Paper Talk

Urban Craft Uprising organizes and creates makers events in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Its objective - to establish a strong makers community and to create a showcase for crafters - is facilitated by its President, Kristen Rask. Kristen, an artist in her own right, has been involved with UCU since 2008. She has organized and curated numerous craft shows and has a vast knowledge of vendor and artist experiences.

Listen to Kristen as she talks about her involvement in a large craft show and her advice for crafters who want to enter craft shows.

Let’s first learn a bit about Kristen:

1. Who is Kristen Rask? 

Oh, man!  I am a daughter, sister, fiance, maker, businesswoman.  More or less that's me!

2. What type of artistic pursuits are you currently involved in, if any? 

I love making stuff for my home right now as we just bought a house.  But I just don't have much time for making these days.

3. Tell us about Urban Craft Uprising. What is it? How did you get involved?

UCU has evolved over the years.  We produce many events ourselves in the year that provide opportunities to small business makers to sell their work and we team up with other events to activate spaces (like Amazon) and we put on a small business camp once a year that focuses on various topics to grow a business for small creative businesses.  I started ten years ago in PR and Marketing.  I am now the President.

4. What are the different types of shows that Urban Craft Uprising produces?

Our winter show, shows with Amazon, plant events with Amazon, etc. 

5. Tell us about the application process for an artist/vendor who wants to be involved in one of your shows. 

It's pretty simple but takes time.  All info can be found on our website.

6. What type of artist/vendor are you looking for when considering applications to the Urban Craft Uprising show?

Oh man, there are so many things we think about.  It's weird to say but the show presents itself as we jury.

7. What does an artist/vendor have to do to succeed at a craft show like Urban Craft Uprising? 

Have a good setup, talk with customers, realize you are there not just for financial reasons but to connect with potential new clients in the future.

8. Tell us about the consulting services that Urban Craft Uprising provides. 

We don't really provide those anymore.  Not enough time in a day.

9. What kind of challenges do you face organizing a large craft show like Urban Craft Uprising? 

Ha, where to start?  Making maps is really hard.  Saying no to friends.  I feel like I have like 150 children I want to care for and put a lot of pressure on myself to make everyone happy.

Learn more about Kristen Rask and Urban Craft Uprising by following her on social media:

WEBSITES | Urban Craft Uprising

INSTAGRAM | @urbancraftuprising

FACEBOOK | Urban Craft Uprising

This week, we talk to Laura Richey, the artist and face behind 2CLVR Designs. From her home studio in London, Ontario, Canada, Laura specializes in using card stock paper to create beautifully realistic and detailed paper flowers for weddings, home decor, and gifts. One look at her work and you’ll be blown away by her attention to detail and colouring techniques.

In this episode, we talk to her about how her paper flower journey began, her challenges juggling her family and a successful business, and her experiences with card stock, flower wall rentals, and related topics.

First, let’s get to know a little bit about Laura:

1. Who is Laura Richey? 

Hi, I am Laura Richey. A wife, and a mother of two boys Max and Sebastian. Max is 10 soon to be 11 and Sebastian is 9 and has autism. 

2. How did you get started making paper flowers? Why did you decide to focus on card stock as your main medium? 

Why did I start making flowers...well the reason is Sebastian. Once he was diagnosed it rocked my world and I had to leave my job and stay home so I was accessible by the programs and therapists for him. I started making cards and scrapbooks with little flowers and then I was hooked and wanted to just make flowers.

My first wedding came and I had to make a seating chart with flowers after that I dove into weddings. Why did I pick card stock well at the time that was the only medium I knew. I also had a ton from making cards and scrapbooks so why not. Over the years I have learned more about different weights of paper and how I can use them.

3. Tell us about your business, 2CLVR Designs. What services do you provide? How has your brand and style evolved to what it is today? 

My late mother-in-law named my company, she came up with the name because she always said how clever I was. I provide all types of paper decor from single blooms to giant self-standing blooms, full paper floral walls, home decor florals, and a few paper sculptures. 

4. Tell us about your recent rebranding. Why did you decide to change your brand and/or business model? 

I am working on rebranding my business in 2020 to start doing what I want to do more. I want a new feel to my business and want to be seen as something a little more then. Change is good, right?

5. How would you define the style of your flowers? How did you find your style? 

The style I feel is more realistic blooms. I try my best to make them look more realistic like what you would see in a florist fridge or garden. 

6. How have you made yourself stand out in the crowd of other paper florists? 

I feel like I have made my business stand out by adding the unique colouring technique and inking. It’s my most asked technique on every flower. 

7. What are your ideal clients and/or ideal projects? 

Ones that pay...lol. But really the ones that love art and understand the time that it takes to make the flowers and know that my heart and soul are in each petal.

8. What are some of the challenges you've faced in your business and/or art? 

Time and pricing. It's always a struggle to get paid for the time it takes to make a single bloom and feel that your product is worth the value it truly is.

9. What advice would you give to a paper florist who is starting out today? And one that is about to give up? 

Pick a target and stay with it. Don't try to do everything, you will burn out and your product won't be how you want it to.

10. Do you have any tips that could be helpful to other Paper Florists? 

Keep the passion for your craft, keep improving your skills until you feel you have mastered it. Don't feel bad if you need to give up on a flower and move on.

11. Is there anything else you'd like to share with the listeners? 

I want to thank everyone that I have touched in some way or another. I am truly blessed to be a part of this amazing community.

Want to learn more about Laura and 2CLVR Designs? Follow her on social media:

WEBSITE | https://www.2clvrdesigns.ca.

INSTAGRAM | @2cvlr_designs

In this week’s Episode, Quynh and Jessie talk about Jessie’s book, Paper Flower Art: Create Beautifully Realistic Floral Arrangement, published by GMC Publications. A year after writing and shooting the book, Jessie shares the types of flower tutorials and arrangements in the book and how she hopes readers/crafters will use the book.

Paper Flower Art is now available for order and pre-order and it will be released on November 7, 2019, in the UK and January 7, 2020, in USA and Canada.

Jessie is giving away a copy of Paper Flower Art to one lucky winner! To qualify for the giveaway, leave a comment below this post (along with your full name and email address/contact information) to enter! The winner will be drawn on December 1, 2019. Read the full Terms & Conditions below.

Purchase the book here:

UK Amazon

USA Amazon

USA Barnes & Noble

Canada Amazon

Canada Chapters Indigo

Learn more about the book and Jessie here:

Crafted to Bloom

Watch the “Paper Flower Art” book trailer:

https://vimeo.com/367847572

Paper Flower Art Book Giveaway (November 2019) from The Paper Florists Collective

HOW TO ENTER:

You can enter the Giveaway by writing a comment in the Comment Box in the Paper Talk Post, “Over Coffee: Paper Flower Art”, at https://www.thepaperflorists.org/paper-talk/episode27, and by leaving your full name, email address and/or contact information in the same comment.

GIVEAWAY TERMS & CONDITIONS:

The time-frame of the delivery of the Prize from The Paper Florists Collective to the Winner will be contingent on when The Paper Florists Collective receives copies of the Prize from the publisher, @gmcpublications;

 The Paper Florists Collective is not responsible for delays in delivery of the Prize after it has been checked in for delivery to Canada Post, Purolator, FedEx, or UPS; loss, damage or theft of the item(s) after the item(s) has/have been checked in for delivery to Canada Post, Purolator, FedEx, or UPS; or shipment sent to an incorrect address provided to The Paper Florists Collective by the Winner;

 The Paper Florists Collective reserves the absolute right to post delivery of the Prize using the most economical shipping option available with or without the ability to track the shipping as it deems appropriate.

The receipt by Winner of the Prize offered in this Giveaway is conditioned upon compliance with any and all federal and state/provincial laws and regulations. ANY VIOLATION OF THESE OFFICIAL RULES BY ANY WINNER (AT THE PAPER FLORISTS COLLECTIVE’S SOLE DISCRETION) WILL RESULT IN SUCH WINNER’S DISQUALIFICATION AS WINNER OF THE GIVEAWAY AND ALL PRIVILEGES AS WINNER WILL BE IMMEDIATELY TERMINATED.

In this week’s Episode, we talk to Marlo Miyashiro, the owner and visionary behind the retail gallery, The Handmade Showroom. Located in downtown Seattle, The Handmade Showroom showcases handcrafted local goods of various kinds that are carefully curated by Marlo. As a former jewelry designer, Marlo now operates two brick-and-mortar stores as well as an online store that offer products at retail prices.

Her most recent store, Bezel & Kiln, is an extension of The Handmade Showroom and offers handcrafted upscale jewelry and home goods. In addition, Marlo also has a passion for mentoring emerging artists and has arts consulting business called Creative Arts Consulting. Her passion is quite apparent as she offers so many great tips about pricing and marketing throughout our discussion!

Listen to Marlo as she talks about the difference between wholesale and retail pricing, what to consider when pricing your labour, and her passion for business mentorship.

Let’s first get to know Marlo:

1. Who is Marlo Miyashiro?

I am a former jewelry artist, a current mentor and teacher, a serial entrepreneur, and a creative person who is passionate about supporting and promoting artists and their work. 

2. What type of artistic pursuits are you involved in?

I am working on getting back to designing and creating jewelry. Since opening my stores, I haven’t had much time for my own creative pursuits, but I am working on making time to get back to designing and creating jewelry. I really miss making things!

3. Tell us about The Handmade Showroom.

The Handmade Showroom is a gift store inside Pacific Place Shopping Center in the heart of downtown Seattle’s shopping district which is also home to some well-known brands like Tiffany & Co, Michael Kors, and Kate Spade.

Our mission is to elevate handmade by showcasing the work of our more than 100 independent artists and educating our customers all about the aesthetic and intrinsic value of handmade.

4. How did the idea of The Handmade Showroom come about? How has that project/business evolved?

I had been the organizer of the local Seattle Etsy team originally known as Etsy RAIN and later, Seattle Handmade, for about 10 years when the then-marketing director of Pacific Place approached us via our Meetup group in the spring of 2015 with the possibility of opening a local artist pop-up at the mall. 

The most interesting thing about the timing of their inquiry was that I had been looking for a retail space to launch The Handmade Showroom for an entire previous year and had just made the decision to stop my search when the email showed up.

With the help of our team’s co-organizer, Kayce Quevedo, we negotiated our way into an in-line storefront and opened The Handmade Showroom with 1200 sq. ft. and 35 artists as a weekend pop-up concept in the summer of 2015. 

That winter, we took the plunge and began opening every day as a full-time storefront, and over the next 2 years, we grew to use the full 2400 sq. ft. and expanded our artist list to work with more than 100 artists from all over the Pacific Northwest.

In the summer of 2018, we had an opportunity to move to the prestigious 1st floor in a 3700 sq. ft. space right next to Kate Spade. We jumped at the chance and had a fantastic holiday that year!

Then, in the middle of the holiday season, renovations at Pacific Place were ramping up and one of the larger chain retailers needed a space to occupy, so we were informed in December 2018 that we needed to move yet again – this time into a much smaller 1000 sq. ft. storefront.

Between the choice of closing and moving, we chose to move, culling our product mix down so we could continue to work with as many artists as possible while bringing on some new artists outside of the Pacific NW to keep our offerings fresh in the eyes of our customers.

We’ve been in our new space since Valentine’s Day 2019 and have plans to move once more to a larger space sometime in 2020.

5. How would someone interested in being in The Handmade Showroom apply?

We have an artist application on our website at https://thehandmadeshowroom.com/pages/apply-to-become-a-handmade-artist that we encourage everyone to read through and then submit an application if their work fits the criteria outlined there. 

We are currently full in most categories, so we tend to keep all of the applications on file for future consideration. As a result, artists may not hear from us for a while so re-applying, when new items and designs are added, is encouraged.

6. Tell us about your recently-opened second store. What made you decide to open up another store?

After our move to the 2nd floor, we continued to actively look for a larger storefront with the hopes of having more square footage by holiday. When we found out that the space next door to The Handmade Showroom was becoming available, we considered our options and quickly jumped at the chance to expand our jewelry and housewares categories toward a new gallery-style concept!

Bezel & Kiln opened in September 2019 and features an upscale collection of artisan-made jewelry, meaningful accessories, and fine housewares from artists from all over the world. Many of the collections we have chosen have never been seen in the Seattle area, making our collection unparalleled in the Pacific Northwest!

7. You also provide business consulting services. Tell us about that.

One of the benefits of working in the retail/wholesale business fields for almost 30 years is the wealth of knowledge gained from a lifetime of trial and error. I love helping emerging artists achieve their goals from the inside out by offering my consulting services via Creative Arts Consulting.


8. You wear so many hats. How do you manage all of your different projects and stores?

With a LOT of help! With the full support of my wonderful partner in life and business, we have an incredible team of managers and helpers who are all super-dedicated to our mission so every day is a joy to come to work. I’ll be the first to admit that not all things get done, but one thing I’ve learned over the years is to let go of the idea of perceived perfection and allow things to come together in due time.

9. What are some of the challenges you've faced as a female entrepreneur?

Like many of my colleagues, I’ve had my share of feeling like I’m not being listened to when dealing with business negotiations. There were a few times when the resistance I was getting was so limiting that I had to allow my partner to take over for things to move forward. I had bigger plans to attend to anyway, so I stepped aside and got all the other things done in the meantime. Everything turned out great in the end, so making that choice to let go of that struggle was a good one.

10. What advice would you give to other female entrepreneurs in the art field?

Be careful who you accept advice and criticism from. Know who your end customer is – most of the time, it’s your family, your friends, or even yourself. Pay attention to your inner instincts when it comes to making decisions. If you’re not quite in touch with that part of yourself, work on making that connection through meditation, physical activity, and/or therapy. You are capable of so much more than you give yourself credit for. Don’t let anyone stand in the way of what you know to be true and right for you and your business!

11. Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?

Thank you so much for this opportunity to share my story! If anyone is interested in a free hour phone consultation, please get in touch with me at [email protected] and mention this podcast. I’ll send over my quick questionnaire and then we’ll set up a day and time to chat. I look forward to meeting some of you! 

Learn more about Marlo Miyashiro by following her on social media:

WEBSITES:

The Handmade Showroom

Bezel & Kiln

Creative Arts Consulting

INSTAGRAM:

@thehandmadeshowroom

Join Quynh and Jessie as they chat about the tools in their toolboxes such as their favourite cutting tools, glue, and paper shaping tools. The bottom line - use what you have and what works for you. Take a listen as they share their inside tricks and tip, including their “Golden tool”.

Wondering where to get the items mentioned by Quynh and Jessie?

Here are some of the items they mention in this Episode (**As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions for qualifying purchases made through Amazon.com and the links below):

Kai Scissors

Fiskar Spring-Loaded Microtip Scissors

Westcott Guillotine Paper Trimmer with Wood Base, 12" Base

Aleene Tacky Tube or A Variety of Aleene Tacky Glue in different forms

Needle Scriber Modelling Tool aka The Golden Tool

Today, we talk to one of our dearest friends, Kelly Lemon of Kelly Lemon Photography! Based in Seattle, Kelly travels all over the world as a wedding and lifestyle photographer to document her client’s special life moments. Her passion for people defines her art and her life.

In her words: "I am the photographer for the adventurous couple that values real connection."

As a one-armed photographer, she has faced many challenges in her life. Her perseverance and her faith have helped her push through these hardships with dignity. She was recently on King 5 a local Seattle network sharing her story - and what an inspiring one it is.

We will let her share this with you in her own words:

1. Who is Kelly Lemon?

I’m a talkative extrovert, a hugger,  inspirational speaker, wife, dog-mom, Jesus lover, chocolate chip cookie connoisseur, and a Seattle-based wedding + lifestyle photographer. I am also a mom to be! We have a baby girl on the way via surrogacy and we are due this January!  I feel at home when I’m near mountains and I’m an enneagram 2w3.  Simply put - I love people and am excited about the challenge of capturing someone’s story - either through a wedding/elopement or my women empowerment photography. 

2. How did you get started in photography?

It’s actually a great story!  I loved photography from a young age but was in a serious car accident when I was 12 that paralyzed my right arm. So after adjusting to life with one arm and learning to use my left arm - I approached a high school film photography teacher and asked if I could join their class and they told me that photography was a “two-armed” art and that I wouldn’t be able to do it, so I should try something else.

So I took that as a challenge and joined another class the following year and learned to roll film with my feet!  Just after that experience I studied abroad in Ecuador at the age of 16 and learned that I was much more drawn to photographing the people I was meeting more than the landmarks of the cities I was visiting. 

When I went to college I thought I would just do photography as a hobby or maybe a side job, but joined the college newspaper photography team.  I was sent to a photojournalism conference at the age of 18 and was way out of my league. But in between sessions, this man came over and saw my photos on my laptop over my shoulder and started flipping through them.

I was so embarrassed because they weren’t edited or sorted but we started talking about photography and at the end of the conversation he said something that changed my life. He asked, “So let me get this straight…you spend all of your free time doing photography, you spend your money on equipment, you are only 18 and these are your photos…remind me why you don’t think this should be your career?”  That really stuck with me. 

I went to the next session at the conference and he walked out on stage and was introduced as the photo editor of the New York Times!  I was inspired that he saw something in me, so I switched my degree to fine art photography, studied for 4 years, and started my company the year I graduated in 2010, and here we are almost 10 years later!

3. Tell us about your photography business, Kelly Lemon Photography.

I am primarily a wedding and elopement photographer and I have a heart for the community - like real, let's hang out and do life - kind of community and that is the heart behind my business.

The KLP couples are laid back, adventurous, they are people who value people more than things, they believe in marriage, don’t mind getting their dress dirty, and like to push the limits!   I love being out in nature so when I can be in the beautiful outdoors and celebrate a couples’ love story - my heart is happy!

I also photograph women empowerment and I have recently started to branch out into lifestyle shoots and photography for business owners and that has been a fun project - to tell the story of someone’s business.  For me, it comes down to storytelling and that's what excites me! 

4. How would you define your style? How did you find your artistic style? How has your style evolved to what it is today?

I would say my style is warm, emotional, and natural. I strive to create photos that make you feel something. 

When it comes to tones and editing -  I think your artistic style is often a reflection of you.  I think it’s important to not just look at the trends because they come and go but trust your gut and how you see the world and explore that.   My style began to evolve as I really took the time and examined what I was drawn to artistically - not just with photography, but with other types of art.  

If you are trying to figure out your brand style for your business and you aren’t sure where to start - look at your closet. What colors are you drawn to? What type of interior design inspires you?  When I was in the process of rebranding my business 5 years ago - my designer encouraged me to really dig into the things that I love - across all art mediums. 

I created a Pinterest board of photos that I was drawn to and started seeing a theme.  My closet, brand colors, and photos all have a similar vibe of earth tones and natural textures and that is naturally what I began to create with my photo style once I learned to ignore the trends around me and focus on the art I want to create. 

5. What are some of the challenges you've faced during your career as a photographer and as an entrepreneur?

Self-care.  I think like an entrepreneur - for most businesses you are a one-person show - so everything falls on you - and that can be really exhausting.  I have found it hard to create boundaries around work life and make time for your family and friends. 

So blocking off weekends to be work-free, consider outsourcing the projects that don’t require you directly, and scheduling in time for you.  It’s a continual struggle but so important for the long term. 

6. How have you made yourself stand out in the crowd of other photographers?

I think the community I have built with my clients and the overall client experience is something really unique.  I host events 3x a year  - where past and present clients are loved and given a pretty special experience that goes beyond the wedding day.  My Sailing Soiree event is something really special and you can see a peek at it in my recent promo video! See it here: https://legacy.mediazilla.com/cphk1s1R1

7. You are incredibly passionate about your Empowerment Photography project. Tell us about it.

I would love to!  I am really passionate about empowering women to love the skin they are in! We live in a culture - where the beauty standard is so narrow and it causes women to think they aren’t skinny enough, or curvy enough, or fill in the blank and I have loved creating a space to break those beauty standards and celebrate women of all shape, size, and color! 

I also love empowering women with physical differences - because when I was growing up I had a lot of surgery scars and people told me they were disgusting and I needed to cover them up and that really impacted how I saw my body. So I love encouraging women to see their scars or physical difference as symbols of what they have overcome.

It’s a part of them that we don’t have to cover or hide but it also doesn’t define them.  We have had women who have battled cancer, organ transplants, amputations/limb loss, vitiligo, Cerebral Palsy and it’s been such an honor to share their stories. But all women are invited to our Women Empowerment Events - where we photograph 5-7 women and have their sessions back to back and it's a really special time of community!

8. Give us one tip that would improve our images/photos of our paper flowers.

Learning about natural light! If you can learn how to use natural light to show off the depth in your flowers - that will be the ticket! 

9. Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?

Just want to encourage you as Paper Florists - if you are starting your business - remember to serve and love people well. It sounds simple but it’s easy to forget when there are so many other things you are trying to learn. And have fun with it! Try crazy ideas! Meet other people in the industry and create just to create for fun! 

Learn more about Kelly Lemon by following her on social media:

WEBSITES:

Kelly Lemon Photography

INSTAGRAM:

@kellylemon

@kellylemon_empowerment