Windowsill Chats Margo Tantau

Margo is joined by self-taught artist, writer, and internationally recognized best-selling author Meera Lee Patel. Meera writes books that help people connect with themselves, each other, and the world around them. Her books & journals for everyone have sold well over a million copies and have been translated into more than a dozen languages worldwide. In 2021, Meera was awarded the Olin Fellowship to pursue her MFA in Illustration & Visual Culture at Washington University in St. Louis, MO. After spending many years waiting for “the right time” to pursue her first love, children’s literature, she’s finally following her heart. In the forthcoming years, while continuing her advocacy for greater mental health awareness through her work, she hopes to write and illustrate for children and the grownups who care for them.
 
Margo and Meera discuss:
Meera’s journey from feeling disconnected in her career to finding fulfillment through creativity
Upholding the values instilled by her immigrant parents
Managing her full time job and her creative career for 8 years and what it taught her
The importance of building resilience and discipline 
What she believes is the main difference between people who are successful or not successful
Having dedication to your vision
The vulnerability and unknown involved in deciding to work on oneself
Imposter syndrome as a self-taught artist and author
Why she decided to go to school for her MFA, how it’s been challenging, and how she’s used it as a unique opportunity
Navigating motherhood, marriage, and multiple family businesses
 
How It Feels to Find Yourself: Navigating Life's Changes with Purpose, Clarity, and Heart
 
Connect with Meera:
www.meeralee.com
www.instagram.com/meeraleepatel
https://twitter.com/meeraleepatel
https://meeraleepatel.substack.com/
 

Margo is joined by printmaker, surface designer, textile artist, and author Jen Hewett. Jen’s work combines her love of loud prints, 1970s maximalism, and saturated colors with the textures and light of the landscapes that surround her. In addition to creating her own products, Jen designs fabric for the quilting and home sewing market, and home collections for national manufacturers and retailers. Her clients include: Moda Fabrics, World Market, Anthropologie, Blue Sky Planners, and Brewster Home Fashions. She is the author of Print, Pattern, Sew, and This Long Thread: Women of Color on Craft, Community and Connection.
 
Margo and Jen discuss:
Her creative path from HR consulting to creative and where she got the courage to change career paths
Creating creative momentum
Finding harmony as a self-employed artist
Keeping your day job until your business is viable
Why she shares her income sources and breakdown publicly 
When and where she started to notice a lack of diversity within the craft community
Why she believes in selling her misprints (and why they often sell quickly)
Working in digital versus analog and her process for each
Some of her new collections and projects she’s looking forward to
And so much more
 
Connect with Jen:
https://jenhewett.com/
www.instagram.com/jenhewett
 

Margo is joined by Utah based photographer Justin Hackworth. Working throughout the United States for a variety of wedding, portrait, corporate and editorial clients, Justin's work has been shown in galleries throughout Utah and in publications such as Parade, Glamour, American Photo, The London Times, The Wall Street Journal, along with many others. In addition to his photography work, Justin is a sought-after speaker and educator, offering workshops and events, and even teaches as an adjunct professor at Utah Valley University.
 
Justin's unique style and engaging approach to photography have earned him a loyal following on social media, where he shares his insights and experiences with fellow photographers and enthusiasts. He is always trying new ideas, exploring what is possible with his camera and discovering new creative avenues, making him one of Utah's most sought after photographers.
 
Justin and Margo discuss:
His creative path and how he ended up in the field of photography (thanks to elective credits)
His longtime mentor and inspirer, Kent Miles
Learning and understanding what makes great light
The drawback to knowing what works and finding your style
The importance of not caring what others think in certain scenarios when it comes to creativity
His approach and process of getting to know his subjects before shooting
Overcoming fear when it comes to your creativity
How a clear vision is critical to quality
And much more
 
Connect with Justin:
www.justinhackworth.com
www.instagram.com/justinhackworth
 
Connect with Margo:
www.windowsillchats.com
www.instagram.com/windowsillchats
www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill

Margo is joined by productivity expert, author, and host of the "Take Tiny Action" podcast, Monique Malcolm. Monique helps overwhelmed women take control of their lives, one tiny action at a time. Her approach to coaching and personal development is holistic, taking into account the mental, emotional, and physical aspects of well-being. With her book "Don't Let Fear Have All the Fun" and one-on-one coaching, Monique helps clients overcome their fears and achieve their goals. Monique's larger mission is to help people see a greater possibility for their lives.
 
Margo and Monique chat about:
Her creative path and how she brings her ideas to life
The importance in building sustainable businesses that feel good
Having self-awareness around creating your own process
Releasing the “how” and trusting in your higher power
Owning the things that cause you fear
Creating structure and strategy in order to spend time being creative
Tuning into your greater possibility and opportunities
And more



Connect with Monique:
https://taketinyaction.com/
https://www.instagram.com/taketinyaction/
https://www.instagram.com/moniqueemalcolm/
Don't Let Fear Have All the Fun (Book)
 
Connect with Margo:
www.windowsillchats.com
www.instagram.com/windowsillchats
www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill
 

Margo is joined by self-taught artist Tammy Smith. Tammy founded her studio in 2009 after designing gifts, giftwrap and partyware at Hallmark Cards Inc. Her first art teachers being her father and grandmother, Tammy’s first business was making large scale stained glass windows in her parents basement. After Hallmark, she began making mixed media wire and clay sculptures that she sold at art fairs around the country and the desire for stability eventually led to the online business she runs today.
In the past, Tammy has also illustrated children's books for Henry Holt, designed wire garden accessories and holiday collections for Studio M and Midwest CBK and licensed her surface pattern designs to Graphique de France and Unique Industries to name a few.
Margo and Tammy discuss:
Her creative and multi-faceted career How she thinks up new concepts and why it’s her favorite part of the creative process Winning best in show at multiple art fairs Having resilience in the art industry Running an Etsy shop (Small Ideas Studio) Creating authentic connections within the art community And more Connect with Tammy:
https://www.tammysmithdesign.com
https://www.etsy.com/shop/smallideasstudio
 
Connect with Margo:
www.windowsillchats.com
www.instagram.com/windowsillchats
www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill
 

Margo is joined by art agency owner and founder, Julie Ager. Julie started her career with twelve years of consulting on consumer product buying behavior with major mass merchandisers, department stores and other manufacturers and retailers throughout the United States, as well as Mexico and South Africa. From there she started the ADG agency in 1997 in partnership with a few close artist friends. Julie knows that developing great products requires more than great art and design; it requires teamwork, collaboration and a comprehensive understanding of today’s market which is why she built ADG on the foundation of partnership, creativity, integrity, and longevity.
 
Margo and Julie discuss:
Her path from consultant to agency founder
What she looks for in artists she represents
What it’s like to run a small, sustainable art agency
Navigating the customer journey as an artist and understanding the different roles required
Manufacturing relationships
How to move the consumer along and knowing who you’re selling to
The ecosystem of agent-artist-product manager relationships within her own business
What a product manager thinks about when trying to create a product that their customers will buy
And more
 
Connect with Julie:
https://artsdg.com/
 
Connect with Margo:
www.windowsillchats.com
www.instagram.com/windowsillchats
www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill