If you’ve ever stared at a piece of your own art and felt the sting of the word “ugly,” you’re about to hear a conversation that turns that feeling into a gentle invitation. You’ll explore how the moment you label a creation as ugly can be swapped for a simple act of love, and why that shift frees space for both acceptance and growth. You’ll discover how expectations can dim your joy, and how seeing your work as a living, evolving part of yourself lets you improve without harsh self‑judgment. Come on in, and let your creative heart find a cozy spot to settle.

• How to stop calling your art “ugly” and start seeing it as part of your creative process.
• What you can learn from imperfect art and why creative “failures” can be valuable.
• Why being content with your art doesn’t mean you have to stop growing.
• How to embrace the work-in-progress and give yourself permission to experiment, make mistakes, and try again.

• Receive a joyful nudge to create delivered right to your inbox. Claim your 30 days of creative prompts!

Nicole Fende is a published author and board game designer. Monette Satterfield is an artist working outside the velvet rope. Together they host Holding Creative Space, a podcast from Creatopia, an imprint of Tesseray Publishing.

Keep creating. We are holding the space.

If you’ve ever wondered whether designing a board game counts as art, you’re in for a lively, heartfelt discussion that challenges the old gatekeepers of creativity. You’ll walk through a spirited debate about the nature of art, from puzzles and AI to the joy of sharing games, and hear how personal passion can outshine any commercial pressure. You’ll also explore how everyday objects—from microphones to hand‑crafted brooms—can hold artistic value, and why the line between fine art and craft might not matter as much as you think. Come on in, take a seat, and let this warm conversation remind you that your creative voice already belongs in the space.

• How creative labels can become another form of gatekeeping.
• Who gets to decide what is and isn’t art?
• Exploring what art really means and why the question can be so complicated.
• A reminder that you don’t need anyone’s permission to create, make art, or call yourself a creative.

• Receive a joyful nudge to create delivered right to your inbox. Claim your 30 days of creative prompts!

Nicole Fende is a published author and board game designer. Monette Satterfield is an artist working outside the velvet rope. Together they host Holding Creative Space, a podcast from Creatopia, an imprint of Tesseray Publishing.

Keep creating. We are holding the space.

Ever wondered what it feels like to create without any rules or gallery expectations? You’ll hear a friendly conversation that traces the history of outsider art and explains how the internet is expanding what counts as work outside the traditional gallery system. The dialogue points out how the label can feel both empowering and a little confrontational, and it invites you to adopt an “outside the velvet rope” mindset for your own creative practice. Pull up a chair, stay awhile, and let the conversation warm you up as you step into your next artistic adventure.

• How approaching art as a mindset can make creativity feel more accessible.
• Why creating outside the traditional art world can feel freeing and empowering.
• How letting go of artistic gatekeeping can give you permission to make art.
• Finding your own way of creating beyond traditional expectations and artistic gatekeeping.

• Receive a joyful nudge to create delivered right to your inbox. Claim your 30 days of creative prompts!

Nicole Fende is a published author and board game designer. Monette Satterfield is an artist working outside the velvet rope. Together they host Holding Creative Space, a podcast from Creatopia, an imprint of Tesseray Publishing.

Keep creating. We are holding the space.

If you’ve ever felt that the music in the background either fuels or stalls your creative flow, you’re about to hear a conversation that feels like a friendly chat about finding the right sound. You’ll explore why bland placeholder tracks can feel like wallpaper and how swapping in electronica, coffee‑shop ambience, or nature sounds can reshape the way you write, paint, or design. You’ll also hear how a personal soundtrack—whether it’s shamanic drumming, singing bowls, or even the chirping of crickets in winter—can become a quiet ally that supports focus without pulling your attention away. Come in, settle into a cozy soundscape, and let the conversation invite you to experiment with the music that moves you forward.

• How to choose background music that helps you stay focused while creating.
• Why some sounds boost creativity while others become distracting.
• Different types of ambient soundscapes you can experiment with to improve your creative flow.
• Simple ways to create a personalized listening environment that supports deep work.

• Receive a joyful nudge to create delivered right to your inbox. Claim your 30 days of creative prompts!

Nicole Fende is a published author and board game designer. Monette Satterfield is an artist working outside the velvet rope. Together they host Holding Creative Space, a podcast from Creatopia, an imprint of Tesseray Publishing.

Keep creating. We are holding the space.

Imagine stepping into a place where your creative spark finally has a name and a home, even if it lives only in your mind. You’ll explore how labeling a studio, forge, laboratory, curio cabinet, or any phrase that feels right creates clear boundaries, focuses energy, and turns a simple corner or desk into a powerful container for your ideas. Come in from the cold and let your newly named nook become the cozy launchpad for everything you’re ready to create.

• Understand why giving your creative space a name helps establish boundaries that support your creative process.
• Learn how a physical or imagined workspace can become a powerful container for your ideas.
• Find inspiration in creative metaphors—from forges and laboratories to curio cabinets—to shape a space that feels uniquely yours.
• Discover how even the smallest creative corner can become a sanctuary that invites focus, play, and imagination.

• Receive a joyful nudge to create delivered right to your inbox. Claim your 30 days of creative prompts!

Nicole Fende is a published author and board game designer. Monette Satterfield is an artist working outside the velvet rope. Together they host Holding Creative Space, a podcast from Creatopia, an imprint of Tesseray Publishing.

Keep creating. We are holding the space.

If you’ve ever felt that each new creative milestone brings the same stubborn problem dressed in fresh colors, you’re not alone. When you picture your journey as a spiral instead of a straight ladder, you’ll notice how your growing skills also sharpen your eye for the subtle details that once slipped by. By stepping outside your own medium, wandering through a museum, listening to music, or admiring a neighbor’s metal sculpture, you invite fresh perspectives that deepen your work without falling into the trap of comparison. Come on in, get comfortable, and let this warm conversation nurture the creative spark inside.

• Explore how every new creative level brings fresh challenges and why it is often the same “devil” in new clothes
• Discover how the spiral of creative growth sharpens skills and increases discernment
• Learn how stepping outside one’s own medium, through museums, music, or neighbors’ art, enriches creative work
• Hear ways to appreciate progress, enjoy the challenge, and keep moving forward without falling into comparison traps

• Take What Belongs to You - Wild Creativity: Claim Your Creative Authority by Monette Satterfield
• Receive a joyful nudge to create delivered right to your inbox. Claim your 30 days of creative prompts!

Nicole Fende is a published author and board game designer. Monette Satterfield is an artist working outside the velvet rope. Together they host Holding Creative Space, a podcast from Creatopia, an imprint of Tesseray Publishing.

Keep creating. We are holding the space.

If you’ve ever felt that knot of anxiety when a creative spark fades, you’ll recognize the feeling right away. You’ll hear a thoughtful voice unpack why the pressure to finish can turn excitement into shame and how sharing your work can unintentionally build a false accountability wall. Together you’ll explore how to honor the learning you’ve already gained, decide when it’s okay to step back, and find comfort in letting projects rest or dissolve. Come join the conversation and let yourself warm up to the idea that it’s perfectly fine to let a piece go, and you’ll feel right at home in this creative space.

• We talk about the pressure to finish every project and why sometimes letting go is the healthiest choice.
• Discover how to tell when a project has given you what you need and when stepping away can open space for new creativity.
• Nicole and Monette share stories from game design, painting, and other creative pursuits to show how releasing unfinished work can bring clarity, relief, and inspiration.

• Take What Belongs to You - Wild Creativity: Claim Your Creative Authority by Monette Satterfield
• Receive a joyful nudge to create delivered right to your inbox. Claim your 30 days of creative prompts!

Nicole Fende is a published author and board game designer. Monette Satterfield is an artist working outside the velvet rope. Together they host Holding Creative Space, a podcast from Creatopia, an imprint of Tesseray Publishing.

Keep creating. We are holding the space.

Ever stepped into a moment that should feel like yours. Yet, a quiet voice asks, “Who am I to be here?” You explore how imposter syndrome is less a truth and more a chain feeling, thought, reaction that can be gently unraveled. By noticing that first flicker in the body and choosing a new story, you begin to shift nerves into something lighter… even exciting. You’re reminded that while you can’t control how others perceive you, you can shape the energy you carry and that energy has a way of opening doors. Come settle in, soften the doubt, and step forward with a little more ease.

• Dive into the subtle ways imposter syndrome shows up and how it quietly shapes our thoughts and feelings.
• Uncover how to shift internal doubts into curiosity, excitement, and intentional reactions.
• Learn how tuning your energy and mindset can magnetically influence the way you connect with others.

Nicole Fende is a published author and board game designer. Monette Satterfield is an artist working outside the velvet rope. Together they host Holding Creative Space, a podcast from Creatopia, an imprint of Tesseray Publishing.

• Receive a joyful nudge to create delivered right to your inbox. Claim your 30 days of creative prompts!

Nicole Fende is a published author and board game designer. Monette Satterfield is an artist working outside the velvet rope. Together they host Holding Creative Space, a podcast from Creatopia, an imprint of Tesseray Publishing.

Keep creating. We are holding the space.