Painting Boldly, Living Brightly: Carolyn Gavin on Art, Travel, and Teaching
Release Date: 06/18/2025
The Power of Creative Expression & Living Life in Full Color: Amy Lohr on Creative Healing and Finding Your Voice
Windowsill Chats
Margo sits down with artist, writer, and creative director Amy Lohr to talk about the nonlinear, magical, and sometimes messy journey of reclaiming your creative voice. Amy shares how a personal “creative awakening” helped her move through body dysmorphia and social anxiety, and how painting, writing, and photography became tools for healing and deeper self-understanding. They explore the spiritual and practical sides of creativity—from living off-grid in Hawaii, to writing her book Like the Sun at Midday, to embracing curiosity in all its unexpected forms (yes, including papier-mâché...
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Out of the Ashes: Poetry, Resilience & Reclaiming Your Voice with Courtney Peppernell
Windowsill Chats
Margo sits down with internationally bestselling poet and storyteller Courtney Peppernell. Known for her Pillow Thoughts series and many other beloved poetry collections, Courtney has spent nearly a decade writing about love, healing, and the resilience that carries us through life’s hardest moments. Her words have reached millions across the globe, offering comfort and connection through the power of honest storytelling. In this conversation, Courtney shares how her creative journey has evolved—from “accidental poet” to global literary voice—and how her newest book, Out of the...
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It Starts With You: Claiming Your Creative Identity, Building Confidence & Community with Martina Flor
Windowsill Chats
Margo welcomes internationally acclaimed lettering artist, illustrator, author, and creative mentor Martina Flor to the show. Originally trained as a graphic designer in Argentina, Martina took a leap of faith that led her to Berlin — and eventually to building one of the most recognized lettering studios in the world. Through bold choices, ongoing experimentation, and a belief in the power of claiming your identity, she has carved out a career filled with artistry, entrepreneurship, and community. Martina opens up about what it really looks like to follow your passion before the world has...
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For the Love of Renovating: How the Brownstone Boys Built a Brand Rooted in Authenticity and a Creative Life from the Ground Up
Windowsill Chats
Margo sits down with Barry Bordelon and Jordan Slocum—better known as The Brownstone Boys—a Brooklyn-based couple, award-winning interior designers, and renovation experts known for their ability to breathe new life into historic homes while keeping design fresh, livable, and true to their roots. What began as a shared passion project to restore their first brownstone quickly became a creative business built on authenticity, approachability, and an unshakable belief in learning by doing. Without formal design training, Barry and Jordan leaned on curiosity, community, and sheer persistence...
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The Art of Sound: Silas Hite on Scoring Stories, Creative Variety, and a Life in Music
Windowsill Chats
In Part 3 of the Dawn Dusk series, where Margo explores the creative forces behind the documentary, she sits down with Emmy-winning composer Silas Hite, whose music spans blockbuster films, hit TV shows, museum installations, bestselling video games, and award-winning commercials. With over two decades of experience and an unmatched ability to move between genres, Silas shares how an early love of rhythm and melody grew into a multifaceted career in composing and recording. They explore how the industry has shifted over the years — from strikes to the rise of AI — and how Silas balances...
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From Dawn to Dusk: Chelli Look on Grief, Beauty, and the Healing Power of Creativity
Windowsill Chats
In Part 2 of a special Dawn Dusk series, Margo sits down with designer and maker Chelli Look, whose story is at the center of the documentary Dawn Dusk. Directed by Jason and Blue Gerber, the film follows Chelli’s journey through grief and healing after the devastating loss of her sister to domestic violence. In this conversation, Chelli shares how creating leather handbags under her brand CHC became both a lifeline and a language for navigating profound loss. She offers her perspective on how the documentary came to be, what it means to create beauty amidst grief, and how creativity...
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Creative Current Events: Analog Tools, AI Ethics, and a Vintage Catalog Revival
Windowsill Chats
In this episode of Creative Current Events, Margo and Abby dive into a whirlwind of fascinating stories and fresh perspectives from the worlds of creativity, tech, and everyday life. They chat about the accidental invention of the snow globe and the surprising rise of art fairs hosted in U-Haul trucks — celebrating human resourcefulness and the scrappy side of creativity. They also dig into AI and authenticity — from lawsuits against media companies accused of data theft, to AI-generated actors in Hollywood, and the ethical gray areas of algorithm-driven platforms like Spotify. Together,...
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The Magic of Two Voices as One: Jason & Blue Gerber on Filmmaking, Storytelling, and Human Connection
Windowsill Chats
Margo is joined by husband-and-wife directing duo Jason & Blue Gerber, an award-winning team working across films and commercials. Their creative synergy has led them to direct for brands like Walgreens, 7UP, Chipotle, Intelligentsia, and LOEWE, while also producing heartfelt storytelling work for organizations such as The Boys & Girls Clubs, Athletes Unlimited, and Lincoln Park Community Services. Their short film Otis’ Dream, about voter suppression, was shared by Oprah as an official Super Soul Sunday short film, and their commercial and nonprofit work has been recognized with...
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Heart & Hands of a Maker: Building Creative Confidence and Connection through Teaching with Tamara Honaman
Windowsill Chats
Margo is joined by the ever-creative and generous Tamara Honaman. Tammy is a passionate jewelry artist, educator, mentor, and connector who has spent more than 30 years inspiring others to explore their creativity. From publishing and television to workshops, books, and now her own podcast and maker community, Tammy’s career has been defined by helping others feel empowered to make something beautiful. As the host of Heart & Hands of a Maker and founder of the Mixed Media Makers community, Tammy shares stories, resources, and techniques that make art more approachable for everyone....
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Why Sensitivity Is a Strength: Nervous System Tools for Fear, Visibility, and Creative Freedom with Anna Holzman
Windowsill Chats
Margo is joined by Anna Holzman, a therapist-turned-coach who helps sensitive creatives and entrepreneurs move through the fear of visibility and launch the work that feels most true to them. After 15 years in TV and publishing—and many false starts on her own creative dreams—burnout and chronic pain led Anna to discover nervous system tools that helped her unblock her voice and show up for the work she loves. Now she helps others melt through imposter syndrome, bring their creative visions to life, and share them boldly. She also hosts the podcast How to Trust Yourself. Margo and Anna...
info_outlineCarolyn Gavin returns to Windowsill Chats for a joy-filled conversation about painting, purpose, and the evolution of her creative life. Based in Toronto by way of South Africa, Carolyn is a painter, illustrator, designer, and teacher known for her joyful use of color and pattern across mediums from watercolor to acrylic. She’s also the principal designer for Ecojot, her family’s eco-friendly stationery brand, and a beloved teacher to students around the world.
In this episode, Carolyn shares the winding path of her creative journey—from childhood painting sessions to licensing her artwork for textiles and books, designing products, and leading retreats in beautiful locations. She opens up about the meditative power of painting, how travel and nature influence her process, and what it means to show up again and again for your art with playful curiosity.
Margo and Carolyn Discuss:
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Transitioning from advertising to co-founding Ecojot, a sustainable stationery brand
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How travel and living across cultures shaped her creative perspective
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Embracing bold, joyful color and large-scale experimentation
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The meditative power of painting as daily grounding
Overcoming creative ruts and finding flow again -
Her playful balance between structure and spontaneity in art-making
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Translating flowers, landscapes, and real-world inspiration into distinctive work
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Building community through teaching—both online and at global retreats
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Advice for artists pursuing teaching, licensing, and product-based careers
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Navigating the business of art while maintaining personal joy and family life
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The ongoing importance of learning, evolving, and being inspired by others
Connect with Carolyn:
https://www.facebook.com/carolynjennygavin
https://ca.pinterest.com/carolyn_gavin/_saved/
https://www.threads.com/@carolynj
Connect with Margo:
https://www.tantaustudio.com
https://www.instagram.com/windowsillchats/
https://www.patreon.com/c/inthewindowsill
https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry