Paper and Pints at Burning Brothers Brewing

Burning Brothers Brewing

1750 Thomas Avenue West, 55104, Saint Paul, MN, United States

Bloom Key Papercrafts

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To Amy, art has been an essential aspect of her life for as long as she can remember. As a young child, she knew she wanted to be an artist, but unfortunately her life veered her away from that dream for far too long. It was only due to the pandemic that she finally found her way back to the art she so loves.After earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota in Medical Laboratory Science in 2016, she worked in hospital labs for only three years before realizing that the healthcare industry was not what she had imagined it to be. Instead of helping people with their medical issues, she ended up feeling more like a cog in a machine that was built to wear people down and spit them out. Late night hospital shifts, poor pay, little to no recognition, and poor management all led to Amy burning out and leaving the career she worked so hard for.But her background in subjects like chemistry and microbiology led her to the field of beer brewing and Amy became employed by a local Saint Paul company called Burning Brothers Brewing. She became an assistant brewer and was also promoted to a taproom manager (MOD) due to her excellent customer service skills and her reliability as a hard worker.Amy’s interest in pursuing the arts began when she was furloughed from her job during the Covid Pandemic. With the extra time on her hands, she began to explore her budding fascination with paper art. This new and challenging medium was exactly what Amy needed to reinvigorate her passion for the arts and propelled her towards establishing her business, Bloom Key Papercrafts, LLC. She creates intricate layered paper art, with a special focus on designing and crafting paper light boxes. These unique pieces are made by carefully cutting and stacking paper layers within a shadowbox frame, then illuminating them from behind. As the light filters through the layers, it creates stunning shadow effects and a range of beautiful tones, bringing each artwork to life in a truly magical way.She opened an Etsy shop in August of 2020 and since then, she has designed over 50 paper art products and completed numerous commissions. She continues to maintain a 5-Star rating on Etsy with over 300 online sales, while simultaneously participating in local, in-person Minnesota art festivals. Thus far, she has participated in 26 art fairs including Uptown Art Fair, Minnehaha Falls Art Fair, Stone Arch Bridge Art Festival, Loring Park Art Festival, Edina Art Fair, Saint Louis Park Art Festival, and Wayzata Art Experience. In September of 2022, she was awarded Best In Show for Mixed Media at the Lakeville Art Festival. She was the featured artist at Pizza Luce Downtown in February of 2024, and has appeared in multiple galleries including Gallery 427 in the Northrup King Building, Studio 360 in Edina, and Friedli Gallery in Saint Paul. During all of these events, she has built a rapport with many artistic leaders and has also had the opportunity to network and connect with numerous artists around the Twin Cities with a multitude of artistic backgrounds.Amy is excited to shift her focus toward creating engaging paper art classes, designed to inspire and connect with the community across the Twin Cities. With a lifelong passion for learning, a natural talent for teaching, and a deep love for art, she’s thrilled to share the skills and insights she's gained throughout her artistic journey. Through these hands-on experiences, Amy is dedicated to helping others discover their own creativity and joy in the world of paper art.