Windowsill Chats

Margo is joined by Louie, better known as Louie's Loops, a self-taught crochet artist, designer, game creator, and founder of Club Crochet. For nearly 20 years, Louie has been turning his love of crochet into an ever-expanding creative world of amigurumi, tutorials, games, characters, and stories—all rooted in curiosity, play, and community.

Margo and Louie discuss:

• Following curiosity and asking "what if?" as a creative practice.

• Turning a self-taught crochet hobby into a career and creative business.

• Challenging the idea of crochet as simply a "craft" rather than an art form.

• Using play and experimentation to stay inspired and avoid burnout.

• Building community through tutorials, storytelling, and shared creativity.

• Expanding ideas beyond one medium into games, characters, animation, and more.

• Creativity and handmade art in an increasingly digital and AI-driven world.

• Bringing 20 years of ideas together through Crochet Goomis and Battle Goomis.

Connect with Louie:

www.TheGoomis.com

www.ClubCrochet.com

www.instagram.com/LouiesLoops

I'm bringing you a preview of the new series of Death of An Artist. In February 2024, celebrated children's book author and illustrator Petra Mathers and her husband, photographer Michael Mathers, mailed letters to dozens of friends and family members to let them know they had died by suicide. Petra and Michael were by all accounts healthy, happy, and in love. Why did they choose to die together? And what did that decision do to the people left to mourn them? Journalists Leon Neyfakh and Alice Gregory set out to interview everyone who got one of Petra and Michael's letters—as one married couple trying to understand another. Through intimate conversations with Petra and Michael's friends and family about their own relationships to aging, grief, death, and the friends they thought they knew, Death of an Artist weaves together a portrait of a community grappling with the Mathers' deaths and the final words they left behind. Done entirely in recordings, Death of an Artist is as much a love story as one about death. Listen to Death of An Artist wherever you get podcasts. And if you want to hear the full story right now, ad-free, you can binge the entire season with a Pushkin+ subscription—sign up on the Death of an Artist show page on Apple Podcasts or at pushkin.fm/plus.

Margo sits down with Daniel Boettcher, founder of The Intrepid Wendell, to explore the intersection of storytelling, craftsmanship, and legacy—and how the most meaningful creative paths are rarely the most straightforward ones. Daniel's journey has taken him through music, law, aspirations of diplomacy, and ultimately, bespoke jewelry design. After a life-changing experience shifted the trajectory of his career, he found his way toward work that allowed him to combine creativity with something he has always been drawn to: people and their stories.

• Daniel's unexpected journey from music and law to diplomacy aspirations and, ultimately, bespoke jewelry design.
• How a life-changing experience redirected his career.
• Why deep listening and personal connection are at the heart of Daniel's design process.
• The stories behind a few deeply personal pieces.
• The idea of an "instant heirloom" and how jewelry can carry family history, memory, love, and meaning across generations.
• Daniel's move from Washington, D.C. to Puerto Rico and how the community and culture of Old San Juan have influenced his creativity.
• What happens when a client feels truly seen and understood by the person creating for them.
• The charming story behind The Intrepid Wendell

Connect with Daniel: www.theintrepidwendell.com www.instagram.com/theintrepidwendell

Margo is joined once again by New York Times bestselling illustrator, artist, and now author Andrea Campos, the creative force behind DreasDoodles. Since her first visit to Windowsill Chats, Andrea's creative career has continued to evolve—from a pandemic doodling practice that began simply as a source of joy to collaborations with Target, Jimmy Fallon, and Jennifer Lopez, and now the release of her very first picture book as both author and illustrator, Tis' the Season for Tamales.

In this conversation, Andrea and Margo get candid about what happens when something you love becomes your livelihood. Andrea shares the deeply personal process of finally telling a story that is entirely her own, inspired by the beloved Latin tradition of gathering for tamaladas, while also opening up about the vulnerability, imposter syndrome, and pressure that can accompany creative success. Together, they explore how artists can protect the joy that brought them to their work in the first place—even while being asked to wear the hats of artist, marketer, content creator, entrepreneur, and everything in between.

In this episode, Margo and Andrea discuss:

• Andrea's evolution from pandemic doodling to becoming a full-time artist, illustrator, and author

• What it felt like to move from illustrating other people's stories to writing and illustrating one that is entirely her own

• The inspiration behind Tis' the Season for Tamales and sharing the tradition of tamaladas through a bilingual picture book

• The reality of imposter syndrome—even alongside major milestones, high-profile collaborations, and public recognition

• Accidentally building a creative business and learning to navigate the good, hard, and complicated parts along the way

• The pressure on today's artists to also be content creators, marketers, editors, and personal brands

• Finding ways to show up and share your work that feel natural to you rather than forcing yourself into someone else's formula

• Using joy as a creative compass and learning how to protect the part of your practice that exists simply because you love making

• The importance of creative community, mentorship, and finding people who understand the unique challenges of building a creative life

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

Margo is joined by Kim Robinson, founder of 3pts and a longtime contributor to and advocate for creative communities. With more than 15 years of experience at cultural platforms including The FADER, Complex, Red Bull, and the American Museum of Natural History, Kim has worked alongside artists like Solange, Kendrick Lamar, Spike Lee, Erykah Badu, and Tyler, the Creator. Raised within underground punk, hip-hop, electronic music, and art scenes, Kim eventually founded 3pts to put his experience directly in service of makers and creative entrepreneurs, helping them build sustainable careers on their own terms.

Kim and Margo explore what working behind the scenes in music and culture taught him about what artists actually need, why he continues to approach his work as a fan first, and the role community plays in building a sustainable creative life.

Margo and Kim discuss:

• How growing up in DIY punk, hip-hop, electronic music, and art scenes shaped Kim's approach to creativity and community
• What working with major artists and cultural platforms taught him about the realities of building a creative career
• Why Kim leads with a "fan first" mentality and how genuine curiosity has guided his career
• Why community is the invisible infrastructure behind so many successful creative careers
• Moving beyond the myth of the self-made artist and recognizing the people, resources, and relationships that help us grow
• Defining success on your own terms rather than following someone else's blueprint for a creative business
• The value of practical support—from sharing opportunities and resources to having someone a few steps ahead show you what's possible

Connect with Kim: Website: www.3pts.co Instagram: www.instagram.com/3ptsco Substack: 3pts.substack.com A monthly newsletter dedicated to sharing opportunities for makers such as grants, residencies, open calls, markets and more. https://us7.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=eb522373216e8266b4805a156&id=45f83f7c19 Connect with Margo: www.windowsillchats.com www.instagram.com/windowsillchats www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill

Margo is joined by author, creative writing coach, and video creator Abbie Emmons for a conversation about the power of storytelling and why our ability to tell meaningful stories is more instinctive than we might think. Abbie is the author of three novels and YouTube's most-watched creative writing coach, with a community of more than half a million writers worldwide. Margo and Abbie explore storytelling as something fundamentally human, why compelling stories begin with internal conflict, and how we can move beyond rigid rules, perfectionism, and self-doubt to reconnect with our natural creativity. Abbie's nonfiction debut, Make Your Story Matter, releases August 11, 2026.

Margo and Abbie discuss:

• Why storytelling is fundamentally human and helps us make sense of life
• The three pillars of relatable characters: desire, fear, and false belief
• Why internal conflict drives compelling stories and meaningful transformation
• How rules, expectations, and self-doubt can disconnect us from our natural creative instincts
• What neuroscience and creativity research reveal about losing—and rebuilding—creative confidence
• Creating from joy and curiosity rather than trends or external validation
• Moving through perfectionism, overwhelm, fear, and other creative blocks
• How to trust your instincts, reignite your storytelling spark, and create work that matters

Connect with Abbie: www.youtube.com/abbieemmons www.abbieemmonsauthor.com www.makeyourstorymatter.com

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

Margo is joined by Amy Wilderson, Brenda Olson, and Katy St. John—three artists whose distinct creative practices come together in Objects Through Time: Connection, Story, and Legacy, an exhibition exploring memory, heritage, and the unexpected stories hidden within everyday objects.

Amy is a multi-media visual artist whose metalsmithing and wirework transform forgotten treasures into meaningful jewelry and sculpture. Brenda is an illustrator, mixed media artist, and founder of Blueberry Road Cards, whose work celebrates storytelling, community, and creative connection. Katy is a Minneapolis-based photographer whose imaginative images blend artistry and narrative to capture what lies beneath the surface.

Together, the three discuss how collaboration across disciplines has challenged, inspired, and transformed each of their creative practices. They share how family heirlooms, found objects, and personal histories became the foundation for this exhibition, why vulnerability is essential to meaningful collaboration, and how art can preserve stories that might otherwise be forgotten.

Margo and Amy, Brenda, and Katy discuss:

• How three artists from different creative backgrounds came together to build a shared exhibition.

• Why ordinary objects often hold extraordinary stories of family, identity, and legacy.

• The role of trust, vulnerability, and honest conversation in successful creative collaboration.

• How working across different artistic mediums expanded each artist's perspective.

• The balance between honoring the past while creating something entirely new.

• Why taking small creative risks often leads to the biggest breakthroughs.

• How they hope visitors will reflect on their own treasured objects and personal histories.

• The power of art to spark conversation, connection, and a deeper appreciation for the stories we all carry.

Connect with Margo: www.windowsillchats.com www.instagram.com/windowsillchats www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill Connect with Katy, Brenda, and Amy: www.amyajewelry.com www.instagram.com/amyajewelry www.brendaolsonart.com www.instagram.com/brendaolsonart www.saintphoto.org www.instagram.com/_saintphoto

In this re-aired episode Margo is joined by art advisor, curator, and gallery owner Liz Lidgett. Liz's passion for art allowed her to see that competent art consulting for private companies and corporations was a need that wasn't being filled. With that in mind, she began her art consultation business, Adore Your Walls, in 2013. Since then, her business has grown and she recognized once again that online and national consulting – the type that exists for furniture and interior design – was completely absent for the world of art and has expanded her services, including a gallery space. With her developed expertise, Adore Your Walls has evolved into her new brand: Liz Lidgett Gallery + Design. Within the rebrand, Liz continues to consult, partner with artists and regularly contribute to design publications across the country. She represents 50 unique artists from around the world—with a commitment to always represent at least 50% women and/or BIPOC artists. Although her gallery is located in Des Moines, Iowa, they have an international reach, shipping 80% of the work they sell, and have sold to clients in 45 states and 7 countries.

It was important for Liz to create a gallery that operated in a way she felt galleries should operate, where artists were paid fairly and quickly, and where an approachable, non-pretentious experience is created for clients. Her mission is "Art For Everyone." Although they represent some very well-known artists like Hunt Slonem, Liz wants people to know that you don't have to be a millionaire to be an art collector. Liz has gained a huge following on social media by showcasing the art in her gallery, the artists, and fun facts about art.

Margo and Liz discuss:

• What led Liz to start her own gallery

• The important of creativity and adorning your walls with art

• How she has changed the landscape of Des Moines and surrounding cities with murals

• Why art collecting can be accessible for anyone, not just millionaires

• How to find your personal style in art and how to find art that fits with the design of your space (size, color palette, spacing with furniture, etc.)

• How she helps clients in being socially conscious with the art pieces — who the artist is, how they create, the reasoning behind a piece of art, etc.

• Her approach to buying and selling art

Connect with Liz:

https://www.lizlidgett.com/

https://www.instagram.com/lizlidgettgallery/

https://www.instagram.com/lizlidgett/

Ten Minute Masterpieces with Liz Lidgett

Margo is joined by Lisa Bardot, an illustrator, author, and Procreate educator who has spent the past decade helping people discover the joy of drawing digitally. She's the founder of Art Maker's Club, a thriving online membership for Procreate artists, creator of the Making Art Everyday drawing challenge, and the artist behind Bardot Brush, known for its popular Procreate brushes and tutorials. Lisa is making her second appearance on Windowsill Chats, and this time she's digging into what she's learned after years of building online creative communities — and why consistency and connection matter more than raw talent.

Margo and Lisa discuss:

• What Lisa has learned after years of running Making Art Everyday and Art Maker's Club, two of the most active creative communities in the Procreate space
• Why people join Art Maker's Club thinking they're there to learn Procreate — and why they actually stay for the consistency, encouragement, and friendships
• Why so many adults stop making art as they get older, and what it takes to reconnect with that creative side of themselves
• How small, sustainable creative habits can have a bigger impact than sporadic bursts of inspiration
• Why curiosity is often more valuable than talent when it comes to building a lasting creative practice
• Reflections on Founder's Month and four years of Art Maker's Club — what's changed, what's stayed the same, and what Lisa's most proud of
• Practical encouragement for anyone who's been wanting to try Procreate but doesn't know where to start
• A look at what's coming up during Art Maker's Club's Founder's Month celebration, including live tutorials, community events, and creative challenges

Connect with Lisa Bardot:

• Art Maker's Club: https://artmakersclub.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/lisabardot
• Procreate Brushes: https://bardotbrush.com
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@BardotBrush

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

Margo is joined by artist and entrepreneur Reese Emry for a heartfelt conversation about creativity, resilience, and following the unexpected twists of life. From humble beginnings in Spokane, Washington, through adventures in Waco, Round Top, and Austin, Texas, then North Carolina and Connecticut, Reese has woven creativity into every chapter of her life—flipping a "hoarder house," opening an antique shop, building a candle business, and ultimately finding her way to ceramics. Reese shares how she's learned to trust her own timing, embrace imperfection, and let her art evolve slowly and honestly, even when it doesn't fit a tidy narrative.

Margo and Reese discuss:

• How raising kids in a creatively infused home shapes their resilience, adaptability, and creative spirit
• The leap from the Pacific Northwest to Texas, opening (and later closing) a beloved antique shop in Waco to prioritize family
• Falling in love with ceramics, building a practice around what sells and what inspires, and living in a camper to keep the dream alive
• The courage to pivot, move, and explore without apology—including gap years and creative breaks
• Taking a chance on a booth at the Round Top Antique Show and the joy of finally connecting with the right audience
• Pushing back against the pressure for fast, algorithm-driven art in favor of slow, intentional creative evolution
• The influence of artists like de Kooning and Joan Mitchell, and finding inspiration in local makers and unexpected encounters
• Trusting your gut over outside perceptions of what a "clean" creative story should look like

Connect with Reese: ReeseEmry.com www.instagram.com/reeseemry

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