Paper Talk

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.



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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.

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🎙️ 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