Explore every episode of the podcast The And She Looked Up Podcast
Dive into the complete episode list for The And She Looked Up Podcast. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
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Title
Pub. Date
Duration
EP182: Building a Resilient Creative Business Through Trade Wars and Chaos
17 févr. 2025
00:56:40
Recording this week's episode felt like a moving target! I recorded it on Feb 8th and the news moves so fast that it was hard to keep up. I'm sure you'll notice a few things in here that have since changed.
Having said that, this week's episode was born out of the launch of a trade war Canadians didn't ask for. The threats of tariffs and, frankly, annexation, have made this a very scary time for all Canadians. But with things in so much flux I decided to make this a more general episode. I share some strategies creative entrepreneurs in the arts can employ to build resilience against global chaos as well as helping you have a clearer understanding of how any kind of tariff can impact your business. We'll go over the three keys you need to focus on in the back end of your business as well as the importance of adapting your marketing tactics and creating greater financial stability for yourself.
This is a great episode for creatives who...
⭐️ need to understand the potential impact of tariffs on their creative businesses ⭐️ need to review their pricing strategies for long term sustainability during a trade war ⭐️ are looking for ways to stabilize their expenses and cost of materials ⭐️ want to lean into values based marketing (and being Canadian) during this time ⭐️ need to think about diversifying revenue and trying to ensure as much financial stability as possible
Each 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.
EP181: Creative Canadian: Author Susan Wadds Builds Safe Creative Communities
27 janv. 2025
01:06:43
Winner of the 2024 Canadian Book Club Awards for fiction, Susan Wadds, author of "What the Living Do", shares her inspiring journey from aspiring poet to published novelist. But we also discuss the power of community and connection in the creative process. Susan fosters safe communities for other creatives through her workshops and retreats while also creating additional revenue streams for herself and she shares with us just how she does that!
This is a great episode for creatives who...
⭐️ want to learn more about the value of creating safe spaces for other creatives in their niche ⭐️ want some insights on community-building among creatives ⭐️ are curious about the Amherst Writers and Artists method ⭐️ are looking for practical advice for aspiring writers to pursue their passion ⭐️ are curious about Susan and her novel "What the Living Do"
Each 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.
EP180: Looking Back at 2024 and Ahead to 2025 in Our Creative Businesses
30 déc. 2024
01:06:46
As we close out 2024, Heather and Melissa reflect on the ups and downs of the past year and look ahead to what's coming in 2025. This episode highlights the core theme of finding joy amid challenges as we close out one year and being another.
Here's a quick recap of what we get into!
• Recap of 2024 and its unexpected challenges • Importance of joy in art and creativity • Personal growth through grief and creativity • Strategies for nurturing community and connection • Setting intentions for a vibrant 2025 • Encouragement to embrace personal projects and small victories
Each 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.
EP179 Creative Canadian Women: Kim Fahner - Poet, Author and Community Builder
16 déc. 2024
00:56:06
Award winning poet and writer Kim Fahner joins the show this week to share her creative journey and discuss the importance of forming a community of our peers. Forging nurturing and supportive connections with other creatives in a country as vast, and empty, as Canada can feel like a huge challenge - particularly for those in smaller or rural communities. We also discuss the copyright implications of AI for creators and why it's so important to support Canadian creatives and the businesses that support them more than ever.
Kim is the author of multiple poetry books as well as her debut novel, The Donoghue Girl, released earlier this year. She is also the first vice-chair of The Writer's Union of Canada, a teacher and an editor for Consilience, an online journal that explores the spaces where the sciences and arts meet.
This is a great episode for creatives who... ⭐️ are looking to forge new connections with their peers ⭐️ are considering mentoring or being mentored in the new year ⭐️ have thought about publishing poetry or are curious about the small press community in Canada ⭐️ are concerned about the copyright implications of AI and how it might impact our creativity
Each 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.
To Discount or Not to Discount in Your Creative Business?
26 nov. 2024
00:39:06
With Black Friday coming up quickly and market season in full swing, should you discount your creative work? There's a time and a place for discounts. This week we go over the pros and cons of offering or granting discounts and why it is SO crucial to price your work properly in order to have more marketing flexibility in your business
This is a great episode for creatives who... ⭐️ don't know how to respond when a customer or potential customer asks for a discount ⭐️ aren't sure if discounting devalues their work ⭐️ don't feel they have the room in their pricing to offer discounts ⭐️ aren't sure how much it costs them to secure a new customer ⭐️ are looking for ways to foster loyalty among their customer base
Each 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.
EP177: Beka Shane Denter Explores Canadian Creativity in Bloom Across Canada
11 nov. 2024
00:49:16
If you need a good dose of hope and inspiration this week, then Episode 177 is for you. Canadian writer and author Beka Shane Denter joins the show to talk about her latest book, Bloom Across Canada - an inspirational collection of conversations with 50 diverse women and non-binary creatives entrepreneurs from all across Canada.
Beka shares how a pandemic, her nomadic life and a career as a features and content writer helped inform her decision to embark on bringing the "Bloom" series to life and, how this book in particular, is a love letter to Canada.
This is a great episode for creatives who... ⭐️ need a little boost of encouragement to take on those big, dream projects ⭐️ want to be a more effective storyteller in their work ⭐️ need some real talk and encouragement about not taking no for an answer ⭐️ are searching for community for themselves and for their work ⭐️ need a good dose of hope right now
Each 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.
EP176: The Power of Rituals in our Creative Practices
28 oct. 2024
00:59:13
In this week's regular season episode, Melissa and Heather explore the transformative power of intentional rituals in our creative practices. Rituals are different from habits. And, there's real science behind them and how they affect our brains. They can help shape our creative mindset, help us achieve a state of flow, quite our inner critic and much more!
Do you have a particular ritual or rituals you perform in your creative practice? Share it with us on our Instagram account or our YouTube channel!
This is a great episode for creatives who... ⭐️ struggle with settling into creative work ⭐️ need help with focus in their creative practice ⭐️ find it challenging to quiet their inner voice and critic
Each 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.
Prep for the Holidays EP13: Payment Processor Freak Outs at Markets (and how to avoid them!)
10 oct. 2024
00:15:00
For Week 13 of Prep for the Holidays we're talking about how to accept payments at your holiday events, markets and pop-ups. You're going to need a payment processor! And if you've already got one, you've probably had at least one freakout moment with your payment processor hardware or software.
So, let's talk about what you'll need and a quick checklist of what double (triple, quadruple) check before each market so you can avoid those panic inducing moments of wonky tech and instead, focus on market customers!
Each 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.
EP174: Making a Pivot and Fashioning a Collaboration with Rebecca Rowe: Creative Canadian Women
07 oct. 2024
00:54:02
In this week's regular season episode, classically trained fashion designer Rebecca Rowe joins the show to talk about how she pivoted her business (and how a disaster pushed her to embrace that pivot full force!) from a designer to a stylist who helps other women find confidence in their wardrobe. And then, she took on what, at first glance, appeared to be a surprising collaboration to expand her business even further. Take a listen and it will all make sense!
Rebecca shares her top tips for connecting and collaborating with other businesses and for having a successful business pivot.
This is a great episode for creatives who... ⭐️ are looking to collaborate but don't know where to start - or who to collaborate with ⭐️ need a little help thinking outside of the box when it comes to collaborations ⭐️ would like to pivot their business but are afraid of starting fresh or upsetting existing clients or customers
Each 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.
Prep For the Holidays EP 12: Prep Your Online Shops for the Holiday Rush
26 sept. 2024
00:14:59
It's Week 12 of the Prep for the Holidays minisode series and it's time for us to prep all our online shop for the holiday rush. Whether you sell on Etsy, eBay, your own website or any other online platform, there a few things you'll want to make sure are in tip top shape before shoppers land!
We're going to talk about photography - especially for key products - SEO, titles and descriptions, telling the story of your business and products, emphasizing the "handmade" aspect of your business, shipping info and most importantly, double checking and testing to make sure users have a pleasant, frustration-free shopping experience!
Each 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.
EP172: How to Increase Your Average Order Value and Boost Revenue in Your Creative Business
23 sept. 2024
01:02:56
In this week's regular season episode we're covering the powerful impact that increasing Average Order Value (AOV) can have on your bottom line with 15 ideas for you to try in your creative business.
I share my own experiences as an illustrator who significantly increased my AOV and sales by learning to bundle items and offer bulk discounts - among other tactics . You’ll learn how this simple shift can transform your business, no matter what you sell or what creative services you offer. It also happens to be kinda fun!
This is a great episode for creatives who...
are looking for strategies to increase their AOV online and and in person
are struggling to draw new customers but need to boost revenue
Each 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.
Prep for the Holidays EP11: Market Booth Planning & Prep! Tips for Makers, Artists & Creatives
19 sept. 2024
00:12:16
For Week 11 of the Prep for the Holidays minisode series, I'm focusing on market booths!
Now is the time to start planning this year's booth, buying or making any display items you might need, thinking through your signage, ordering business cards, deciding how to coax people to sign up for your email list so you can build a long term relationship with them and... figuring out strategies to encourage higher average order values!
A little advance planning and prep can make a huge difference come market day and help you build long term relationships with customers that last long after the market it over!
Each 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.
Prep for the Holidays EP10: Tips for Planning Your Holiday Promotions
12 sept. 2024
00:20:12
In Week 10 of our Prep for the Holidays series we're talking about planning and preparing your holiday promotions now, to reduce stress later! There's lots of actionable tips to plan all your holiday promotions - including Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Boxing Day - well in advance. I'll also share some tips on how to craft deals that not only capture attention but also ensure you remain profitable during the busiest time of the year. And why it's important to value your work - you don't HAVE to run promotions!
Whether you're selling products or creating content, this episode is packed with invaluable insights to ensure your holiday season is both smooth and profitable.
Each 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.
EP169: Season 6 Opener: Creating and Recreating Our Own Creative Process
09 sept. 2024
01:19:56
In the Season 6 opener of the podcast, Melissa and Heather jump into the deep end to talk about creating our creative process. When was the last time you questioned why you create the way you do? Have you mixed things up lately? Moved your desk? Painted outside? Tried to find a way to make a dreaded task more fun?
Sometimes, we get into a rut, or a comfortable groove that doesn't push us forward. Or we procrastinate over parts of bigger projects because the process is... well... gross. So here's your reminder that we, as creatives, get to CREATE - or RECREATE our own creative process!
This is a great episode for creatives who...
are feeling stuck
need a fresh start
have trouble finishing projects
procrastinate over certain tasks
feel overwhelm when they walk past their creating space
Each 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.
Prep for the Holidays EP9: Plan Your Calendar by Working Backwards.
02 sept. 2024
00:12:26
It's Week #9 in our Prep for the Holidays series! To make sure you're on top of all your key deadlines and dates this holiday season, start by working backwards from December 31st. I'll walk you through key dates to make note of and how to ensure you've got enough time for making, marketing, selling and shipping!
Whether you’re an artist, maker, or creative service provider, this episode is jam-packed with strategies to keep you organized and ahead of the game. Let’s make this holiday season not only manageable but also wildly successful for your creative business!
Each 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.
Prep for the Holidays EP8: Applying to Holiday Markets
26 août 2024
00:19:19
For Task #8 in our Prep for the Holidays checklist I'm putting the focus on getting your holiday market applications in - for makers, artists and creative service providers (yes, there's room for you, too!).
While it may be too late to apply to some of the bigger craft and maker markets in major urban centres, there's no shortage of opportunities in smaller, local markets. I'm sharing tips for finding those smaller markets because there's a LOT of them and they're looking to fill their vendor rosters now! Plus, these smaller, community markets can be a great way for newer sellers to get some experience and gain some confidence
Oh... and those big markets that are already full? They often host spring markets and now is the time to research those market application deadlines!
Each 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.
Prep for the Holidays EP7 Pitching Yourself for Holiday Gift Guides
19 août 2024
00:13:29
We're up to Task #7 in our Prep for the Holidays checklist for creatives. If you want to broaden your reach and get new eyes on your work this holiday season, it might be time to pitch yourself for holiday gift guides! Like a lot of holiday season prep, this is an early bird task - in fact, you might be too late for print magazines! But there's still lots of time for on-line publications and blogs, local newspapers and online influencers - all of whom publish gift guides of must have holiday gifts!
Tune in to learn more about using this strategy to attract a broader audience during the busiest shopping season of the year!
Each 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.
Prep for the Holiday EP6: Early, Essential Marketing with Pinterest and Blogging
12 août 2024
00:12:16
We're up to Task #6 in our Prep For the Holidays checklist for creatives. This week, we're working on early marketing tasks with two powerful platforms that need time to reach their full potential. We're talking about blogging and Pinterest - and why starting these two tasks early is crucial for a successful holiday campaign.
Don't limit your potential this holiday season - build your community, increase visibility, and drive traffic to your products by working ahead. Get ready to create a thriving online presence and make this holiday season your most successful yet!
Each 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.
Prep for the Holidays EP5: Get a Jump on Holiday Marketing with Product Mockups & Samples
05 août 2024
00:15:25
Getting featured in print & digital gift guides, getting accepted into big holiday craft markets or selling your items in small boutiques for Christmas all require a lot of advance prep work - that happens way earlier than we think!
This is where prepping mockups and samples of whatever it is you create can help you get a jump on things! You might not be ready to go into full production mode yet but having a few things prepped and photographed means you have something to show your work when asked! Now you can apply for markets, investigate additional PR or marketing opportunities and get your product into shops!
Tune in and gear up for a successful holiday season.
Each 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.
Prep For the Holidays EP 4: Packaging & Shipping Materials
29 juil. 2024
00:26:02
You know what you're going to be making and selling for the holiday season - but do you know how you're going to package it up for selling and shipping?
In this week's Prep for the Holiday's episode, Melissa walks you through the process of figuring out your delivery systems. If you're a creative services provider or content creator, you still need to get your "product" into the hands or in front of the eyeballs of your customer. If you're a maker or artist, you need to package your product for markets, wholesale platforms like Fair and your Etsy shop or website. And then, you have to pack it up for shipping via Canada Post or a courier.
We discuss the difference between packaging materials and shipping materials as well as some places to start sourcing out your supplies - including environmentally responsible options. If you act now, you have time to order samples and make informed decisions before ordering larger quantities!
Tune in and gear up for a successful holiday season.
Each 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.
Prep for the Holidays EP3: Get ready to start creating!!
22 juil. 2024
00:11:08
Are you ready to streamline your holiday prep and crush the busiest selling season of the year?
In this week's Prep for the Holidays episode, Melissa helps you get your supply game on point so you can focus on what you do best—creating amazing products your customers will love!
Let's break down the essential steps for securing raw materials, supplies, and packaging, as well as securing your creative collaborators to ensure you’re not scrambling last minute. Now's the time to stock up on paint, paper, jewellery fastenings, yarn - whatever it is you use to make - to replacing broken tools and booking your designer. I’ll guide you through maintaining a robust inventory to keep your creating smooth and stress-free - and save you money!
Tune in and gear up for a successful holiday season.
Each 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.
Prep for the Holidays EP2: Planning Out Your Products and Services for the Holidays!
15 juil. 2024
00:09:17
It's really hard to get a jump on the busy holiday season if you don't actually know what you're going to be making and selling! So in Episode 2 of our Prep for the Holiday series, Melissa walks you through figuring out what you're going to be putting your focus on - whether you're an artist, maker, creative services provider or a content creator. What will you make? What will you create? When will you sell it and who will you sell it to? Product development is where it all starts!
Each 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.
Prep for the Holidays EP1: Creatives, Warm Up Your Email List BEFORE Market and Selling Season!
08 juil. 2024
00:13:12
Episode 1 in our new minisode series - Prep For the Holidays - is all about email. It's time to work on growing and warming up your email newsletter list before the holiday selling season! Kickstart your holiday sales strategy with actionable email marketing tips and suggestions to get you going.
Don't have an email list? We tell you how to get started - you don't even need a website! We'll also talk about re-engaging a cold list and practical steps to maintain and grow an established email list.
Each 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.
Prep for the Holidays Minisode Series Trailer - Stress-free Holiday Prep for Creatives!
30 juin 2024
00:06:14
What if you could seamlessly prepare for the holiday rush without the stress? That's where our special "Prep for the Holidays" mini-sode series comes in! Melissa is here to provide you with a straightforward, actionable game plan so that come November & December you put all your focus on selling, shipping, and customer service. Whether you're an artist gearing up for markets, a photographer offering family portraits, or a content creator maximizing Q4 traffic, this series is your ultimate checklist!
Each episode, ranging from 5 to 10 minutes, is designed to align with your holiday preparation timeline, ensuring you tackle each task at the right moment. Mark your calendars for the week of July 8th and join me as we kick off this indispensable guide to a stress-free, successful holiday season. Let's make Q4 your most profitable yet!
Each 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.
EP158: Leaning Into Rest - and Why It's SO Important for Working Creatives
03 juin 2024
01:20:58
With the Season 5 finale, Melissa and Heather talk about rest and why it's so critical for self-employed creatives. What does rest look like (no it's not sleep - but that's critical too!)? It's not a "one size fits all" concept. It may be a two week vacation but what if a "leave the house" vacation isn't possible?
We dig deep into ways we can ensure rest is part of our creative cycle - whether you're an introvert, extrovert, parent, caregiver, managing multiple roles, financially strapped or somebody who needs movement or somebody who needs stillness. And we talk about how switching our mindset towards everyday chores we don't like can actually turn them into moments of restoration for our brains!
This is a great episode for creatives who...
are tired or feeling burnt out
know they need rest but don't know how to make it happen
Each 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.
EP157: Creative Canadian Women - Photographer Heidi Richter
20 mai 2024
01:21:43
Canadian photographer, recipe developer and blogger Heidi Richter joins me to talk about her work as both a commercial and editorial food and nature photographer.
We discuss her early steps as a self-taught photographer who wanted to take better photos of her first child all the way through to earning a coveted spot on Nikon's annual creator team - as well as the challenges of being a small, creative business owner, juggling multiple roles, mom guilt, creative burnout and why we need to be both assertive, human and adaptable in an age of technological change and generative AI.
This is a great episode for creatives who...
are challenged with mom guilt
worry about the advent of AI - particularly for visual creators
need help putting themselves and their work out there
deal with imposter syndrome
are struggling with (or has struggled with) creative burnout and has a hard time saying no
Each 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.
EP156: Rent or Own? The Dangers of Building a Creative Business on Rented Land
06 mai 2024
00:51:35
No this is not a real estate episode! Today we're talking about the dangers of building your business on the backs of other businesses - namely social media platforms and marketplaces - like Etsy. These are platforms where the customers and users are not yours, where you can be removed at any time and where algorithms are created to support the platform's goals - not yours.
So what can you do to build your business on solid footing. It's time to take ownership of your business and build assets that are yours. Here's how!
This is a great episode for anyone who:
is struggling with social media algorithms
is worried about losing their accounts or shops
doesn't know how to diversify or build an audience that's theirs
wants more control over their business and their sales data
Each 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.
EP155: Creative Canadian Women: Alexandra Newbould - Illustrator & Courtroom Sketch Artist
22 avr. 2024
00:45:59
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 media
have an inner battle happening between creating art from a place deep inside them and creating art for commercial purposes
have always wondered about the world of courtroom sketch artists
Each 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.
EP154: Makers, Artists and Creatives: Here's How to Find Your Customers
05 avr. 2024
01:35:58
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 clients
don'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 do
might know what they are... but aren't sure what they're not (it'll make sense)
Each 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.
EP153: REPLAY: Words of Wisdom for Creatives from Past Guests
23 mars 2024
01:17:39
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!
Each 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.
EP 152 Creative Canadian Women: Demi Winters - Indepdendent Fantasy Romance Novelist
08 mars 2024
01:06:22
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 industry
have wondered about ways to add interesting revenue streams to their business
love hearing about the writing processes of others
is 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!
Each 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.
EP151: Creative Canadian Woman: Songwriter & Author Gail Taylor is Using Kickstarter
23 févr. 2024
01:06:30
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 reach
are curious about getting their own music made
have thought about using crowd-funding to launch their own creative projects
are always curious for ways they can turn their creativity into multiple revenue streams
would like to use their creative skills to foster positive change for others
Each 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.
EP150: Trends We're Paying Attention to in Our Creative Businesses in 2024
09 févr. 2024
01:36:19
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 2024
are feeling very nervous and unsettled by the use of AI
Each 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.
EP149: Leaning into Change for a Life of Creative Fulfillment with Geneviève Retzlaff
26 janv. 2024
00:59:10
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 resistance
need strategies and tools to help them embrace change
struggle 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 now
are the bottleneck that stands in their way
would like to learn how strategic planning, goal setting and hiring help can all help you set change in motion
Each 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.
EP148: The Law of Vibration and Your Creative Practice with Sara Fisher
12 janv. 2024
01:13:04
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 manifestation
need help forming new habits (and breaking habits that are not helpful)
struggle with imposter syndrome and comparison-itis
would like to learn how to reframe situations in order to foster growth
need help quieting the ego and learning to embrace mistakes
Each 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.
EP147: Getting Started with Podcasting For Your Creative Business
29 déc. 2023
01:20:04
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 podcast
are wondering about the pros and cons of podcasting
want to know how much work it can be
want to know what to look out for and consider before getting started
want to know what they need to actually get started
are curious about the different styles of podcasting
want some interviewing tips
Tune in to find out everything you need to know about starting a podcast in 2024!
Each 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.
EP146: So, You Think You're Ready to Go Viral?
15 déc. 2023
01:19:48
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 viral
wonder 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 viral
wonder if you need viral content for your business to succeed
We tackle all of these concerns and more! Tune in to find out how!
Each 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.
EP145: Own Your Age and Your Wisdom with Zannat Reza
01 déc. 2023
01:04:03
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.
Each 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.
EP144: Creative Canadian Woman - Jacqueline Nicosia of Ardo Hospitality
10 nov. 2023
00:58:52
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 night
separating work and family while running a family business
how financial restraints can actually foster creativity
embracing making money
the importance of giving back while lifting women up in an industry that's notoriously male dominated and her work with Let's Talk Womxn
Each 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.
EP143: Overcoming Perfectionism and Burnout with Psychotherapist Yu Tong Hannah Lin
20 oct. 2023
01:08:34
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.
Each 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.
EP142: Shaky Economy? Navigate the Holiday Selling Season & Plan for 2024
06 oct. 2023
01:41:15
Slow September sales and signs of a flagging economy have a lot of Canadian creatives worried about the upcoming holiday selling season. Even Etsy has made efforts to boost sales on behalf of shop owners! And, with no real relief in sight, what does 2024 have in store? Melissa and Heather tackle this head on with lots of practical strategies and tips to help you get focused and make a plan - both for the holiday season and next year!
This is a great episode for creatives who:
are seeing a dip in sales compared to previous years
have heard from customers that money is tight
aren't getting the same level of sales or engagement when launching new work
are worried about the ballooning costs of raw materials and other business related expenses
need some ideas jump start sales
We tackle all of these concerns and more! Tune in to find out how!
Each 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.
EP141: Stepping Out From Behind Your Work with Photographer Michele Mateus
22 sept. 2023
01:21:47
As working creatives, giving our audience, clients and supporters the opportunity to connect with us on a deeper level is so important to building a healthy business. But equally important, as women, we need to get past our fear of taking up space and instead, embrace being seen. Intimate portrait and personal branding photographer Michele Matues joins Melissa in this episode to share her journey as a photographer who empowers women and to show us how much getting out from behind our work and in front of the camera can mean to our business... and to ourselves.
Each 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.
EP140: Behind the Scenes of a Solo Art Exhibition with Heather Travis
08 sept. 2023
01:26:37
Have you ever wondered what goes into planning and executing an your own art exhibition? This week Heather Travis joins Melissa to talk about the behind the scenes journey to her upcoming, 3 month solo exhibition at Ontario's Bruce County Museum and Cultural Center. She shares how the opportunity arose, how she developed her very personal exhibit theme, secured grant funding and was able to take 9 months away from active client work to produce 35 large scale canvases! We also get into the very personal aspect of this exhibit as well as using creativity as a way to process events, deal with grief and trauma and as a road to rebirth.
have pondered having an exhibit of their work or creating a large body of work around a theme
have wondered what would be involved in mounting their own exhibit - from marketing to logistics to finances to actually creating the work!
are looking for some very fun marketing ideas for their work - exhibit or no exhibit
need to hear how amazing things can come without social media
have been listening to Heather on the show for the last 3 seasons and would love to hear a deep dive into her painting and her process and how she creates for a living.
Each 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.
SUMMER REPLAY From Fashion Concept to Launch: The Birth of Gallola with Katrina and Lexi von Hahn
11 août 2023
01:04:52
Toronto based sisters Katrina and Lexie von Hahn have known for years that they wanted to create a business that reflected their Latin American roots and that has resulted in Gallola - a fashion and lifestyle brand they recently launched with their first product: a shoe they designed that's inspired by the timeless Argentine carpincho style and handmade in Mexico.
In this episode we talk about:
Lexie and Katrina's individual journeys that have taken them around the world
starting a fashion and lifestyle brand from scratch
manufacturing your own designs
how crucial building a network is for a young business
not being afraid or too shy to reach out and ask other female business owners for help
the importance of research
working with family and being a new mom with a new business
bootstrapping a creative business that manufactures product and much more!
Each 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.
SUMMER REPLAY: Branding For Multi-Passionate Creatives with Diane Foy
28 juil. 2023
01:20:34
As a multi-passionate creative herself, creativity coach and host of the Superfan Attraction Podcast, Diane Foy understands how difficult it is for multi-passionate creative entrepreneurs to present themselves to the world. In this summer replay episode we talk about the power of personal branding and showing the world all the wonderful things you do instead of trying to keep them under wraps!
Each 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.
SUMMER REPLAY: Embracing Age and Passion: The Musical Journey of Sharon Marie White
14 juil. 2023
01:02:48
Alberta singer/songwriter Sharon Marie White joins Melissa to talk about her deep roots as a musician and performer and how she let her music move to the background as she found other ways to contribute to her family. Now, after putting her music on hold for decades, she's back and she's just getting started - in an era where women are no longer willing to put up with ageism as working creatives!
SUPPORT THE PODCAST: Did you know you can now directly support the podcast and help us keep creating great content you want to listen to? And get access to exclusive bonus content? You can help here.
Each 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.
SUMMER REPLAY: Your Logo is NOT Your Brand (so what the heck is??)
30 juin 2023
01:22:08
Do you get caught in the branding trap that many creative businesses find themselves falling into? The one where you get so wrapped up in the physical assets of your brand that you forget about what branding actually is? Your logo? Not your brand. Your website colours? Not your brand. They're physical assets OF your brand. So what is your brand? Melissa and Heather Travis dive into the less obvious (but extremely critical) aspects of branding from telling your story, to creating a mission statement and even choosing who your business works with and how you treat your contractors and employees!
This is a great episode for those creative business owners who are struggling with the deeper aspects of their branding or new business owners who are not even sure where to begin with their branding (hot hint: it's not your logo!)
SUPPORT THE PODCAST: Did you know you can now directly support the podcast and help us keep creating great content you want to listen to? And get access to exclusive bonus content? You can help here.
Each 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.
EP135: Blogging To Drive Traffic (And Build SEO) For Your Creative Business
16 juin 2023
01:08:13
Whether you sell paintings or photography sessions, hand poured candles or graphic design services, getting traffic to your website or even your Etsy shop is probably one of the biggest challenges you face. No traffic, no sales! Enter the world of blogging...
One thing professional bloggers know how to do is drive traffic - their income is directly tied to their website traffic! So let's take a tip from them and examine how blogging can really help you boost your website traffic, build brand awareness and visibility, establish you as an authority in your niche and develop customer and client relationships.
Did you know you can now directly support the podcast and help us keep creating great content you want to listen to? And get access to exclusive bonus content? You can help here.
Each 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.
EP134: Creative Canadian Women: Phyllis Ellis - Documentary Filmmaker
12 mai 2023
01:01:10
Award winning documentary filmmaker and former Canadian Olympian, Phyllis Ellis, joins me in this episode with the release of her latest film, Category: Woman. We dive into the big themes of the documentary (gender and gender equality, body autonomy racism) as well as the power and challenges of telling stories - whether they're your own or belong to someone else.
Did you know you can now directly support the podcast and help us keep creating great content you want to listen to? And get access to exclusive bonus content? You can help here.
Each 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.
Food photographer and photography educator Darina Kopcok joins Melissa for this Creative Canadian Women episode where they discuss how to generate quality client leads for your creative services business OR your product business as well as how to grow your revenue streams by offering education resources to other creative service providers and makers in your niche.
In just one year as a food photographer, Darina was able to match her full time corporate income. She did it by investing in her skills and the help of a photography business coach who got her dialed into her pricing and helped her identify - and connect with - her ideal clients.
Did you know you can now directly support the podcast and help us keep creating great content you want to listen to? And get access to exclusive bonus content? You can help here.
Each 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.