I honestly don't know where to begin with this post because the first half of this year has been a bit of a whirlwind.
When I sat down in January, I certainly didn't have "appear on Ireland AM" or "be interviewed on an international crafting podcast" on my bingo card. Yet somehow, here I am!
Running a creative business often means spending a lot of time quietly working behind the scenes, so when opportunities came along to share my story behind The Paper Petal Studio on an international podcast and national television, I was incredibly excited and ready to tell it after all these years.
I was thrilled when Mariana from ‘The Crafty Mariana Podcast’,in New Zealand, reached out to me on LinkedIn and invited me on to her podcast to talk about how I went from leaving the corporate world to raise our family, to discovering paper floristry, building a creative business in Ireland, and the many twists and turns that have brought me to where I am today.
Then, being invited onto Ireland AM to talk about my paper flower journey was the absolute cherry on top of an already exciting first half of the year. Showcasing my floral artwork on national television and sharing my passion for paper flowers was definitely not something I imagined when I first started experimenting with paper blooms at my kitchen table all those years ago.
It's hard to believe I've come full circle. Almost ten years ago, I first discovered crepe-paper flowers while watching a television segment that inspired me to give them a try. Fast forward to today, and there I was on Ireland's longest-running morning television show sharing my own paper flower journey - a surreal, full-circle moment that I hope might encourage others to follow their creative passions too.
Both experiences gave me an opportunity to pause and reflect on just how far along this journey I’ve come. What started as a simple curiosity about crepe-paper flowers has grown into workshops, wedding installations, corporate events, DIY kits, an online academy, commissions, and wonderful collaborations with clients and creatives both in Ireland and beyond.
As we head into the second half of the year, I'm feeling incredibly grateful for everyone who has supported me and my business so far. If the first six months are anything to go by, I'm super excited to see what the rest of 2026 has in store!
Want to Hear More of My Story?
If you'd like to watch my Ireland AM appearance or listen to my conversation with Mariana on The Crafty Mariana Podcast, I've included the links below.
Both interviews share more about my journey from discovering crepe-paper flowers at my kitchen table to building The Paper Petal Studio, along with some of the lessons I've learned along the way.
Listen to The Crafty Mariana Podcast
And if you're curious about the world of paper floristry, be sure to explore my upcoming workshops, Paper Rose Kits and online academy here on the website.
Thank you!
Nodlaig x
