This week, Margo chats with Annie McGee, a history loving illustrator and pattern designer. Annie currently lives in Cheshire, England with her husband and two children and loves to feather her nest by exploring all kinds of crafts, declaring herself to be a renaissance soul who loves to dive into multiple mediums. Her creative journey has been driven by her experience of chronic illness, disability and the long journey of seeking diagnosis. She's started a podcast for artists, illustrators and makers called The Chronic Artist Podcast where she chats about the creative's journey, living with chronic illnesses and raising a family. She shares strategies for time management, planning and techniques that have helped her to stay creative in the most stressful of times.  Margo and Annie discuss: Living with an undiagnosed chronic illness How her chronic illness plays into her creative practices Being denied support and ignored by doctors How it her illness affects the way in which she works with certain mediums Learning and trusting how to advocate for herself Her desire to be more loose, free, and intuitive in her creativity How she finds finds balance between life, family and responsibilities Her upcoming podcast, The Chronic Artist Podcast And more! Annie’s passion for storytelling and creativity has led her from stitching alternative embroidery as "Scavenger Annie", to the wonderful world of illustration created under the studio name of Northern Bird Designs. Her art supply ammunition includes watercolors, inks, pastels and digital techniques which she uses to create her patterns and illustrations. She is inspired by historic tales, murder mysteries, comic book adventures, retro pop art and science fiction. Connect with Annie: www.northernbirddesigns.com https://www.instagram.com/northernbirddesigns/ https://www.instagram.com/chronicartistpodcast/