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I know you’re probably thinking... NICOLE - you

I know you’re probably thinking... NICOLE - you couldn’t dance in a room with a half a dozen people but you’re posting this on Instagram? WTF?

Also, where is the AFTER?

Here’s the thing. I recorded myself dancing so I could play the routine back and practice on my own.

Then while I was watching it, I felt 1.2 million emotions - 99% hypercritical. BUT, I also felt this tinge of pride that I finally “did the thing” even though it was super uncomfortable.

I knew that I had to share this just in case someone else needed a little push to do something that they didn’t know how to do and were scared and awkward doing.

I know I have a long way to go before I can post an “after” but... I promise I’ll post an after at some point (it may take YEARS but I will get to the after!).

That’s the thing about our goals, TO-DO’s, dreams, bucket lists, resolutions or whatever you want to call them.

Unless you evolve and grow out of them, they don’t go away.

The other thing is that once you start, it’s easier to keep going. Movement leads to motivation.

If there’s something you want to do, this is your sign to start!

Need help? Comment ROADMAP and I’ll send you my FREE Goal-Getting Roadmap to help you take that first step.

#goals #goalgetter #goalgettingroadmap #mentor #creativelife #creativelifehappylife #creativementor #smallbusinesssupport

HOLY S&T!* I just did the math, and this year mark

HOLY S&T!* I just did the math, and this year marks 18 YEARS of @thepatchworkshow! 🎉🎉🎉

Back when we started, we were the only modern craft fair in Orange County. Now, you can find a market (or a few) happening almost every weekend. And while the landscape has changed, our mission hasn’t: shop small, shop creative, and always choose community over competition.

Patchwork Show has never been just a place to shop—it’s a place where creative dreams take root, where friendships are forged over handmade goods, and where small businesses find their people. Every market, every vendor, every customer adds to this community, and we couldn’t have made it to year 18 without you.

✨ Spring applications are OPEN – if you’re a maker, this is your sign to join us!
🛍️ Now more than ever, shop local, shop small, shop creative. Your support doesn’t just buy a product—it keeps artists creating, families thriving, and communities growing.

Tag your favorite Patchwork Show vendor below! ⬇️

Spring 2025 Patchwork Show Locations:
🏖 Long Beach 5.18 @marinestadium
🏙Tustin 5.25 @oldtowntustin
🏞Chino Hills 5.31 @theshoppesatchinohills
🌉Oakland 6.14 @jacklondonsq
☀️Ventura 6.22 @downtownventura

#Craftshow #openairmarket #popupmarket #popupshops #artfair #shopsmall #shoplocal #socalevents #norcalevents

We spend so much time looking for guidance outside

We spend so much time looking for guidance outside ourselves—Googling, asking for advice, waiting for someone wiser to hand us the kit answers. But what if the best mentor you could ever have is actually you?

@tarasophiamohr calls this your Inner Mentor—the future you who’s already living the life you dream of. They know what matters. They’ve walked through the doubt, taken the risks, and found the rhythm that works for them. And the best part? They’re always available, no scheduling required, no hourly rate.

So what if, instead of second-guessing or staying stuck, you checked in with Future You AKA Your Inner Mentor? Ask her what they know, what they’d do next, how they handle the hard stuff?

Try it: Close your eyes. Picture yourself five, ten years from now—calm, confident, doing the thing. What advice does your Inner Mentor have for you today?

Drop a 📝 if you’re ready to start listening to your Future You.

BTW: If you haven’t read Tara’s book Playing Big - do it!
You can also listen to me interview her on my podcast.

#innermentor #meetingwithfutureyou #futureyou #craftersofinstagram #makersofinstagram #smallbusinessowner #innerwisdom

Being creative means living in a house that’s 95

Being creative means living in a house that’s 95% studio, being weird (and lovable anyway), and crying freely at art, life, or nothing at all. It’s about midnight genius ideas you probably won’t remember and wishing impostor syndrome could be transferred to people who actually deserve it.

Luckily, there’s @CraftcationConference —a place where creative weirdos find community, inspiration, and practical tools to grow their art, business, and selves.

Come hang with your people at Craftcation. 💛

🎟 Ready to grab your ticket? Comment TICKET and I’ll send you a direct link.

Still thinking? Comment CRAFTY, and I’ll help you take a tour of all things Craftcation. 🧡

#crafty #craft #maker #makersofinstagram #craftersofinstagram #creative #creativewords

Now what? If you relate, you’ve found your peop

Now what?

If you relate, you’ve found your people.

This is where we try to relax—despite the racing thoughts and never-ending to-do lists.

Where we embrace the chaos, chase our creative whims, and accept that “resting” often looks like sketching ideas on a napkin by the pool.

Where inspiration strikes at the most inconvenient times, half-finished projects are a love language, and you’re surrounded by people who get it.

So, welcome. Whether you’re actually relaxing or just pretending to while mentally redesigning your entire business—you belong here.

And this? This is Craftcation—the place where you can learn new skills, build your business, find your people, and actually (maybe) relax. It’s the best of all worlds, wrapped up in one magical, creativity-fueled weekend.

📅 Craftcation 2025
📍 Ventura, CA
🎟 Ready to grab your ticket? Comment TICKET and I’ll send you a direct link.
Still thinking? Comment CRAFTY, and I’ll help you take a tour of all things Craftcation. 🧡

Raise your hand if you still haven’t found your

Raise your hand if you still haven’t found your “niche” or the idea of committing to one craft for the rest of your life (or even the rest of the month) makes you break out in hives. 🙋‍♀️

Guess what? You don’t have to. Consider this your official permission slip to be a multi-passionate.

You don’t need a perfectly curated, hyper-specific niche to make a living with your art—or even to be an artist. If you make things, anything… congratulations, you’re an artist. Now go forth and make all the things. 🎨✂️🔥

And if you’re looking for a community who gets it—the kind of people who won’t pressure you to “just pick one thing already” but will actually cheer you on as you experiment and evolve—we’re here.

💛 The Club is where creative business owners get support, accountability, and education about making a living doing what they love.

🎯 CAMP is our six-week online mindful goal-getting bootcamp for creatives who need a nudge (or a friendly kick in the pants) to turn ideas into action.

🎨 Craftcation is our five-day, all-in creativity and business conference where you can learn everything from screen printing to social media strategy—because why limit yourself to just one skill?

So if you’ve ever felt like you don’t quite fit into a tidy little creative box, welcome. You’ve found your people. ❤️

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