Welcome back to Seasons in Business with me, designer and printmaker Sarah Phelps.

In this solo episode, I’m sharing the story of how my love for letterpress printing grew from a hobby into a stationery business — and what happens when your passion becomes your full-time work. It can be thrilling, but it also brings challenges you might not expect. I’ll talk about the shifts I noticed in my own creative life, and share a few gentle reminders that help me stay connected to joy and inspiration along the way.

Episode themes:

• How a hobby can slowly grow into a business.

• Navigating the new pressures that come with doing what you love.

• Practical tips for prioritising joy, rest, and creativity.

• Balancing the mindset of an artist with the mindset of a CEO.

Episode highlights:

01:23 My journey from designer to business owner

03:53 From creating for passion to creating for profit

04:30 Expectation vs reality

05:50 When creativity starts to feel like a commodity

07:47 Five tips to help stay connected to your creativity

Thanks for listening. If today’s episode got you thinking, I’d love to hear from you — come and say hello over on Instagram or Threads.

Remember to subscribe so you never miss an episode. And if you’re enjoying the show, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify really helps more people discover it.

For more details about the podcast, visit the website sarahandmaude.com/seasons-in-business.

And if you have suggestions for topics or guests, please email me at podcast@sarahandmaude.com

Welcome to Seasons in Business with me, designer and printmaker Sarah Phelps.

Thanks for joining me for this very first episode, where I introduce myself and the podcast, share a little behind the scenes of how it came to be, and talk about why now felt like the right time to start.

Episode themes:

• My journey from design student to running a full-time letterpress stationery studio.

• Why now felt like the right time to start Seasons in Business.

• Reflections on running a creative business at a gentler pace.

• Why growth doesn’t mean having it all figured out.

• What you can expect from upcoming episodes.

Episode Highlights:

• 00:36 Hello and welcome

• 01:07 The story so far

• 03:26 Why a podcast and why now?

• 04:41 What to expect

Thanks for listening. If today’s episode got you thinking, I’d love to hear from you — come and say hello over on Instagram or Threads.

Remember to subscribe so you never miss an episode. And if you’re enjoying the show, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify really helps more people discover it.

For more details about the podcast, visit the website sarahandmaude.com/seasons-in-business.

And if you have suggestions for topics or guests, please email me at podcast@sarahandmaude.com

Introducing Seasons in Business — a podcast for creative business owners who want to build something thoughtful and sustainable, at a pace that actually feels good.

This podcast is for anyone who wants to grow their creative business with a little less chaos — and a lot more intention. We’ll explore everything from building a brand and navigating burnout to content creation and finding community, all rooted in a seasonal rhythm that leaves more room to breathe.

Enjoy this sneak peek of the stories, ideas, and inspiration we’ll explore in full episodes.

New episodes land every other Wednesday and are just the right length for a morning walk or a cosy tea break. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the first full episode.

Head over to Instagram or Threads and share your questions, ideas, or just say hello — I’d love to hear from you.

For more about the podcast and future episodes, visit my podcast page.