Smart Creative Women

I am so happy to have the sweet Heather Davulcu with me today! Heather, known online as April Heather Art, is an up and comer who is making her debut this year at Surtex in NYC. Heather is full of spunk and style! I love how she has put herself and her art "out there" pushing past any voice that might have told her to hide away in her studio. In this interview she talks about the rewards of being bold and consistent with her efforts. We all know it can be tough to show people what you do creatively, hopefully this interview will speak to you. It really does pay off to be brave and Heather is a terrific example of that. Mixed with sass and talent, I completely enjoy following her journey! She took the last run of Smart Creative Style class and had terrific energy and ideas. I loved what she added to her one of her "interiors that appeal to you" mood board. Tune in the see what I mean. You can see her and her work in the Pink Light Design Booth at Surtex Booths 417 and 516 in NYC. Stop by and say hello to her agent, Mary Beth Freet and to Heather, they both always have smiles on! When Heather thought of the interiors that appealed to her the most, she thought of her favorite movies! You know, they ones that you watch over and over again, simply because you loved the set design? Here is a peek at her interiors board: Classic, Cottage and Romantic: Her Art and Eras board was very interesting! All this tender nostalgia: Heather's art has a romance to it, it is feminine and innocent with just a touch of fun mischief. Keep an eye on her! You can follow Heather on Instagram here and on Pinterest here. You can sign up to hear upcoming news about the Smart Creative Style Course here.

Today in this short video, I am talking about having SPACE in your life to edit, rest and make decisions! All important topics for you and your creativity! Watch this video if you need to fine tune your decision making! If you want to use the exercises that I mention about you can download these helpful tools!

You can get the download worksheets through this link http://smartcreativewomen.com/?p=7443

You have to hear this story!! I love a courageous woman willing to strike out and do something BIG and this guest has done just that! Melody Miller has designed a life and a creative business exactly the way she thought it needed to be. This is a GREAT story about a creative woman who was unhappy with her earnings, knew she had more to offer and knew that she could (and should) be compensated in the right way did something about it. I love everything about the story of how the new fabric company, Cotton and Steel fabrics came to be. Melody had a unique vision for what the fabric industry needed at this point in time, so she prepared a BIG PITCH to the CEO of RJR fabrics to get him to unite in her vision. The rest is….well, the rest is in the interview, SO TUNE IN!!! It is such a motivating story of a creative dream, good art plus bold manufacturing. I think it will all equal great success!

You can see sneak peeks of the crazy talented artists from Cotton and Steel and their new fabric lines on the Cotton and Steel instagram. Check out the link to the documentary while you are there!

Well the title to this post and video is loaded, right? I could write a lot of text, but I would rather have you tune in to today's video and you can give me your thoughts. After all-I have been having this conversation with myself all week, so it is about time I had it with someone else!

Oh! I won't miss an opportunity to say that as I watched the participants wrap up the Smart Creative Style Course, I was once again amazed at how their mood boards, ideas and values all shine so uniquely! Here are some of the most recent testimonials. It honestly humbles my heart and thrills me at the same time. (Ok, now this post has a lot of text...)

"Monica Lee’s information-packed Smart Creative Style course was pivotal in providing the clarity I needed as I attempted to figure out the direction of my art business. I discovered that my current style was different than the art I was making, which was leading a bit of a creative block. Her course allowed me to better understand myself and my style, so that I could focus on the direction I wanted to take my business. In addition, her supportive attitude, marketing advice, and interviews with other business owners was invaluable." -Pam Wingard Barefoot Studios Art

"I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the Smart Creative Style Course! My mind is spinning with information that I need to sort through, and I’m inspired to refresh and reinvigorate my style and my business. I must say the most valuable part of it for me is the confidence gained and the clarity that a career as an artist is where I belong. As a result of the class, I feel like I now have the tools to get my work seen and my voice heard in new and different ways. Thank you, Monica, for your encouragement, a wealth of information, and your well-planned course. Thanks to Tom as well!" -Krista Hamrick

"Who would ever have thought great learning could be such fun? Monica's Smart Creative Style course was a complete joy! Whilst being a very fun and nurturing experience, SCS enabled me to find much greater clarity in a number of important areas of my business. The aesthetic clarity I gained was further complemented by valuable insights into branding provided by Khali. Tom's marketing advice was clear and concise and his quiet, calm delivery style a breath of fresh air amongst a lot of "ra ra ra" online marketing advice. The course also felt completely do-able within a busy schedule. A supportive FB group and inspiring interviews were the icing on the cake. I highly recommend this course to anyone who would like to clarify their aesthetic and receive a lot of valuable support with their decisions on the branding and marketing of their creative business." -Lyndy Hants

"Monica Lee is an open book - which is an excellent quality for a teacher! Because I have been a long time follower of Smart Creative Women, I had high expectations for the Smart Creative Style Course and it's safe to say that my expectations were far exceeded! I adore how Monica mixed her charm and a bit of humor in with important topics. She makes learning fun! Her course motivates and teaches invaluable information in a delightful way and I highly recommend it to any smart, creative woman who wants to further her career! " -Tori Higa

Today I am chatting with the energetic, stylish and SMART, Jessie Artigue. You know I love a girl with style and Jessie has boundless amounts of it. Her blog Style and Pepper is full of ideas, tips and spunk. Not only does she blog about personal style, DIY projects, healthy cooking, adventures as a style expert, she also hosts her own show on YouTube and helps bloggers and brands work together. You’ll hear more about that in this interview.

Jessie blogs on all of these topics because she believes “everyday ingredients like these have the ability to enhance your own recipe for success in seeking joy.” She has a personal passion for her weekly newsletter called Weekly Love Notes which can pop into your email once a week to cheer you on. (Right up my alley!) I think Jessie is a girl on the move and is one to keep your eye on!

I was thrilled to talk to Michelle Kohanzo who is the managing director of The Land of Nod. This company just brings out the best in everybody. How can a company bring out the best in someone? I think by being quirky, original, tapping into your inner creative child and by being fun!

In this interview, she talks about her career and what it was like to be mentored. (The good and the bad.) She also talks about how she manages her position while juggling being the mother of 4 (Yes, 4!!) children! Michelle genuinely loves work and her life. Her passion shines through!

Happy Boss = Happy Products = Happy Customers!

I was super excited to hear how she views collaborations with artists for The Land of Nod product line, woot! Listen until the very end to find out what to do if you have any darling ideas for them.

They have a pop shop opening in NYC in Soho for the holidays! She said it is ALL TOYS, how fun is that?! I am hoping storm Sandy doesn’t wreck the fun for opening night! If you are heading to NYC for any holiday fun, stop in! (136 prince Street between Wooster and West Broadway) It looks like it will open Nov. 7th, fingers crossed!

I picked out a few of my favorite things from their line, below. I am a big fan of well designed furniture built for “kids” because I think it’s sizing fits better in smaller homes and through tricky stairways! I have learned that from living in a lot of old houses!

Do you have any favorites from The Land of Nod? Post the links…I want to see! Give Michelle a thank you for her time as well! Here’s to hoping that one of the Smart Creative Women listeners designs a future product for them.

In this video Tom and I cover networking. We discuss how this might look as an introvert or as an extrovert. Tom and I are two very different people but we both agree that if you are in business, you need to learn how to network. I have 2 graphics the show some networking that I have done, where I have taken an online meetings into real life connections. I also included 8 tips on how to meet anyone, anywhere, anytime (politely). So today it is a watch and read episode!

Here is the link to the book we mention, Quiet by Susan Cain. To see more of my episodes with Tom you can see them under the category Smart Creative Business.

Tip 1: Go in with an open mind and warm heart. I know, it sounds sappy, but if you skip this principle, the other tips won’t work. If you walk in with an air of desperation, people will smell it on you a mile away. Even “determination” without the right energy can be a turn off. Energy. Ugh! There is that word again. Don’t understand it? Here is a crazy simple idea, watch back-to-back episodes of Caesar Milan’s show The Dog Whisperer. I consider myself a very spiritual person, and I didn’t get what energy meant until I watched The Dog Whisperer. Animals and people sense fear, desperation, weakness, as well as openness, warmth and a friendly heart. Watch it. Get it. Your pets (and your people) will love you.

Tip 2: Here is a tip that is a no-brainer that people rarely put into practice. Talk to everyone you meet. In the van from the airport. In the line for coffee. In the elevator. I can’t tell you the countless connections that I have made “on the van.” Speak up, ask who is attending your event, ask them where they are from. Let any discomfort go and lead the conversation. It is not an interrogation. It is well-placed, genuine chit chat.

You never know who you might meet or who that person might know. I met a woman “on the van” to an event who later introduced me to a book editor. Bingo!

Tip 3: Play it cool but not too cool. Showing enthusiasm when you are meeting someone goes a long way to make a positive impression.

Me: “Oh, you work for So-and-So Publishing. I really like the author, So-and-So, who publishes with your company. His book is one of my favorites.”

Book Editor: “Really?! I edited that book.”

Double Bingo! Call scheduled with editor to pitch my own book.

Tip 4: Lead with a compliment. In fact, bring your whole bag o’ compliments with you. When I attend trade shows, I compliment hand bags, shoes, glasses. It is a positive ice breaker, and it opens the door to conversation.

Tip 5: Don’t be afraid to talk about what you do. It is okay to have your story in place. But the real tip is to ask about what they do first. A good rule thumb is to politely ask for someone else’s business card before you shove your card in their hand. I have seen more awkward moments when someone shoved his cards into the hands of a recipient without a request. ACK! I may have seen myself do it a couple of times, and it ain’t pretty!

Tip 6: Hang out. Don’t rush back to your room alone to order room service or stick to your friend like glue. Hanging out gives you the opportunity to meet more people. If you are looking over notes on a bench before a class starts, you will probably notice the speaker arrive early. Be of service. “Do you need any help?” “Do you need me to hand anything out for you?” If you are knowledgeable with audio or visual technology, you are golden.

Tip 7: Follow through. “But I didn’t make any deals!” That is perfectly all right. Once you have that business card in hand, go home and write an It-was-so-nice-to-meet-you-email. Common sense again, but not enough people do it. I have been doing it for years without thinking, “What can this person do for me?” It is simply, “It was a pleasure talking to you.” I can’t tell you how this has paid off for me years later.

Tip 8: Keep in mind that people put their pants on one leg at a time. Don’t be afraid of anyone, even the Queen of England is just a person. I was a flight attendant for years and met celebrities, politicians, and musicians. Yep, they breathe air just like we do, and they deserve a little respect (like we do). Case and point: I was on a flight the other day and ended up a few seats away from Hilary Swank. Her seat mate and my seat mate had fallen asleep. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted her doing acrobatics climbing over her friend to try to get the bathroom. When she did it, I gave her a high five. Later we spotted each other both working on our knitting. We then engaged in a bit of chit chat (over two people) about our projects. Was this the the time to hand her a business card? My husband says yes, I should have introduced myself and talked about my web show Smart Creative Women. I say no, we were not talking business or at a business event, and I wanted to respect her space on the planet. I do, however, think she is a smart creative woman, and when I run into her again, I will strike up a familiar conversation. Don’t think I will? Just wait.

One of the first rules of courtesy is a consideration for other person’s feelings. If you relax, open your heart, be respectful and show genuine interest in someone else, you can confidently meet anybody and have some every interesting doors opened for you.

You HAVE to meet Rachel Faucett! She is one smart and crafty cookie! Rachel is a the mastermind behind Hand­made Char­lotte. Handmade Charlotte offers a daily dose of DIY projects, crafts, recipes, inspir­ing fam­ily spaces, and design inspi­ra­tion for families and kids. Named one of the Top 50 Design Blogs for Moms by Babble.com, the site has been fea­tured in Martha Stew­art Liv­ing, Bet­ter Homes and Gar­dens, HGTV, Craftzine.com, Huff­in­g­ton Post, Busi­ness Insider. Whew! Rachel was also named one the top 20 most influ­en­tial Pin­ter­est users by Busi­ness Insider! She is a power pinner on Pinterest and she knows her business! The BEST part about Rachel is that she seems to be having such a BLAST doing it! Did I mention she also has 5 children?? In this interview you’ll get Pinterest tips and business tips, you will also find out where she gets her enthusiasm for life, woot! You know I love an enthusiastic, smart woman!

P.S. She cracked me up when she called herself a “Visual DJ!” You have to tune in to see what she meant!

I met Jill McDonald years ago when I was walking Print Source. Her art really stood out to me! It was bright, fresh and original and friendly. I have kept my eye on her as the years progressed and have been delighted to see her business excel! In this interview she talks about “the biz”! If you are selling your art for products or would like to one day, you need to tune in. Her art has covered just about everything from books to bedding! She has worked with some BIG clients and you’ll want hear what she has to say about staying true to yourself and growing your brand! Jill is offering insights as a long term industry insider. Find out what drives her to create and what her core beliefs about her art are as she shares her heart in this interview.

You can follow Jill McDonald on Pinterest to see her products in action and to see what inspires her!

Meet Kelsey Montague, one half the talent behind the Nikita and Vesper brand. Kelsey has teamed her skills up with her sister’s skills, and they are on the move to make the world a better and more fashionable place! They sell a mix of vintage and new items, some of it featuring Kelsey’s art. I love the sister collaboration, and the bio info: 2 sisters. 2 styles and ONE GOAL – To provide YOU with the best curated ethical fashion out there.

Today Kelsey talks about how she discovered a style of art that she loves and why she almost didn’t focus on art at all. I was curious as to what tools she uses (please, let’s talk pens!!) and if she sketches her detailed work in pencil beforehand. You will be surprised by her answers. She has recently been commissioned to do some street art, I like what she has to say about it!

P.S. You have got to follow her in Instagram, I think she keeps it really interesting!@kelseymontagueart You can also follow the pair of sisters at @nikitaandvesper