• Creative path : Slow/seasonal living, eco-crafts, gardening, family recipes
• Creator: Sunny (Cassandra Evans)
• Based in Minnesota
• Channels: Instagram (@northwoodsfolk), blog, Pinterest, YouTube
• Followers: ~880k on Instagram
• Business model: brand collaborations, affiliate storefronts, blog/owned content, selling e-book guides.
In 2018, Cassandra “Sunny” Evans began pressing flowers at her kitchen table after long days at work.
It was just a quiet hobby, a small joy at the end of her day.
She had no idea that this simple ritual with flowers would become the core of her life’s work.
By 2023, what started as an hour-a-day practice had grown into a livelihood.
What Makes Her Journey Authentic
A big part of her aesthetic is slow living (she calls it “Folk Living”) — meaning she doesn’t rush.
She grows many flowers from seed, tends them, presses them; she experiments with natural dyes, botanical prints.
She often repurposes vintage and found materials into functional art.
Her content reflects sustainability — think fully compostable pressed flower cards and edible flowers confetti that she uses to decorate cakes. (Wow!)
Or these amazing pressed flower coasters made by upcycling lids!
I love how she holistically balances motherhood (her boys join her in flower dyeing). It makes her story especially wholesome to follow.
Origin: Spark → First Hour
Early proof: Pins and reposts of her Instagram content — e.g., leaf-pressed pumpkins and biodegradable craft swaps — demonstrate strong engagement and value alignment with followers.
Why this craft: Sunny’s site introduces her as a “nature-inspired mother and maker” who gardens, crafts low-waste, and cooks seasonally with three boys in Minnesota — the why is a family-first slow-living life.
The first constrained habit: Simple, repeatable eco-crafts (pressed leaves, foraged décor, low-waste hacks) shared as short posts became a consistent rhythm — a single daily hour to make, film, or write. (Her grid frequently shows leaf-pressing, compostable décor, and kid-friendly crafts; captions echo the reuse ethos.)
From Hobby to Offer
The first offer: Helpful, replicable eco-craft tutorials and seasonal DIYs delivered via Instagram. (Crafts category, garden/recipe posts, and how-tos)
What resonated: Practical swaps (e.g., compostable décor vs. Mod Podge), kid-doable steps, and materials people already have. (A widely shared caption calls out Mod Podge not being biodegradable and suggests alternatives.)
Tiny system adopted: Short, documentarian videos + values-led captions + a resource link in bio (Stan/Amazon shop) created a simple path from inspiration → items/tools → action.
The Growth Journey
2018 → Began posting pressed flower experiments(just for fun!)
2019 → Gained traction by mixing tutorials with lifestyle content.
2020 → Expanded into eco-printing, gardening tips, and slow-living crafts.
2021 → First brand sponsorships with eco-friendly companies.
2023 → Revenue diversified with selling digital guides and affiliate income, now bringing in $13K–$18K per month.
The One-Hour Playbook (you can try this month)
- Film one 20–40s eco-craft using materials already at home; write a caption with 1 tip + 1 swap (e.g., compostable adhesive).
- Publish a 300–500-word blog post with steps, care, and variations — add 3 photos (materials, process, result).
- Pin 6 images (vertical) to a relevant Pinterest board; repeat next week.
- Create a supply list in your bio hub (Stan/Amazon) so viewers can act in one tap.
- Reply to top 20 comments within 24 hours; pull FAQs into the blog post as updates.
- Batch 3 tutorials on one theme (e.g., leaf pressing) to build a seasonal “mini-series.”
- Pitch one aligned brand with a 3-reel concept deck (values, audience fit, sample hooks).
What We Can Learn from Her
- Start small & share openly → Early experiments are content.
- Audience first, business second → Teach and show before you sell.
- Values = niche → Sustainability and slow living made her stand out.
- Diversify income → Sponsorships + guides + affiliate income = stability.
For me, Sunny’s story is a reminder that our creative rituals matter. They ground us, connect us, and sometimes, they even open unexpected doors.
I hope it encourages you to keep tending to your own one-hour-a-day practice — whatever it may be. Because a creative life is a good life!
Love,
Shreya Dalela
One Hour A Day
