Etsy offers you. They give you 10 spots for pictures, so use them all! But, they don’t all have to be pictures of the product! I created images with information on them about the templates and upload those into the extra allotted pictures spots.
Want to learn more about Farren and Farren Celeste? Follow her on social media: ETSY | www.etsy.com/shop/farrenceleste INSTAGRAM | @farrenceleste | |||
| 13 Mar 2020 | Episode 38 - New Color Solutions with Gretchen Sell and Jodi Duncan | 00:34:04 | |
If you guys recall, way back in Episode 4, we talked to Jodi Duncan of Design Master about her involvement with Design Master, her role in creating new colours, and how their colour products can help our paper florists community. This time, we also had the chance to speak with Jodi along with Gretchen Sell, the Creative Director of Design Master, about Creativation 2020 and the new amazing colour products just released by Design Master. Gretchen also provides tips on colour shifting and how we can take advantage of the unique recipes of their products - from Colortool, Just for Flowers, to Ubermatte - to create a more sophisticated colour palette. Above and below are some of the products mentioned in this episode that we cannot wait to try out!!
Below is an excerpt of our interview with Jodi Duncan in Episode 4: 1. We know that Design Master has been around a long time. Can you tell us the history and how you got involved with Design Master? Mark Addison created DM. The idea was born around a kitchen table in 1961. Mark was an art-loving accountant who saw a need and an opportunity and Design Master was born. He is very much retired but he is still active and can be found around our headquarters in Boulder, Colorado from time to time. Design Master was born to serve florists who needed colors that were unavailable. In 1961 distribution looked much different than it does today. Design Master was born as a color solution and remains so today across multiple diverse surfaces. We create color for the floral artistic community. Attributes of our products include: Multi surface. Fast drying. We work with chemists to develop our formulas and our Color Tool formula was the original. Our founder Mark was passionate about education and we are still to this day very much interested in supporting color education for artists in multiple mediums. I started doing stage demonstrations and hands-on classes for Design Master in 2008. I was a fierce floral competition designer and won many regional, state, and national titles. That put me on their radar so they began to ask me to travel and teach and do programs for them nationwide. I began to develop relationships with the great team at Design Master and they found out I was more than just a designer & speaker, but also could help with marketing, social media, and product development. So it was & is an evolution. Now I have a retainer contract with them and I’m on board for all kinds of creative color endeavors with the fantastic team at Design Master.
We have basic common sense info on the can as well as our website, dmcolor.com. Ventilation. Don’t spray around the flame. Common sense. Check the label. Non-toxic when dry. The application part needs attention. There are certain ways we use ALL tools. For instance, don’t run with scissors!
Just avoid temperature extremes. Nothing above 120degrees. It lasts 20-30 years in the can so it does not get old...just shake vigorously.
4. You have so many beautiful colors of spray paints and tints and we want to know if you have a plan to expand your color line? Yes, they will be released in July! We are so excited to show you the new trends in colour that we have been working on bringing to the market. Gretchen and I are very aware of the color trends and hyper-aware of what is happening with color and how it develops as well as consumer responses to color.
6. Also, is there a spray that will help us preserve the colors over a long period of time? We are looking into that with our team of chemists. Just tag us and give us permission to share the posts and projects. We love user-generated content! Bring it ON! Send us a DM or just tag us.
Our ways of supporting the paper community are as fresh as the community itself. We underwrite many educational endeavors and workshops for paper florists and look forward to being a part of the growth of paper florists. We are always excited to develop relationships with distributors to get our cans in your talented hands. We are always at Creativation and showed paper floral in our booth and had a tremendous response in January.
9. What are some questions that you might have for the paper florist community? What are the avenues of growth you see for your products? Home decor? Nursery? Commercial displays? Weddings? Other directions on the horizon? Do most paper florists operate with tax license? Or as an enthusiast?
10. What are some things that you would like people to know about Design Master that we haven’t already covered? Our emphasis is on color on surfaces. We are not just an aerosol. We are not just hardware store paint. We are of diverse color. And we are color education.
11. Finally, where can we find your products? We have a diverse distribution channel that serves the consumer market with Michaels, AC Moore, Ben Franklin, and regional craft chains. We have on our website different options for places to purchase online. If you have a TAX id license you can buy professionally at floral wholesalers across the country.
Learn more about Gretchen, Jodi, and Design Master through social media: WEBSITE | www.dmcolor.com INSTAGRAM | @dmcolor | |||
| 27 Mar 2020 | Episode 40 - Pursuing your Floral Interests with Nita Komarakul | 00:30:29 | |
We admire sugar flower artists from afar but sometimes we just can’t help ourselves and want to know more about this craft that is in ways so similar to our own. One of the artists we admire is Nita Komarakul. Nita is the artist behind the beautiful sugar floristry we see on her Instagram account, Pushface. Her flowers are delicate and feminine, with a realism that strikes us with awe every time. Today we talk to Nita to learn more about her and her art.
First, let’s get to know a little bit about Nita: 1. Who is Nita Komarakul? Mother, flower lover, and restauranteur.
2. How did you get started making edible flowers? What drew you to this art form? In my childhood, my mom always supported me both in arts and musical. Every birthday she always baked a cake for us. All these are influenced me to go into the baking world which first I started from sugar cookies and then came across sugar flowers, driven by a curiosity of how to make sugar flowers more natural and life-like.
3. Tell us about Pushface. How did you come up with this name? It’s from my two French bulldogs which are commonly called PUSHFACE.
4. Do you have a studio space? Yes, I have a small room in my house where all my flower was made.
5. How long have you been in business? From 2015 when I started baking, but for sugar flower nearly 4 years.
6. What services/products do you offer? We offer both sugar flower workshops, but also birthday cakes and celebrations, also wedding cakes with handcraft beautiful sugar flowers.
I have tried all these mediums sugarpaste, edible clay, bean paste, and wafer paper; all of them have pros and cons. My personal preference is the medium that can reflect the petal to look real not too translucent or rigid. The easipaste meets my need: It’s white in colour, flexible and softer but strong enough to hold the shape. This can be rolled extra thin to make realistic flowers. It dries slower than gum paste, which gives you additional time to do your petals. It also works well in high humidity with no mould, it also reacts very well to colours.
8. What types of workshops (and where) do you offer? This year we would like to introduce and expand easipaste for sugar flower lovers more and more. This year I’m going to teach in Somerset, England in April for an easiflowerpaste class - it is a 2-day class which is suitable for a beginner - you will learn how to make an easipaste from scratch to make a beautiful flower. I will also be teaching in August in Osaka, Japan.
9. What are some of the challenges you've faced in your business and/or art? Being “ under the priced” - In my country, people still do not value sugarflower art pieces, even though one flower requires both time and skill put into it.
10. How would you define your artistic style? How did you find your artistic style? What makes your art stand out? My style is quite natural and life-like with feminine and delicate details. Honestly, I find it from the flower.
11. What advice would you give someone who wants to find his or her artistic style in his/her art? Find what you like and enjoy it .. create your own self.
12. How do you balance your family with your art? I try my best to keep my weekend time for my daughter and husband.
Want to learn more about Nita and Pushface? Follow her on social media: FACEBOOK | www.facebook.com/pushface INSTAGRAM | @pushface | |||
| 20 Mar 2020 | Episode 39 - Is Covid-19 Affecting You? | 00:19:01 | |
Over the weekend, our governments began to implement stricter guidelines and policies regarding social distancing in efforts to "flatten the curve" and slow down the spread of Covid-19. Many countries are now prohibiting entry of non-residents and locking down many public spaces like schools, libraries, community centres, and daycares. Large social gatherings like weddings, workshops, and events are being cancelled and/or postponed worldwide. It's not a surprise if Covid-19 is affecting you. In this Episode, Quynh and Jessie talk about how Covid-19 is affecting them, how the Covid-19 related policies may affect their relationships with their vendors and/or clients, and the issues that may have to be addressed as a result.
Here are a few links to some resources to help you navigate through some of these issues: HoneyBook: https://www.honeybook.com/risingtide/coronavirus-small-businesses Wedding Industry Institute: http://www.weddingindustryeducation.com/coronavirusinformation/
Small Business Guidance and & Loan Resources from Darice: | |||
| 09 Apr 2020 | Episode 42: The New 90 G Italian Crepe Paper with Mike Benso | 00:19:21 | |
We are catching up with Mike Benson of Carte Fini. Carte Fini is based in San Diego, California and it is an online distributor of Cartotecnica Rossi Italian crepe paper and ships worldwide. Mike chatted with us on Paper Talk way back when we first started this podcast, on Episode 2. You can read and hear more about Mike on Episode 2: Friends of TPFC - Chatting With the Crepe Paper King. Carte Fini has been a generous sponsor and collaborator of our workshops. In addition to sponsoring the 2019 Masterclass in Monroe, Washington, Mike also attended our Toronto Workshop in September 2019. Both of us were lucky recipients of a sample package of the 90 g Italian crepe paper and we were one of the first few to have tested the paper. We are incredibly thrilled to see that it's now available for purchase on Carte Fini's online store.
Today, we talk to Mike about our love for the 90 g and Carte Fini adding Design Master sprays to their product lines. > In this Episode, we also talked to Mike about being part of our Garden Rose Workshop in Seattle in June. Subsequent to our podcast recording, the Workshop has been postponed due to the State and Federal restrictions implemented as a result of Covid-19.
Learn more about Mike and Carte Fini by following them on social media: WEBSITE: www.cartefini.com INSTAGRAM: @cartefinicrepepaper | |||
| 03 Apr 2020 | Episode 41 - Fleurs de Villes with Alicia Schwede | 00:29:42 | |
This year, from February 26 to March 1, 2020, our florist friend and mentor, Alicia Schwede of Bella Fiori and the Flirty Fleurs blog, participated in a floral event by Fleurs de Villes at the Northwest Flower & Garden Festival where she and her team created a floral dress from fresh florals. Learn more about Alicia when we previously chatted with her on Episode 17: Friends of TPFC: Collaborating with a Florist.
Listen as she talks about this amazing event (which takes place in different cities around the world) and the process of creating her beautiful floral dress.
Learn more about Alicia, Flirty Fleurs, and Bella Fiori by following her on social media: WEBSITES: INSTAGRAM: | |||
| 16 Apr 2020 | Episode 43: Bookkeeping 101 with Meka West | 00:35:20 | |
April is Financial Literacy Month so it's the perfect time to talk about money with Meka West of Penny Smart Girl! Meka is a certified accountant and she is the founder of online bookkeeping and money coaching firm called Penny Smart Girl. April is also the month for tax-deadlines so we are picking Meka's brain today on all things bookkeeping and tax-related! She has generously shared her experience and advice in this Podcast and in this blog post. She is seriously a wealth of information and generosity!
Let’s get to know our bookkeeper friend, Meka West: 1. Tell us about yourself. Who is Meka West? I’m a Midwest original that moved to Seattle in my twenties. I bought a house at age 21, raised my son as a single mom until he was 12, and have been lucky to work in some great roles along the way. I believe in living life with a cherry on top. This means creating a life balanced with work but also time to enjoy the things that bring us joy and make us feel. So even you aren’t a fan of cherries, whatever your cherry on the top moment is… the moment that makes you pause and cherish that moment, that’s what I mean. I enjoy cherry on top moments with my husband, my son, our two very spoiled rescue cats, Nin-Nin the secret ninja, and Jackson the mischievous tabby. I also love traveling the world and enjoying yummy food adventures.
2. Tell us about Penny Smart Girl. Penny Smart Girl is a virtual bookkeeping and money coaching firm. Penny Smart Girl (nicknamed PSG) was born from my love for empowering people to be more in control of their money story. It doesn’t matter if you like numbers or not, it’s more about getting in touch with the life you want to live. What goals do you have? What kind of work fulfills you? That’s what the numbers can reveal. And that’s what having a handle on your money can unlock. I consider myself a business owner first, an accountant second. As a business owner first, it positions me to be a small biz advocate and money mentor.
3. Why might a business owner need a bookkeeper and/or accountant? Why might someone need money coaching? There’s a common statistic I always hear that states “half of new businesses fail during the first year,” which is alarming to think about the success rate is only 50%. However, the Small Business Administration (SBA) says that’s not necessarily true. They say the more accurate breakdown is:
And at a business conference I attended a few years back, a survey said 89% of small businesses said they were more successful when working with an accounting professional. I feel that often business owners try to do everything in their business because they are new or can’t afford to hire a bookkeeper or accountant to manage their “books”. But I strongly believe that if you have an accounting professional set up your systems and train you how to maintain it, you really set yourself up for success in the long run. I’m sure I could maybe figure out how to make home repairs on my own, but it would involve me literally “winging” it. And I certainly wouldn’t feel confident that I did everything right. Because I didn’t go to school for that and home repair is not one of my gifts. So, hiring someone that has been trained in that skill, is going to be my best option. Money coaching is often more focused on mindset, strategy, and goals. It is something that can be done as a standalone service or in conjunction with bookkeeping/accounting services. Often money coaching focuses on cash flow, budgeting, rolling out new service offerings, and keeping an eye on any income goals you have. Working with professionals can really help you to start out on a solid foundation. Start small with a training session and reassess as your business grows and gets too much for you to handle all the moving parts.
4. What bookkeeping/accounting programs/apps should a business owner have/use? QuickBooks is the standard that the majority of Banks, CPAs, auditors, the IRS are equipped to work with that. I would say Xero is a close second to being a standard/common program. However – Wave and Freshbooks are nice entry-level software that seems to be user-friendly for non-accountants. I can’t speak in depth on them because they aren’t designed for an accountant like me, but the key is to find a system that works for you that you will use frequently. The results to consider is how easily can it compile the data needed to get your reports to your CPA or yourself at tax time.
5. What important tax deadlines should small business owners in the USA and the State of Washington be aware of? It’s important to know that taxes do not just mean the IRS (which is federal taxes). There are also city and state business taxes. The deadlines for city and state taxes will vary based on the size and type of business you have. Federal annual income taxes are due:
Business & Occupation (B&O) Sales/Excise Tax deadline (City/State)
Self-Employment Estimated Tax (Federal, due to the IRS) This tax is due quarterly. Please note that the quarters are divided so that you actually only pay it three of them during each year, rather than the traditional four quarters per year: Quarter 1 (covers Jan 1 – Mar 31st) Due July 15th, 2020 (normally due April 15th but extended because of Covid-19) Quarter 2 (covers Apr 1 – May 31st) Due July 15th, 2020 (normally due June 15th but extended because of Covid-19) Quarter 3 (covers Jun 1 – Aug 31st) Due Sep 15th, 2020 Quarter 4 (covers Sep 1 – Dec 31st) Due Jan 15th of the following year. Link to these dates on the IRS site: https://www.irs.gov/faqs/estimated-tax/individuals/individuals-2
6. What documentation does a small business owner need to file their taxes? To file your taxes, you need a listing of all your business sales, and all business expenses for the year you are filing. Keep in mind that typically states require you to report your gross income, but the IRS considers your income and expenses. So, having the total income earned and total expenses is the best documentation to have. Remember receipts are just your backup. Tax time is not the time to start organizing your box or folder of receipts. It should be something you do on a monthly, quarterly basis. Good recordkeeping (or bookkeeping) is the methodology of compiling those receipts, invoices, etc. into a usable report that summarizes your data for you. If you are using an accounting system, the common reports to use are the Profit and Loss report and a Balance Sheet report. If you are tracking in Excel or a notebook, try to organize it by expense category and by month. I recommend having a summary page that will show a recap of your full year.
7. What are common business expenses that small business owners can deduct from their taxable income? The common business expenses that they can deduct are:
8. During this time of economic downturn, what are your top 3 budgeting tips for small business owners? Especially considering our current events, I would say looking at your budget and doing a bit of spring cleaning is highly recommended right now to keep your business sustainable: Take care of yourself. Try to stay calm, safe & healthy. It’s okay if business slows down right now. You can use the quieter time to strategize for new opportunities. Or to build more connections within your network for when things pick up again. Figure Out what’s the “Cost to Run Your Business” Numbers.
Minimize Expenses/Maximize Income/Savings To minimize:
To maximize:
9. What else should our listeners, many of whom operate small craft businesses, be aware of with respect to their obligation to file their taxes? Check with your city and state to make sure what the income threshold is for when you are required to have a permit or business license. Often new and or small businesses think they aren’t a “real” business if they are some large corporation. Checking this, in the beginning, can save you from penalties or fines down the line.
Here are some links to the Apps that Meka mentioned in this episode: Avalara (Cloud-based tax software) - avalara.com Taxjar (Tax solutions for e-Commerce sites) - taxjar.com Quickbooks (Accounting software, online available) - quickbooks.com Wave (Cloud-based accounting software) - wave.com Freshbooks (Cloud-based accounting software) - freshbooks.com
Learn more about Meka and Penny Smart Girl by following her on social media: WEBSITE | https://pennysmartgirl.com/ INSTAGRAM | @pennysmartgirl TWITTER | @pennysmartgirl | |||
| 24 Apr 2020 | Episode 44 - Transforming Your Paper Flower Passion into a Business | 00:25:09 | |
Today we talk about our passion project for the last few months - Paper to Profits! When we returned from the Masterclass in Monroe, Washington last year, we met so many incredibly talented paper florists who were hungry for more information on how to transform their hobby into a viable business and build it to last. So for a year, we mulled over how to deliver the content we knew so well. As female paper florist entrepreneurs with a wide variety of experiences, we have so much experience and skills to pass on to our students and to mentor them, but how? And then the Covid-19 pandemic happened and many people lost their jobs or their positions became precarious. We began to reflect on the priorities of our lives and realized that life is too short to live it working in a job that we had no passion for. So it became clear to us that this was the perfect time to offer a Program that could help our students become their own entrepreneurs, to be their own boss, and to help them live their dream. We have designed Paper for Profits as a program for people who want to earn a living from paper flowers. It guides them through the beginning steps of forming their business to setting up their bookkeeping to managing their customer relationships. We made sure to share an extensive catalogue of resources, templates, and checklists that we personally use in our own businesses. These tried and true systems will help propel a paper flower hobbyist to turn their passion into a thriving creative business. Listen to us as we talk about this passion project and what we want all paper florists to learn so they can earn a living making paper flowers. The launch date for Paper to Profits is May 1st! You can sign up for our newsletter at www.thepaperflorists.org to be the first to know about it. For all of our previous students, we will have a deal for you so make sure you check your Inbox! | |||
| 07 May 2020 | Episode 46 - Spreading Hope with Flowers with Holly and Alex Chapple | 00:37:15 | |
One of the highlights of Quynh's involvement in Design Days 2020 was having the chance to meet Holly Heider Chapple! You've likely seen Holly's beautiful work all over social media and she's been featured in numerous wedding magazines and wedding blogs. Her flower arrangements are always exquisitely composed and styled. One look at her websites (yes, she's got 3) and you can see it reflects her personality and her style perfectly. She's the founder of Chapel Designers, the owner of Hope Flower Farm, and the artist behind Holly Chapple Flowers. She's a HUGE name in the floral industry, so much so that she's dubbed the "Flower Mama" by her peers. You wouldn't know it because she is so incredibly down-to-earth, warm, and engaging. With the help of her family, she's turned her floral business into an empire. In this Episode, she is joined by her son, Alex, the Director of Education and Communication, who has become an integral part of her business. Listen to Holly and Alex as they talk to us about their flower farm, their floral business, and how they're adapting their business in light of the Covid-19 related restrictions.
If you hear the chirping chicks in the background, they're from Holly's farm!
Let’s get to know Holly: 1. Introduce yourself to us! Who is Holly Chapple? I’m a floral and event designer based in Virginia, and I serve clients in the D.C. area. I’m also a flower farmer, an educator, an inventor, and a mother of seven.
2. How did you decide to become a florist? What turning points in your life led you to where you are now in your personal and business life? I grew up in the garden center/produce market my parents owned. As a child, I had to help in the field, sell tomatoes and corn, and tend to flowering plants. I also did basic designing during the holidays. The first centerpieces I designed were for my father to sell during the Christmas season. Flowers have always been a constant in my life. I started working as a florist because I was looking for a way to stay at home with my children. I did my first design work by the kitchen sink. My first wedding work was for a friend, a woman who lived up the street. Initially, my business grew because of word of mouth. But a big turning point in my business was the advent of social media. I was an early adopter of blogging and Instagram, and my work on both platforms made me more visible. I’ve always been very transparent on social media about how hard this work is--especially as a mother--and it has resonated with clients over the years. And other florists, many of whom choose to study with me at workshops or online.
3. Tell us about your company, Holly Heider Chapple Flowers. First and foremost, we are artists at Holly Heider Chapple Flowers LTD. Very busy artists, working across multiple divisions. Second, we are family. And much of the work across these divisions is focused on bringing you into our family. You can read more about us here: https://www.hollychappleflowers.com/about.
4. What is it like working with family members as you have been growing your Company? This has been incredible for the business, as we all have very different strengths. My husband is remarkable at finance, business policies, farming, and build-outs. He is also an incredible teacher. My son Alex has brought a new strength to our company because of his strong communication and writing skills. Alex is also a people person so he is wonderful at caring for our students. Alex is the Director of Education and Communication. By working together I hope we are building something that will endure.
Hope was a working dairy farm. The main house and barn were built in the 1820s. Through the years, an additional tenant house and two other barns were added to the farm. The original property was over 400 acres; years ago most of the land was developed and the farm was reduced to 25 acres. The tenant farmers were Mr. and Mrs. Hope; they worked the farm for over sixty years. The property was for sale for almost four years before we finally were able to acquire the farm. In honor of the Hopes, we named the farm Hope Flower Farm. The manor house is used for styled shoots and a residence for our teachers. Floral design students stay in the tenant house or at local B&Bs and hotels. Three barns are used for education and events. We haven’t had a wedding at the farm yet, but we’re preparing to host our first there this year. We grow daffodils, tulips, blooming branches, several thousand peonies, dahlias, lots of annuals and other perennials.
6. What is Chaple Designers and what is its mission? In 2010, I asked the floral designers following my blog and social media, “Does anyone want to meet me in New York?” They did. After years of offering advice, guidance, and moral support to fellow designers on social media, I designed a conference for them to meet and study together in person for the first time. And so Chapel Designers - the first organization of its kind - was born. This network of like-minded industry professionals came together under my wing. They call me “Flower Mama,” and now Chapel Designers from all over the world meet to study together all over the world. Essentially, we are a collective of wedding and event designers. We work together and support each other so we all find success. In light of the COVID-19 crisis, I have never been more grateful for this group. You can read more about the Chapel Designers Mission here: https://www.chapeldesigners.com/information
7. You've partnered with Syndicate Sales on the development of the Holly Chapple Egg. What is the Holly Chapple Egg? Tell us about the development process and how you came up with this ingenious product? The egg was born out of necessity. I was trying to achieve a certain type of design for a bridal bouquet - for a special bride - when I came up with the form. Syndicate Sales often supplied hard goods to our Chapel Designer workshops, so I knew that I could go to them with the mechanic concept. We had design meetings, sought a patent, and the rest is history.
8. You also have a line with MP Bastian Leathers. Tell us about this line. I needed an apron or belt that did not fall apart. My tools are constantly pointing downwards and destroying any cloth aprons I wear. This sturdier custom-made piece is water resilient and so much more durable.
9. How do you decide which businesses and/or designers to partner/collaborate with? This is often about the relationship I have with a particular person or brand. I am very people-focused. The concept/product is always born out of need. I am very careful about who I work with as I want to protect the integrity of our company which has taken 28 years to build.
10. We love that you define yourself as an artist. What would be your advice for an aspiring artist? Sometimes, just create for creation’s sake. Design things that inspire you and keep you motivated. If you feel like you are just producing and not creating art, you need to rethink where you are at. I say each design or piece that leaves the studio should make our studio proud!!
11. What are your favourite flowers to design with? Lilac, Peonies, Dahlias, Ranunculus, Garden roses…… whoops I could go on forever.
Learn more about Holly and Alex Chapple, along with Holly Chapple Flowers by following them on social media: WEBSITE | Holly Chapple Flowers | Chaple Designers | Hope Flower Farm INSTAGRAM | @hollychapple | @chapeldesigners | @hopeflowerfarm | |||
| 30 Apr 2020 | Episode 45: Exhibiting Your Work at an Art Gallery with Tiffany McIsaac | 00:28:45 | |
Last year, Jessie had an amazing opportunity to showcase a few pieces of her floral sculptures at The Freedom Factory Toronto after one of the owners of the gallery, Tiffany MacIsaac, handpicked her to be a part of a juried group show of 60 artists. The experience was rewarding for Jessie in so many ways - exposure to the local art community, engagement with other artists, commissions, and other unexpected opportunities, and taking a prize home for placing 2nd in the juried event. The most exciting was meeting Tiffany herself - a self-taught artist, curator, and visionary behind The Visual Arts Movement. In this Episode, we chat with Tiffany about her unique approach to curating art, her no-commission art gallery, and her advice to aspiring artists.
Let’s get to know Tiffany: 1. Tell us about yourself. Who is Tiffany MacIsaac? I am a Toronto based self-taught artist and curator, as well as co-owner of The Freedom Factory Toronto.
2. Tell us about The Freedom Factory Toronto The Freedom Factory is a no-commission art gallery, event space, and creative hub. We believe that creativity is a state of mind rather than a talent you're born with. Whether you're an artist or an accountant you need creativity in your life! Artists who exhibit with us keep 100% of their sales and we subsidize this by offering private events and curated micro weddings in our space.
3. What is The Freedom Factory's Visual Arts Movement and Weddings? V.A.M - The Freedom Factory's Visual Arts Movement provides emerging artists with a platform to:
It takes place once a year in various locations around the city as it is too big for our gallery space and typically we accept 60 artists into the juried exhibition. This show is so near and dear to our heart, we actually started curating this exhibition before we opened the first gallery almost 5 years ago. It is such a wonderful opportunity for emerging artists to put themselves out there in a way that can make a true impact on the trajectory of their career and build confidence. Our Micro Wedding service is something we started to offer officially at the top of this year after seeing so many couples coming to our event space stressed about the cost and workload of planning their large-scale dream day. It is essentially an ALL INCLUSIVE Luxury Micro Wedding Experience designed by local artists. Invest in your marriage, not your wedding! Learn more here.
4. Why would an artist want to show his/her work at a gallery? Pictures are worth a thousand words but nothing is like seeing an artist's creation in person. It is wonderful to take full advantage of online marketing etc, but hanging your work in a physical gallery gives people an opportunity to view your work up close and personal with trained sales staff on hand to convey the passion and story behind each piece. Of course, sales are the main objective, however, so many incredible opportunities come from the exposure that showing with a gallery can bring also. Connections to industry professionals who can help further your career, introduction to future buyers and collectors, commission opportunities, brand partnerships, and so on. It is also a great opportunity to build a network of other creatives and like-minded people whether for business or personal connection.
5. How does an artist get shown at a traditional art gallery versus your art gallery? Typically galleries will post open calls for artists if they are looking to curate group exhibitions with a particular theme. Each open call and gallery will have a specific set of submission guidelines (please read them carefully and treat it like applying for a job). These calls for artists are typically found on the gallery's website or social media platforms. I think it is important to do your research when it comes to which galleries are best suited for the style of work you do and which you think would best resonate with you. Each will have a different process for how they take on an artist. With us, if you're looking to have a solo exhibition we have a link to start that discussion on our website.
6. What does a curator look for in an artist's work? I think this varies between curators. While technical ability and precision in your work obviously speaks for itself, I personally look for artists with something to say, whether it's taking a style I have seen again and again and making it your own or the ability to convey a message or story that needs to be shared... for me I would rather work with an artist who has a unique style and voice but may need to work on their technical skills to someone who is "perfectly" trained but lacks originality. But that's me...there is a place for everyone.
7. Who determines the price of artwork at an art gallery? What is the industry standard percentage/proportion that an art gallery receives from the sale of an artist's work? Typically we work with an artist prior to solo exhibitions to iron out pricing. There are many factors that can be taken into account when pricing art. Most galleries in the city charge between 20% and 65% commission on the sale of your work ... we take nothing!
8. Given today's artists have the ability to directly market to buyers, how relevant is it today to show at a gallery or be represented by an art agent? I think that showing in a gallery is always relevant! Again, it gives prospective buyers an opportunity to see your work in real life and it is never the same experience as seeing it online. Also as I previously mentioned there are many opportunities that come as a result of exhibiting, connections to industry professionals who can help further your career, introduction to future buyers and collectors, commission opportunities, brand partnerships, meeting other artists. You can always get your feet wet with group shows exhibiting one or two pieces at a time. This can give you an opportunity to see how buyers react to your work and decide which galleries you prefer working with. I am not for or against the idea of an agent...I would caution an emerging artist to really do their research before signing on to a representation deal exclusively whether it's a gallery or an agent as there are a lot of people out there looking to sell you the dream and take advantage. I would not want to be paying my agent a commission on top of paying the gallery they are putting my work in a commission ... it all adds up fast and before you know it you're left with nothing after your time and supplies etc. It's like that band who signs the record deal right away because they are excited but now that label owns them and they're still broke. But certain deals are worth making, just do your research.
9. What would be your advice for an aspiring paper flower artist? Own your craft! It is an art and just as worthy of being shown in any place your heart desires to see it . Put yourself out there and don't be afraid to hear no. Also, make it your own. What sets your paper florals apart?
10. Is there anything else you'd like to share with our listeners? Yes, we have actually started our own podcast called Creativity Unleashed where we invite you to reconnect and explore the multi-layered chasms of creativity that exist within each of us. We will also introduce you to our network of artists and industry professionals as we explore creativity as a state of mind rather than a talent you're born with. Here you will find guided meditations, insightful conversations, and evocative tools to help you unleash your full potential... because when we live life from a place of creative thinking, the opportunities are endless.
Learn more about Tiffany and The Freedom Factory by following them on social media: WEBSITE | The Freedom Factory PODCAST & BLOG | https://www.thefreedomfactorytoronto.com/blog YOUTUBE | Creativity Unleashed Podcast INSTAGRAM | @thefreedomfactorytoronto FACEBOOK | /thefreedomfactorytoronto | |||
| 14 May 2020 | Episode 47 - International Paper Flower Day with Kate Alarcon | 00:14:04 | |
May 14 is International Paper Flower Day, and in celebration of this special day, we've invited one of our favourite artists, Kate Alarcon of The Cobralily, to talk about it with us. Thanks to Kate - she came up with the idea of designating a specific date to celebrate our paper flower community and our art - paper flowers are spreading like wildfire around the world. Listen to Quynh and Jessie as they talk to Kate about how she came up with the idea of International Paper Flower Day, the impetus for it, and what she hopes it'll achieve.
GIVEAWAY is CLOSED Be sure to head over to our IG account and check out our International Paper Flower post for a chance to win a copy of the following books: Jessie Chui's Paper Flower Art: Create Beautifully Realistic Floral Arrangements Kate Alarcon's Uncommon Paper Flowers Lucia Balcazar's Build a Flower: a Beginner's Guide to Paper Flowers
HOW TO ENTER: To enter into the Giveaway, leave a comment below our International Paper Flower post (@thepaperfloristsorg) on how you are planning to celebrate paper flower day or who has inspired you to become a paper florists. Giveaway is open for the entire day of May 14, 2020. One entry per person. The 3 winners will be announced on the following day. See below for the Terms & Conditions.
The receipt by the Winner(s) of the Prize(s) offered in this Giveaway is conditioned upon compliance with any and all federal and state/provincial laws and regulations. ANY VIOLATION OF THESE OFFICIAL RULES BY ANY WINNER (AT THE PAPER FLORISTS COLLECTIVE’S SOLE DISCRETION) WILL RESULT IN SUCH WINNER’S DISQUALIFICATION AS WINNER OF THE GIVEAWAY AND ALL PRIVILEGES AS WINNER WILL BE IMMEDIATELY TERMINATED. | |||
| 18 Jun 2020 | Episode 49 - Building a Flower with Lucia Balcazar | 00:17:51 | |
Today we talk to Lucia Balcazar, the author of Build a Flower: A Beginner's Guide to Paper Flowers. Lucia has an easily recognizable signature style of deep colours and strong graphic lines in her paper flower art. Formerly a statistician, she changed her career path to follow her love for the fine arts, and her art reflects a maturity and confidence that is a hallmark of later-in-life artists. Her first book, Build a Flower, provides a refreshing take on paper flowers by exploring different types of paper materials and techniques. It's a perfect book for beginners who are keen on trying different mediums and ideal for crafters/artists who want to take on something fun. Listen to us chat with Lucia about her new book, how she manages her tendonitis, and how she balances her mom-life with her art.
First, let's learn a bit about Lucia: 1. Who is Lucia Balcazar? I'm a statistician turned paper flower artist. I was born in St. Paul, Minnesota but grew up in La Paz, Bolivia. I went to college in Chicago, moved to Berlin, travelled through Asia, and lived in Tanzania for a while. I changed careers and went to art school in Boston, where I live now with my husband Jose Andres and baby Matilde.
2. How and why did you start making paper flowers? The first time I made paper flowers was during a massive snowstorm in Boston. We had been stuck at home for days. I had come across paper flowers online while researching ideas for my wedding and fell in love with the idea right away. I gathered whatever materials I had at home and made my first (very wonky!) paper flower. I used blue painter's tape instead of floral tape, thick modeling wire instead of floral wire, and fine art paper with no stretch. The results weren’t great but I felt really proud of my first attempt.
3. What are some of the challenges you've faced during your paper flower journey? I’ve had to deal with tendonitis pain on both my wrists. When the pain gets really strong, the idea of making flowers is so daunting and it’s hard to push through the pain to finish projects. I got cortisone shots on both hands, but they only alleviated the pain on my right wrist. For the left wrist, I wore a brace for a long time and the pain has gotten much better but it’s not completely gone. I think a lot of artists in our community deal with this type of pain, unfortunately. I need to get better at practicing hand exercises. Another challenge I have faced is also very common amongst artists and crafters. For the longest time, I struggled with pricing my work and I often undervalued myself.
4. How have you made your paper flower voice stand out in the crowd? There are so many amazing paper flower artists out there and it can be intimidating sometimes. But something that helped me stand out was to incorporate my creative (and non-creative) background into my paper flower making. For example, I love art history (20th-century art in particular) and created a series that recreates modern art paintings using paper flowers (#modernartpaperflowers). I also used experiences from my travels as inspiration to make orchids from exotic places and a series of travelling paper flowers, where I hold a paper flower against a city background in the places I visit (#travellingpaperflowers). Also, I’ve come to embrace the fact that my botanical knowledge is very limited. I think this has allowed me to approach flower making with fresh eyes and to focus on color and shape, not so much on botanical correctness. I’m not concerned with getting the botanical details right, I just want to make colorful things. If I want to add a blue center to a magnolia, I just go for it, I don’t feel bad taking as many creative licenses as I want.
5. Tell us about Build a Flower: A Beginner's Guide to Paper Flowers. The book is targeted towards beginners and explores 5 different types of paper with 5 flower tutorials: a cardstock wall flower, a doublette crepe tulip, a florist crepe peony, a fine crepe ranunculus, and a tissue paper dahlia. I incorporated basic paper flower techniques into these 5 tutorials that the reader can then apply to other flowers. I'm hoping the book will excite beginners into further exploring the world of paper flower crafting. My publisher is Abrams Books from New York, I feel so lucky to have worked with such a great team.
6. How do you balance working at home and raising a young child? This has been tough, of course, and my creative output has gone down considerably. I don't post to Instagram as often as I would like and I don't take as many commissions as before, but I try to find time in the evenings to create. I have an 18-month-old and I take care of her full time. She is very sweet and funny and I feel very fortunate to be able to spend so much time with her. But I do miss having time to make art. I get a couple of hours when she is finally asleep and before I also start closing my eyes while operating a hot glue gun! I've had to pull all-nighters to work on commissions for events because that's the only time Matilde is not rummaging through my paper. And working on the book was especially hard because she was going through a sleep regression (waking up every 2 hours!).
7. What advice would you give to a paper florist that is starting out today? Explore all the different papers that are available to discover which one feels right for you. Experiment with the different paper crafting techniques and soon you will develop your own style. Also, the paper flower community is very welcoming. It is definitely not about competition, your creative voice matters and is appreciated.
8. Do you have any paper flower making tips to share with our listeners? Lately, I’ve been laminating most of my paper, petals, leaves, stamens. Laminating is basically just glueing two pieces of paper together. This makes the paper sturdier and more durable, and you can get very sculptural shapes while the glue is still wet. I work mostly with doublette crepe, which lends itself to this technique because it is not as textured as a florist crepe and not as thin as a fine crepe. It takes longer but I love the end result.
Learn more about Lucia Balcazar by following her on social media: WEBSITE | www.LuciaBalcazar.com INSTAGRAM | @luciabalcazar | |||
| 22 May 2020 | Episode 48 - Selling, Teaching & Buying: Intellectual Property Considerations | 00:14:00 | |
In this episode, we address some of the concerns that Quynh has about her collaboration with artists for The Posey Box and the issue of intellectual ownership. We both offer online courses for purchase, and we teach workshops on a regular basis. As teachers, we want to ensure that we provide high-quality content - from instructions to templates - to all of our students. If you buy a course from us or learn from us at a paid workshop, it’s more than a business transaction for us; it’s a student-teacher relationship. But there’s also the possibility that someone may take our hard work and re-sell it or re-teach it for a profit. We have also been students; as students, we are interested in learning new skills and techniques and are willing to pay for it. However, it’s always unclear what you can do with the intellectual property you’ve then acquired. What can we do with the skills and techniques learned, or the templates, or the paper flower? Then there’s the approach that as consumers, once we pay for something, it’s ours to do as we wish. We discuss all of these issues in this Episode. Consider our discussions on an informal discussion between two friends. We recommend you contact an intellectual property lawyer for legal advice. > You may hear our intern, Cillian, in the background at some point in our discussion. It seems like he already has strong opinions about the matter! | |||
| 11 Jun 2020 | Episode 50: The Ins and Outs of Starting a Subscription Box with Rachel Heath | 00:39:41 | |
As paper flower entrepreneurs, we are always re-evaluating our business and trying to tweak our strategy so we can increase our profit margin while at the same time, saving time. In the last few years, subscription box offerings have been taking off (even our very own Quynh offers one!). So we wanted to explore why a business owner may decide to include a subscription offering as part of their monetization strategy and how they would go about designing the offer and launching it. Naturally, we reached out to the perfect person to give us a frank perspective - Rachel Heath, the face behind the Flora Fun Box, and the designer of Trill Flora. Rachel launched her Flora Fun Box (which is full of floral goodness) in December 2019. In this Episode, we talk to her in-depth about why she decided to pivot her business, how she decided on the subscription offering and the things to consider when launching a new business product.
First, let's learn a bit about Rachel: 1. Introduce yourself to us! Who is Rachel Heath? Hello! I’m Rachel. I live in the greater Seattle area, and I’m a mother to a five-year-old and twin one-year-olds. Way back when I worked in the book industry before eventually switching to the floral world. I have a habit of picking industries I’m passionate about.
2. What made you switch into the floral world and become a florist? My husband and I moved to Seattle for his graduate education, and the original plan was that we’d only be here two years. I decided it would be the perfect opportunity to try something out of my wheelhouse, something I’ve always wanted to do but never dared leave my career to attempt. So, I got a job in a floral shop. We ended up staying in Seattle, and I stayed in the floral industry.
3. Is that when you started your events company, Trill Flora? That's right. I started my floral event company, Trill Flora, in the winter of 2015-16, around the time my daughter was born. I decided to build an event business because I realized that the way daily shops operate just wasn’t for me. Events allow much more creative freedom than most of the bouquet work done for daily deliveries. While I still do some rare delivery work for holidays, I definitely prefer the creative work of special events like weddings.
4. What turning points in your life led you to where you are now in your personal and business life? After building up Trill Flora for a few years, I got to a point where I wished I could share flowers with people who didn’t live close to me, and that’s something that’s really hard to do when you have a perishable product. My twins’ birth brought lots of sleepless nights, and these ideas started buzzing around in my head. I wanted to figure out how to send stuff to people so that they could make arrangements themselves. So much of designing flowers comes down to having the right tools and equipment, and it suddenly becomes so much easier and accessible and fun then. So that’s when I started cooking up my Flora Fun Box subscription.
5. What a great idea! Tell us a little bit about the Flora Fun Box. Flora Fun Box is a carefully curated, seasonal, floral subscription box. I pick very specific pieces that are beautiful in your home with or without flowers and also provide you with everything you need to put it all together. This includes digital online demonstrations that teach you how to make an arrangement, plus other tips and tricks of the industry. We also throw in more fun things to help you get in the mood for the season, entertain friends, cultivate your own floral garden, or just get crafty.
6. It must be exciting being able to share flowers with non-industry people, but I bet there are challenges to offering subscription box too. It’s rewarding to be able to serve people outside of my immediate community. It’s quite difficult to offer my services to anybody outside of the greater Seattle area unless it’s travel for a wedding which is a whole different ball game. Being able to make connections and share in the joy and excitement of flowers with people in a broader space is really fun. The more challenging aspects definitely include being chained to the schedule of the boxes. I knew this going into it, which is why I chose a seasonal schedule instead of monthly. Other challenges are shipping, curating the right pieces, fitting everything into a box, and designing the box.
7. Who is your audience and what are they looking for when they pick you? My audience for the Flora Fun Box is four different kinds of people: flower lovers, crafters, lifestylers for home decor, and hosting enthusiasts. We try to include something for each of those types in our box every season. It’s not easy to host a party these days, but I definitely feel that there’s something to be said for making things beautiful and lovely for yourself. Keep things a little more emotionally healthy during your own quarantine experience.
8. There are so many types of subscription box offerings these days. What do you think makes the Flora Fun Box stand apart? Most activity or craft kits are geared toward children. There aren’t a lot of subscription boxes for adults that actually have to do with creative expression and learning new things. Most subscription boxes don’t come with online education, and most online education doesn’t come with a subscription box. Putting those two together was a very difficult thing to do. They don’t go hand in hand very easily. It’s a lot of work to get the online content done on time, as well as the box. But that’s what makes me stand out the most.
9. With so much going on in your business, how do you balance your busy family life with being an entrepreneur? If anyone has an answer I’m happy to hear it! I try to have childcare between 6-12 hours a week, depending on what I have going on. Because of the stay-at-home orders through the spring, that has become pretty tricky. But a big part of it is having support from family. My husband is very supportive and helps me carve out time in our busy schedules to focus on my business.
10. Do you have any advice for an aspiring creative entrepreneur? Being a creative entrepreneur can be really difficult because usually you either have a really strong creative side or a really strong entrepreneurial side. It can be hard to meld those two together. My best advice would be to focus on growing your entrepreneurial skills. I think the creative side of things can come a little more naturally and easily, but entrepreneurial skills are often best learned through classes and networking. You need to focus on staking out your place in an industry that is probably quite saturated.
11. Lastly - a flower question! What are your favourite flowers to design with and why? Hellebores top the list, for sure. I also love working with berries like blackberries and tinus viburnum. That last one is absolutely opulent, lovely, different. Just perfect. I really enjoy textural things. Cosmos is also a very fun flower, since they’re so happy and just dance in arrangements.
GET YOUR DISCOUNT! Rachel has kindly created an exclusive coupon for our listeners to get $15 off with the code PAPERTALK From Rachel: "We are currently in the middle of Summer Sales right now, with our Autumn box just around the corner, and our super special holiday bonus box (not part of the subscription to be announced over labor day.) Also, update: you will very soon be able to mark an "international" shipping option and we'll sub out any organic products with a choice of additional non-organic products. (ie, we'll swap a dahlia tuber or seeds with another extra goodie of your choice.)" Head on over to the Flora Funbox website to use the coupon!
Be sure to follow Rachel and her Flora Funbox on social media! WEBSITES | www.trillflora.com | www.Florafunbox.com INSTAGRAM | https://www.instagram.com/trillflora/ FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/Trillflora/ | |||
| 25 Jun 2020 | Episode 52: How and Why Branding and Marketing Go Hand in Hand (Part 1) with Kalisa Jenne-Fraser and Missy Palacol | 00:21:53 | |
We’ve all taken different paths to the wonderful world of paper flowers, but one thing that unites us is a love of our craft. It’s no surprise that many of us want to turn that passion into a business. But even if you make the most amazing, creative flowers, you may have found yourself feeling a bit over your head when it comes to the branding and marketing side of things. That's why we reached out to two incredible ladies: Kalisa Jenne-Fraser and Missy Palacol. They are the talented duo behind the consulting firm, Kalyx Group, and in this podcast episode, they share insights and tips to help businesses succeed.
First, let's learn a bit about Kalisa and Missy: 1. Introduce yourself to us! Kalisa Jenne-Fraser is co-founder of Kalyx Group, a brand, and marketing consulting firm headquartered in Seattle. Kalisa is a brand marketing consultant who specializes in strategic brand planning, content marketing, and digital media strategy. She has spent almost her entire professional life delivering marketing strategies and insights to global brands, non-profits, and startups alike. In 2016, after nearly 20 years in corporate marketing and consulting, she left her comfort zone to take on new challenges, expand her skillset, and hopefully help build something awesome from the ground up inKalyx Group. Through Kalyx Group, she offers consulting and training programs that teach entrepreneurs and small business owners how to translate their passions into actionable brand strategies that work. Missy Palacol is a Seattle-based, nationally published brand photographer, digital marketing expert, and speaker. She teaches people and companies how to capture their authentic visual brand and how to leverage social and digital media to grow their businesses. In 2014, Missy left her full-time career in corporate marketing and struck out on her own with Missy Palacol Photography, capturing rich and memorable imagery for brands. In 2016, she co-founded Kalyx Group, where she combines her enjoyment of photography with her deep knowledge of marketing and digital storytelling.
2. Tell us about your brand and marketing business, Kalyx Group. We founded Kalyx Group in 2016. We’re are a team of brand and marketing strategists with over 30 years combined experience helping companies – from global Fortune 100s to local startups and solopreneurs – develop and implement strategies that drive results. We especially have a passion for small businesses – we bring a simple, effective, affordable approach to marketing that starts with brand clarity and ends with a well-thought-out strategic marketing plan. It’s our mission to help brands streamline their marketing approach by consulting on the right tactics to employ at the right time.
3. Let's dive right into your expertise. Why are marketing and branding important? First of all, we’d like to take a sec to explain the differences between branding and marketing. Many people think they are one and the same. In a nutshell, branding is WHO your company is and why it exists. It provides your business with a real identity. The ideas, the emotions, the beliefs, the values, the looks, the experience of your business. Marketing is HOW you build awareness. It’s the activities that you do to create the awareness and power of your brand. Marketing teaches consumers who you are and why you matter to them and the value of your goods and services. Having a good branding strategy for your business helps to improve recognition in your industry, creates trust, communicates your professionalism, builds financial value, and inspires your potential consumers. Having a solid marketing plan that aligns with your brand strategy is important because it helps you let people know who you are, expands your audience, and reaches your sales goals.
4. What is the number one thing that new entrepreneurs do wrong? We tend to see our entrepreneur clients try and do everything and then get so overwhelmed that they let their brand and marketing efforts fall by the wayside which leads to them working harder at operating their business without a plan in place. We get it, small business owners especially, are stressed, overwhelmed, strapped for time, and have limited budgets. On the other hand, we see small business owners that do have a budget for branding and marketing support, hire a professional to help them, but the hired professional efforts fall short because of their lack of clarity of your brand – they aren’t sure who the brand is and how to reach that ideal consumer on your behalf. -Their marketing work ends up being more complex and time-consuming than it needs to be at your expense. Consistency always wins.
5. What is a realistic marketing/branding budget for a small business? What if I only have a small budget? The good news though, is that a little effort can go a long way. Small business owners do not have to spend significantly more time or money to get better results. So long as you have clarity about what you want to do and a strongly defined brand. For example, logo creation. If you have clarity of what your brand is and what it stands for, it’s easy to hire a logo creator through a service provider/platform to do that work for a few hundred dollars or less. If you haven’t done the work to define who your brand is and what your brand stands for, it’s very difficult for the service provider to do their job, which ends up costing you more because time is money.
6. There's a lot of hype about selling with a story. What are your thoughts on that? We strongly believe in storytelling because it’s easy for the brain to understand and doubles down the, “know + like + trust formula.” Storytelling allows your consumers to get to know you better, which then turns them into liking you, and then the liking turns to trust and when a person trusts a brand, they are 100% more likely to buy from them.
READ THE PODCAST TRANSCRIPT HERE
GET YOUR FREEBIES! HEAD OVER to the Kalyx Group website to download a free PDF copy of The Brand Audit Worksheet!
Learn more by following Kalisa, Missy, and the Kalyx Group on social media: WEBSITE | Kalyx Group | Missy Palacol Photography INSTAGRAM | @missy.palacol | |||
| 18 Jun 2020 | Episode 51: How to Survive Social Distancing with Anna Chedid | 00:47:32 | |
In this Episode, we talk to our friend and fellow paper florist Anna Chedid about how she is handling social distancing during this unique time in our history. For many of us, it's been weeks since "normal." We no longer leave our houses without hand sanitizer and a face mask. We count the number of people present when we hang out with our neighbours, friends, or family. Our food cravings are now conditioned around what exists in our fridge and pantry. All of our interactions are now more... complicated. As artists, we are used to working from home or our studio, often working alone for hours. But that is by choosing. So what happens when we're forced to be isolated from others for a long period of time? How do we stay healthy?
First, let's learn a bit about Anna: 1. Tell us about yourself! Who is Anna Chedid? That's probably the hardest one to answer! I'm Anna, Brazilian, designer, paper artist, crazy cat lady, coffee drinker, chocolate lover! I was born and raised in Brazil, lucky to have a very caring, warm, and supportive family. I married a lovely guy that is also a designer, photographer, musician and cooks all sorts of delicious food. We moved to the USA two years ago, the husband is to blame, with our two cats and I have been dedicating my time to @floresdaannita full time.
2. Tell us how you started making paper flowers. I started making paper flowers after I got married. I made a lot of things to decorate my wedding party and some accessories too, so my husband told me that I should start to make those things and sell them online. I had NO IDEA how to make things happen, had no experience in the business area at all! But he helped me set up an online shop and with product photography as well. Having a background in fashion helped a lot too. So one day I was looking for tutorials on how to make fabric flowers and I ended up finding a Martha Stewart tutorial about paper flowers, that was the official beginning for me on the paper flower world. I have memories of my mother making paper flowers for birthday parties, for my grandparent's 50th anniversary as well when I was a child. She even made me a pair of paper angel's wings so I could be one of the little angels at the Coronation of Our Lady of The Rosary, it's a Catholic thing! I guess the only books about paper flowers available at the time, 2013, were Livias's and Rebecca's. I bought them and I found some antique digitalized PDFs with paper flower making tutorials and used a lot of fabric flower-making tutorials as well to help me create blooms.
3. It sounds like your creations had a lot of potential from the start. How have you been able to make your paper flower voice stand out in the crowd? I think it's due to several factors. I was exposed to a lot of plants and flowers when I was a child, I always have a good aesthetic sense, I'm not bragging just being realistic. As a child and in my teenage years I was exposed to art, music, architecture, design, and was very encouraged to create things with my hands. I was always drawing, painting, and being "annoyingly creative" sometimes! I have a Fashion design degree, and that helped me with the technical part and also the bureaucratic stuff that is always a pain to deal with for me. A lot of the research part that I do when I wanna start a project, for example, comes from the methodology that I've learned in fashion school. You have to use all the tools you have to make it work, I use my personal experiences and all the skills I acquired over the years to express something visually. I think that if you respect your creative desires and use the tools that you have in a good way, you can make good stuff and people can relate to it. Just do what makes you happy at first, and improve from there. It can sound simplistic and naive, but it's the truth!
Oh, I think the major challenge is about making money. In the beginning, it was painful. I had no idea how to price my product and how to keep track of my expenses and income. I had to figure it out by trial and error, and there were a lot of tears and self-doubt, lots of unwanted advice from people with zero experience in business but for some reason thought that they should give them. The money factor and all that comes with it, made me have lots of negative thoughts about what I was doing and if it was worth all that pain. That can impact in a very bad way when you are the one dealing with all the demands of a business, but especially on your creative and productive side.
5. Since moving from Brazil to the United States, you've had to put your business on hold. How do you feel not being able to sell your art? It was a tough decision to make! I was finally making money with paper flowers, I had lots of brides, art directors, prop designers that reached out for collabs and projects, I was getting recognized as an artist in Brazil and that is a big deal. But living abroad was in my plans, actually was something that my husband and I talked about since we met, so I've already had a plan in case that happened. I also already knew that I was not going to be able to work under the visa I currently am, so I took advantage of this to focus on evolving my work. I wish I could sell my pieces, for sure, but I know I can't and I have to live with that. I focus on other things instead of trying to find some illegal way to sell my pieces, that's just not me!
6. Tell us about your hashtag #ordinarycolorful. What inspired you to start this hashtag? I was just trying to elevate my photography skills. I love to organize things by color so I started to look for objects around the house that have similar colors and put them together like a mood board that I could take a pic from above. I liked it so much that I decided to post some of those pics and it wasn't my intention to make it a collaborative project. It was Janita, @mywoollymammoth, that planted the seed in the back of my mind. I'm responsible for the name, but she is the one to blame, she encouraged me and gave a lot of support spreading the word about the #ordinarycolorful. So It's not just mine, it's Janita too!
7. You've been exploring different ways to present, style, and photograph your paper flowers lately, sometimes focusing on colour, and at times, parts of a flower, and you even had a series of flowers native to your homeland, Brazil. What drives you towards these experimentations? I've learned over the years that if you have an urge to create something, you have to allow yourself to fail, to make things that have nothing to do with what you are currently working, to learn something new completely unrelated to what you do for a living. When you practice this, when you put yourself in an uncomfortable position, you free yourself and the way you relate to your work. It also makes you not take for granted what makes you the person you are, your identity. I love to organize my thoughts by colors, for example, I do that since I was a child. This is something that I can do almost naturally, so why not take advantage of that? Or why not look to my homeland and try to replicate the beautiful plants and flowers that made my childhood so special?
8. As a seasoned paper florist, what advice would you give to a paper florist who is starting out today? Enjoy the HUGE amount of information that you have available now and practice a lot! When I started there was so little info about paper flowers, it was basically none. Now, there's a lot of tutorials, books, videos available, a lot of good stuff out there, and some of that for free. Also, stop sharing the work you make to get other people's approval! Share for you, make for you. Use your personal references to evolve your style. I grew a lot when I stopped looking into other floral paper artists' work for inspiration. Look for other sources of inspo, music, architecture, fashion, etc.
Be kind to yourself and practice a lot! Explore the materials, especially crepe paper. Stretch, torn, bleach, paint, fold, cut, glue, play with your papers!
10. Do you have a favourite tool you use on a daily basis? I would say my hands, but having good scissors are a game-changer. And I don't have a brand that I recommend because it's a very personal tool. Try some to find the one that works the best. For me, the scissors have to be light and not too big, my hands are kinda small.
Thank you Anna for chatting with us today and sharing your invaluable experience!
Be sure to follow Anna and her beautiful paper flowers on social media! INSTAGRAM | https://www.instagram.com/floresdaannita/ WEBSITE | https://floresdaannita.com/ | |||
| 02 Jul 2020 | Episode 53: How and Why Branding and Marketing Go Hand in Hand (Part 2) with Kalisa Jenne-Fraser and Missy Palacol | 00:26:43 | |
Last week on our podcast, Paper Talk, we dove into the world of branding with Kalisa Jenne-Fraser and Missy Palacol of Kalyx Group. We loved and learned so much from our conversation that we extended into this week’s episode. Our focus shifted from finding the heart of your business (in short, the brand) to the ins and outs of marketing your business.
If you haven't listened to "How and Why Branding and Marketing Go Hand in Hand (Part 1)" be sure to listen to that Episode!
Let's learn a bit about Kalisa and Missy: 1. Introduce yourself to us (again)! Kalisa Jenne-Fraser is co-founder of Kalyx Group, a brand, and marketing consulting firm headquartered in Seattle. Kalisa is a brand marketing consultant who specializes in strategic brand planning, content marketing, and digital media strategy. She has spent almost her entire professional life delivering marketing strategies and insights to global brands, non-profits, and startups alike. In 2016, after nearly 20 years in corporate marketing and consulting, she left her comfort zone to take on new challenges, expand her skillset, and hopefully help build something awesome from the ground up in Kalyx Group. Through Kalyx Group, she offers consulting and training programs that teach entrepreneurs and small business owners how to translate their passions into actionable brand strategies that work. Missy Palacol is a Seattle-based, nationally published brand photographer, digital marketing expert, and speaker. She teaches people and companies how to capture their authentic visual brand and how to leverage social and digital media to grow their businesses. In 2014, Missy left her full-time career in corporate marketing and struck out on her own with Missy Palacol Photography, capturing rich and memorable imagery for brands. In 2016, she co-founded Kalyx Group, where she combines her enjoyment of photography with her deep knowledge of marketing and digital storytelling.
2. Tell us about your brand and marketing business, Kalyx Group. We founded Kalyx Group in 2016. We’re are a team of brand and marketing strategists with over 30 years combined experience helping companies – from global Fortune 100s to local startups and solopreneurs – develop and implement strategies that drive results. We especially have a passion for small businesses – we bring a simple, effective, affordable approach to marketing that starts with brand clarity and ends with a well-thought-out strategic marketing plan. It’s our mission to help brands streamline their marketing approach by consulting on the right tactics to employ at the right time.
3. Given the consistent disruptions we’ve seen in 2020, how should brands think about shifting their marketing for the new normal? We are in the acknowledge-and-adapt phase of the Covid-19 pandemic. But we also have to plan for life beyond the crisis. As we navigate what we know, businesses must work externally to keep their brands and customer journeys as a whole as possible, while working internally to do three things:
4. How should brands think about building resilience in the new normal? If you use this time to reset and reimagine your new interactions with your customers, you can actually survive and thrive in uncertain times. With any business, the customer journey and keeping your customers satisfied are important to your business’ growth. For example, we work with a local gym that offers a bootcamp program. Before the pandemic, all classes were in person. Like most businesses, they had to figure out a way to switch to an online model in order to survive these uncertain times. The goal with their new online class model was to not only support their existing clients but draw new clients in too. We helped our client think about a tiered model that would incentivize their existing clientele to still pay the monthly fee for a new online class by offering extra value -adds to their clients through things like weekly check-ins and bonus content. These efforts helped their brand to continue to build trust with their clients who then started recommending their online classes to their friends…and their client’s friends weren’t just fellow local people. Because of their flexibility with their business approach, they grew their business outside of their local area and are now able to reach new clients nationally – this was an unexpected outcome for them and not just helping them survive right now, but thrive!
5. Should brand’s stop advertising during uncertain times? The brands that are finding success through these uncertain times didn’t completely halt their advertising, but they did take a pause. It’s kind of like crossing the street of a busy road, it’s best to stop, look, and listen first before you proceed. You want to make sure that your marketing efforts are not only relevant but don’t become tone-deaf to the times we were in. Once you’ve figured out how to make any necessary shifts to your marketing then, advertising in uncertain times like today can be really successful. For starters, social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram have seen a huge increase in daily users since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. With more people working from home and looking for ways to stay connected they are turning to social media for that. And a lot of businesses and brands have pulled back on their marketing spend, so advertising avenues such as paid or sponsored ads on Facebook and Instagram have come down in price lately, meaning your $50 budget for a sponsor ad currently goes further than it used to in pre-pandemic times.
6. During these uncertain times, what would you say are the do's and don’ts? The DO's
The DON'T'S
READ THE PODCAST TRANSCRIPT HERE
GET YOUR FREEBIES! HEAD OVER to the Kalyx Group website to download a free PDF copy of the Brand Readiness Checklist: How to Prepare for Disruption!
Learn more by following Kalisa, Missy, and the Kalyx Group on social media: WEBSITE | Kalyx Group | Missy Palacol Photography INSTAGRAM | @missy.palacol | |||
| 17 Jul 2020 | Episode 55: Teaching Workshops after Covid-19 with Jasmine Sing | 00:40:44 | |
Although South Korea did not formally implement a lockdown, South Koreans were encouraged to practice physical distancing and to wear masks in public spaces. Most of their economy is back to "normal" and we thought it would be interesting to speak to Jasmine Sing of Merremade about how she went about re-commencing her in-person workshops in South Korea, as it would be equally relevant in other countries once the physical distancing policies start to loosen up. If you want to know more about Jasmine, be sure to check out Episode 15 where we first spoke to her about the paper flower industry in Asia.
First, let's learn a bit about Jasmine: 1. Tell us about yourself, Jasmine! The Asian with big dreams, and the brain & hands behind Merremade. I am born and raised in Singapore but moved to South Korea 7 years ago. Still trying to learn & adjust to this not-so-new environment. Every day is an adventure and I have so much I want to achieve. I am usually a funny person. I like to think differently, act differently, and speak differently. I am also quite ambitious and dream too big at times :)
2. What products and services do you provide under the name Merremade? Merremade is mainly based in South Korea and I conduct regular courses, one-day workshops and work on commissioned works from time to time. I also travel back to Singapore to teach and work on projects/collaborations. I’m looking forward to venturing into international projects too.
3. How has the Covid-19 lockdown affected your business? I was in Singapore when Covid-19 hit Asia and the project I was working on was canceled. I flew back to Korea and the situation got worse. Everyone was in panic and very worried about what would happen. All my scheduled classes were postponed to much later date. And thankfully, I was able to resume my classes 2 months later (in May). During that 2 months, I was lucky to still have income from my online course. I spent that whole period working on things that I had procrastinated on and of course experimented with many new tools, materials, ideas that I had for the longest time.
4. How have you had to adapt your business in light of the Covid-19 lockdown? Surprisingly, there was no lockdown in Korea at all. But people were advised to work from home and stay away from crowds. Everyone was going online for everything. So, in the earlier stage, I focused more on my online course and connecting with my followers and students. Is online platforms. When I was able to resume my offline classes, I followed the precautions and measures that were set for public meetings.
5. You recently began offering in-person workshops again. When did you decide it was an appropriate time? What challenges do/did you face? Honestly, I wasn’t ready to have the classes any time soon. I was skeptical and worried even now. Students were waiting for me to resume classes and always checking on the dates. The drop in the number of Covid cases helped me decide to start my classes again. At that point in time, we were looking at less than 20 infected cases per day. It was progressing really well but we can’t let our guards down isn’t it? I sanitise the entire room (yes, including the doorknobs and all my tools before and after workshops. I also prepare sanitisers and extra masks just in case. My classes are held in smaller groups (maximum 3pax) now and we practice social distancing. The biggest challenge is not knowing if anyone is carrying any virus including myself. We are all risking at this moment to have any face-to-face workshops. But these small measures, gives us peace of mind. Not just for myself, but also for all the participants in the same room.
6. Tell us about the International Crafts Design Association and its designation. It is a private association registered and approved by the Korean government. The purpose of the association establishment is to promote the development of craftworks in Korea. Having a registered association, I’m able to issue official certificates to prove that the student has completed the full course and is capable of teaching what she/he has learned. The course consists of general paper flower fundamentals, basic to intermediate skills. They will learn up to 10 different types of flowers and a few types of foliages. After which, they will take a written test and once they pass, they will receive the official certificate. They will then become certified Instructors under ICDA and be able to teach what learned from them.
7. What made you decide to implement certification of completion for your workshops? In the beginning, I didn’t think issuing a certificate of completion was necessary. However, in Korea, having a certificate plays a big role if you want to teach. It is a kind of recognition and people acknowledge that you have gone through the whole training to become a certified instructor.
8. Is there anything else you'd like to share with us? I may not be the best person to go to, but if you need any listening ear/advice, do drop me an email. I’m willing to share my experiences. We are in this together. Have faith and we can get through this together. Stay safe! | |||
| 09 Jul 2020 | Episode 54: When to Work for Free with Kate Alarcon | 00:22:30 | |
This week on our Paper Talk Podcast, we want to talk about when it's ok to work for free with our friend, Kate Alarcon. As much as we hate to admit it, we've all made paper flowers for "free" in one way or the other. Often, it's in the early stages of our paper flower journey, when we're desperate for exposure when we don't have the guts to ask for the right kind of compensation (or any compensation at all) when we're not all that confident about work. If we're lucky, we come out of it a better artist or entrepreneur with opportunities that we never dreamed of. On the other hand, if those opportunities aren't fruitful, we might feel slightly disappointed, even resentful perhaps. When would you work for free? In this episode, each of us explains when we've worked for free and why those opportunities were or were not ones that we would ever do again.
Read the transcript here. | |||
| 23 Jul 2020 | Episode 56: Getting Your Paper Flowers Featured in Magazines and Blogs with Tonneli Gruetter | 00:32:35 | |
Learn from a marketing expert, Tonneli Gruetter, how to reach across industry lines to grow your paper floral business and gain exposure in print and digital publications.
You may wonder if a fresh floral magazine or blog will feature your paper flowers, and the answer is yes! On our latest episode of Paper Talk, Tonneli Gruetter— a marketing expert and writer at the Florists’ Review magazine—spoke eloquently about the amazing collaboration that can happen when we choose to look outside of our immediate industry and connect with others. She would love to see our community’s work, either by submitting it on the Florists’ Review website or tagging/direct messaging them on Instagram @florists_review. “For us, it’s really about appreciating the floral form above all else. That’s what we’re all about, is celebrating flowers,” Tonneli told us.
So what is she looking for? What can you do to make sure your work gets featured? Tonneli gave this advice:
Our conversation also dipped into many other fascinating topics. A big one was sustainability. Besides her work as a marketer and writer, Tonneli owns her own farm, Salty Acres, which produces flowers, preserves the agricultural heritage of her community, and offers classes to educate visitors on a wide variety of topics. One of her passions is finding ways to reduce waste, like saving parts of flowers that would be headed to the compost heap, drying them, and using them as edible confetti for baking. Tonneli sees this focus on sustainability as something that will only continue to grow in popularity across industries. That’s great news for paper florists, as our craft can fill in gaps for florists dedicated to buying locally and sustainably. We can create peonies in the perfect color in January, which makes for happy clients and florists.
Listen now to hear even more as we chatted about upcoming trends, running workshops during Covid-19, and more.
Here are some questions we asked Tonneli about herself: 1. Introduce yourself to us! My name is Tonneli Gruetter (tawn-ah-Lee), I am a 3rd generation farmer, military spouse, & marketing expert living on Whidbey Island Washington where I work from my flower farm, Salty Acres. I specialize in corporate social responsibility helping clients of all sizes to better embody their values through the authenticity of philanthropic action. Through my work at Florists Review Magazine, I have found an avenue to fuse my passion for flowers with business.
2. You have a long list of experiences, from being a brand specialist to a digital marketer to a farmer. Can you tell us a bit about these identities? Like so many young people finding a fiscally sound path to becoming your dream full-time is not something easily realized all in one step. For me pursuing a serious career in brand marketing helped me gain the work-life balance to afford to start a farm, and on-the-job skills needed to thrive as a modern farmer. From the outside, it seems crazy to compare launching successful video game titles at mega conventions like e3 to running a flower farm but really all the same concepts are there: be authentic, find your base, make it fun.
3. Tell us about Wildflower Media, Florists Review, Canadian Florist, and SuperFloral. Our publications are for floral enthusiasts of every stripe. Each of our magazines has a slightly different voice, today I am here to speak most about Florists Review which is our sort of all-encompassing world of beauty and an excellent resource for anyone looking to learn about techniques regarding composition, design, how to use supplies, etc. We also chat quite a bit about the business of flowers and entrepreneurship. Canadian Florist is similar but celebrates the unique voice of Canadian florists, to some, it may come as a surprise but many of the world's top talent in the field of floristry is Canadian. Last but not least is SuperFloral, our publication for mass-market flowers & large-scale growers.
4. You're the Director of Marketing at Wildflower Media. Can you tell us what that role involves? I am responsible for helping our advertisers launch new campaigns, keeping our social media streams representative of current trends, covering top floral events in real life. Personally, it has been my mission to see our community become a home for all flower lovers not just the traditional florist and I'm proud to say that's very much visible in our work today.
5. How are Florists Review, Canadian Florists, and SuperFloral which all began as print publications, adapting to the digital world? Our magazine is celebrating its 123rd birthday this year, we have a proud heritage but are quite delightfully modern. Recently we made the switch to being a primarily free-to-subscribe online magazine, supported by special edition book-azines, video library on youtube, and Instagram community devoted to sharing the work of floral artists.
6. Since you are in print media, we have to ask: Are print publications still relevant given the trend to move to digital media? There is something inherently magical about print. We've all been there when a friend sends a link of something you MUST read... yet you don't even open it, or perhaps it only gets a quick scan. When someone shares information via print it becomes something to take your time with a view more than once, it becomes a resource. That's exactly the direction we are going with our books & special edition book-azines.
7. It's a well-known fact that many florists/contributors want to be featured in one of your prestigious magazines. There are many reasons to be featured, but I think even more than clout or prizes (tho who doesn't want to visit a flower farm in another country or receive luxurious roses for free?) is that we represent an extraordinarily supportive community. Our readers are an active part of that community but when you are featured it brings you to another level where you are able to tell your story and we're all here to cheer you on. When we feature a floral artist they get a lot of visibility, not just in our world of flowers but also in the realms adjacent to us such as weddings, events, and brand collaborations.
8. It would be such an honour to be featured in your magazine! So how do florists get featured in one of your magazines? What do you look for when determining who/what to feature? We have a few different ways to become featured, and also a few different people on the job to ensure we stay fresh & inclusive. To be considered for our magazine we have an online portal on our website under the "contact us" page, as well as frequent design contests. As for our Instagram, that's really my world. I suggest creators reach out however feels right to them to either use DM, tagging @florists_review, or using #floristsreview... I also spend significant time visiting florists when I travel IRL & tracking emerging online floral trends.
9. Our listeners are mainly paper floral artists and entrepreneurs. Do you have any specific tips on how they could be featured in a prominent magazine/blog, like yours? Absolutely! Above all else: collaborate. You can magnify your reach so much by collaborating with other creatives & tagging the brands or products included. There are many flowers I hold beloved as a grower myself such as poppies, but I nearly always dissuade customers from purchasing them for weddings due to their delicate nature... this is exactly the time I know I'd love to have a paper floral artist I could direct my customers to bring into our conversation. I always tell creators to treat social media like real life but with fewer rules. If you interact with an account with a large following or strategic reach you wish you could be involved with, let them know. Don't be afraid to "slide into the DMs" with something you have an idea about if it's sincere. Worst case scenario is they ignore you... and most of the time {trust me} they won't.
10. Lastly - What are your favourite flowers to design with? What is your favourite flower? I design mostly using Dahlias as they make up the lionshare of my farm but I love impractical flowers, silly, flowers, and flowers with TERRIBLE vase life. In the last year, I've had an obsession with an impossible to grow Australian native called the flannel flower. I also love Wisteria, bearded iris, & poppies. I'm trying my hand at a few new things like hothouse tuberose and heirloom chrysanthemums this year, we'll see how those adventures go. | |||
| 06 Aug 2020 | Episode 58: Recognizing and Seizing the Right Opportunities with Ceres Lau | 00:32:46 | |
Listen to the world-renowned paper artist, Ceres Lau, about finding the confidence and perseverance to get your paper flowers featured in fine art spaces.
Does the idea of submitting your paper flowers to a gallery strike fear in your heart? Or maybe you’ve tried in the past with little success and have become disheartened. We have heard so many paper florists express apprehension about exhibiting their paper flowers as fine art. There’s a lot of unknowns: Where do you begin? How do you deal with rejection? Is your creation really worth it? We’ve all felt those doubts. But what if we told you that we know the secret behind finding success as an exhibiting artist? The best news is, it’s totally something you can do. In this Episode of Paper Talk, we chatted with Ceres Lau, a paper artist in Malaysia, whose incredible work has been exhibited around the world and extensively online. She literally cuts, carves, sculpts, and creates elegant works of art from paper. Needless to say, she understands the way a blank sheet of paper can make the heart sing with possibilities.
Listen to our conversation, and here’s what you’ll learn about:
Ceres was a joy to talk with, and hearing her story about becoming a paper artist and the emotion and inspiration behind much of her work was captivating. We’re sure by the end of the episode you’ll be full of inspiration of your own, as well as the confidence and know-how you need to submit your paper flower art to exhibitions.
As Ceres said, “When you get one acceptance, it’s totally worth it.”
Read what Ceres has to say about her journey! 1. Introduce yourself to us! Who is Ceres Lau? I am a paper artist who draws inspiration from nature as the source of her artistic expression. My fascination with paper stems from the possibilities found within it – beautiful, complicated forms arise from the transformation of this humble, almost-mundane material, a process limited only by the breadth of creativity. I cut, carve, sculpt, create works of art out of paper. I do not paint on it, but rather I learn to focus on the material itself, and try to uncover the hidden beauty of paper without any interference. I was born in Kuching, Sarawak, the eastern part of Malaysia. It is a small city where we would often joke that everyone knows everyone (that shows just how small it is, it applies most of the time!). It is situated on an island which is also known as Borneo, a place famous for having one of the richest cultures and rainforests in the world, which also explains why my work is often inspired by that of nature. I graduated in graphic design, and before that, I was actually studying in the science stream, going into the medical field would have been the initial goal but I was not doing well at it, most importantly, my heart was elsewhere. I was secretly an art nerd. Graphic design is the only course available that is closest to the arts at that time, in this small town. I took it up not knowing what lies ahead of me and thus, begins the life-changing journey, getting to where I am now.
2. Were you a creative when you werea child? Thinking back, I have always been drawing, on any surface, I can find, for as long as I can remember. My ultimate childhood dream was actually to become a comic artist!
3. What is the art community like in Malaysia? Growing up, was there any opportunity to live as an artist? The art community here is flourishing. There are more and more opportunities coming up for the arts in recent years. Paper art, however, is still not quite known here in Malaysia, and people are confused when they see what I do. It is not a norm, which is also one of the reasons why the art community here is, until this day, still remains foreign to me. Instead of craving for a change of environment and situation, throughout the years I learnt to depend on myself rather than on ‘things’ and situations. I learnt to make use of limited resources, embrace what’s available in front of me, and at the same time, also seek opportunities away from my comfort zone. I have kept close with a very small circle of artists in Malaysia, to which each of them specialise in different mediums. They are invaluable to me but something was still missing. At some point, I turned to Instagram and found myself a wonderful community of paper artists who have had similar experiences. It can be intimidating at times, however more than that, it has been extremely comforting knowing that there are a group of artists and people who support you, unconditionally. I soon realised that finding the right community really helps to better oneself, it really has so much to do with that. Then I was introduced to a paper art organisation by chance and got offered to be a part of it. The organization helped me find my voice and confidence in what I do. I was able to meet and connect with like-minded artists, not only that I get to have conversations on the medium we shared, but also exchange experiences, knowledge, and honest criticisms. More opportunities became available to me, in ways that I could never think of if I have not stepped forward. Finding this has had a major impact on my life and growth as an artist. Having a community that supports one another, no matter how small of an amount or far in the distance, truly makes a difference.
4. You talk a bit about using what limited resources you have. Is that why you chose paper as your medium? I was thoroughly amused by this medium. You can transform it anyhow you want and the possibilities are endless. I am until this day, still fascinated by the versatility of this everyday object that we tend to take granted for. I see it as a beautiful medium on its own, even more so when it’s being explored and experimented with. It's been roughly 8 years of using this medium, on and off. Funny enough, looking back there were subtle hints here and there that it was the right one for me. The first memory I had with paper, was when I was still in elementary school. I remember it so well, cutting strips of paper and coiling them together, I made a not-so-practical bookmark and gave it to my friends. I didn’t know that it was known as quilling back then. When I started college, I began using paper again for my assignments. It was not encouraged because I was majoring in graphic design and doing hands-on work was not a ‘thing’. Paper as an art form was far less known than it is today. I stopped after that, focusing on digital works instead. During my final year in college, I manage to transfer to a university in London. I stepped out for the first time in my life, and through one of the downfalls, I rediscovered paper with the help and advice of my then lecturer. From then onwards, I responded to all assignments given throughout the year using only paper. Upon returning to Malaysia after my studies, where paper art is not known at all, coming from a small city it was even harder, I gave in to peer pressure and did not engage with paper for a year or two. I was given small opportunities and slowly started to pick it up again while managing 3 different jobs at a time, working my way through without a solid aim. Just 3 years ago, I decided to dedicate myself fully to this paper world and have not regretted my choice since.
5. You explained that you "focus on the material itself, and try to uncover the hidden beauty of paper without any interference." How do you do this? What tools and supplies do you use to create your masterpieces? It really depends on what kind of work I am doing! I use tools that I find comfortable using, both unconventional and conventional ones. While I have proper tools to suit and function in a certain way, different kinds of craft knives, I also have several curvy wooden massaging tools, which I use in some of my work! I vividly remember using a toothpick to curl the paper strips, too. But the tools I absolutely must have and can't live without would be surgery scalpel and bone folder. These two are the ones I juggle back and forth with. I use archival-quality papers and adhesives. I often use G.F Smith Colorplan papers for my work, mix and match with other brands such as Daler Rowney, Arches, Takeo, and many more. Sometimes I use unbranded papers in my work (I have a collection of them from my trips!) if the colour and texture appeal to me.
6. Let's talk about the evolution of your artwork. You've created so many different series of artwork that are distinctively different from each other. Where do you find your inspiration? I am constantly trying to explore different dynamics, however human relationships, and nature is both my inspiration. When I just started doing paper art, I like many others, was completely lost at some point, because like you mentioned, I have a variety of works that is contrastingly different. I used to stress about it so much. Everyone works differently, often I would admire artists who seem to know what they want and has a very unique sense of style of their own. Along the way, I realised that while it is important to have a style, it is also not essential. Eventually, I started letting go of how I perceive things, and from there onwards, I started not to bother so much about having a specific style. I realised that it is actually okay to have a few different approaches as long as I am able to express what I want, get my feelings across and build a connection with the audience. I believe that, being able to capture a moment, a feeling and emotion, is also a form of art and something I hold close to.
7. There are many artists who work with paper. What do you think makes your artwork unique from other paper artists? Tough question, I truly have no idea! However, through the words of my artist friends and lovely followers, I was told that my art has a raw approach and feel to it. I have always found it hard to express myself, and it is through what I do and make, that helps me put my feelings out there. Every piece of work has a story behind it, they not only serve as a reminder but also a memory to me, capturing my feelings and the very moment in life. And it is perhaps through this way, that I get to connect to an audience that I never thought I could.
8. What do you remember about your first art exhibition? I had one of my first collaborative art exhibitions in my hometown, 6 years ago. I created a piece of art through quilling, very much different from what I do this day. It was sort of, as an amateur debut? It was memorable because it was held in a rundown space. The art piece I spent 3 to 4 weeks in full swing to make, was priced at an amount that did not reflect all the hard work put into it at all. I was told that it was extremely expensive, with people telling me that they should rob the bank if they were to buy my work. I had mixed feelings, happy but overwhelmed, completely clueless on what to do, or which direction I am heading towards. I had no plans, no expectations, no ambitions nor goals. But through that one small exhibition, I have learnt a great deal and found a way to do what I love. To be very honest, I never knew I could take part in exhibitions until I was offered the chance to, it never occurs to me that I can do this and that there are other ways of doing something. On a side note, I didn't manage to sell anything during the exhibit, while others sold their pieces. However years after the event, I sold that particular piece for 5 times the price back then!
9. Where can your paper art be currently seen? When's your next exhibition? Unfortunately, for now, it’s mainly on my social media. There has been a huge change of plans after what is happening to the world right now. While it is saddening that things have to be cancelled or postponed until further notice, it is inevitable but I learnt to be thankful and appreciative of my situation, finding gratitude in the slightest thing. I took time off from preparing for exhibitions and chose to focus on my well-being instead. It can be challenging at times like this, however, it is also important to know that in the midst of chaos, strength means something different to all of us, too.
10. How do you decide which art exhibit and/or art gallery to submit your work or opportunities to seize? An artist friend once said to me, that I should keep creating, go out there and grab hold of any chances offered to me, regardless of what is being put on the plate. I held onto that advice since then. I think I was really lucky to be approached by curators and organisers of art exhibits back then, from my early years when I was still struggling and trying to find a balance in this art world. Those experiences helped shape me; my ideals, my visions, and what I want to do in my life. After all these years, I manage to narrow down the chances given to me but I have too, seek out new opportunities by sending in my work, submitting applications, and such every now and then. It is not something I can explain in detail, but simply know what you want and grab on every chance provided which feels right to you, it differs from one another and will definitely give you an invaluable experience one way or another. As for the process, the artwork, of course, is the most important component. High-quality shots of the artwork(s) are necessary. A strong and concise statement of the art piece is just as important. Providing a CV outlining your past exhibits, experiences and achievements are also crucial. Depending on the requirements (every gallery and exhibition submission differs) you may be required to pay a small fee to be considered, put together a proposal of the exhibition, and/or all of the above. You might get considered or shortlisted, but that does not solidify your chances. Following the rules, as simple as naming the files correctly, in a certain format and size, getting all the fundamentals done properly also plays a huge part. There is a high probability of getting rejected and ending up with disappointments, even until this day I still face rejections despite all the experiences I had. It is completely normal and I hope one does not dwell on it too much, simply push yourself and repeat the process until you get it!
11. What advice would you have for an aspiring paper artist? I don’t think that I am in the position to give any professional advice, because like everyone else, I still have so much to learn about. One of the things I’d always tell myself is, do not let anyone tell you how things should be done, yet take as many criticisms and advices as you can. Listen and try, but stay true to your core identity at the same time. Do not be afraid of failing, take it as a notion to learn about yourself, failures contribute to your successes and it will go a long way. Be loose, be you. Sometimes you don’t shine the most when you show your truest self or have your work reflect who you are as a person, but you will definitely attract the right crowd for you.
12. What are your favourite flowers to play with? Wildflowers. It holds such a profound meaning to me personally. When I look at it, it makes me reflect on the events in my life. Sometimes people call wildflowers weeds and are always described as plants growing out of places that do not fit in, often not being celebrated by many. However, for me, they represented more. They may seem out of place, but they are free-spirited, diverse and fascinating, intricate yet bold. As uninvited as they may be, these darlings mysteriously add a unique touch, complementing the surroundings. They aren’t controlled, they exist for their own sake and that is why it is amazing. I see it as a reminder to oneself. Allow yourself to grow in places that people thought you never would, or could. Know that it is okay to stray away from the carefully curated garden beds, know that you are blooming in your own way even on the sideway, or the open fields. You are uniquely you, beautifully free and strong, just like a wildflower. | |||
| 30 Jul 2020 | Episode 57: The Paper Florist Industry is About to Get a Whole Lot Stronger with Quynh and Jessie | 00:17:50 | |
Learn about the exciting new projects you can participate in that will promote and grow the paper florist community, and help us all succeed in our new industry.
You want to connect with more clients. You want your amazing creations to be enjoyed. Spending time to promote your work is not what you imagined doing when you became a paper florist. Well, we’ve got your back. There is strength in numbers, and the paper florist community is about to get a whole lot stronger, together. Paper florists are scattered all over the world, which is why you’re reading these words! You want to connect with others in our industry. That’s always been the heart and soul of Paper Talk and the Paper Florists Collective. This is why we are so excited about some big projects coming down the pipeline. These projects will include all paper florists who want to participate, and they will help us all to promote and grow our industry.
In this episode of Paper Talk, we delved into some of the specifics, but here is a brief intro:
There are so many other moving parts involved in these projects. Listen now to learn even more about our plans for free translated tutorials for the art installation, the amazing people helping to bring the directory to life, the timeline for these projects, and more.
As Quynh put it, “In 2021 the paper florist industry is going to make a stamp in the world.” | |||
| 13 Aug 2020 | Episode 59: Giving Yourself Permission to Chase Creativity with Ann Wood | 00:29:56 | |
Listen to mixed-medium artist Ann Wood talk about her international exhibit and how she keeps herself inspired and challenged with her art.
Have you ever found yourself in a creative rut? Found yourself no longer joyful with your work, but simply slogging through? Maybe you’re having difficulty even imagining a different way to do things. Maybe you have a dream to chase, but the risks seem too big. If that sounds familiar, we have the perfect inspiration for you! In this episode of Paper Talk, we chatted with Ann Wood of Woodlucker studio. She is the amazing mixed-medium artist behind a plethora of hyperreal insects, feathers, vegetables, fruit, and flowers. These incredible creations have been featured in many publications including Martha Stewart Living, as well as NPR’s Cultivating Place podcast. Her dream to create a massive botanical wall led to her current exhibition at the Kunstmuseum Den Haag in the Netherlands.
Here’s what you’ll learn when you tune in:
Our conversation also touched on the beauty of slowing down and connecting with nature. Ann spoke beautifully about noticing all of the amazing little details we get to dissect as botanical artists, and of the emotional meaning and memories individuals bring to flowers. Listen now to get inspired and start dreaming of your next creative adventure. Ann summed up her inspiring optimism when she said this: “I think this is a movement of the paper art, especially the paper florals. This is a new movement. And it’s exciting to be part of, ‘What are the possibilities that are available for all of us to dream up in the next ten years?’”
Learn more about Ann by following her on social media: INSTAGRAM: @woodlucker WEBSITE: www.woodlucker.com | |||
| 27 Aug 2020 | Episode 61: How to Be Part of the Paper Florists Member Directory with Quynh & Jessie | 00:12:03 | |
Hey, Paper Florists! Do you want to spend more time on your craft and less time chasing down clients? Or are you a vendor who needs to reach more paper florists? Well, look no further. Quynh and Jessie talked about this project in Episode 57, and now it's live. The Paper Florists Member Directory is finally here! When you sign up as a Member, you’ll be listed in our worldwide directory, the first of its kind for paper florists and vendors. With just a few clicks, potential clients can connect with you like never before. We’re talking commercial businesses, photographers, fresh florists, event planners, and more.
We’ll do the heavy lifting with advertising, spreading the word on influential podcasts and blogs like Botanical Brouhaha!
All you have to do is sign up at thepaperflorists.org and pay a small annual fee —only $4.08 a month! The same as that fancy latte you love. And it goes to maintaining the tech-related stuff for the Directory. All of our past and present students will be a part of this Directory for free. Set up your profile with a few clicks and let the clients come to you!
...OR maybe you're a Customer like a florist, a photographer, an owner of a retail store, and you're looking to work with and hire a paper florist for a project or client. How do you find the perfect paper florists for your wedding? Or your window display? What if you have a client with a very specific vision for their event, which includes pink peonies in December? An internet search can only get you so far. What you need is the Paper Florists Member Directory. We’ve gathered paper florist profiles from all over the world and created an easy-to-use, searchable directory. Find exactly what you need with just a few clicks.
Searching the directory is completely free. All you have to do is sign up at www.thepaperflorists.org/directory to start.
PAPER FLORISTS FLORISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS/EVENT PLANNERS/CUSTOMERS | |||
| 20 Aug 2020 | Episode 60: How to Beautifully Photograph Your Products with Caroline Tran | 00:35:59 | |
Photographer Caroline Tran lets us in on the secret behind making more online sales: showcasing your paper flower product in its best light, both figuratively and literally.
Have you ever browsed the competition and been shocked to find that other paper florists are charging way more than you are for similar products? How are they able to make such a higher profit? Why are customers swayed by their offerings? Caroline Tran of Caroline Tran Photography sold her own creative goods, once upon a time, and was puzzled by the price discrepancies she found. After some sleuthing, she figured out the reason why and let us in on it in this latest episode of Paper Talk. Here’s a clue from Caroline: “The way you present your stuff is going to make the difference between whether someone’s willing to pay $80 for it or $8 for it.”
She also provided extremely useful information about photographing your products to showcase online. Here’s what you’ll learn when you listen to her episode:
No matter your skill level, you can learn from Caroline. Being able to take beautiful shots of your flowers can lead to increased sales, and it’s an especially valuable skill during these quarantine times when collaborating with a photographer isn’t always possible. Listen now to up your photo game and start selling more paper flowers!
Grab your Freebies here!
Learn more about Caroline by following her on social media: INSTAGRAM: @carolinetran WEBSITE: www.carolinetran.com | |||
| 01 Oct 2020 | Episode 62: Pricing Your Products with Erin Shackelford and Jesalyn Pettigrew | 00:27:33 | |
Learn how to price your products and services with advice from four small business owners in the paper flower, floral arranging, and flower farming industries.
Does your stomach tie up in knots at the thought of pricing your products or services? A quick search will show that paper flowers come with all sorts of price tags attached. How do other paper florists come up with those price points? Are you charging too much or too little? Paper florists aren’t the only ones to struggle with this problem. Small business owners of all kinds lose sleep over the pricing question. That’s why on our Season 3 premier of Papertalk we took on this important topic and chatted with two women outside of the paper flower industry. Jesalyn Pettigrew is a flower farmer and owner of Mossy Gate Flower Farm, and Erin Shackelford is a floral designer and owner of Camas Designs. They both pivoted to the world of fresh flowers after careers in other industries, so setting prices was new and unknown territory. Sound familiar? It definitely rang true for us!
Here’s what you’ll learn when you listen to our conversation:
Whether you’re new to the game or have been in business for years, pricing is something you need to constantly consider. As Quynh said, “No matter how long you’ve been in business, how you’re pivoting, how you’re changing what you are to where you want to be, you have to think about the price in the future. You always have to set your expectation: what do I want to accomplish this year?” The best news is that this is only the beginning of the conversation. We’ll have a more in-depth discussion with Jesalyn and Erin on October 17 with our Paper X Talk about pricing. And we want to hear from you! What do you struggle with? What do you want to be discussed? Tell us in the comments, and listen now to get a head start on pricing.
Learn more about Jesalyn and Mossy Gate Farm by following her on social media: INSTAGRAM: @mossygateflowerfarm WEBSITE: Mossy Gate Farm Learn more about Erin and Camas Design by following her on social media: INSTAGRAM: @camasdesigns WEBSITE: Camas Designs | |||
| 08 Oct 2020 | Episode 63: Using Watercolors on Crepe Paper with Sarah Simon | 00:24:42 | |
Learn how you can improve your painting techniques and create stunning crepe paper flowers with advice from a watercolor expert and author Sarah Simon of TheMintGardener
If you’re unfamiliar with watercolors, you may be intimidated to try them on crepe paper. Do you have visions of a soggy mess when you think about it? Or maybe you’ve tried combining the two and didn’t get the results you wanted. Here’s the good news: both crepe and watercolor are fairly forgiving mediums, and the end results can be absolutely fantastic for your paper flowers. To get those beautiful results, though, you may have to go through quite a bit of trial and error. Luckily, there is help out there to get you started on the right track and save you from some heartache. That’s why we chatted with a watercolor expert in our latest episode of Papertalk. Sarah Simon of TheMintGardener is an artist, illustrator, and designer. Her gorgeous botanical works are simply amazing. On top of her artwork, she teaches watercolor workshops and is the author of three books. We discussed all of these different facets of her work on the podcast, and you’ll glean so many insights about how to improve your paper flowers and your business. Here’s a little taste of what she taught us: “The biggest tip that I can give when you’re combining watercolor plus the crepe paper, work with tube paint.” That’s just the beginning of her very useful advice. Whether you’re new to the game or have been in business for years, pricing is something you need to constantly consider. As Quynh said, “No matter how long you’ve been in business, how you’re pivoting, how you’re changing what you are to where you want to be, you have to think about the price in the future. You always have to set your expectation: what do I want to accomplish this year?”
Here’s what else you’ll learn when you tune in:
And if you want even more tips about using watercolors for paper flowers, we have exciting news. Quynh and Sarah are putting together a course for this year’s virtual Flowerstock. More details will soon be available on Holly Chapple’s website, but until then, listen to the podcast to start improving your watercolor techniques.
Sarah Simon is the Designer, Artist Illustrator, and Author at TheMintGardener. Finding inspiration in the ever-blooming variety of textures and colors in her urban garden, Sarah creates and teaches lush Watercolors inspired by the diverse variety of herbs, flowers, and trees grown in her yard. With a continually blooming following of botanical and art lovers alike, Sarah shares her teaching talents in Seattle, Washington, of the USA, where she regularly instructs Watercolor Classes to students of all skill levels. Her teaching has received international attention with her online painting courses in the Watercolor Summit and on Skillshare. Sarah's work has been featured in many publications and blogs worldwide and has been celebrated in the form of commercial product design, stationery, textiles as well as wholesale and private commissions. Just a few of her clients include: Target, Nordstrom, Country Living, Facebook, The University of Washington, Sakura of America, Blick, Estée Lauder, and Sur La Table. Her books "Modern Watercolor Botanicals" and "The Plant Lady" Coloring Book were released in November 2019, and are best sellers on Amazon. She is currently working on book number three and enjoys hosting the #FlowerPaintingClub for an online community of painting-lovers. Sarah loves to garden with her partner Colin and their two little girls on their urban farm. She enjoys seeking quiet moments for sketching and painting, making small bouquets of flowers and herbs, or reading. She loves Jesus, exploring new places, and enjoys anything that includes the sea, friends, and food; and yes, as a Pacific Northwest native, she does enjoy the gloomy gray days a bit more than the hot, sunny ones. Follow Sarah at @themintgardener or check out her art and online courses on her website. | |||
| 15 Oct 2020 | Episode 64: Keeping Your Brand Consistent across Platforms with Sara Kim | 00:34:09 | |
Paper florist Sara Kim shares how she makes her brand instantly recognizable on any platform and how she’s successfully transitioned her business over the years
You know branding is important, but that’s easier said than done. How do some creators make their brand instantly recognizable, even across different platforms: Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, everywhere?
She had lots more to say on the subject, and you won’t want to miss out on any of her helpful advice for small business owners. Here’s what you’ll learn when you tune in:
Sara, like many of us, discovered that running a business was about more than just her craft. She had to learn to do a host of other things, from photography to video editing and more. We’ve been there, and we loved talking with her about how she overcame those difficulties and successfully gave her business the stunning presentation it has today. Listen now to be inspired and fine-tune your brand’s style.
Learn more about Sara by following her on social media: INSTAGRAM: @handmadebysarakim WEBSITE: www.handmadebysarakim.com | |||
| 22 Oct 2020 | Episode 65: Why Hiring a Copywriter Can Be a Game Changer with Kelsey Reed | 00:16:30 | |
A copywriter can build your brand, engage your followers, and give you back valuable time. Kelsey Reed talks with us about what a copywriter can do for your business.
Have you ever wondered how we manage to write so many blog posts, emails, and social media posts? If you’re a small business owner, you know that this kind of content is important, but it’s often the first to get scrapped when you’re pressed for time. Here’s the secret: we don’t do everything alone, and an integral part of our team is our copywriter, Kelsey Reed. If you don’t know what a copywriter does off the top of your head, don’t worry. You’re not alone! In our latest episode of Papertalk, Kelsey chatted with us about all of the amazing things a copywriter can do for your business. Here’s how she described her work: “Basically anything that you’re going to be writing out—words that your potential customers will read—I can work with, and a copywriter could work their magic on it and make it really sparkle for whoever’s going to read it.” One of the biggest benefits for us has been how much time we save creating content. We know you’re just as busy as we are, so this is probably sounding fantastic. But where do you find a copywriter? How do you work with one?
You’ll learn all of this when you tune in:
We are passionate about helping our listeners build their small businesses. A rising tide lifts all paper flower businesses—or something like that. Hiring a copywriter is an excellent way to produce better and regular content, and give you the time to focus on your business. Listen now to learn how you can work with a copywriter! Be sure to also read Kelsey’s tips on how to work with a copywriter, below.
How to Work with a Copywriterby Kelsey Reed A copywriter’s job is to engage possible customers and make your business or product sound amazing. Crafting those words is a crucial part of marketing. As a business owner, you may not know what to say or how to say it, or even have the time to focus on writing emails or blog posts. You want to focus on the heart of your business, be it paper flowers or anything else. Copywriters can take some of the work off your plate and let you put your attention elsewhere. So, how do you find a copywriter? My recommendation is to talk to other small business owners. Ask around! Chances are, someone you’ve already networked with is using a copywriter. They can give you unfiltered opinions about the writer’s work and habits, like meeting deadlines. There are some websites that will connect you with writers. I know some great copywriters who use these sites, so you can definitely find someone using this method. Just be sure to do your homework: look at writing samples, talk to past clients if you can, and chat to get a feel if your goals align, they understand your business, etc. You can also pay them to edit or write one piece for you as a trial, which will give you some great insight into whether or not they are a good fit for you. Once you find a copywriter, what should you do? How do you get the most from them? From the perspective of a copywriter, this is what I appreciate most from my clients.
1. Be clear about your goals. Make sure that the writer you’re working with knows what you want to be accomplished with each piece. For example, when I edit tutorials, I know that the goal is to get information across in a clear, concise way that will keep subscribers satisfied with the product. If your writer doesn’t understand what the piece is supposed to accomplish—how it fits into your overall business plan—it’s more likely that the finished result won’t hit the mark.
2. Make sure your copywriter understands your product. You don’t have to hire someone with extensive experience with your product, but the writer does need to familiarize themselves with it. You can help with this by making sure they have the right resources. When I started writing for Quynh, I knew hardly anything about paper flowers. She had a perfect way to get me up to speed, though, since my first assignment from her was editing an information sheet about paper flower techniques and crepe paper choices. That helped me learn the jargon and be prepared for other work going forward.
3. Know what your tone is. Your marketing should have a voice, almost a personality, to attract your ideal customer. Are you trying to sound bubbly or sophisticated? Casual or formal? Whatever your product is supposed to encapsulate, that tone needs to come across in things like the writing. That means your copywriter needs to know what tone you’re shooting for, as well. Some of my clients send examples of blog posts or marketing videos from other businesses that resonate with them, and they explain what exactly appeals to them. This gives me solid examples to build upon and a much greater chance of hitting the mark from the get-go.
4. Don’t be afraid to ask for changes. You’re paying for a service, and if the end result isn’t quite what you wanted, tell your writer! Editing is the key to good writing, so I guarantee that your copywriter is used to going back and making changes. I once wrote a blog post that included facts and history about the flower being made that month at The Posey Box. I slid into a bland schoolmarmish tone, which is not a good fit for paper flowers. Quynh very kindly asked if I could make the tone a little more friendly and casual. She was completely right that that was what the post needed, and I happily edited the piece.
5. Respect their time. Everybody is busy, including your copywriter. Don’t expect them to drop everything at once for your last-minute project. Deadlines are great, but they should be reasonable. I don’t mind the occasional tight deadline, but this is because my clients have shown that they respect my time and my work, and they aren’t constantly asking me to finish things overnight. Keep your end of things running smoothly so that you can give your copywriter as much time as possible to work on projects.
Learn more about Kelsey by following her on social media: | |||
| 29 Oct 2020 | Episode 66 - Books to Read That Are Helping Us Build Our Brands | 00:14:29 | |
Hear about the books Jessie and Quynh are reading right now and some of the valuable information they’ve learned about branding and building their businesses. Do you wonder where we turn for info about building our brands? While experience is important, learning from others can save a lot of time and heartbreak—one reason why we’re committed at Paper Talk to share, connect, and grow with our community of paper florists.
“It’s one of those few books...that’s very actionable. It’s set out in very straightforward categories, let’s say ‘5 things you need to do to create a...resilient brand.’” - Jessie
The small business landscape is always shifting over time, and one way we keep up with those changes is by reading books from experts. As Jessie said about the book she’s been reading, “I found her really interesting because she’s talking about marketing in the 21st century, like about now as opposed to 10 years, 20 years ago. It’s changed so much.” That expert insight has been especially important to us as we go through the process of rebranding Paper Talk. We’ve both been reading excellent books about building brands, and we just had to share about them our latest episode of Paper Talk.
Here’s what you’ll learn when you listen to our conversation:
We love the actionable advice given in the books we read, and the straightforward way in which information was laid out. Quynh put it this way: “If you’re in the process of rebranding like we are, there’s so many different components that you need to think about. And he really talks about, ‘Have you thought about this? Have you thought about that?’ And then he relates it to a story that he’s done, and it’s like, ‘Oh, yes! That’s why I need it.’” We highly recommend you listen to the episode and hear all about Donald Miller’s “Building a Storybrand” and “Obsessed” by Emily Heyward. And remember: we want to hear from you to know about which topics would best help you build your brand for future Paper X Talk lecture series. Send us an email or DM!
Check out the books we mentioned in this episode (affiliate links below): Donald Miller’s “Building a Storybrand”
**Paper Talk is supported by our community of readers and listeners. When you click on our affiliate links, we may earn a commission for qualifying purchases made through Amazon.com links in this post. This commission goes directly into the maintenance of this website and podcast. Read our Amazon Affiliate Disclaimer. | |||
| 04 Nov 2020 | Episode 67: Navigating Business Transitions with Amy McGee | 00:37:00 | |
Our guest Amy McGee has changed her business focus many times over the years. Hear how she decided when to try something new and how she did so successfully.
These are questions that go through every small business owner’s mind at some point. Recently at our Paper X Talk lecture, we discussed how deciding to do something new, like changing your prices, is such a personal decision. There are so many factors to weigh. We’re excited to continue that conversation about pricing on November 14 (buy your tickets here), but we wanted to have a deeper discussion about change and transitions in general. That’s why we invited Amy McGee of Botanical Brouhaha to chat with us on our latest episode of Paper Talk. You’ve probably encountered her amazing blog about fresh flowers and heard her voice on her podcast. If not, you should check it out right away. We’ve found so much inspiration for our paper flowers from her work. Amy has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to this topic of change. She started out growing cut flowers as a hobby while working as a dental hygienist. But then, opportunities in the floral world began to present themselves. She had to make decisions about what she wanted in life. Her floral business transitioned or did something new multiple times over the years, and with each change, she stayed grounded and successful by always keeping a connection with what truly inspired her to stay in business.
Amy put it this way: “There was such a connection for me with nature when I started growing those flowers, and just kind of getting into this industry. That’s what was leading me, was that connection to nature. And then it kind of grew into this connection with other people, because you all know, flower people, gardeners, farmers, they’re some of the kindest people in the world.”
You can hear more about her journey and how she made her decisions by listening to the podcast. Here’s what you’ll learn from our conversation:
We loved learning more about what Amy is doing to provide virtual help to florists now that her regular in-person workshops can’t continue. Her new project, Bloom Trust Co., will launch in mid-November and connect florists to the resources and knowledge that they need to be successful. We can’t wait to check it out. We feel very similar with our work here at Paper Talk and our mission to share, connect, and grow the paper flower industry in any way that we can.
Listen now to hear all about navigating transitions, Amy’s new venture, and more. | |||
| 11 Nov 2020 | Episode 68: Learning Your Craft Before Selling Your Craft with Susan Bonn | 00:33:12 | |
Susan Bonn is an admin for our online group, teaching all of us with her wealth of knowledge about paper flowers. Learn more about how she teaches, calculates prices, and keeps customers happy.
If you’re part of our Paper Talk Facebook group, you’ve heard of Susan Bonn. She runs the monthly Makers Meetings where we join together with paper florists from around the globe to chat, share our projects, and elevate each other's paper flower artistry. Susan also facilitates our group’s monthly paper flower challenge. You can take a look at the banner on the Facebook page and see last month’s incredible creations from our members. It’s a stunning and creative lineup! If you can’t tell, we love our group and would love for you to join us. We’ve loved working with Susan for the past couple of years. Besides her stellar work as our Facebook admin, she is an incredible paper florist and teacher. In our latest episode of Paper Talk, we chatted with Susan about how she started her paper flower journey, her experience becoming a teacher, and some of the strategies she’s employed to keep her paper flower customers happy. One of the things we discussed was how Susan prices her products. As she said, “Pricing, as we all know, is the most difficult part of what we do.” We agree! That’s why our Paper X Talk on November 14 will continue our lecture series on pricing. You still have time to buy your ticket so you don’t miss out on hearing about the factors we use to determine our own prices. In the meantime, here’s Susan’s advice: “If I would have one recommendation to most people who want to sell their flowers, is learn your craft first.”
Here’s what you’ll learn when you tune in to the podcast:
If you haven’t joined our Facebook group, click to become a member, and don’t miss our Makers Meeting on the last Saturday of every month. And listen now to hear all about Susan’s paper flower journey and how she’s built up a successful paper flower business. What began as a creative outlet following a 40-year career as a financial professional, Susan Bonn began crafting paper blooms inspired by Mother Nature in 2016. The joy of turning paper into a 3-dimensional flower can be seen in each bloom with stunning and realistic attention to detail. Susan has been featured on the liagriffith.com artist interview series, CarteFini.com as a featured artist, and has won numerous awards for her designs. Susan Bonn Designs was chosen to be the provider of the awards ceremonies bouquets for the US Figure Skating Championships —the equivalent of the Olympic Trials — in 2018, just prior to the Olympic Games in South Korea.
Follow Susan on Instagram @susanbonndesigns, YouTube, and her website. | |||
| 18 Nov 2020 | Episode 69: Craft Shows, Photography, Trademarks, and More with Stephen Brooks | 00:37:48 | |
Stephen Brooks talks about the many facets of running a paper flower business: how to take great photos, which craft shows to enter, how to trademark your name, and more.
In our latest episode of Paper Talk, we chatted with Stephen about his recent business name change and the steps he took to trademark that name to avoid legal trouble in the future. This is a topic that we ourselves have wondered about, and hearing how someone else has navigated it was enlightening and encouraging. Our conversation also covered many aspects of running a paper flower business, including pricing and craft shows. Stephen has lots of experience in this area, and we loved seeing the flower cart he had made to sell his paper flowers at shows.
And since Stephen is such an incredible photographer, he also gave us some tips for taking great pics of your work. Here’s a little taste of what he shared: “If there’s one tip I could tell anyone who makes paper flowers, it’s to really spend the extra time taking great pictures. I think scrolling through Instagram and looking at different paper flowers and different paper florists, taking that extra time to take the perfect picture is so worth it.”
Here’s what you’ll learn when you listen to our conversation on the podcast:
Remember to join our Facebook group where Stephen is an admin, and listen now to learn from Stephen’s experience building up a successfully branded paper flower business. Stephen began creating paper flowers in early 2017. After desperately trying to find real and artificial Juliet Roses for the celebration of the birth of his second daughter, he stumbled upon a paper flower version of the rose. After making a small bouquet of roses, he began to discover the joy that came from making these intricate flowers. In May of 2017, Indiana Paper Company (formerly The Paper Peony) was started. Offering a variety of custom orders, Indiana Paper Company is steadily growing to provide people in the Indianapolis area and around the country with handmade paper flowers. In addition to crafting paper flowers, Stephen is a stay-at-home dad of three, teaches piano lessons, shoots photography on the side, and co-owns a local theatre company.
Follow Stephen on Instagram @indianapapercompany, Facebook, and his website, or contact Stephen. | |||
| 26 Nov 2020 | Episode 70: How Paper Florist Christina Funderburgh Built Her Business So Quickly | 00:29:55 | |
Our Facebook admin Christina Funderburgh hasn’t been in the paper flower business long, but her artistry and business have taken off at an incredible pace. We chatted with her about how she has grown so successfully, so quickly.
You’ve jumped into the paper flower world. You know that you want to turn this hobby into a business. Where do you start? How long will it take? Christina Funderburgh proves that you can build up a successful paper flower business without waiting years and years. She has always been a DIY, creative soul, so it felt natural for her to create flowers for her wedding even though the medium of paper was new to her. That was only a couple of years ago, and since then her artistry as a paper florist has improved by leaps and bounds. She’s been able to use her artistic background to build her business, Fleur-ish Paper Flowers, into a distinctive brand that we know will only keep growing. In our latest episode of Paper Talk, we chatted with Christina about how she did this. Most of the resources and tools that she’s used are easily accessible to everyone, including our Paper Talk Facebook group of which Christina is now an admin. As she said on the podcast, the Facebook group, as well as Quynh’s Posey Box, “completely changed my game for paper flowers.” We loved hearing that our goal to share, connect, and grow the paper florist industry has successfully helped her on her paper flower journey!
“Learning techniques...from all these people that have built up this huge realm of tutorials that you guys didn’t have when you started. That has helped me progress really quickly.”
Here’s what you’ll learn when you tune in:
You can join our Facebook group where Christina is an admin, and listen now to the podcast to learn all about how she has excelled so quickly in the paper flower industry.
“The Facebook group and The Posey Box] completely changed my game for paper flowers.”
Christina Funderburgh has always had a passion for art and creating beautiful things that bring joy to others. As a crafter and artist from a young age, she has used nearly every medium under the sun to paint, sculpt, and make jewelry. It was that passion for creating that led her to obtain a bachelor’s degree in multimedia design. Shortly after graduation, she got engaged and dove head-first into wedding planning. The sticker shock of wedding flowers paired with her penchant for DIY flair pushed her towards making her own wedding flowers out of pearlized paper and book pages. They were a massive hit at the wedding and prompted a friend to commission her to make a book page bouquet for her upcoming wedding. This sparked something in her—the desire to create long-lasting keepsakes that would never wilt. Previously, she would rarely buy flowers for her home and urged others not to purchase flowers for her as they would wilt so fast, and that decay always made her a little sad. She said, “I’ve never particularly had a green thumb, but by making paper flowers, I can enjoy them all year round with zero maintenance.” After a year and a half of working with text weight paper, she wanted to make something more true-to-life, and that is what drew her to crepe paper. Her works are crafted from premium European crepe paper and fine art mediums. From single stem flowers and home décor pieces, to bouquets and full floral arrangements, these make great gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, housewarming, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and so much more! Follow Christina on Instagram @fleurishpaperflowers, Facebook, her website and Etsy. | |||
| 09 Dec 2020 | Episode 72 - Running and Promoting a Wedding Paper Flower Business with Rosie Wykes | 00:36:00 | |
Listen to our guest from the UK, Rosie Wykes, as she discusses her paper flower journey, how she manages clients, and where she sources her crepe. Our paper flower community truly encompasses the globe, and we love to share, connect, and grow with all of the paper florists out there. A huge benefit of gathering together virtually is that we can solve problems. Many of our listeners in the UK have encountered a similar problem: sourcing crepe paper. So when we spoke with paper florist Rosie Wykes of Soul Binding in our latest episode of Paper Talk, we knew we had to ask her where she buys her crepe. We had so much fun discussing Rosie’s journey from crafting handbags to paper flowers, and getting a peek into how she is building up our industry across the pond. She specializes in weddings, and she had many insights about how to promote a paper floral business in the wedding industry and how to prevent surprises from cropping up while working with clients. We of course touched on our universal love of paper. Rosie had this to say:
“I love paper. I think it’s just so versatile. And the fact that it’s so fragile, but you can make it into something so solid and tactile. I just love that. That’s what I love about the heavy crepe. People will look at the bouquets and think, ‘Oh, that looks so delicate,’ but then they’ll touch it and ‘Oh, actually, that’s very solid. That’s quite sturdy.’ I think that’s fascinating.”
Here’s what you’ll hear when you listen to our conversation:
Mentioned in this episode: | |||
| 02 Dec 2020 | Episode 71 - Using Competition to Refine Your Paper Flower Voice and Stand Out From the Crowd with Quynh & Jessie | 00:23:37 | |
Jessie and Quynh chat about how to use competition in the paper flower industry as motivation to build a unique brand and embrace what makes you unique. Scrolling through Instagram, are you ever overwhelmed by what other paper florists are creating? We’ve all had those moments when we worry we won’t ever be as good as our peers, or we don’t know if we’re keeping up with pricing or trends in the paper flower industry.
“We have really friendly competition, I would say. We share our pricing. We share our strategy. We help each other build our business even better. I’m always picking Jessie’s brain.”
We agree that building bridges with other paper florists allows us to learn and to push our boundaries to places we may have never reached on our own. That’s one reason why we started our Paper X Talk series about pricing, and our topic for the final lecture on December 5 is what inspired this episode. We’ll dive even deeper into how we use competition to price our paper flowers. Buy your tickets now before the price goes up!
Here’s what you’ll hear when you listen to our conversation:
You can jump right into our community by joining our Facebook group where we share tutorials and techniques and celebrate each others’ success. And listen now to the podcast to gain a new perspective on competition and how you can use it to stand out in our paper flower industry. “I think the question is always how do you get your voice to shine through your flowers? And it’s not a simple answer, because it’s such a unique journey for everybody. And that’s why we talk about paper flower journeys so much. We talk about ours because we’re still growing, we’re still evolving. I’m always looking for a way to grow more.” - Jessie | |||
| 16 Dec 2020 | Episode 73 - Building a Supportive Network for Your Paper Flower Business with Wendy Anderson | 00:27:36 | |
Our paper florist friend from New Zealand, Wendy Anderson, chats with us about building her business with a support network both in person and online.
Wendy Anderson of Just Imagine knows all about forging a paper flower business without a robust local industry to support her, as she lives in New Zealand without any other known paper florists in sight. But she still doesn’t go it alone!
Finding an Online Community We first met Wendy through our Facebook group, which brings together paper florists from all over the world. As mentioned, Wendy is currently unaware of any other paper florists in her area, so being able to ask questions and share techniques with other like-minded artists is incredibly important for her. She was nervous the first time she joined our monthly Makers Meeting, but waking up incredibly early to connect with other paper florists has become a huge priority for her. “I’ve only missed three meetings in four years,” she told us. “Our paper flower community and those Makers Meetings [are] my most favorite online place to be, and it’s got to be something big for me to miss it.” You can also join our meetings or post your questions in our group. We’ve built countless businesses and friendships there. In the episode, Wendy dove into more ways our online community has helped her. Now more than ever with so many of us stuck at home, take advantage of the amazing technology we have and find your virtual support group.
Building a Varied Support Network Wendy is very open about how much her success depends on her incredible family and friends. Even though they aren’t paper florists themselves, they’ve helped problem solve, set up events, and even answered questions about her work. One particularly touching story she shared on the episode was about her father, who is in his 80s, helping design the mechanics for an archway that spanned over a set of double doors. Then he did it again when she asked for help scaling it down for an art exhibition. Wendy shared even more stories about loved ones like her amazing husband stepping in to help, and we fully agree with her assessment of how crucial that kind of assistance is. Getting outside perspectives to help us solve problems is so crucial. Sometimes you need to step back and get another opinion. Those people don’t have to be in our industry in order to help!
“When we do our craft…the second [flower] is always better. The third, the fourth—as you get on, you get better and better at it. It’s practice and practice.” - Wendy
Promoting Our Industry Wendy loves talking about our industry and her work. “I have such a passion for paper flower making, it’s hard to shut me up.” We know the feeling! If you’re not used to talking about your work, though, it may feel awkward. But it’s so important for us to educate the general population about paper flowers. One way Wendy has done this is through speaking engagements. Since quality crepe paper is difficult to find in New Zealand, she brings along the imported paper to let the audience touch and stretch. She spoke about how she runs these events and other ways she promotes paper flowers in our episode.
Here’s what you’ll hear when you listen to our conversation:
Start building your support network right now by joining our Facebook group, and listen now to the podcast to hear all about Wendy’s paper flower journey and how she’s built up her paper florist business. | |||
| 23 Dec 2020 | Episode 74 - How to Grow Your Paper Flower Hobby Into a Business with Wendy Anderson | 00:32:08 | |
We chat more with paper florist Wendy Anderson about how she’s grown her paper flower hobby into a business.
It can feel terrifying, and even if you’ve taken the leap and started down the business path, you are still going to encounter bumps along the way. Fortunately, there are many paper florists who have successfully built their hobby into a paper flower business. One of them is Wendy Anderson of Just Imagine, who shared with us in our latest episode of Paper Talk about how she took her paper flower love from hobby to business. Here’s some of the advice she shared with us.
Calculate Your Costs When Wendy first started selling paper flowers, she only charged a dollar for each rose. She was using the only crepe paper available in New Zealand, which was not high quality, so she figured she couldn’t charge more than what the paper cost. But then her friend pointed out that she had other supply costs, as well as time costs. They sat down and calculated out just how much she was spending on supplies. Each rose was actually costing closer to three dollars—and that was before accounting for Wendy’s time! She was losing money. Her friend encouraged her to raise her prices to a rate that would pay her an hourly wage. At first, Wendy was hesitant, but eventually, she said, “I found an in the middle, intermediary range, where I could cover my costs.” She decided to keep her prices somewhat low in the beginning, but over time, as paper flowers became more well known in her area and she built up her reputation, she raised her rates.
Store Paper Flowers Safely After creating big installations, you might be left with hundreds of flowers and foliage pieces that now need to be stored or disposed of. You don’t want to throw away your work, but how do you store your paper flowers without damaging them? Especially if you hope to use them again or eventually sell them? Wendy had this problem after creating an archway for her father’s 80th birthday party. It was a large installation, spanning a set of double doors, and it involved a ton of blooms. But what to do with them? Her solution was to create vase-like structures from tubes that can hold flowers upright inside of opaque plastic containers. She even adds in anti-moisture packets to keep her blooms extra safe. Wendy describes more about where she got the supplies to make her storage solution in the episode. Getting creative to solve problems like storage is a great way to use your crafting skills to solve a business problem. You can probably commiserate with Wendy’s description of her craft room being covered in supplies and flowers, but a little inventiveness can help keep your products safe from the creative chaos.
Share Your Mistakes One of the ways Wendy grows as a paper florist is through our Facebook group. She encourage listeners to pop into our monthly meetings: “Be at the Makers Meetings. No need to be nervous. We have so much fun. We laugh. We talk. We share our techniques, our tips. We share the ugly as well, because if I can tell you what went wrong when I made it, then that might help you learn, too.” It can be very uncomfortable to share your mistakes, especially when you’re new to the paper flower world and community. But every paper florist, no matter how experienced, makes mistakes. A wonderful way to make lemonade out of lemons is to learn from that mistake, and even better, share that lemonade with others! When you help someone else avoid a mistake, they’ll help you in turn later. It’s a fantastic way to help our community grow as artists. We chatted about even more with Wendy, and you won’t want to miss out on a minute of her enthusiasm.
Here’s what you’ll hear when you listen to our conversation:
Listen now to the podcast to hear more about Wendy’s paper flower journey and how she’s built up her paper florist business. And don’t forget to join our Facebook group so that you can share, connect, and grow with us!
“It’s the highest compliment you can give any paper florist, when someone says, ‘Wow. That looks real.’ - Wendy | |||
| 30 Dec 2020 | Episode 75 - What It Takes to Produce a Polished Podcast | 00:18:53 | |
Learn the costs of creating a podcast and how you can create something polished that people will want to listen to.
Not quite. The truth is that a podcast is much more than a recorded conversation. One of the most important aspects of a podcast is the audience. If no one listens to your podcast, it doesn’t matter how much great information you’re sharing. You need to reach people, and that comes with costs.
This post covers some of the most important points we chatted about. After reading this you’ll feel prepared to create a podcast of your own because you’ll understand the costs upfront, and you’ll be able to produce a polished podcast right from the start.
So how much money will it take you to run a podcast? It obviously depends on your situation, but there are some set costs that you will have to tackle. At the very least, you will need to host your podcast somewhere online. There are some free options out there, but keep in mind that those come with non-financial costs and won’t provide you with the many tools available elsewhere. We host Paper Talk on Simplecast for $25 a month. There are other options out there, but when we priced things out, we found Simplecast to be the best value for our money. We also love that it is very easy to use. We also recommend editing your audio. Some podcasts don’t, but it makes a huge difference in the end (we’ll explain more about why this matters in a bit). We use Adobe Suite, which costs around $50 a month.
If you want to produce a more polished podcast and reach a wider audience, you’ll also want to look into a website (we use Squarespace for $20), recording equipment (including video conferencing like Zoom for $12 a month), an email provider (Kajabi for $150), and a graphics creator (we highly recommend Canva at $30 a month). We also employ a copywriter who saves us lots of time and brainspace and costs around $45 an episode or around $200 a month. You can decide what your podcast needs, but we’ve found that all of these costs really help us create a more polished and accessible end product.
On a whole, Paper Talk costs us around $500 a month to produce, which is why we decided to ask for your help to keep it going! You can support us on Patreon and sponsor an episode. Soft Costs of Running a Podcast Now that you’ve seen the numbers, let’s talk about time. It’s easy to discount how much time you are spending on something like a small business or podcast. But your time is valuable! You only have so much of it. Some of the things we pay for help save us time, like our copywriter. But simply buying something like Canva won’t make graphics magically appear, ready to use. Canva has great templates and makes creating beautiful graphics really easy and quick, but it’s still time out of your day. Same with editing your audio, researching guests, sending newsletters, updating your website, and on and on. For us as paper florists and small business owners, time spent on the podcast really means using time that we could have been utilizing to produce paid work. We love sharing information with our community and connecting with guests on our podcast, but it is largely a labor of love. As Quynh said, “We do these things [like teaching online courses] to pay for the things we’re passionate about. The podcast, we are so passionate about it.” Realize that you will need to pour time into your podcast and that it won’t pay you back immediately. Many podcasts like ours ask for listeners to donate on Patreon for this very reason. To produce a quality podcast, you need to be willing to spend your time on it.
Creating a Polished Podcast Now, you know what it takes to make a podcast. Here’s our pitch for why you should go the extra mile to create something polished. Listeners want to listen to more polished podcasts, even if they don’t realize it. Taking the time to edit out fifty “ums” from every episode is tedious, but it will make a big difference in the end. As Quynh said in our episode, I know with Jessie and myself, we like the polished look, the polished sound...I make an extra effort to make sure that the podcast does sound polished for you guys, so it makes it easier for you to listen to. You also need to create a solid platform and presence on the web to help you reach more of those listeners. Again, people will notice if you nail that polished aesthetic. Take the time to make beautiful graphics, to update your website, to post on social media. More people will be drawn to your podcast. Yes, you can keep your monetary and time costs down by skimping on some of these things, but keep in mind the drawbacks if you decide not to focus on something we’ve discussed.
If you want to share, connect, and grow more with us, join our Facebook group or support us on Patreon where you’ll get even more behind the scenes looks at Paper Talk. **Paper Talk is supported by our community of readers and listeners. When you click on our affiliate links, we may earn a commission for qualifying purchases made through Amazon.com. This commission goes directly into the maintenance of this website and podcast. Amazon Affiliate Disclaimer. | |||
| 06 Jan 2021 | Episode 76 - Paper Flower Business Goals for the New Year | 00:29:01 | |
Two professional paper florists share their artistic and business goals for 2021 and give insight into how you can improve yourself this coming new year. The last year threw us all for a loop. Like us, you probably had to cancel plans and restructure your goals for your paper flower business. So what will 2021 bring? We have hope that things on the Covid front will improve enough to gain back some semblance of normality, but one of the biggest lessons we learned from 2020 is to be flexible. With that in mind, in our latest episode of Paper Talk we chatted about what we want to achieve this coming year and how we plan to do it among such uncertainty. This post will help you feel ready for this year because you’ll be inspired by goals that will help any paper florist improve their artistry and business.
Learn to Say No When you’re building a small business, it’s difficult to turn down work. We don’t all have the luxury to do so, either. But if you’re in the lucky position of being able to be choosy about your projects, say no to paper flower jobs you’re not passionate about. Jessie said this about saying no to commissioned work:
"This year, what I’m hoping for is to have my deadlines under my own control. So I’m hoping to be able to make art for myself and make a collection of some sort where I can really express myself. As much as I love commissions, it’s not really about expressing you. Part of it is, but there’s certain requirements, and you don’t really get to go free for all in terms of exactly what you want." - Jessie
You need your paper flower business to make money, but don’t lose sight of the artistry that drove you to become a paper florist in the first place. We all have obligations outside of paper flowers. Make the most of your limited time to focus on what will bring you the most joy.
Give Yourself Time and Grace If you know Quynh, you know that she works a lot. A LOT, a lot. When her husband took two weeks off in December, she was still planning on getting work done. She has plans to revamp The Posey Box, and there were certain things she wanted to complete before the new year. She didn’t get everything done—and that’s okay. Author Nora Roberts touched on this subject once. When asked about balancing time between writing and family, she compared it to juggling. The key to success? Knowing which balls are plastic and which are glass. If you drop a glass ball, it will shatter. A plastic one will simply bounce, and you can pick it up later. As paper florists and entrepreneurs, we have to figure out what absolutely needs to be focused on right now (the glass balls), and which ones can wait (the plastic). In December, Quynh dropped some of the plastic Posey Box balls, but that’s okay. They’ll be waiting for her when she’s ready to pick them up. Be forgiving of yourself when you need more time and don’t worry if you can’t get it all done at once. No one can.
Serve the Paper Flower Community If you’ve spent any time at all with Paper Talk, you probably already know why we started our Facebook group, our podcast, workshops, online courses, and more. We are passionate about helping the paper flower community share, connect, and grow together. That continues to be one of our biggest goals for 2021, and it should be one of yours, as well. When we build each other up, all of us become better artists and more successful entrepreneurs.
"The business side is always the hard part for creatives, because our brains are not there… There are so many hats you have to wear, from being a marketing person, a bookkeeper, the customer rep for your business. There are so many pieces you have to think about. And we’re hoping Paper to Profit gives you a checklist of things you need to go through and think about." - Quynh
This year still has some uncertainty thanks to Covid, but we will definitely be opening back up our Paper to Profits online course sometime soon. We also hope to start meeting up in person again! If all goes well, we plan to host a retreat at Holly Chapple’s flower farm in Virginia. It will be the perfect opportunity for us to gather, share knowledge, and build friendships as paper florists.
To hear even more about our plans for the coming year, listen to our latest episode of Paper Talk. Here’s what you’ll hear when you listen to our conversation:
Remember to join our Facebook group and support us on Patreon for even more great content that will help your paper flower business thrive. | |||
| 14 Jan 2021 | Episode 77 - How to Change Customer Perceptions of Paper Flowers with Gerry Rosales | 00:31:12 | |
Guest Gerry Rosales talks about building up his paper flower brand in the Philippines and shifting customer perceptions of paper crafts.
We chatted all about this in our latest episode of Paper Talk with Gerry Rosales. Gerry is the artist behind ThePaperblooms, and he has worked hard to change consumer perceptions of paper flowers. You know that we here at Paper Talk are all about building up our industry as a whole, and perceptions of paper florists are a big part of making that happen. Our conversation touched on many things that you can do to change perceptions of your products and brand. You won’t want to miss out on a minute of it. If you can’t listen right away, read on to learn some of the helpful takeaways we discussed. They’ll help you feel ready to shift perceptions and build up an enthusiastic customer base.
Educate Consumers Gerry lives in the Philippines and has had to overcome the preconception that paper crafts aren’t worth paying for. As we chatted about in the episode, paper flowers in Southeast Asia have long been associated with not being able to afford fresh florals for things like weddings. They often have a cheap, DIY stigma attached. This attitude is something paper florists, including us, have encountered around the world to varying degrees. How do you convince potential customers that your product is valuable?
“I tried to challenge the fresh flower industry by saying ThePaperblooms are ‘More than fresh.’” - Gerry
We delved into this question with Gerry on the podcast, but one of the big answers was education. He shared how he educated potential customers at bridal fairs. The payoff wasn’t immediate, but with some patience and hard work, his labor paid off. Listen to the episode to hear even more about how Gerry did this and how long it took him to see results. Even if you don’t see the benefits right away, take the time to educate people about paper flowers. Many consumers still don’t know that paper is an option or can be a high-end, artistic product. You may have to talk to a hundred people before you find a customer, but you might not have found that person if you hadn’t tried. Plus, some of those other people might come back much later thanks to your hard work. Build a Premium Brand When educating potential customers, one thing that has helped us sell paper flowers as a valuable product is by making our brands feel premium. Even if your paper flowers are high-end and gorgeous, people might not notice—especially online—if your branding is cheap or sloppy. Think about everything consumers encounter when interacting with your business: name, website, logo, social media, quality of photos, packaging, and on and on. Gerry used his background as a graphic artist and photographer to build up a business that looked and felt as beautiful as his flowers. In the episode, Gerry shared several other ways that he built up his brand as premium—and they are things that you can do! You can’t build a high-end brand overnight, but following our advice on the podcast will give you a headstart.
Value Your Skills Of course, if you’re going to market yourself as a premium brand, you have to believe it yourself. Like Gerry, many of us started making paper flowers for our own weddings. The appeal is fairly obvious: you can control the end result and save money. That’s why many of us became paper florists in the beginning. So how do you get past that DIY hobby mentality? Here’s what Gerry had to say:
“Paper craft, anyone can do, but not anyone has time to do it or not anyone has the skill to do it. It’s more than the paper flowers that they are buying or they’re paying for. It’s the skill. It’s the time of the maker.”
Paper flowers are a skilled art. We are skilled artists. Look in the mirror and tell yourself that you are an artist. We know it can be difficult to do, because we’ve had our own doubts about our worth as well. Just remember: if you believe in your work, customers will too.
For even more great advice on changing perceptions, listen to our latest episode of Paper Talk. Here’s what you’ll hear when you listen to our conversation:
Gerry is an admin of our Facebook group where he shares wonderful tips for paper florists every Friday. Join to share, connect, and grow with us. And please consider supporting us on Patreon for even more great content like this.
“In whatever industry—I’ve been into photography, I’m a graphic artist, I’m a wedding planner—and I will always say this: do the most with what you have...Yes, materials will make the outcome better, but it’s still your hands, your skills, your level of artistry that will speak more than just the materials.” - Gerry | |||
| 20 Jan 2021 | Episode 78 - Three Ways to Create Loyal Patrons with Inga Peterson | 00:30:22 | |
Learn three ways that Inga Peterson keeps her fans happy and increases customer engagement with her paper flower business, and how you can help your supporters become patrons.
That person is a patron.
We all need people to support us, and not just in our personal lives. You need fans who will encourage you along your paper flower journey and help you build your small business. That’s one of the reasons we started Paper Talk—to build a place where we can share, connect, and grow together! Of course, when it comes to your business, you need more than just peers to cheer you on. You also need customers (we’ve all got bills to pay!). Helping your customers become patrons of your work means that they are more likely to buy from you again and to recommend your work to others. In our latest episode of Paper Talk, we chatted with Inga Peterson about how she engages her supporters and harnesses their love of her art in order to build up her paper flower business. We love her work as a paper florist and educator. Count us as some of her most ardent supporters cheering her on! The great news is that you can easily employ these same strategies to boost your customer engagement. Below is an outline of three big takeaways from our conversation with Inga, but be sure to listen to the episode for even more great insights about building your business and improving your artistry.
Create Understandable Tutorials Many paper florists move into the education realm at some point. While you may have mastered paper flowers, you need to also master techniques that will make you the best possible teacher. In order to cultivate loyal patrons, you need to have a fantastic product that they can love. For Inga, that means not rushing things and breaking everything down to be readily understandable. As she said,
“It’s really my goal for someone who’s doing a tutorial of mine to not only be able to make that flower, but also to understand my process of decision making along the way of making that flower so they can transfer that to another project that they’re working on.”
When making tutorials, always keep in mind the student’s perspective. Try to think back to when you were new to paper flowers. You didn’t understand every term. You didn’t know how to do certain techniques. Make sure your tutorials are accessible for everyone, no matter their level of expertise. If you need to, go back and revise your old tutorials to make them readily accessible to all of your customers. By making your tutorials easy to use, your customers will have greater success, love the end results, recommend you to others, follow your social media—you see where this is going. In short, they’ll be more likely to become an ardent follower. Inga shared even more fantastic advice about writing and using tutorials in our episode, as well as which tutorials she used when first starting out.
“If you’re a brand new paper flower maker, just know that making all these flowers…if you feel like they’re not quite there yet, that is part of the process. You will get there.” - Inga
Get Supported on Patreon To keep your paper flower business afloat, you need money. In our line of work, income can fluctuate from month to month. One way to keep a steady stream of income is to use Patreon. If you’re unfamiliar with Patreon, it’s a way for your supporters to pledge a recurring amount to you, such as $5 a month. One of the great things about Patreon is that there are no upfront costs. You only pay a percentage of what a Patron gives you. In return for their support, you can provide your Patrons with exclusive rewards and content. You can set up levels of rewards based on how much Patrons pledge, and there’s lots of flexibility in how you can set up your system or change it later. That means you can ask your supporters to pledge a very small amount, even as little as $1 a month. Many people who are casual fans are willing to give something like that if you ask. Then, they receive those awesome rewards and content that no one else is getting, thus boosting their engagement with your brand, helping them love your work more—you get the picture. You can hear all about the kinds of rewards Inga offers and some of our tips for using Patreon by listening to the episode. You can also check out our Patreon page to see how we’ve set things up.
Ask for Reviews If your fans can’t become a Patron for whatever reason, they can still support you without spending money. One easy way is by writing a review about your work. We all love reading reviews before buying, and your paper flowers are no different. Of course, that means that your clients and supporters need to know how and where to leave a review. As Jessie shared in our episode, she reached out to some customers and asked for reviews. Some of them already had something written, but were waiting for various reasons to post them. That little nudge from her and a little bit of info on what would best help her, led to positive reviews being posted for everyone to read. Those supporters got a little bit of help to become superfans. It might feel uncomfortable at first to ask for reviews. That’s normal! We’ve all felt that way. But your customers love your work for a reason. They want to share about it. Help them do it! We chatted about much more with Inga, including more about how she has built her business and how her fine arts background has informed her work. You can hear all of this and more by listening to our latest episode of Paper Talk.
On her fine arts background: “A lot of it comes down to learning how to take an idea from just a concept into reality. It’s that whole art and design process of, ‘Hey I’ve got this idea, how do I get this from my head into the physical realm?’” - Inga
Here’s what you’ll hear when you listen to our conversation:
For even more help in building your paper flower business, join our Facebook group, and please consider supporting us on Patreon for even more great content like this.
Here are the podcasts that Inga mentions in this episode: Cultivating Place: https://www.cultivatingplace.com/ The Jealous Curator: https://www.thejealouscurator.com/blog/art-for-your-ear-podcast/ Ologies: https://www.alieward.com/ologies | |||
| 27 Jan 2021 | Episode 79 - The Best Kai Scissors for Paper Flowers with Devin Head Kai Scissors | 00:21:46 | |
Learn which scissors Devin Head recommends for paper flower making and how you can best care for them so that they live a long and sharp life.
Could you make a paper flower without scissors?
For paper florists like us, the thought is quite terrifying. Imagine a peony without the distinctively shaped petal edges, or making flower centers without fringe. Our craft requires precise cuts, and that means our scissors need to be top notch to do the job correctly. We cut out thousands of petals and leaves. Our tools should be up to the task. That’s why our latest episode of Paper Talk was all about scissors! Some of our favorite scissors in the world come from a Japanese company called Kai. They are super sharp, easy to grip, and last ages. We chatted with Devin Head, Kai’s Regional Sales Manager located in Washington state, about which scissors he recommends for paper florists and how to best care for them. If you don’t have specialized scissors for various jobs, you are making your art so much more difficult than it needs to be. As Devin said,
“That’s the conversation we have…when I’m at a street show talking to a husband and he’s like, ‘How many scissors do you need?’ Well, there’s a job for each one.
You don’t have make-do any longer.
Here’s our definitive guide of Kai Scissors for paper florists:
Essential Scissors for Any Job These three scissors will cover almost any job you come across as a paper florist. Quynh uses and loves these three, and even included them in her Holiday Posey Boxes and Starter Box, plus you can get her favorite set in her store. Put these on your crafting table, and you’ll be set to tackle almost any paper flower. The Kai 5210 is 8 inches and perfect for most general cutting. They’ll cut through any crepe, and since they’re a bit longer, they’ll do it quickly. The Kai 5135 is 5 ½ inches long and great for detailed work. Use these for fringe, the edges of petals, and any cuts that are close together. The Kai 5100 is 4 inches and has a sharp, small tip for extremely detailed work and difficult to reach places. You won’t use this one as often as the other two, but when you need it, you really need it.
Curved Scissors for Tight Spots As the name implies, these scissors are curved to help you reach tight spots without damaging your work. Here’s what Quynh had to say about using them: “They’re really great for getting into those small details when you’re creating those petals with the ruffled edge… What I do is I take those curved scissors and I make little swoops inside the petals and then you can ruffle them even more, and you get into those really tiny little corners.” The Kai 5100c is 4 inches long like its similarly named cousin above. However, the 5100c has a slight curve at its tip. Because our work is three-dimensional, we sometimes have to cut around and between curves. You can imagine how a scissor that works with that instead of against it is so ingenious. The Kai 5130 is 5 inches and adds even more curve to the equation. Both the tip and the handle are curved, giving this pair of scissors even more maneuverability for getting into tough to reach spaces.
Multi-Purpose Scissors Because our craft involves wires so often, we asked Devin if Kai manufactured wire cutters, and we were pleasantly surprised to find out that they do have a multi-purpose scissor with a cutout for wire cutting. The Kai 5160 is 6 inches long and has a serrated edge. For paper florists, the little notch that helps cut small wires quickly is a fantastic bonus.
Here’s what you’ll hear when you listen to our conversation:
Remember to join our Facebook group, and please consider supporting us on Patreon for even more great content like this. | |||
| 03 Feb 2021 | Episode 80 - Overcoming Imposter Syndrome with Margie Keates | 00:33:40 | |
Learn about the many sources of imposter syndrome and how you can overcome it as a paper florist. Includes special guest Margie Keates. Can I raise my prices or try something new? What if I fail? What if people don’t like it? Do I even deserve to be called an artist? If these doubts sound familiar, you’ve met our old friend imposter syndrome.
Can we let you in on a secret? We’ve all dealt with feeling like our art wasn’t good enough. We’ve all carried hurtful comments with us for years. Every paper florist, no matter how put together they seem, has to deal with these feelings on a regular basis. The amazing Margie Keates of The Lovely Ave joined us in our latest episode of Paper Talk to cover this very topic. All three of us have extensive experience with imposter syndrome, and our conversation delved into the many places these feelings come from and how we handle those doubts. You should listen to the entire episode to glean all sorts of useful insights about how you can understand and tame your imposter syndrome. If you can’t listen right away, we’ve got three tips for tackling one of the sources of imposter syndrome: a lack of support from others.
Mute Unhelpful Voices Starting a business takes a leap of faith. Many of us left successful careers in other fields to start our paper flower businesses. That’s scary enough as it is, but it’s even worse when someone close to us doesn’t believe in our decision. You probably have a memory of someone you respect or love not taking your art seriously. A disbelieving look, a series of questions about our sanity—you get the picture. In the episode, we revisited some of our past hurts and how they’re still with us years later. Seriously, they’re persistent. It’s okay for you to avoid those Negative Nancies. We’re trained to be polite and not step on other people’s toes, but if someone is hurting you, you don’t have to stay friends with them. Sure, be polite with your words—don’t keep subjecting yourself to someone who is unhelpful. You don’t need more doubts piling up and sticking around for ages. This goes for online, as well. If following a certain paper florist makes your imposter syndrome flare up, then hit that mute button. Unfollow, if you have to. It’s okay.
Find a Supportive Community Sometimes you can altogether avoid interacting with negative voices, but what do you do when you can’t? What if your dad just doesn’t understand how you could go all in on paper flowers, and he seems to bring it up at every family dinner? You need an avalanche of support to drown out those unhelpful voices that you can’t avoid. Our best suggestion is our Facebook group. Yes, we talk about it a lot, but only because it is seriously amazing. Our community encompasses paper florists from around the world who gather to share tips, ask questions, and cheer each other on. It’s overflowing with the positivity you need to bolster yourself against those unhelpful comments in your life. In some ways, it’s also easier to share your difficulties and successes with people who live halfway across the globe. You don’t have to sit across from them at the next family dinner and fear that they’ll comment on your latest venture—and if our community was there, we guarantee they would only ever give positive feedback.
Ask a Mentor The paper flower industry is fairly new—practically a baby compared to many other crafts. All of us started our businesses from scratch and often without much guidance. We’ve dealt with imposter syndrome at every step of the way: from first starting out, to gaining our footing, to becoming established and respected voices in the community. Who better to ask for help along the way than those who have been through it? Our entire episode of Paper Talk is basically a mini mentoring session dedicated to helping people like you learn from our experience with imposter syndrome. We want to help. We love it! That’s why we’re so excited to offer another opportunity to be mentored by us. On Saturday, February 20 we’re hosting another Paper X Talk. Margie will join us to delve into imposter syndrome even more. You will walk away with tools on how to deal with imposter syndrome, how to find your voice, and how you can learn to be an elastic artist who tries new things. Tickets are only $10 in advance, and you’ll have access to the recording afterwards so that you can reference it later. Even better, after the main conversation and Q&A you will have the opportunity to add on a breakout mentoring session for $5 with one of the three of us. We’ll each take on a different topic and will only offer five spots for each room so that we can have an interactive discussion. This is a fantastic opportunity to ask us questions and start conversations about what you most need help with. As Margie said, “I wish I would have had this when I first started, even year three of my journey.”
Hear more about this lecture and our entire discussion about imposter syndrome by listening to our latest episode of Paper Talk.
Remember to join our Facebook group, and please consider supporting us on Patreon for even more great content like this. | |||
| 10 Feb 2021 | Episode 81 - How to Manage Your Time While Building a Business with Poy T. Granati | 00:37:35 | |
Learn from our guest Poy T. Granati and how she has made the most of her time while building her paper flower business.
This isn’t just a catchphrase. We’re all busy. We have to make the most of the time that we do have so that our businesses can thrive. But we know that it’s easier said than done.
Our conversation covered a wide array of topics, ranging from how she uses her advertising background to appeal to customers, to how she goes about partnering with shops to promote her work. You’ll want to listen to everything she had to say, but here’s some of the tips we discussed about managing time that will help you get more done for your paper flower business.
Break Tasks Down Have you ever felt overwhelmed by something you had to do? Maybe it was a series of blog posts, or a tutorial that needed to be written. Maybe you just don’t know how you’ll ever figure out that new flower for a commission. Break it down! Poy’s educational background in design has helped her learn how to break down processes and take things one step at a time, but you can do it, too! Work out what steps you need to take to complete your task, then do just the first part. Write that first blog post. Jot down just the supplies needed for that tutorial. Look up pictures of that new flower. Don’t worry about what comes next. Complete the first step before you think about the next, and before you know it, you’ll be halfway through. Block Off Time In order to get things done, you need to block off time. Dedicate time just for paper flowers, and make it a realistic period of time that you can repeat every day. Poy told us about a course in her graduate program that encouraged students to dedicate a small amount of time to work on one skill for one hundred days. The idea was that we can’t always block out eight hours to work on something new, but by giving yourself a little bit of time each day, you are continually practicing and growing. By the end, you’ve got a habit. That class was actually the beginning of Poy’s paper flower journey, which you can hear more about in the episode. The details about the class and how it changed Poy’s life are very interesting, and you won’t want to miss them.
Give Yourself Deadlines Without a deadline, you can push off tasks and goals for ages. No judgement here—we all do it. But in order to grow as a business, you do need to buckle down and get your work done at some point. Nothing motivates more than a deadline. Currently, Poy is giving herself a six month deadline for focusing solely on her paper flower business. She has milestones to reach, goals to achieve, and an end date to keep in mind so that she doesn’t lose sight of what she should be doing. Of course, simply setting a deadline doesn’t matter if you don’t stick to it. If you’ve done commission work, you’ve probably noticed that you will stick to other people’s deadlines more than your own personally imposed deadlines. It’s hard to self-motivate! In the episode you can hear more about ways that we keep ourselves on track and hold ourselves to the deadlines we set.
Listen to our latest episode of Paper Talk to learn all of this and more. Remember to join our Facebook group, and please consider supporting us on Patreon for even more great content like this! | |||
| 17 Feb 2021 | Episode 82 - Why We Love Cartotecnica Rossi Italian Crepe Paper | 00:29:24 | |
We chat with Martina Polelli about the history of the Italian crepe paper company, their products, and where to buy around the world.
In past episodes of Paper Talk we’ve chatted with the U.S. distributor of Italian crepe, Carte Fini, but we wanted to take things even closer to the source of Italian crepe paper goodness. In our latest episode, we talked with Martina Polelli of Cartotecnica Rossi, the actual manufacturer in Italy of one of our favorite crepe paper. Martina discussed the company’s history, their product offerings, their process for choosing new products, and much more. You’ll love this little peek into the world behind the medium that makes our industry possible. If you can’t listen to the episode right away, here is a little taste of some of our favorite things about Cartotecnica Rossi. Established History The company Cartiera Rossi (which would eventually lead to the Cartotecnica Rossi we know today) was founded in 1878, and soon became one of the largest paper factories in Europe. Even over a hundred years ago customers turned their crepe and tissue paper into beautiful creations ranging from jewelry to hairpieces to flowers. Yes—while our modern industry is still growing and feels very young, crafters have been making paper flowers for a long time. Being a new company isn’t a bad thing. That said, wisdom does come with time. Cartotecnica Rossi has had over one hundred years to continually improve their paper, and it shows. Paper florists all over the world know that they can trust Italian crepe to be consistent and versatile. Paper Talk Patrons can see a photo of the factory by watching the episode on Patreon. You’ll also get a look at all of the papers Martina shared, as well as a fun demonstration of how much the 90g can stretch compared to the 60g. Not a Patron yet? Find more information here.
New Products To the delight of many paper florists, Cartotecnica Rossi released their 90 gram crepe paper last year. If you haven’t used it yourself, you have probably seen it used by another artist. Let us tell you: we are big fans. As Martina showed us, the 90g has five times more stretch than the 60g, but maintains that delicacy that makes for gorgeous and realistic petals. Martina also shared with us that there will be new colors released in the 90g lineup. While she couldn’t share specifics about these colors yet, she did tell us that they surveyed artists to learn which colors they most wanted. As Martina said, “We always start by listening to our audience. As I always say, it makes no sense to offer chocolate cake to someone when they ask for apple.” We love Cartotecnica Rossi’s dedication to innovation and to listening to customers. We’re always excited to see what they come out with next. Listen to the episode for more information about how they choose new products, why they decided to make the 90g, and how you can get your hands on a color catalogue to help you navigate all of the options.
Environmentally Friendly and Safe Not all crepe paper is manufactured by the same standards. Cartotecnica Rossi is ISO 14001 certified (meaning that they meet international standards for environmental performance), and they guarantee that their dyes are non-toxic. Since we are constantly manipulating crepe paper with our bare hands, it’s comforting to know that our medium is not going to cause damage in the long term. If you have children or pets, it’s also nice to know that if they get into your paper stash—heaven forbid!—that they won’t be harmed. Our conversation with Martina covered many other topics that you won’t want to miss. You can hear all of it by listening to our latest episode of Paper Talk.
Our Questions, Answered by Cartotecnica Rossi We gathered some questions from the members of our Paper Talk Podcast Facebook group and sent them off to Cartotecnica Rossi for answers:
Here’s what you’ll hear when you listen to our conversation:
Remember to join our Facebook group where you can ask questions about how other paper florists use Italian crepe, and please consider supporting us on Patreon for even more great content like this. | |||
| 25 Feb 2021 | Episode 83 - Why You Need to Constantly Experiment as an Artist with Sue Bowen | 00:21:34 | |
We talk with paper florist Sue Bowen about how to experiment with new materials, techniques, and styles in order to find your artistic voice. How do you find your paper flower voice? Or if you’ve been a paper florist for awhile, how do you help your artistic style evolve naturally? Style isn’t something you can copy, at least not successfully. It has to come from a genuine place inside of you. But how in the world do you hone in on that?
With experimentation!
Sue Bowen is one of our moderators for our Facebook group and is always ready with encouragement and helpful insight (if you haven’t joined, you really should!). In our latest episode of Paper Talk, we chatted with Sue, and our conversation kept circling back to this need to experiment. You won’t want to miss out on all of the helpful things she shared in the podcast, but for now, here are some ideas to inspire your experimentation on your paper flower journey.
Experiment with Materials Sue first started making paper flowers from a variety of materials. She didn’t start with crepe paper. She tried new things. She figured out what worked and what didn’t. She decided what she liked. If she hadn’t been open to using new materials, she wouldn’t have discovered her love of crepe paper flowers. What a loss that would be for our paper flower community! Don’t be afraid to use a new material, be it crepe or color tool or whatever. What’s the worst that could happen? That flower is a disaster, and you move on. You’ve learned something! But more likely, you’ll find something that works even better than what you were using before.
Experiment with Techniques We asked Sue what she’s been experimenting with lately, and she told us all about the many coloring techniques she’s tried. Some of them have worked better than others. She doesn’t know how colorfast some of the newer techniques will be, but she embraces that and let’s it lead her to new places. There’s no one right way to do anything with paper flowers. What works for us might not work for you. Yes, we can learn from each other, but at the end of the day, you simply have to try things out for yourself. And if none of us ever explored new ways to do things, we’d never grow beyond our current techniques. Our industry would stagnate Make sure to listen to the episode for more specifics about Sue’s color experimentations, including her foray into natural dyes.
Experiment with Style Don’t worry if your flowers don’t look like other artists’ work. Make changes to tutorials. Do what feels right to you. We loved Sue’s insight: “It’s about making your flowers as natural as they can be...finding your own style, your own way. And I think that’s what people who are learning need to know they’re not trying to copy that other person’s flower, that the flower that they make is fine. It doesn’t have to look like that flower. It’s your flower.” When you explore a wider breadth of new materials and techniques, you’ll be able to better figure out what works for you. Be bold with your stylistic choices, and make some mistakes along the way. In the end, your artistry will only benefit. We chatted about much more with Sue, and you can hear it all by listening to this latest episode of Paper Talk.
Here’s what you’ll hear when you listen to our conversation:
Remember to join our Facebook group where you can share, connect, and grow with us. Please also consider supporting us on Patreon for even more great content like this. | |||
| 25 Feb 2021 | Episode 84 - What We Love About Clubhouse | 00:15:17 | |
Learn why you should be on Clubhouse and how you can connect with us for our weekly meeting.
It’s an app that lets you gather together in virtual rooms to have audio-only conversations. Think somewhere between Zoom, Whatsapp, and old-fashioned phone calls. The app hasn’t been around that long, so don’t worry if you’re unfamiliar with it. We’ve been exploring Clubhouse and chatted all about in our latest episode of Paper Talk. You can hear all of the ins and outs of how the app works, You won’t want to miss out on all of the helpful things she shared in the podcast, but for now, here are some ideas to inspire your experimentation on your paper flower journey.
Focus on Listening In the episode, Jessie pointed out how many visual cues we rely on during face-to-face conversations. You can pick up on some of these on Zoom, but if you’ve ever been to a video conference, you know that lag times and bad lighting, and tiny screens can make it easy to miss those cues. It’s easy to end up talking over each other and then having everything screech to a standstill while you figure out whose turn it is to speak. But we don’t really do that with phone conversations. When we’re focused on one sense only—listening—we do a lot better in letting the conversation flow naturally. And that’s how Clubhouse feels. Without visual cues or distractions, you’re really forced to listen to whoever is talking. That’s all you’re doing. You really get to delve into people’s thoughts more. You’re forced to concentrate on their words alone. As Jessie said, “This app is about listening to other people.” Simply and well put.
More Intimate Conversations One thing that popped up in our podcast episode several times is just how intimate Clubhouse feels. Even if you’re in a big room with lots of other users, the conversation flows so well (because of what we mentioned above). There’s also something really personable about hearing another person’s voice. You pick up on their inflection and the more nuanced meaning behind things than if you only read their words. In the podcast, we talked more about why this intimate set-up makes such a difference for the level of civility, as well. Give it a listen to learn why you don’t have to worry about internet bullies, or if they do show up, how you can easily report and avoid them.
Connect with Other Paper Florists Clubhouse rooms cover almost every topic imaginable, which is fantastic for making connections both in and out of our industry. As we covered in the episode, we’ve been able to chat with people we’ve never imagined being able to hold a conversation with before. That level of intimacy that Clubhouse builds is really amazing compared to other social media platforms. We’re particularly excited to start a weekly gathering of paper florists (or any craft or paper enthusiasts who want to join). There are so many amazing people in our community who we haven’t been able to meet in person. While we’re still holding out hope for that in the near future, we want to hear your voices and have those more personal conversations with you.
Here’s what you’ll hear when you listen to our conversation:
Join our weekly meeting on Clubhouse on Thursdays at 7pm PST/10pm EST! Also, join our Facebook group where you can share, connect, and grow with us. Please also consider supporting us on Patreon for even more great content like this. Thank you for listening! | |||
| 03 Mar 2021 | Episode 85 - The Power of Saying No | 00:35:22 | |
Jessie and Quynh discuss how powerful it is to say no to certain projects. Learn how they judge when to turn down work and which factors you should weigh.
When starting out as a paper florist, every paid project feels like a blessing. You’re grateful for the money, the exposure, and the experience. But at some point, you’ll have to say no to a job. Maybe you don’t have the time, or maybe it’s more complicated: you’re starting to lose the joy that you first felt when making paper flowers.
So how do you decide when to say no to new work? It’s not easy, we know. That’s why we talked all about it in our latest episode of Paper Talk. We delved into the factors you should consider, red flags to watch out for, and how to structure contracts to protect yourself when unforeseen circumstances turn a yes into a no late in the game. We covered a lot of ground in the episode. Here’s a little taste of some of our advice when it comes to making a decision about a new project.
Find Your Style Yes, we know—this is a big topic that is worthy of its own episode (like this one!). While we don’t have the space to discuss how to find your artistic voice here, we do want to emphasize why it’s important when it comes to saying no. When you do the work to find your style, you’re really figuring out what brings you joy. You know what will feel authentic and satisfying. You’ll make things that you are proud of. If you can articulate what your style is and recognize it, then you can identify which projects will be the best fit for you. When you are approached by a potential client, it will be very clear if you are a good match for one another stylistically. As Quynh said in the episode: “You need to try it all at the beginning of your journey, but once you start clicking with certain clients and clicking with certain bouquets or flowers or projects that bring you joy, you need to bring that into your life even more and start doing less of the things that don’t make you happy.”
Trust Your Intuition You’ve probably heard that you should trust your gut. We agree that this is usually sound advice when it comes to paper flowers. If a potential client feels shady and your gut is screaming at you to run, then run! Is your intuition telling you that something doesn’t fit your style or that you really don’t have time for it? Then say no. Jessie did offer a useful insight in our episode, though. She pointed out that sometimes our first reaction to a new job is nervousness. Maybe it’s a type of project you’ve never done before. Maybe it’s a new flower. Maybe it’s a really famous client. Feeling nervous in those situations is completely normal! Make sure that you take some time to examine your gut reactions. Is your intuition telling you something is wrong and not a good fit? Or are those butterflies a sign of excitement tinged with fear? Only you can tell.
Give Yourself Time As Jessie said in the podcast, “It takes time to learn when to say no.” We gave lots of sound advice that will help you better decide when to say yes or no. But like many things in life, experience is the ultimate teacher. You should experiment and try new things, but you’ll also end up making mistakes along the way. That’s okay. You’ll be better for it in the end. Be gracious to yourself and give yourself time to figure it all out. It does get easier the longer you’ve been in business.
Listen to the podcast to hear even more things that you should consider when making these decisions, and how you can gain the confidence to say no.
Here’s what you’ll hear when you listen to our conversation:
Join our Facebook group where you can share, connect, and grow with us. Please also consider supporting us on Patreon for even more great content like this. | |||
| 10 Mar 2021 | Episode 86 - How we’re revamping Paper to Profits | 00:23:00 | |
We’ve brought in the amazing Christina Shay to help us update Paper to Profits to be easier for students to use and complete. Learn all about it in our latest episode.
Do you have a to-do list a mile long? Feel like you’ll never get through it all?
We’ll be honest: we’ve felt completely overwhelmed many, many times. You may think we’ve got our crap together, but we don’t always. That’s one reason why we brought on Christina Shay to our Paper Talk team. She is an integrator who oversees our brands and helps us keep the big picture in mind. We chatted with her in our latest episode of Paper Talk about her journey from the corporate world to focusing on small businesses, plus our extensive revamps of Paper to Profits. You can listen to the episode to hear all about Christina’s work with small businesses and what she sees as their biggest challenges. You’ll also want to hear all about our amazing changes to Paper to Profits, but we’ll give you a little peek here: Softer Tone As we’ve mentioned before, Jessie practiced law and Quynh has a background in business, marketing, and finance. This means that we have a wealth of information to pass on to other entrepreneurs, but we can also get caught up in business speak and legalese. If you don’t have a similar background, it might be difficult to follow some of the jargon. Thanks to Christina’s work launching other creative business courses, she’s helped us soften some of this specialized language to make it more accessible to a wider audience. Christina herself has an educational and work background in business, but she has a keen eye for spotting areas with a stiff tone you’d probably encounter in a college course, not a class for artists. She’s been invaluable by shaping Paper to Profits into something a creative business owner of any background can benefit from. We want our high value content to reach and help as many of you as possible, and a softened tone will help more people understand and get through our course.
Accountability Last year we included a one-on-one mentorship session at the end of our inaugural Paper to Profits course. We wanted to help our students on an individual level with whatever was holding them back or giving them problems. What we found, though, was that not everyone made it to the end of the course to get to that mentorship piece. Life happens. We’re all busy. We know that. So to help keep students on track, we’re shifting that mentorship piece and breaking it up over the entire length of the class. We’ll meet together as a group after each section to discuss what was covered, problem solve together, and keep one another accountable. This means that you’ll have a deadline to finish a chapter. If that sounds overwhelming, keep in mind that you can always go back to review content—and know that this will help you actually finish the course! Think about projects you’ve started that didn’t have a deadline. Did they get shoved to the back burner whenever something else came along? Are they still sitting unfinished in the closet collecting dust, either metaphorically or literally? Your business matters. It deserves some attention. Our Mastermind sessions will make you accountable to yourself. | |||
| 17 Mar 2021 | Episode 87 - Overcoming Challenges with Rose Mille | 00:42:04 | |
We talked with Bob and Michelle Jorgensen all about their products, business, and how they face challenges in our latest episode. If you’ve used doublette, there’s a good chance you’re familiar with Rose Mille. We love our German crepe paper, and we were excited to chat with one of the distributors of our favorite product on our latest episode of Paper Talk. Bob and Michelle Jorgensen joined us to talk about the behind the scenes of their business and to get our feedback about what paper florists most want when it comes to crepe selection. Michelle founded Rose Mille in 1998, and has long been a leader in bringing materials and workshops to crafters in many different disciplines. Listen to our conversation to hear all about the fascinating world of importing handmade supplies from Germany and more about what Rose Mille plans to offer next. In the meantime, we were inspired by Bob and Michelle’s scrappy attitude when it comes to making lemonade out of lemons—or in their case, snowman noses out of spun cotton that was supposed to be much bigger. Here are some of the creative ways they have met challenges that can help us all push ourselves more.
Just like in the snowman nose example, Bob and Michelle have had to be creative sometimes when it comes to the materials that arrive. Their distributors in Germany source from small, cottage industries that produce handmade goods. That can mean that there is one person in a small village who makes carrot-shaped spun cotton, and if that person passes away without a child willing to take on that business, that product is just gone—or at least won’t be available at the same level of quality. But when a shipment comes in that isn’t quite right, Bob and Michelle try to salvage what they can and repurpose materials. The teeny carrot-shaped spun cotton becomes snowman noses. You may make a paper flower that doesn’t come out quite right, or maybe you can’t get your hands on the perfect material for your project. Don’t give up! Maybe you can turn that flower into something else. Maybe you can use a different paper. A little creativity can go a long way.
Welcome Competition Michelle shared the story of how they first started carrying crepe paper. You can hear all the details in the episode, but in short, they were the only ones importing German crepe at the time. Four years later, Lia Griffith started her partnership with Werola, the manufacturer of doublette. Werola decided to make some colors only available through Lia Griffith and no longer available through Rose Mille. That’s frustrating when you’ve been in the game longer, right? Well, Michelle kept a good attitude about it. “There’s room for everybody,” she told us on the podcast. She acknowledged that Lia Griffith showed people what to do with crepe, which they hadn’t been doing at Rose Mille. That kind of attitude gives you more room to move forward, which Bob and Michelle definitely are. Instead of bemoaning the fact that some color combinations aren’t available to them, they asked us which combos we’d like to see as paper florists. Which brings us to… We love that Bob and Michelle asked us what we and our listeners wanted as paper florists! There’s really no better way to get your customers what they want and to be successful as a business than by really listening to your clients. If there is a doublette color combination that you’d like to see, or if there’s any other products that would help your art, email Rose Mille at hello@rosemille.com. You’ll hear in the podcast just how eager they are to hear from paper florists. Don’t be shy!
Here’s what you’ll hear when you listen to our conversation:
Remember to hop onto our weekly meeting on Clubhouse on Thursdays at 7pm PST/10pm EST, and to join our Facebook group where you can share, connect, and grow with us. Please also consider supporting us on Patreon for even more great content like this. | |||
| 24 Mar 2021 | Episode 88 - Understanding Intellectual Property with Brad Hartman | 00:47:18 | |
Learn all about intellectual property law with lawyer Bradley P. Hartman, including how creative small business owners can navigate trademarks and copyright.
If the answer is no, you’re not alone by any stretch. There’s a reason why lawyers specialize in this particular area of law—it can be really complicated. For artistic souls like us, it can feel overwhelming to just think about copyright or trademark law, let alone try to do anything about it. But we’ve got your back! On our latest episode of Paper Talk we chatted with Bradley P. Hartman, an intellectual property and corporate lawyer at Hartman Titus. Besides being very knowledgeable about IP, he was able to explain copyrights and trademarks in a way that is easy to understand and very applicable to creative small business owners like us. We can’t possibly summarize all of the amazing information he provided, or explain it as well as he did. You’ll have to listen to the episode to glean all of those insightful details. In the meantime, though, if you feel intimidated about calling up a lawyer for help, Brad talked to us about what to expect when working with a lawyer and how you can make the process as smooth as possible.
Choose the Right Lawyer Lawyers specialize in different areas of law. Search for someone who is an expert in the field that you need—for copyrights and trademarks, that’s going to be an intellectual property lawyer. There are websites out there that will let you search by specialty. Another thing to consider is location. Most intellectual property law and filing is done on a federal level. That means that an IP lawyer from any state can help you register trademarks, help you understand your legal options, etc. If you do end up filing a lawsuit because of copyright infringement or if you are writing up contracts, you will want a lawyer who is local to the applicable location. They will best know the intricacies of local law and be better able to help you. When you call up a lawyer’s office for the first time, they will also make sure that they are a good fit for you. A secretary, paralegal, or sometimes the lawyer themselves will ask for some basic information—what your issue is, who the other party is, etc. They’ll check for conflicts of interest and will let you know if you should find a different lawyer. Don’t worry—they legally have to keep any information you provide confidential.
Understand the Cost Right up front, make sure you know what a lawyer charges for an initial consultation. Some, like Brad, provide a free consultation. He’ll listen and determine if it’s something that he can help with before charging anything. Some lawyers will do these consultations for a flat fee and a block of time. Ask up front what they charge for the initial consultation. After the initial consultation, lawyers charge in different ways. Some will provide a flat fee for a certain service. Others will give a ballpark number. Some will only quote an hourly rate. Before signing on as a client, make sure you understand how they charge. Many lawyers are also willing to work with you on the cost issue. You can ask them what you can do to make things more affordable—for example, if you provide very clear evidence up front of a copyright infringement so that a lawyer doesn’t have to spend time digging through someone’s website. You can also ask about putting a cap on the total cost. Once the lawyer reaches that dollar amount, they will stop and let you know.
Be Prepared This is Brad’s advice: “The most important thing when you finally do talk to a lawyer is to be prepared. Go to the meeting knowing what is the information that’s important to share, what is it that you’re concerned with, and what is it that you want to accomplish.”
Because lawyers usually charge by the hour, you don’t want to eat into your time with them by getting off track or providing information that isn’t useful. If you go off on a tangent about how you started your business, you’ll literally end up paying for it in the end. Save that stuff for your Instagram followers. Have everything ready to go before meeting with your lawyer and be succinct.
Now for the nitty gritty details about intellectual property, listen now to the podcast. Our discussion was absolutely jam packed with information that will help you navigate IP. Seriously, your business needs this IP 101 crash course.
To make things even better, you can join us and Brad on Clubhouse to ask questions and get even more amazing advice on March 25 at 7pm PST/10pm EST. You won’t want to miss out!
Also remember to join our Facebook group where you can share, connect, and grow with us, and please consider supporting us on Patreon for even more great content like this. | |||
| 31 Mar 2021 | Episode 89 - How We’ve Updated Paper to Profits | 00:36:05 | |
We’ve made some big changes to our online course that will make it even easier to successfully build your creative small business.
How? With Paper to Profits. We’ve put together all of our knowledge about building creative small businesses and made it easy for you to be successful from the very beginning of your business journey. In this latest episode of Paper Talk we talked about the big changes we’ve made to our online course and why you will benefit from it. Listen to the episode to get a sneak peek into the kind of content you can expect from Paper to Profits, plus how to apply for a scholarship.
If you can’t listen right away, here’s a rundown of the changes we’ve implemented—because we’ve had so many questions about what Paper to Profits will look like when the doors open in May.
Learn more efficiently You won’t find anything else like Paper to Profits out there. We both have six plus years of experience building paper flower businesses, plus backgrounds building other businesses and educational experience in law, finance, and business. And we’ve packaged all of this in one place specific for creative business owners. You will save an incredible amount of time by having this info all together and by avoiding issues before they creep up on you unexpectedly. As Jessie said,
“You can’t Google what you don’t know.”
Our students last year loved the amount of information they gleaned. That said, it is a lot to take in. We get it. Staring at a computer screen and learning about taxes is not most people’s cup of tea. To make it even easier for you to learn efficiently, we’ve made Paper to Profits more visual and accessible. Our artform is visual, so we understand that taking in a bunch of text is not always easy. Now you can learn easier than ever.
Be accountable and finish Last year some of our students struggled to finish the course. They didn’t reach the end in time to schedule their mentorship session with us. We loved meeting with our students and troubleshooting problems together. So this go around, we asked ourselves, how can we help more people get through the information and get their business running in high gear sooner? We decided to scrap the mentorship session at the end and build in accountability throughout Paper to Profits. You’ll have assignments to finish during each chapter, and you’ll submit any questions you have about the section by a certain date. Then we will meet in Mastermind groups to address questions and learn from each other. We’re giving you manageable, small deadlines along the way instead of one big one at the end. These will keep you on track and make it easier to finish the course—and ultimately build your business more successfully. | |||
| 07 Apr 2021 | Episode 90 - Getting Your Paper Flower Business the Help It Needs with Nora Fradin | 00:40:11 | |
Nora Fradin shares her paper flower journey and how she got the help her business needed to be successful.
Small business owners like ourselves have that entrepreneurial spirit, which is fantastic! We do have to be careful not to fall into the trap of thinking that we have to do everything by ourselves, though. We’re so used to handling everything, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a boost from others who are a little further along their journey. In our latest episode of Paper Talk we chatted with Nora Fradin of Lilac and Blush Paper Garden. We got to know Nora at our workshop in Toronto, and through our Paper to Profits online course last year. She talked about the benefits of getting help for her business early on, and it’s been wonderful to be a part of her paper flower journey. Listen to the podcast to hear all about how Nora knew when she was ready to start a business and how she navigated a name change. She also had lots to say about Paper to Profits from a student’s perspective if you’re still unsure if it’s right for you. Here’s a little taste of what she had to say about getting help for her business.
Accessible Expert Advice One of the things Nora loved most about Paper to Profits was how easy to understand it was. Our online course is bursting with all the information you need to get your creative business up and running. That means that we cover somewhat dry topics like taxes and invoices, but Nora felt that those things were presented in a friendly and digestible way.
“You guys have had all these experiences already, and it’s something that is new to a lot of us. We’re just swimming along, not quite knowing where we’re going. To have experts who can present that information in a way that’s really easy and relatable, but also really helpful and informative, has been really nice. And it definitely lived up to my expectations in terms of comparing it to your Toronto workshop.”
Useful at Any Stage Nora signed up for Paper to Profits because she felt ready to take a leap into business. But as she pointed out in the podcast, you don’t have to be at the very beginning of your business journey in order to benefit from our course. There are gems of information throughout that will help you no matter how far along you are. Only beginning to think about starting a business? Paper to Profits will help it happen fast! Already been in business a couple years, but you’re struggling with things? We can definitely help! The breadth of information available means that there’s something in our course for everyone, plus our Mastermind group sessions will give you the opportunity to ask us questions and dive into anything not covered. | |||
| 11 Apr 2021 | Episode 91 - Using Art as Medicine with The Wild Mother | 00:32:36 | |
Learn about The Wild Mother’s project to commemorate the Greenwood Massacre of 1921 and how you as a floral artist can get involved.
Have you heard of the Greenwood Massacre of 1921?
If you haven’t, you’re not alone. Quynh, who was raised in Tulsa where it happened, didn’t learn about this tragic event at all while growing up. In short, one of the most thriving black communities in America was decimated. Dozens were killed, hundreds injured, and thousands displaced—but this history has been covered up and denied for a century. In our latest episode of Paper Talk we chatted with Lauren and Leah Palmer of The Wild Mother. They are fresh florists in Oklahoma City and have been very busy planning for the centennial commemoration of the Greenwood Massacre. They spoke powerfully about a central tenet of their business: art is medicine. They are working tirelessly to provide healing through their artform, and we are so excited to join in their efforts. Many people are coming together through different avenues to support the commemoration of the Greenwood Massacre. We want to harness the power of our paper flower community to help do just that. Here are three ways you can help:
Use #sendflowerstogreenwood Starting May 10th, The Wild Mother team will start using the hashtag #sendflowerstogreenwood to post pictures of arrangements made specifically to commemorate the Greenwood Massacre. They’ll also be putting up three big installations around Greenwood for the centennial commemoration events, which you can hear all about in the podcast. They have invited other artists to use the hashtag alongside them. Join in and show your digital support from May 10th to June 7th by making something for the centennial and posting it online. We can’t wait to see what everyone creates! Follow them on Instagram at @thewildmother to see all of their creations for the commemoration.
Make a White Lily We are calling on paper florists to use our free White Lily Tutorial to make and send a flower for the opening of the Greenwood Rising museum on June 2nd. This is one of the three big installation projects that Lauren and Leah told us about on the podcast. Since it will be indoors, it gives us paper florists the perfect opportunity to contribute with our artform. We need the lilies to be as similar as possible, so we ask that you use Quynh’s tutorial. We recommend shipping domestically (U.S.) no later than May 17th, and internationally no later than April 26th. Sign up here to be added to the Facebook group and to get all of the information you’ll need to participate. Quynh and a small army of paper florists will help to install the lilies onsite before the museum opens.
Donate Lauren and Leah estimate that they’ll end up donating $50,000 in time and materials for the three big installations that they’ll be spearheading. They planned on donating their efforts from the very beginning, but they would appreciate financial support from those who are willing to help pay for lodging, food, and materials.
To learn more about what kinds of donations they are looking for, as well as how to send money, visit their #sendflowerstogreenwood FAQ page. Lauren and Leah also talked more about how you can donate in the episode. We are also raising funds to pay for room/board of the 3 volunteers who will be on the ground installing the white lily memorial installation. You can support our very first Paper Florists Against Racism initiative through our GoFund me Page.
Here’s what you’ll hear when you listen to our conversation: → How the florists behind The Wild Mother discovered their passion of healing through art. → The history of the Greenwood Massacre of 1921. → Why it’s important to create space to remember events like the massacre. → The projects, installations, and events that will commemorate the massacre. → More details about supporting The Wild Mother’s commemoration work through art, time, or money.
Remember to join our weekly meeting on Clubhouse on Thursdays at 7pm PST/10pm EST, and join our Facebook group where you can share, connect, and grow with us. Please also consider supporting us on Patreon for even more great content like this. | |||
| 21 Apr 2021 | Episode 92 - How to Make the Right Business Decisions with Chantal Larocque | 00:53:34 | |
We chat with Chantal Larocque about how she has become such a successful paper flower artist, and how you can navigate business decisions as well as she has.
How do other paper florists grow their businesses so quickly and so well?
Everyone makes mistakes along the way that you probably don’t see, but the most successful business owners do make the right decisions most of the time. So how do you do that? While each person’s journey is unique, you can learn from other paper florists who have had to make tough choices. Your decisions may differ in details, but the principles behind those choices can guide you. In our latest episode of Paper Talk we invited Chantal Larocque of Paper and Peony to chat with us about how she has built her thriving business. She’s been making cardstock paper flowers for over a decade now, and looking back you can see how many right decisions she made along the way. She shared many stories behind those choices and her best advice for making the right call each time. Listen to the episode to hear everything she had to say. In the meantime, here are a few of the principles that can steer your business down a successful path.
Listen to our conversation to hear:► How to position yourself for commercial work. ► The secret to good photos of your products. ► What a graphic designer can help you create for your branding. ► The process of photographing, writing and publishing a book. ► How to navigate a name change and rebranding successfully. ► BONUS: A sneak peek at Paper to Profit’s chapter about shipping and packaging, including advice on how to protect your products, which extras are worth paying for, how to brand your materials, and more.
Make Changes Chantal first started selling her flowers under the name Dragonfly Expression. That’s a perfectly lovely name, but when her graphic designer pointed out that it didn’t explain what she did, Chantal felt a name change was in order. This was scary! Would Chantal lose clients? Would people like the new name? Would all her work be worth it? Despite her fears, Chantal’s business actually doubled following the name change to Paper and Peony. New opportunities opened up for her, and she was able to grow in ways she hadn’t anticipated. Change can be difficult, but if you never change, your business will never grow. Take those leaps of faith. Try something new. Change things up. The worst thing that will happen is that it won’t work and you can try something else. You can hear more about how Chantal navigated this big change in the episode.
Say Yes You should be selective about which projects you take on. You don’t want to burn out or work with a client who treats you poorly. That said, keep an open mind about new opportunities. In the episode, Chantal shared several instances about saying yes to something she hadn’t done before. When she was approached to make crepe paper flowers for Canada Post stamps, she didn’t know quite how she’d do it since her medium of choice is cardstock. But she knew that this was an opportunity she couldn’t turn down. She said yes, figured out how to make the flowers, and ended up producing a beautiful series of gardenia stamps that were seen by millions. When you say yes to something that pushes your boundaries, new opportunities will open up. Listen to the podcast to hear about the doors that opened for Chantal, as well as how she decides whether a new project or client is a good fit for her.
Be Generous In the episode, Chantal and Jessie both shared moments when another paper florist helped them, and how that generous support ended up being crucial to their journey as artists and businesses.
“That’s what is lovely in the paper flower community, because we can help each other with our designs and sometimes when we have to create new flowers.”
Accept help from others, and be generous yourself. All of us have other people who have made us what we are today. One of the best things about our industry is that it isn’t cutthroat. We help each other, and since a rising tide lifts all boats, we all benefit from our collective generosity.
Join our weekly meeting on Clubhouse on Thursdays at 7pm PST/10pm EST, and join our Facebook group where you can share, connect, and grow with us. Please also consider supporting us on Patreon for even more great content like this. | |||
| 28 Apr 2021 | Episode 93 - Protecting Your Business with Crystal Marshall | 00:53:49 | |
Learn how entrepreneur Crystal Marshall avoids problems for her event planning and paper flower business.
Problems happen with any business, but it’s always best if you can avoid them. How in the world do you do that, though? In our latest episode of Paper Talk we chatted with Crystal Marshall of Faithful-E Planning. She shared so much useful insight into running her event planning and paper flower business. One thread that stuck out to us was how good she was at making smart choices that protected her business in the long run. Here’s a little taste of what she shared with us and how she has protected and built up her business so successfully.
Listen to our conversation to hear:► How Crystal incorporates paper flowers into her event business. ► Handling rentals, including installation and delivery fees. ► How Crystal balances her day job, parenthood, and being an entrepreneur. ► What we do to protect our items during shipping. ► BONUS: Advice from our pricing chapter of Paper to Profits.
Include protective contract language Now more than ever, it’s important to include protections in your contracts. You can’t always anticipate what will disrupt business as usual (like a pandemic), but you can add in contract language that gives you flexibility and protection. Covid reminded us of how necessary clear and fair cancellation policies are. Including a damage fee for rentals is always a good idea. For Crystal, she’s been able to have ongoing conversations with her clients about her Covid policies, like setting up for events before guests arrive or when customers are expected to wear masks around her. As the pandemic continues to shift, these conversations will have to continue happening. You’ll be able to negotiate with customers and work out an agreement in most cases, but you should have a contract to back you up if things do get thorny. Take a look at your standard contract and make sure that it protects you.
Avoid shipping mishaps Our art is so delicate! Who among us hasn’t had nightmares about a box of fragile paper flowers being squashed in the back of a FedEx truck. We shared lots of ideas about how to protect your flowers on the podcast, but in general, it’s always a good idea to reinforce your box. Because paper flowers weigh so little, you can usually add in some more packing materials without increasing the cost of shipping. It’s worth the extra expense to make sure that your products arrive safely. Of course, as we acknowledged in the episode, at a certain point you’ve got to let it go. There’s only so much you can do to protect your art. Accidents and mishaps happen. Once you’ve done your part, don’t worry yourself away about the worst case scenario.
Choose the right clients In the episode Crystal talked warmly of her clientele, and she acknowledged that she’s been lucky to work with many wonderful people. She did point out a couple of red flags to watch out for when deciding to say yes or no to a potential customer. First, if the client doesn’t seem to know what they want, they could be difficult to work with. These people tend to ask way more questions than your typical customer, and they often struggle to make decisions. If they don’t have a clear vision of what they want, it’s much more likely that they’ll be dissatisfied with the end result. It might be best to give them more time to decide what they really want before agreeing to anything with them. Next, Crystal mentioned one client who confided in never being satisfied with anything, be it a haircut or a restaurant or whatever. If you know that a potential customer is very difficult to please, think twice about working with them. These people are luckily rare, but keep an eye out for anyone who complains about multiple other services or products. Finally, remember that the artist-client relationship goes both ways. You shouldn’t let clients walk all over you, but you should also be courteous and understanding of them as well. Most customers will be lovely to work with, and when you reciprocate that kindness, they are more likely to turn into loyal clients.
“What really shows you that you’re doing a great job is when you have a repeat customer. That’s always the greatest pleasure when someone’s like, ‘I love what you did before. Can you do it again?’”
To learn more about Crystal, head to our website, www.papertalkpodcast.com | |||
| 05 May 2021 | Episode 94 - Marketing Your Paper Flowers Locally with Martha Lucia Tokos | 00:25:13 | |
Learn how our guest Martha Lucia reaches out to her local market in order to successfully promote her paper flower business. How do you market your paper flowers to local customers? Selling online is fantastic. We all do it for a reason. But it has drawbacks like high shipping costs and more competition—plus, you can miss out on a customer base that will be more loyal to you and is more accessible to only you. You need to tap into your local market!
Here’s what you’ll hear when you listen to our conversation:
One of the biggest obstacles with marketing paper flowers locally is simple education. People in your area need to learn that paper flowers exist and that you sell them. In our latest episode of Paper Talk, we chatted with Martha Lucia of Pretty Petals by Lucy. Our conversation kept circling back to some of the amazing things she’s done to build up her cardstock paper flower business locally. You’ll want to listen to the entire episode to hear all about how she runs her workshops, sells mostly outside of the wedding industry, and how she navigates her online presence.
But here’s some of what we talked about when it comes to marketing locally:
Work Craft Shows Martha has had great success in selling products at craft shows like The Queen Bee Market. This was the first thing she recommended on the podcast when we asked her how she advertised. People go to craft shows ready to buy. They have loved ones in mind to buy gifts for. They have an empty mantlepiece at home that they’ve been wanting to decorate. A craft show is really a perfect place to sell something like paper flowers. Even if you don’t make a sale to everyone who stops by, those people are now aware that paper flowers exist (which is the first big hurdle), and that your business sells them. When they do have an event or celebration that calls for something beautiful and handmade, they’ll think of you. As Quynh has shared before, she once worked with a restaurant to feature paper flowers on their tables years and years ago. She still gets customers who remember that and look her up now to buy something.
Teach Workshops When a local shop approached Martha about teaching a paper flower class, she was enthusiastic. She already had teaching experience thanks to scrapbooking classes she’d taught years earlier. If you don’t have teaching experience, you might be more hesitant to lead a class. That’s understandable! But the payoff from teaching is well worth the discomfort and the effort to get the ball rolling. Teaching workshops can help you connect with people you might not have otherwise. Some customers will pay to buy something already made, but some want the experience of making it themselves. Martha shared in the episode that in 2019 (before the pandemic threw a wrench in everyone’s business plans), she made most of her income from teaching classes. People love them!
Build Partnerships Those local workshops that Martha teaches serve another important function: building relationships with local retailers and businesses. When you have a good working relationship, you can benefit from some of the advantages that brick and mortar stores have. These local shops tend to have a loyal customer base of people who are interested in crafting, home decor, and attending workshops. Those customers might not be aware that paper flowers exist until their favorite shop hosts a class. Then bam! New customer for you! Besides helping with advertising, local stores can also handle the financial end of accepting payments for classes or products. If you don’t have your own website set up, this can be very helpful—especially when you first start teaching. Listen to the podcast to learn more about how Martha has built relationships with local stores, plus how she’s partnered with Farren Celeste who lives overseas. Martha puts together Farren’s paper flower kits in the States and teaches workshops with her templates. It’s a tricky sort of agreement to navigate, and you’ll want to hear how they worked out their arrangement. Join our weekly meeting on Clubhouse on Thursdays at 7 pm PST/10 pm EST, and join our Facebook group where you can share, connect, and grow with us. Please also consider supporting us on Patreon for even more great content like this. | |||
| 12 May 2021 | Episode 95 - Uplift Marginalized Groups on International Paper Flower Day | 00:28:11 | |
Learn how paper florists can help bring meaning, healing, and more to the world this International Paper Flower Day.
Your paper flowers are powerful. At first glance, people might dismiss paper floristry as simply a pretty craft, but we know that it is much more. We pour our hearts and souls into our work. That gives it power, and that power can be used to support great causes. In our latest episode of Paper Talk we talked with Kate Alarcón of The Cobra Lily. She is the paper florist who sparked the first International Paper Flower Day and has inspired artists around the world to make this special day their own. This year’s theme relates to our new group, Paper Florists Against Racism, and as such, our conversation covered lots of ground about how our art can help heal and support those who have suffered due to discrimination and hate. Here are a few highlights from our conversation about how you can support marginalized groups through your paper flower art.
Listen to our conversation to hear: How International Paper Flower Day got started. This year’s theme and how it relates to Paper Florists Against Racism. Ideas for using paper flowers to help heal and inspire others. Why it’s so difficult to view your own work as serious art that deserves respect. How to support marginalized groups with your art without overstepping.
Listen and Learn In order to support people who have been systematically discriminated against, you have to listen to their experiences first. The history of much of the oppression and hurt that has happened to marginalized groups has been actively erased and suppressed. An example of this is the Greenwood Massacre, which we talked about with The Wild Mother on a recent episode. Paper florists are working to support the centennial commemoration efforts taking place in Tulsa at the end of May. But if you don’t know about events like the massacre, you can’t do anything to help. Plus, fully understanding the events that happened gives more meaning to your art. As Kate said,
“I would love to share with other paper flower makers the feeling of power when you make a flower and it stands for somebody who died in a massacre. There’s nothing as an artist that you’re going to get that has that instant, ‘Boom! I made a difference. What I do matters.’”
If you listened to that episode of Paper Talk about the Greenwood Massacre commemoration, you already started learning! There are lots of fantastic podcasts, books, articles, Instagram accounts, and more where you can listen to the stories of marginalized people.
Offer Help and Follow Guidance In the episode, Jessie talked about a recent project that she worked on with an African American artist. He was creating a series of pictures about the experience of growing up black in America. That is not Jessie’s background. But because she listened and had a conversation with him about how they approach art and what he wanted out of the project, they were able to work beautifully together. Kate and Quynh also shared experiences about their paper flowers helping others tell stories that were very different from their own backgrounds. You can listen to the podcast to hear about the details of those projects, but in short, the best kind of support follows guidance. It’s fantastic to get involved in a project that will elevate stories that need to be told. Just make sure that if it isn’t your story, you take on a passive role. Offer help, and then listen to the directions you are given.
Value Your Art In order for your art to make a difference in the world, you have to believe in it! For many of us, we struggle to call ourselves artists. We struggle to elevate our own work in our own minds. On the podcast, Jessie shared about her own experience comparing men’s paper flowers to women’s, and how ingrained it is to think of a man’s flower as art and a woman’s flower as craft. She knows that that isn’t fair to her own art or the art of other paper florists, and she’s working to fight back against that kind of thinking that’s been ingrained in most of us. And that’s important work! Take a moment to examine how you view your own art. Do you talk it down? Do you dismiss it? If you properly value your work, you’ll be better able to lift up others with it. Don’t worry if you don’t have perfect self-confidence—no one does—but do find ways to take pride in your art.
Join our weekly meeting on Clubhouse on Thursdays at 7 pm PST/10 pm EST, and join our Facebook group where you can share, connect, and grow with us. Please also consider supporting us on Patreon for even more great content like this. | |||
| 19 May 2021 | Episode 96 - Overcoming Anxiety as a Paper Florist with Holly Dionisi | 00:34:10 | |
Listen to our discussion with Holly Dionisi about how she overcomes her anxiety in order to build up her paper flower business.
Why should I even try?
Today, we’re talking about anxiety.
Everyone feels nervous sometimes. When those feelings stop you from living your life, though, anxiety becomes more than an annoyance. It’s something that needs to be addressed. You should of course seek treatment from professionals for severe anxiety. You can also draw strength from our community and learn from others who have dealt with the same issue. In our latest episode of Paper Talk we chatted with Holly Dionisi of Everfleur Designs. Holly has had anxiety since she was a child, and she spoke with us about the ways she manages her anxiety and how paper flowers have been an important piece of that journey. Anyone who has ever felt anxious or like they were an imposter should listen to the episode to hear all of the details. In the meantime, here are three things we talked about that can help you when it comes to pushing back against these debilitating feelings.
Listen to our conversation to hear:
Lean on Community As Holly said on the podcast, “Our industry is the best! Our community rocks. You make friends, and they want to help you. And it’s community over competition.” We are here for each other! There are no dumb questions. There are no invalid feelings. There is no one who is not welcome. Our industry as a whole is very welcoming. Knowing this won’t erase all of your fears, but we hope it eases some of them. We also highly recommend building up a smaller, tight-knit support group. This is good advice in general, and it definitely applies to building up your paper flower business or perfecting your craft. Jessie and Quynh have long leaned on one another for support, advice, and friendship. Having another paper florist you can trust goes a long way to easing anxiety about your choices.
Join groups and classes, and get to know your fellow artists. Many of them are also looking for paper flower friends!
Take Space This may seem counterintuitive because of our first tip, but you shouldn’t feel obligated to feel less-than because of another person’s work. If another paper florist’s feed fuels your imposter syndrome with thoughts of inadequacy, mute them! Take some space. It’s not personal. You’re not blaming the other person. You’re giving yourself room to get into a better state of mind. Once you’ve worked through some of those feelings, you can try unmuting them. It’s also okay if you don’t. While we support and build each other up, it shouldn’t be at the expense of anyone—including you.
Feed Your Passion In the episode, Holly spoke so beautifully about how paper flowers have helped her overcome her anxiety. She compared it to motherhood: how wanting opportunities for her daughter has pushed her to try things and go to places she wouldn’t have otherwise. Love pushed back against her anxiety. The same happened with paper flowers. She normally wouldn’t sign up for an in-person workshop like our Masterclass in Toronto back in 2019, but she did because she is passionate about paper flowers. We’re so happy she took that leap, because we got to meet her!
Here’s how Holly explained it:
“It’s hard initially when you say yes to something, and the nerves leading up to it. But then when you do it, it’s just an incredible feeling—especially when you’re doing it for something you’re passionate about.”
Listen to the podcast to hear much more about Holly’s journey and her coping strategies. Everyone can benefit from her great advice.
Join our weekly meeting on Clubhouse on Thursdays at 7pm PST/10pm EST, and join our Facebook group where you can share, connect, and grow with us. Please also consider supporting us on Patreon for even more great content like this. | |||
| 26 May 2021 | Episode 97 - Screening and Booking New Clients with Holly Chapple | 00:31:34 | |
We chat with Holly Chapple about how she screens new clients, navigates contract negotiations, and protects her floral design business.
When starting out, it’s understandable to take on most clients. But as your business grows, you’ll have room to be more selective about who you work with.
In the meantime, here are a few takeaways about how to screen potential customers to find the best fit for your business.
Listen to our conversation to hear:
Provide Clear Information People should be able to look through your online presence and get a good idea of what you are all about. Your social media should be representative of what you do. Your brand’s voice should be crystal clear. In the episode, Holly told us about what she includes on her website to help educate clients before they ever contact her. Her client inquiry page includes information about her company, general pricing, visuals of her past work, etc. You can listen to the podcast to hear about what she includes and why, but in short, that information helps some prospective clients know right away if they want to work with Holly. If they see that higher end price tag and balk, they probably won’t send her an inquiry. Everyone saves time negotiating what will ultimately be a bad fit for both of them.
Create Some Hurdles Now you don’t want to make it impossible for people to contact you. But if you are shuffling through way too many inquiries, it’s okay to make prospective clients put more effort into that initial contact. Some brides will cut and paste inquiries to a large number of florists, without really doing any research about the businesses. You can weed out these less serious clients by adding some hurdles. For Holly, this means asking for more information on her client inquiry page. In the episode she details what exactly this entails, but the general idea is twofold. First, only more serious clients will put in the effort to fill out all of the info she requests. Second, that information provides Holly’s team with a better idea of who this client is, what sort of event they want, and ultimately if it will be a good fit for Holly. Here’s what Holly said about the second reason:
“I get so disappointed when I invest [time] in someone who wasn’t really my client anyway. So by asking those questions, I start to realize the importance of design…and the importance that flowers have in their day. And if I sense that that’s not the case, then it’s not really a wedding I should be bidding on.”
Have a Conversation If a client submits an inquiry and looks to be a good fit for Holly, her team will put together a proposal. She doesn’t just email it to the client, though. She picks up the phone and has a conversation. She stressed how important this call is: “If you want a business that’s booking consistently and has good vibes out there in the industry—and your customers, whether you book them or not, have a good feeling about the process of working with you—I think a phone call is always in order.” This call builds up your relationship with the client and makes them more likely to book with you. It also helps you get a better idea if this client is right for you. Maybe they cleared all the hurdles and looked great on paper, but an actual conversation can reveal things that an internet form can’t. This phone call can help you see any red flags before contracts are negotiated and signed. Holly shared much more about how to handle those calls and consultations, and you won’t want to miss any of it. | |||
| 02 Jun 2021 | Episode 98 - How to sell a want: Building your creative business with Sean Low | 00:40:07 | |
Learn how to reframe your mindset about your creative business to help it thrive artistically and financially.
Paper flowers are not a need.
Yes, they create a great amount of joy, but at the end of the day, no one needs to buy them. That’s why you have to entice clients to want them. In our latest episode of Paper Talk we chatted with Sean Low of The Business of Being Creative. He specializes in helping creative businesses thrive by recognizing that an artistic business has very different needs and circumstances than other services, like an accounting firm. Here’s how Sean put it: “When somebody wants to hire you…they want to feel something about themselves. That’s why they’re coming to you. Whether they want to give it as a gift or they want to do it for themselves, they want that feeling.”
So how do you make them want your work—something they could live without? Sean had so much great advice in the episode about reframing your mindset around your creative business to do just that. You’ll want to listen to all of it to glean information that will definitely help your business. In the meantime, here are three ideas we discussed on the podcast that will help you build your client’s desire for your art.
Listen to our conversation to hear:
Embrace Scarcity On the podcast, Quynh shared about a business that embroiders portraits of pets—but only ten a year. This artist lets people know the day she’ll take orders, and once those ten spots are gone, that’s it. And they fill up immediately! As Sean pointed out, if that artist offered one hundred spots, the desirability of her work would most likely diminish. You can create the same demand by making your work more scarce. Now, you’re probably worried about limiting your work. You’ve got bills to pay. Sean also explained his philosophy on pricing, including planning how much work to take on in advance. Listen to the episode to hear his in-depth explanation, as it beautifully encompasses his views on art and business, as well.
“Creative business is about creating something that hasn’t existed before. Even if you’ve done something similar over and over and over again—it’s the thousandth time of you doing paper flowers for a client—for that client it’s brand new.”
Show Your Process We’ve talked about the importance of client education a lot on this podcast. There’s a good reason why. In order for potential customers to want your work, they have to understand the value of what you do. Sharing a behind-the-scenes look at your paper flower process is a fantastic way to do this. Give your followers a peek at the many steps you take to create something. Show how you plan for a project and include how many hours that alone took. Let them see the piles of petals you had to cut for a big installation. Share what’s inspiring you right now. As Sean put it on the podcast, “People spend their money on what they care about. You’re showing them what they ought to care about when you’re showing them how you do your work.”
Explain Your Why With a creative business, there has to be a why. Art isn’t something we do solely to make money. There’s a soul to your business, and your clients need to connect to it. Once they make that emotional connection, they’ll want your work more because it will give them that feeling that Sean mentioned earlier. This means that you need to understand your why. “I like making paper flowers” isn’t a powerful why. But as Sean shared, your why also doesn’t have to be “I want to change the world with paper flowers!” Listen to the episode to hear his helpful guidance on how to find your authentic why—it can be difficult to articulate! Once you know your why, share it. This doesn’t have to be anything huge. Short snippets here and there are enough to make that connection with potential customers.
“Art is not a need, it’s a want. You’re the artist tasked with creating something magical, and you’re entitled to get what you need to do that.”
Join our weekly meeting on Clubhouse on Thursdays at 7pm PST/10pm EST, and join our Facebook group where you can share, connect, and grow with us. Please also consider supporting us on Patreon for even more great content like this. | |||
| 09 Jun 2021 | Episode 99 - Smart Small Business Bookkeeping | 00:33:28 | |
Bookkeeper Allena Steele shares her best tips for creative entrepreneurs to organize their finances and stay on the path of financial success. You probably didn’t get into paper flowers for the money.
We certainly didn’t. But unfortunately, you can’t pay bills with creative spirit alone. So how can you set up your small business to make money?
We talked about the struggle of creative business owners to do just that. As Allena said: “So many people love what they do, which is the first ingredient to successful business, that they don’t really think about the money or organization part until they’re into it.” Whether you’re beginning your paper flower journey, or if you’ve been making money as a paper florist for years, you’ll benefit from Allena’s advice on navigating taxes and bank fees, which software to use, and much more. To get you started, here are three basic things she recommended on the podcast that all small business owners should be doing.
Listen to our conversation to hear:
Open a business bank account Your business funds should be separate from your personal money. This was Allena’s number one recommendation. No matter how little money you’re making, it will make bookkeeping and taxes easier in the long run. Ideally, you should do this from the very beginning, but better late than never if you haven’t. Gather your business licenses and documents, and head to your bank as soon as possible. Now, we know that when you’re starting out, every little fee matters a great deal. We asked Allena about how to navigate bank fees for business accounts, and you’ll want to listen to our entire discussion about the best options for you.
Use a tax savings account Even if you don’t pull in a lot of income, you will still have to deal with taxes. Sales tax, filing taxes—as Allena put it,
“Taxes are always going to come. They’re not going anywhere. So being prepared for that is amazing.”
The best way to stay on top of taxes is to open an account where you can park that money until it’s time to send it to the government. A bookkeeper can help you better understand how much to set aside if you’re unsure. The goal here is to avoid any surprise tax bills. You’ll always have the money ready to pay. Now taxes can get tricky. In the episode, Allena explained the difference between a bookkeeper and a CPA, and when you should use which—in particular, when it comes to taxes and regulations. You can also hear more about tax write-offs for business expenses and the pros and cons of claiming those.
Organize your financial information While Allena has a preferred software system, she said,
“As long as you’re keeping track of stuff, any bookkeeper...can help you out.”
When your business is new and not very complicated, you might not want to invest in a bookkeeping software with monthly fees. That’s completely understandable! At a certain point, those systems are going to make your life easier, but the most important thing is that you are organizing your finances. Every financial transaction should be documented and stored in a central place.
You can hear more on the podcast about how to save on monthly software fees, as well as which system Allena prefers and when you should start investing in bookkeeping software.
Join our weekly meeting on Clubhouse on Thursdays at 7pm PST/10pm EST, and join our Facebook group where you can share, connect, and grow with us. Please also consider supporting us on Patreon for even more great content like this. | |||
| 16 Jun 2021 | Episode 100 - How We Made it to 100 Episodes of Paper Talk | 00:12:13 | |
We’re wrapping up season three of our podcast, and we’re sharing what’s made it possible to reach 100 episodes.
We made it to ONE HUNDRED episodes of Paper Talk!
Cue the celebration! 🎉
Season 3 of our podcast is drawing to a close, and in our 100th episode we chatted about how we’ve gotten this far and what’s next for Paper Talk. We’re so grateful to have spent so much time sharing, connecting, and growing with you and our paper flower community as a whole. Listen to our very special celebratory episode to hear more details about where the podcast is headed, plus some special shoutouts for people who have made this all possible. If you want to know how we’ve gotten this far, these three special ingredients were crucial to reaching one hundred episodes.
Listeners First of all, thank you to all of our listeners! Without you, we would just be a couple of paper florists chatting to each other each week. It takes an audience who is engaged to really build up a community around a podcast. Your wonderful listeners have contributed in a variety of ways, from connecting us with guests to suggesting topics to leaving heartfelt reviews. That last one means the world to us. As Jessie shared in the episode,
“We love reading the reviews, because it reminds us of why we’re doing this. Thank you so much for leaving reviews.”
Listen to our conversation to hear:
Patrons Creating a polished podcast has real costs. We had an entire episode about the hard and soft costs of creating Paper Talk, which we highly recommend to get an idea of what podcast production really takes. Our love of paper flowers and community can’t pay those bills, so we are incredibly grateful to our Patrons on Patreon who contribute generously to keep our podcast running. Beyond being generous enough with your time to listen to us, you’ve been generous with your money. We know not everyone can contribute financially, but as a thanks to those who can, you can access special behind the scenes content by becoming a Patron.
Guests Finally, we have to thank our guests. While the occasional episode of Jessie and Quynh chatting together is great fun, we know that our knowledge has limits. Without our wide variety of guests, we wouldn’t have been able to cover the amazing breadth of topics that our three seasons have traversed. We’ve been dedicated from the very beginning to bring our community the sort of valuable content that will help them grow as artists and small business owners. Our guests both in and out of our community have done just that. They’ve shared with us about branding, the tools of our trade, pricing, finding your creative muse, bookkeeping, and every topic in between. We’re already lining up guests for Season 4, and we can’t wait to share what they have to say about our special focus: passive income. Listen to the episode to hear more about that and how you can contribute to Paper Talk.
Join our weekly meeting on Clubhouse on Thursdays at 7pm PST/10pm EST, and join our Facebook group where you can share, connect, and grow with us. Please also consider supporting us on Patreon for even more great content like this. | |||