April Bowles-Olin, Team Leader
It’s been my dream to put together a membership site that will give creative entrepreneurs the tools to create and build successful businesses. There are so many pieces to the creative business puzzle. You need to have rocking products, outstanding photographs, appealing product descriptions, a marketing plan, a way to keep your finances in order, and so much more. You constantly have to juggle a bunch of things and learn how to manage your time to maximize your productivity.
When I first started my creative biz, I searched and searched for one source that I could get all of this information. Well, I didn’t find that one source–so I’m trying to create it. I’m super excited about the team I’ve put together. I think we’re gonna rock your socks.
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Linda Olin, Constant Creative
Linda has been teaching middle school art classes for 25 years…never burning out. She’s also taught calligraphy, drawing, painting, and Zagar mosaic technique classes for adults. She lives in her right brain and loves the “creative” part of a creative business–not so much the business part.
Linda will be putting together right-brain exercises, creative tutorials, and worksheets for the membership site. She’ll also help members who feel “stuck” creatively and help with art technique questions.
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Mayi Carles, Online Shop Critique Expert
Mayi Carles is a super passionate artist + avid eco-friendly designer + creative coach + editor of heartmade with big dreams + messy ideas + a severe cupcake addiction + a funny Panamanian accent. Mayi’s on a mission to empower creative hearts to dream bigger + imagine better + achieve more + embrace all the beautiful messiness in-between. To connect with Mayi, follow her tweets at @mayicarles.
Mayi will be providing online shop critiques to two lucky members each month. And, we’re going to publish them in the membership site, so everyone can learn and benefit from them!
April Bern, Photographer Extraordinaire
I graduated college with a degree in psychology, however, as is the case with most psych grads, I’m not doing anything remotely related to my degree. I currently work at a small catalog company as their web graphic artist and product photographer. I create images for their website and email campaigns as well as photograph many items for the catalog and website. It was definitely a case of being in the right place at the right time that landed me this fantastic job!!!
My real passion, however, lies in creating. I’m a self-taught artist, painter, and photographer. I’ve recently delved into the world of knitting and am hopelessly addicted. I believe the best kind of art is the kind that you can share with other people and I hope to share my creative endeavors with everyone!
You can find my fine art photography and paintings on etsy:
http://www.creativeapples.etsy.com
Keep up with me on my blog:
http://www.creativeapples.wordpress.com
You can find more of my photos on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rottnapples/
Find me on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/CreativeApples-Photography/
Follow me on Twitter too!
http://twitter.com/creativeapples
Danielle Spurge, Rock Star Reporter
Hey there! I’m Danielle, and I am the artist/ maker behind The Merriweather Council! I am a 22 year old, recent college grad living and crafting in Boston, Massachusetts. My interests include traveling both near and far, reading books by Jonathan Safran Foer multiple times, drinking iced lattes and watching shows in which forensics are used to solve crimes (have you ever noticed it is often a fiber that cracks the case? A thread or a piece of fabric – totally way too awesome) and oh course – making things! Ever since graduating in May, I’ve completely immersed myself in my crafty biz and I’m super excited to see what happens next!
Meagan Visser, Book Club Babe
Meagan Visser is a wife, mother, & creative entrepreneur. Her passion is her family & helping moms learn to build successful creative businesses without neglecting their families. You can connect with her on her website MeaganVisser.com, at her Etsy shop Baby Swank, or on Facebook & Twitter.
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Tania Wojciechowski, Book Club Babe
I’m Tania Wojciechowski and I love designing and making things out of natural, old-fashioned, materials. I’m also passionate about helping people get out of the chaos that’s in their heads and getting messy with their hands – whatever their creative passion may be. “Manus” is the latin term for “hand”, and so, manusmade is a celebration of all things handmade. My absolute favourite word is texture, and I especially love texture in natural materials – the touch of nubby linen or the warm scratchiness of wool felt. Touch and texture are so powerful, they can evoke so many emotions and memories. Manusmade is where I get to play with texture in exciting ways. I’ve been making things since I could hold a needle and thread, and am now focused on making what I love to do into a full time business! I’m excited about my Etsy store launch on March 17, where I will be selling modern goods for you and your home in natural materials. I’m also super excited to be part of April’s new team! I really look forward to getting to know you all better in the coming months.
Connect:
Website: www.manusmade.com
Email: tania (at) manusmade.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/manusmade
Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=141199815911173
Congratulations Everyone! Sounds like you had a really hard time choosing April 😉
I’m looking forward to seeing what you all come up with x
Ali x
Thanks Alison! I did have a really hard time choosing–there were so many amazing submissions.
Awesome team!
I’m really sad I missed the application process! I would have loved to contribute to help creative people with branding and marketing!
How do I get on the newsletter list for the site? I’m sorry if it’s totally obvious and I’m overlooking it…
I can’t wait to learn more!
tivi
Thanks Tivi! You can get on the newsletter list in upper right hand corner right below the header above.
YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY! I’ll be doing the happy dance all day! I’m beyond flattered + thrilled to be able to work with you April + the rest of the awesome team – already some familiar faces I adore, so I can’t wait to get started!
oh yeahhhhh! this is so awesome! can’t wait to get started!!
Congratulations everyone, awesome team! Cant wait to find out more!
Looks like a fantastic team!
very cool can’t wait to see what else comes
Woohoo!!!! I am so excited to be part of this! I’m still doing a happy dance too 🙂
Congrats April, seems like you have gathered a fantastic team! I wish you all the best with your project and to have tons of fun doing it. I sure people are going to be thrilled with all of you.
Congratulations ladies! I’m excited to follow your stories and learn from you all!
Congrats to all =) This is FANtastic – can’t wait to hear more about it!
Such talented and creative women! Can’t wait to see the new site!
I am so excited to see this team in action and be apart of the excitement of it all. What a stellar team.
This team looks fantastic……. can’t wait to see what evolves.
If you ever need an expert on feminine traditions and celebrations…just give me a shout out!
Love you all,
Victoria
Just wanted to wish you good luck on this new endeavor! I’m excited to see what you and your wonderful new team will be up to! Thanks so much for introducing everyone, its nice to know who’s behind the scenes!! Lots of talent, passion, and varied backgrounds—it’s bound to be a winning team!
Tracey
Your new team sounds awesome!! I was so excited to read all of their bios and can’t wait for all of the great advice they’re going to offer. Congrats to you and your team!!!
Congratulations on the new team! It seems most of the bloggers I see are young, fresh and cute. Very inspiring – but – what about older broads like me? Do we have a shot? How can older women become part of the blogging dialogue?
If you have any thoughts and ideas on this – I would love to hear them.
Good luck,
Christine
Hey Christine,
I see lots of “older” bloggers who are successful. I think the beauty of blogging and the internet is that is doesn’t really matter how old you are–if you’ve got something to offer, you can spread your message. I think as long as you’re willing to learn about blogging and do it consistently, you’ve got just as much as a shot at being successful at it as anyone else.
I’ve personally worked with bloggers of all ages through consulting and my blog program–and I know age doesn’t hold people back if they really want to do it.
Bums! All of you. Of course I’m kidding. I must have been one of those over-qualified applicants. Yes, I’m sure of it.
In any case, I am bitten by the “this-is-gonna-be-really-fun” bug too. I’m really looking forward to what comes next!
congratulations for all the ladies in the team!