So Suzy Podcast

Welcome to the first of our new podcast series! Every Thursday, we are going to be bringing you a new episode featuring the current month's focus topic and talking to key influencers in the industry. Plus, as an added bonus, we launched our new members only "Focus" Group on Facebook! We are quite excited about the changes and we hope you enjoy this month's Planner Series!

Throughout the month, we are going to be discussing the different types of planners and helping you determine which one is best for you and your needs. Planner styles include:

• Bullet Journal
• Decorating Your Planner
• Printable and Custom Planners
• Traditional Planners

While you listen to each week's episode, answer these 3 questions:

1. What do you need your planner to track for you?
2. How big do you want it?
3. How much time do you have to invest in planning?

We can't launch our first series without some prizes and our amazing sponsors have been extremely generous in what they are giving away!

(3) - Rhodia Black Webnotebook Dot Grid (bullet journals)

(3) - Quo Vadis 2017-2018 Scholar Weekly Planners

(3) - $15 Gift Certificates to Paper Clip Planet

All you need to do is leave a comment in the show notes for our Planner Series on which style of planner works best for you. Our winners will be announced on our podcast blog, Facebook page, Instagram and Twitter accounts on Saturday, July 1st.

Helen Colebrook - Journal with Purpose

Audra Bolster - Kindred Stamps

Jessica Marie - Jessica Marie Design

Laurie Huff - Quo Vadis

A huge thanks to our sponsors for helping us put the series together! Be sure and check out their sites and all they have to offer for your personal planning needs!

Sally Harris from 100 Creatives is participating in #the100dayproject on Instagram and for her 100 days, she decided to create a podcast so she could interview 100 creatives in 100 days. For someone who has never produced a podcast before, this is an incredible feat and she is ROCKING IT! Hear about her 100 Day Creative Journey, what she plans on doing after her 100 days are up and what she likes most about her new endeavor.

I can't believe that I got to interview:

Elise Blaha Cripe - @elisejoy on Instagram

Some of my favourite guests so far:

Augusta of Felt Happens (Episode 10)

Jen Blanco (Episode 16)

These ones are upcoming:

- Crystal Moody (Episode 25)

- Mary Purdie (Episode 30) and Deandre Purdie (Episode 31)

(Coming Soon - June 5 and 6)

I'm really enjoying these podcasts at the moment:

Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Side Hustle School with Chris Guillebeau

Young House Love Has a Podcast

Sorta Awesome

100 Creatives website

Instagram @100.creatives

There is a happy little place in all our hearts that makes us feel all warm and fuzzy inside. We feel safe. Possibly mildly confident in our complacency. No fears of failure. Just happy contentment. This is also referred to as stagnant or perhaps you would prefer comfort zone, because it sounds happier. And truly, finding and having a happy place or comfort zone, can be quite wonderful. However, if you never leave that place of safety, will you ever grow? Will you ever find true excitement or happiness?

By challenging yourself or taking risks, you push yourself to learn, grow, become more successful and more confident. Sure, you may find failure along the way, but without failure, do you ever really learn how to become a better you?

Sometimes our lowliest times bring about our greatest achievements.

Rags to Riches Story of JK Rowling from Business Insider

And yes, it is pronounced "Rolling"...I did do my homework. Check it out here.

The story of how the MISTI received her Patent.

Teresa DeWitt-Pierce reflection on what she learned from the Mother's Day Blog Hop

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

MISTI by My Sweet Petunia

How to Be On a Design Team Online Class

*Your Creative Focus Podcast is sponsored by My Sweet Petunia and the home of the Most Incredible Stamping Tool Invented (MISTI)

Yesterday, we announced the launch of our new company, Your Creative Focus. With the selling of So Suzy Stamps, we realized that we had even more to offer the creative industry. On today's podcast, we talk about what led us to Your Creative Focus, the plans for the future and where we go from here.

So Suzy Podcast is now Your Creative Focus

It was becoming quite confusing for our followers to find us online and on social media. With the sale of So Suzy Stamps, it made sense for us to re-brand our So Suzy entities.

This new change will allow us to get back into public speaking, hosting seminars, consulting and webinars.

The flow will still stay the same for our podcast, but we will be adding to the lineup:

• Made it Happen Monday
• Special Guest Wednesday - For those of you who want to promote a special, release, exciting news or opening of a new business
• Thursday Monthly Series - Starts in June with our Planner Series!
• Traditional Friday Show

Social Media

• Instagram - @YourCreativeFocus
• Facebook - Your Creative Focus
• Twitter - @Cr8tive_Focus
• YouTube - Your Creative Focus

Subscribe to Listen

• iHeart Radio
• iTunes

If you would like more information regarding our new focus, read more on our blog post and on the BigCommerce blog.

Sign up for our email Virtual Tour of the new site!

Welcome to Made It Happen Monday with Denise Nichols from Simply Charming Everyday!

Before we get to our interview, you may be noticing a few changes to our site and brand. You haven't entered the Twilight Zone, Your Creative Focus is the new So Suzy Podcast and a whole lot more! Tomorrow, we will be rolling out a special podcast episode explaining all of our changes and the why behind them. (Which is truly EXCITING, if I do say so myself.) In the interim, feel free to check out the new site, wander through our pages, see some of the cool features we are going to be rolling out and follow us on our new social media sites.

As for right now, what do you say we dive into our latest guest and her story on how she Made It Happen!

Denise is the owner, maker and designer for Simply Charming Bags. These hand sewn beauties hold everything from your latest crafting project, to your MISTI collection and so much more. Since the age of 10, she has been sewing doll clothes, dresses, quilts, Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls, Prom dresses and most recently her famous Bunkie Bags and MISTI Zip Pouches. Hear about how she got her start, the bags she designs and the new products she has lined up for 2017.

It has happened to all of us at one time or another, our hands are full, the plastic bags are overloaded with heavy cans and jars and at the worst possible moment, the bottom gives out and your food scatters, rolls and shatters. Personally, my focus would have been on the fact I had red sauce all of the side of my brand new white car. However, Denise focused on HOW to make sure it would never happen again.

Hear how a spaghetti sauce parking lot massacre inspired the Bunkie Bag!

Favorite Child...it wasn't my brother, Jake. =)

Favorite Fabric - Cats in a Garden

Favorite Bunkie Use - Back porch living

Bunkie Bag

Junkie Bunkie - Made Exclusively for Stamp Junkies Facebook Group. Designed by Kim Gausman ZumMallen-Pietruszewki

MISTI Zip Bag

Mini MISTI Zip Pouch

Creativity Tote

Equipment Covers

Website

Blog

Facebook

Instagram

Being prepared for an emergency situation is so important, especially when that emergency is an impromptu card class or a last minute girls get-a-way weekend. Which is why having your crafty "go" bag always prepared is essential for your well being!

On today's podcast, we discuss what a "go" bag is, what to use for your "go" bag and items to include. Plus, we discuss the key elements to take into consideration when you are either planning or attending a class or retreat.

SPONSORED BY MY SWEET PETUNIA

Whatever habit you create for yourself, it's up to you to decide you're worth it and to take the time you need. Life is too short and there are a ton of fabulous projects to work on, hobbies to learn and art to create.

Today's episode is sponsored by My Sweet Petunia and the amazing MISTI.

Today, we are interviewing Annie Kelly from Stamp AnnieThing. Annie is one of these amazing women who not only illustrates and designs stamps, but she has all branched out into SVG cutting files and designing fun goodies to go with your planners. We find out about her different creative ventures, why her Chibi kids have such distinct features and how they get their special names. PLUS, she is offering (2) $25 Gift Certificates to our listeners. Find out how you can take one of these home during our interview with Annie.

Since I slammed head first into the Blahs, I figured today would be a great time to move our podcast calendar around and bring forth the episode on losing your creative mojo, because I definitely lost it. But what I want to know is why.

• Why do we hit these creative walls that stop us dead in our tracks?
• How can we overcome them?
• What can do to find it again?
• When do we decide to follow our mojo and go on a mini hiatus?

Today's podcast is sponsored by My Sweet Petunia and the MISTI.

Alyce Keegan is the owner, amazing artist and super teacher behind Kit and Clowder, an online community and coloring class. Today, we talk to Alyce about how she started Kit and Clowder, what the Kit and Clowder community means to her and the fun classes she has available for all coloring levels.

Plus, find out more about her free Markers 101 Class.

"When we feel overwhelmed in life, typically we take it out on ourselves and our opportunities to be creative." - Alyce Keegan, Kit and Clowder