Windowsill Chats

Margo is joined by Jennifer Smelker, the engineer-turned-artist, product designer, and founder of Tandem For Two. Since 2013, Jen has been creating colorful, travel-inspired artwork and gifts that celebrate the places we love and the moments that make life special. But her creative journey has been anything but linear.
From environmental engineering and graphic design to manufacturing, wholesale, and art licensing, Jen shares the twists, turns, and lessons that have shaped her evolving career. She and Margo explore what it means to embrace your identity as an artist, let go of perfectionism, and find the courage to try something new, even when you don't know exactly where it will lead.
They also dig into the realities of running a creative business, from scaling production and navigating industry changes to pitching artwork, building relationships, and discovering the power of community. Jen shares how a painting retreat in Portugal helped transform her creative practice, why she believes in sharing knowledge rather than gatekeeping it, and how curiosity continues to fuel her next chapter.
In this episode, we explore:
Finding your creative identity and overcoming perfectionism and imposter syndrome
The unexpected path from engineering to art and entrepreneurship
How community, mentorship, and creative challenges can spark meaningful growth
The behind-the-scenes realities of manufacturing, wholesale, and art licensing
Why persistence, thoughtful product presentations, and relationships matter when pitching your work
Embracing new technology, lifelong learning, and the freedom to reinvent yourself
Giving yourself permission to experiment, make imperfect art, and follow your curiosity
Mentioned in this episode:
Faire Wholesale Marketplace: faire.com
Adobe MAX (Miami, November): max.adobe.com
Atlanta Market: americasmart.com
The 100-day painting project: the100dayproject.org
Connect with Jennifer:
Website: https://tandemfortwo.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/tandemfortwo
Facebook: https://facebook.com/tandemfortwo
Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/tandemfortwo
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jensmelks

Abby is back on the Windowsill for another round of Creative Current Events! This week, she and Margo are diving into the latest headlines making waves in art, design, branding, and retail—and, as always, there's plenty to unpack.
From collectible handbags blurring the line between fashion and art to luxury brands rolling out the red carpet for our four-legged friends, the creative world is full of surprises. They explore Polaroid's cheeky campaign encouraging us to put down our screens, the return of Bed Bath & Beyond in an unexpected form, and why Hermès is doubling down on hand-drawn illustration in an increasingly AI-driven world.
Margo and Abby discuss:
The intersection of art, fashion, and collectible handbags
Polaroid's clever push for analog experiences in a digitally saturated world
Why luxury brands are increasingly catering to dogs (and their devoted humans!)
Kirkland's transformation into Bed Bath & Beyond Seasonal Living and what it says about retail reinvention
Hermès' embrace of hand-drawn illustration and the growing value of human creativity in the age of AI
The bigger cultural shifts shaping what we buy, how we create, and what we value
Articles:
Polaroid's Analog Summer Campaign Pushes Against Digital Overload — PetaPixel
Dogs Became Luxury's Fastest Growing Customer — Art of the Brand
Kirkland's Stores to Become Bed Bath & Beyond Seasonal Living — NBC Chicago
Hermès Goes All-In on Illustration in the Age of AI — Highsnobiety

This week on Windowsill Chats, Margo is joined by novelist Jane Ward, author of four books, including her latest, Should Have Told You Sooner. With a lifelong love of storytelling, cooking, baking, and art, Jane has built a creative life rooted in curiosity, observation, and finding inspiration in unexpected places.
Jane began writing her first novel, Hunger, nearly thirty years ago while living in Iceland with her Navy husband, finding space for storytelling during the long, dark winters. Since then, she's continued exploring the complexities of human relationships through fiction, often weaving together themes of family secrets, forgiveness, regret, and the things we leave unsaid. Her latest novel was inspired by something as simple as a lawn sign spotted during an early morning dog walk.
Margo and Jane discuss:
The meaning behind the question on Jane's website, "What's done is done. Or is it?" and why the past has a way of resurfacing

Writing about family secrets, forgiveness, and the complicated relationships that make us human

How Jane develops fictional characters who begin to feel like real people

Finding inspiration in unexpected places, including the lawn sign that sparked her latest novel

The creative freedom found in bread baking, photography, travel, and other everyday pursuits

Her upcoming sequel and its exploration of motherhood in all its complicated forms

The importance of making space for creativity outside of your primary artistic practice

Jane's plans for a Gothic novel set in Switzerland, inspired by her childhood love of Daphne du Maurier

Connect with Jane Ward:
Website: janeaward.com

Instagram: @authorjaneward

Threads: @authorjaneward

Facebook: @janealessandriniward

What does it look like to build a creative career that keeps evolving, without losing the curiosity that got you started?
This week, Margo is joined by illustrator, designer, cartographer, educator, and all-around creative powerhouse Tania Willis. With a career spanning editorial illustration, advertising, pictorial maps, heritage interpretation, products, licensing, and education, Tania has spent decades finding new ways to make a living from her creativity. She's also the co-founder of The Good Ship Illustration, where she helps illustrators navigate the business side of a creative career.
Tania and Margo talk about the power of creative community, adapting as the industry changes, and why even established artists sometimes need to reinvent their work. They also explore the value of diversifying your income, following your genuine interests instead of trends, and creating supportive spaces where artists can learn without fear or shame.
Margo and Tania discuss:
Why collaboration and community can accelerate creative growth
Adapting your business as social media and the illustration industry change
Teaching, mentoring, and sharing what you've learned along the way
Reinventing your style when your work starts to feel too predictable
Following curiosity instead of what you think you "should" be making
Building a resilient career through freelance work, teaching, products, and licensing
Why relationships and unexpected opportunities often shape a creative career
The enduring value of handmade, imperfect, distinctly human work
Creating safe, encouraging spaces for artists to experiment and learn
Why sometimes you just have to fly your freak flag
Connect with Tania:
www.taniawillis.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/tania.willis
The Good Ship Illustration: www.thegoodshipillustration.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/thegoodshipillustration

This week, we're revisiting a favorite conversation from the Windowsill Chats archives with artist and surface designer Abby Jacobs.
As far back as she can remember, making art has been Abby's favorite thing to do—and some of the happiest times in her life have been when she's had a consistent creative routine. Her belief in art-making as a way of life led her to pursue a master's degree in transpersonal counseling and art therapy from Naropa University in Boulder after studying art and psychology/human services as an undergraduate.
Whenever something doesn't feel quite right in her life, Abby asks herself, "Am I making artwork daily?" If the answer is no, she usually knows where to start.
Margo and Abby discuss:
Why pattern clashing isn't necessarily a bad thing

Abby's art therapy background and how it influences her creative practice

The importance of working with clients who feel aligned

Having a creative outlet beyond paid work

Navigating client expectations and people-pleasing

Creating work that feels authentic to you

What Abby learned from completing a 100-day project

And much more!

Connect with Abby:
www.abbyjacdesigns.com
Instagram: @abbyjacdesigns