Margo is joined by dental hygienist turned water color illustrator, Ivy Zellmer. With a lifelong love of paper and artful entertaining, Ivy created her first stationary series at the age of nine. She bundled up the papers and shipped them across the country—an early love letter to hand-lettered correspondence. Then, in her formative years of early womanhood, Ivy traveled to France, an experience that forever influenced her artistic aesthetic. These passions artfully combined, and what started as hand-painted gift tags and a holiday card with Ivy’s signature bicycle has transformed into Napa Valley’s premier watercolor house. After dedicating 15 years to dentistry, Ivy shifted back to her childhood passions, keeping the art of a handwritten note alive, and is now running a full-time design and luxury “paperie” gift collection. Today, Ivy Paperie is dedicated to providing a portal to an elevated life—sharing beauty, spreading joy, and creating genuine connection through elegant gifting.
Margo and Ivy discuss:
- Her path from dental hygienist to full time creative artist and what helped her take the leap
- The impact that studying abroad in France had on her
- Her experience working with a mastermind group and with mentors
- Creating a wholesale catalog and why it was crucial in the success of her business
- Collaborating with local stores and businesses before casting a wider net
- Ways to stand out in a world of digital communication, specifically with handwritten notes
- Building credibility, reputation, and experience as a creative
- Finding a supportive community
- And more
Connect with Ivy:
https://www.instagram.com/ivypaperie/
https://www.instagram.com/ivypaperie/
People inspiring Ivy:
Sandra Sigman of Les Fleurs: Her new French Blooms book – https://lesfleurs.com/french-blooms-book-sandra-sigman
Happy Menocal – https://happymenocal.com/
de Gournay: Exquisite hand-painted wallpaper – https://degournay.com/
Hermès: Obsessed with their scarves, patterns, and look-books – https://www.hermes.com/us/en/
