Windowsill Chats

• The Shift to a SOFT Business: Building a Life and Career That Honor Who You Truly Are with Molly Balint

  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.comwww.instagram.com/windowsillchats https://www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry  

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• Rhinestones, Reinvention & the Art of Embracing Your Multi-Passionate Mind with Kim Bloomberg of Studio Art Beat

  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  

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• Creative Current Events: Art Fairs, Bold Murals, and Pasta-Perfect Playlists

  Margo and Abby catch up on emerging art fairs, AI-fueled creativity, and an unexpected Spotify collab in the latest episode of Creative Current Events, a special segment of Windowsill Chats. This round of curious and creative conversation touches on everything from practical tips for artists and makers to heartwarming stories and pop culture fun. They dig into the impact of recent tariff shifts on small businesses, celebrate alternative art fairs that uplift emerging artists, and spotlight muralists transforming both interiors and cityscapes. You’ll also hear about a cross-country artist on a mission, royalty-free music with a mission, and a billion-dollar design app you probably use (but may not know the backstory of). Plus: AI tools worth trying, Stanley's branding genius with Post Malone, and what happened when a kid got too close to a Rothko. As always, there’s a little something for everyone—whether you're looking for inspiration, useful resources, or just a reason to smile. Don’t forget to let us know what sparked your creativity this week!   Articles Mentioned:  Tariff Chart https://www.piie.com/research/piie-charts/2019/us-china-trade-war-tariffs-date-chart   The alternative art fairs championing emerging artists https://www.wallpaper.com/art/best-art-fairs-for-emerging-artists   Murals have moved indoors https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/13/style/murals-interiors-wall-art.html   Kreh Mellick https://www.instagram.com/krehmellick/   Murals Outdoors https://www.instagram.com/mantrarea/?hl=en   50-50 Project https://www.cheyennerenee.com   Artivive App allows augmented reality Tracy Dawn Brewer https://www.artivive.com/   7 genius chatbot prompts that will instantly boost your ideas https://www.tomsguide.com/ai/7-genius-gemini-prompts-that-will-instantly-boost-your-ideas     Child damages Rothko work at Rotterdam museum https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/04/29/child-damages-rothko-work-at-rotterdam-museum V & A East Storehouse https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/about-va-east-storehouse?srsltid=AfmBOooad4l6QVnVru427Vuem0kb6PpKDh0ZLLWpF3J1AaRpxFwdgIhK   The Story of Canva https://www.instagram.com/p/DHSgugYIE02/?hl=en&img_index=1   Royalty Free Music by Moby https://mobygratis.com/   Stanley & Post Malone Collaboration https://www.stanley1913.com/collections/post-malone-stanley-collab-2025   Barilla pasta playlist https://open.spotify.com/user/w2p1oq867ns7jele6g3lw66fk 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

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• The Art of Doing What You Can, When You Can: Creativity, Chronic Illness & Life-First Business with Nikita Williams

  Margo is joined by business coach and podcast host Nikita Williams in a conversation on building a business—and a life—that honors your whole self. Living with multiple chronic illnesses, Nikita has learned how to redefine success, make peace with limitations, and turn her lived experience into a source of power and purpose. She and Margo explore what it looks like to craft a creative path that makes space for rest, joy, and authenticity—without burning out or hiding who you are. They discuss the real and raw journey of navigating health challenges as a creative woman of color, how podcasting became a lifeline and legacy, and the importance of building businesses based on actual capacity. Nikita invites listeners to rethink hustle culture and embrace the art of doing what you can, when you can—with intention, honesty, and hope.   Margo and Nikita discuss: How living with chronic illness shapes identity, business, and self-advocacy Turning your limits into superpowers—what resilience really looks like The unique layers of being a woman of color with invisible illnesses The three phases of chronic illness: “newbie,” awareness, and OG Designing a business around your capacity (not your ideal self) Why storytelling and being witnessed are critical for healing Moving from hustle to harmony: redefining productivity and rest Structuring your work and life to honor flare days and energy rhythms Managing comparison, creative permission, and celebrating your own pace Connect with Nikita: www.thrivewithnikita.com www.instagram.com/thrivewithnikita https://www.craftedtothrive.com/   Connect with Margo: www.windowsillchats.com www.instagram.com/windowsillchats www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill  

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• After the Fire: Rebuilding After Loss and Making Life a Total Work of Art with Steve & Mary Jo Hoffman

  Margo is joined by creative couple Steve and Mary Jo Hoffman for a tender, thought-provoking conversation about resilience, reinvention, and the art of intentional living. In the wake of losing their family home to a fire, Steve and Mary Jo open up about what it means to rebuild—not just a house, but an entire way of living. They share how their individual creative practices continue to evolve, how they support one another through parallel play and creative autonomy, and how loss clarified what truly matters. About Mary Jo Hoffman: Mary Jo is an artist and photographer best known for her project STILL, a daily nature photography practice that blossomed into a decade-long blog and the book STILL: The Art of Noticing. Her images and essays capture the quiet beauty of everyday natural objects and invite readers to see the world with fresh eyes. She lives in Shoreview, Minnesota, with her husband Steve and their puggle Jack, who joins her on daily foraging walks. About Steve Hoffman: Steve is a James Beard Award–winning writer whose debut memoir, A Season for That, chronicles his family’s relocation to southern France and the unexpected beauty found in ordinary food, people, and rhythms. A tax preparer by day and food writer by heart, Steve’s work has appeared in The Washington Post, Food & Wine, and The Minneapolis Star Tribune. He lives with Mary Jo on Turtle Lake, surrounded by bees, cranes, and creative inspiration. Margo, Steve, and Mary Jo discuss: Navigating loss and rebuilding with intention after the fire that destroyed their home and studios How daily creative rituals can ground and guide us through upheaval The power of noticing: Mary Jo’s journey with STILL and the discipline of paying attention Writing memoir and confronting vulnerability in Steve’s A Season for That What it means to live in a “total work of art” and create a life aligned with your values How partnership and creativity intertwine without merging Embracing slow living, meaningful routines, and the grace found in the everyday Previous Episodes with Mary Jo & Steve Episode 197: "Finding Beauty in Everyday Life: The Power of Creative Practice and the Art of Noticing with Mary Jo Hoffman" Episode 209: "A Season for Change: Steve Hoffman on New Perspectives, Culture, and Finding a Sense of Belonging"   Connect with Steve Hoffman: www.sjrhoffman.com https://www.instagram.com/sjrhoffman/   Connect with Mary Jo Hoffman: https://www.instagram.com/maryjohoffman/ STILL: The Art of Noticing http://eepurl.com/bTvh4n (Newsletter)   Connect with Margo: www.windowsillchats.com www.instagram.com/windowsillchats www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill  

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