Open & Awkward: Shop Talk with Katie and Amanda

It's a new season so Katie and Amanda are ending the podcast for the time being.

Thanks for listening and stay open and awkward!

To See What We're Up To:

Amanda’s Kiss My Aster Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kissmyaster/

Katie’s Work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegardenofwordsagency

Katie’s Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katie_gardenofwords

Amanda’s Website: https://kissmyaster.com/

Katie’s Website: https://thegardenofwords.com/

Subtitle: A Question of Community

Summary:

Amanda finds herself in a candle pickle. Her vendor has suddenly raised their order minimum without warning, leaving her unable to restock. Should she start making her own candles instead? Katie sheds light on possible causes behind the change, from the end of de minimis exemptions to tariffs and rising costs. The conversation then turns to community. Why it’s so essential, how some people create it OR actively avoid it! WHY? Finally, they tackle Amanda’s dilemma…will the farmer’s market survive?

Highlights:

• Amanda’s candle pickle
• End of de minimis exemptions and price increases
• A discussion of community
• Will the Farmer’s Market survive?

Links:

Capital Stitch Company

The Cinnamon Bear - Complete Christmas Adventure

There are no photos in this episode

The Stuff at the End

Amanda’s Kiss My Aster Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kissmyaster/

Katie’s Work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegardenofwordsagency

Katie’s Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katie_gardenofwords

Amanda’s Website: https://kissmyaster.com/

Katie’s Website: https://thegardenofwords.com/

Subtitle: Apocalypse Skills

Summary: 

Amanda kicks things off with stories from the local Keepataw Parade and how the event impacts her business. Both Katie and Amanda share their plans for fall yard work (think mountains of bulbs) and exciting garden goals. Katie’s gearing up for a busy season of teaching art classes and couldn’t be more excited. The two discuss holiday customer gifts, is it a good idea? Amanda’s on the fence, but Katie has plenty of creative ideas. They also talk about how recreating an idea isn’t necessarily “stealing” it. They get real about how things just hit differently when you own a business and wonder if they had to do it all over again would they maybe just learn a trade instead?

Highlights:

• The Keepataw Parade
• Delightful weather
• Katie and Amanda plans to work in THEIR own yards
• Katie’s classes and her very busy weekend
• Customer gifts and when to give
• Slug party art
• Business card blunder
• Amanda and Katie discuss learning a trade

Links:

Eddie Gangland - artist

Victory Garden of Tomorrow

To see photos of picking flowers in the rain, Aster Gardens garden signs, Katie’s Slug Party and more, jump on over to The Garden of Words' website!

The Stuff at the End

Amanda’s Kiss My Aster Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kissmyaster/ 

Katie’s Work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegardenofwordsagency

Katie’s Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katie_gardenofwords

Amanda’s Website: https://kissmyaster.com/

Katie’s Website: https://thegardenofwords.com/

Subtitle: The Evolving Why

Summary:

Katie and Amanda go deep: on business, purpose, and the little things that make a big impact. Amanda’s so excited that shop sales are up and shares her $2-a-day Instagram ad experiment (spoiler: it’s working!). They discuss how promoting your business has shifted over the last 100 years, and how it’s STILL changing. They also talk about evolving goals, hiring for the future, and why letting go of something (like a farmers market) doesn’t mean it’s a failure.

Highlights:

• Katie and Amanda discuss their WHY
• Moving beyond the couch
• Amanda’s advertising decision
• Is it the end of Lamont’s Farmer’s Market?
•  Keepataw Day Parade

Links:

Katie’s “short” newsletter

Lamont’s Keepataw Day

Photos:

There are no photos in this episode

The Stuff at the End

Amanda’s Kiss My Aster Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kissmyaster/

Katie’s Work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegardenofwordsagency

Katie’s Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katie_gardenofwords

Amanda’s Website: https://kissmyaster.com/

Katie’s Website: https://thegardenofwords.com/

Subtitle: The Art of Community



Summary:

The two-week podcast break is over, and Katie and Amanda are back! Amanda admits she spends a lot of time picking up plants for jobs, (maybe not the most efficient use of her time), but she loves the drive and gives a big shout-out to Midwest Groundcovers for making it such a pleasure to do business with them. That sparks a chat about how they’ve both been spending their energy: Katie’s done the email marketing webinar thing, but her heart is really in teaching art and building community (can that be a webinar?). Which leads to the big question: where has community gone? From post-pandemic habits to the Gen Z stare, they discuss why connecting may feel harder these days.

Highlights:

• Is what we’re doing a waste of time?
• SHOUT OUT to Midwest Ground Covers
• Maintaining human connection and community
• Do people really want to understand others?
• Compassion and boundaries (and watercolors)
• When you want what’s best for the customers AND the plants

Links:

Amy Poehler - Good Hang podcast - Broad City episode

There are no photos in this episode

The Stuff at the End

Amanda’s Kiss My Aster Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kissmyaster/

Katie’s Work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegardenofwordsagency

Katie’s Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katie_gardenofwords

Amanda’s Website: https://kissmyaster.com/

Katie’s Website: https://thegardenofwords.com/

We are taking a two week break. See you back in mid-September!

Subtitle: Feeling it in Your Body

Summary: 

Amanda sold another one of Katie’s paintings! But before you ask, no, she’s not taking consignment. Amanda also talks about teaching a recent vinaigrette-making class and pitches the idea of a mending class (how cool would that be?). Amanda brings up her money stress after her debit card was stolen THREE times in one month, losing her outdoor lot, and business decisions she's being pushed to make. On the brighter side, her latest art drop (featuring bones collected from roadkill) nearly sold out. September’s theme? Twin Peaks. Finally, the Actual Useful Tip™ for this episode is: “Feel it in your body.”

Highlights:

• Amanda’s vinaigrette class
• Stolen credit card HASSLES!
• When you feel a good decision in your body
• Amanda’s future plans for the shop
• Amanda’s last drop and September theme
• Katie plans her visit to see Amanda

Photos:

Jump on over to The Garden of Words website to see the flowers Katie is ignoring Amanda for as well as Katie’s crepe paper dahlia.

The Stuff at the End

Amanda’s Kiss My Aster Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kissmyaster/ 

Katie’s Work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegardenofwordsagency

Katie’s Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katie_gardenofwords

Amanda’s Website: https://kissmyaster.com/

Katie’s Website: https://thegardenofwords.com/

Subtitle: Overcoming Overfunctioning

Summary: 

 Katie and Amanda dive into significant business changes they've recently made that brought clarity and relief. Amanda shares the story of losing her courtyard due to her landlord's construction plans and the lessons she learned from the experience. They also touch on the importance of understanding one's value and avoiding over-functioning in both business and personal life. Katie discusses an ongoing struggle with managing work boundaries and dealing with inconsiderate requests. The conversation woven with anecdotes and humor highlights the duo's commitment to authenticity and the importance of self-awareness.

Highlights:

• Amanda’s courtyard is going away
• Overfunctioning
• Katie and Amanda’s Tarot Readings
• Shut out the noise
• An unexpected pothole
• Questions without Curiosity
• John Derian marble apple

Links:

John Derian

Jump on over to The Garden of Words' website to see Katie's hat from Joan and her marble apple.

The Stuff at the End

Amanda’s Kiss My Aster Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kissmyaster/ 

Katie’s Work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegardenofwordsagency

Katie’s Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katie_gardenofwords

Amanda’s Website: https://kissmyaster.com/

Katie’s Website: https://thegardenofwords.com/

Subtitle: Mulch, Mayhem, and Mod Podge

Summary:

In this lively episode, Katie and Amanda discuss their recent creative ventures and some challenging client interactions. Katie is prepping for a collage and watercolor class in Michigan, while Amanda grapples with a landscaping client who struggles to pinpoint her desires. The conversation touches on the complexities of managing client expectations and the importance of mutual enthusiasm in creative collaborations. They also share insights on integrating whimsy into landscaping, spontaneous design adjustments, and the humorous reality of customer indecision. Wrapping up, they celebrate a successful project, despite logistical hurdles, and appreciate personal ‘superpowers.’

Highlights:

• Katie’s NY vacation
• Self regulation
• Amanda’s in a pickle
• Planning classes at other locations
• Trust the people you hire
• Everything is great again

Jump on over to The Garden of Words' website to see a photo of Katie’s Mod Podge Collage.

The Stuff at the End

Amanda’s Kiss My Aster Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kissmyaster/

Katie’s Work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegardenofwordsagency

Katie’s Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katie_gardenofwords

Amanda’s Website: https://kissmyaster.com/

Katie’s Website: https://thegardenofwords.com/

Subtitle: People Buy What They Understand

Summary:

Katie shares her upcoming plans for a Chicago trip to visit clients. She and Amanda brainstorm about art classes they could co-host at Amanda’s shop. Amanda recounts a whirlwind week of events: hosting teenagers from the School of the Blind for a hands-on project, a bridal shower that didn’t quite go as expected, and then welcoming 20 Master Gardeners the very next morning for a talk! They also catch up on Amanda’s HR friend, who’s launching a pop-up/mobile HR business offering onboarding, hiring, firing, and more. Wrapping up, Katie talks about what she wants to be when she grows up: connecting professional women across the horticulture industry through creative networking opportunities.

Highlights:

• Katie’s Chicago Trip
• Katie and Amanda brainstorm classes to offer together
• Amanda’s recent shop events
• Follow up on Amanda’s HR friend
• Katie’s future plans

Links:

Julia Whitney Barnes Cynotype Painting

Jump on over to The Garden of Words' website to see photos of Katie’s Firefly painting and Amanda’s moss frames.

The Stuff at the End

Amanda’s Kiss My Aster Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kissmyaster/

Katie’s Work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegardenofwordsagency

Katie’s Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katie_gardenofwords

Amanda’s Website: https://kissmyaster.com/

Katie’s Website: https://thegardenofwords.com/