Weina Dinata, creator, designer & passion behind Poppy & Finch

Local Artist

Jan 25

WEINA

inspires our community with her unwavering compassion for native plants and commitment to educating others about them. We are happy to have her as our first artist interview.

Tell us about yourself and how Poppy and Finch came to be:

Growing up as a child in Jakarta, Indonesia, I was always charmed by plants, animals, and design/crafts. Then, I moved to San Francisco, California, to pursue and earn my Bachelor of Fine Art in Graphic Design with a focus on branding and packaging design.

I’ve always been interested and innately connected with nature. So, I volunteered with different non-profit organizations around sustainability while working in different graphic design studios for 15 years.

One of the organizations that captured my interest and started my study on native plants is Theodore Payne Foundation, a non-profit nursery that is dedicated to the preservation of California Native plants. They had me at hello! I fell in love with the beauty and purpose of native plants for our habitat and the rest is history. I became their outreach coordinator to spread the word about native plants creating different events and engagement activities in my community.

The study and outreach work inspired me to start my own business combining my passion of native plants and design skill/experience to create awareness and advocate native plants through creating custom botanical centerpieces or mini-habitat table-top gardens, eco-friendly and educational gift products, and hands-on workshops.

And lacking resources for people to learn about native plants, I transformed my own garden (both when I was in California and now, in Portland, Oregon), as both an educational piece for the community and my source of joyful inspiration, turning it from lawn into a sustainable, lively ecosystem for bees, butterflies, birds, and other wildlife. And that’s how Poppy & Finch was born; it only took me 40 something years to find my purpose.

Last but not least, working and learning from nature, specifically with native plants, inspires me to accept and honor our natural resources from our own region as I learn to accept and honor myself the way I am so I can show up authentically for our habitat and community!

“I start my day with a morning ritual doing a 10-15 minutes guided meditation, affirmations, read inspirational books, and walk my dog.”

What does a typical work day look like?

I love mornings, so I can call myself an early bird. I start my day with a morning ritual doing a 10-15 minutes guided meditation, affirmations, read inspirational books, and walk my dog. Then, I will bring my chai tea to my studio to check and reply to emails.

I try to prioritize only 3 specific and doable things to do in a day. I always try to intentionally stop for a break and eat lunch while listening to a podcast. Then, finish work by 4pm to give my dog another walk. It is a nice way to unwind and get some fresh air.

I am trying to do time blocking for different days. Monday is my meetings and managerial day, Tuesday is my research and IG Live day (join me at 3pm), Wednesday is my creative day because I’d go to the flower market in the morning when I need inspiration. Thursday is my word day including revising my website, IG post planning, writing blog or newsletter, etc. Friday is my money, follow-up, and an accountability hang with my friend, Amy, to share business tips/resources/ideas and of course, hold each other accountable to our commitment. Saturday and Sunday are play, home tending, gardening, hiking, vintage/window-shopping, and spending time with my husband.

What inspires you to create?

I didn’t find out about native plants until I started gardening and did research on how to attract birds to my garden naturally. After a lot of research, it introduced me to Theodore Payne Foundation and I was blown away by how beautiful and important native plants are for our habitat.

So, what inspires me to create is to bring native plants to the forefront, spreading the word, engaging and educating the general public through my products, custom living centerpieces, and workshops so that people don’t have to do a lot of research to garden ecologically.

How did you build your business to be what it is today?

I built my business to be what it is today by being clear who my target audience is, listening to my intuition, paying attention to my clients‘ needs, being patient and gentle to myself especially when I make mistakes, taking one little step at a time consistently over a long period of time, asking for help or support, being intentional (don’t compare and despair), giving myself permission to take a break, revisiting my why/purpose/values all the time, and recommitting over and over again when my doubt and fear come out to call it quits.

Are you working on any special projects?

Yes, I am working on a few projects. Last year has taught me to become more intentional which inspires me to create an educational coloring calendar that’s called Bee Intentional with monthly keywords, accompanied with native plant illustrations and descriptions, as guidance throughout the year.

I love coming up with products! Last year, I came up with mugs, tote bags, and gift-wrap paper for my Cultivate Happiness line. This year, I am planning to add buttons, stickers, t-shirts, to the line. I am also working on a coloring page download.

I am planning to do a Garden Party to celebrate Earth Day and Native Plant Appreciation Week with a non-profit organization in April. And lots of collaboration with local businesses in the summer!

Last but not least, I am working on a proposal to reach out to events, restaurants, retail, and apartment dwellers so I can help them create low maintenance mini-habitats for their space.

“befriend your fear, be aware of your self-limiting beliefs, and listen to your body”

Do you have any advice for people on the fence about starting a small business?

Yes. I gathered this advice along the way from different resources that helped me decide on starting a small business.

First, I’d make sure you know your why because your why will become your guidance, anchor, your north star. So, when I am too caught up with a comparison story, worry about money, etc., I always come back to my why to focus on what I love to do.

Then, befriend your fear, be aware of your self-limiting beliefs, and listen to your body; it will help you decide whether it feels expanded or contracted in your body. Don’t let your fear stop you from playing big in pursuing your dreams.

Surround yourself with positive people and join a community of small businesses to start embodying the experience. Start visualizing yourself as an entrepreneur.

Last but not least, do one thing a day, it is one step closer to your dream.