The episode:

Our season 2 finale is here! In the first episode of this season we walked you through some of the lessons learned in the year prior and gave a sneak peak into some of our plans for 2023. Well, we’re 3.5 months into the new year and we thought there’d be no better time to pull back the curtain and give an overview of our 2023 plan: how it started, what we’ve changed already, and how we’re pacing against our goals so far.

We also talk about:

• The importance of building savings (when you can) to allow yourself flexibility and optionality to try more things

• Why we didn’t back plan from our goals in 2022 and why we absolutely did in 2023

• Why there are only lessons to be learned and never failures (ie: why we needed to make the mistakes we did)

• Ways to diversify your revenue streams and how to plan your monetary goals around those revenue channels

• The best time to plan your annual goals

• The humbleness of biting off more than you can chew

• How time is a more valuable resource than many think

• Critical goals vs. nice to have goals

• How to prioritize your projects and make hard decisions on which to devote your time to and which ones aren’t going to move the needle

• Why it's important to have contingency plans to lower risk when possible

Keep listening:

Did you enjoy this one? Here are a few other episodes of Willow Talk you may like as well.

• Finding Confidence Through Comfort with Lennon Dobben-Annis

• Working ‘On’ Your Business vs ‘In’ Your Business

• The Art of Adaptation: Finding the balance of art and life with JM Leach

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Stay connected: @thehouseofwillows | @emmadarpino | @lavenderlilacstudio

The Interview

In this episode of Willow Talk, we talked with Lennon Dobben-Annis, the owner and creator behind Lemmon by Lennon. Join us for this conversation and learn about Lennon’s mission to help women find confidence through comfort by creating custom swimwear and resort wear that can have a meaningful impact on the way someone feels in their own skin.

We Also Talk About

• Every creative’s famous last words, “I’ll make it myself.”

• How Lennon’s mom and grandmothers influenced her love of sewing and creating.

• The influence working at Cinnamon Rainbow Surf Co. and living in Hawaii had on Lennon’s swimwear journey.

• The importance of asking for help.

• Lennon’s desire to help women find confidence through comfort and making pieces that can have a meaningful impact on the way someone feels in their own skin.

• The accessibility (or lack thereof) of swimwear in the current market and how Lennon is working to make the industry more inclusive of all body types. 

• The inherent vulnerability of swimwear for most people and how Lennon works within those conversations to make her customers feel safe, comfortable and seen. 

• The role her soccer team played in the growth of Lemmon by Lennon.

• The inconsistency of sizing across the fashion industry and why Lennon creates custom pieces made to order.

• Why, even though customs may not be the “smartest” business decision by capitalistic standards, they are crucial to Lennon from a mission standpoint.

• Lennon’s desire to bridge the gap between accessible swimwear and sustainable swimwear - something that is often out of reach for many at the moment.

• Society’s obsession with fast fashion and the impact it has on the planet.

• Lennon’s goals for the future of Lemmon by Lennon.

• The moment you shift your business from “mastering your craft” to “growth”.

• Having grace with yourself when you just don’t want to work on your business somedays. 

• Why owning your own business is consuming and how to address the inevitable crossroads you’ll have to move past throughout your journey.  

Where to Find Lennon 

• Instagram: @lemmonbylennon

• www.lemmonbylennon.com

Other Mentions

• Cinnamon Rainbows Surf Co.

• wave bait

Keep Listening

Did you enjoy this one? Here are a few other episodes of Willow Talk you may like as well.

• Working ‘On’ Your Business vs ‘In’ Your Business

• The Art of Adaptation: Finding the balance of art and life with JM Leach

• Priceless Individuality with Nanette Pengelley

Wanna be first?

Sign up for our newsletter to  be the first to know about events, updates and the latest news from our artists!

More here:

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www.thehouseofwillows.com

The Episode:

In this episode of Willow Talk, we talk about getting comfortable making uncomfortable choices, why you need to let go to do more, and - of course - the value of your time and the role it plays in moving yourself and your business forward.

We Also Talk About:

• Emma’s exciting new business venture!!
• Why we’ve decided to figure everything out as we go along
• How to accept the chaos in your life
• Why no one can avoid risks when starting a business - that leap of faith is inevitable
• The importance of pushing yourself when you feel scared
• Allie’s fear of the New York City subway system
• The definition of failure and how that’s changed for us over time
• Experimentation and its role within failure
• How to make certain choices when you feel you’re at a crossroads
• The value of your time and where to shift your focuses
• Protect your time - find the space to move yourself forward
• Hard work is unavoidable but hustle culture sucks

Keep Listening.

Did you enjoy this one? Here are a few other episodes of Willow Talk you may like as well.

• Creating Connection Through Our Art with Becca Lane
• Relying on Self Trust with Rose Koerner
• Finding the Power to Make Your Own Choices with Kelly Stück

Wanna be first?

Sign up for our newsletter to  be the first to know about events, updates and the latest news from our artists!

More here:

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www.thehouseofwillows.com

Stay connected: @thehouseofwillows | @emmadarpino | @lavenderlilacstudio

The Art of Adaptation: Finding the balance of art and life with JM Leach

listen now on Spotify & Apple Music

The Interview:

In this episode of Willow Talk, we talked with Boston based photographer JM Leach about the moment he first picked up a camera, how he’s explored various photography styles over the years, and how he’s adjusted his goals with photography to adapt to life as a new dad.

We Also Talk About:

• His love of street photography and the trip that first inspired him in this area
• The beauty of capturing raw moments
• Life as a new parent and how JM and his partner Alex are balancing that with their creative goals
• How JM and Emma first bonded over their love of photography
• How his photography style has evolved over time
• The various photo styles he now works in - street, hospitality, brand, wedding etc.
• JM’s big billboard break
• Tips for getting out of creative slumps
• The grind of getting a full time business off the ground when you’re in start up mode
• The importance of strong communication skills with your partner, clients and collaborators
• How JM’s perception and value of time has changed since becoming a parent
• The power of community and the abundance of creative minds to connect with in this world
• The difference between film and digital and an appreciation for both skill sets
• Why you need to stay firm in your pricing
• The power of saying no

Where to Find JM.

• Instagram: @jmleachdotworld
• Instagram: @aguadejota
• www.aguadejota.com

Keep Listening.

Did you enjoy this one? Here are a few other episodes of Willow Talk you may like as well.

• Working ‘On’ Your Business vs ‘In’ Your Business
• Creating Connection Through Our Art with Becca Lane

Wanna be first?

Sign up for our newsletter to  be the first to know about events, updates and the latest news from our artists!

More here:

Be featured on our Instagram
www.thehouseofwillows.com

Stay connected: @thehouseofwillows | @emmadarpino | @lavenderlilacstudio

The Interview:

In this episode of Willow Talk, we chat through the difference between working ‘on’ your business versus working ‘in’ your business, why you need to carve out time for both, and ways to stop yourself from spending too much time on one over the other.

We Also Talk About:

• Growth strategy and implementation
• Giving yourself the space to grow
• What it means to set goals and how to keep yourself accountable
• The roles systems play in working on our businesses
• Why short term losses can lead to long term gains
• How to decide which goals are right for you
• Ways to keep you moving forward with your growth goals and avoid being stagnant
• Why you need to trust your gut
• Tips for time management
• Why you need to be able to give yourself a break when your heads just not in it
• Ways to set yourself up for success
• Why success is sometimes seasonal

Other Mentions.

• Honeybook
• Asana

Keep Listening.

Did you enjoy this one? Here are a few other episodes of Willow Talk you may like as well.

• Creating Connection Through Our Art with Becca Lane
• Redefining Time Management and Productivity as Creatives
• Marketing 101: An Intro to Growing Your Art Business

Wanna be first?

Sign up for our newsletter to  be the first to know about events, updates and the latest news from our artists!

More here:

Be featured on our Instagram
www.thehouseofwillows.com

Stay connected: @thehouseofwillows | @emmadarpino | @lavenderlilacstudio

The Interview:

In this episode of Willow Talk, we talked with Becca Lane the owner and artist behind One Lane Studios. Join us for this conversation and learn about Becca’s relationship with art over the years, the steps she took to go full time with her business in 2021, and how her desire to help others connect and relate in this world plays a role in the pieces she creates.

We Also Talk About:

• A Becca’s art background, how she got started in creating, and some of the styles she is most commonly creating
• The early feelings Becca had when she took One Lane Studios full time in 2021
• Becca’s early interest in art as a child and how that shaped her relationship with art throughout her life
• The various channels Becca has utilized to sell her art and how that has allowed her to make a full time income from her art
• Her goal to destigmatize mental health and how mental health plays a role in much of her work
• The moment when Becca realized creating art was something more than just a hobby
• The two major concepts and themes found in Becca's work and the inspirations and significances of these concepts
• What it means when your career and your coping mechanism are the same and how to combat that
• Becca’s formal art school experience - what allowed her to grow and what challenges she faced
• The doubts Becca had of the feasibility of taking her art business full time and how she overcame those challenges
• The criticalness of taking breaks
• The role perfectionism plays in Becca’s art, how she’s managed that over the years, and the moment in art school that set her “free” of it
• Some of the challenges Becca has faced starting a small business and the skills learned to elevate One Lane Studios to where it is now
• Some advice she would give to an artist just starting out
• A common misconception people have about turning your art into a business

Where to Find Becca.

• Instagram: @onelanestudios
• www.onelanestudios.com

Keep Listening.

Did you enjoy this one? Here are a few other episodes of Willow Talk you may like as well.

• Finding the Power to Make Your Own Choices with Kelly Stück
• Embracing the Unseen Impacts of Art: An Interview with Allie McDevitt
• Marketing 101: An Intro to Growing Your Art Business

Wanna be first?

Sign up for our newsletter to  be the first to know about events, updates and the latest news from our artists!

More here:

Be featured on our Instagram
www.thehouseofwillows.com

Stay connected: @thehouseofwillows | @emmadarpino | @lavenderlilacstudio

The Interview:

In this episode we sat down with Massachusetts based metal smith, Rose Koerner. Tune in to learn more about Rose’s first few months as a full time artist, how she juggles the many hats a artistic entrepreneur must wear, and how she needed to trust in herself to make one of her biggest leaps.

We Also Talk About:

• The feasibility of making art for a living
• Trusting yourself to know what’s best for you, rather than doing what people expect of you
• Reflections of Rose’s first few months as a full time artist
• Rose’s career progression as an educator to an artist
• The importance of having people in your life to support and uplift you in your work (especially when you are having doubts in yourself)
• The real impacts of burnout
• Why we need to go through uncomfortable emotions to reach the other side stronger or more enlightened
• Why we sometimes need to walk away from things we enjoy to make space for achieving our goals and dreams
• How artists can and should learn entrepreneurial and marketing skills
• Why you can’t fail if you view every experience as an experiment
• The inflated importance of social media goals and how we weigh social success as overall success
• Why rose first got into metal smithing
• The misconception that being a full time artist is only for a select few

Where to Find Rose.

• Instagram: @just__rosy
• www.just-rosy.com

Other Mentions.

• Pretty Decent

Keep Listening.

Did you enjoy this one? Here are a few other episodes of Willow Talk you may like as well.

• Priceless Individuality with Nanette Pengelley
• Carbs, Cameras and Compassion: An interview with Emma D’Arpino

Wanna be first?

Sign up for our newsletter to  be the first to know about events, updates and the latest news from our artists!

More here:

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www.thehouseofwillows.com

The Interview

For the second installment of our founders deep dive series, we interview Willow Talk’s very own Allie McDevitt to learn when she became intune with her creative spirit, how she got into the world of fiber art, and why she decided to open her shop, Lavender & Lilac.

We Also Talk About

• Her hesitancy to be an “art kid” in her youth and where that stems from
• How she manages her time between her “day job” in corporate marketing, and her entrepreneurial ventures: Lavender & Lilac and The House of Willows
• The steps she took to start her own business (and the mindset she had to be in to do it)
• How her shop, Lavender & Lilac, got its name
• The connection between art, interpersonal connection and feelings of nostalgia and why that is so critical to the essence of Lavender & Lilac
• How her creative style and the products she makes have evolved over time
• Who you create for as an artist. Yourself? Your customers? Both?
• Why not every “opportunity” is right for you
• The importance of staying true to your brand and your values
• Allie’s catchphrase: It’s not an “if”, it’s a “when”
• What her dream career scenario looks like
• Why you need to map out your goals in order to achieve them
• Who she leans on for support
• Why making friends as an adult is hard and how you can go about finding people with shared interests
• The dynamics of Allie and Emma’s personal and professional relationship

Where to Find Allie

• Instagram: @lavenderlilacstudio
• www.lavenderlilacstudio.com

Other Mentions

• Lexi Lanigan, Financial Advisor

Keep Listening

Did you enjoy this one? Here are a few other episodes of Willow Talk you may like as well.

• Priceless Individuality with Nanette Pengelley
• Carbs, Cameras and Compassion: An interview with Emma D’Arpino

Wanna be first?

Sign up for our newsletter to  be the first to know about events, updates and the latest news from our artists!

The Interview

In this episode of Willow Talk, we talked with Nanette Pengelley the owner and artist behind Hew Jewelry. Join us for this conversation and learn about Nanette’s journey to operating her artistry business full time, the significance of individuality in Nanette’s life, and how this concept shines through within the pieces she creates.

We Also Talk About

• A closer look at Nanette’s upbring and how that influences her work today.
• Her strong sense of individuality and where that comes from.
• Nanette’s experience as a Black, queer woman in the arts and the challenges she’s faced.
• How Nanette discovered her love of adornment and jewelry making.
• Her experience as a full-time art student at Mass Art and “finding her people” there.
• The realities of financial burden placed on artists living in areas with astronomically high costs of living, primarily New England.
• The autonomy and freedom Nanette found in metal smithing.
• The significance of one very special charm bracelet that sparked her love and interest in adornment.
• The guilt she feels by truly enjoying what she does for work every day.
• The fear that can arise with associating your personal identity with your brand identity.
• The importance of associating your personal identity with your brand identity.
• The desire to open up the conversation of artists’ pricing structures and the benefits we all can see by doing so.
• Her frustrations with being taught how to make Art, but not to sell art.

Where to Find Nanette

• Instagram: @hewjewelry
• https://hewjewelry.com/

Resources & Other Mentions

• Michelle Sofia Design

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The Interview:

In this episode, we put our very own Emma D’Arpino in the hot seat as we dive into an interview to learn more about Emma, her experience with finding her creative passions and her journey to her two career paths of photography and being a licensed dietitian. Join us as we learn a bit more about Emma and the iconic hot pink digital camera that ignited it all.

We Also Talk About:

• The law of attraction and why you get the energy you put out.
• The lessons she’s learned as an entrepreneur in the last year of business.
• How to create systems that will help you succeed.
• Being aware of burnout - how to see the signs and how to set boundaries to protect yourself.
• What it means to ask yourself, “Am I happy?”
• Why you need to identify (and prioritize) your “why”.
• The concept of “compassion fatigue” and why it’s okay to put yourself first.
• Why we feel the need to force ourselves into “fitting the mold” and how to break out of that cycle to find our true path.
• What photos and photography mean in today’s society.
• Emma’s journey with disordered eating and her path to becoming a fat positive dietitian.
• Finding and building the communities we want to embrace and the tools present to overcome of fears of joining in.

Where to Find Emma.

• Instagram: @emmadarpino
• www.emmadarpino.com

Wanna be first?

Sign up for our newsletter to  be the first to know about events, updates and the latest news from our artists!

More here:

Be featured on our Instagram
www.thehouseofwillows.com

Stay connected: @thehouseofwillows | @emmadarpino | @lavenderlilacstudio