In this two-part episode, Margo is joined by illustrator, product designer, toy creator, and bookmaker of sophisticated and simple objects that inspire and delight young and old alike, Suzy Ultman. from graphic design to creating educational content for children, Suzy emphasizes the importance of infusing personal beliefs into professional projects and how hardships in her life such as her divorce and the loss of her sister played a role in her own creativity and imparting it on children. Make Time for Play is the main philosophy behind everything that she does as an artist and her signature products celebrate play, creativity, connection, and community in the world around us.    Margo and Suzy discuss:   Suzy’s creative path: transitioning from studying accounting to pursuing a career in graphic design   Her experience of working in design for Adidas   Prioritizing handwork, creativity, and inspiration in the creative process   How personal identity and cultural heritage plays a role in her creative process   Challenges she’s faced when integrating her Jewish identity into her work   Lessons learned from finding representation and building artistic vision   The importance of connection and community when it comes to doing creative work   Staying true to one's story and identity     Connect with Suzy: www.instagram.com/suzyultman www.suzyultman.com   Connect with Margo:  www.instagram.com/windowsillchats www.windowsillchats.com www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill  

Infusing Identity into Art and the Power of Personal Beliefs in Professional Projects with Suzy Ultman (Part 1)

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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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  

Building a Business that Resonates and Rewards with Leigh Standley of Curly Girl Design

Margo is joined by Aussie Surface Pattern Designer Rachael King. Obsessed with pattern from an early age, Rachael King grew up watching her talented mother making clothes not only for her and her siblings but for bridal and formal events too. While working in her mom's fabric shop, she mused over how the pattern repeated over the fabric and wondered how fabric was printed and wouldn't it be wonderful to design fabric too? It took another 23 years before Rachael was able to start a diploma in graphic design that would then lead into her dream of becoming a surface pattern designer. Represented by Nerida Hansen at Surtex in 2017 led to her first licensed collection with Spotlight stores and since then she has worked with fashion, homewares and greeting card companies, been a part owner in a print-on-demand fabric business, self-published two books, and is now teaching and mentoring in her much-loved industry. Rachael adores the connection she makes with fellow designers through her various touchpoints and feels very privileged to be able to inspire and nurture emerging surface designers.   Margo and Rachael discuss:   Rachael’s creative path and how her mom instilled a love for creativity in her   Self-publishing her book, Pattern Pulse, after initial rejection   Elizabeth Gilbert's book, Big Magic, and how it catalyzed her creative endeavors   Tribulations and triumphs of women in the creative business landscape: asserting value, advocating for fair compensation, and having a network of peers and mentors   The importance of physical art in a digital age   Why individuality and authenticity are crucial to the art industry   How artists can stay true to their unique style while also being commercially viable   Challenges of building a creative community in Australia   The influence and support that often comes from maternal figures in fostering creativity   Thoughts and tips for artists facing low payment offers     Connect with Rachael: www.rachaelking.com.au www.patternpulse.com.au www.instagram.com/rachaeldoesdesign www.instagram.com/australiansurfacedesigners www.facebook.com/rachaelkingdesignsbrisbane   Connect with Margo: www.windowsillchats.com www.instagram.com/windowsillchats www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill  

Infusing Identity into Art and the Power of Personal Beliefs in Professional Projects with Suzy Ultman (Part 1)

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