Creative Business Spark

E55. Why 241 Women Didn’t Show Up (And Why You Might Be One of Them)

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 [https://members.artwithanne.com/fabric] CONNECT WITH ME: * Facebook: Anne LaFollette Art [https://www.facebook.com/annelafolletteart] * Instagram: @annelafolletteart [https://www.instagram.com/annelafolletteart/] * YouTube: AnneLaFollette1 [https://www.youtube.com/@AnneLaFollette1]

E54. Create Your Own Fabric Designs in Just 5 Days

SHOW NOTES: In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on my From Doodles to Dollars® Coaching Week to show you exactly how to transform a simple sketch into a professional, repeating pattern. Whether you want to design your own fabric for quilting, create unique wrapping paper, or explore new income streams, I break down the process into simple "baby steps" using Adobe Illustrator. I share my personal journey of reinventing myself in my 60s and explain why you don't need art school or expensive tech to start your own creative business.    👉 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: *  The 3 Golden Rules: My specific method for ensuring your patterns tile perfectly every single time with no awkward gaps or overlaps.   *  Tech Without the Headache: Exactly which three tools you need to get started and how to access a free trial of Adobe Illustrator.  *  Vector Magic: How to turn a black-and-white doodle into a professional, colorized vector design.   *  7 Ways to Monetize: A breakdown of real-world opportunities to earn income from your designs, including licensing and print-on-demand.   *  High-Touch Support: How the live troubleshooting sessions work, where I can open your specific file on screen to help you fix any mistakes.   ➡️ IMPORTANT LINKS: Join the From Doodles to Dollars Coaching Week Secure your spot for our upcoming session running April 13 through April 24. This is your final week to join us for just $37!   👉 members.artwithanne.com/doodles [https://members.artwithanne.com/doodles]    CONNECT WITH ME: * Facebook: Anne LaFollette Art [https://www.facebook.com/annelafolletteart] * Instagram: @annelafolletteart [https://www.instagram.com/annelafolletteart/] *  YouTube: AnneLaFollette1 [https://www.youtube.com/@AnneLaFollette1]    What part of the "Doodles to Dollars" process are you most excited to master during the coaching week?

53. 3 Things That Changed When This Watercolor Artist Learned Pattern Design

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 1. Why watercolor artists make such a natural leap into pattern design — and what's really holding them back 2. The one mistake artists make when they first try to bring their work into Illustrator (and how Maria avoided it) 3. How a single thistle painting became pillows, tea towels, tote bags, and a line of linen dresses 4. Why learning the steps first — with simple doodles — is what makes everything else possible 5. 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 [https://members.artwithanne.com/doodles]. ⏰ 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 [https://www.instagram.com/annelafolletteart] * Website: https://www.annelafolletteart.com/ [https://www.annelafolletteart.com/] * Facebook: Anne LaFollette Art [https://www.facebook.com/annelafolletteart]

52. Why I'm Practically Giving Away This Training (It’s only $10 Bucks!)

SHOW NOTES: Why does the From Doodles to Dollars® Coaching Week [https://members.artwithanne.com/doodles] cost just $10? I get real about the intentional philosophy behind the price — and what's actually waiting for you inside. If you've ever wondered whether a $10 course can really be worth your time, this episode is for you. 🔑 IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN 1. The honest question one student emailed me about the $10 price — and my full answer 2. What's actually included in From Doodles to Dollars® Coaching Week (hint: it's not a PDF and nothing else) 3. Why I've made the very intentional decision to keep this training this accessible 4. What happens inside the community during the five days — and why the homework is everyone's favorite part 5. The real question to ask yourself before you decide ⏰ 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 LINKS & RESOURCES:  * Join the Doodles Coaching Week. Get your $10 Early Bird Ticket HERE [https://members.artwithanne.com/doodles]. LET’S CONNECT! * Instagram: @annelafolletteart [https://www.instagram.com/annelafolletteart] * Website: https://www.annelafolletteart.com/ [https://www.annelafolletteart.com/] * Facebook: Anne LaFollette Art [https://www.facebook.com/annelafolletteart]

51. I Almost Quit My Creative Business (Here's What Happened)

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 1. The "social media treadmill" and why more content doesn't equal more income 2. What happened when I stopped trying to be everywhere and focused on what actually worked 3. Why a curated product line at a craft fair outperformed everything I had online 4. The fabric dream — how quilters and sewists can finally design the prints they've always wished existed 5. 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 [https://members.artwithanne.com/doodles]. Some of these are affiliate links. I only recommend tools I personally use and love. LET’S CONNECT! * Instagram: @annelafolletteart [https://www.instagram.com/annelafolletteart] * Website: https://www.annelafolletteart.com/ [https://www.annelafolletteart.com/] * Facebook: Anne LaFollette Art [https://www.facebook.com/annelafolletteart]