What if color could completely change the way you see the world? This week Margo is joined by Ana Bianchi—artist, designer, illustrator, and now the author of Color Curious, her vibrant new book with Chronicle Books. Ana’s lifelong love of color has taken her from children’s books to ceramics to joyful, intuitive “color harvesting” everywhere from gardens to street markets. Her work spans disciplines, but the throughline is always color—how it inspires, connects, and transforms.

Part visual diary, part creative toolkit, Color Curious is packed with gorgeous photography, illustration, patterns, paintings, ceramics, and colorful bakes. Alongside the images, Ana weaves in her deep curiosity for art history, world cultures, and creative ideas, making it a true celebration of the colorful threads running through everyday life.

Margo and Ana discuss:

• How to train your “color eye” in everyday life

• Why curiosity is the root of creative confidence

• Fun, approachable ways to experiment with color (even if you don’t consider yourself an artist)

• How she’s turning decades of creative experience into resources like her Color Curious Substack and theCONSULTORY—her creative “ask me anything” help desk for artists and makers

Pre-order bonus: Everyone who preorders Color Curious and emails a copy of their receipt to colorcuriousbook@gmail.com or DMs it to Ana on Instagram @AnaLovesColor will receive a link for a private art class with her via Zoom on September 19th.

Connect with Ana:
Website: AnaLovesColor.com
Instagram: @AnaLovesColor | @AnaBakesColor
Pre-order the book: Color Curious
TheConsultory: AnaLovesColor.com/theconsultory

Connect with Margo:
www.windowsillchats.com
www.instagram.com/windowsillchats
www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill
www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

Margo is joined by illustrator, surface designer, educator, and art business mentor Vanessa Stoilova—better known online as Art Business with Ness. Since 2015, Vanessa has navigated the creative industry from mobile games to picture book illustration to surface design, and now shares her hard-earned insights with thousands of aspiring artists through her courses, YouTube channel, and mentorship programs.

Vanessa has a knack for making the business side of art feel approachable, actionable, and even exciting. In this conversation, she and Margo dig into how to position yourself for real opportunities, land clients without waiting to “be discovered,” and build a sustainable creative career.

They discuss:

• Building a client-ready portfolio before you get hired

• What actually works when pitching yourself (and why Instagram isn’t enough)

• Why niching down doesn’t limit you—it frees you

• Creating her own online art business summit with 20+ teachers

• How to stop overthinking and start making moves toward your goals
  
  

Links & Resources:

• Free 3-day training: Your First Step to Illustration Clients

• YouTube: Art Business with Ness

Connect with Margo:
www.windowsillchats.com

www.instagram.com/windowsillchats

www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill

www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

Margo is joined by color-obsessed illustrator and joyful creative spirit, Andrea Campos. Known to many as the talent behind Drea’s Doodles, Andrea shares her unconventional journey from a decade-long career in marketing to becoming a full-time visual artist and New York Times bestselling illustrator. What started as a personal art challenge during the pandemic turned into an extraordinary pivot—leading to illustrating a bilingual children’s book co-authored by none other than Jennifer Lopez and Jimmy Fallon.

Margo and Andrea talk about the magic of starting before you’re ready, the power of creative challenges, and how community can shift your entire trajectory. Andrea shares on embracing her playful voice, navigating imposter syndrome, and showing up authentically as a first-generation Mexican American artist.

Margo and Andrea discuss:

• Andrea’s path from corporate marketing to full-time creative work

• How an art challenge sparked a major publishing opportunity

• Embracing a joyful, playful art style despite industry expectations

• Building creative confidence and community on Instagram

• Illustrating Con Pollo and being featured on The Tonight Show

• The value of representation and storytelling through a bilingual lens

• Using art to invite empathy and spark connection

• Her upcoming solo book project and the character that inspired it

• The importance of creative “side quests” and making art just for fun

Connect with Andrea:
https://instagram.com/dreasdoodles

dreasdoodles.com

https://www.tiktok.com/@dreasdoodles

Tips for Kids Books!

https://dreasdoodles.substack.com/p/new-to-kidlit-here-are-my-favorite

Connect with Margo:

www.windowsillchats.com
www.instagram.com/windowsillchats

www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill

https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

Margo is joined by photographer, slow stylist, and storyteller Katie Howie. Based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Katie brings a thoughtful, refined eye to everything she touches—whether she’s capturing a family in motion, styling a cozy and intentional home, or consulting with small businesses on creative strategy.

Katie shares her journey from studying psychology and women’s studies, to a decade in retail marketing, and ultimately to finding her creative footing as a visual storyteller. Margo and Katie explore the power of slow living and how Katie’s “slow styling” philosophy helps people reconnect with what truly matters in their homes and their lives.

Margo and Katie discuss:

• Katie's transition from psychology studies and retail marketing to creative entrepreneurship

• The origins and meaning of "slow styling" and bringing personalized, accessible touches to home design

• The power of storytelling in both portrait photography and interior styling

• Building authentic creative businesses through community engagement rather than paid advertising

• The importance of staying true to your unique style over following trends

• How family legacy, history, and personal objects inspire and shape creative work

• Katie's community photo projects, including her "By a Thread" series profiling downtown Saint Paul residents

• Working with families and real people to capture genuine moments rather than posed perfection

• The therapeutic value of using and repurposing family heirlooms in daily life

• Practical advice for creatives on finding their voice, sharing their work, and creating from authenticity
  
  

Connect with Katie:
http://katiehowie.com/
https://www.instagram.com/_katiehowie
https://www.instagram.com/by_a.thread_saintpaul

Connect with Margo:

www.windowsillchats.com

www.instagram.com/windowsillchats

www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill

https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

Margo is joined by Jennifer Orkin Lewis and Gayle Kabaker—two powerhouse painters, illustrators, authors, and beloved art teachers whose friendship and creative partnership has taken them (and their students) around the world. Jennifer and Gayle each spent years in fast-paced industries—Jennifer as a textile designer in NYC, Gayle as a fashion illustrator and editorial artist—before embracing slower, more intuitive practices rooted in daily sketchbooking, storytelling, and teaching.

Together, Jennifer and Gayle lead collaborative retreats and online workshops that encourage creative exploration and self-expression. Their work is joyful, bold, and filled with heart—and they’re deeply committed to helping others find their voice. In this rich and honest conversation, they talk about letting go of “shoulds,” walking away from stale opportunities, and trusting their own timing—whether that meant leaving agents behind, stepping into teaching, or creating space for personal transformation.

Margo, Jennifer, and Gayle discuss:

• How daily sketchbook practice became their creative anchor

• Why process is more important than perfection

• How their retreats have opened doors for their students—and for themselves

• The power of artistic community and creative friendship

• Why five minutes a day can change everything

• How their individual journeys led them to a shared mission in teaching and creating
  
  

Mentioned in this episode:
July 27th Class: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/painting-faces-florals-and-pattern-play-with-gayle-jennifer-registration-1459034243699

Portugal Retreat: https://uptrek.com/retreat/transformative-sketchbook-retreat-artists-jennifer-orkin-lewis-gayle-kabaker-portugal

Chloe Ward Yoga: https://www.chloeward.yoga/

Zig Markers: https://www.markersupply.com/zigartgrtwma.html?srsltid=AfmBOop1y1ZX-zYJX7i3b7ByZnqncJPHQ7NZ9tRDzucQ3KLAc-YukjFU

Tombow Markers: https://www.dickblick.com/products/tombow-dual-brush-pens/?srsltid=AfmBOorG6HNbBOGAP7igbmAxApp9GwjjeT6vqaJn0B7EBkt-IFO7SS5j

Connect with Jennifer:

https://www.augustwren.com/

https://augustwren.substack.com/subscribe

https://www.instagram.com/augustwren/

Connect with Gayle:

www.gkabaker.com

https://gaylekabaker.substack.com

https://www.instagram.com/gaylekabake

Connect with Margo:

www.windowsillchats.com

www.instagram.com/windowsillchats

www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill

https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

Margo and Abby are back with another installment of Creative Current Events, a special segment of Windowsill Chats where creativity, culture, and community collide. This episode spans a range of creative topics—from Beloved Asheville’s heartfelt relief efforts in Kerrville, Texas, to the ripple effects of rising postage costs and UPS layoffs on small creative businesses. They dig into a major fair use ruling involving Anthropic that could impact the future of AI-generated content, and explore how tools like Canva’s Magic Write are giving small businesses fresh ways to create with confidence. They also spotlight sustainability-minded artists turning trash into treasure—and an unexpected art gallery found in a Texas truck stop bathroom. As always, it’s a curious and timely mix of what’s happening now and what it means for the creative world.

Articles Mentioned:

• UPS offers buyouts to drivers as it shutters 73 sites, laying off 20,000 jobs

• Anthropic wins a major fair use victory for AI — but it’s still in trouble for stealing books

• How to use AI as a small entrepreneur

• Summerween - It’s back!

• Octogenarian Says Joy Is Contagious

• Turning glass into sand!

• https://glasshalffull.co/

• Visualising Britain's fashion waste problem with cyanotype photography

• A world first in size and scale, V&A East Storehouse immerses you in over half a million works from every creative discipline.

• Texas’s Hottest Art Gallery Is the Buc-ee’s Bathroom

• Unwasted transforms local waste streams into tiles

Connect with Abby:

https://www.abbyjcampbell.com/

https://www.instagram.com/ajcampkc/

https://www.pinterest.com/ajcampbell/

Connect with Margo:

www.windowsillchats.com

www.instagram.com/windowsillchats

www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill

https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

Margo is joined by Andee Hart, a former Fortune 500 sales executive turned thriving creative entrepreneur, candle maker, and coach who helps women overcome sales anxiety and grow their businesses with integrity. As host of the She Sells Differently podcast and founder of Hart Design Co., Andee brings her bold, heart-centered approach to entrepreneurship—and in this episode, she shares her powerful journey from side hustle to full-time business ownership.

Margo and Andee discuss:

• Making the leap from corporate sales to creative entrepreneurship

• Building a thriving product-based business from the kitchen up

• Navigating fear and perfectionism when starting something new

• Why selling doesn’t have to feel “icky” and how to reframe it as service

• The power of email marketing and why it trumps social media

• Strategies for pricing your work with confidence and integrity

• Approaching retailers for wholesale partnerships

• Knowing who your customers aren’t (and why that’s freeing)

• Andee’s counter-cultural approach to sales and marketing

Connect with Andee:

Website: https://andeehart.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andeehart/

Hart Design Co Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hartdesignco/

Andee’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andeehart/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/shesellsdifferently/

She Sells Differently Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/she-sells-differently-authentic-selling-business-growth/id1731402504

Connect with Margo:

www.windowsillchats.com

www.instagram.com/windowsillchats

www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill

https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry