Friday night I went to a couple of Halloween parties hosted by Kalmbach friends. I was thinking about how lucky I am to work with creative people like…

Serene: BeadStyle's graphic artist. She is super efficient but always has time to help you pick out a paint color or give advice on matters of the heart. Also, she doesn't take work stuff personally, which is a great skill. No matter how many deadlines we have, she stays positive. Which is really helpful because, when we're on deadline, I work with her more than anyone else.

Jill: She's an editor for Art Jewelry. She has tons of PR knowledge and is always willing to share it. (She's also well connected in the jewelry world.) One of my favorite things about working down the hall from Jill: If you pop by her office, she'll greet you with, "Hey, girlfriend!," like she's thrilled to see you. And check out her witch costume: can you believe she's actually blonde?

Addie: Also an editor for Art Jewelry, Addie just came over from Bead and Button. She's a world traveler who took a beading workshop in Iceland. Iceland! She's also a computer whiz with blog and Photoshop stuff. Addie won't hesitate to let you know if you're doing something stupid — of course, she doesn't use the word "stupid" — she skillfully shows you the error of your ways. So clever.

Of course I'm friends with Serene, Jill, and Addie. But, I couldn't be if I didn't respect them professionally. How about you: do you work with creative, talented people? And if so, do you let them know that you appreciate them?