Windowsill Chats

Afleveringen

1. Just Because It's Working Doesn't Mean You Have to Keep Doing It with Lisa Congdon

   4 november 2026 · 1 uur 22 min

   Afspelen
   Longtime friend of Windowsill Chats and beloved artist, author, and creative entrepreneur Lisa Congdon is back for another heartfelt conversation. This time, Lisa is sharing a major shift in her creative career: the decision to step away from her thriving retail business and make more room for the thing that started it all—making art. Lees meer

   Margo and Lisa explore what it means to let go of something successful when it no longer aligns with the life you want to live. From the emotional weight of closing a chapter and saying goodbye to a team, to questioning the idea that bigger is always better, Lisa offers an real look at the courage it takes to redefine success on your own terms.

   They also dive into the joy of returning to daily creative practice, finding inspiration in painting and collage, and embracing new possibilities. Plus, Lisa shares what's on the horizon, including Made to Matter, a new course with Emily McDowell for product-based creatives, and her upcoming book with Bridget Watson Payne, The Art of Finishing Things.

   Margo and Lisa discuss:

   The bittersweet process of stepping away from a successful creative business

   Why growth doesn't always equal fulfillment

   Giving yourself permission to pivot, even when things look great on paper

   Reconnecting with the joy of making art through daily practice

   Creating a business and life that support your well-being

   What's next for Lisa, from new artwork and exhibitions to courses and books

   Previous Episodes with Lisa:

   Episode 100 – July 20, 2022

   Episode 186 – What It Really Means to Have Creative Freedom

   Episode 241 – January 29, 2025

   Lisa's 2021 Gravel Racing Episode

   Mentioned in this episode:

   The Jaunt – Artist Residency

   Egg Press

   Cargo Emporium

   Connect with Lisa:

   Website: lisacongdon.com

   Instagram: @lisacongdon

   Shop: Lisa Congdon Shop

   Made to Matter Course: Greater Goods Alliance

2. The Art of Figuring It Out: Permission to Pivot and Building a Creative Life at Any Age with Jennifer Smelker

   28 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 34 min

   Afspelen
   Margo is joined by Jennifer Smelker, the engineer-turned-artist, product designer, and founder of Tandem For Two. Since 2013, Jen has been creating colorful, travel-inspired artwork and gifts that celebrate the places we love and the moments that make life special. But her creative journey has been anything but linear. Lees meer

   From environmental engineering and graphic design to manufacturing, wholesale, and art licensing, Jen shares the twists, turns, and lessons that have shaped her evolving career. She and Margo explore what it means to embrace your identity as an artist, let go of perfectionism, and find the courage to try something new, even when you don't know exactly where it will lead.

   They also dig into the realities of running a creative business, from scaling production and navigating industry changes to pitching artwork, building relationships, and discovering the power of community. Jen shares how a painting retreat in Portugal helped transform her creative practice, why she believes in sharing knowledge rather than gatekeeping it, and how curiosity continues to fuel her next chapter.

   In this episode, we explore:

   Finding your creative identity and overcoming perfectionism and imposter syndrome

   The unexpected path from engineering to art and entrepreneurship

   How community, mentorship, and creative challenges can spark meaningful growth

   The behind-the-scenes realities of manufacturing, wholesale, and art licensing

   Why persistence, thoughtful product presentations, and relationships matter when pitching your work

   Embracing new technology, lifelong learning, and the freedom to reinvent yourself

   Giving yourself permission to experiment, make imperfect art, and follow your curiosity

   Mentioned in this episode:

   Faire Wholesale Marketplace: faire.com

   Adobe MAX (Miami, November): max.adobe.com

   Atlanta Market: americasmart.com

   The 100-day painting project: the100dayproject.org

   Connect with Jennifer:

   Website: https://tandemfortwo.com

   Instagram: https://i…

3. Creative Current Events: Dogs, Designer Bags & Digital Detoxes with Abby Campbell

   21 oktober 2026 · 38 min

   Afspelen
   Abby is back on the Windowsill for another round of Creative Current Events! This week, she and Margo are diving into the latest headlines making waves in art, design, branding, and retail—and, as always, there's plenty to unpack. Lees meer

   From collectible handbags blurring the line between fashion and art to luxury brands rolling out the red carpet for our four-legged friends, the creative world is full of surprises. They explore Polaroid's cheeky campaign encouraging us to put down our screens, the return of Bed Bath & Beyond in an unexpected form, and why Hermès is doubling down on hand-drawn illustration in an increasingly AI-driven world.

   Margo and Abby discuss:

   The intersection of art, fashion, and collectible handbags

   Polaroid's clever push for analog experiences in a digitally saturated world

   Why luxury brands are increasingly catering to dogs (and their devoted humans!)

   Kirkland's transformation into Bed Bath & Beyond Seasonal Living and what it says about retail reinvention

   Hermès' embrace of hand-drawn illustration and the growing value of human creativity in the age of AI

   The bigger cultural shifts shaping what we buy, how we create, and what we value

   Articles:

   Polaroid's Analog Summer Campaign Pushes Against Digital Overload — PetaPixel

   Dogs Became Luxury's Fastest Growing Customer — Art of the Brand

   Kirkland's Stores to Become Bed Bath & Beyond Seasonal Living — NBC Chicago

   Hermès Goes All-In on Illustration in the Age of AI — Highsnobiety

4. What's Done Is Done, Or Is It?: Family Secrets, Bread Baking, and a Life in Books, with Jane Ward

   14 oktober 2026 · 55 min

   Afspelen
   This week on Windowsill Chats, Margo is joined by novelist Jane Ward, author of four books, including her latest, Should Have Told You Sooner. With a lifelong love of storytelling, cooking, baking, and art, Jane has built a creative life rooted in curiosity, observation, and finding inspiration in unexpected places. Lees meer

   Jane began writing her first novel, Hunger, nearly thirty years ago while living in Iceland with her Navy husband, finding space for storytelling during the long, dark winters. Since then, she's continued exploring the complexities of human relationships through fiction, often weaving together themes of family secrets, forgiveness, regret, and the things we leave unsaid. Her latest novel was inspired by something as simple as a lawn sign spotted during an early morning dog walk.

   Margo and Jane discuss:

   The meaning behind the question on Jane's website, "What's done is done. Or is it?" and why the past has a way of resurfacing

   Writing about family secrets, forgiveness, and the complicated relationships that make us human

   How Jane develops fictional characters who begin to feel like real people

   Finding inspiration in unexpected places, including the lawn sign that sparked her latest novel

   The creative freedom found in bread baking, photography, travel, and other everyday pursuits

   Her upcoming sequel and its exploration of motherhood in all its complicated forms

   The importance of making space for creativity outside of your primary artistic practice

   Jane's plans for a Gothic novel set in Switzerland, inspired by her childhood love of Daphne du Maurier

   Connect with Jane Ward:

   Website: janeaward.com

   Instagram: @authorjaneward

   Threads: @authorjaneward

   Facebook: @janealessandriniward

5. Stop Being a Good Girl: Maps, Reinvention, and the Case for Texture, with Tania Willis

   7 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 10 min

   Afspelen
   What does it look like to build a creative career that keeps evolving, without losing the curiosity that got you started? Lees meer

   This week, Margo is joined by illustrator, designer, cartographer, educator, and all-around creative powerhouse Tania Willis. With a career spanning editorial illustration, advertising, pictorial maps, heritage interpretation, products, licensing, and education, Tania has spent decades finding new ways to make a living from her creativity. She's also the co-founder of The Good Ship Illustration, where she helps illustrators navigate the business side of a creative career.

   Tania and Margo talk about the power of creative community, adapting as the industry changes, and why even established artists sometimes need to reinvent their work. They also explore the value of diversifying your income, following your genuine interests instead of trends, and creating supportive spaces where artists can learn without fear or shame.

   Margo and Tania discuss:

   Why collaboration and community can accelerate creative growth

   Adapting your business as social media and the illustration industry change

   Teaching, mentoring, and sharing what you've learned along the way

   Reinventing your style when your work starts to feel too predictable

   Following curiosity instead of what you think you "should" be making

   Building a resilient career through freelance work, teaching, products, and licensing

   Why relationships and unexpected opportunities often shape a creative career

   The enduring value of handmade, imperfect, distinctly human work

   Creating safe, encouraging spaces for artists to experiment and learn

   Why sometimes you just have to fly your freak flag

   Connect with Tania:
   www.taniawillis.com
   Instagram: www.instagram.com/tania.willis
   The Good Ship Illustration: www.thegoodshipillustration.com
   Instagram: www.instagram.com/thegoodshipillustration

6. How Making Art Can Become a Way of Life with Abby Jacobs (Replay)

   30 september 2026 · 33 min

   Afspelen
   This week, we're revisiting a favorite conversation from the Windowsill Chats archives with artist and surface designer Abby Jacobs. Lees meer

   As far back as she can remember, making art has been Abby's favorite thing to do—and some of the happiest times in her life have been when she's had a consistent creative routine. Her belief in art-making as a way of life led her to pursue a master's degree in transpersonal counseling and art therapy from Naropa University in Boulder after studying art and psychology/human services as an undergraduate.

   Whenever something doesn't feel quite right in her life, Abby asks herself, "Am I making artwork daily?" If the answer is no, she usually knows where to start.

   Margo and Abby discuss:

   Why pattern clashing isn't necessarily a bad thing

   Abby's art therapy background and how it influences her creative practice

   The importance of working with clients who feel aligned

   Having a creative outlet beyond paid work

   Navigating client expectations and people-pleasing

   Creating work that feels authentic to you

   What Abby learned from completing a 100-day project

   And much more!

   Connect with Abby:

   www.abbyjacdesigns.com
   Instagram: @abbyjacdesigns

7. Full Circle: Reinventing Your Creative Identity Later in Life, with Nosheen Ahmed

   23 september 2026 · 1 uur 26 min

   Afspelen
   Margo is joined by hand-drawn book cover illustrator Nosheen Ahmed for a conversation nearly a decade in the making. Margo first met Nosheen about nine years ago through portfolio reviews, when Nosheen was working as a dentist, raising her children, making art, and trying to find where she fit creatively. After more than 20 years in dentistry, Nosheen has built a career in illustration—bringing together her love of drawing, books, storytelling, and human connection. She and Margo talk about creative reinvention, letting go of the feeling that you're "behind," and realizing that none of the experiences along the way are wasted. They also explore the pressure to find a signature style, how motherhood and dentistry shaped Nosheen as an artist, and why work made by human hands matters in an increasingly AI-driven world. Lees meer

   Margo and Nosheen discuss:

   Reinventing yourself creatively later in life

   Why your past experiences aren't wasted

   Finding your voice without forcing a signature style

   Creativity as a way of living, not just a career

   The importance of empathy and human connection in art

   Why hand-drawn work still matters in an AI-driven world

   Connect with Nosheen:
   Website: nosheendesigns.co.uk
   Instagram + LinkedIn: @nosheendesigns

   Work 1:1 with Margo:
   Looking for personalized support in your creative practice or business? Sign up for 1:1 coaching with Margo for focused guidance, clarity, and support tailored to where you are and where you want to go next. https://margotantau.com/coaching-with-margo

8. You're Not Alone: Melissa Moore and Michele Matrisciani on the Hidden Costs of Loving Someone the World Hates

   16 september 2026 · 1 uur 20 min

   Afspelen
   Margo is joined by Melissa Moore and Michele Matrisciani, co-authors of Killer in the Family: The Hidden Costs of Loving Someone the World Hates. Lees meer

   Melissa grew up in Spokane, Washington, and was sixteen when she learned that her father, Keith Jesperson, had been arrested for murder. He was later convicted as the Happy Face Killer. Melissa went on to become a New York Times bestselling author with her memoir Shattered Silence, a domestic abuse prevention advocate, and an Emmy-nominated investigative correspondent for Crime Watch Daily. She hosts the true crime podcast Life After Happy Face and is the real-life inspiration behind the Paramount+ drama series Happy Face, starring Annaleigh Ashford.

   Michele is a New York Times bestselling coauthor, a Pushcart Prize nominee, and an editor with more than twenty years in publishing, with an MFA from Stony Brook University. She spent fifteen years as an acquisitions and developmental editor at houses including Macmillan, Hyperion, and McGraw-Hill Trade before founding Bookchic LLC, and her collaborations span Hachette, Penguin, Hay House, and HarperCollins, most recently including Gypsy-Rose Blanchard's memoir My Time to Stand. She has collaborated with Melissa across four books.

   For Killer in the Family, Melissa and Michele spent six years with nine families who share something nobody chooses: someone they loved was responsible for something horrific. The book moves the focus away from the crimes themselves and onto the parents, children, siblings, and spouses left to carry the aftermath.

   Margo, Melissa, and Michele discuss:

   What it was like for Melissa's story to become public, and the years of shame that came before that

   Why so many people reached out to Melissa afterward with the same message: I'm just like you

   How they chose which families and relationships belonged in the book

   How Michele earned enough trust with nine families to get material this personal

   What Michele could see as an outsider that Melissa, so…

9. Enough, Not More: Redefining Financial Freedom for Creatives, with Dan Scott

   9 september 2026 · 1 uur 14 min

   Afspelen
   Margo is joined by Dan Scott, co-founder and CEO of Spotlight Advisory Group, musician, lawyer, and longtime advisor to creatives. After decades spent both making art and advising some of the world's wealthiest individuals, Dan came to a powerful realization: having enormous wealth and experiencing financial freedom are not the same thing. Lees meer

   Today, Dan helps artists, musicians, actors, entrepreneurs, and other creatives use money as a tool to support their purpose rather than a scoreboard for measuring success. His forthcoming book, The Experience of Financial Freedom, explores what it looks like to build a life around creativity, fulfillment, and a deeply personal definition of "enough."

   Margo and Dan discuss:

   Why purpose (not money) is the starting point for designing a fulfilling creative life

   What working with the ultra-wealthy taught Dan about the difference between wealth and true financial freedom

   Defining what "enough" looks like instead of constantly moving the goalposts

   Why budgeting can actually be a tool for greater creative freedom

   The tension between making meaningful art and navigating industries built to monetize it

   Letting go of society's default definitions of success, status, and achievement

   Becoming the architect of your own experience through intentional choices

   Thinking about legacy as something you create through the way you live—not just what you leave behind

   Connect with Dan:

   https://www.theexperienceoffinancialfreedom.com/
   https://www.spotlightadvisorygroup.com/
   https://www.spotlightadvisorygroup.com/blog

10. My Creativity Is My Talent: Louie Loops on Turning a Crochet Hook Into Games, Stories, and a Creative Empire

    2 september 2026 · 1 uur 24 min

    Afspelen
    Margo is joined by Louie, better known as Louie's Loops, a self-taught crochet artist, designer, game creator, and founder of Club Crochet. For nearly 20 years, Louie has been turning his love of crochet into an ever-expanding creative world of amigurumi, tutorials, games, characters, and stories—all rooted in curiosity, play, and community. Lees meer

    Margo and Louie discuss:

    Following curiosity and asking "what if?" as a creative practice.

    Turning a self-taught crochet hobby into a career and creative business.

    Challenging the idea of crochet as simply a "craft" rather than an art form.

    Using play and experimentation to stay inspired and avoid burnout.

    Building community through tutorials, storytelling, and shared creativity.

    Expanding ideas beyond one medium into games, characters, animation, and more.

    Creativity and handmade art in an increasingly digital and AI-driven world.

    Bringing 20 years of ideas together through Crochet Goomis and Battle Goomis.

    Connect with Louie:

    www.TheGoomis.com

    www.ClubCrochet.com

    www.instagram.com/LouiesLoops

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