For creative entrepreneurs trying to make their mark, it’s essential to have a clear idea as to what your brand should be in order to help potential customers find you. The key to any successful business is having an effective brand strategy that sets you apart from the rest of your competition, and right now, a lot of us are competing online where there are thousands of people trying to do the same…
Read MoreI met Hanna for the first time at Maison Parisienne (no, I don't know how to pronounce that) for coffee and immediately knew I liked her - she's one of those thoughtful people where you can see the cogs turning continuously in her head when she speaks to you, listening to your words and making connections that are wildly helpful and unique. She's seriously so smart and genuine...
Read MoreNothing screams daughter of the year like a handmade gift you created for your mom, amiright? Well lucky for me I happened to be photographing an incredible, handmade dreamcatcher crafting event at Indigo & Violet Studio for The Glossary on the day I went home to visit my mom for her birthday. Stars aligned for this, y'all. Not only was this event a great coincidence in terms of birthday present gifting, it was also a super fun and creative way...
Read MoreI walked over to the middle of the cafeteria-style room to find Kat hidden behind bushels of flowers that she had brought for the styled shoot with my good friend Alisha who I was assisting that day. I bent down and started smelling the flowers and got to talking with the amazing woman behind the flower farm (yeah, it's a thing) in Illinois, called Wilrett Flower Co. If y'all aren't aware...
Read MoreBig arching antique windows overlooking River North set the mood for the location of Creative Women's Co. Chicago Retreat at the Freehand Hotel. A handful of laughing women were putting together swag bags full of goodies from local creatives to give the women coming in from out of town for the retreat. I was lucky enough to spend the weekend with those incredible women - seminars filled with talks about setting boundaries in your life and business by Heather Vickery of Vickery & Co., calligraphy sessions to learn how to express emotion through words led by...
Read MoreIf you've seen The Office (which I have like 10 times) then you might remember the episode where Michael is meeting his replacement manager, Deangelo, at a bar. They end up sitting together talking for almost an hour and wondering where the person they're supposed to meet is, only to then realize they're meeting each other. Meeting Maya of Preoccupied Bride kinda started out like that...
Read MoreI was waiting next to Antique Taco in Wicker Park and enjoying the drizzling rain when Jenna walked up, - "Sorry I'm a minute late, I haven't spent much time in this area and I was wandering around looking at how beautiful everything is." I could totally relate. Jenna is the wife in the husband & wife duo behind He & She Wedding Curators - basically the people who make your intimate wedding even cuter...
Read MoreShe's the kinda woman who you can sit and chat with over coffee and sliced avocados during one of the coldest weeks Chicago has to offer, ya know what I mean? Audrey and I met up at 3 Arts Club - quickly becoming a favorite spot of mine - and talked about everything from what the hell a bullet journal is, to the role of formal education in a creative's pursuit of their dream even when they're not in the same field, and finally to how cute avocados are to paint...
Read MoreI was scrolling through Instagram (like you do) when I noticed this INCREDIBLE, totally my style bathroom, so I went to the feed of Devon Grace Interiors and totally fell in love with her design style. I was so interested in her story that we met up for coffee at 3 Arts Club Cafe because I had to get to know this amazingly talented boss lady and hear about her path. Funnily enough, during our conversation it came up that she's actually very close with Kira David Design - one of the women I interviewed for the feature over the summer...
Read MoreWhen I first looked at Dannie's website my initial reaction was - "damn, does this girl do everything??" She wears quite a few hats as you'll see below and during our coffee date/photography interview at Asado coffee in the West Loop I couldn't help but be impressed with all that Dannie's done for such a young person. Not only does she run her own marketing business that helps entrepreneurs, she's also an integral part of the marketing efforts at...wait for it...Google...
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