Tell Me Over Tea Podcast Episode 4: From Paintbrush to Pen

Show Notes What happens when life asks you to lay down one creative tool and pick up another?In this heartfelt episode of Tell Me Over Tea, I’m joined by the wonderful Karen Colenso. Karen is now a member in my personal life writing membership: Little Life Stories, but writing is a very new craft in Karen’s plethora of creative pursuits. She has lived a life steeped in creativity — from childhood days in Melbourne sketching on butcher’s paper, to winning national art competitions, to a long career in illustration, design, and teaching.When health challenges meant she could no longer draw or paint, Karen discovered a new way forward: writing. Through words, she is now capturing her life story with the same artistry she once brought to the page with brush and pencil.In this episode, we chat about:✨ Growing up in Melbourne during the 60s and 70s and discovering a love of art early on.✨ The joy of teaching and creating in the art world for decades.✨ Facing the heartbreak of a health issue that caused her to let go of her tools.✨ How writing her memoir has become her new creative practice.✨ The importance of preserving memories and telling our stories in our own voices.And, as always, we share a cuppa over our conversation.This is an episode about resilience, creativity, and the way our stories continue to evolve, even when life changes the tools in our hands.So put the kettle on and join us for this tender and inspiring conversation with Karen Colenso.If you enjoyed this episode, follow Tell Me Over Tea wherever you get your podcasts, and ever so pleasey, leave a review — it helps more story-lovers find us.Kim xI also wanted to mention, again, the delicious tea Karen and I were sipping during our chat. It was kindly gifted to us by the lovely Tanya from Inspirational Tea Co …. and guess what? If you too would like to enjoy a yummy tea to sip whilst you listen to these podcast episodes (and of course you do!), Tanya has created a discount code for my listeners (you!!!). It will give you 15% off the regular price. How wonderful is that?Please be sure to use the discount code: STORIES to get 15% off.I hope you enjoy it. Where to find Karen and have a sticky beak at her beautiful art:Instagram: @karencolenso Join my 5 Day Challenge: Start Your Story✨ If you’d like to join my 5 Day Challenge: Start Your Story (which begins on the 6th of October, 2025), please make sure you sign up to it here: Start Your Story Challenge✨I write, on Substack, a weekly newsletter, you can subscribe to that here: Betty Mae Wrote newsletter. It’s the space where I share stories (both mine and other people’s) and it’s also a way of keeping up to date with all things Betty Mae Wrote, Little Life Stories and the podcast.✨To find out more about my writing membership, Little Life Stories you can do that here: Little Life Stories✨If you’d like to get back into the gorgeous slow soothe of letter writing, please know you are always welcome to join: The Lovely Letters Project✨Or if you simply need a good old sticky beak around the place, please head on over here to the website: www.bettymaewrote.com✨Oh and if you’re an Instagram type, be sure to follow me on Instagram: @bettymaewroteMusic: Kim on the uke;) Rattling teacups – also KimProduction and Editing: Surprise, surprise, guess who? Yep! Kim again!Art by Lewis Dillon This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bettymaewrote.substack.com