Windowsill Chats

Margo is joined by artist, calligrapher, and avid journaler, Brittany DeSantis. After making a big cross-country move to Alberta, Canada nearly a decade ago, Brittany fell in love with the mountains and back in love with art. This move inspired the "peak" in her business name, Peak Paper Co. Through global brand partnerships and from Brittany's tiny home studio, she's taught the art of calligraphy, watercolor and journaling to over 50 thousand people worldwide. One of Brittany's very cool teaching roles is that of global luxury brand, Montblanc's, Inspire Writing instructor. She focuses on the "beginner" stage as she believes we're all inherently creative and our own handwriting is a gift. Brittany is the proud mother of two young daughters and now, a published author who still deeply misses her dad. Art and writing inadvertently helped her cope with his loss 20 years ago, and still does to this day. It's why she created a guided grief journal to help others find the power of putting pen to paper when we're going through hard times.

Margo and Brittany discuss:

• Her path from rediscovering her love for art in a watercolor calligraphy class to founding Peak Paper Co

• Transitioning from an advertising job to full-time artistry

• How creating simple forms helped her in combating creative block

• Art as a tool for navigating grief

• Strategies that Brittany has found to be effective in balancing multiple roles and responsibilities like motherhood and entrepreneurship

• The value of reaching out for mutually beneficial relationships

• The importance of creating a supportive space for creativity

• Finding inspiration from neuroaesthetics and the science-backed benefits of art-making

• How she overcame imposter syndrome by focusing on teaching beginners

• Her groundbreaking grief journal proposal and what it's led to

• What it's been like to partner with a renowned brand like Montblanc

• The therapeutic benefits of art and journaling

• An upcoming retreat in Portugal that promises to be a haven for creative minds

• And so much more

Connect with Brittany:

www.peakpaperco.com

www.peakpaperco.com/my-book

https://www.amazon.com/Forget-You-Not-Keepsake-Navigating/dp/1958803375

www.instagram.com/peakpaperco

Connect with Margo:

www.windowsillchats.com

www.instagram.com/windowsillchats

www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill

Back with a creative current events update, Margo is joined by Abby Campbell. They dive into the latest social media app, Cara, and its mission to filter out generative AI images so that people who want to find authentic creatives and artwork can do so easily, Meta's somewhat scary new AI policies and the difficulty in opting out, and Adobe versus the Ansel Adams Estate - what went wrong and what kinds of processes should be in place to ensure it doesn't happen in the future.

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

Margo is joined by seasoned artist, designer, and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in the creative industry Paul Pape. Paul's journey began with a passion for education stemming from a need to escape an abusive childhood. Eventually, he found his way to design and fabrication, which led to the creation of thousands of personalized products for clients worldwide as well as industry giants such as Disney, Universal, Nickelodeon and more.. In recent years, he's pivoted to empowering Creatives, Companies and Corporations, sharing his expertise and insights to help them embrace innovation, reverse the Creativity Crisis and make life and work FUN again. As a speaker, educator, and mentor, he inspires others to unleash their creative potential and find fulfillment in their personal and professional lives.

Margo and Paul discuss:

• Pauls personal creative journey and how an abusive childhood played a role from inspiration to career

• How the industrial revolution shifted jobs towards more creative pursuits and how technology now frees us for even greater imaginative endeavors

• How customized creations can touch lives in unexpected ways

• The incredible impact creativity can have on our lives

• Dealing with copyright and trademark challenges

• Empowering the next generation of creatives

• The importance of failing with purpose

• Nurturing creativity in education

• The evolving role of technology and AI in artistic expression

• His unique framework to foster creativity called PLAY (Ponder, Learn, Apply, Yield)

• Joy and importance of teaching without gatekeeping

Connect with Paul:

https://paulpape.it/

https://www.youtube.com/paulpapedesigns

https://www.instagram.com/paulpapedesigns/

https://www.facebook.com/paulpapedesigns

Freebie! https://talk.ac/paulpape?code=WINDOWSILL

Connect with Margo:

www.windowsillchats.com

www.instagram.com/windowsillchats

www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill

Margo is joined by Jewelry Designer Dani Paquin. Dani founded Agapantha Jewelry in April of 2004 after 6+ years of living as a touring singer-songwriter. While it was an incredible, dream fulfilling time, people don't love paying for music and the hustle was unsustainable. Between tours, Dani started working for a couple of designers, assembling jewelry and found that it was fun, creative, she was good at it, and people were willing to pay for it. She did music and jewelry for a while, semi-retired from music, opened an adorable vintage shop in Brooklyn, and eventually found her way into the full time flow of entrepreneurship. In 2010 she moved back to her home state of California and Agapantha has been headquartered in Torrance (Los Angeles County) for the past 14 years. In that time, the style of jewelry has changed dramatically and landed where it is currently - delicate, modern, layering jewelry - handmade in her production studio using primarily sterling silver and 14k gold filled materials.

Margo and Dani discuss:

• Her journey from music to crafting exquisite, delicate, and modern jewelry

• How she built a successful business through innovative strategies, combining wholesale, retail, and unique events

• Diversifying offerings so all the eggs aren't in one basket

• The future of her brand as she ventures into fine jewelry

• The intricacies of running a creative business

• The importance of customer interaction and the challenges of navigating tough economic times

• Hiring a team and the importance of finding people that are better than you

• The incredible community she's built through initiatives like "Flash Sale Friday" and the Agapantha VIP club

• And more

Agapantha is carried in boutiques all over the world, including the Agapantha showroom. Dani's business model is fluid, allowing for change and flexibility, but combines wholesale, retail, online, and events including activities such as piercing, laser engraving, and forever jewelry.

Connect with Dani Paquin:

www.agapantha.com

www.instagram.com/agapanthajewelry

www.tiktok.com/@agapanthajewelry

Connect with Margo:

www.windowsillchats.com

www.instagram.com/windowsillchats

www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill

Margo is joined by artist and designer for the gift & home decor industry, Jennifer Brinley. Jennifer has been in the industry for over 20 years with a degree in Studio Art from UC Santa Barbara and she believes well designed products can bring moments of joy. Her creative path took her to graduate school for architecture before promptly dropping out after learning advanced math was involved to pass "structures." She then bounced around with a variety of jobs to save money to go to Europe for 3 months with a childhood friend. After Europe, came the quandary of what to do next and decided she would go back to school to become an art teacher. A want ad looking for a T-shirt designer led to quickly creating a fake portfolio and she began designing T-shirts for Crazy Shirts as well as getting a business license to sell her own T-shirts. She met her licensing agent by chance making color copies at Kinkos and today her designs have been on everything from tableware, gift mugs, kitchen textiles, rugs, fabrics, placemats, trays, coasters, gift bags, flags, art poles and planters.

Margo and Jennifer discuss:

• Finding inspiration in nature and how one of her best selling products is a nature inspired design

• Balancing creativity and business in the art world

• The importance of staying informed and interested within one's industry

• Fueling passion through seeing others' work and new trends

• The impact of art and design on behavior and well-being

• The benefits of engaging in art daily for brain stimulation

• Biophilic design and nature's calming effect on the brain

• Studies on neuroaesthetics (the measurable changes that occur in the brain while looking at art, design, architecture, interior design, etc)

Connect with Jennifer:

https://www.instagram.com/jenniferbrinley/

Connect with Margo:

www.windowsillchats.com

www.instagram.com/windowsillchats

www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill

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

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

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

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

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