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Creative Business Spark: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Anne LaFollette
Need help navigating through life after getting laid off from your job or as you approach retirement? Join Anne La Follette, former corporate Vice President, who reinvented herself in her late 50s after getting laid off from a job she loved. Becoming a successful creative entrepreneur from scratch was no easy feat. Anne brings her “can do” attitude and warm heart to support you in achieving your creative dreams at any age. Tune in for practical, step by step advice, whether you’re just dipping your toes into the entrepreneurial waters or you’ve got an established creative business that needs some “spark”. Welcome the The Creative Business Spark podcast where: It’s Never Too Late To Create®.
Latest Episodes
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- 4 days ago14 min
E57 She Retired at 60 & Landed Her First Fabric License - Here's How
SHOW NOTES: As a child, she was told to stick to “crafty things”. Fast forward to now. She’s retired and just landed her first fabric licensing deal. Here's exactly how she did it, and how you can too. The rise of AI-generated art has done something unexpected: it's made your hand-drawn designs more valuable than ever. In this episode, I'm sharing the story of my student Debby McLaughlin — a retired software project manager who was told as a child to stick with "crafty things" — and what happened when she decided, in her mid-50s, to find out if that teacher had been right. Spoiler: she wasn't. Debby just landed her first licensing contract, and her first collection Morgana is now available through her creative business, Cat Spring Art. Her story is proof that the doors are more real than you know — and that your imperfect, human-made designs are exactly what the market wants right now. 🎯 What You'll Learn: 👉 Why the rise of AI-generated art is actually good news for artists who draw by hand — and what major fabric manufacturers are now requiring of their licensed designers 👉 The critical difference between licensing and outright sale, and why understanding this before you say yes could change the entire trajectory of your creative income 👉 How Debby went from "not creative enough" to landing a licensing contract with The Textile District — and the one decision that made all the difference 👉 Why Adobe Illustrator (yes, also called "AI") is the bridge between the art you're already making and the income you haven't earned yet 👉 Why you don't need talent, art school, or a polished portfolio to get started — you need the right steps, in the right order, with someone walking beside you 📌 Important Links: Free Guide — How to Craft a Career (or Side Hustle) in Surface Pattern Design → https://members.artwithanne.com/ebook Join the Doodles Coaching Week Waitlist → https://members.artwithanne.com/doodles 📲 Connect with me: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annelafolletteart Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annelafolletteart/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnneLaFollette1
- 1 weeks ago15 min
E56 Why AI Gives You Generic Answers (and How to Fix It)
SHOW NOTES: If the constant noise around artificial intelligence has you feeling behind, overwhelmed, or like you’ve already missed the boat — this episode is for you. I’m pulling back the curtain on the urgency trap I fell into myself and sharing exactly why creative women like us are more ready for AI than we think. This isn’t about learning 30 tools in 30 days. It’s about showing up steady, getting clear on who you are, and letting AI handle the work that drains you so you have more time for the work that lights you up. 👉 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: ✨ Why the urgency around AI is manufactured — and what actually works instead ✨ The one mistake most people make when they first open Claude or ChatGPT (and how to fix it) ✨ Why context is your secret weapon — and the skill that transfers to every tool, forever ✨ How creative women are using AI to make time, not art — and why that distinction matters ✨ Your first real step: the free Creative DNA guide that gives AI the context it needs to become your best virtual assistant ➡️ GRAB YOUR FREE CREATIVE DNA GUIDE: members.artwithanne.com/dna 📌 CONNECT WITH ME: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annelafolletteart Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annelafolletteart/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnneLaFollette1
- 2 weeks ago13 min
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 Connect with me: Facebook: Anne LaFollette Art Instagram: @annelafolletteart YouTube: AnneLaFollette1
- Apr 6, 202620 min
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 Connect with me: Facebook: Anne LaFollette Art Instagram: @annelafolletteart YouTube: AnneLaFollette1 What part of the "Doodles to Dollars" process are you most excited to master during the coaching week?
- Mar 30, 202616 min
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 Why watercolor artists make such a natural leap into pattern design — and what's really holding them back The one mistake artists make when they first try to bring their work into Illustrator (and how Maria avoided it) How a single thistle painting became pillows, tea towels, tote bags, and a line of linen dresses Why learning the steps first — with simple doodles — is what makes everything else possible 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. ⏰ 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 Website: https://www.annelafolletteart.com/ Facebook: Anne LaFollette Art
- Mar 23, 202614 min
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 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 The honest question one student emailed me about the $10 price — and my full answer What's actually included in From Doodles to Dollars® Coaching Week (hint: it's not a PDF and nothing else) Why I've made the very intentional decision to keep this training this accessible What happens inside the community during the five days — and why the homework is everyone's favorite part 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. Let’s Connect! Instagram: @annelafolletteart Website: https://www.annelafolletteart.com/ Facebook: Anne LaFollette Art
- Mar 16, 202618 min
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 The "social media treadmill" and why more content doesn't equal more income What happened when I stopped trying to be everywhere and focused on what actually worked Why a curated product line at a craft fair outperformed everything I had online The fabric dream — how quilters and sewists can finally design the prints they've always wished existed 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. Some of these are affiliate links. I only recommend tools I personally use and love. Let’s Connect! Instagram: @annelafolletteart Website: https://www.annelafolletteart.com/ Facebook: Anne LaFollette Art
- Mar 9, 202621 min
50. 7 Ways Creatives Turn Doodles into Income
SHOW NOTES Kyle Young sold over $1,000 in products at a church craft fair in just three hours — and she'd only recently started exploring surface pattern design. In this episode, Anne walks through seven real ways creative women are earning income from their simple doodles, featuring nine students from her community who are doing it right now. Whether you're drawn to print-on-demand, licensing, craft fairs, teaching, or something you haven't even considered yet, this episode will show you what's possible. 🔑 In This Episode You’ll Learn The 7 income paths available to surface pattern designers (and why most women combine more than one) How Debby McLaughlin went from software project manager to licensed designer with The Textile District Why your imperfect, hand-drawn style is exactly what buyers are looking for right now The subscription and commission models that most creatives overlook, and shouldn't What all 7 paths have in common (hint: they all start with one simple doodle) Links & Resources: Join the Doodles Coaching Week. Get your $10 Early Bird Ticket HERE. Download Anne's free ebook: Craft a Career You Love in Surface Pattern Design Join The Doodles Digest HERE for weekly creative inspiration. My Tools & Resources Page Adobe Illustrator Free Trial Kajabi Ecamm Live Some of these are affiliate links. I only recommend tools I personally use and love. Let’s Connect! Instagram: @annelafolletteart Website: https://www.annelafolletteart.com/ Facebook: Anne LaFollette Art
About Creative Business Spark
Need help navigating through life after getting laid off from your job or as you approach retirement? Join Anne La Follette, former corporate Vice President, who reinvented herself in her late 50s after getting laid off from a job she loved. Becoming a successful creative entrepreneur from scratch was no easy feat. Anne brings her “can do” attitude and warm heart to support you in achieving your creative dreams at any age. Tune in for practical, step by step advice, whether you’re just dipping your toes into the entrepreneurial waters or you’ve got an established creative business that needs some “spark”. Welcome the The Creative Business Spark podcast where: It’s Never Too Late To Create®.
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