July Featured Members and Giveaways!

This month, please give a warm welcome to Michelle from Pedrosprout and Samantha from Jetta's Nest, as they give us a sneak peak into their fabulous worlds of crafty goodness, and give away some of their wonderful handmade items to two lucky readers. To enter is simple - just leave us a comment at the bottom of this post. For more info (and to find out how to score an extra entry) read The Rules at the bottom of the post. Good luck everyone :)

Introducing BrisStyle member...


NAME: Michelle Gillies
ETSY SHOP NAME: Pedosprout

1. Can you please describe the items you are giving away to one of our readers?

I have one small Tote bag made from cute Japanese fabrics,


and a set of 4 fabric coasters lined with soft wadding to help soak up spills and protect your surfaces from hot drinks.


2. How would you describe your work?

I wanted to create a baby bootie that was cute and a bit more hip than Grandmas knitted booties – not that there's anything wrong with Grannies booties... I've said too much!

3. How did your Etsy shop come into being?

I began making felt booties as gifts for friends and family with new babies and have always liked the idea of handmade gifts in general. The more I made the more I seemed to enjoy it. When my friends' baby making slowed down I had to find a new outlet for my little creations. As for the shop name, Pedro is my cat! He's also a chair thief, a bed hog, a computer screen blocker, general disperser of cat hair, but most importantly he is my best friend...sigh.

4. Who or What inspires you?

Lots of things. My friends definitely, family, blogs, craft markets, trips abroad. Also, the local crafting community has been hugely inspirational. There really is a great deal of comradery within the arts & craft movement.

5. Do you 'reduce, reuse, recycle' as part of your creative process? If yes, how is your art / craft eco-friendly?

Pedrosprout booties and brooches are made form Kunin Eco-fi felt which is recycled from plastic bottles – it's amazing stuff. I use cardboard from Reverse Garbage in West End to make my product swing tags.

6. Can you describe your studio / work area?

At the moment I'm in a cramped dark, cold corner of the house, brrrr... I recently had to move from my spacious, well lit workspace to make room for some serious reno's at our place. I keep telling myself it'll all be all worth it in due time. Otherwise, my work space is relatively well organised and packed full of crafty goodness. As mentioned above I have an ongoing battle with Mr. P over my desk chair which often ends in me perching myself on a wooden stool.


7. What is your favourite thing in the shop at the moment?

Booties as far as the eye can see :) Coasters are also a favourite. I drink a lot of tea. It's always nice to have something pretty to put your teacup down on.


8. Do you have any other places that people can view your work?

I have another online store here. My booties are also stocked at Nesting Bird Interiors, Bliss Ecowear and The Ruby Pear.

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Introducing BrisStyle member...


NAME: Samantha
ETSY SHOP NAME: Jetta's Nest

1. Can you please describe the items you are giving away to one of our readers?

A Bloomin’ Buttonhead brooch of the winners choice. Either one from the mosaic below or I can whip something up in your favourite colours.


2. How would you describe your work?

My husband described it the other day as vintage with an edge so I’m thinking maybe ‘vintedge’ might be a good word for it. Whether I’m sewing, crocheting or drawing, I like to create things that are a little bit old-school with a modern twist.

3. How did your Etsy shop come into being?

I started sewing for my biggest boy when he was quite small so that he could have fun, bright, one of a kind clothes that were more appropriate for a little boy than anything I could find in the shops. Soon after, some of my friends started asking me to make things for their kids too and so with lots of encouragement from my friends and family I decided to give etsy a go.

(cute little monster tee)

(bluebird of happiness pinny)

4. Who or What inspires you?

Who - anyone who dares to express themselves creatively.
What – so many things inspire me from vintage children's books to old-school tattoos!

5. Do you 'reduce, reuse, recycle' as part of your creative process? If yes, how is your art / craft eco-friendly?

Sure do! I love to use recycled and vintage fabrics, buttons, doilies and zippers in the things I make.

6. Can you describe your studio / work area?

Organised chaos.

7. What is your favourite thing in the shop at the moment?

It would be a close tie between the Bloomin’ Buttonhead brooches and the Rectangle Robot applique tee.

(rectangle robot tee)

8. Do you have any other places that people can view your work?

My flickr is at http://www.flickr.com/photos/angcah/ And I’m also happy to take custom orders via email through my blog at www.jettasnest.blogspot.com

Thank-you Michelle and Samantha!

The rules:

Simply leave a comment on this post to be in the running to win one of these two fabulous giveaways. Be sure to leave a way for us to contact you. If you don't have a blog, please include your email address. Only one entry per person. You may enter twice if you mention this giveaway on your blog. If you choose to do this, please pop back after posting to your blog and include the url address to the post it was mentioned on here in the comments. This will count as your second entry. International folk are welcome to enter. BrisStyle members and their immediate families (ie: husbands/partners, dependent children, and their computer savvy pets) are excluded from entering all BrisStyle giveaways. A name will be randomly drawn on the 25th of this month and the winner will be announced on the blog on that same day.

Once again, the very best of luck to you all!