Margo is joined by artist, designer, and educator helping to lead the modern revival of punch needle rug hooking, Micah Clasper-Torch. Based in Los Angeles, Micah’s work blurs the lines between art, craft, and design, creating one-of-a-kind textile pieces that range from coats and accessories to wall hangings and soft sculpture.

With a background in fashion design from both The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City and the Politecnico di Milano in Italy, Micah weaves together her love of fine art, heritage craft, and wearable design. In 2019 she became a certified Oxford Punch Needle Instructor and, in 2020, launched Punch Needle World, an online community, shop, and educational platform dedicated to uplifting the craft and its history. Her debut book, Punch Needle Fashion (Quadrille, June 2025), brings punch needle into the world of contemporary fashion with 15 original projects and a beautifully photographed exploration of the medium.

Margo and Micah discuss:

• Micah’s journey from fashion design to punch needle leadership

• The revival of punch needle and its fascinating history

• How tailoring and handmade construction shape her work

• The inspiration behind Punch Needle Fashion and what sets it apart

• Building creative community through Punch Needle World

• Tips for beginners (including her go-to needle size!)

• Embracing the blur between art, craft, and fashion

Connect with Micah

https://www.micahclasper-torch.com/

https://www.punchneedleworld.com/

https://www.instagram.com/claspertorch

https://www.instagram.com/punchneedle.world Punch Needle Fashion Book - https://tinyurl.com/mrx5rmez

Connect with Margo:

www.windowsillchats.com

www.instagram.com/windowsillchats

www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill

www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

What if color could completely change the way you see the world? This week Margo is joined by Ana Bianchi—artist, designer, illustrator, and now the author of Color Curious, her vibrant new book with Chronicle Books. Ana’s lifelong love of color has taken her from children’s books to ceramics to joyful, intuitive “color harvesting” everywhere from gardens to street markets. Her work spans disciplines, but the throughline is always color—how it inspires, connects, and transforms.

Part visual diary, part creative toolkit, Color Curious is packed with gorgeous photography, illustration, patterns, paintings, ceramics, and colorful bakes. Alongside the images, Ana weaves in her deep curiosity for art history, world cultures, and creative ideas, making it a true celebration of the colorful threads running through everyday life.

Margo and Ana discuss:

• How to train your “color eye” in everyday life

• Why curiosity is the root of creative confidence

• Fun, approachable ways to experiment with color (even if you don’t consider yourself an artist)

• How she’s turning decades of creative experience into resources like her Color Curious Substack and theCONSULTORY—her creative “ask me anything” help desk for artists and makers

Pre-order bonus: Everyone who preorders Color Curious and emails a copy of their receipt to [email protected] or DMs it to Ana on Instagram @AnaLovesColor will receive a link for a private art class with her via Zoom on September 19th.

Connect with Ana: Website: AnaLovesColor.com Instagram: @AnaLovesColor | @AnaBakesColor Pre-order the book: Color Curious TheConsultory: AnaLovesColor.com/theconsultory

Connect with Margo: www.windowsillchats.com www.instagram.com/windowsillchats www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

Margo is joined by illustrator, surface designer, educator, and art business mentor Vanessa Stoilova—better known online as Art Business with Ness. Since 2015, Vanessa has navigated the creative industry from mobile games to picture book illustration to surface design, and now shares her hard-earned insights with thousands of aspiring artists through her courses, YouTube channel, and mentorship programs.

Vanessa has a knack for making the business side of art feel approachable, actionable, and even exciting. In this conversation, she and Margo dig into how to position yourself for real opportunities, land clients without waiting to “be discovered,” and build a sustainable creative career.

They discuss:

• Building a client-ready portfolio before you get hired

• What actually works when pitching yourself (and why Instagram isn’t enough)

• Why niching down doesn’t limit you—it frees you

• Creating her own online art business summit with 20+ teachers

• How to stop overthinking and start making moves toward your goals

Links & Resources:

• Free 3-day training: Your First Step to Illustration Clients

• YouTube: Art Business with Ness

Connect with Margo: www.windowsillchats.com

www.instagram.com/windowsillchats

www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill

www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

Margo is joined by color-obsessed illustrator and joyful creative spirit, Andrea Campos. Known to many as the talent behind Drea’s Doodles, Andrea shares her unconventional journey from a decade-long career in marketing to becoming a full-time visual artist and New York Times bestselling illustrator. What started as a personal art challenge during the pandemic turned into an extraordinary pivot—leading to illustrating a bilingual children’s book co-authored by none other than Jennifer Lopez and Jimmy Fallon.

Margo and Andrea talk about the magic of starting before you’re ready, the power of creative challenges, and how community can shift your entire trajectory. Andrea shares on embracing her playful voice, navigating imposter syndrome, and showing up authentically as a first-generation Mexican American artist. Margo and Andrea discuss:

• Andrea’s path from corporate marketing to full-time creative work

• How an art challenge sparked a major publishing opportunity

• Embracing a joyful, playful art style despite industry expectations

• Building creative confidence and community on Instagram

• Illustrating Con Pollo and being featured on The Tonight Show

• The value of representation and storytelling through a bilingual lens

• Using art to invite empathy and spark connection

• Her upcoming solo book project and the character that inspired it

• The importance of creative “side quests” and making art just for fun

Connect with Andrea: https://instagram.com/dreasdoodles

dreasdoodles.com

https://www.tiktok.com/@dreasdoodles

Tips for Kids Books!

https://dreasdoodles.substack.com/p/new-to-kidlit-here-are-my-favorite Connect with Margo:

www.windowsillchats.comwww.instagram.com/windowsillchats

www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill

https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

Margo is joined by photographer, slow stylist, and storyteller Katie Howie. Based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Katie brings a thoughtful, refined eye to everything she touches—whether she’s capturing a family in motion, styling a cozy and intentional home, or consulting with small businesses on creative strategy. Katie shares her journey from studying psychology and women’s studies, to a decade in retail marketing, and ultimately to finding her creative footing as a visual storyteller. Margo and Katie explore the power of slow living and how Katie’s “slow styling” philosophy helps people reconnect with what truly matters in their homes and their lives. Margo and Katie discuss:

• Katie's transition from psychology studies and retail marketing to creative entrepreneurship

• The origins and meaning of "slow styling" and bringing personalized, accessible touches to home design

• The power of storytelling in both portrait photography and interior styling

• Building authentic creative businesses through community engagement rather than paid advertising

• The importance of staying true to your unique style over following trends

• How family legacy, history, and personal objects inspire and shape creative work

• Katie's community photo projects, including her "By a Thread" series profiling downtown Saint Paul residents

• Working with families and real people to capture genuine moments rather than posed perfection

• The therapeutic value of using and repurposing family heirlooms in daily life

• Practical advice for creatives on finding their voice, sharing their work, and creating from authenticity

Connect with Katie: http://katiehowie.com/ https://www.instagram.com/_katiehowie https://www.instagram.com/by_a.thread_saintpaul

Connect with Margo:

www.windowsillchats.com www.instagram.com/windowsillchats

www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill

https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

Margo is joined by Jennifer Orkin Lewis and Gayle Kabaker—two powerhouse painters, illustrators, authors, and beloved art teachers whose friendship and creative partnership has taken them (and their students) around the world. Jennifer and Gayle each spent years in fast-paced industries—Jennifer as a textile designer in NYC, Gayle as a fashion illustrator and editorial artist—before embracing slower, more intuitive practices rooted in daily sketchbooking, storytelling, and teaching. Together, Jennifer and Gayle lead collaborative retreats and online workshops that encourage creative exploration and self-expression. Their work is joyful, bold, and filled with heart—and they’re deeply committed to helping others find their voice. In this rich and honest conversation, they talk about letting go of “shoulds,” walking away from stale opportunities, and trusting their own timing—whether that meant leaving agents behind, stepping into teaching, or creating space for personal transformation. Margo, Jennifer, and Gayle discuss:

• How daily sketchbook practice became their creative anchor

• Why process is more important than perfection

• How their retreats have opened doors for their students—and for themselves

• The power of artistic community and creative friendship

• Why five minutes a day can change everything

• How their individual journeys led them to a shared mission in teaching and creating

Mentioned in this episode: July 27th Class: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/painting-faces-florals-and-pattern-play-with-gayle-jennifer-registration-1459034243699

Portugal Retreat:  https://uptrek.com/retreat/transformative-sketchbook-retreat-artists-jennifer-orkin-lewis-gayle-kabaker-portugal

Chloe Ward Yoga: https://www.chloeward.yoga/

Zig Markers: https://www.markersupply.com/zigartgrtwma.html?srsltid=AfmBOop1y1ZX-zYJX7i3b7ByZnqncJPHQ7NZ9tRDzucQ3KLAc-YukjFU

Tombow Markers: https://www.dickblick.com/products/tombow-dual-brush-pens/?srsltid=AfmBOorG6HNbBOGAP7igbmAxApp9GwjjeT6vqaJn0B7EBkt-IFO7SS5j

Connect with Jennifer: 

https://www.augustwren.com/ 

https://augustwren.substack.com/subscribe

https://www.instagram.com/augustwren/

Connect with Gayle:

www.gkabaker.com

https://gaylekabaker.substack.com

https://www.instagram.com/gaylekabake

Connect with Margo:

www.windowsillchats.com

www.instagram.com/windowsillchats

www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill

https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

Margo and Abby are back with another installment of Creative Current Events, a special segment of Windowsill Chats where creativity, culture, and community collide. This episode spans a range of creative topics—from Beloved Asheville’s heartfelt relief efforts in Kerrville, Texas, to the ripple effects of rising postage costs and UPS layoffs on small creative businesses. They dig into a major fair use ruling involving Anthropic that could impact the future of AI-generated content, and explore how tools like Canva’s Magic Write are giving small businesses fresh ways to create with confidence. They also spotlight sustainability-minded artists turning trash into treasure—and an unexpected art gallery found in a Texas truck stop bathroom. As always, it’s a curious and timely mix of what’s happening now and what it means for the creative world. Articles Mentioned:

• UPS offers buyouts to drivers as it shutters 73 sites, laying off 20,000 jobs

• Anthropic wins a major fair use victory for AI — but it’s still in trouble for stealing books

• How to use AI as a small entrepreneur

• Summerween - It’s back!

• Octogenarian Says Joy Is Contagious

• Turning glass into sand!

• https://glasshalffull.co/ 

• Visualising Britain's fashion waste problem with cyanotype photography

• A world first in size and scale, V&A East Storehouse immerses you in over half a million works from every creative discipline.

• Texas’s Hottest Art Gallery Is the Buc-ee’s Bathroom

• Unwasted transforms local waste streams into tiles

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

https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

Margo is joined by Andee Hart, a former Fortune 500 sales executive turned thriving creative entrepreneur, candle maker, and coach who helps women overcome sales anxiety and grow their businesses with integrity. As host of the She Sells Differently podcast and founder of Hart Design Co., Andee brings her bold, heart-centered approach to entrepreneurship—and in this episode, she shares her powerful journey from side hustle to full-time business ownership.

Margo and Andee discuss:

• Making the leap from corporate sales to creative entrepreneurship

• Building a thriving product-based business from the kitchen up

• Navigating fear and perfectionism when starting something new

• Why selling doesn’t have to feel “icky” and how to reframe it as service

• The power of email marketing and why it trumps social media

• Strategies for pricing your work with confidence and integrity

• Approaching retailers for wholesale partnerships

• Knowing who your customers aren’t (and why that’s freeing)

• Andee’s counter-cultural approach to sales and marketing

Connect with Andee: 

Website: https://andeehart.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andeehart/

Hart Design Co Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hartdesignco/

Andee’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andeehart/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/shesellsdifferently/

She Sells Differently Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/she-sells-differently-authentic-selling-business-growth/id1731402504

Connect with Margo:

www.windowsillchats.com

www.instagram.com/windowsillchats

www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill

https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

Margo is joined by rising country artist Krystal King, a Nashville-based singer-songwriter with roots in North Carolina and a background in music therapy. With her raw, emotionally laced vocals and vivid, imagery-rich storytelling, Krystal brings a fresh take on a classic country sound—infused with folk, soul, blues, and rock.

After studying music therapy at Appalachian State University and working in psychiatric care, Krystal made the bold move to Nashville in 2017 with nothing but her guitar and a calling she couldn’t ignore. Since then, she’s self-produced her debut album Pretty Poison, performed on iconic stages like the Bluebird Café, and become a DJ on SiriusXM’s Radio Margaritaville.

Margo and Krystal discuss:

• The emotional layers behind songwriting

• How music therapy shaped her creative approach

• Producing her own album + building a supportive team

• Performing across the country and trusting the process

• Courage, creativity, and the nervous system connection

• Staying honest, quirky, and grounded in the country music world

Connect with Krystal: www.krystalkingmusic.com

https://www.instagram.com/krystalkingmusic/

https://www.facebook.com/Krystalkingmusic/

https://www.tiktok.com/@krystalkingmusic

https://www.youtube.com/@krystalkingmusic

Connect with Margo:

www.windowsillchats.com

www.instagram.com/windowsillchats

www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill

https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

This week on Windowsill Chats, Margo is joined by Mary McGreevy, the creative mind behind the viral TikTok account Tips From Dead People. What began as a curious, ironic hobby—reading obituaries for life advice—has blossomed into a meaningful exploration of what it means to live well. With a background in public policy and a penchant for heartfelt storytelling, Mary has built a community around the simple idea that there’s wisdom in the words left behind.

Margo and Mary explore how obituaries—whether poignant, irreverent, funny, or achingly honest—reveal what really matters at the end of the day. They talk about how quirks, flaws, and tiny joys shape the legacies we leave behind, why zigzagging through careers and passions can be more fulfilling than following a set path, and how embracing our humanity—mess and all—creates space for connection.

Mary and Margo discuss:

• The beginnings of Tips From Dead People and how it evolved from a personal hobby into a viral phenomenon

• Why traditional career advice like “find your passion” can be misleading

• How reading obituaries illuminates the richness of so-called “ordinary” lives

• The value of quirks, humor, and imperfections in shaping how we’re remembered

• Shifting our definition of success from accolades to meaningful details

• Creating inclusive spaces built on shared humanity

• Why being a generalist in life and career can be a strength, not a weakness

• What obituaries can teach us about writing (and rewriting) our own life stories

• How weird, one-off ideas often turn out to be the most impactful

• The healing, grounding power of stories—especially those from unexpected places

Connect with Mary: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tipsfromdeadpeople

IG: https://www.instagram.com/tipsfromdeadpeople/

Substack: https://substack.com/@tipsfromdeadpeople

Connect with Margo:

www.windowsillchats.com

www.instagram.com/windowsillchats

www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill

https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry