Episode 53: 3 Things That Changed When This Watercolor Artist Learned Pattern Design
A watercolor artist in a 40-person Swedish village used one new skill to turn a single thistle painting into pillows, tea towels, tote bags — and a line of linen dresses. Maria Ahl-Zanier is a watercolor artist living in a tiny village in southern Sweden. She had a thriving creative business — originals, handcrafted products, in-person classes. Then she learned to create repeating patterns. In this episode, I share Maria's journey and the three realities that became possible once she learned how to create repeating pattern designs. If you're a watercolor artist who has ever wondered whether surface pattern design might work for you, lean in!
Episode 52: Why I'm Practically Giving Away This Training - It’s only $10 Bucks!
Why does From Doodles to Dollars® Coaching Week cost just $10? I get real about the intentional philosophy behind the price — and what's actually waiting for you inside. If you've ever wondered whether a $10 course can really be worth your time, this episode is your answer.
Episode 51: I Almost Quit My Creative Business (Here's What Changed Everything)
Have you ever stood in a fabric store aisle and thought — why can't I ever find exactly what I need? In this episode, I'm sharing the story of a season when I nearly walked away from my creative business entirely — and the one skill that changed everything. We'll talk about the social media treadmill that exhausts so many creative entrepreneurs, the myth that more products equals more income, and the moment I realized that doing one thing really well will always outperform doing everything halfway. If you've ever felt overwhelmed, scattered, or like all your effort just isn't adding up — this one's for you.
Episode 50: 7 Ways Creatives Turn Doodles Into Income
Kyle Young sold over $1,000 in products at a church craft fair in just three hours, and she'd only recently started exploring surface pattern design. In this episode, I walk you through seven real ways creative women are earning income from their simple doodles, featuring nine students from my community who are doing it right now. Whether you're drawn to print-on-demand, licensing, craft fairs, teaching, or something you haven't even considered yet, this episode will show you what's possible.
Episode 49: Why You Got So Many Emails Lately. Like a lot. A lot!
Ever wonder why I sent so many emails during Bonnie Christine's Immersion launch? Today I'm pulling back the curtain on affiliate marketing — what it is, how I approach it, and why it can become an important part of your creative business. I break affiliate marketing into three simple buckets and share exactly how I think about recommending tools and programs to my community. Whether you're curious about affiliate marketing for your own business or just want to know why I sent so many emails, this episode is for you.
Episode 48: Stop Believing These 5 Lies: Spring Cleaning For Your Creative Mind
What's really standing between you and the creative life you want? It's not your age, your talent, or your tech skills — it's a collection of mindset blocks you've been carrying around for years. In this episode, let’s gets honest about the five traps that keep creative women stuck. I share the moment I almost let fear win after getting laid off, and I give you permission to throw those old stories in the trash. It’s spring cleaning for the mind!
Episode 47: Is Bonnie Christine’s Surface Design Immersion Program Worth It?
This year marks my eighth year blocking off my calendar for Bonnie Christine's Surface Design Immersion program, but this year feels completely different. Bonnie has reimagined her signature program from the ground up, and I’m excited to tell you this new approach is exactly what we need right now.
In this special podcast episode, I share why this course matters so much—not just for learning surface pattern design, but for reclaiming tangible creativity in our increasingly digital world.
NOTE: Head over to my YouTube channel to watch the video where I unbox the two gorgeous packages that you receive when you enroll.
Episode 46: Print & Pattern Revival: Learn from the GOAT
Eight years ago, I discovered Bonnie Christine and surface pattern design—and it changed everything. Today I'm inviting you to join Bonnie's free Print & Pattern Revival workshop (Feb 11-16) where she'll teach you how to create seamless repeating patterns and understand how the surface design industry really works. No experience needed—just a pencil and paper. This workshop is perfect whether you've grabbed my surface pattern design ebook or my Doodles workbook and want to go deeper, or you're completely new to pattern design. Learn from the GOAT herself!
Episode 45: The One Thing Every Creative Needs In February
Does this sound like you? Seventeen browser tabs open. Three YouTube tutorials waiting to be watched. New business books on the way from Amazon. And yet... you still haven't finished that one pattern you started three weeks ago. Sound familiar? In this episode, I share why my students are studying The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan—and how this one book could change the way you approach your creative businesses. If you've been feeling scattered, overwhelmed, or stuck in busy-ness instead of progress, this episode is your permission to go small so you can finally win big.
Episode 44: This Changed Everything. How I Found Surface Pattern Design
What if you discovered a creative career path that lets you see your designs on fabric, wrapping paper, and products worldwide? Listen to how I accidentally discovered surface pattern design in 2018 and how it transformed from a curiosity into a six-figure business. Whether you're exploring a creative second chapter or looking for a way to turn your artistic side into income, this episode reveals one of the best-kept secrets in the creative world.
Episode 43: When You Don’t Feel Ready for January, Do This
Feeling like you didn't make enough progress last year? Struggling with January's "fresh start" energy when you're just plain tired? This episode is for you.
I'm sharing the story of Janet Hild, a textile designer and Creative Business Mastermind member who accomplished three major business milestones in 2025—while raising three kids, teaching at the master's level, and working part-time jobs. Her story will help you reframe what progress actually looks like and recognize the wins you might be overlooking in your own creative journey.
Episode 42: When the Tank Is Empty, Listen. New Ideas Will Emerge
January often comes with pressure to feel motivated, organized, and ready to charge ahead. But what if that’s not the season you’re in?
In this episode, I’m sharing a more honest start to the year. I talk about entering my eighth year of business, navigating caregiving and health challenges, and noticing what happens when energy feels low instead of abundant.
Rather than pushing through exhaustion, this episode explores what it looks like to listen — to your body, your life, and the season you’re in — and how adjusting doesn’t mean quitting. Sometimes, it’s exactly how new ideas and new paths begin to emerge.
If you’ve been feeling behind, unmotivated, or unsure how to start this year, this conversation is for you.
Episode 41: Start Messy. Why Your First Repeating Pattern Doesn't Need to Be Perfect
What if I told you that making a terrible first repeating pattern is actually the secret to surface pattern design success? In this episode, I share my embarrassing first repeating pattern story (spoiler: it was awful) and explains why perfectionism is killing your creative dreams. As you listen, I want you to keep this in mind. Your first pattern is like your first pancake – it's supposed to be wonky. You're not too old, too late, or too anything. You're exactly where you need to be. The magic isn't in that first design being perfect. The magic is in starting.
Episode 40: My Birthday Gift to You: The Permission You've Been Waiting For
Want to know something embarrassing? When I was twelve, I was so frustrated about having a December 30th birthday – convinced everyone was just re-gifting Christmas presents – that I demanded to celebrate on my Saint's Day in July instead. I've carried shame and embarrassment about that demanding little girl for years. But here's what I realized as I celebrate my 68th birthday today: She wasn't selfish. She just wanted to feel special. She wanted her own moment. In this week’s episode, I’m gifting you some permission slips you probably need… Permission to forgive your younger you. Permission to start now. Permission to want what you want.
Episode 39: A Holiday Reflection on Peace, Possibility, and Pantone's Color of The Year
It’s two days before Christmas. Let’s celebrate and talk about Pantone's perfectly timed announcement of Cloud Dancer as the 2026 Color of the Year. You may think it’s just… WHITE! But I explore why this softest shade of white represents exactly what we need right now – not empty space, but possibility space. Space for reflection, which we all need.
Episode 38: The Power of Rest: Why Creative Downtime Matters
Publishing this podcast on a Sunday perfectly captures the challenge: As entrepreneurs, we work a lot! Entrepreneurial exhaustion is real and sometimes it's actually harder to rest as a creative business owner because there is always something to do. In this episode, I share how my walks transformed from restoration time into mobile strategy sessions with AI, and why I had to learn the hard way that creativity without rest leads to creative bankruptcy.
Episode 37: 2026 Goals That Work for Your Creative Brain
After learning the hard way during a disastrous Paris trip where I was stuck on late-night Zoom calls instead of enjoying family dinners, let’s dive into my favorite way to plan for the year ahead. I’ll share why starting with life first and building business goals second actually leads to greater success, not less.
Episode 36: How to Capture Your 2025 Wins
In this episode, I share my 8-year journey of learning how to effectively review and plan for business growth. I’ll reveal why skipping your year-end review is the biggest mistake you can make, even when your tracking wasn't perfect, and I’ll share my game-changing Post-it note system that makes both reviewing and planning visual, flexible, and actually doable.
Episode 35: A Thanksgiving Reflection on Creative Influence
In this Thanksgiving week episode, I share the story of how my mother and I used to alternate hosting family holidays, and what I learned from her generous approach to teaching hospitality. My mother was a fabulous hostess who had an incredible gift for making people feel completely at ease, using formal elegance that somehow felt completely welcoming.
Episode 34: When Creative Dreams Feel Too Big: Start Where You Are
In this encouraging and practical episode, I share my personal journey from corporate employee to creative entrepreneur, and the overwhelming feeling of facing a dream that seemed impossibly large compared to my starting point. After 30 years of following someone else's strategic vision, I found myself needing to create something completely from scratch, and I had no idea where to begin. I explore the crucial question that changed everything for me – what am I actually seeking underneath this dream? – and how clarifying whether you want a creative hobby or creative business determines every decision you make moving forward.