We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jami O’rourke. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jami below.

Jami, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I learned a lot through trial and error. There’s definitely some research involved—especially since resin can be tricky to work with—but the real lessons came from just diving in and experimenting. I spent time figuring out the different types of resin and how to use them, but honestly, most of my growth happened when I messed up and learned from those mistakes. I also follow a lot of amazing resin artists on Instagram, and their videos have really inspired me and helped me pick up new techniques.

Looking back, I think I could have sped up my learning by checking out more structured tutorials or workshops. Patience and adaptability were key for me since resin can be pretty unpredictable. One of the biggest hurdles was definitely the fear of making mistakes, which held me back at first. But once I embraced that, it really helped me push my creative boundaries.

Jami, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’ve always had a creative side—maybe because I’m left-handed! My Grandma is an artist, and she taught me how to paint when I was younger, which really sparked my love for art. I started working with resin back in 2019, initially using it as a top coat for my paintings. During the pandemic, I began experimenting more and started making smaller items like figurines, trinket trays, and keychains.

I really fell in love with resin and wanted to find a way to make some extra money from it. That’s when I began selling my pieces at Limbo Jewelry and Triple Z Threads on South Congress, as well as at local artisan markets. As I became more confident with resin, I wanted to branch out, so I started thinking about preserving special occasion flowers. I took my friend’s wedding bouquet home to try it out, and I was hooked!

Now, flower preservation is the main part of my business. Last year, I handled 12 orders, and so far this year, I’ve done 48! Most of my orders come from wedding flowers, but I also get requests for memorial flowers and “just because” blooms. I love that flowers hold so much sentimental value, and I aim to honor those memories by turning them into timeless, elegant pieces of art.

What sets me apart is the personal touch I bring to each piece. Austin is a major wedding hub, and I’m one of the only local resin flower preservation artists. I also offer pickup services to make the wedding day a little less stressful for the bride. Plus, I provide a free ring holder with orders over $200. I’m really proud that almost all of my reviews highlight how great my communication was throughout the entire process. I genuinely care about capturing the essence of those special moments for my clients, and I want potential clients and followers to know that I’m passionate about what I do and committed to creating beautiful, meaningful art that celebrates life’s special moments.

How did you build your audience on social media?

The best advice I can give is to post every day! You never know what might catch the algorithm’s attention and go viral. I started by sharing bits of my creative process, finished pieces, and anything I thought my (very small) audience would enjoy. This summer, I had one Instagram reel go viral—currently at 19.5 MILLION views and still growing! That definitely brought a ton of traffic to my account, along with a wave of new followers and orders.

Since July, my follower count has jumped by 327%, which has been fantastic for my business. I’ve also started posting more on my stories to give people a peek into my day-to-day operations. Keeping my timeline active is key, so I aim to share something almost every day. Consistency really pays off!

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

SHOP LOCAL! There are so many amazing opportunities, especially in Austin, to support local artists. Every weekend, you can find artisan markets filled with unique creations, and there are plenty of stores dedicated to showcasing local talent. When you buy gifts, choosing something handmade and one-of-a-kind makes it that much more special. Plus, supporting local artists helps keep our creative community vibrant and thriving. Every purchase makes a difference!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://foreverfleurdesigns.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forever.fleur.designs/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Forever-Fleur/100089097767974/