A Life Creative Podcast

What does it take to turn an author's vision into a bestselling book? Book editor Ellen Morrissey has done it more than ten times over. After 16 years at Martha Stewart Living — where she shepherded dozens of books to publication, with more than 10 landing on the New York Times bestseller list — Ellen has built a thriving post-Martha career helping authors of illustrated lifestyle books realize their creative visions. 
Her collaborators include ceramicist Frances Palmer, writer Matt Hranek, and baker Kristina Cho. And in a full-circle moment, Ellen stepped into the author's chair herself with I Want to Eat Cookies, a collection of more than 90 cookie recipes. In this episode, she traces the path that led her into book editing and shares what that creative life looks like today—and somehow, she has time to craft fantastical cakes whose inspiration often comes from the minds of 4-year-olds.  Think ‘zombie unicorn’ for example.
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A divorce and the pandemic aren't the events most people credit for their creative breakthrough — but for collage artist James Gallagher, they were turning points.
In this episode of A Life Creative, host Melañio Gomez sits down with James — introduced through James' wife, prop stylist Pam Morris — to trace a winding path to full-time artistry. James spent years inside and outside the medium of collage, pulled in and out by professional, economic, and life events, before a period of real soul-searching turned art into something closer to therapy. That self-reflection showed up in the work, and it's what finally connected him to the wider collage community.
Today James is known as a curator, collaborator, portraitist, and educator — hosting live collage events that help non-artists find something unexpected with cutting tools and a stack of paper.
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David Weeks is a Rhode Island School of Design graduate who is recognized for his iconic lighting designs crafted in his Brooklyn studio.  Post college he made his way to New York City and did what many artists do: freelance and say 'yes' to just about everything.  He eventually landed a position in the studio of acclaimed jewelry designer Ted Muehling who modeled a standard of excellence and beauty echoed in David's work to this day.
Show-host Melañio Gomez became aware of David's work years ago and happily acquired a bespoke lamp from one of the many maker fairs at which David would create lamps from spare parts on the spot.  Fast forward to now and we're delighted to catch up and hear more about this Athens, GA (home of the B-52's!)  native.
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Followers of A Life Creative podcast may recall that host Melañio Gomez lived in Brussels, Belgium for 10 years.  During that time he met today's guest—Clinton Stringer—who is an accomplished contemporary dancer, having danced for 8 years with Rosas, a dance company founded in the 1980's by Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker.
Clinton now works as a rehearsal director with Rosas and is often called into action to teach other dance companies how to perform the pieces created by Rosas.  In a parallel track, he trained as a graphic designer and set up his own design studio.  He models how to perform well in two wildly different creative pursuits.
We're happy to welcome Clinton on today's episode of A Life Creative.  See more about Clinton and A Life Creative at the following links:
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Born in Cuba and raised in Miami, JC Garcia-Lavin came of age as part of the city’s vibrant art scene before building a successful career as an interior stylist, working with brands like CB2, Williams Sonoma Home, West Elm, Crate & Barrel, and Pottery Barn. His editorial work has appeared in Elle Decor and Condé Nast Traveler. 
Host Melañio Gomez first knew JC by reputation before the two met while working in the studios of Williams Sonoma. In this episode, JC reflects on his early days in the Miami art scene, his transition into styling, and his recent return to making art—sharing the influences and process behind his work. 
Check out the links to see JC's work.

www.alifecreativepod.com
alifecreative.Substack.com
@alifecreative on Instagram
alifecreative on YouTube