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

Alright, Megan thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Almost all of my pieces invoke a deep connection with the buyer. My items are all made from books, mostly childhood favorites. I have customers who get very emotional when they see a tangible item I have made from the book their mother read to them every night as a child! The memory it brings back is a real surprise for most people.

Megan, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My goal has always been to achieve independence and avoid having a boss with a traditional work schedule. I went to college for photography but dropped out my senior year because my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and I wanted to be by her side. I found my individual creativity and independence as an artist and creator in college. After getting married and having a child, I didn’t return to complete my degree. It took many years for me to finally call myself a full-time creator! Finding my little spot in the art community has become one of my greatest achievements. I not only want to create pieces that I enjoy, but that resonate with others as well! I would have never dreamed I would be making a living as a paper artist! I feel honored that I can make things that people want to spend their money on. Seeing how happy my creations make people is a large part of why I do what I do. We are all attached to those special books we grew up reading. I started with the idea that people love books and figured out how to turn that into a business.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

The most challenging hurdle I had to overcome when dealing with people who are not a part of the creative world is how discredited we are. I used to always get asked by my family if I would ever get a “real” job. It made me feel inferior because they didn’t see my creative progress as actual work. Just because I love what I do, doesn’t mean I can’t make money while doing it. Many people see art as a side hustle and not a full-time job. After seven years of proving myself competent, I have gained my family’s respect and support.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I was not always a paper artist! I actually started out making jewelry out of my original paintings. I began to see that people didn’t understand the concept and would often pass me by at shows. I then taught myself how to fold books and started selling them online for holidays. The first year I folded hundreds of books and sold them well under what I should of. I began to wonder what else I could make from books to make it into a niche business. I relied on my jewelry-making skills from when I used to do painted jewelry. I started making earrings, bracelets, and necklaces out of books. Why not stop there? I went on to make jewelry from comic books, sheet music, and maps. My inventory now consists of not only jewelry but also home decor and seasonal items, all made from paper!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lilyluedesigns.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilyluedesigns/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LilyLueDesigns