Creative Business Spark

Show Notes: In this episode, I'm getting honest about something that's hard to admit. Recently, I paid for an in-person mastermind meeting, registered to attend, and I didn't go. Why is this relevant? Last week, 241 women did the same thing to Doodles Coaching Week. Whether you showed up or not, this episode is for every woman who has ever registered for something with real intention and quietly let herself off the hook. I'm sharing the 3 real reasons creative women don't show up for themselves — and one very concrete next step to start breaking that pattern for good. 👉 What You'll Learn: The Busyness Costume: Why "I'm too busy" is almost never about time — and what it's really disguising beneath the surface. The Old Wound: How decades of being told your creativity isn't worth prioritizing shows up in the quietest, most self-sabotaging ways. The Fear Underneath: Why we avoid the things that matter most to us — and what it means when showing up feels terrifying. The Real Numbers: What 450 registrations and 209 attendees actually reveals about how creative women treat their own growth. The Concrete Next Step: How to close the gap between the woman who signs up and the woman who follows through — starting with your Doodles design and a piece of real fabric. ➡️ Important Links: A special creative bundle for you: The Doodles Replays + Your First Fabric Mini-Course bundled together. It's just $197. Click the link below for details.  👉 members.artwithanne.com/fabric Connect with me: Facebook: Anne LaFollette Art Instagram: @annelafolletteart YouTube: AnneLaFollette1

Show Notes: A watercolor artist in a 40-person Swedish village used one new skill to turn a single thistle painting into pillows, tea towels, tote bags — and a line of linen dresses. Maria Ahl-Zanier is a watercolor artist living in a tiny village in southern Sweden. She had a thriving creative business — originals, handcrafted products, in-person classes. Then she learned to create repeating patterns. In this episode, I share Maria's journey and the three realities that became possible once she learned how to create repeating pattern designs. If you're a watercolor artist who has ever wondered whether surface pattern design might work for you, lean in!  🔑 In This Episode You’ll Learn Why watercolor artists make such a natural leap into pattern design — and what's really holding them back The one mistake artists make when they first try to bring their work into Illustrator (and how Maria avoided it) How a single thistle painting became pillows, tea towels, tote bags, and a line of linen dresses Why learning the steps first — with simple doodles — is what makes everything else possible The unexpected doors that opened for Maria once she expanded beyond originals (including a royal commission) Links & Resources:  Join the Doodles Coaching Week. Get your $10 Early Bird Ticket HERE. ⏰ Important Dates: Early bird price ($10) ends: Saturday, April 4 Regular price ($37) begins: Sunday, April 5 Welcome Party: Sunday evening, April 12 DCW begins: Monday, April 13 Let’s Connect! Instagram: @annelafolletteart Website: https://www.annelafolletteart.com/ Facebook: Anne LaFollette Art  

Show Notes: Have you ever stood in a fabric store aisle and thought — why can't I ever find exactly what I need? In this episode, I'm sharing the story of a season when I nearly walked away from my creative business entirely — and the one skill that changed everything. We'll talk about the social media treadmill that exhausts so many creative entrepreneurs, the myth that more products equals more income, and the moment I realized that doing one thing really well will always outperform doing everything halfway. If you've ever felt overwhelmed, scattered, or like all your effort just isn't adding up — this one's for you. 🔑 In This Episode You’ll Learn The "social media treadmill" and why more content doesn't equal more income What happened when I stopped trying to be everywhere and focused on what actually worked Why a curated product line at a craft fair outperformed everything I had online The fabric dream — how quilters and sewists can finally design the prints they've always wished existed The one foundational skill that unlocks fabric, gift wrap, licensing, craft fair income, and more Links & Resources:  Join the Doodles Coaching Week. Get your $10 Early Bird Ticket HERE. Some of these are affiliate links. I only recommend tools I personally use and love. Let’s Connect! Instagram: @annelafolletteart Website: https://www.annelafolletteart.com/ Facebook: Anne LaFollette Art  

SHOW NOTES: Did you wonder why you received so many emails during Bonnie Christine's Immersion launch? Today I'm pulling back the curtain on affiliate marketing. What it is, how I approach it, and why it can become an important part of your creative business. I break affiliate marketing into three simple buckets and share exactly how I think about recommending tools and programs to my community. Whether you're curious about affiliate marketing for your own business or just want to know why you got so many emails, this episode is for you.  🔑 In This Episode You’ll Learn What affiliate marketing is  Why it can become an important part of your creative business Three main types of affiliate marketing, and Why your email list is the foundation of everything Links & Resources: My Tools & Resources Page Adobe Illustrator Free Trial Kajabi Ecamm Live These are my affiliate links. I only recommend tools I personally use and love. Let’s Connect! Instagram: @annelafolletteart Website: https://www.annelafolletteart.com/ Facebook: Anne LaFollette Art

Show Notes. This year marks my eighth year blocking off my calendar for Bonnie Christine's Surface Design Immersion program, but this year feels completely different. Bonnie has reimagined her signature program from the ground up, and I'm excited to tell you this new approach is exactly what we need right now. In this special podcast episode, I share why this course matters so much—not just for learning surface pattern design, but for reclaiming tangible creativity in our increasingly digital world. UNBOXING VIDEO! Head over to my YouTube channel to watch the video where I unbox the two gorgeous packages that you receive when you enroll. The materials inside are A-MAZ-ING! What You'll Learn in This Episode The Full Circle Philosophy Why Bonnie recorded this new version of Immersion from her garden How the "hands to computer to hands" approach creates meaningful work Understanding the complete creative cycle from inspiration to physical products What's Changed in Immersion 2026 The new documentary-style teaching format Less screen time, more hands-on creation How the course meets the moment we're living in right now Why Surface Pattern Design Matters Now The beautiful return to analog creativity happening globally How our life experience becomes our creative superpower (especially for women over 50) Why hand-crafted design will be more valuable than ever Important Links Click HERE to enroll through my affiliate link Click HERE to watch the unboxing video! * I'm a proud affiliate partner for Bonnie's Immersion course. That means I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you, if you enroll through my link. 

Episode Description: Seventeen browser tabs open. Three YouTube tutorials playing at once. Four courses in your cart. And yet... you still haven't finished that one pattern you started three weeks ago. Sound familiar? In this episode, Anne shares why her Creative Business Mastermind is spending an entire quarter studying The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan—and how this one book is changing the way her students approach their creative businesses. If you've been feeling scattered, overwhelmed, or stuck in busy-ness instead of progress, this episode is your permission to go small so you can finally win big. In This Episode, You'll Discover: The Domino Effect: One small domino can eventually topple a domino 50x its size Going Small to Win Big: Success comes from doing small things with extraordinary focus The Multitasking Myth: Multitasking is a distraction dressed up as productivity Time Blocking: The most successful people don't just think about priorities—they schedule them Success Leaves Clues: Follow the proven path instead of reinventing the wheel   Action Step for This Week: Write the Focusing Question on a sticky note and put it on your computer monitor: "What's the one thing I can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?" Then identify your ONE THING for the rest of February and time-block it on your calendar. Resources Mentioned: The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan From Doodles to Dollars® Workbook ($10) The Doodles Digest Newsletter (free) Connect With Anne: Website: annelafolletteart.com Instagram: @annelafolletteart Facebook: Anne LaFollette Art

EPISODE DESCRIPTION Feeling like you didn't make enough progress last year? Struggling with January's "fresh start" energy when you're just plain tired? This episode is for you. I'm sharing the story of Janet Hild, a textile designer and Creative Business Mastermind member who accomplished three major business milestones in 2025—while raising three kids, teaching at the master's level, and working part-time jobs. Her story will help you reframe what progress actually looks like and recognize the wins you might be overlooking in your own creative journey. What You'll Learn: Why we're measuring progress all wrong (and what to measure instead) How Janet went from "exploring what's next" to making progress across multiple fronts Why playing the long game beats chasing viral moments Links & Resources: Janet Hild's Work: Ink + Sun website: https://www.inkandsun.com/ Next Steps: Get started for just $10 with the From Doodles to Dollars® Workbook. Expand your surface pattern design skills in The Pattern Design Academy Self Study Program. Click HERE for details. Ready to expand your creative business? Explore The Creative Business Mastermind where I share my proven framework for building a successful and wildly profitable creative business online. By application only. Spot are limited. Click HERE for details and to apply. Join my email list and get my weekly Doodles Digest Newsletter.

Show Notes Start messy! I want you to think about your first pattern like your first pancake. You know how the first pancake is always wonky? Too thick, too thin, weird shape, probably stuck to the pan? But you don't stop making breakfast. You adjust the heat, perfect your pour, and by the third pancake, you're flipping like a pro. Your first pattern is just information gathering. It tells you: What tools feel comfortable Which design elements you're drawn to Where you need more practice What comes naturally to you Every "mistake" is actually data that moves you closer to your unique style. In This Episode, You'll Discover: Why successful pattern designers hide hundreds of "learning patterns" The myth that's keeping women over 50 from starting their pattern journey Why "messy action beats perfect inaction" every time Key Takeaways: Your first pattern is information gathering, not your masterpiece You only need to learn 5% of Illustrator to create beautiful patterns Starting messy helps you discover your unique style faster Every successful designer started with messy first attempts Memorable Quotes:  "Your first pattern is like your first pancake – it's supposed to be wonky." "You're not too old, too late, or too anything. You're exactly where you need to be." "The magic isn't in that first flower being perfect. The magic is in starting." Next Steps: Get started for just $10 with the From Doodles to Dollars® Workbook. Expand your surface pattern design skills in The Pattern Design Academy Self Study Program. Click HERE. Ready to expand your business online? Explore The Creative Business Mastermind where you’ll learn my proven framework for building a successful and wildly profitable creative business online. By application only. Spots are limited. Click HERE for details and to apply. Let’s Connect! Instagram: @annelafolletteart Website:https://www.annelafolletteart.com/ Facebook: Anne LaFollette Art

Show Notes It’s two days before Christmas. Let’s celebrate and talk about Pantone's perfectly timed announcement of Cloud Dancer as the 2026 Color of the Year. You may thinking, it’s just… WHITE! But I explore why this softest shade of white represents exactly what we need right now – not empty space, but possibility space. Space for space which we all need.  What You'll Learn Why Pantone's choice of white (Cloud Dancer) after years of bold colors signals our collective craving for peace, and how this connects to the natural whites of the holiday season How white space in design is never empty but full of possibility – it's the pause that makes patterns sing and the breath between notes that turns sound into music Practical ways to create your own Cloud Dancer sanctuary during the holidays, plus a special downloadable wallpaper gift for your phone and desktop Download the free phone wallpaper HERE.   Next Steps: Get started for just $10 with the From Doodles to Dollars® Workbook. Expand your surface pattern design skills in The Pattern Design Academy Self Study Program. Click HERE and get $500 off at checkout. Ready to expand your business online? Explore The Creative Business Mastermind where you’ll learn my proven framework for building a successful and wildly profitable creative business online. By application only. Spot are limited. Click HERE for details and to apply. Let’s Connect! Instagram: @annelafolletteart Website:https://www.annelafolletteart.com/ Facebook: Anne LaFollette Art

Show Notes. After learning the hard way during a disastrous Paris trip where I was stuck on late-night Zoom calls instead of enjoying family dinners, let’s dive into my favorite way to plan for the year ahead. I’ll share why starting with life first and building business goals second actually leads to greater success, not less. 🔑 In This Episode You’ll Learn: The backwards planning method that flips traditional goal-setting on its head – why blocking family trips, personal health, and creative restoration time FIRST actually increases your business success Why limiting yourself to just three major goals for the entire year (instead of twenty) leads to more profit and satisfaction, plus exactly how to choose which three How to identify your natural "business seasons" based on your energy patterns from your 2025 review, and why working with these rhythms instead of against them changes everything Next Steps: Get started for just $10 with the From Doodles to Dollars® Workbook. Expand your surface pattern design skills in The Pattern Design Academy Self Study Program. Click HERE and get $500 off at checkout. Ready to expand your business online? Explore The Creative Business Mastermind where you’ll learn my proven framework for building a successful and wildly profitable creative business online. By application only. Spot are limited. Click HERE for details and to apply. Let’s Connect! Instagram: @annelafolletteart Website:https://www.annelafolletteart.com/ Facebook: Anne LaFollette Art

Show Notes: In this Thanksgiving week episode, I share the story of how my mother and I used to alternate hosting family holidays, and what I learned from her warm and inviting approach to hospitality. My mother was a fabulous hostess who had an incredible gift for making people feel completely at ease, using formal elegance that somehow felt completely welcoming. She was always my biggest cheerleader and supported the exploration of my own unique perspective. What You'll Learn How learning from teachers whose styles differ from yours expands rather than limits your creative development and range of possibilities Why the most influential teachers often challenge your assumptions and introduce approaches you wouldn't have discovered on your own How authentic style emerges from absorbing principles while expressing them in your own voice rather than copying approaches exactly The difference between generous teaching that provides foundation without constraining possibility versus instruction that limits expression Why your creative voice is part of an ongoing conversation between learning and teaching, tradition and innovation  Three Ways to Work with Me If you're ready to take your creative confidence to the next level, there are three ways I can support your journey: To get started in surface pattern design: Grab a copy of my From Doodles to Dollars® workbook. This is a downloadable PDF with the step by step instructions for how to turn a doodle or sketch into a repeating pattern. You’ll create your very first repeating pattern and gain the foundation skills to begin expressing your artistic voice in a new, exciting way. If you've already made repeating patterns in Adobe Illustrator and you want to up-level your skills: Join the self-study version of my Pattern Design Academy® program. You get the complete program, with lifetime access and $500 off the regular price of $1,997. Click HERE for details. If you run a successful creative business and you want guidance on how to expand online: Apply for my Creative Business Mastermind. This program is limited to 20 students and is designed to help you scale and achieve greater profitability using my proven 6-part framework. Your creative voice is valuable. Your artistic perspective matters. The world needs what you have to offer.

Show Notes: In this episode, I share my journey from corporate job loss and creative isolation to discovering the transformative power of a creative community through a local co-working space. I explore why the myth of the solitary artist is actually harmful to working creatives and how an authentic community provides perspective, solutions, and accountability that you simply cannot achieve alone. As we approach 2026, I discuss the importance of both online communities and in-person connection, address the current "trust recession", and explain how a community can support you when you’re feeling lost or isolated. What You'll Learn: Why the myth of the solitary creative artist works against the conditions that foster sustainable creative practice How creative community provides specific advantages including perspective on your work, solutions to technical challenges, and normalized creative struggles The "trust recession" in creative education and what to look for in authentic communities that prioritize relationship building over content delivery Why the most robust creative communities embrace both online consistency and periodic in-person intensive experiences How to find the right type of creative community for your current stage of creative development and business goals Resources Mentioned: If you're ready to explore what's possible when you combine your creativity with strategic business thinking, I'd love to support your journey. My Creative Business Mastermind is designed specifically for creative entrepreneurs who are ready to build sustainable, profitable businesses without losing the joy in their creative practice. Apply today!  

Show Notes: In this episode, I share the story of how getting laid off from my corporate job led me to discover my first online art class and ultimately changed my entire perspective on creative businesses. I explore the biggest fear that stops most creative people from monetizing their work – the belief that turning creativity into business will kill the joy – and explain why this fear is often based on false premises. As we approach 2026, I guide listeners through the mindset shifts necessary to move from wondering "what if" to discovering "what's possible" with their creative gifts. What You'll Learn: The two "aha" moments that shifted my perspective from hobbyist to entrepreneur and why online creative education is a thriving business Why the fear that monetizing creativity kills joy is based on false premises and how building the right business can actually enhance creative satisfaction How to use the holiday season as a perfect testing ground for experimenting with creative business without major commitments The four critical mindset shifts that separate those who stay stuck from those who successfully transition to creative entrepreneurship How to protect the joy in your creativity while building a sustainable business that aligns with your values Resources Mentioned: Creative Business Mastermind Application