Melissa Flores is the Tijuana-based artist behind Corazones de Papel, a line of handmade paper products that began as a personal passion project. When Melissa began dating her now husband back in 2004, she invented a sweet tradition of making him a card for every month they were dating. That inspired her to create her own brand, and Corzaones was born.
Today she’s dishing on her favorite organic coffee from Mexico and her favorite San Diego shop…among other things.
Name: Melissa Flores
Age: 30
Neighborhood: Tijuana, Mexico
Job: Founder & Creative Designer at Tarjeteria Corazones de Papel
What did you eat for breakfast today?
Like everyday first I drank a green juice, full of energy and vitamins to get started. And because today is Sunday I ate one of my favorite autumn breakfasts, gluten-free pumpkin pancakes from Trader Joe’ and a delicious latte (my favorite organic coffee from Chiapas, México).
What’s the best thing about your job?
That each day I can create something new, unique and different, and I can find new ways of “artistic expression,” finding that perfect match of materials, colors and shapes to make a special card, which at any time will be for someone a special card also, not only outside, but by the words it contains within it. I do not follow trends, not follow lines, just let my imagination run wild and get down to work.
The worst?
I could not say that something is the worst because I really love what I do, but sometimes, I cannot stop. In fact there are some nights when I cannot sleep. I have my sketchbook right next to my bed because I wake up with two or three ideas at midnight. And of course, I wish that my day was 30 hours minimum!
How do you tackle a creative block?
I let it go sometimes a few minutes, half day or a full day. I get out of the studio, clean my mind and I begin to see small details, and within seconds get bright ideas. Sometimes I re-watch my favorite movie to distract myself or just enjoy a cup of coffee, making my mind “forget” that it was creating something, let it rest and then boom! tons of ideas. It’s also very important that my workspace is neat and clean with a little but beautiful disorder. On my desk I have my favorite things—one is a golden Eiffel Tower (because I love golden things), which always reminds me that the world is so big.
What’s your favorite spot in San Diego and why?
Any place that makes me feel elsewhere. It’s amazing how just a few minutes from home, I suddenly feel like I’m on the other side of the planet. I love walking around Coronado Island, visiting the Hotel del Coronado. And of course spending a minimum 30 minutes in one of my favorite local stationery shops, The Seaside Papery. And if it’s Sunday, it’s lovely to visit Balboa Park. (Can you believe that Balboa is bigger than Central Park?) But without a doubt my favorite place is home—from sitting in the living room to watching my favorite movie to spending hours in my studio to sometimes just organizing materials or sketching.
What are you currently reading?
I am a very visual person and don’t spend enough time reading, but the last I read was the biography of Marie Antoinette.
What was the most awesome thing about today?
The challenge to translate my ideas into my own cards.
Thanks, Melissa! You can also find her on Instagram.
