Margo is joined by watercolor artist and surface pattern designer Cass Deller. Most notably known for her modern, coastal art style, Cass blends the beauty of her natural surroundings and beach holiday nostalgia. Imbued with the subtle, relaxed tones of hazy beachside summers, her hand-painted watercolor artwork evokes understated luxury and effortless style. With over 10 years of experience as a designer and a passion for collaboration, Cass has worked with many Global Companies as well as some of Australia's most well-known brands to bring a fresh, modern edge to the lifestyle and fashion industry.   Margo and Cass discuss:   Her creative entrepreneurial path and the many different niches she’s worked in   Discovering and developing her own artistic style and how she helps others in discovering theirs   Why collaborating is the backbone of her creative career   Strategies and practices that have helped her maintain a positive and productive mindset    Her surface pattern design course and mentorship opportunities   Following joy and curiosity. How she does it herself and how she encourages others to embrace their creative pursuits     Join the waitlist for Surface Pattern Design for Creative Entrepreneurs. Get 10% off eligible offers using code MARGO.    Connect with Cass: https://www.instagram.com/cassdellerdesign https://www.cassdeller.com.au   Connect with Margo: www.instagram.com/windowsillchats www.windowsillchats.com www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill  

Creative Pathways and Coastal Inspirations: Cass Deller on Entrepreneurship, Finding Your Unique Style, and Collaboration as the Backbone of Her Career

Windowsill Chats is a podcast for artists and creatives who are curious about what it's like to live, work & walk a creative path. You'll find honest stories, refreshing tips, artistic business advice and real conversations with global artists & makers just like you. Host Margo Tantau, a 30+ year Creative Director, Product Designer & maker, is a cheerleader for your success. Come grab a cuppa & join her in her sunny windowsill.

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Margo is joined by artist, photographer and author Mary Jo Hoffman. In her previous life, Mary was an aerospace engineer until one day she decided to take up a daily practice of photographing something in nature. This daily practice turned into STILL Blog, profound revelations about the connectedness of all things, the importance of place, and her own life. Her new book,  STILL: The Art of Noticing, features 275 of the most stunning photographs Mary Jo has accumulated over thousands of consecutive days of daily shooting accompanied by perceptive, deeply felt, and oftentimes humorous essays illuminating the insights gained through this daily creative practice. Mary Jo has enlisted the help of her husband, Steve, and their two children on this creative endeavor. What started out as a way to practice for retirement, has turned into a second career! Mary Jo's photos will have you looking at your own backyard in a different way and noticing much more than you ever did before.   Margo and Mary Jo discuss:   Her creative path and how she went from aerospace engineer to photographer and author   The importance of continuing the creative process despite life events   Creating a memory grid   The concept of 72 microseasons and how it impacts her creativity and photography   Benefits and challenges of committing to long-term creative projects   Licensing Deals, her experiences in working with Target and West Elm   Maintaining a creative life while raising a family and the impactful legacy that can leave for children   The intricacies of finding beauty in everyday life,   Her new book, Still: The Art of Noticing     Connect with Mary Jo Hoffman: https://www.instagram.com/maryjohoffman/  STILL: The Art of Noticing http://eepurl.com/bTvh4n (Newsletter)   Connect with Margo: www.windowsillchats.com www.instagram.com/windowsillchats www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill  

Finding Beauty in Everyday Life: The Power of Creative Practice and the Art of Noticing with Mary Jo Hoffman

Trying something new this week with a new little episode format! In this episode, Margo is joined for a short conversation with fellow creative and friend of the Windowsill, Abby Campbell. They explore a few recent articles and subject matter that they’ve been chewing on such as the recent FTC ruling banning non-compete agreements, a Harvard Business Review article on combating burnout, and a fascinating tech piece on Nightshade—a new tool designed to protect artists' works from AI exploitation.   Have a topic or article you want to hear about in a creative current events episode? Send us a DM on Instagram!    Connect with Abby: https://www.abbyjcampbell.com/ https://www.instagram.com/ajcampkc/ https://www.pinterest.com/ajcampbell/   Connect with Margo: www.windowsillchats.com www.instagram.com/windowsillchats www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill  

Creative Current Events: Non-Competes, AI, and Burnout with Abby Campbell

Margo is joined by friend of the Windowsill, Emily McDowell. As an advisor, thought partner, and coach, Emily McDowell helps save creative entrepreneurs’ time, money, and sanity, and helps product-based brands succeed. As founder of the stationery brand Em & Friends, she created Empathy Cards, a more honest and supportive alternative to traditional sympathy cards, which drew organic coverage by hundreds of major media outlets in 22 countries and inspired a sea change to the industry. As a writer and illustrator, her work has gone viral countless times, and for over a decade, she’s been known for creating products that make people wonder if she’s been reading their diaries. Emily is also the co-author and illustrator of There Is No Good Card for This: What to Say and Do When Life Gets Scary, Awful, and Unfair to People You Love, and offers unsolicited advice, cautionary tales, and missives from the great adventure of midlife in her Substack newsletter, Unqualified.   Margo and Emily discuss:   Her experiences in going viral unexpectedly   the mental shift from creating for joy to creating for profit and how it affects the process and output   The transition from owning a stationary company to creative coaching   Challenges and revelations in manufacturing   Keeping creativity alive amidst business endeavors   Inclusivity and diversity in creative communities   The psychological and creative benefits of engaging in non-monetizable creative activities   Her experience in exiting/selling a business and having a non-compete agreement   Licensing creative work     Connect with Emily: www.withemilymcdowell.com www.thegreatergoodsalliance.com www.emilymcdowell.substack.com   Connect with Margo: www.windowsillchats.com www.instagram.com/windowsillchats www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill  

​​Pivot, Profit, and Purpose: Emily McDowell on Reclaiming Joy in the Creative Journey

Margo is joined again by tax expert for creatives, Hannah Cole. Hannah specializes in working with creative businesses and mission-driven solopreneurs. A long-time working artist herself, she’s helped tens of thousands of self-employed people skill up with accessible tax and money education, through her Money Bootcamp program, speaking engagements, and through her podcast. Margo and Hannah unpack the complex world of finances, exploring the impactful financial habits that can safeguard your future, the emotional hurdles around financial literacy, and how shifts in mindset can lead to financial empowerment. They also dive into the importance of IRA contributions and the significant tax advantages they offer, the impact of non-compete laws on wages and even some antitrust law news.   Margo and Hannah discuss:   Why understanding and managing finances can feel particularly hard for creative businesses   Some of the mental shifts necessary for artists to tackle financial understanding and planning effectively   Non-compete agreements    Antitrust laws and how small businesses are currently being impacted   Understanding state business licensing and quarterly taxes for freelancers   Daily investment tips to potentially reach a million-dollar retirement fund   Hannah’s advocacy for basic, proven investment methods over complex strategies   Why you should focus on minimizing fees and long-term wealth building     Sign up for Money Bootcamp with Hannah and receive $100 off by using code WINDOWSILL at checkout!   Connect with Hannah: https://www.sunlighttax.com/ https://www.sunlighttax.com/podcast https://www.sunlighttax.com/deductionsguide Free class on-demand: go.sunlighttax.com/register   Connect with Margo: www.windowsillchats.com www.instagram.com/windowsillchats www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill  

The Artist's Path to Financial Stability: IRA Insights, Maximizing Benefits, and Reaching Full Creative Potential with Hannah Cole

Margo is joined by the incredibly talented Leigh Standley, founder of Curly Girl Design. Lee has been making waves in the greeting card industry since 2003, creating beautifully crafted cards that resonate deeply. In this episode, Leigh opens up about the evolution of her business through the seismic shifts in technology and consumer behaviors over the past two decades. From the early days of e-commerce to dealing with the challenges brought on by the pandemic that forced a business model shift from wholesale to direct sales, Leigh shares her journey of adaptability, passion, and persistence. She also shares her thoughtful approach to business, emphasizing personal values, the importance of meaningful connections, and why she remains committed to crafting products that genuinely speak to the heart.   Margo and Leigh discuss:   The history of Curly Girl Design since its inception in 2003     How her personal values have influenced the decision-making process in her business   Why she pivoted from wholesale to direct sales and challenges that arose during the shift   Advice for creative entrepreneurs and the importance to think beyond the “just start” phase   The evergreen business model   Selling meaningful, consumable items that you’re proud of as a creative   The importance of interacting directly with your customers   Business success beyond the financial aspect   Her new mystery box product offering   And more!     Connect with Leigh: https://www.curlygirldesign.com/ https://www.instagram.com/curlygirldesign https://www.instagram.com/leigh.standley/   Connect with Margo: www.windowsillchats.com www.instagram.com/windowsillchats www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill  

Creative Pathways and Coastal Inspirations: Cass Deller on Entrepreneurship, Finding Your Unique Style, and Collaboration as the Backbone of Her Career

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