Subscriber-only episodePlay is an important part of a creative practice and creating for a living. It's also hard work (that doesn't sound right, does it? But it is!). Collaboration can be a form of play for creatives and has it's own set of benefits aside from play. Collaboration and play (together or separately) can have a huge influence on keeping our creative well filled and burn out at bay. And that's what I'm talking about this month!Episodes mentioned in this episode:The Creative Penn: The Hard Joy of Writing EP 65: The Jealous Creative - Confronting the Ugly EmotionYou can connect with the podcast on: Instagram at @andshelookedup Facebook YouTube Tik Tok at @AndSheLookedUp For a list of all available episodes, please visit:And She Looked Up Creative Hour PodcastEach week The And She Looked Up Podcast sits down with inspiring Canadian women who create for a living. We talk about their creative journeys and their best business tips, as well as the creative and business mindset issues all creative entrepreneurs struggle with. This podcast is for Canadian artists, makers and creators who want to find a way to make a living doing what they love. Your host, Melissa Hartfiel (@finelimedesigns), left a 20 year career in corporate retail and has been happily self-employed as a working creative since 2010. She's a graphic designer, writer and illustrator as well as the co-founder of a multi-six figure a year business in the digital content space. She resides just outside of Vancouver, BC.

Alexandra Newbould is an artist whose work you know. As a Toronto based freelance courtroom sketch artist and fashion and architecture illustrator, her work has appeared all across North America on newscasts, in newspapers and print, online and in brand marketing campaigns. She joins the show this week to talk about the challenges and rewards of being a freelance illustrator, tattoo artist and, her newest venture,  working as an event artist who captures special moments in people's lives.  We talk about about the pressure of working in the courtroom and its impact on her work, how she has built a very successful business with minimal social media presence, the importance of in person networking and building connections, how delivering good work is its own networking tool and finding the balance between commercial success and artistic integrity.This is a great episode for creatives who...struggle with how to network offline - Alex has done some interesting things to get noticed!wonder if it's possible to be successful without social mediahave an inner battle happening between creating art from a place deep inside them and creating art for commercial purposeshave always wondered about the world of courtroom sketch artists This episode is brought to you by our Premium Subscriber Community on Patreon and BuzzsproutFor a summary of this episode and all the links mentioned please visit:Episode155: Illustrator and Courtroom Sketch Artist Alexandra NewbouldYou can find Alexandra at alexandranewbould.com or on Instagram @alexandranewbould or @sketchmelikethisYou can find Melissa at finelimedesigns.com, finelimeillustrations.com or on Instagram @finelimedesigns.Support the Show.You can connect with the podcast on: Instagram at @andshelookedup Facebook YouTube Tik Tok at @AndSheLookedUp For a list of all available episodes, please visit:And She Looked Up Creative Hour PodcastEach week The And She Looked Up Podcast sits down with inspiring Canadian women who create for a living. We talk about their creative journeys and their best business tips, as well as the creative and business mindset issues all creative entrepreneurs struggle with. This podcast is for Canadian artists, makers and creators who want to find a way to make a living doing what they love. Your host, Melissa Hartfiel (@finelimedesigns), left a 20 year career in corporate retail and has been happily self-employed as a working creative since 2010. She's a graphic designer, writer and illustrator as well as the co-founder of a multi-six figure a year business in the digital content space. She resides just outside of Vancouver, BC.

You’re an artist or a creative or a maker.  You’ve made or created the thing, you’re selling the creative services. You’ve put it on social media and your website or Etsy. But nobody has bought it. So how the heck are you supposed to find your customers?? Melissa and Heather do a deep dive into how to find your people - and how to sell to them without it being weird or uncomfortable - even if you’re an introvert or shy (or both)!  This is an episode full of practical tips but be warned - there's no quick fix!This is a great episode for creatives who...are struggling to find paying customers or clientsdon't know where to look to find their people - we've got lots of ideas!struggle with selling - we'll show you how to soft sell instead of hard sell!get caught up in their heads when it comes to putting themselves out there - let's talk about mindset!are afraid of niching down - it makes it so much easier to know who your people are when you domight know what they are... but aren't sure what they're not (it'll make sense)This episode is brought to you by our Premium Subscriber Community on Patreon and BuzzsproutFor a summary of this episode and all the links mentioned please visit:Episode154: Makers & Artists: Here's How to Find Your Customers You can find Melissa at finelimedesigns.com, finelimeillustrations.com or on Instagram @finelimedesigns.You can find Heather at heatherlynnetravis.com or on Instagram @heathertravis.Support the Show.You can connect with the podcast on: Instagram at @andshelookedup Facebook YouTube Tik Tok at @AndSheLookedUp For a list of all available episodes, please visit:And She Looked Up Creative Hour PodcastEach week The And She Looked Up Podcast sits down with inspiring Canadian women who create for a living. We talk about their creative journeys and their best business tips, as well as the creative and business mindset issues all creative entrepreneurs struggle with. This podcast is for Canadian artists, makers and creators who want to find a way to make a living doing what they love. Your host, Melissa Hartfiel (@finelimedesigns), left a 20 year career in corporate retail and has been happily self-employed as a working creative since 2010. She's a graphic designer, writer and illustrator as well as the co-founder of a multi-six figure a year business in the digital content space. She resides just outside of Vancouver, BC.

I'm going back into the archives this week because it's been a bit of madness around here this month (in a good way!). This is a replay of EP 128 from last year where Heather and I asked past guests and audience member to share some words of wisdom that they've learned through being working creatives and/or running their own businesses. And they did not disappoint! It's an inspiriing episode with some fabulous nuggets from some exceptional women. One of my favourite quotes that I remind myself of over and over again came directly out of this episode!You can find the original show notes right here (with links to all of the episodes these women appeared on)Support the Show.You can connect with the podcast on: Instagram at @andshelookedup Facebook YouTube Tik Tok at @AndSheLookedUp For a list of all available episodes, please visit:And She Looked Up Creative Hour PodcastEach week The And She Looked Up Podcast sits down with inspiring Canadian women who create for a living. We talk about their creative journeys and their best business tips, as well as the creative and business mindset issues all creative entrepreneurs struggle with. This podcast is for Canadian artists, makers and creators who want to find a way to make a living doing what they love. Your host, Melissa Hartfiel (@finelimedesigns), left a 20 year career in corporate retail and has been happily self-employed as a working creative since 2010. She's a graphic designer, writer and illustrator as well as the co-founder of a multi-six figure a year business in the digital content space. She resides just outside of Vancouver, BC.

Subscriber-only episodeI have a great podcast recommendation for you this week that also tied into three big things I've had on my "to talk about" list: marketing goals, the line between positivity and negativity and gatekeeping creativity. Hope you all enjoy!You can connect with the podcast on: Instagram at @andshelookedup Facebook YouTube Tik Tok at @AndSheLookedUp For a list of all available episodes, please visit:And She Looked Up Creative Hour PodcastEach week The And She Looked Up Podcast sits down with inspiring Canadian women who create for a living. We talk about their creative journeys and their best business tips, as well as the creative and business mindset issues all creative entrepreneurs struggle with. This podcast is for Canadian artists, makers and creators who want to find a way to make a living doing what they love. Your host, Melissa Hartfiel (@finelimedesigns), left a 20 year career in corporate retail and has been happily self-employed as a working creative since 2010. She's a graphic designer, writer and illustrator as well as the co-founder of a multi-six figure a year business in the digital content space. She resides just outside of Vancouver, BC.

Best selling Canadian independent fantasy romance novelist Demi Winters joins us in this episode of the show to talk about all things relating to being a self-published fiction author - including the release of her new book, her writing process,  world building, Book Tok and building community around her work, seeking help to take her work to the next level, balancing a private life with a public author persona and how she's running her independent author business.... as a business! (she even has an Etsy shop centered around her work!). And, as has been a bit of an accidental theme this season, we also talk about two major career pivots she's taken to arrive at author (she has a PhD in the sciences and is a former food blogger!) This is a great episode for creatives who...are curious about the self-publishing industryhave wondered about ways to add interesting revenue streams to their businesslove hearing about the writing processes of othersis trying to draw boundaries around their work and personal lives - while still growing a community of raving fans on social media would like to start a fiction writing career and isn't sure where to start!This episode is brought to you by our Premium Subscriber Community on Patreon and BuzzsproutFor a summary of this episode and all the links mentioned please visit:Episode152: Creative Canadian: Author Demi Winters You can find Demi at demiwinters.com and on Instagram and TikTok as @demiwinterwrites. You can also visit her Etsy Shop.You can find Melissa at finelimedesigns.com, finelimeillustrations.com or on Instagram @finelimedesigns.Support the Show.You can connect with the podcast on: Instagram at @andshelookedup Facebook YouTube Tik Tok at @AndSheLookedUp For a list of all available episodes, please visit:And She Looked Up Creative Hour PodcastEach week The And She Looked Up Podcast sits down with inspiring Canadian women who create for a living. We talk about their creative journeys and their best business tips, as well as the creative and business mindset issues all creative entrepreneurs struggle with. This podcast is for Canadian artists, makers and creators who want to find a way to make a living doing what they love. Your host, Melissa Hartfiel (@finelimedesigns), left a 20 year career in corporate retail and has been happily self-employed as a working creative since 2010. She's a graphic designer, writer and illustrator as well as the co-founder of a multi-six figure a year business in the digital content space. She resides just outside of Vancouver, BC.

Subscriber-only episodeThis was such a tough episode to record! I've had it swirling in my head for months and I did multiple takes at recording it (it's why I'm so late with it!). It's still a bit rambly but I think I got there in the end. AI does freak me out but it piques my curiosity at the same time. And I've learned that it doesn't make me replaceable - but I have had to adjust how I serve my customers and clients and that's what I talk about in this episode - how to double down on being a human creative with a business.You can connect with the podcast on: Instagram at @andshelookedup Facebook YouTube Tik Tok at @AndSheLookedUp For a list of all available episodes, please visit:And She Looked Up Creative Hour PodcastEach week The And She Looked Up Podcast sits down with inspiring Canadian women who create for a living. We talk about their creative journeys and their best business tips, as well as the creative and business mindset issues all creative entrepreneurs struggle with. This podcast is for Canadian artists, makers and creators who want to find a way to make a living doing what they love. Your host, Melissa Hartfiel (@finelimedesigns), left a 20 year career in corporate retail and has been happily self-employed as a working creative since 2010. She's a graphic designer, writer and illustrator as well as the co-founder of a multi-six figure a year business in the digital content space. She resides just outside of Vancouver, BC.

Gail Taylor left behind a successful career as an investment advisor to go all in with music - in her 50s! Now, as a Canadian songwriter, author, keynote speaker and entrepreneur, she's a passionate advocate for the power of music to inspire change.  Her new book, Curve Balls, is coming to shelves soon thanks to a successful Kickstarter campaign that raised $10K.In this episode, Gail shares her remarkable story and her tips for using Kickstarter. We talk about her journey from her early years using drugs as a form of escape, to becoming a successful investment advisor and then her pivot to music. She shares the behind the scenes of the Nashville music industry, how she uses music to help others, and the ins and outs of launching a creative project on Kickstarter.This is a great episode for creatives who...feel a big change is out of reachare curious about getting their own music madehave thought about using crowd-funding to launch their own creative projectsare always curious for ways they can turn their creativity into multiple revenue streamswould like to use their creative skills to foster positive change for othersThis episode is brought to you by our Premium Subscriber Community on Patreon and BuzzsproutFor a summary of this episode and all the links mentioned please visit:Episode151: Creative Canadian: Songwriter and Author Gail Taylor You can find Gail at gailtaylormusic.com as well as @gailtaylormusic on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, and TikTok. You can also connect with her on LinkedIn.You can find Melissa at finelimedesigns.com, finelimeillustrations.com or on Instagram @finelimedesigns.Support the Show.You can connect with the podcast on: Instagram at @andshelookedup Facebook YouTube Tik Tok at @AndSheLookedUp For a list of all available episodes, please visit:And She Looked Up Creative Hour PodcastEach week The And She Looked Up Podcast sits down with inspiring Canadian women who create for a living. We talk about their creative journeys and their best business tips, as well as the creative and business mindset issues all creative entrepreneurs struggle with. This podcast is for Canadian artists, makers and creators who want to find a way to make a living doing what they love. Your host, Melissa Hartfiel (@finelimedesigns), left a 20 year career in corporate retail and has been happily self-employed as a working creative since 2010. She's a graphic designer, writer and illustrator as well as the co-founder of a multi-six figure a year business in the digital content space. She resides just outside of Vancouver, BC.

This week, Melissa and Heather do a brief recap of what they did in their creative businesses in 2023 and what they are focusing on for 2024. But at the heart of the episode we get into the trends we're paying attention to in our creative businesses - including a very frank (and possibly surprising?) discussion about generative AI and how we feel about it. 2024 has the potential to be a huge year of change for a lot of working creatives - whether we like it or not!This is a great episode for creatives who...like to hear about what others are working on in their creative businesses (because we're both nosy parkers lol)are wondering what they need to focus on or be aware of in 2024are feeling very nervous and unsettled by the use of AIThis episode is brought to you by Fine Lime Designs IllustrationsFor a summary of this episode and all the links mentioned please visit:Episode150: Trends We're Paying Attention to in Our Creative Businesses in 2024 You can find Melissa at finelimedesigns.com, finelimeillustrations.com or on Instagram @finelimedesigns.You can find Heather at heatherlynnetravis.com or on Instagram @heathertravis.Support the showSupport the Show.You can connect with the podcast on: Instagram at @andshelookedup Facebook YouTube Tik Tok at @AndSheLookedUp For a list of all available episodes, please visit:And She Looked Up Creative Hour PodcastEach week The And She Looked Up Podcast sits down with inspiring Canadian women who create for a living. We talk about their creative journeys and their best business tips, as well as the creative and business mindset issues all creative entrepreneurs struggle with. This podcast is for Canadian artists, makers and creators who want to find a way to make a living doing what they love. Your host, Melissa Hartfiel (@finelimedesigns), left a 20 year career in corporate retail and has been happily self-employed as a working creative since 2010. She's a graphic designer, writer and illustrator as well as the co-founder of a multi-six figure a year business in the digital content space. She resides just outside of Vancouver, BC.

Transformational Coach Geneviève Retzlaff joins the show this week as part of our short January series on staying optimistic and energized in a month that can be dull, cold and dreary. In this episode, Gen is here to help us lean into change in order to have fulfilling creative careers and lives. Whether you're thinking of leaving a traditional career to start a creative business or, you want to ramp up a side business or, you've already got a creative business but it's just not lighting your fire anymore, Gen helps us through the roadblocks we tend to put in place for ourselves!This is a great episode for creatives who...are feeling change is in the works but are feeling fear and resistanceneed strategies and tools to help them embrace changestruggle with self-awareness (which is needed to embrace change)need help instigating change even though they may not be in a position to make the leap right noware the bottleneck that stands in their waywould like to learn how strategic planning, goal setting and hiring help can all help you set change in motion This episode is brought to you by Fine Lime Designs IllustrationsFor a summary of this episode and all the links mentioned please visit:Episode149: Leaning into Change for Creative Fulfillment with Geneviève Retzlaff You can find Geneviève at genevieveretzlaff.com and grow-better-together.com. You can also connect with her on Instagram at @genretzlaff_career_coaching, or @grow_better_together, on  Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTubeYou can find Melissa at finelimedesigns.com, finelimeillustrations.com or on Instagram @finelimedesignsSupport the Show.You can connect with the podcast on: Instagram at @andshelookedup Facebook YouTube Tik Tok at @AndSheLookedUp For a list of all available episodes, please visit:And She Looked Up Creative Hour PodcastEach week The And She Looked Up Podcast sits down with inspiring Canadian women who create for a living. We talk about their creative journeys and their best business tips, as well as the creative and business mindset issues all creative entrepreneurs struggle with. This podcast is for Canadian artists, makers and creators who want to find a way to make a living doing what they love. Your host, Melissa Hartfiel (@finelimedesigns), left a 20 year career in corporate retail and has been happily self-employed as a working creative since 2010. She's a graphic designer, writer and illustrator as well as the co-founder of a multi-six figure a year business in the digital content space. She resides just outside of Vancouver, BC.

Inspirational speaker and certified life coach Sara Fisher joins the show this week to talk about the Law of Vibration and how we can use it to foster both personal growth and growth in our creative practices.We all start January off with the best of intentions but when the winter blues set in, it can be easy to get sidetracked and and feel like nothing has changed and nothing is moving forward. Enter Sara and her fresh perspective to self-development. We talk about the Law of Vibration, the Law of Attraction and manifestation -  and how they all work together. And just as importantly we talk about why you still need to do the work in order to grow and create change in your business.This is a great episode for creatives who:are curious about the Law of Attraction and manifestation want to learn more about the Law of Vibration and why understanding how it works is critical to the Law of Attraction and manifestationneed help forming new habits (and breaking habits that are not helpful)struggle with imposter syndrome and comparison-itiswould like to learn how to reframe situations in order to foster growthneed help quieting the ego and learning to embrace mistakesTune in to learn more!This episode is brought to you by Fine Lime Designs IllustrationsFor a summary of this episode and all the links mentioned please visit:Episode148: The Law of Vibration and Your Creative Practice with Sara FisherYou can connect with Sara Fisher on Instagram at @vibinhighclubYou can find Melissa at finelimedesigns.com, finelimeillustrations.com or on Instagram @finelimedesigns.Support the Show.You can connect with the podcast on: Instagram at @andshelookedup Facebook YouTube Tik Tok at @AndSheLookedUp For a list of all available episodes, please visit:And She Looked Up Creative Hour PodcastEach week The And She Looked Up Podcast sits down with inspiring Canadian women who create for a living. We talk about their creative journeys and their best business tips, as well as the creative and business mindset issues all creative entrepreneurs struggle with. This podcast is for Canadian artists, makers and creators who want to find a way to make a living doing what they love. Your host, Melissa Hartfiel (@finelimedesigns), left a 20 year career in corporate retail and has been happily self-employed as a working creative since 2010. She's a graphic designer, writer and illustrator as well as the co-founder of a multi-six figure a year business in the digital content space. She resides just outside of Vancouver, BC.

Subscriber-only episodeThe year is 365 days long (366 this year because it's a leap year!). Here's your reminder that a year is a marathon. You don't have to sprint out the gate in January and do all the things or make all the changes - because guess what? That's not realistically feasible - and it's also not sustainable.  Let's talk about embracing your natural rhythms, your business's slow and busy periods and why you need to make it a priority to check in with your data regularly!You can connect with the podcast on: Instagram at @andshelookedup Facebook YouTube Tik Tok at @AndSheLookedUp For a list of all available episodes, please visit:And She Looked Up Creative Hour PodcastEach week The And She Looked Up Podcast sits down with inspiring Canadian women who create for a living. We talk about their creative journeys and their best business tips, as well as the creative and business mindset issues all creative entrepreneurs struggle with. This podcast is for Canadian artists, makers and creators who want to find a way to make a living doing what they love. Your host, Melissa Hartfiel (@finelimedesigns), left a 20 year career in corporate retail and has been happily self-employed as a working creative since 2010. She's a graphic designer, writer and illustrator as well as the co-founder of a multi-six figure a year business in the digital content space. She resides just outside of Vancouver, BC.

With so many of this season's guests asking me off air whether or not they should start a podcast and how to get started, I thought it might be time to do an episode on the ins and outs of podcasting for a creative business. So today, with 140+ episodes under my belt, I take a deep dive into the pros and cons of podcasting for creatives, and how to get started if 2024 is the year you give it a go!This is a great episode for creatives who:have been thinking about starting a podcastare wondering about the pros and cons of podcastingwant to know how much work it can bewant to know what to look out for and consider before getting startedwant to know what they need to actually get startedare curious about the different styles of podcastingwant some interviewing tipsTune in to find out everything you need to know about starting a podcast in 2024!This episode is brought to you by Fine Lime Designs IllustrationsFor a summary of this episode and all the links mentioned please visit:Episode147: Starting a Podcast for Your Creative BusinessYou can find Melissa at finelimedesigns.com, finelimeillustrations.com or on Instagram @finelimedesigns.Support the Show.You can connect with the podcast on: Instagram at @andshelookedup Facebook YouTube Tik Tok at @AndSheLookedUp For a list of all available episodes, please visit:And She Looked Up Creative Hour PodcastEach week The And She Looked Up Podcast sits down with inspiring Canadian women who create for a living. We talk about their creative journeys and their best business tips, as well as the creative and business mindset issues all creative entrepreneurs struggle with. This podcast is for Canadian artists, makers and creators who want to find a way to make a living doing what they love. Your host, Melissa Hartfiel (@finelimedesigns), left a 20 year career in corporate retail and has been happily self-employed as a working creative since 2010. She's a graphic designer, writer and illustrator as well as the co-founder of a multi-six figure a year business in the digital content space. She resides just outside of Vancouver, BC.

Subscriber-only episodeIt's the end of the year and that inevitably leads to a lot of podcasts and blog posts on reflection, planning and goal setting. I know that as creatives, a lot of us get very uncomfortable with making concrete plans or setting solid goals because... what if we fail? But planning is what allows us to build a business that reflects our values and the life we want to lead. Because as small business owners, our businesses are intertwined with our lives.  Planning gives us the opportunity to be intentional with how our life and our business come together - something that doesn't happen in a private sector or government job setting. So let's talk about that in this month's subscriber only episode!You can connect with the podcast on: Instagram at @andshelookedup Facebook YouTube Tik Tok at @AndSheLookedUp For a list of all available episodes, please visit:And She Looked Up Creative Hour PodcastEach week The And She Looked Up Podcast sits down with inspiring Canadian women who create for a living. We talk about their creative journeys and their best business tips, as well as the creative and business mindset issues all creative entrepreneurs struggle with. This podcast is for Canadian artists, makers and creators who want to find a way to make a living doing what they love. Your host, Melissa Hartfiel (@finelimedesigns), left a 20 year career in corporate retail and has been happily self-employed as a working creative since 2010. She's a graphic designer, writer and illustrator as well as the co-founder of a multi-six figure a year business in the digital content space. She resides just outside of Vancouver, BC.

We've all thought about how great it would be to have a piece of content go viral on social media. There's that whisper deep down that if we could just get a million eyeballs on our business, everything would change - for the better. But what really happens when you go viral? And are you - and your creative business - actually prepared for it if it happens? Melissa and Heather dive into "going viral" and share two very different case studies!This is a great episode for creatives who:wonder what makes content go viralwonder what actually happens when a video or post goes viral - does it change everything?want to make sure they're prepared if content does go viralwonder if you need viral content for your business to succeedWe tackle all of these concerns and more! Tune in to find out how!This episode is brought to you by Fine Lime Designs IllustrationsFor a summary of this episode and all the links mentioned please visit:Episode146: So You Think You're Ready to Go Viral?You can find Melissa at finelimedesigns.com, finelimeillustrations.com or on Instagram @finelimedesigns.You can find Heather at heatherlynnetravis.com or on Instagram @heathertravis.Support the Show.You can connect with the podcast on: Instagram at @andshelookedup Facebook YouTube Tik Tok at @AndSheLookedUp For a list of all available episodes, please visit:And She Looked Up Creative Hour PodcastEach week The And She Looked Up Podcast sits down with inspiring Canadian women who create for a living. We talk about their creative journeys and their best business tips, as well as the creative and business mindset issues all creative entrepreneurs struggle with. This podcast is for Canadian artists, makers and creators who want to find a way to make a living doing what they love. Your host, Melissa Hartfiel (@finelimedesigns), left a 20 year career in corporate retail and has been happily self-employed as a working creative since 2010. She's a graphic designer, writer and illustrator as well as the co-founder of a multi-six figure a year business in the digital content space. She resides just outside of Vancouver, BC.

This week, healthy aging advocate Zanna Reza joins the show to talk about shaking up the system so we can grow older on our own terms. In a world where getting older (at any age) can come with a lot of stereotyping and discrimination, we talk about why we, as women, need to own our age - and the wisdom we've earned every day. In this conversation we discuss the importance of staying passionate, curious and creative at every stage in life - and why all humans need to feel a sense of purpose at any age!Zannat Reza is a healthy aging advocate and the Director of the Future of Aging social impact team at SE Health, a not-for-profit, home health social enterprise.This episode is brought to you by Fine Lime Designs IllustrationsThis is a great episodes for creatives who:struggle with appreciating the wisdom they've accumulated - and sharing it with the worldwho worry it's too late to try the next thingneed a confidence boost are afraid of showing up as their true selves - especially as they get olderdread the next milestone birthday - be it 30, 40, 50 and beyond.are afraid to own their ageFor a summary of this episode and all the links mentioned please visit the full show notes at:Episode 145: Own Your Age and Your Wisdom with Zannat RezaYou can learn more about the work Zannat does at SE Health's Future of Aging website or through her podcast, The Future Age. You can also connect with her on LinkedIn.You can find Melissa at finelimedesigns.com, finelimeillustrations.com or on Instagram @finelimedesigns.Support the Show.You can connect with the podcast on: Instagram at @andshelookedup Facebook YouTube Tik Tok at @AndSheLookedUp For a list of all available episodes, please visit:And She Looked Up Creative Hour PodcastEach week The And She Looked Up Podcast sits down with inspiring Canadian women who create for a living. We talk about their creative journeys and their best business tips, as well as the creative and business mindset issues all creative entrepreneurs struggle with. This podcast is for Canadian artists, makers and creators who want to find a way to make a living doing what they love. Your host, Melissa Hartfiel (@finelimedesigns), left a 20 year career in corporate retail and has been happily self-employed as a working creative since 2010. She's a graphic designer, writer and illustrator as well as the co-founder of a multi-six figure a year business in the digital content space. She resides just outside of Vancouver, BC.

Subscriber-only episodeIt feels like every day I see another announcement from a creator who is leaving social media. While some of the reasons they give are extremely valid, very often the conversation comes down to the fact that it's too much work for not enough new followers. The algorithm doesn't help them get seen. It's a popularity contest where only artists and creatives with big followings get noticed... But what if instead of using social media as a way to attract new followers, we instead used it to nurture the community we already have? Let's talk about that in this month's subscriber only episode!You can connect with the podcast on: Instagram at @andshelookedup Facebook YouTube Tik Tok at @AndSheLookedUp For a list of all available episodes, please visit:And She Looked Up Creative Hour PodcastEach week The And She Looked Up Podcast sits down with inspiring Canadian women who create for a living. We talk about their creative journeys and their best business tips, as well as the creative and business mindset issues all creative entrepreneurs struggle with. This podcast is for Canadian artists, makers and creators who want to find a way to make a living doing what they love. Your host, Melissa Hartfiel (@finelimedesigns), left a 20 year career in corporate retail and has been happily self-employed as a working creative since 2010. She's a graphic designer, writer and illustrator as well as the co-founder of a multi-six figure a year business in the digital content space. She resides just outside of Vancouver, BC.

Creativity shows up in many forms and this week Jacqueline Nicosia, the co-owner of Ardo Hospitality Group, joins the podcast to chat about the creativity that goes into crafting the perfect guest experience - and the perfect cocktail! This busy mom of two who co-owns her business (which includes 3 Toronto restaurants and a food import company) with her chef husband talks with us about:fostering creativity with her team in order to make magic for Toronto diners night after nightseparating work and family while running a family businesshow financial restraints can actually foster creativity embracing making moneythe importance of giving back while lifting women up in an industry that's notoriously male dominated and her work with Let's Talk WomxnThis episode is brought to you by Fine Lime Designs IllustrationsThis is a great episodes for creatives who:create in a field where women aren't highly visiblework with (or are considering working with) their spouse or romantic partnerare involved in a family businesswork with a team of creatives (or would like to start building a team)struggle with balancing creative work and family lifeever think about how the art of running a business is just as creative as creating a painting or writing a novelFor a summary of this episode and all the links mentioned please visit:Episode 144: Jacqueline Nicosia of Ardo Hospitality GroupYou can connect with Jacqueline  via her instagram account: @jacqnicosia as well as checking out Ardo Restaurant, Dova Restaurant and the soon to open Bar Ardo. For more information on Let's Talk Womxn in the Toronto area, reach out directly to Jacqueline.You can find Melissa at finelimedesigns.com, finelimeillustrations.com or on Instagram Support the Show.You can connect with the podcast on: Instagram at @andshelookedup Facebook YouTube Tik Tok at @AndSheLookedUp For a list of all available episodes, please visit:And She Looked Up Creative Hour PodcastEach week The And She Looked Up Podcast sits down with inspiring Canadian women who create for a living. We talk about their creative journeys and their best business tips, as well as the creative and business mindset issues all creative entrepreneurs struggle with. This podcast is for Canadian artists, makers and creators who want to find a way to make a living doing what they love. Your host, Melissa Hartfiel (@finelimedesigns), left a 20 year career in corporate retail and has been happily self-employed as a working creative since 2010. She's a graphic designer, writer and illustrator as well as the co-founder of a multi-six figure a year business in the digital content space. She resides just outside of Vancouver, BC.

Toronto based registered social worker and psychotherapist, Yu Tong Hannah Lin, joins Melissa to explore how we, as working creatives, can manage and overcome the ongoing challenges perfectionism and burnout present to our work.  Hannah shares valuable insights that will help us understand and identify when perfectionism and/or burnout are creeping into our lives and businesses (and what to do when it's impacting our work).  And, she shares some of the proactive steps we can all take to protect our mental health, our creativity and our businesses. This episode is brought to you by Fine Lime Designs IllustrationsThis is a great episodes for creatives who:have, or are, struggling with either perfectionism or burnout (or both)need help identifying signs or patterns that might signal perfectionism or burnout are creeping inneed help with breaking the cycle of burnout (it is often cyclical)are feeling challenged by societal and cultural expectations that push them to "get it right" or "do all the things and do them well" all the timeneed some actionable tips  and steps to take to manage perfectionism and burnout in their work and lifewould like to work with a mental health professional but aren't sure how to find the right personFor a summary of this episode and all the links mentioned please visit:Episode 143: Overcoming Perfectionism & Burnout with Hannah LimYou can learn more about Hannah and her practice at her website www.yutonghannahlin.com.  Follow her on Instagram  @hannahlin.therapyYou can find Melissa at finelimedesigns.com, finelimeillustrations.com or on Instagram @finelimedesigns.Support the Show.You can connect with the podcast on: Instagram at @andshelookedup Facebook YouTube Tik Tok at @AndSheLookedUp For a list of all available episodes, please visit:And She Looked Up Creative Hour PodcastEach week The And She Looked Up Podcast sits down with inspiring Canadian women who create for a living. We talk about their creative journeys and their best business tips, as well as the creative and business mindset issues all creative entrepreneurs struggle with. This podcast is for Canadian artists, makers and creators who want to find a way to make a living doing what they love. Your host, Melissa Hartfiel (@finelimedesigns), left a 20 year career in corporate retail and has been happily self-employed as a working creative since 2010. She's a graphic designer, writer and illustrator as well as the co-founder of a multi-six figure a year business in the digital content space. She resides just outside of Vancouver, BC.

Subscriber-only episodeHave you ever felt that prickling discomfort when you think about trying something new in your business of your creative practice? You're not alone. We've all been there - the nervous anticipation, the self-doubt, and the fear of the unknown. But, what if you sat with that discomfort? What if, instead of being a barrier, it could be your stepping stone towards personal growth and achievement? That's what the October premium subscriber episode is all about.This is a Premium Subscriber Episode available to those who financially support the podcast on Buzzsprout and Patreon. If you'd like to listen, you can sign up too!  You'll get access to the full catalogue of Premium Subscriber Episodes!Support on BuzzsproutSupport on PatreonYou can connect with the podcast on: Instagram at @andshelookedup Facebook YouTube Tik Tok at @AndSheLookedUp For a list of all available episodes, please visit:And She Looked Up Creative Hour PodcastEach week The And She Looked Up Podcast sits down with inspiring Canadian women who create for a living. We talk about their creative journeys and their best business tips, as well as the creative and business mindset issues all creative entrepreneurs struggle with. This podcast is for Canadian artists, makers and creators who want to find a way to make a living doing what they love. Your host, Melissa Hartfiel (@finelimedesigns), left a 20 year career in corporate retail and has been happily self-employed as a working creative since 2010. She's a graphic designer, writer and illustrator as well as the co-founder of a multi-six figure a year business in the digital content space. She resides just outside of Vancouver, BC.