Creative Business Spark

Anne LaFollette
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Need help navigating through life after getting laid off from your job or as you approach retirement? Join Anne La Follette, former corporate Vice President, who reinvented herself in her late 50s after getting laid off from a job she loved. Becoming a successful creative entrepreneur from scratch was no easy feat. Anne brings her “can do” attitude and warm heart to support you in achieving your creative dreams at any age. Tune in for practical, step by step advice, whether you’re just dipping your toes into the entrepreneurial waters or you’ve got an established creative business that needs some “spark”. Welcome the The Creative Business Spark podcast where: It’s Never Too Late To Create®.

  1. 50. 7 Ways Creatives Turn Doodles into Income

    4D AGO

    50. 7 Ways Creatives Turn Doodles into Income

    SHOW NOTES 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, Anne walks through seven real ways creative women are earning income from their simple doodles, featuring nine students from her 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.  🔑 In This Episode You’ll Learn The 7 income paths available to surface pattern designers (and why most women combine more than one) How Debby McLaughlin went from software project manager to licensed designer with The Textile District Why your imperfect, hand-drawn style is exactly what buyers are looking for right now The subscription and commission models that most creatives overlook, and shouldn't What all 7 paths have in common (hint: they all start with one simple doodle) Links & Resources:   Join the Doodles Coaching Week. Get your $10 Early Bird Ticket HERE. Download Anne's free ebook: Craft a Career You Love in Surface Pattern Design Join The Doodles Digest HERE for weekly creative inspiration.   My Tools & Resources Page Adobe Illustrator Free Trial Kajabi Ecamm Live Some of these are affiliate links. I only recommend tools I personally use and love. Let’s Connect! Instagram: @annelafolletteart Website: https://www.annelafolletteart.com/ Facebook: Anne LaFollette Art

    21 min
  2. 49. Why I Shared So Many Emails Lately. Like A Lot. A Lot

    MAR 2

    49. Why I Shared So Many Emails Lately. Like A Lot. A Lot

    SHOW NOTES: Did you wonder why you received 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 you got so many emails, this episode is for you.  🔑 In This Episode You’ll Learn What affiliate marketing is  Why it can become an important part of your creative business Three main types of affiliate marketing, and Why your email list is the foundation of everything Links & Resources: My Tools & Resources Page Adobe Illustrator Free Trial Kajabi Ecamm Live These are my affiliate links. I only recommend tools I personally use and love. Let’s Connect! Instagram: @annelafolletteart Website: https://www.annelafolletteart.com/ Facebook: Anne LaFollette Art

    16 min
  3. 48. Spring Cleaning For Your Mind. Trash 5 Mindset Blocks That Hold You Back

    FEB 23

    48. Spring Cleaning For Your Mind. Trash 5 Mindset Blocks That Hold You Back

    SHOW NOTES 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 lies you've been carrying around for years. In this episode, let’s gets honest about the five mindset traps that keep creative women stuck. I share the moment I almost let fear win after getting laid off, and I’ll give you permission to throw those old stories in the trash. It’s spring cleaning for the mind! 🔑 In This Episode You’ll Learn: The 5 lies that keep creative women (especially over 50) from pursuing new skills My personal story of getting laid off and being terrified to open Adobe Illustrator Why imposter syndrome is lying to you about your abilities The truth about age and experience being your super power, not a limitation A simple spring cleaning exercise to let go of the belief that's holding you back most Links & Resources: Don’t miss Bonnie’s Immersion program. It’s only offered once a year. Click HERE to enroll through my affiliate link. Click HERE to watch the unboxing video where I show you the A-MA-ING course materials you’ll receive.  Note: I'm a proud affiliate partner for Bonnie's Immersion course. That means I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you, if you enroll through my link.  Let’s Connect! Instagram: @annelafolletteart Website: https://www.annelafolletteart.com/ Facebook: Anne LaFollette Art

    17 min
  4. 47. Is Bonnie Christine's Immersion Program Worth It?

    FEB 16

    47. Is Bonnie Christine's Immersion Program Worth It?

    Show Notes. 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. UNBOXING VIDEO! Head over to my YouTube channel to watch the video where I unbox the two gorgeous packages that you receive when you enroll. The materials inside are A-MAZ-ING! What You'll Learn in This Episode The Full Circle Philosophy Why Bonnie recorded this new version of Immersion from her garden How the "hands to computer to hands" approach creates meaningful work Understanding the complete creative cycle from inspiration to physical products What's Changed in Immersion 2026 The new documentary-style teaching format Less screen time, more hands-on creation How the course meets the moment we're living in right now Why Surface Pattern Design Matters Now The beautiful return to analog creativity happening globally How our life experience becomes our creative superpower (especially for women over 50) Why hand-crafted design will be more valuable than ever Important Links Click HERE to enroll through my affiliate link Click HERE to watch the unboxing video! * I'm a proud affiliate partner for Bonnie's Immersion course. That means I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you, if you enroll through my link.

    22 min
  5. 46. Print & Pattern Revival - A FREE Workshop with Bonnie Christine

    FEB 9

    46. Print & Pattern Revival - A FREE Workshop with Bonnie Christine

    SHOW NOTES: 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! 🔑 In This Episode You’ll Learn: My discovery story: finding Bonnie 8 years ago Why I call Bonnie Christine the GOAT in surface pattern design education What makes this free workshop different (video lessons + live sessions) The workshop schedule and what you'll learn each day How to register (it's completely free and you can sign up HERE. Links & Resources: Register for Print & Pattern Revival (FREE workshop Feb 11-16): From Doodles to Dollars® Workbook ($10) The Doodles Digest Newsletter (free) Let’s Connect! Instagram: @annelafolletteart Website: https://www.annelafolletteart.com/ Facebook: Anne LaFollette Art This episode mentions Bonnie Christine's Immersion course. Anne is an affiliate partner, which means she may earn a commission at no extra cost to you if you choose to enroll through her link.

    18 min
  6. 45. The One Thing Every Creative Needs in February

    FEB 2

    45. The One Thing Every Creative Needs in February

    Episode Description: Seventeen browser tabs open. Three YouTube tutorials playing at once. Four courses in your cart. And yet... you still haven't finished that one pattern you started three weeks ago. Sound familiar? In this episode, Anne shares why her Creative Business Mastermind is spending an entire quarter studying The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan—and how this one book is changing the way her students approach their 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. In This Episode, You'll Discover: The Domino Effect: One small domino can eventually topple a domino 50x its size Going Small to Win Big: Success comes from doing small things with extraordinary focus The Multitasking Myth: Multitasking is a distraction dressed up as productivity Time Blocking: The most successful people don't just think about priorities—they schedule them Success Leaves Clues: Follow the proven path instead of reinventing the wheel   Action Step for This Week: Write the Focusing Question on a sticky note and put it on your computer monitor: "What's the one thing I can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?" Then identify your ONE THING for the rest of February and time-block it on your calendar. Resources Mentioned: The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan From Doodles to Dollars® Workbook ($10) The Doodles Digest Newsletter (free) Connect With Anne: Website: annelafolletteart.com Instagram: @annelafolletteart Facebook: Anne LaFollette Art

    21 min
  7. 44. This Changed Everything. How I Discovered Surface Pattern Design

    JAN 26

    44. This Changed Everything. How I Discovered Surface Pattern Design

    Episode Description 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. 🔑 In This Episode You’ll Learn: How I made my first repeating pattern What surface pattern design actually is and a bit of inspiring history The many ways you can use pattern design: fabric, wrapping paper, stationery, home decor and more Links & Resources: FREE EBOOK: "How to Craft a Career in Surface Pattern Design" Carla Sonheim's online classes Teachers mentioned: Bonnie Christine, Elizabeth Olwen, Dylan Mierzwinski Historical designers: William Morris, Marimekko Let’s Connect! Instagram: @annelafolletteart Website:https://www.annelafolletteart.com/ Facebook: Anne LaFollette Art

    17 min
  8. 43. When You Don't Feel Ready For January, Do This

    JAN 19

    43. When You Don't Feel Ready For January, Do This

    EPISODE DESCRIPTION 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. What You'll Learn: Why we're measuring progress all wrong (and what to measure instead) How Janet went from "exploring what's next" to making progress across multiple fronts Why playing the long game beats chasing viral moments Links & Resources: Janet Hild's Work: Ink + Sun website: https://www.inkandsun.com/ Next Steps: Get started for just $10 with the From Doodles to Dollars® Workbook. Expand your surface pattern design skills in The Pattern Design Academy Self Study Program. Click HERE for details. Ready to expand your creative business? Explore The Creative Business Mastermind where I share my proven framework for building a successful and wildly profitable creative business online. By application only. Spot are limited. Click HERE for details and to apply. Join my email list and get my weekly Doodles Digest Newsletter.

    18 min
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About

Need help navigating through life after getting laid off from your job or as you approach retirement? Join Anne La Follette, former corporate Vice President, who reinvented herself in her late 50s after getting laid off from a job she loved. Becoming a successful creative entrepreneur from scratch was no easy feat. Anne brings her “can do” attitude and warm heart to support you in achieving your creative dreams at any age. Tune in for practical, step by step advice, whether you’re just dipping your toes into the entrepreneurial waters or you’ve got an established creative business that needs some “spark”. Welcome the The Creative Business Spark podcast where: It’s Never Too Late To Create®.

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