Windowsill Chats

Margo is joined by Lisa Solomon. A teacher by trade, it took Lisa years to call herself an artist first. As a half Japanese, half Jewish [Eastern European] Caucasian woman, hybridization is literally a part of her DNA and shows itself often in her practice. Lisa's mixed media works revolve thematically around discovering her heritage, the notion of domesticity, craft, feminism, and the pursuit of...

Margo is joined by Toni Santos, otherwise known as Baby Buddha of Baby Buddha Studio out of Seattle, WA. Storefronts, portraits, and beloved images of everyday ordinary life are the subjects for Toni's art that are then used for cards and other handmade products. After practicing architecture for 28 years, there was a drop in design work for a few years and so she took the opportunity to learn the...

Margo chats with Healthy Aging Expert, Lisa Murphy. You may be wondering what that has to do with creativity but Lisa has reinvented herself several times throughout her life and encourages and empowers her clients to do the same. Creator of the RAV (Relevant, Active and Vibrant) Protocol, her programs help curious and open-minded women feel better with age, not worse, so that they can remain rele...

Sharing an episode from our friends over at Broken Record. On Broken Record, acclaimed producer Rick Rubin, bestselling author Malcom Gladwell, and former New York Times editor Bruce Headlam talk with the musicians you love about their lives, inspiration, and craft. Rick Rubin has interviewed so many great artists over the years—including Andre 3000, Nas, and Neil Young. Today we will hear Rick's...

Margo sits down with West Coast based photographer Christopher Dibble. Chris studied at Art Center College of Design and has spent his career photographing projects for commercial and editorial clients, designers, artists, and architects. Specializing in lifestyle interiors and portraiture, he has been interviewed by Popular Photography Magazine about his environmental portraiture and was selected...

Margo is joined by Natasha McCrary of 1818 Farms. After one of Natasha's sons became interested in raising his own sheep, she began to dream of her own plans for a small profitable farm where she could teach her children to appreciate the land and animals and to be good conservationists as well as learn the importance of sustainability and eating local "real" food.   Located on three acres in the...

Margo is joined by Sophia Cosmas to discuss the subject of artmaking as a response to grief stemming from her own personal experiences. Sophia observed that over the last 20 years, with five significant losses, her grief has been compounded, but her response has, each time, been to immerse herself in intensive art making. In her experience grief takes innumerable forms and is not something that is...

Margo is joined by friend and creative whom she met while working at Hallmark in Kansas City, Abby Campbell. Abby has always had a passion for photos of all kinds and the love of visual art took her to the University of Central Missouri where she received a BS in Broadcasting and Film. This is where she began to really learn the art of storytelling through photos and video.  Fast forward, she spen...

Margo chats with friend, author, cocktail connoisseur, and PR expert Beth Nydick. Beth is a former TV producer and New Jersey-based publicity and business strategist who develops entrepreneurs and media personalities, to go from "Undiscovered to Unforgettable". The term PR can be a bit daunting or may even sound like something you don't need at this point in your creative career but Beth will assu...

Margo is joined by Hannah Curtis and Bev Cunningham, together known as the Creative Card Collective. Founded in 2019 and then re-launched in 2021, they teamed up to take the collective to a new level. The Creative Card Collective is an online membership for any creative working or wishing to work in the greeting card industry. The membership not only offers invaluable information, advice, inspirat...

This week, Margo chats with Minneapolis-based mixed media artist Amy Rice. Amy's nostalgic, subtly street-art influenced works are deeply defined by her Midwestern roots and growing up in a rural area, she found inspiration in the surrounding flora and fauna. Over the course of her career she has developed an appreciation for the simplistic yet beautiful things in life. While exhibiting her work e...

Margo is joined by Holly Thomas Stein, the artist behind HTS Studios. Holly has been an artist for as long as she can remember, from crayons to computers and everywhere in between. In 30+ years as a self-employed artist, Holly has been a graphic designer, illustrator, metalsmith and mixed media artist as well as owned an art gallery and taught jewelry making. She's been fortunate to work with amaz...

I'm sharing a special preview of a podcast I've been enjoying, Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso, from Pushkin Industries. Talk Easy is a weekly interview podcast, where writer Sam Fragoso invites actors, writers, activists, and politicians to come to the table and speak from the heart in ways you probably haven't heard from them before. Driven by curiosity, he has  revealing conversations with guests li...

In this episode, Margo chats with art director, writer, and editor in chief of The New Maturity, Heath Brockwell. Heath's work synthesizes motivational and accessible ideas on how to create a life you love sharing a range of ideas from making a great meal for your family to ways you can have a fantastic day. When Heath was young he was obsessed with magazines. He would devour them, tear them apart...

Margo is joined by Katie Johnson and Ilana Griffo who are the co-owners at Goodtype, an inclusive community for people who love the art of typography, providing a collection of educational resources, unique perspectives, and inspiration to support their personal and professional growth. Katie and Ilana are not here for added fluff, but get right to the point and share transparently about how to bu...

Margo is joined by English artist, Lucinda Kidney. Lucinda is from Surrey, UK but was born in Kenya which has shaped much of her life today. Her work is inspired by nature, the history of found objects and family heirlooms and she carries on a rich family legacy of exploration and discovery. Lucinda's art conveys a nostalgic yet modern charm giving the viewer a certain comfort, belonging and still...

Margo is joined by the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of lines and color aka Dave Arcade. Dave is an Illustrator with a degree in graphic design and his style is born of his inner designer doing its best to talk down the numerous influences of his youth. He left behind a 10 year career as an art director to pursue freelance illustration. He has a true depth of style that delivers a one-two punch...

I'm sharing a special preview of a podcast I've been enjoying, Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso, from Pushkin Industries. Talk Easy is a weekly interview podcast, where writer Sam Fragoso invites actors, writers, activists, and politicians to come to the table and speak from the heart in ways you probably haven't heard from them before. Driven by curiosity, he's had revealing conversations with everyone...

Margo is joined by the multi-faceted, passionate, creative genius Kate Shepherd. Kate spent her whole life busily and successfully manifesting all the things. Money. A great jewelry brand. An expensive home in a big city. But still there was something missing... and it wasn't material. As a lifelong artist, creativity has been her greatest friend and constant companion, the one thing that has neve...

Margo has a fascinating and unique conversation about the magnificent Church of Saint Germain des Prés, and what is being done to preserve its rich and layered history with David Sheppe. David has enjoyed a long career in international banking and was living and working in Paris in the 1980s when he first took an interest in the church of Saint Germain des Prés, and he has been a frequent visitor...

Margo has a wonderful conversation with visual artist and cat lover Terry Runyan where they dig into the inner critic conversation that comes up no matter how experienced you are and granting yourself permission. For many years, Terry has lived with a very strong inner critic and tied her personal value to the art that she created but deep into her career at Hallmark she realized how greatly this...

Margo is switching gears this week to discuss intuitive wisdom, self-care, and wellbeing through the development and deepening of self-awareness and how it ties into your creative practice. She is joined by Kristen Elizabeth of In Wild Bloom who combines coaching strategies with elements of creative expression and yoga to help individuals create their own version of wellness. She knows through exp...

Margo is joined once again by artist, designer and creator of online art and creativity courses, Este MacLeod. Este was previously on episode 16 to discuss being an authentic artist and understanding your own creative brand and this time she's back to chat about all things color. Este's paintings are informed by the real and the imaginary. A background in textile and ceramic design is evident in t...

This week, Margo chats with Annie McGee, a history loving illustrator and pattern designer. Annie currently lives in Cheshire, England with her husband and two children and loves to feather her nest by exploring all kinds of crafts, declaring herself to be a renaissance soul who loves to dive into multiple mediums. Her creative journey has been driven by her experience of chronic illness, disabili...

This week, Margo is joined by Debbie Saviano who represents individuals who wish to transition into another career as she has done it successfully three times herself. Her first transition was from a rewarding career in education into the sphere of social media, then she co-launched a women's education platform to expand their businesses, and finally, she now focuses on how to use social media to...