Quynh, Jessie, and Sara share what's next in their paper flower careers: a museum wall installation at the San Diego Natural History Museum, Jessie's first solo gallery show, and a Day of the Dead paper flower headpiece workshop in Mexico City with Hitomi Gilliam. Season 8 is winding down and episode 197 finds Quynh Nguyen, Jessie Chui, and Sara Kim catching each other up on the biggest paper flower projects shaping their year, projects that show just how far paper flower artistry can travel: from a museum lobby in San Diego, to a gallery wall in Richmond Hill, to a Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City. Sara opens with the story behind her wall installation at the San Diego Natural History Museum, a donor recognition piece built entirely from paper flowers representing California native plant species. She walks through the unexpected origin (a workshop attendee who later became the project's champion), the scientific accuracy required by the museum's in-house botanists, and the award she won at the California Native Plant Society show along the way.   "Workshops are so important. It's not just about teaching, although yes, that's fun too. It's actually a way to network while you're getting paid.”— Sara   Jessie shares the news of her first solo exhibition, opening this fall at the Richmond Hill Cultural Center gallery. She and Quynh dig into the realities most paper flower artists never talk about out loud: gallery wall mounting systems, the true cost of framing large-format paper art, UV-protective glazing, and the emotional weight of deciding whether to sell one-of-a-kind sculptural pieces. Quynh closes with a look at her packed travel and teaching calendar, including a return to Snow Farm to teach the life cycle of dahlias in paper form, and a new international collaboration with renowned floral educator Hitomi Gilliam. The two are bringing their paper flower floral crown workshop to Mexico City for a Day of the Dead headpiece project, with plans to take the same workshop to Japan in 2027.   “The more you share, the more people will learn about it and the more people will want to do it. And if you gatekeep things, it just doesn't grow as much.”— Quynh    The Best Thing We Bought that Bring Us Joy Quynh: Whipped Feta Dip recipe  Jessie: Herb and Garlic Philadelphia Cream Cheese with Poppyseed Bagel Sara: Red kiwifruit and Kesar mangoes from Trader Joe’s 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, Shareasale, or similar affiliate marketing programs. This commission goes directly into the maintenance of this website and our podcast.     ----------------------------------------------------- JOIN OUR PAPER TALK MASTERMIND! If you've been running your paper business solo and you're tired of figuring out pricing, marketing, and selling alone, then this is for you. The Mastermind is returning in the Fall 2026 and we saved you a seat! Starting September 8, we are leading a 6-month Mastermind for paper artists ready to build something sustainable. You'll meet twice a month with us and a small group of paper artists tackling the real stuff: pricing, social media, selling your work, newsletters, and building confidence in your business. We’ll have honest conversations, dive into practical strategies, and be with people who actually understand what you're building. Registration begins soon. ----------------------------------------------------- 🎙️ Listen and Subscribe Paper Talk is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and wherever you listen to podcasts. Don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review! It helps other paper flower artists find our community.   Keywords: paper flower museum installation, paper flower solo show, Day of the Dead paper flowers, Hitomi Gilliam paper flower workshop, paper flower headpiece, San Diego Natural History Museum paper flowers, paper flower gallery show, mounting paper flower sculpture

Poy T. Granati of Summer Space Studio returns to Paper Talk Podcast for her third appearance, joining co-hosts Quynh Nguyen, Jessie Chui, and Sara Kim. If you have followed Paper Talk for a while, you will recognize Poy from Episode 8, where we first introduced her, and Episode 135, our Pinterest deep dive that is still one of our most referenced episodes for paper flower artists building organic traffic. This time she joins us from her new home in the Hudson Valley as a new mother.  This conversation is the most honest one we have had about what it actually looks like to rebuild a creative business after motherhood. Poy walks us through the structural changes she made to Summer Space Studio: training two instructors to teach her workshops, narrowing her offerings to corporate workshops and brand partnerships, and using Pinterest batch-scheduling to keep her business visible during her hardest months. If you have ever wondered how to pitch corporate workshops as a paper flower artist, this episode is a masterclass. Poy shares the exact three-year follow-up email sequence that landed her a brand partnership with Hermès, breaks down the seven-follow-up rule, and explains how to tie your seasonal offerings to a brand calendar so your cold pitches feel relevant instead of random. She also gets into the corporate workshop markets most paper artists overlook: real estate buildings, breweries, residential properties, tech companies on LinkedIn, and team-building events at companies that have nothing to do with flowers.   “I've been emailing Hermès for three years. Following up is the biggest part of not just getting clients, but getting comfortable talking about your offer.” - Poy   The second half of the conversation moves to Substack for creative small business owners. Poy launched a new channel called Take Scenic Route, separate from Summer Space Studio, as a digital journal and creative outlet. She gets vulnerable about postpartum anxiety, the question she journaled at three in the morning that changed everything, and her dream of using Substack to build toward a tropical paper flowers book. Quynh shares her own Substack journey with Back to the Basic, and Jessie and Sara weigh in on how to add Substack to an existing creative business without doubling your workload. This is an episode for anyone in a season of figuring it out: new mothers returning to creative work, paper artists pitching corporate clients for the first time, and creative entrepreneurs wondering if their messy, unfiltered self is actually the version that connects.   What You Will Hear in this Episode: Why time scarcity after motherhood can actually sharpen productivity and creative decision-making How Poy restructured her business to focus only on corporate workshops and brand partnerships The exact three-year follow-up cadence Poy used to land Hermès How to tie your seasonal offerings to a brand's calendar when cold pitching Why Pinterest batch-scheduling saved her business during early motherhood The two types of workshop clients and how to serve both How to use LinkedIn to find HR managers and book team-building gigs at tech companies Hidden corporate workshop markets: real estate, breweries, residential buildings, nursing homes Why Substack is a low-barrier alternative to Kajabi, Teachable, and Thinkific for creative entrepreneurs How to use Substack as a digital journal, blog, and newsletter without creating more work Why showing up imperfectly is the actual brand strategy   Learn more about Poy In 2018, Poy T Granati founded Summer Space (translated as "a happy place") after completing her inspiring "100-days of making" project, where she crafted one flower per day for 100 days and discovered her passion for paper flower artistry. Since then, she has been dedicated to spreading joy through her exquisite and meticulously crafted paper flowers. The artistry of Summer Space has been recognized and featured on the Today Show and Adobe, and the studio has collaborated with prestigious brands such as Papersource, Helix Sleep, IBM, and Maman NYC. Summer Space is currently based out of Hudson Valley, NY. Listen to Poy in Episode 81 for her introduction, and Episode 135 for our Pinterest Website: Summer Space Studio Instagram: @summerspacestudio.   The Best Thing We Bought that Bring Us Joy Quynh: Squeakers for dog toys  Jessie: The School Memories Book by MaVie Sara: Rifle Paper Journal 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, Shareasale, or similar affiliate marketing programs. This commission goes directly into the maintenance of this website and our podcast.     ----------------------------------------------------- JOIN OUR PAPER TALK MASTERMIND! If you've been running your paper business solo and you're tired of figuring out pricing, marketing, and selling alone, then this is for you. The Mastermind is returning in the Fall 2026 and we saved you a seat! Starting September 8, we are leading a 6-month Mastermind for paper artists ready to build something sustainable. You'll meet twice a month with us and a small group of paper artists tackling the real stuff: pricing, social media, selling your work, newsletters, and building confidence in your business. We’ll have honest conversations, dive into practical strategies, and be with people who actually understand what you're building. Registration begins soon. ----------------------------------------------------- 🎙️ Listen and Subscribe Paper Talk is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and wherever you listen to podcasts. Don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review! It helps other paper flower artists find our community. Keywords: how to pitch corporate workshops as a paper flower artist, cold email pitching for handmade artists, paper flower workshops for corporate team building, Hermès brand partnership paper flowers, starting a Substack as a creative small business owner, rebuilding a creative business after maternity leave, tropical paper flowers book project, Summer Space Studio Poy Granati

Hand-delivering a paper flower arrangement looks simple from the outside, until you are standing in your driveway realizing the giant blooms you spent weeks building will not fit in your downsized car. In this episode, Quynh, Jessie, and Sara open up about their real-world transport systems, the trial-and-error moments that shaped them, and the surprisingly small tools that make a big difference.   “I put it in a box, then on a no-slip rubber mat, then in a crate, and then I wrap a towel around it. Even if I have to brake hard, the vase will not fall over.” - Quynh   From wholesale market boxes and no-slip rubber mats to collapsible carts, radio flyer wagons, and the humble tablecloth that turns a chaotic backstage into a clean booth, this is a tactical episode packed with tips you can use the next time you deliver an arrangement, set up at an art fair, or teach a workshop on the road.   “If it is for a show or exhibition and the piece will also be sold, the box has to be big enough to hold packing materials, so the buyer can take it home that same day.” - Jessie   They also share a few favorite finds: Sara is hooked on snail mail subscriptions (and just launched her own), Jessie shares an update on the Werola extra-fine crepe paper artist line she, Quynh, and a fellow artist have been co-developing for three years, and Quynh raves about a Bellevue bubble tea spot called Unique Greens.   Here’s what we cover in this episode: Why hand delivery is often the safer (and more trusted) option for paper florists Sara's collapsible system for transporting giant paper flowers Quynh's layered method: vase box, no-slip mat, crate, towel brace Jessie's approach to packing for shows where the flower may also be sold Why your paper flowers are usually sturdier than people assume The Amazon collapsible cart Quynh swears by for art fairs and workshops Using painter's paper from Home Depot to protect workshop tables The tablecloth trick that turns any backstage corner into a clean booth Why a two-hour delivery buffer is a gift to your future self Designing collapsible flower structures for reusable client backdrops   “The biggest thing I learned with giant flowers is that I need to make them collapsible. If the structure cannot come apart and go back together, you cannot really transport it.” - Sara   Resources and links mentioned Collapsible two-tier cart with crates (search Amazon for collapsible rolling cart with platform) Radio Flyer wagon (an underrated transport option) Home Depot painter's paper rolls (brown and dusty pink) Werola extra-fine crepe paper artist line (launching soon, carried in the US by Petals and Pearls Design and Rose Mille) Unique Greens bubble tea (Bellevue, WA) — orange jasmine tea with tea jelly, zero sugar Sara's new snail mail subscription service   The Best Thing We Bought that Bring Us Joy Quynh: UG Unique Green Tea Jessie: Werola Artist Line Extra Fine Crepe Paper 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, Shareasale, or similar affiliate marketing programs. This commission goes directly into the maintenance of this website and our podcast.     ----------------------------------------------------- JOIN OUR PAPER TALK MASTERMIND! If you've been running your paper business solo and you're tired of figuring out pricing, marketing, and selling alone, then this is for you. The Mastermind is returning in the Fall 2026 and we saved you a seat! Starting September 8, we are leading a 6-month Mastermind for paper artists ready to build something sustainable. You'll meet twice a month with us and a small group of paper artists tackling the real stuff: pricing, social media, selling your work, newsletters, and building confidence in your business. We’ll have honest conversations, dive into practical strategies, and be with people who actually understand what you're building. Registration begins soon. ----------------------------------------------------- 🎙️ Listen and Subscribe Paper Talk is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and wherever you listen to podcasts. Don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review! It helps other paper flower artists find our community. Keywords: paper flower delivery, transporting paper flowers, hand delivery paper flowers, giant paper flowers transport, paper flower art fair tips, paper flower business logistics, paper flower packaging, collapsible cart art fair, paper flower workshop setup, paper flower studio business

When Carrissa Wu signed the lease on her first studio in a Fremantle warehouse, she remembers thinking, “What have I done?” She had just quit a stable corporate job at a Perth casino, had a growing stack of Etsy orders for paper flower bouquets, and a long list of dreams she had written down in that tiny first space: work with the King’s Park Botanic Gardens, get featured in Frankie magazine, build a team. Every single one of those things has happened. In this Episode of Paper Talk Podcast, Carrissa joins hosts Quynh Nguyen, Jessie Chui, and Sara Kim to tell the full story of Jotterbook Flowers, her paper flower business based out of Perth, Australia. She talks about how COVID gave her the space to rediscover making, how a mentor’s advice to pick one bread-and-butter revenue stream led her to workshops, and how Perth’s post-lockdown environment created a surge in demand that she could barely keep up with.   "You forgot the scissors for a workshop? We just learned to make a checklist. It’s not a you problem, it’s a systems problem." — Carrissa   Key Takeaways from this Episode: Pick one reliable revenue stream before experimenting with others. Hire for personality and relational skills since technical craft can be taught. Train team members through a staggered observation-to-independence process. Treat mistakes as systems problems, not personal failures. Know your numbers and be willing to cut overhead when the math stops working. Being “finished” with one creative chapter is not failure; it is freedom to start the next one. The skills you build in running a creative business transfer to whatever comes next.   Learn more about Carrissa Jotterbook Flowers is Perth's Original Crepe Paper Flower Studio, founded by artist Carrissa Wu. At the height of COVID lockdown, Carrissa was stood down from her corporate job and started making paper flowers to get through the anxiety of each day. She began running workshops in 2020 to help people find presence and pause in the midst of life's hectic pace. A community of like-minded paper florists started to bloom. Today, the Jotterbook Flowers team has helped over 1,000 people look after themselves to love others better through the art of paper flowers.  Instagram: @jotterbookflowers  Website: www.jotterbookflowers.com   The Best Thing We Bought that Bring Us Joy Quynh: New Sourdough recipes Jessie: Kitsch XL Satin Heatless Hair Curler Set Sara: Thrifting for craft supplies for her Junk journalling  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, Shareasale, or similar affiliate marketing programs. This commission goes directly into the maintenance of this website and our podcast.     ----------------------------------------------------- JOIN OUR PAPER TALK MASTERMIND! If you've been running your paper business solo and you're tired of figuring out pricing, marketing, and selling alone, then this is for you. The Mastermind is returning in the Fall 2026 and we saved you a seat! Starting September 8, we are leading a 6-month Mastermind for paper artists ready to build something sustainable. You'll meet twice a month with us and a small group of paper artists tackling the real stuff: pricing, social media, selling your work, newsletters, and building confidence in your business. We’ll have honest conversations, dive into practical strategies, and be with people who actually understand what you're building. Registration begins soon. ----------------------------------------------------- 🎙️ Listen and Subscribe Paper Talk is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and wherever you listen to podcasts. Don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review! It helps other paper flower artists find our community. Keywords: paper flower podcast, paper flower artist, creative entrepreneur, paper flower business, bridal inquiries, corporate inquiries, client inquiries, brand collaboration, brand inquiries, pricing strategies, contract tips, media kit advice, paper flower community, Paper Talk Podcast  

You got the inquiry. Now what? Whether it lands in your inbox from a bride-to-be, a corporate event planner, or a brand partnership manager, how you respond to that very first message can make or break the sale. In this quick but packed episode, Quynh, Jessie, and Sara break down their real-world strategies for handling three types of client inquiries: bridal, corporate, and brand collaborations.   “I try to be as upfront as possible so there are no surprises on both ends. I do not want to be emailing back and forth until I realize I am completely out of their budget.” — Sara    From what to include on your inquiry form and when to talk about pricing, to why you should never make free samples and how to present a media kit that lands the deal, the hosts share the frameworks they have built through years of running their own paper flower businesses.    “If you cannot do the job, have a list of your maker friends that can. If you refer someone, they can refer you back. It is a two-way street.”- Quynh   If you have ever felt nervous about quoting your prices or unsure how to follow up with a potential client, this episode will give you the confidence and the structure to respond like a pro.   What You’ll Hear in this Episode: What to include on your website inquiry form to filter serious clients Why response time matters and how it builds trust before the first project even starts When to bring up pricing and the reason for being upfront from the very first email How to use a price sheet to set expectations and protect your time Why you should never create free samples and how to handle sample requests The importance of contracts: deposits, delivery details, and final payment timelines How corporate inquiries differ from bridal work and why turnaround time changes everything Building a referral network and what to do when you cannot take the job How to create and use a media kit for brand collaborations Knowing your numbers and staying confident during negotiations Being flexible with packages without undervaluing your work Unique brand collaboration opportunities beyond physical flower commissions   The Best Thing We Bought that Bring Us Joy Quynh: Antique flower frogs  Jessie: Floral Genius Hairpin Frogs Sara: Flower frog using air dry clay 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, Shareasale, or similar affiliate marketing programs. This commission goes directly into the maintenance of this website and our podcast.     ----------------------------------------------------- JOIN OUR PAPER TALK MASTERMIND! If you've been running your paper business solo and you're tired of figuring out pricing, marketing, and selling alone, then this is for you. The Mastermind is returning in the Fall 2026 and we saved you a seat! Starting September 8, we are leading a 6-month Mastermind for paper artists ready to build something sustainable. You'll meet twice a month with us and a small group of paper artists tackling the real stuff: pricing, social media, selling your work, newsletters, and building confidence in your business. We’ll have honest conversations, dive into practical strategies, and be with people who actually understand what you're building. Registration begins soon. ----------------------------------------------------- 🎙️ Listen and Subscribe Paper Talk is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and wherever you listen to podcasts. Don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review! It helps other paper flower artists find our community. Keywords: paper flower podcast, paper flower artist, creative entrepreneur, paper flower business, bridal inquiries, corporate inquiries, client inquiries, brand collaboration, brand inquiries, pricing strategies, contract tips, media kit advice, paper flower community, Paper Talk Podcast

In this episode, Quynh, Jessie, and Sara sit down with Laura Richey, the Ontario-based artist behind Pucker Up Paper Lips and 2 CLVR Designs. Laura has been in the paper flower world for over 12 years, creating everything from thousands of card stock roses for Lancome to sculptural paper lips that have caught the attention of celebrities including Britney Spears. Laura opens up about how COVID upended her thriving wedding flower business, which had grown to 60 to 100 weddings a year, and how a pair of paper lips sitting in her living room sparked an entirely new creative direction. After a famous lip artist spotted her work on Instagram and invited her to collaborate, Laura’s paper lip art took off in ways she never expected.   "Anything 3D grabs attention. Anything that comes off the wall, people seem to gravitate towards." — Laura    The conversation covers the realities of running two brands, managing massive production orders as a solo artist, and the physical toll that large-scale paper crafting takes on your hands, back, and mental energy. Laura, Sara, Jessie, and Quynh get into the details that only paper artists understand: how many flowers you can realistically assemble in a day, why Cricut mats wear out faster than you think, and how chopsticks became Laura’s most essential tool.   "At this time in my career, it is okay to say no and it is okay to give them your feedback." — Laura   They also discuss the challenges of working with marketing companies and event coordinators who often reach out with unrealistic timelines and tight budgets, and why paper artists deserve to be brought into projects early rather than treated as a last-minute addition.   What You’ll Hear in this Episode: From wedding florals to paper lip sculptures and how Laura's 12+ year journey in paper flowers took a turn she never saw coming The Instagram DM from a celebrity lip artist that changed everything What it actually looks like to work with major brands and the difference between going through a marketing agency versus landing a direct brand partnership The reality of large-scale production: 600 lips for Too Faced, 4,000 roses for Lancôme, and what it takes to pull that off The physical and mental toll of making the same thing hundreds of times  Running two brands when one is your passion and the other pays the bills and what happens when they start pulling in opposite directions Card stock versus crepe paper: why the medium you work in matters more than you'd think The tools Laura can't live without: chopsticks, Cricut machines, vinyl picker tools, and kebab sticks (yes, really) Cricut mat maintenance, buying in bulk, and building a machine workflow that actually holds up under pressure Laser cutters versus Cricut machines  Where Laura is headed: teaching, fine art lip sculptures, and a creative practice that's evolving on her own terms Making it work as a maker and a mother — and why your workspace has to go wherever your family needs you Why setting realistic expectations with clients around timelines and budgets isn't just good business but necessary   👉 The Best Thing We Bought that Sparks Joy Quynh: Garden roses from Flower World: Earth Angel, Martha Stewart, Koko Loko Jessie: Deserres Acrylic Gouache Low Viscosity Sara: Daniel Smith Palette  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, Shareasale, or similar affiliate marketing programs. This commission goes directly into the maintenance of this website and our podcast. Learn more about Laura Laura Richey is the artist behind Pucker Up Paper Lips and 2 CLVR Designs, based in Ontario, Canada. With over 12 years in the paper craft industry, Laura specializes in card stock paper art, from wedding flowers to her signature 3D paper lip sculptures. Her work has been featured in collaborations with major beauty and luxury brands, and her pieces have been reposted by Britney Spears.   Instagram: @puckerup_paperlips / @2clvr_designs   Listen and Subscribe Paper Talk is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and wherever you listen to podcasts. Don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review! It helps other paper flower artists find our community.   Keywords: creative business website, paper artist marketing, small business SEO, building trust online, email marketing for creatives, website platforms for artists, creative entrepreneur tips, online business credibility

Ever wondered why some creative businesses feel more trustworthy than others? In this episode, Quynh, Jessie, and Sara get real about websites, the power of putting your name out there, and why your online presence matters more than you think.   "If I go onto your Instagram and I don't see your full name somewhere, there's a lack of credibility there. I'm not going to trust you. I don't know who you are...It's about making a connection with your consumer. And that means, unfortunately, you do have to share more of yourself." - Jessie   Sara shares her 16-year website journey, including the struggles of consolidating domains, email providers, and hosting platforms. Jessie opens up about why she needs to see your name before she can trust your business. And Quynh reminds us all that our websites should be living, breathing reflections of our evolving businesses.  Whether you're just starting out or you've been in business for years, this conversation will inspire you to take a fresh look at your digital home and make it work harder for you.   What You’ll Hear in This Episode: Why having your name visible builds instant credibility The real cost of not having a website (spoiler: lost customers) Sara's honest account of moving domains and email providers after 16 years How to use blogs and Pinterest for long-term SEO benefits Free and affordable tools for newsletters, graphics, and website management The trust factor: what potential customers need to see before they buy Platform recommendations: Squarespace, Shopify, Etsy, and more Email marketing essentials and why your personal email won't cut it How to keep your website fresh without overwhelming yourself   "Google is still a big factor on search engines. So make sure your SEO and that search optimization on your keywords, long keywords that are scattered throughout your website. And one of the best ways to have that is actually having a blog." - Quynh    Tools & Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Squarespace (Sara uses this for her website hosting) GoDaddy (Sara uses this for domain registration) Flodesk (Quynh mentions this email newsletter marketing platform) Substack (Quynh mentions this free newsletter platform) Canva (graphic design for newsletters and social content) Drop in Blog (SEO-friendly blog integration) Thinkific (Jessie uses this for learning management platform) Pinterest (search engine for creative businesses) ChatGPT (SEO optimization help) 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, Shareasale, or similar affiliate marketing programs. This commission goes directly into the maintenance of this website and our podcast.    Listen and Subscribe Paper Talk is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and wherever you listen to podcasts. Don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review! It helps other paper flower artists find our community.   Keywords: creative business website, paper artist marketing, small business SEO, building trust online, email marketing for creatives, website platforms for artists, creative entrepreneur tips, online business credibility

She’s been on the Paper Talk Podcast not once, not twice, but three times now, and for good reason. Margie Keates of The Lovely Ave is one of the paper flower community’s most beloved artists, known for her stunning crepe paper blooms, her gorgeous still life collections, and her warm, genuine presence online. But this episode is different from the ones that came before. In this deeply vulnerable and emotional conversation, Margie shares what happened when the creative fire she had carried for over a decade started to fade and what she decided to do about it.   “I kept creating what I thought would sell the fastest, not what I wanted to create because I loved it and was excited about it. And I just got to the end of the year and I’m like, I don’t want to go to work anymore.” - Margie   After a year of chasing sales instead of creating from joy, watching her confidence erode with every collection that didn’t land the way it used to, and feeling the slow, painful disconnect from the art she once loved so deeply, Margie made the courageous decision to step away. She closed her shop, took a part-time marketing job at a local clothing company she had modeled for, and gave herself something she had never allowed before: permission to pause.   “Who am I when it doesn’t revolve around what I can create? I don’t know yet. But I do know I’m really, really grateful that I get to sit and internally reflect and figure out who I am.” - Margie   In This Episode, We Talk About: The slow erosion of creative confidence and how burnout doesn’t always look like what you expect Why Margie only posted six to eight times on Instagram in all of 2025  The rise and fall of her subscription business model, from 70 subscribers at its peak to closing it down How her identity became wrapped up in The Lovely Ave brand and the terrifying question of who she is without it Getting a part-time job after 11 years of full-time artistry and what that transition felt like The overwhelming response from her community when she announced her break (over 100 emails in one day) Considering a rebrand from The Lovely Ave to just Margie Keates Sara’s experience pivoting from bridal accessories to paper flowers after burnout Quynh’s health scare and how it forced her to slow down and reconnect with why she loves paper flowers Jessie’s beautiful reminder that your creative identity follows you into whatever comes next Why using AI as a business tool is something paper flower artists should embrace, not fear Kozo paper: what it is, where to find it, and Quynh’s quest to source it in Japan Finding joy in real flowers, gardening, Pilates, and the simple act of showing strangers your work at a store   About Our Guest Margie Keates is the artist and founder behind The Lovely Ave, a Salt Lake City-based paper flower studio known for breathtaking crepe paper blooms and still life wall art. Over 11 years, Margie built a devoted following, a thriving custom order and subscription business, and a reputation as one of the paper flower community’s most inspiring voices. She first appeared on Paper Talk in Season 1, Episode 5, and returned in Season 3, Episode 80, to talk about imposter syndrome. In early 2026, Margie announced she was stepping away from full-time artistry to rediscover herself outside of her creative brand. She currently works part-time in marketing while keeping her studio lease active because she knows this isn’t goodbye. Follow Margie: @thelovelyave on Instagram, www.thelovelyave.com on her website   The Best Thing We Bought for Under $20 Margie: Trader Joe’s flowers Jessie: Pillsbury Grands! Deluxe Cinnamon Rolls with Icing Sara: Trader Joe’s Ranch Flavored Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips    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, Shareasale, or similar affiliate marketing programs. This commission goes directly into the maintenance of this website and our podcast.    Listen and Subscribe Paper Talk is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and wherever you listen to podcasts. Don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review! It helps other paper flower artists find our community.   Keywords: paper flower podcast, paper flower artist burnout, creative entrepreneur break, The Lovely Ave, Margie Keates, paper flower business, creative identity, artist mental health, subscription business model, paper flower community, Paper Talk Podcast, creative burnout recovery

Have you ever wondered how we capture those beautiful shots of our paper flowers? In this episode, Quynh, Jessie, and Sara pull back the curtain on their photography and videography equipment, settings, and creative processes. Sara shares her daily filming routine and why she shoots the same action from multiple angles. Jessie breaks down her camera choices and explains why the person behind the lens matters more than the equipment. And Quynh reveals her favorite affordable tripod and why she upgraded her Canon for her book deal.   "Do a B-roll shot list of things that you want to capture because when you're filming, you forget you're thinking you're getting all this." - Quynh   Whether you're shooting with an iPhone or investing in professional equipment, this conversation is packed with practical tips to help you showcase your work beautifully.   Here’s What You’ll Hear in This Episode: Sara's complete camera setup and why she switched from Canon to Sony The importance of lenses over camera bodies (and which ones to invest in first) How to shoot multiple angles of the same action for dynamic content iPhone camera settings for the highest quality photos and videos Why natural light beats artificial lighting every single time The pre-production process: shot lists, prep work, and planning your day Editing software recommendations: Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, Lightroom, and more How to find affordable secondhand camera equipment The best tripods for overhead shots and easy movement Microphone recommendations for clear audio in videos   Equipment & Tools Mentioned: Sony cameras (various models) with GM 16-35mm wide angle zoom lens Canon DSLR cameras Fujifilm GFX 50S II (for professional photography) Viltrox 20mm lens (affordable option, around $100) iPhone 16 Pro Max with specific camera settings Rode shotgun and wireless microphones DJI Osmo and DJI wireless remote Greek Geekcraft tripod (extends to 7 feet with magnetic phone mount) Tethering cables for shooting directly to computer   Editing Software Mentioned: Adobe Premiere Pro (video editing) Final Cut Pro (video editing for Mac users) Adobe Lightroom (photo editing) Adobe Photoshop (advanced photo editing) Edits app (mobile video editing) Snapseed (mobile photo editing) Capture One (professional photo editing with tethering)   👉 The Best Thing We Bought for Under $20 Quynh: KraftGeek Magnetic Phone Tripod  Jessie: TetherPro USB-C to USB-C Sara: Viltrox 20mm F2.8  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, Shareasale, or similar affiliate marketing programs. This commission goes directly into the maintenance of this website and our podcast.

What happens when the hustle slows down and you're left wondering if you should get a teaching credential instead? In this raw and honest conversation, Quynh, Sara, and Jessie open up about the parts of running a creative business we don't usually talk about: the financial worries, the seasonal doubts, and the struggle to keep going when your energy isn't the same.   "I feel like every year it repeats and it always starts in January and sometime in the summer for me when I go through these random moments where I'm like, do I need to go get a part-time job? Do I need to maybe change careers?" - Sara   This isn't your typical "boss babe" pep talk. We are three paper artists who've been in business for over a decade, sitting down to have the real conversation about what it takes to sustain a creative life. We talk about the pressure to look perfect on social media while hiding the messy truth, how motherhood changes ambition, and why finding your "why" is the anchor that keeps you from drifting when things get hard.   What You’ll Hear in This Episode: Why January brings existential career questions (and why that's normal) The uncomfortable truth about money conversations in the artist community How to balance motherhood and creative ambition without feeling torn Why your medium isn't your message and what is The power of having people who understand your struggles Writing as a tool for clearing creative space in your mind How to tell if you're moving in the right direction (even when it's not clear)   👉 The Best Thing We Bought for Under $20 Quynh: You are the Brand by Mike Kim  Jessie: Find Your Artistic Voice: The Essential Guide to Working Your Creative Magic by Lisa Congdon   Sara: Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek  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, Shareasale, or similar affiliate marketing programs. This commission goes directly into the maintenance of this website and our podcast.   ________________________________________________ JOIN OUR PAPER TALK MASTERMIND! If you've been running your paper business solo and you're tired of figuring out pricing, marketing, and selling alone, then this is for you. The Mastermind is back and we saved you a seat! Starting March 3, we are leading a 6-month Mastermind for paper artists ready to build something sustainable. You'll meet twice a month with us and a small group of paper artists tackling the real stuff: pricing, social media, selling your work, newsletters, and building confidence in your business. We’ll have honest conversations, dive into practical strategies, and be with people who actually understand what you're building. It’s $125/month for 6 months. Pay in full and save $50. Registration closes March 1. 👉 Join the Mastermind now!