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.

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In this episode, I share my journey from corporate job loss and creative isolation to discovering the transformative power of a creative community through a local co-working space. I explore why the myth of the solitary artist is actually harmful to working creatives and how an authentic community provides perspective, solutions, and accountability that you simply cannot achieve alone. As we approach 2026, I discuss the importance of both online communities and in-person connection, address the current "trust recession", and explain how a community can support you when you’re feeling lost or isolated.

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In this episode, I share my journey from corporate job loss and creative isolation to discovering the transformative power of a creative community through a local co-working space. I explore why the myth of the solitary artist is actually harmful to working creatives and how an authentic community provides perspective, solutions, and accountability that you simply cannot achieve alone. As we approach 2026, I discuss the importance of both online communities and in-person connection, address the current "trust recession", and explain how a community can support you when you’re feeling lost or isolated.

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In this reflective and inspiring episode, I explore how planning your Thanksgiving tablescape is actually a comprehensive creative exercise that showcases every artistic talent you possess. I share why November's natural rhythm of harvest and gathering creates the perfect environment for artistic reflection…

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In this episode, I share the story of how getting laid off from my corporate job led me to discover my first online art class and ultimately changed my entire perspective on creative businesses. I explore the biggest fear that stops most creative people from monetizing their work.

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In this personal (and practical) episode, I share my own struggles with creative confidence, including my confession about collecting beautiful sketchbooks I'm afraid to use. I explore why real creative confidence isn't the absence of doubt but the willingness to create despite it, especially as we move into the introspective months of late fall and early winter.

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Come listen to the remarkable and inspiring story of Maria Ahl-Zanier, a Swedish watercolor artist who built a thriving multi-stream business from her grandparents converted barn. Through Maria's journey from successful watercolor artist to thriving creative entrepreneur, you’ll learn about masterminds…

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In this inspiring episode, let’s celebrate these Pattern Design Academy® students who transformed from complete beginners into confident pattern designers in just nine weeks. Gain powerful insights about the mindset shifts that separate struggling creatives from thriving ones…

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Ready to turn your creativity into revenue this holiday season? In this episode, I walk you through a simple checklist to prepare your creative business for Black Friday, without overwhelm. From picking the right promotions to prepping your products, this will help you get started with clarity.

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Craft fairs can be a fantastic way to get your art out into the world, especially during the busy holiday season. In this episode, I share the story of my first craft fair (spoiler alert: it was a big success!) and walk through some key things to keep in mind as you prepare for your own. From product planning to pricing to collecting emails, this is your roadmap to making craft fairs work for you.

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Have you ever lost your surface pattern design files or spent way too much time searching for that one design? I’ve been there. In today’s episode, I’m sharing the exact 5-part system I use to organize my design files so everything stays clear, consistent, and easy to find. Whether you’re just starting out or feeling buried in a sea of files, this episode will help you bring order to the chaos.

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In this episode, I share why your old sketchbooks might be the best source of new inspiration. And how revisiting them helped shape the branding for Anne’s Atelier. Learn how to rediscover your early ideas, bring them to life with fresh eyes, and save time in your creative process.

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In this episode, I’m walking you through how to get your artwork licensing-ready this fall. And why the timing matters more than you think. We’ll talk about how the art licensing timeline works, what to include in your portfolio, and five steps you can take this week to start pitching your work with confidence.

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This episode shines a light on something truly special: the SAGE Designers. A collective of women from my surface design programs who’ve come together to support each other, create themed collections, and grow their surface design businesses. We’ll explore how they work, the power of collaboration, and why this model might just inspire your next creative leap.

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In this episode, I’m sharing the top 3 creative and business tools I rely on every week. These platforms keep my business running smoothly behind the scenes. And help me balance my time between running the business and creating new designs.

Whether you're just starting or scaling your creative business, these tools can make your life easier and less stressful. 

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After a slower summer, it’s completely normal to feel a little out of sync with your creative goals. But here’s the good news: fall is one of the best times to reset and reignite your momentum. In this episode, I’ll walk you through why now is such a powerful window for creatives, and how you can get back into the flow without the overwhelm.

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Starting something new can be scary—especially when you’ve been thinking about it for years. In this episode, I’m sharing what finally nudged me to launch The Creative Business Spark, how I used my existing tools to keep things simple, and why short-form episodes have been a surprising hit.

I also talk about the power of repurposing content and why “just starting” is often the hardest (and most important!) part. If you’ve been waiting for the perfect time to take action on a big idea, I hope this encourages you to move forward, even if it’s messy.

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In this episode, I’m giving you a behind-the-scenes look and sharing lessons learned at The Creative Business Blueprint LIVE, my recent 3-day virtual event.

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In this episode, I’m sharing a framework I love. One that helps me, and I believe will help you, show up fully for both our art and our business.

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In this episode, we dive into one of the biggest challenges creative entrepreneurs face: how to balance your own creative practice with the demands of running a business.

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