This week on Windowsill Chats, Margo is joined by Mary McGreevy, the creative mind behind the viral TikTok account Tips From Dead People. What began as a curious, ironic hobby—reading obituaries for life advice—has blossomed into a meaningful exploration of what it means to live well. With a background in public policy and a penchant for heartfelt storytelling, Mary has built a community around the simple idea that there’s wisdom in the words left behind.

Margo and Mary explore how obituaries—whether poignant, irreverent, funny, or achingly honest—reveal what really matters at the end of the day. They talk about how quirks, flaws, and tiny joys shape the legacies we leave behind, why zigzagging through careers and passions can be more fulfilling than following a set path, and how embracing our humanity—mess and all—creates space for connection.

Mary and Margo discuss:

• The beginnings of Tips From Dead People and how it evolved from a personal hobby into a viral phenomenon

• Why traditional career advice like “find your passion” can be misleading

• How reading obituaries illuminates the richness of so-called “ordinary” lives

• The value of quirks, humor, and imperfections in shaping how we’re remembered

• Shifting our definition of success from accolades to meaningful details

• Creating inclusive spaces built on shared humanity

• Why being a generalist in life and career can be a strength, not a weakness

• What obituaries can teach us about writing (and rewriting) our own life stories

• How weird, one-off ideas often turn out to be the most impactful

• The healing, grounding power of stories—especially those from unexpected places

Connect with Mary:
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tipsfromdeadpeople

IG: https://www.instagram.com/tipsfromdeadpeople/

Substack: https://substack.com/@tipsfromdeadpeople

Connect with Margo:

www.windowsillchats.com

www.instagram.com/windowsillchats

www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill

https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

Margo and Abby are back and diving into mosaic mania, bold color trends, and major shakeups in the creative world in this episode of Creative Current Events, a special segment of Windowsill Chats. This curious and timely conversation covers everything from headline-making news to the creative tools and trends shaping what’s next. They unpack the big story of Michaels acquiring Joann Fabrics and what it could mean for artists, crafters, and small-town makers alike. They also explore the surprising team-up between Disney and Universal in a lawsuit against MidJourney that could reshape the future of AI-generated art, along with the rise of biophilic design, the comeback of mosaics, and Sherwin-Williams’ new “loneliest” color.

Articles Mentioned:

• Michaels acquires Joann Fabrics
  
  

• Disney & Universal sue MidJourney over AI use
  
  

• Ariadne AI toolkit for arts education
  
  

• Top wall art trends for 2025
  
  

• Biophilic design and color drenching
  
  

• Sherwin-Williams: The Loneliest Color
  
  

• Pantone Color of the Year in review
  
  

• Why mosaics are having a moment
  
  

• Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring in 108 gigapixels
  
  

• Extreme mold threatening museum collections
  
  

• 12 traits of creative people
  
  

• Traits that will define next-gen creative leaders
  
  

• Meta used my book for AI training... and I didn’t mind
  
  

• Find artist calls and open submissions
  
  

• Artwork Archive: Call for Entry
  
  

• My Friends by Hisham Matar
  
  

• James Clear’s 3-2-1 Thursdays
  
  

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

Carolyn Gavin returns to Windowsill Chats for a joy-filled conversation about painting, purpose, and the evolution of her creative life. Based in Toronto by way of South Africa, Carolyn is a painter, illustrator, designer, and teacher known for her joyful use of color and pattern across mediums from watercolor to acrylic. She’s also the principal designer for Ecojot, her family’s eco-friendly stationery brand, and a beloved teacher to students around the world.

In this episode, Carolyn shares the winding path of her creative journey—from childhood painting sessions to licensing her artwork for textiles and books, designing products, and leading retreats in beautiful locations. She opens up about the meditative power of painting, how travel and nature influence her process, and what it means to show up again and again for your art with playful curiosity.

Margo and Carolyn Discuss:

• Transitioning from advertising to co-founding Ecojot, a sustainable stationery brand

• How travel and living across cultures shaped her creative perspective

• Embracing bold, joyful color and large-scale experimentation

• The meditative power of painting as daily grounding
  Overcoming creative ruts and finding flow again

• Her playful balance between structure and spontaneity in art-making

• Translating flowers, landscapes, and real-world inspiration into distinctive work

• Building community through teaching—both online and at global retreats

• Advice for artists pursuing teaching, licensing, and product-based careers

• Navigating the business of art while maintaining personal joy and family life

• The ongoing importance of learning, evolving, and being inspired by others
  
  

Connect with Carolyn:

www.carolyngavin.com

www.instagram.com/carolynj

https://www.facebook.com/carolynjennygavin

https://ca.pinterest.com/carolyn_gavin/_saved/

https://www.threads.com/@carolynj

Connect with Margo:
https://www.tantaustudio.com

https://www.instagram.com/windowsillchats/

https://www.patreon.com/c/inthewindowsill

https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

Margo is joined by Swedish designer, illustrator, and educator Tina Backman for an inspiring conversation about creativity, self-discovery, and the winding path of a creative life.

From a shy childhood filled with drawing, journaling, and music, Tina shares how creativity became her truest language—and how that expression evolved into an international career in design, education, and branding. Margo and Tina explore the realities of navigating a creative career: the pressure to pursue “practical” paths, the challenges of freelance life, and the courage it takes to follow your inner voice.

Tina also opens up about rebuilding her creative presence after losing her Instagram account, the magic of physical creative spaces, and why gathering with other women has been essential to her journey. It’s a rich, vulnerable, and empowering episode filled with lessons on resilience, reinvention, and reclaiming creative joy.

Topics discussed by Margo and Tina:

• Using creativity as a safe space and communication tool in childhood

• The tension between societal expectations and following an artistic path

• Tina’s experiences studying in the UK vs. Sweden—and how that shaped her work

• Transitioning from international freelance work to teaching design

• How to recognize when a project isn’t the right fit (and why that matters)

• Why Tina created her own studio—and how it reignited her inspiration

• The importance of community and local creative gatherings for women

• Balancing creative work with full-time roles, like branding for a Swedish municipality

• Tips for presenting creative ideas in a way that resonates with clients

• Honoring your past creative work, even when life gets busy
  
  

Connect with Tina:

https://tinabackman.se/

https://www.instagram.com/tinabackmandesignstudio/

Connect with Margo:
https://www.tantaustudio.com

https://www.instagram.com/windowsillchats/

https://www.patreon.com/c/inthewindowsill

https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

In this episode of Windowsill Chats, Margo is joined by the brilliant and multifaceted Vincent Wanga—an international design thought leader, award-winning creative executive, keynote speaker, and author of The Art of Direction. With a career spanning two decades, Vince has not only built brands but built pathways for creatives to rise into leadership, blending vision, empathy, and business acumen. Margo and Vince dive deep into the rarely talked about pivot from doing creative work to leading it—unpacking the realities behind creative direction and what it truly takes to thrive in high-impact leadership roles.

Margo and Vince discuss:

• What creative directors actually do—and why no one talks about it

• The soft skills that define strong leadership (spoiler: empathy leads the pack)

• Navigating the blurred line between creativity and strategy

• How to lead with integrity and inspiration in fast-paced, tech-forward industries

• Vince’s personal journey from designer to executive at a billion-dollar startup

• The importance of mentorship and representation in creative leadership

• How creatives can stay grounded in their artistry while scaling their careers

• Actionable tips from The Art of Direction for moving beyond individual contributor roles

• Why AI won’t replace the creative soul—but how we do need to adapt

Whether you’re a designer, artist, or creative professional wondering what’s next, this conversation will equip you with clarity, direction, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Connect with Vince:
https://www.vincentwanga.com

Book: The Art of Direction

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/vincent-wanga

Connect with Margo:
https://www.tantaustudio.com

https://www.instagram.com/windowsillchats/

https://www.patreon.com/c/inthewindowsill

https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

Margo is joined by Molly Balint, creative entrepreneur, mentor, and founder of the SOFT Business movement. Molly helps women break away from hustle culture to build businesses that are as nourishing as they are profitable—centered around heart, balance, and alignment. With a background in storytelling, community-building, and soulful mentorship, Molly brings a grounded, compassionate lens to what it means to show up authentically in business today.

In this heartfelt conversation, Margo and Molly explore what it really takes to create a business rooted in your values, especially in a digital world that often prizes noise over nuance. Molly opens up about the inner work required to break free from old patterns, the difference between performative vulnerability and authentic presence, and how redefining success through softness can be a powerful act of creative leadership.

Margo and Molly discuss:

• Molly’s personal evolution from hustle-fueled creative to SOFT Business mentor.

• The deeper inner work needed before brand strategy can be effective.

• Why “just be yourself” advice often misses the mark—and how to do it in a way that feels safe and true.

• What the SOFT Business model looks like in practice (and how it doesn’t mean being less ambitious).

• Letting go of productivity pressure and embracing cycles, seasons, and boundaries.

• Instagram storytelling as a tool for connection, not performance.

• Navigating vulnerability, visibility, and personal boundaries online.

• How motherhood, farm life, and creative business coexist on Molly’s 300-acre Maryland farm.

• Why softness isn’t weakness—it’s a radical, sustainable strength.
  
  

Connect with Molly:
www.mollybalint.com

https://www.instagram.com/molly.balint

https://softbusinessclub.co/

Connect with Margo:
www.windowsillchats.com
www.instagram.com/windowsillchats

https://www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill

https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

Margo is joined by multi-passionate creative Kim Bloomberg, the joyful force behind Studio Art Beat. A fine artist, educator, and self-proclaimed art supply nerd, Kim brings a refreshing perspective to the creative journey—one that’s less about staying in your lane and more about following curiosity wherever it leads. With a background in both fine art and education, over two decades of teaching experience, and years running her own jewelry business, Kim shares how she ultimately found fulfillment by embracing her ADHD-fueled love for switching mediums and diving headfirst into new materials.

After leaving behind the New York hustle for the artistic charm of Chicago’s North Shore, Kim launched Studio Art Beat as an inclusive space to demystify art and make creativity accessible to all ages. She now leads workshops, partners with brands like Gelli Arts, and teaches online courses—including one that brings rhinestone bedazzling to the masses. Through her story, Kim reminds us that freedom, play, and experimentation are not distractions—they’re the path.

Margo and Kim discuss:

• Growing up in an art-loving family and the creative influence of her parents and grandfather.

• Letting go of a long-term jewelry business and the guilt that came with that decision.

• How embracing her neurodivergent brain led to business clarity and personal joy.

• Turning her natural desire to switch mediums into a strength rather than a struggle.

• Building an online art education platform that’s welcoming, inclusive, and non-intimidating.

• Why sharing her process openly (rather than gatekeeping) has helped her business grow.

• Collaborating with brands while maintaining authenticity and community connection.

• The value of playful creativity for both kids and adults—and why it’s never too late to start.

• How she’s made rhinestones cool again with her Cricut-powered online course.

• The beauty in allowing your creative identity to evolve—and giving others permission to do the same.
  
  

Connect with Kim:
www.studioartbeat.com

www.instagram.com/studioartbeat

Connect with Margo:
https://www.windowsillchats.com

https://www.instagram.com/windowsillchats

https://www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill

https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry