Paper Talk

For the first time in nine seasons, we are turning the mic over to you! In this rapid-fire Q&A, Quynh, Jessie, and Sara answer questions sent in by listeners, Mastermind participants, and friends. We talk about what we wish we knew before going full time with our art, whether you need to be "artsy" to become a paper flower artist, and exactly where we buy our crepe paper and cardstock in the US and Canada.



"The thing I wish I knew before I went full time is that I'm allowed to do it." - Sara



Then we get honest about money: our worst paid and highest paid jobs, from a $1 flower order that ended in a complaint to a $70,000 production job that tested every limit of Quynh's hands and timeline. Sara shares the business advice that changed everything (templates and passive income), Jessie reveals the unexpected tool she now brings to every workshop, and we close with the paper flower trends we are loving right now, plus what is sitting in our shopping carts.



Have a question you want us to answer next? Submit it at papertalkpodcast.com. The form is right on the home page!



Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome to our first ever rapid-fire Q&A

01:15 What is one thing you wish you knew before going full time with your art?

03:57 Do you have to be artsy to be a paper flower artist? (Jessie)

05:30 Where do you buy your paper? Our crepe paper and cardstock sources

09:28 Worst paid job ever vs. highest paid job ever

18:16 The best piece of business advice Sara ever got

19:35 What did you buy with your first paycheck?

21:50 A tool Jessie never expected to fall in love with

23:27 A skill outside of paper flowers Quynh wishes she had time to learn

24:22 Do I have to show my face on Instagram? (Sara)

25:42 Paper flower trends we are loving right now

31:13 What is ahead for Season 9, and how to submit your questions

31:50 What is in our shopping carts



What's In Our Shopping Cart:

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.

Quynh Conversation: How to Connect with Anyone & Make Every Interaction Count by Vanessa Van Edwards

Jessie: Dragon Touch / I ended up buying a 15” Skylight



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.



#PaperFlowers #PaperFlowerBusiness #PaperTalkPodcast #PaperFlowerArtist #CrepePaperFlowers #HandmadeBusiness #PaperFlowerCommunity #SmallBusinessPodcast #ArtPodcast

It's here, Episode 200. Quynh Nguyen, Jessie Chui, and Sara Kim kick off Season 9 of Paper Talk Podcast by pausing to celebrate a milestone eight years in the making, and to tell you exactly why we’re devoting this whole season to celebrating your wins.



We take a trip back to where it all started, a paper flower masterclass in Seattle in April 2018, where makers flew in from all over the world just to make paper flowers together in person. That single weekend became the reason Quynh and Jessie wanted a way to stay connected between workshops, and Paper Talk Podcast was born, with the name itself coming from a suggestion by Jessie's husband, Warren. We also look back on original co-host Priscilla Clearfield, who was part of the show from Episode 1, and reflect on the two years since Sara Kim joined full-time as a host.



We share our favorite memories across 199 episodes, from checking back in with returning guests to see how their businesses evolved, to Sara's own path from three-time guest to co-host. We also open up about our Paper Talk Mastermind retreat, where members met in person for the first time after a year of meeting online, and talk about why that kind of community, geeking out over a shared, sometimes lonely, creative business, is at the heart of what we’ve built.



"I hope our podcast really brings in that coworker feeling in the background, talking about the logistics of business. Sometimes it's a little venting, sometimes it's a little celebrating our achievements." - Sara



This season is all about celebrating wins, the big ones and the small ones. You can now submit your own art or business questions at papertalkpodcast.com for a new rapid-fire Q&A segment throughout the season. And we will end every episode with a new closing question: what's in your shopping cart right now?



Timestamps:

0:01 – Welcome to Season 9 and the Episode 200 milestone

0:46 – The origin story: a 2018 paper flower masterclass in Seattle

2:37 – How the podcast got its name, with help from Jessie's husband Warren

3:41 – Original co-host Priscilla, and two years of Sara as a host

6:05 – Announcing the Season 9 theme: celebrating small and big wins

6:34 – New segment alert: submit your questions for a rapid-fire Q&A

8:17 – Favorite memories from 199 episodes

11:26 – Reflecting on the Paper Talk Mastermind retreat

18:31 – A look ahead at Season 9

20:18 – Introducing the new closing question: what's in your shopping cart?



What's In Our Shopping Cart:

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.

Jessie: A Foamworks foam board cutter, for mounting 24x36 inch prints ahead of her November show

Sara: This matching bridal party pajama set from a brand she recently discovered

Quynh: The Midori undated 2027 planner, as she considers a switch from her longtime Hobonichi



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.



#PaperFlowers #PaperFlowerBusiness #PaperTalkPodcast #PaperFlowerArtist #CrepePaperFlowers #HandmadeBusiness #PaperFlowerCommunity #SmallBusinessPodcast #Episode200

Quynh, Sara, and Jessie close out Season 8 of Paper Talk Podcast with a heartfelt recap of their favorite guests, paper flower business lessons, and news on Episode 200.

It's officially a wrap on Season 8, the longest season Paper Talk Podcast has ever recorded at 25 episodes! In this finale, hosts Quynh Nguyen, Sara Kim, and Jessie Chui sit down to reflect on the season's theme of community, revisit their favorite guest conversations about building a paper flower business, and share what's coming for Season 9, including the Paper Talk Mastermind and a giveaway to celebrate Episode 200.



"I think the longer you're in this community, just like any other community, there's always a rotation of people. It's always interesting to me, as to why people start what they do and then also leave what they do." — Jessie



What You’ll Hear in this Episode:

Why "community" became the throughline of Season 8, and how it evolved into something bigger than they expected

Sara's favorite episode of the season, with guest Margie, on "It's Okay to Walk Away" (Episode 190), and what it taught them about burnout and the reality of running a paper flower business

Jessie's favorite conversations with paper flower artists who became mothers this season, including Poy T. Granati, Laura Richey, and Carissa Wu, and how each of them redesigned their business around motherhood

Quynh's highlights: the legacy of Aleene's Tacky Glue with guest Tiffany Windsor, and floral mechanics with Hitomi Gilliam

A first look at Season 9 and the Episode 200 giveaway launching in September

Updates on the Paper Talk Mastermind, including the upcoming retreat and how to join the waitlist



The Best Thing We Bought that Bring Us Joy

Quynh: TRX straps

Jessie: TSN Subscription

Sara: Trader Joe’s Striped Mini Canvas Tote Bag

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 in August. Get on the Waitlist!

-----------------------------------------------------

🎙️ 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: #PaperFlowers #PaperFlowerBusiness #PaperTalkPodcast #PaperFlowerArtist #CrepePaperFlowers #HandmadeBusiness #PaperFlowerCommunity #SmallBusinessPodcast

Quynh, Jessie, and Sara go behind the scenes of their paper flower mastermind, sharing what three cohorts have taught them about accountability, imposter syndrome, and building a creative business for the long haul.

In this episode, Quynh, Jessie, and Sara step away from guest interviews to talk directly to you about something they don’t often unpack on the podcast: their mastermind community, Paper to Profit, and what running it for three cohorts has taught them about what it actually takes to build a paper flower business that lasts.

They talk candidly about the difference between making art and selling art, why their members today struggle with too much information instead of too little, and why accountability and community consistently move the needle more than any single tactic. Sara and Jessie share what it’s like watching members go from afraid to even say “I’m an artist” out loud to confidently running their first workshops and sales.



"It's so easy to sit and think and not do anything about it. Our purpose in the mastermind is to motivate you, to keep you accountable, to be your cheerleaders." - Jessie on accountability



The hosts also get real about the timeline. Referencing recurring guest Poy T. Granati’s three-year pursuit of a Hermès collaboration, and their own decade-plus journey building Paper Talk into a top-ranked podcast, Quynh and the team make the case that meaningful creative businesses are built slowly, with consistent effort, not overnight virality.

They close with details on their next mastermind cohort opening September 8th (sign-ups open in August) and their upcoming August retreat in Seattle, which includes a visit to the Seattle wholesale flower market and the flower fields of Mount Vernon and Skagit Valley. As always, the episode wraps with the hosts’ current favorite things, including Quynh’s new obsession with her Oura ring, Jessie’s discovery of a product that saves her from uncomfortable leaks, Sara’s long-overdue investment in real running shoes.



The Best Thing We Bought that Bring Us Joy

Quynh: Get 10% off of the Oura Ring 5

Jessie: Uresta Bladder Support for Women

Sara: Hoka Running Shoes

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 in August. Get on the Waitlist!

-----------------------------------------------------

🎙️ 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: Mastermind community, long-term business building, accountability, imposter syndrome, September cohort launch, August retreat, favorite things segment

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