Sara Kim of Handmade by Sara Kim, Quynh Nguyen of Pink and Posey and Jessie Chui of Crafted to Bloom
The Evolution of Paper Talk…
Our journey began in 2017 when the Paper Talk community took root as a Facebook group, providing a safe haven for paper flower e...
Ep 166: From Felt to Flowers: The Creative Journey of Naomy Kim
In this episode, we’re thrilled to welcome the incredibly talented Naomy Kim of Made by Naomy! Known for her stunning and intricate felt flowers, Naomy’s creations are celebrated for their lifelike textures, beautiful hand-dyed details, and artistic innovation.
Naomy shares her inspiring journey from crafting gifts for friends to establishing her felt flower business. She opens up about her unique creative process, the challenges of balancing family life and work, and the importance of valuing her art. Whether you’re a felt artist, paper florist, or creative entrepreneur, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration for your own artistic path.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Naomy’s Creative Journey: How she discovered felt flowers and transitioned her hobby into a thriving business.
Innovative Techniques: Naomy’s process for hand-dyeing, starching, and shaping felt to create lifelike flowers.
Balancing Art and Family: Tips on managing time and staying organized as a mom and artist.
Pricing Your Work: Insights into valuing your art and overcoming the struggle of pricing your creations.
The Power of Sharing Your Process: How sharing her techniques helped Naomy connect with fellow artists and grow her confidence.
“I started coloring felt with eyeshadow—it wasn’t perfect, but every experiment brought me closer to finding my unique style.” – Naomy Kim
What inspires you most about Naomy’s story? We’d love to hear your thoughts - share your insights with us on Instagram @papertalkpodcast or join our Facebook community discussions.
Stay tuned for more inspiring episodes, and don’t forget to subscribe to Paper Talk wherever you listen to podcasts.
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Ep 165: Personal Branding and Mastermind Magic with Lauren V. Davis
In this episode of Paper Talk, Quynh, Jessie, and Sara welcome a very special guest—Lauren V. Davis of Lauren Davis Creative. As Quynh’s mastermind coach and mentor, Lauren has been instrumental in helping her refine her personal brand and connect with like-minded entrepreneurs. Lauren shares her journey from running a vinyl record store to becoming a sought-after personal branding consultant and mastermind facilitator.
The Journey from Vinyl to Visibility
Lauren’s entrepreneurial path began at the age of 19 when she co-founded a vinyl record store during the 2008 recession. Navigating the challenges of running a business in tough economic times taught her invaluable lessons about resilience, marketing, and the art of storytelling. She realized early on that people connect with stories more than products, a principle that became the foundation of her personal branding consultancy.
Mastermind Magic: Why Community Matters
One of the standout themes in this episode is the transformative power of mastermind groups. Lauren describes these groups as spaces where entrepreneurs come together to support, challenge, and elevate each other. Unlike traditional networking, masterminds foster deep connections through structured brainstorming, accountability, and shared experiences. Quynh shares how being part of Lauren’s mastermind has helped her gain clarity, confidence, and a renewed sense of purpose.
Here is what you'll hear in this episode:
Lauren’s Entrepreneurial Journey: How starting a vinyl record store at 19 taught her the fundamentals of marketing, customer loyalty, and personal branding.
The Power of Storytelling: Lauren emphasizes the importance of authenticity and using plain language when building your personal brand.
Mastermind Groups Demystified: Discover how mastermind groups function, the benefits of collaborative brainstorming, and why showing up authentically matters.
Personal Branding Tips: Lauren shares practical advice on crafting an effective elevator pitch, leveraging social media authentically, and connecting with your audience.
“I really want to see them succeed, and I want them to brag. So often entrepreneurs don’t get that opportunity to say, ‘Look at this thing I did,’ and have everyone cheer for you.” - Lauren V. Davis
Lauren Davis is the founder of Lauren Davis Creative, a marketing and branding consultancy that helps speakers and entrepreneurs establish their memorable personal brands resulting in magnetic engagement and life-long clients. Learn more about Lauren by following her on Instagram, on her website, or listen to her on The Real Personal Branding Podcast.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on personal branding and mastermind groups! Have you found strategies that work for you? Share your insights with us on Instagram @papertalkpodcast or join our Facebook community discussions.
Stay tuned for more inspiring episodes, and don’t forget to subscribe to Paper Talk wherever you listen to podcasts.
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Ep 164: Overcoming Challenges and Growing a Paper Flower Business with Gina Arzola
In this inspiring episode, we’re joined by Gina Arzola of Gina’s Paper Mountain to discuss her journey into the world of paper flowers. From discovering the art as a hobby to landing high-profile opportunities with the National Gallery of Art, Gina’s story is one of resilience, creativity, and growth.
Gina opens up about overcoming a life-changing injury that temporarily halted her ability to create and how she regained her confidence through determination and support. She also shares how she turned her passion into teaching, navigated her first television appearance, and tackled the logistics of creating 700 marigold kits for a major workshop.
This episode is packed with encouragement, practical advice, and heartwarming moments that every creative entrepreneur can learn from.
“What’s the harm in asking? Even when you’re unsure, just ask—you’ll be surprised at the doors that open for you.” - Gina
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Following Her Passion: Gina's journey from a paper flower hobbyist to a growing entrepreneur.
Overcoming Setbacks: Gina’s inspiring recovery story after an injury to both hands.
Seizing Opportunities: How Gina landed a television feature and a major workshop project with the National Gallery of Art.
Teaching Tips: How to start teaching workshops, adapt to different learning styles, and grow your confidence as a teacher.
Practical Advice for Creators: From managing large-scale projects to pricing your work and negotiating fair pay.
Have you faced a big creative challenge? How did you overcome it? Share your story in the comments or send us a DM—we’d love to hear from you!
Thank you for tuning in! Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who could use a little creative encouragement today. Be sure to join us on Instagram (@papertalkpodcast) or in our Facebook community group, and share your thoughts - DM us or comment with your favorite life hacks! You can also make a small donation on our website to help us keep producing great content like this!
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Ep 163: Quynh's Hot Seat - Tech Upgrades, Audio Essentials, and Content Tips
In this episode of Paper Talk, Quynh finds herself in the hot seat! She brings her questions about upgrading audio equipment and perfecting sound quality for her video recordings. With Jessie and Sara by her side, the conversation expands into insightful tips, personal experiences, and must-know tech hacks for creators looking to improve their content quality.
What you'll hear in this episode of Paper Talk:
1. Finding the Right Mic Matters 🎙️
Quynh is exploring wireless and shotgun microphones to enhance her video tutorials. Sara shares her experience using RODE mics but highlights the challenges of keeping wireless mics charged. The takeaway? Invest in equipment, but focus equally on creating a quiet, sound-optimized space, even if that means recording in a closet!
2. Audio Quality Sets You Apart High-quality audio can make or break your video. Quynh emphasizes that clean, professional sound grabs attention and sets you apart from competitors, especially in ASMR or educational content.
“Start with what you have, but when you can, upgrade your audio—it’s the easiest way to stand out in a crowded space.” – Quynh Nguyen
3. Instagram Insights: The Algorithm Decoded Quynh shares insights from the Kajabi conference and breaks down what Instagram prioritizes:
Views and watch time are key for videos to go viral.
Add text overlays to engage viewers who watch with the sound off.
If showcasing products, voiceovers and personal storytelling work wonders.
4. Pinterest: A Creator’s Secret Weapon Sara reveals Pinterest as a powerful tool for driving traffic. Even with minimal effort, it’s her second-highest traffic source. The takeaway? Repurpose your content, optimize your links, and don’t sleep on Pinterest!
5. Life-Changing Tech Hack: Use Handbrake 🖥️ Jessie drops the ultimate tech hack: Handbrake, a free video transcoder that compresses files without reducing quality. For creators juggling large video uploads, this is a game-changer for saving time and streamlining your workflow.
Thank you for tuning in! Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who could use a little creative encouragement today. Be sure to join us on Instagram (@papertalkpodcast) or in our Facebook community group, and share your thoughts - DM us or comment with your favorite life hacks! You can also make a small donation on our website to help us keep producing great content like this!
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Ep 162: Building a Supportive Creative Community
In this episode, Quynh, Jessie, and Sara discuss a topic that resonates deeply with many creatives: the importance of building a supportive community. Drawing from personal experiences and listener questions, they explore why community isn’t just “nice to have” but vital for growth, connection, and overcoming challenges.
“Find those people who move your needle.” – Quynh
What you'll hear in this episode:
Why Community Matters: A creative community helps you feel less alone and offers the encouragement and challenges needed to grow.
The Role of Safe Spaces: Not every creative struggle requires a mentor; sometimes, you need peers who understand your journey.
Overcoming Creative Isolation: Confidence comes from connection—finding “your people” can re-energize your creativity and push you forward.
Practical Steps to Start Your Own Community: Small actions, like reaching out at events or joining online groups, are the first steps to building a lasting support system.
More Than Techniques: Finding Your “People”
Jessie shares a touching story about meeting Susan White, a leader of Meadowlore, an online creative community. Unlike conventional mentorship or coaching groups, Meadowlore fosters a space where members can share struggles, reflect on their journeys, and find encouragement. As Jessie notes, many creatives already know what they need to do, but finding a community provides the emotional connection and self-insight to keep going.
Quynh emphasizes that being part of a community—even one outside your specific craft—pushes you to grow, offering both affirmation and constructive challenges. Whether you’re searching for accountability, inspiration, or just a sense of belonging, a supportive group can help move your creative needle forward.
Overcoming Isolation as Creatives
Sara, a self-described introvert, initially resisted the idea of community but now recognizes its power. “The confidence, encouragement, and inspiration you get—it widens everything,” she explains. Loneliness and self-doubt often plague creatives, but stepping out—whether it’s joining workshops, connecting online, or simply sharing space with others—can be transformative.
A Simple Start: Add One Person
Building a community begins with one connection. Whether it’s reaching out to someone at an event, like Quynh’s experience at Kajabi, or simply sending a message, every small effort matters. These relationships can evolve into lifelong support systems that inspire growth, creativity, and resilience.
“There’s a difference between friends who say ‘you’re great’ and a community that challenges you to be better.” – Sara
Thank you for tuning in! Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who could use a little creative encouragement today.
Be sure to join us on Instagram (@papertalkpodcast) or in our Facebook community group, and share your thoughts - DM us or comment with your favorite life hacks! You can also make a small donation on our website to help us keep producing great content like this!
The Evolution of Paper Talk…
Our journey began in 2017 when the Paper Talk community took root as a Facebook group, providing a safe haven for paper flower enthusiasts to connect, share knowledge, and find like-minded artists from all corners of the world. As the community flourished, so did our opportunities to expand and collaborate. The establishment of The Paper Florists Collective led to inspiring multi-day workshops in Seattle and Toronto, attracting makers from across the globe.
Soon after, our commitment to sharing knowledge grew even stronger, giving rise to a weekly podcast featuring leaders and artists from both within and beyond our community. Alongside this, we introduced online education programs like the Paper to Profits Program and Paper X Talk lecture series, dedicated to nurturing paper flower entrepreneurs. Our continuous growth prompted the natural evolution of our name, moving from The Paper Florists Collective to the unified identity of Paper Talk across all platforms.
As we step into 2023, we warmly welcome Sara as a new co-host alongside Quynh, while Jessie remains a cherished presence, offering occasional insights.
Throughout these changes, our unwavering mission remains steadfast: to foster creativity, connections, and growth as artists, makers, and entrepreneurs, united by the love for paper flowers. Join us as we continue to share ideas, stories, and inspire a vibrant community of creatives.
Ireland