Positively Creative

Dorothy loved having this opportunity to sit down with two wonderfully creative Memphis women, the Archer sisters, Kristen & Lindsey Archer.  Arch'd takes the sisters creativity and transfers it directly to the wood, via Kristen’s photography and Lindsey’s graphic design.  They fill us in on their assembly line process, working in batches, how they working with family, and how they like doing things that are creative outside of businesses. https://getarchd.com/ Subscribe to the Positively Creative Newsletter here!   On Today's Show: (10:00) their artmaking process (12:00) first products (13:30) assembly line process, working in batches (18:00) on hiring studio assistants (19:00) on graphic design & photography that make up the artwork (19:30) expanding their products with different cities skews (20:00) NYC trip (20:30) photography flight in Manhattan (26:00) full time jobs at Kappa Delta Headquarters, how their positions relate to their skills making and creating with Arch'd (30:00) on being sisters

Today's Positively Creative podcast episode, Dorothy chats with Katherine Corden on how she grew her painting hobby into a side hustle while being a full time physical therapist, how she has learned to say yes and no to live the life that she wants, and how she batches her work to prioritize her time.  "Saying yes to something means saying no to something else, and it goes vice versa, so saying no to something means that you're making room to say yes for something else.  So unless something is exactly what I need, have time for, or want in the present moment, I've said no to it." -Katherine Corden To see Katherine's Work: http://katherinecorden.com/ For more Positively Creative: www.positivelycreative.net On Today's Show: (7:00) how she started just a year ago (11:00) lack of art business education in the university setting (12:00) Skillshare (19:00) her sketching and painting process (19:00) Golden Paints and how she has a limited palette (21:30) her commission process (22:00) Honeybook (29:00) Jenna Kutcher

Today's episode is one for the books!  Host Dorothy Collier moderates Pro Panel: Market Booths, hosted by Creative Works & Tuesdays Together.  Panelists Sarah Baumann of Signet Sealed, Josh Samuels of EllaJude, Samilia Colar of Textyle, & Mary Claire White of Falling into Place share their wealth of knowledge on the nitty gritty of craft festivals and what it takes from A to Z.  They discuss application tips and tricks when trying to get into juried shows, on why applying early to shows matters, how to prepare your product before the show and how to display it within your booth once at the art fair, how to sell to customers and so much more!     $15 e-book on how to sell at shows Positively Creative Newsletter - Subscribe for awesomeness!   On Today's Show: (5:00) Dan with Creative Works, Conference in October (10:00) Introductions, how many shows the panel does a year, and first mishaps (22:00) Application process and finding shows  (26:00) Zapplication (28:00) Sourcebook (32:00) How do you pre

On today's Positively Creative Podcast episode, neuroscientist Amanda Torres, a paleo and autoimmune protocol recipe blogger, shares with Dorothy about her personal health journey, the launch of her first cookbook, Latin American Paleo Cooking, on monetizing her blog through affiliate programs, and how she builds her community through Instagram Stories & Facebook Live.  For more of Amanda's work: https://thecuriouscoconut.com/ On Today's Show: (4:00) How she was diagnosed with pre diabetes, had developed an autoimmune skin condition, to lost weight (80 pounds!), and turning her health around.  (5:30) Discovering the paleo diet - Mark Sisson A Primal Blueprint (8:30) Barefoot running led her to primal living (14:00) Institute for Functional Medicine - takes a root cause approach  (14:30) Starting The Curious Coconut blog after two years of paleo diet  (22:00) on monetizing the blog (23:30) collaborating with other bloggers to create e-cookbooks (27:00) multiple streams of income, including affiliate market

Today on Positively Creative, Dorothy chats with Erin Austen Abbott about all of the different creative avenues Erin ventures as a facilitator and curator in the creative community.  Erin shares all about her shop Amelia and the recent shop move from Oxford to Water Valley, Mississippi, where the shop has grown to house a gallery as well as classes and workshops.  Erin discusses her new book, How to Make It, a look into 25 creative entrepreneurs and makers and their creative processes.  They also discuss Erin's writings for Design Sponge, her own photography, and much more! "It's been a real lesson for me on what people want...It's also an education process, educating people why things cost what they cost, why handmade is so important, why we need this kind of movement in our country and world because it's important to know where your items are coming from and to gift things that are more special than something you could pick up at a Black Friday sale."  -Erin Austin Abbott    For more Erin Austen Abbott &

Today Dorothy sits down with Abby Phillips of Memphis Fashion Design Network.  Abby fills us in on how she created Memphis Fashion Week, which hosts well known fashion designers as well as emerging designers.   Abby has grown this nonprofit into a flourishing thriving success.  Memphis Fashion Design Network now encompasses a collaborative design studio, The Lab, and education certification courses at Memphis College of Art. "We knew right away that we had to keep doing it.  I don't feel like I built it, I feel like we kept following what people were wanting.  It was the opposite of 'if you build it they will come.'  It was like, they're coming, we better get this done!" - Abby Phillips  "I think that's a big thing as well...committing yourself to being 100% present for what you're working on, whether that a mom, or work, or whatever it may be." - Abby Phillips Follow Memphis Fashion Design Network here: http://www.memphisfashiondesignnetwork.com/ http://www.memphisfashionweek.org/ Follow Positively Creative

On today's show, Dorothy sits down to talk with Amanda Campbell of Amanda Louise Interiors, from Greenville, South Carolina.  Listen along as Amanda shares how she built her client list through social media, works with clients to create their ideal styled space, and talks about recent and upcoming collaborations.   "I really think that the biggest part of style and figuring out your home is just buying things that you really love.  Collecting things that really mean something to you and you're really drawn to, and not worrying about if it's on trend or really even what will look best in your space.  There's something for just buying things that speak to you." "Trello is my best friend in the whole world...it has seriously changed my whole life."  "Some of those big hurdles that I've gone through has really been one of the best things." "My husband says that i rearrange our living room every time there's a really good football game on, because I just sit there and rearrange furniture in my head and have to get

Today Dorothy talks to Stacie Bloomfield of Gingiber, a paper goods and home decor company that offers classic animal-centric illustrated designs that are sweet enough for children, but smart enough for adults.  Stacie fills us in on the nitty gritty of growing Gingiber from the ground up, online and in the wholesale world, now in 300 + retail stores and licenses her artwork to many big name brands.  She discusses how important it is to be capable of pivoting in your business when needed.   "Gingiber is hear to make people happy.  Whatever we have on a card, whatever we have an image, whatever we have on a tea towel, it's going to make someone smile."   "The reason people will keep working with you, it's not just if you were a good artist, it's if you are a nice person they will remember you.  You can say thank you, and then you can show your thank you with a note in the mail, or sending an email.  Little acts of gratitude go a long way and building those relationships.  If you have a good opportunity, recogn

On today's show, Dorothy speaks with Meredith Piper of Greenville, South Carolina about her artwork, studio practices, and art shows around the southeast.  Meredith works in oil, acrylic, soft pastels, and creates her beautiful wooden framed encased weavings.  Listen along as Meredith describes her studio in Downtown Greenville and all about how to juggle a retail space while painting.  Meredith also clues us into how she creates a painting at a live event.  Dorothy found another bestie!  The two artists have too many things in common to count!  And those things were just discovered with this first conversation that was recorded! "Being one of the earlier (pieces of art)...I feel like that always takes longer because you don't know what you're doing, you're just exploring, which is awesome but those are some of the most beautiful sweet moments...that exploration of the unknown if you have not done it before, you have no idea what's going to happen or how it's going to turn out.  Those are some of the best mem

Dorothy chats with Emily Jeffords, a fine artist from Greenville, South Carolina.  Emily's well known for her dreamy abstract oil landscape paintings, her more than perfectly beautiful Instagram account, and her workshops ranging from local to abroad. "If you're doing what you're enjoying and if you're doing what makes you happy in the moment, that's going to be the most successful. That's going to be the most vibrant for you and your collectors, if that's what's going to resonate, if you want to have collaborations with big brands or blogs, the things that make you happy speaks the loudest." -Emily Jeffords "People need to connect with art a bit more tangibly than maybe we've been able to in the past." -Emily Jeffords, on why she shares her story via Instagram  See more of Emily Jeffords' work: http://emilyjeffords.com/ www.instagram.com/emilyjeffords Follow along and join the Positively Creative Community: www.positivelycreative.net www.instagram.com/positivelycreativepodcast www.facebook.com/groups/po

Dorothy chats with Mary Claire White of Falling Into Place in Memphis, TN.  She’s been making candles since she was in the womb (no really...her mom started making candles while she was pregnant with Mary Claire!)  She shares how Etsy Open Call launched her wholesale candle business and how she successfully opened the Falling Into Place gift shop on Broad Avenue, making it profitable after year one.  Mary Claire discusses how she says and writes down what she wants to happen for the Universe to hear her dreams.  They talk about how she doesn’t let anything sit, which contributes to her success.   “You always want to have that feeling of everything is just falling into place.  But everything doesn’t just fall into place! It falls into place or it appears to fall into place because you’ve worked your butt off.”  - Mary Claire White   See more of Falling Into Place: http://www.fallingintoplace.net/ https://www.facebook.com/fallingintoplaceshop https://www.instagram.com/fallingintoplaceshop/ https://www.etsy.com/

Join Dorothy as she chats with Kelly Parker Smith and Caroline Hull about their new podcast, Creative Biz Rebellion.  They dive into various topics for product based businesses in their weekly episodes, from having an Etsy Action Plan to goals and resolutions.  Listen in on how Kelly and Caroline run the podcast and their respective creative companies from their homes, Hello World Paper Co. and Caroline Creates, all while being moms!   "We want to have, not balance, but harmony in our lives." - Kelly Parker Smith   Follow along for more Creative Biz Rebellion:   www.creativebizrebellion.com www.instagram.com/creativebizrebellion https://www.facebook.com/groups/creativebizrebellion/     Follow along and join the Positively Creative Community:   www.positivelycreative.net www.instagram.com/positivelycreativepodcast www.facebook.com/groups/positivelycreativepodcast   On Today's Show: (4:00) Caroline Creates (5:00) Hello World Paper Co. (6:00) How Caroline & Kelly met - Creative Founders (7:00) The start of t

Dorothy sits down with her newest art friend and eerily similar "twin," Sarah Baumann of Signet Sealed to talk about how Sarah's diary doodling became a full time art career by focusing on a niche.  Sarah walks us through the product process, from drawing to laying out the illustrations for different products featuring the dozens of cities she's captured.  Dorothy and Sarah hit on the highlights of the new Memphis Chapter of Tuesdays Together for Rising Tide Society.    See more of Signet Sealed's work: www.signetsealed.com https://www.instagram.com/signetsealed/   See more of Rising Tide Society: http://www.risingtidesociety.com https://www.instagram.com/tuesdaystogethermemphis/ https://www.risingtidesocietymemphis.com   Follow along and join the Positively Creative Community:   www.positivelycreative.net www.instagram.com/positivelycreativepodcast www.facebook.com/groups/positivelycreativepodcast     (8:30) Paper & Honey Laura Joseph  (9:00) House show  (12:00) This seems like the time to try it (13:0

Figuring out how to maintain your work to-do list during an emergency can be a struggle.  This week I'm discussing what I'm currently doing to try to make sure my art life gets enough attention during a recent family emergency.   *Update - I'm THRILLED to let y'all know that my family member is on his way to recovery!  He is still in ICU.  I am so happy that I got to speak with him yesterday!  What a MIRACLE!!!* Dorothy discusses that open communication, delegating, putting things on autopilot, and forgiveness all play a role in working during any unexpected emergency.   

Dorothy chats with Caitlin of Horton Brand Strategy on how she works with entrepreneurs to make their "inside match their outside,” working on the business side of things as well as visual side to make sure that your target audience is reached and to connect with them in a genuine way, helping you solve your clients problem with your products and services.  Caitlin’s Brand Exploration Kit helps in the collaboration Landmark Method Process to really hone in on the overall goal for your company   "Marketing is the core of any business." - Caitlin Horton   See more of Caitlin Horton:   www.caitlinlhorton.com www.facebook.com/hortonbrandstrategy www.instagram.com/dizzycaitlin     Follow along and join the Positively Creative Community:   www.positivelycreative.net www.instagram.com/positivelycreativepodcast www.facebook.com/groups/positivelycreativepodcast   Follow along with Dorothy Art: www.dorothycollier.com www.instagram.com/dorothyart www.facebook.com/dorothyart   On Today’s Show:   (9:00) The mission be

Today I’m speaking with Liana Kangas, a freelance comic artist and illustrator.  We talk about her new comic, BlackOUT, her graphic design equipment and process, and how she balances her art career and personal life.  Liana is a pro at diving headfirst into new creative communities, as she’s lived in many cities over the past few years!     See more of Liana Kangas:   http://www.lianakangas.com/ https://www.patreon.com/lianakangas https://twitter.com/lianakangas https://www.instagram.com/lianakangas/ https://www.facebook.com/ComicBlackout/ Shop: https://society6.com/lianadesigns Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/lianakangas     Follow along and join the Positively Creative Community:   www.positivelycreative.net www.instagram.com/positivelycreativepodcast www.facebook.com/groups/positivelycreativepodcast   On Today’s Show:   (5:00) Hello Giggles (5:50) Only Netflix Can Judge Me (9:00) The birth of Comic BlackOUT (11:00) On self publishing (15:30) Graphic Design tools  (19:00) Liana’s timeline and deadlines (2

Today’s Positively Creative guest is Hillary Butler, an abstract artist that believes if you show up and do the work, your creativity will flow.  As a new mom, Hillary fills me in on how she uses her time wisely in the studio, creating commission pieces through her mock up method.  She shares how she shows gratitude towards her customers through her emails and through giving the best gifts ever!     See more of Hillary Butler Fine Art: www.hillarybutler.com www.instagram.com/hillarybutlerfineart   Follow along and join the Positively Creative Community:   www.positivelycreative.net www.instagram.com/positivelycreativepodcast www.facebook.com/groups/positivelycreativepodcast   On Today’s Show:   (9:00) On being a new mama while still painting (12:45) How to host art workshops (13:30) Blueprint Retreat (16:00) On teaching at Falling into Place (21:00) Her mock up method for commissions (28:30) Releasing collections (35:00) Connecting with your audience in person (50:00) Austin Kleon’s Show Your Work! & St

Today’s Positively Creative guest is Valerie McKeehan, creator of the chalk lettering art company and gift and lifestyle brand, Lily and Val.  Valerie speaks on how she creates new products, the new product the Keepsake Kitchen Diary, and how they recently opened a brick and mortar shop.  Listen along for her tips on managing and building a team with your spouse, licensing vs. manufacturing, and evolving the brand's aesthetic. See more of Lily & Val: www.lilyandval.com www.instagram.com/valeriemckeehan www.instagram.com/lilyandval   Follow along and join the Positively Creative Community:   www.positivelycreative.net www.instagram.com/positivelycreativepodcast www.facebook.com/groups/positivelycreativepodcast On Today's Show: (2:00) How Lily & Val started (6:00) Marketing background helped build the brand (8:00) Manufacturing and licensing (14:00) Working with a Spouse (15:00) Keepsake Kitchen Diary (19:00) Brick & Mortar Location (20:00) Valerie's Daily Routine (21:00) On managing a collaborativ

Today on Positively Creative Dorothy chats with Kat Gordon, owner of Muddy’s Bake Shop in Memphis, Tennessee.  She takes us behind the scenes of the 50+ employee, tri-location bakery business from Mud Lab, the test kitchen club which has a lengthy application process for creating a new recipe for the bakery to the Muddy’s volunteer community outreach program for her employees.  Book clubs, employee retreats, art market, custom kitchen…what does Muddy’s not do?!     “I feel like this is the secret of visioning and why visioning works is that once you are open about what it is you want, people want to help you.” -Kat Gordon, on working to fulfill the Muddy’s team's 2020 vision of launching a pie in the sky!   “My business is my medium.” -Kat Gordon   “We get so caught up in the grass is always greener, but it’s easy to just not totally appreciate the challenges for the gift that they are.” -Kat Gordon   See more of Muddy’s:   www.muddysbakeshop.com www.instagram.com/muddysbakeshop     Follow along and join the

Today’s Positively Creative guest is Kristen Ley, founder and owner of Thimblepress, a lifestyle company that encourages kindness and inspires fun, through her letterpress and watercolor greeting cards, kindness cards, Push-Pop Confetti, and tons of other adorable products!  Kristen fills us in on her creative process, ranging from how she came up with the "Your butt looks great in those jeans!" card to The Day Dreamer Journal.  Kristen and Dorothy discuss the backstory of Thimblepress' early days, how she manages her team and working on collaborations all inside the Thimblepress headquarters in Jackson, Mississippi, and how she stays positive by leaning on her faith to stay optimistic.     "You really want to hire your weaknesses." -Kristen Ley "If I could laugh through my whole life, I would be a happy girl. Keeping that kid-like innocence and mentality I think is one of the biggest things you can do for enjoying your life." - Kristen Ley "There's bravery in seeking after opportunity." -Kristen Ley "When yo