Windowsill Chats

In this episode of Windowsill Chats, Margo is joined by the brilliant and multifaceted Vincent Wanga—an international design thought leader, award-winning creative executive, keynote speaker, and author of The Art of Direction. With a career spanning two decades, Vince has not only built brands but built pathways for creatives to rise into leadership, blending vision, empathy, and business acumen. Margo and Vince dive deep into the rarely talked about pivot from doing creative work to leading it—unpacking the realities behind creative direction and what it truly takes to thrive in high-impact leadership roles.

Margo and Vince discuss:

• What creative directors actually do—and why no one talks about it

• The soft skills that define strong leadership (spoiler: empathy leads the pack)

• Navigating the blurred line between creativity and strategy

• How to lead with integrity and inspiration in fast-paced, tech-forward industries

• Vince's personal journey from designer to executive at a billion-dollar startup

• The importance of mentorship and representation in creative leadership

• How creatives can stay grounded in their artistry while scaling their careers

• Actionable tips from The Art of Direction for moving beyond individual contributor roles

• Why AI won't replace the creative soul—but how we do need to adapt

Whether you're a designer, artist, or creative professional wondering what's next, this conversation will equip you with clarity, direction, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Connect with Vince: https://www.vincentwanga.com

Book: The Art of Direction

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/vincent-wanga

Connect with Margo: https://www.tantaustudio.com

https://www.instagram.com/windowsillchats/

https://www.patreon.com/c/inthewindowsill

https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

Margo is joined by Molly Balint, creative entrepreneur, mentor, and founder of the SOFT Business movement. Molly helps women break away from hustle culture to build businesses that are as nourishing as they are profitable—centered around heart, balance, and alignment. With a background in storytelling, community-building, and soulful mentorship, Molly brings a grounded, compassionate lens to what it means to show up authentically in business today.

In this heartfelt conversation, Margo and Molly explore what it really takes to create a business rooted in your values, especially in a digital world that often prizes noise over nuance. Molly opens up about the inner work required to break free from old patterns, the difference between performative vulnerability and authentic presence, and how redefining success through softness can be a powerful act of creative leadership.

Margo and Molly discuss:

• Molly's personal evolution from hustle-fueled creative to SOFT Business mentor.

• The deeper inner work needed before brand strategy can be effective.

• Why "just be yourself" advice often misses the mark—and how to do it in a way that feels safe and true.

• What the SOFT Business model looks like in practice (and how it doesn't mean being less ambitious).

• Letting go of productivity pressure and embracing cycles, seasons, and boundaries.

• Instagram storytelling as a tool for connection, not performance.

• Navigating vulnerability, visibility, and personal boundaries online.

• How motherhood, farm life, and creative business coexist on Molly's 300-acre Maryland farm.

• Why softness isn't weakness—it's a radical, sustainable strength.

Connect with Molly: www.mollybalint.com

https://www.instagram.com/molly.balint

https://softbusinessclub.co/

Connect with Margo: www.windowsillchats.comwww.instagram.com/windowsillchats

https://www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill

https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

Margo is joined by multi-passionate creative Kim Bloomberg, the joyful force behind Studio Art Beat. A fine artist, educator, and self-proclaimed art supply nerd, Kim brings a refreshing perspective to the creative journey—one that's less about staying in your lane and more about following curiosity wherever it leads. With a background in both fine art and education, over two decades of teaching experience, and years running her own jewelry business, Kim shares how she ultimately found fulfillment by embracing her ADHD-fueled love for switching mediums and diving headfirst into new materials.

After leaving behind the New York hustle for the artistic charm of Chicago's North Shore, Kim launched Studio Art Beat as an inclusive space to demystify art and make creativity accessible to all ages. She now leads workshops, partners with brands like Gelli Arts, and teaches online courses—including one that brings rhinestone bedazzling to the masses. Through her story, Kim reminds us that freedom, play, and experimentation are not distractions—they're the path.

Margo and Kim discuss:

• Growing up in an art-loving family and the creative influence of her parents and grandfather.

• Letting go of a long-term jewelry business and the guilt that came with that decision.

• How embracing her neurodivergent brain led to business clarity and personal joy.

• Turning her natural desire to switch mediums into a strength rather than a struggle.

• Building an online art education platform that's welcoming, inclusive, and non-intimidating.

• Why sharing her process openly (rather than gatekeeping) has helped her business grow.

• Collaborating with brands while maintaining authenticity and community connection.

• The value of playful creativity for both kids and adults—and why it's never too late to start.

• How she's made rhinestones cool again with her Cricut-powered online course.

• The beauty in allowing your creative identity to evolve—and giving others permission to do the same.

Connect with Kim: www.studioartbeat.com

www.instagram.com/studioartbeat

Connect with Margo: https://www.windowsillchats.com

https://www.instagram.com/windowsillchats

https://www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill

https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

Margo and Abby catch up on emerging art fairs, AI-fueled creativity, and an unexpected Spotify collab in the latest episode of Creative Current Events, a special segment of Windowsill Chats. This round of curious and creative conversation touches on everything from practical tips for artists and makers to heartwarming stories and pop culture fun.

They dig into the impact of recent tariff shifts on small businesses, celebrate alternative art fairs that uplift emerging artists, and spotlight muralists transforming both interiors and cityscapes. You'll also hear about a cross-country artist on a mission, royalty-free music with a mission, and a billion-dollar design app you probably use (but may not know the backstory of). Plus: AI tools worth trying, Stanley's branding genius with Post Malone, and what happened when a kid got too close to a Rothko.

As always, there's a little something for everyone—whether you're looking for inspiration, useful resources, or just a reason to smile. Don't forget to let us know what sparked your creativity this week!

Articles Mentioned:

Tariff Chart

https://www.piie.com/research/piie-charts/2019/us-china-trade-war-tariffs-date-chart

The alternative art fairs championing emerging artists

https://www.wallpaper.com/art/best-art-fairs-for-emerging-artists

Murals have moved indoors

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/13/style/murals-interiors-wall-art.html

Kreh Mellick

https://www.instagram.com/krehmellick/

Murals Outdoors

https://www.instagram.com/mantrarea/?hl=en

50-50 Project

https://www.cheyennerenee.com

Artivive App allows augmented reality Tracy Dawn Brewer

https://www.artivive.com/

7 genius chatbot prompts that will instantly boost your ideas

https://www.tomsguide.com/ai/7-genius-gemini-prompts-that-will-instantly-boost-your-ideas

Child damages Rothko work at Rotterdam museum

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/04/29/child-damages-rothko-work-at-rotterdam-museum

V & A East Storehouse

https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/about-va-east-storehouse?srsltid=AfmBOooad4l6QVnVru427Vuem0kb6PpKDh0ZLLWpF3J1AaRpxFwdgIhK

The Story of Canva

https://www.instagram.com/p/DHSgugYIE02/?hl=en&img_index=1

Royalty Free Music by Moby

https://mobygratis.com/

Stanley & Post Malone Collaboration

https://www.stanley1913.com/collections/post-malone-stanley-collab-2025

Barilla pasta playlist

https://open.spotify.com/user/w2p1oq867ns7jele6g3lw66fk

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 business coach and podcast host Nikita Williams in a conversation on building a business—and a life—that honors your whole self. Living with multiple chronic illnesses, Nikita has learned how to redefine success, make peace with limitations, and turn her lived experience into a source of power and purpose. She and Margo explore what it looks like to craft a creative path that makes space for rest, joy, and authenticity—without burning out or hiding who you are. They discuss the real and raw journey of navigating health challenges as a creative woman of color, how podcasting became a lifeline and legacy, and the importance of building businesses based on actual capacity. Nikita invites listeners to rethink hustle culture and embrace the art of doing what you can, when you can—with intention, honesty, and hope.

Margo and Nikita discuss:

• How living with chronic illness shapes identity, business, and self-advocacy

• Turning your limits into superpowers—what resilience really looks like

• The unique layers of being a woman of color with invisible illnesses

• The three phases of chronic illness: "newbie," awareness, and OG

• Designing a business around your capacity (not your ideal self)

• Why storytelling and being witnessed are critical for healing

• Moving from hustle to harmony: redefining productivity and rest

• Structuring your work and life to honor flare days and energy rhythms

• Managing comparison, creative permission, and celebrating your own pace

Connect with Nikita: www.thrivewithnikita.com

www.instagram.com/thrivewithnikita

https://www.craftedtothrive.com/

Connect with Margo:

www.windowsillchats.com

www.instagram.com/windowsillchats

www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill

Margo is joined by creative couple Steve and Mary Jo Hoffman for a tender, thought-provoking conversation about resilience, reinvention, and the art of intentional living. In the wake of losing their family home to a fire, Steve and Mary Jo open up about what it means to rebuild—not just a house, but an entire way of living. They share how their individual creative practices continue to evolve, how they support one another through parallel play and creative autonomy, and how loss clarified what truly matters.

About Mary Jo Hoffman: Mary Jo is an artist and photographer best known for her project STILL, a daily nature photography practice that blossomed into a decade-long blog and the book STILL: The Art of Noticing. Her images and essays capture the quiet beauty of everyday natural objects and invite readers to see the world with fresh eyes. She lives in Shoreview, Minnesota, with her husband Steve and their puggle Jack, who joins her on daily foraging walks.

About Steve Hoffman: Steve is a James Beard Award–winning writer whose debut memoir, A Season for That, chronicles his family's relocation to southern France and the unexpected beauty found in ordinary food, people, and rhythms. A tax preparer by day and food writer by heart, Steve's work has appeared in The Washington Post, Food & Wine, and The Minneapolis Star Tribune. He lives with Mary Jo on Turtle Lake, surrounded by bees, cranes, and creative inspiration.

Margo, Steve, and Mary Jo discuss:

• Navigating loss and rebuilding with intention after the fire that destroyed their home and studios

• How daily creative rituals can ground and guide us through upheaval

• The power of noticing: Mary Jo's journey with STILL and the discipline of paying attention

• Writing memoir and confronting vulnerability in Steve's A Season for That

• What it means to live in a "total work of art" and create a life aligned with your values

• How partnership and creativity intertwine without merging

• Embracing slow living, meaningful routines, and the grace found in the everyday

Previous Episodes with Mary Jo & Steve

• Episode 197: "Finding Beauty in Everyday Life: The Power of Creative Practice and the Art of Noticing with Mary Jo Hoffman"

• Episode 209: "A Season for Change: Steve Hoffman on New Perspectives, Culture, and Finding a Sense of Belonging"

Connect with Steve Hoffman:

www.sjrhoffman.com

https://www.instagram.com/sjrhoffman/

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

Margo and Abby catch up on pink taxes, party store shakeups, and grandma hobbies making a comeback in the latest episode of Creative Current Events. This special segment of Windowsill Chats dives into cultural shifts, small business realities, and brand storytelling that's catching their creative eye. They also explore how big-box stores like Michaels are filling retail voids left by Party City, how hobby shops in the UK are struggling, and what all this means for the crafting world. The conversation also dives into the rising conversation around the Pink Tax and Pink Tariffs—and how these unseen costs hit both consumers and creative entrepreneurs. Plus: a fresh look at niche content creation, a POD platform for artists, why Uniqlo is serving coffee now, and the nostalgic charm of slow, tactile hobbies like embroidery, crochet, and calligraphy.

Articles Mentioned:

Michaels & Party City https://finance.yahoo.com/news/michaels-seeing-void-left-party-133819782.html

HobbyCraft Decline in the UK https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y651327eko

The Pink Tax https://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/taxes/articles/the-pink-tax-costs-women-thousands-of-dollars-over-their-lifetimes

Pink Tariffs on Women's Clothing https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/16/business/womens-clothes-pink-tariffs/index.html

eeBoo Founder on Tariffs Impacting Small Businesses https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBRplSmhI-8

Canvastry Print-on-Demand Platform https://www.canvastrywholesale.com/

Grandma Hobbies Are In https://theeverymom.com/grandma-hobbies/

Uniqlo's NYC Coffee Shop & Lifestyle Strategy https://ny.eater.com/2025/3/19/24388687/uniqlo-coffee-open-nyc-cafe-manhattan https://www.uniqlo.com/us/en/contents/lifewear-magazine/styling/

Den of Pin (Hyper-niche Community Building) https://www.instagram.com/den_of_pin/

Yeti Product Storytelling Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSpdnXWlgJg

Huckberry's Cinematic Product Launch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFtu6Bi-blY

Amy Poehler & Rashida Jones Launch "Good Hang" Podcast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF-p8z_R2q0

Connect with Abby: https://www.abbyjcampbell.com/ Instagram: @ajcampkcPinterest: @ajcampbell

Connect with Margo: www.windowsillchats.comwww.instagram.com/windowsillchats www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill The Foundry at Tantau Studio

Margo is joined by writer, coach, and retreat leader Maria Bowler for a conversation about redefining creativity beyond the limits of productivity. Maria helps creatives transform resistance into clarity and insight, drawing on her background as a magazine editor, creative writing teacher, and holder of a master's degree in religion and the arts from Yale University. Originally from Canada, she now lives with her family in the Driftless region of the U.S., where she continues to explore and teach a more holistic approach to creative living.

Margo and Maria discuss:

• Maria's creative journey, from childhood passion to overcoming major blocks

• How to redefine resistance as a valuable teacher rather than an obstacle

• The differences between productivity and creativity—and why confusing the two leads to burnout

• Seeing creativity as a collaboration with life, not just a series of tasks

• The impact of perfectionism on creative expression and how to loosen its grip

• Embracing whole-life creativity as part of daily living, not a separate act

• Balancing creative output with essential intake and inspiration

• Giving yourself permission to make mistakes and stay curious

• Practical strategies for reconnecting with creativity during stuck periods

• Highlights from Maria's new book Making Time: A New Vision for Crafting a Life Beyond Productivity

Connect with Maria:

www.mariabowler.com

www.mariabowler.substack.com

https://www.instagram.com/mariaevbowler

Connect with Margo:

www.windowsillchats.com

@windowsillchats

www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill

https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

Margo is joined by Monika Forsberg, an award-winning illustrator and surface pattern designer known for her playful, colorful, and striking work across books, fabrics, homewares, toys, and more. Born and raised in a small coastal town in Swedish Lapland, Monika moved to London in 1995 where she now lives with her husband, two children, and a delightful mix of pets. She's a keen swimmer, aspiring stamp collector, and former animator who believes in being versatile over niche. Her work is rich with curiosity, imagination, and a deep love for creative exploration. In this warm and meandering conversation, Monika and Margo dive into the layered realities of a creative career—one that doesn't always follow a linear path but is all the more beautiful for it.

Margo and Monika discuss:

• Monika's upbringing in Swedish Lapland and how it shaped her worldview

• Moving to the UK and studying art in multiple forms

• Embracing versatility over specialization in creative work

• The joys (and challenges) of working with client briefs

• Why personal projects are essential to her process

• How she uses Instagram and Substack to share more authentically

• Dreaming up whimsical projects—like a fantastical fair

• Approaching tricky client relationships with honesty and grace

• Continuing to grow, shift, and stay creatively energized

Connect with Monika:

Website: walkyland.com

Instagram: @monika_forsberg

Connect with Margo:

Website: www.windowsillchats.com

Instagram: @windowsillchats

Patreon: www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill

The Foundry: https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

Margo is joined by Brian Selznick, the wildly imaginative author and illustrator whose groundbreaking books have redefined how we tell stories. Known for seamlessly blending text and image in powerful, cinematic ways, Brian shares the origins of his creative process, the stories behind his best-known works, and the magic of collaborative art-making. Together, they explore what it means to honor both the reader and the story, why grief and love are ever-present themes in his work, and how he approaches retelling iconic tales through fresh and inclusive lenses. From The Invention of Hugo Cabret to Run Away With Me, Brian's work invites readers into deeply felt worlds where art and narrative become one.

Margo and Brian discuss:

• The start of Brian's creative process and how he moves from words to illustration

• His unique storytelling style and cinematic inspirations

• What it was like to have The Invention of Hugo Cabret adapted by Martin Scorsese

• Collaborating with director Todd Haynes on the Wonderstruck film adaptation

• His philosophy on creative ownership and openness in adaptations

• Designing the 20th anniversary covers for the Harry Potter series and grappling with the controversies surrounding J.K. Rowling.

• The importance of telling authentic queer love stories in his new novel Run Away With Me

• Exploring universal themes of love, grief, and time in narrative

• The reimagining of The Nutcracker with a historical, class-conscious twist

• How Brian sees the future of storytelling as both expansive and inclusive

Connect with Brian:

https://brianselznick.com

https://instagram.com/thebrianselznick

Connect with Margo:

www.windowsillchats.com

www.instagram.com/windowsillchats

www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill

https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry