Art + Audience

• Ep. 32: Why Diversification Is the Key to Surviving as a Creative Entrepreneur with Sophie Timms

  Today, Stacie sits down with UK-based embroidery artist and educator Sophie Timms, founder of Mindful Mantra Embroidery and the Bloom Embroidery Academy. Sophie shares her inspiring journey from studying law to building a thriving creative business with multiple income streams, including a high-retention membership of nearly 200 embroidery enthusiasts. Whether you're dreaming of making a living from your art or already on your way, this episode is packed with wisdom about following your intuition, building a community, and crafting a business that supports your life.   Today on Art + Audience: Career pivot during a pandemic: Sophie shares how she went from studying law to picking up embroidery during lockdown, and never looked back. Letting the audience lead: Her product line grew organically by paying attention to what her followers wanted most. Inside the Bloom membership: A look at how she keeps members engaged with tutorials, challenges, and rewards, while automating much of the process. Juggling business and motherhood: Sophie talks about working solo, staying consistent, and building smart systems to manage her time. When tariffs hit hard: A 65% drop in U.S. orders could have been devastating, but diversifying her income helped her stay afloat. Why community matters most: With a 93% retention rate, Sophie explains how member recognition and connection keep people coming back.   Important Note: At the time of this episode’s release, Sophie has temporarily paused shipping to the U.S. due to ongoing tariff issues. If you’d like to support her work, the best way is to follow her on Instagram, join her newsletter, and stay updated on when U.S. shipping will resume.   Connect with Sophie Timms: Website: mindfulmantraembroidery.com Instagram: @mindfulmantra_embroidery Membership: bloomembroideryacademy.com   Connect with Stacie Bloomfield: Subscribe, Rate, and Review: Art + Audience Podcast Website: staciebloomfield.com | leverageyourart.com Instagram: @gingiber | @leverageyourart  Facebook: @ShopGingiber Pinterest: pinterest.com/gingiber Got questions? Call the Art + Audience Podcast hotline: (479) 966-9561  

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• Ep. 31: Creative Growth Tips for Artists: Crockpot Ideas, Side Projects, and Sustainable Success with Andy J. Pizza

  In the second half of this rich and wide-ranging conversation, Stacie and Andy unpack the often unseen tension between creative expression and strategic thinking. They dive into what it means to be a “whole-brain” artist, someone who thrives in both creative exploration and structured planning, and why that's not a contradiction but a powerful gift. Andy shares his love for storytelling structure, the metaphor of crockpots for creative timing, and the concept of having a “main band” and a “side band” to stay creatively flexible. Meanwhile, Stacie gets real about balancing artistry with business, why structure doesn’t mean selling out, and how teaching became the career she never expected to love. Today on Art + Audience: Whole-brain creativity: Stacie and Andy discuss flipping between business strategy and artistic flow. Plotters vs. pantsers: The balance between creating from intuition vs. structure, and how both are essential for long-term success. Redefining authenticity: Why resistance to structure is often just fear in disguise. Crockpot creativity: How putting ideas “on low” instead of trashing them can lead to surprising breakthroughs. Main band vs. side band: A powerful metaphor for pursuing multiple creative paths without burnout. Building creative careers with intention: Why starting slow, dabbling, and removing pressure can actually accelerate growth. Connect with Andy J. Pizza: Website: andyjpizza.com Instagram: @andyjpizza Podcast: Creative Pep Talk Podcast Connect with Stacie Bloomfield: Subscribe, Rate, and Review: Art + Audience Podcast Website: staciebloomfield.com | leverageyourart.com Instagram: @gingiber | @leverageyourart  Facebook: @ShopGingiber Pinterest: pinterest.com/gingiber Leverage Your Art: Stacie’s signature course, opening again this August 2025 Got questions? Call the Art + Audience Podcast hotline: (479) 966-9561  

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• Ep. 30: Andy J. Pizza on How to Build a Creative Career as a Neurodivergent Artist

  In this first part of a powerful two-part conversation, Stacie sits down with the creative and deeply introspective Andy J. Pizza, illustrator, speaker, and host of the beloved Creative Pep Talk podcast. They dive headfirst into the personal side of creativity, exploring how neurodivergence, mental health, and family background shape the way we show up in our art. Andy and Stacie share candid moments about their diagnoses (ADHD and OCD), how their creative rhythms differ from traditional productivity models, and why embracing your authentic self is the first step to making art that truly matters. From deep dives into therapy and self-compassion to reflections on parenting and redefining success, this episode is a masterclass in building a creative career that honors your whole self. Today on Art + Audience: The origin of “Andy J. Pizza”: Why Andy chose this name and how it became unexpectedly perfect for his work with kids. Navigating neurodivergence: A candid look at how ADHD and OCD influence both Andy’s and Stacie’s creative lives. Strengths-based psychology: Andy explains how shifting focus to what works (instead of what’s broken) changed his outlook. Self-expression and self-love: Why Andy believes you can’t make meaningful art if you don’t like yourself first. Redefining productivity: Letting go of rigid systems and learning to work with your brain instead of against it. Rethinking success and permission: Is creative freedom something you earn, or something you allow yourself to have? Connect with Andy J. Pizza: Website: andyjpizza.com Instagram: @andyjpizza Podcast: Creative Pep Talk Podcast Connect with Stacie Bloomfield: Subscribe, Rate, and Review: Art + Audience Podcast Website: staciebloomfield.com | leverageyourart.com Instagram: @gingiber | @leverageyourart  Facebook: @ShopGingiber Pinterest: pinterest.com/gingiber Leverage Your Art: Stacie’s signature course, opening again this August 2025 Got questions? Call the Art + Audience Podcast hotline: (479) 966-9561  

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• Ep. 29: Is Leverage Your Art Worth It? Alumni Share Their Honest Results

  In this special episode, Stacie brings together a panel of alumni from her signature program, Leverage Your Art. These artists, from illustrators to surface pattern designers to product-based business owners, share their honest experiences, big “aha” moments, and how the course helped them grow thriving creative businesses. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to expand your art career, this conversation is packed with encouragement, practical advice, and powerful stories from artists who have walked the path before you. Today on Art + Audience: “Does this work for me?”: Alumni answer the most common questions, Can this course help traditional artists, non-digital artists, or international artists? The Mindset Shift: Why rethinking how you view your art, and how it can live in the world, is the first step to building a sustainable business. One Idea, Many Products: How alumni learned to maximize one piece of art across multiple income streams. International Success Stories: Why location isn’t a barrier in art licensing, and how artists from Canada, Australia, and beyond are thriving. When You Don’t Have a Big Portfolio Yet: Why you don’t need hundreds of pieces to start, and how design briefs inside the course can help build a powerful portfolio. Confidence, Pitching & Cohesion: Alumni share how they tightened their brands, gained the confidence to pitch, and landed licensing deals and wholesale accounts. Life-Changing Takeaways: Each alum shares their biggest “why this course changed everything” moment. Connect with the LYA Alumni: Ashley Paggi (Ash Cascade Design): ashcascade.com Kelsey Weigl: kelseyweigl.com Laura (Laura Sevigny Design):  laurasevignydesign.com Mable Tan: mabletan.com Megan Stringfellow: @stringfellowart Shirlee Fisher (Quiet Lines Design): quietlinesdesign.com Tiffany Grimes (Posterity Paper): posteritypaper.com   Connect with Stacie Bloomfield: Subscribe, Rate, and Review: Art + Audience Podcast Website: staciebloomfield.com | leverageyourart.com Instagram: @gingiber | @leverageyourart  Facebook: @ShopGingiber Pinterest: pinterest.com/gingiber Leverage Your Art: Stacie’s signature course, opening again this August 2025 Got questions? Call the Art + Audience Podcast hotline: (479) 966-9561  

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• Ep. 28: What No One Tells You About Licensing: Juliana Tipton on Boundaries, Burnout, and Creative Joy

  In this enlightening episode, Stacie sits down with surface pattern designer Juliana Tipton to talk about launching a creative career in your 40s, navigating art licensing, and staying grounded through the highs and lows of the design world. From graphic design and higher education to licensing with top retailers like Target and Barnes & Noble, Juliana shares how she pivoted careers, learned to trust her gut, and built a successful business centered around authenticity and perseverance.   Today on Art + Audience: Juliana’s Unconventional Start: How she launched her surface design career in her early 40s after two previous careers. Leveraging Graphic Design: How her background gave her a solid foundation but also revealed the challenges of working solo. Licensing Lessons: From being ghosted by a fabric company to finding better partnerships—what she learned and would do differently. Pitching and Portfolios: The importance of following up, crafting one-sheets, and using classes from Bonnie Christine and Shannon McNab to hone her process. Navigating Red Flags: How Juliana discerns between fear and instinct when evaluating licensing deals—and why good communication is non-negotiable. The Truth About Money: Why licensing isn’t always lucrative at first and how Juliana balances surface design with graphic design work. Honest Talk About Contracts: What Juliana looks for in licensing agreements and how she scrutinizes the fine print.   Connect with Juliana Tipton: Website: julianatipton.com Instagram: @jultipdesign   Connect with Stacie Bloomfield: Subscribe, Rate, and Review: Art + Audience Podcast Website: staciebloomfield.com | leverageyourart.com Instagram: @gingiber | @leverageyourart  Facebook: @ShopGingiber Pinterest: pinterest.com/gingiber Leverage Your Art: Stacie’s signature course, opening again this August 2025 Got questions? Call the Art + Audience Podcast hotline: (479) 966-9561  

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