Smart Creative Women with Monica Lee

Girl crush time! I have Anahata Katkin from Papaya with me today and you are going to love her and all her creative business wisdom! Anahata started Papaya with her mother out of their home and grew this business so smartly, knowing just when to expand and just when to hold steady. I REALLY appreciate what she shares in the interview and I know you will too!! You will LOVE hearing what she has to say about her own creativity, copycats and the gift industry! She is a woman who has found her audience and remained true to her aesthetic while allowing her self to grow and change as an artist.  Awesome artist, awesome person, smart cookie!

I just had to pop in and say HELLO today! I am in the process of moving forward on a BIG project after having to be really patient while waiting for the puzzle pieces to come together. So today I want to talk about the “in between time!” Oh man, sometimes trying to find answers to questions is HARD! You ask, “What do I do next? How do I show up as my best self? Can I do this? SHOULD I do this?” I get it! Boy, do I get it! Today I want to offer some thoughts (and encouragement) on what I think is the difference between waiting which can be a static and having patience, which I believe, is active. Patience involves listening and TRUSTING, it might involve seasons of education and even some silent seeking. You don’t give up when you are being patience, you have faith that your answers will come! Tune in and see what I mean! Have you had seasons in your life that involved patience? Let me know in the comments!

You are going to eat this one up! Margo Tantau is so creative and has an eye for talent! Wait until you hear how I first “found” her.  Her story is a terrific example of how your life’s journey sets you up forwhere you are supposed to be, you just have to be open to it! In this interview she shares what she loves and doesn’t love seeing in an artists portfolio! This chat will definitely inspire you to be yourself and forge your own creative path! Margo is the VP of Design and Creative at Midwest-CBK and could not be more down to earth and more “for you!” She is dying for you to show up as the creative person you are intended to be. Listen in as she shares her start and how she has developed her “eye” over the years.   I love love what she is doing in this position and so will you! If you desire to hone your own talents into a “look” and style that is uniquely your own get on t

Befriending your  fear might just be the fastest way to move past it.  I figure if FEAR has so many other friends (like doubt and procrastination) why not embrace it so you can control its destiny?  In this video, I talk about some of my favorite tips on how to deal with fear and one specific TRAP that can keep you from moving towards your destination. Let’s avoid traps, please! I also have a BIG announcement (when and why-yes there is a specific WHY!) about  my e-course SMART CREATIVE STYLE .  I believe HOW to show up for yourself  and how you earn money  COUNTS! This is not the time to be a cookie cutter creative! Authentic is NOT just a buzz word. As a creative we need to strive for originality and as entrepreneurs, we are the leaders of our own brands and our businesses! I agree with Tom when he says “Nobody knows your business better than you do!”  That means you need a course that helps you figure out

What happens when girlfriends come together with a good (and SMART) idea? Magic! Meredith Walker and Amy Poehler (Yes, Amy Poehler  the actress and funny lady)  met while working at Saturday Night Live (which I am sure is a mixture of  wild torment and wild fun) They became fast friends and as they talked  about the lively free moments of their youth they wondered  when and why they  started “holding back”  their personalities as they became women. Then they got the idea to help  girls (ok and grown women) maintain their sense of selves, to laugh, explore and embrace who they really are. These ladies want to celebrate individuals who are changing the world’s by simply being themselves.  Well, YOU KNOW I am all over that, right? This is a really enjoyable (lots of giggling) conversation. Grab a cuppa and have a good time. You JUST might see yourself somewhere in this talk! Amy’s Smart Girls, it’s a show, it&rsqu

Last week, I told you about Great.ly and what this global online marketplace was doing for talented creative makers like yourself. Now I get to sit down with Great.ly’s founder Sarah Bryden-Brown and get  ALL THE DETAILS! YOU HAVE TO TUNE IN TO THIS ONE!! First of all it is a terrific way to shop and help all your favorite bloggers who spend a lot of timescouring the globe for interesting and gorgeous items to make some income! And it can give you the opportunity to be one of the makers that gets introduced  to a global marketplace on a larger scale. Hooray! I have told so many creative women (makers) to try to get their goods into the hands of bloggers who have spent hours and hours cultivating and gaining the trust of their audiences. Great.ly provides and easier  way for you to do that! You provide wholesale (time for you to think this aspect through) items into a Makers studio and then Tastemakers  ma

Want to know the power of a good cocktail pitch? When I met Jennifer Tress at a cocktail party recently, she told me she authored a book titled "You're Not Pretty Enough" words uttered by her ex husband as an excuse to his infidelity. Wow! Bam! Instant sisterhood! Turns out her book is a hilarious anthology of all her life's awkward turning points. What she did not realize was the how those words put together in a sentence were lodged in so many women's minds. Can understanding how people find you online changes lives?  Turns out, yes! When Jennifer built her website to promote her book, she began to see people finding her through organic search engine phrases like "Am I pretty enough?" That started the You're Not Pretty Enough Action Movement. Jennifer Tress is an independent consultant who has worked with Fortune 500 companies, global non-profits and the U.S. Federal government. Her true passion is as a  writer  and in this inte

I am so happy to have the sweet Heather Davulcu with me today! Heather, known online as April Heather Art, is an up and comer who is making her debut  this year at Surtex  in NYC. Heather is full of spunk and style! I love how she has put herself and her art "out there" pushing past any voice that might have told her to hide away in her studio. In this interview she talks about the rewards of being bold and consistent with her efforts. We all know it can be tough to show people what you do creatively, hopefully this interview will speak to you. It really does pay off to be brave and Heather is a terrific example of that. Mixed with sass and talent, I completely enjoy following her journey! She took the  last run of Smart Creative Style class and had terrific energy and ideas. I loved what she added to her one of her "interiors that appeal to you" mood board. Tune in the see what I mean. You can see her and her work in the Pink Light Design Booth at Surtex Booths 417 and 516 in NY

Today in this short video, I  am talking about having SPACE in your life to edit, rest and make decisions! All important topics for you and your creativity! Watch this video if you need to fine tune your decision making! If you want to use the exercises that I mention about you can download these helpful tools! You can get the download worksheets through this link http://smartcreativewomen.com/?p=7443

You have to hear this story!! I love  a courageous woman willing to strike out and do something BIG and this guest has done just that! Melody Miller has designed a life and a creative business exactly the way she thought it needed to be. This is a GREAT story about a creative woman who was unhappy with her earnings, knew she had more to offer and knew that she could (and should) be compensated in the right way did something about it. I love everything about the story of how the new fabric company, Cotton and Steel fabrics came to be.  Melody had a unique vision for what the fabric industry needed at this point in time,  so she prepared a BIG PITCH to the CEO of RJR fabrics to get him  to unite in her vision. The rest is….well, the rest is in the interview,  SO TUNE IN!!! It is such a motivating story of a creative dream,  good art plus  bold  manufacturing.  I think it will all equal great success! You can se

Well the title to this post and video is loaded, right? I could write a lot of text, but I would rather have you tune in to today's video and you can give me your thoughts. After all-I have been having this conversation with myself all week, so it is about time I had it with someone else! Oh! I won't miss an opportunity to say that as I watched the participants  wrap up the Smart Creative Style Course, I was once again amazed at how their mood boards, ideas and values all shine so uniquely! Here are some of the most recent testimonials. It honestly humbles my heart and thrills me at the same time. (Ok, now this post has a lot of text...) "Monica Lee’s information-packed Smart Creative Style course was pivotal in providing the clarity I needed as I attempted to figure out the direction of my art business. I discovered that my current style was different than the art I was making, which was leading a bit of a creative block. Her course allowed me to better unde

Today I am chatting with the energetic, stylish and SMART, Jessie Artigue. You know I love a girl with style and Jessie has boundless amounts of it. Her blog Style and Pepper is full of ideas, tips and spunk. Not only does she blog about  personal style, DIY projects, healthy cooking, adventures as a style expert, she also hosts her own  show on YouTube and helps bloggers and brands work together. You’ll hear more about that in this interview.  Jessie blogs on all of these topics because she believes “everyday ingredients like these have the ability to enhance  your own recipe for success in seeking joy.” She has a personal passion for her weekly newsletter called Weekly Love Notes which can pop into your email once a week to cheer you on. (Right up my alley!)  I think Jessie is a girl on the move and is one to keep your eye on! 

I was thrilled to talk to Michelle Kohanzo who is the managing director of The Land of Nod. This company just brings out the best in everybody. How can a company bring out the best in someone? I think by being quirky, original, tapping into your inner creative child and by being  fun! In this interview, she talks about her career and what it was like to be mentored. (The good and the bad.) She also talks about how she manages her position while juggling being the mother of 4 (Yes, 4!!) children! Michelle genuinely loves work  and her life. Her passion shines through! Happy Boss = Happy Products = Happy Customers! I was super excited to hear how she views collaborations with artists for The Land of Nod product line, woot! Listen until the very end to find out what to do if you have any darling ideas for them. They have a pop shop opening in NYC in Soho for the holidays! She said it is ALL TOYS, how fun is that?! I am hoping storm Sandy doesn’t wreck the fun for opening

In this video Tom and I cover networking. We discuss how this might look as an introvert or as an extrovert.  Tom and I are two very different people but we both agree that if you are in business, you need to learn how to network. I have 2 graphics the show some networking that I have done, where I have taken an online meetings into real life connections.   I also included 8 tips on how to meet anyone, anywhere, anytime (politely). So today it is a watch and read episode! Here is the link to the  book we mention, Quiet by Susan Cain. To see more of my episodes with Tom you can see them under the category Smart Creative Business. Tips on how to meet anyone, anywhere, anytime (politely) Tip 1: Go in with an open mind and warm heart. I know, it sounds sappy, but if you skip this principle, the other tips won’t work. If you walk in with an air of desperation, people will smell it on you a mile away. Even “determination” without the right energy

You HAVE to meet Rachel Faucett! She is one smart and crafty cookie! Rachel is a the mastermind behind Hand­made Char­lotte. Handmade Charlotte offers a daily dose of DIY  projects, crafts, recipes, inspir­ing fam­ily spaces, and design inspi­ra­tion for families and kids. Named one of the Top 50 Design Blogs for Moms by Babble.com, the site has been fea­tured in Martha Stew­art Liv­ing, Bet­ter Homes and Gar­dens, HGTV, Craftzine.com, Huff­in­g­ton Post, Busi­ness Insider. Whew! Rachel was also named one the top 20 most influ­en­tial Pin­ter­est users by Busi­ness Insider! She is a power pinner on Pinterest and she knows her business! The BEST part about Rachel is that she seems to be having such a BLAST doing it! Did I mention she also has 5 children??  In this interview you’ll get Pinterest tips and business tips, you will also find out where she gets her enthusi

I met Jill McDonald  years ago when I was walking Print Source. Her art really stood out to me! It was bright, fresh and original and friendly. I have kept my eye on her as the years progressed and have been delighted to see her business excel! In this interview she talks about “the biz”! If you are selling your art for products or would like to one day, you need to tune in. Her art has covered just about everything from books to bedding! She has worked with some BIG clients and you’ll want hear what she has to say about staying true to yourself and growing your brand! Jill is offering insights as a long term industry insider. Find out what drives her to create and what her core beliefs about her art are as she shares her heart in this interview. You can follow Jill McDonald on Pinterest to see her products in action and to see what inspires her!

Meet Kelsey Montague, one half the talent behind the Nikita and Vesper brand. Kelsey has teamed her skills up with her sister’s skills, and they are on the move to make the world a better and more fashionable place! They sell a mix of vintage and new items, some of it featuring Kelsey’s art. I love the sister collaboration, and the bio info: 2 sisters. 2 styles and ONE GOAL – To provide YOU with the best curated ethical fashion out there.  Today Kelsey talks about how she discovered  a style of art that she loves and why she almost didn’t focus on art at all. I was curious as to what tools she uses (please, let’s talk pens!!) and  if she sketches her detailed work in pencil beforehand. You will be surprised by her answers. She has recently been commissioned to do some street art, I like what she has to say about it! P.S. You have got to follow her in Instagram, I think she keeps it really in