New BrisStyle Members

Please give a warm welcome to our latest BrisStyle members, and check out their fantastic stores online.

Michelle at Off The Hook

Anita at Mums Cupboard

Alisa at AKA Designs

Kath at Bunny Hornet

Justine at Brilliant Trees Collective

Robbie at Silver and Earth Jewellery



*bespoke* Issue 3 - Out Now!

The much anticipated third issue of *bespoke* zine is out now. The beautiful cover design was created exclusively for *bespoke* by illustrator, Ali J.

Amongst a bundle of other crafty reads there are some great feature articles in issue 3 including a 'handmade' interview with artist and illustrator Courtney Brims, and an in-depth look into the world of artists passionate about working in grayscale. There's even a DIY tutorial for making your very own resin beads.

If you would like to get your hands on a copy of the latest issue of *bespoke*, you can purchase a copy here, click here for a full list of stockists or come along to the BrisStyle Indie Designer Markets on July 9 and pick up your copy from the BrisStyle promo stand.

Happy reading!

Let's Go Shopping

 

Are you a roller derby fan??

The Northern Brisbane Rollers will be at King George Square tonight shredding up the ice and showing Brisbane what roller derby is all about.


So here's a few rad BrisStyle items to get you in the derby mood!!

Derby pocket mirror

Hungry Designs

Shabby rose red ring

Savage Kitten

Retro roller skate stickers

Sissy Sparrows

Rockabilly pin up skull bow

Miss Rockabilly

Derbylicious tank top

Denver Mackenzie

To take part in our weekly Let's Go Shopping meme, post your Etsy finds on your blog then pop back here and add the blog post link below. Don't forget to link back to this post so everyone can check out all the fabulous Etsy finds. Anyone can play along so come join in the fun!

:: July 23 :: BrisStyle Information Session :: SMART MARKETING with Sarah Rossiter

If you were tuning into the ABC "Crafternoon's" with Mel Buttle and Katrina Davidson recently, you may have caught our next presenter judging their "Crafty Coat Hanger Competition". The fantabulous Sarah Rossiter's love of all things crafty has taken her on many an exciting and quirky adventure and on July 23rd she will be imparting her expertise on her other passion...all things Marketing!

Here's all the details:

: SMART MARKETING : With Industry Expert : Sarah Rossiter

How much does BRANDING matter?

• Maximise marketing opportunities and win friends.
• Leverage your point of difference.
• Create a 10-point marketing plan for your creative business.

And much, much more...

About Sarah Rossiter:

Sarah has more than two decades of experience in marketing and communications. She grew up in Brisbane and has lived in Sydney and Melbourne. Sarah owned a successful restaurant and catering/event management business in Melbourne and was featured in Vogue Entertaining.

Sarah worked on Channel Nine’s top rating lifestyle show Our House, producing popular segments and creating home decor - including a velvet cow print cushion that actually mooed when turned upside down! (She made a whole herd of them and created a sensation!!)

She is a self-confessed craft enthusiast and knows the difference between croquet and a crochet. Now settled back in the Sunshine State, Sarah is a freelance writer and marketing consultant and has written features for the HOME MADE section of The Sunday Mail.

Date: Saturday July 23 2011

Time: 10am - 12noon

Place: St. Augustine's Church Hall, Racecourse Road, Hamilton, Brisbane

Price: Free to BrisStyle members. $20 for non-members

Bookings open: Now - 11th July

RSVP by emailing: brisstylemarketing@gmail.com
with your name and business/ hobby details ( if applicable)

Non-member payments due: July 14th

Bring along:

• Your sense of adventure and humour
• A notebook and pen
• Your business cards to leave on our 'networking' table

Tea and Coffee are provided but please feel free bring along a small plate of goodies to share for morning tea.

PLACES ARE LIMITED SO BOOK NOW!

To get all the news on the upcoming BrisStyle Information Sessions
subscribe to our Monthly eNewsletter ( via the little box on the side bar)

{piece together}

On July 11 piece together will be opening its doors and encouraging visitors to make their own hand made items.  Piece together is a studio, workshop and marketplace where people can come together to make. The inspiration for the studio comes from a time when items were made with a sense of pride and purpose and were not simply another disposable item.

They have just released an enticing program of sewing, crafting and kids club workshops.  A line up of local designers, many whom are BrisStyle members, will be teaching you to create some beautiful jewellery, bags, scarfs, clothes and accessories.

So if you love the designs of Melanie from Kimono Reincarnate, Jess from Epheriell, Stephanie M of Wimcee, Jennine of ladybug markets and Julie from the Mountain Spinnery..... join them and more, and learn to make some handcrafted items or sew some clothes or accessories for yourself or your children.  When you book mention BrisStyle and we will give you 10% off the cost of the workshop.

Piece together workshops are created so that you don't need to do a lot of running around or packing to attend a workshop.  Equipment and machinery is available for your use and additional materials are
packaged up so you can arrive and join in straight away.  The studio consciously stocks local handmade items and uses tried and tested patterns from small businesses.

We are constantly reviewing the schedule of projects and looking for unique items for the marketplace, so if there is something you would like to try your hand at;  if you are interested in running a workshop
or would love to see your handmade or vintage items in the market we would love to hear from you.

Visit the piece together website to register your interest in one of their great workshops! Don't forget to mention BrisStyle for a 10% discount.....

Peppermint: Winter Issue!

The Winter 2011 issue of Peppermint magazine is out now and we can't wait to get our 'hot little hands' (or should we say 'cold little hands') onto it! The 'It's Beautiful Here' Winter 2011 issue is packed full of minty goodness.

There is a gorgeous illustrated spread where 8 women discuss 'What is Beauty'? An article on anti-aging products as well as one on why we're so worried about aging in the first place. There is also all of the regular minty goodness we have come to know and love, Miss Sew & Sew makes a winter cape from a blanket, Village Green goes to Maleny and there is even a one-page poster by talented illustrator, Lauren Carney.

You won't want to miss this issue, look out for it on the shelves now!

Let's Go Shopping

These cold, winter days would make anyone crave colour.  So here's a few fantastically cheery BrisStyle products that are sure to brighten your day!!

Aqua lemon chunky resin beads

Strrat Designs

Bespectacled elephant brooch

Good Boy Cracky

Paper cranes photograph wall decor

Hey Harriet

Flourish from the inside art print

My Nostalgic Feeling

Fabric rosette hair clip

Chelley Bean Designs

To take part in our weekly Let's Go Shopping meme, post your Etsy finds on your blog then pop back here and add the blog post link below. Don't forget to link back to this post so everyone can check out all the fabulous Etsy finds. Anyone can play along so come join in the fun!

Sprinkl: Networking for Creatives

The next Sprinkl event has been announced! What is Sprinkl we hear you ask? Sprinkl is a short and sweet way to mix and network with creatives and freelancers in your area. It's the perfect way to build your creative network. Designers, Photographers, Writers, Programmers, Musicians, Animators, Artists - seasoned, breakthrough, industry and students all welcome.

When: Thursday 21 July 2011

Time: 6.00pm

Where: Salt House, Level 1, 888 Brunswick St, New Farm, Brisbane

Cost: $6.00 Prepay Online, $12.00 Door

Drinks & Nibbles Provided

There are limited spaces so RSVP here now!

Brisbane Etsy Craft Party!!

 
Did you attend the Brisbane Etsy Craft Party on June 9th?  We did, and it was LOADS of fun!!

Hosted by Lisa and Wick from Salt House and supported by BrisStyle, the Brisbane Etsy Craft Party was an Etsy generated event held to celebrate musicians, painters, sculptors, photographers, farmers, hackers, gardeners, designers, jewellers, bookbinders, printmakers, teachers, makers and doers of all stripes, as well as art enthusiasts, curators, vintage lovers and supporters of the independently made. It wasn't just Brisbane taking part in this - Etsians all around the globe joined in to party!

The talented BrisStyler Jess from Epheriell showed us her latest issue of Bespoke zine

Etsy folk got together to chat all things Etsy and craft

Kitty cat biscuits? Yes please

Lots of yummy handmade treats to munch on

Photos courtesy of Salt House

BrisStylettes got together to party too! There was vintage lovin' Helen from Ruby Red Studios, crocheting queen Kate from Dash Robin Design, cute brooch maker Jess from Good Boy Cracky, funky bangle extraordinaire Bronwen from Whizzbangle, stunning embroiderer Rebecca from Edward and Lilly, headband crafting lady Lesley from Sweet as Spice, crazy doll maker Teneale from Wicked Child Designs, multi-talented Jess from jewellery store Epheriell and Bespoke zine, and awesome clothing designer Krystle from Denver Mackenzie.  We also met Dominique from Esbert's Collection, Pepper from Pepper Stitches, Tamara from Oh Deer Creative, Majella from Get Your Frock On, Vicky from in.cube8r Gallery in Fortitude Valley, and the amazing Lisa from Salt House.

There were some stunning prizes up for grabs too!!

*  Pepper Stitches won the BrisStyle Goodie Bag with Etsy bits & bobs, including a voucher to spend at the Bris-Style markets!!

*  Oh Deer Creative won a month's free rent from In.cube8r in the Valley!!

*  And Wicked Child Designs won the 1 hour photo shoot from Salt Image in New Farm! Professional pics will really boost their Etsy store and marketing!!

We hope those that attended had an excellent night. Did you have an Etsy Craft party in your city? Tell us how it went. We'd love to know!

And thank you Salt House for hosting such a fabulous night!!

'New Beginnings - Works on Paper'

BrisStyle member Chrissy Foreman C is a talented Mixed Media Artist who creates her work using eco and sustainable practices. She is hosting a solo art exhibition at The Urban Grind in Paddington from June 26 to July 9.

Pop along anytime during this period to see a stunning collection of Chrissy's framed mixed media drawings on paper, inspired by feelings, nature and love.

The Urban Grind

131 Latrobe Terrace, Paddington

Opens June 26 at 7.30am

Closes July 9 at 3.00pm

Let's Go Shopping

Brrrrrrrr!!!  It's very chilly in Brisvegas at the moment. The daytime temperature dropped down to 12.5C this week, the lowest it's been in eleven years.  In Toowoomba and Oakey the mercury dropped to just below 0C, while Kingaroy recorded 0.6C and Charleville a chilly minus-3C.

Don't get cold this winter. Visit BrisStyle to keep yourself warm and toasty!!

 Pumpkin coloured wool crocheted scarf

Dash Robin

Vintage 70s Empisal childrens knitting pattern

Ruby Red Studios

Child's fleecy jacket

Ogekko

Pink long sleeve top

Denver Mackenzie

Children's red orange crochet beanie

Create And Be Happy

To take part in our weekly Let's Go Shopping meme, post your Etsy finds on your blog then pop back here and add the blog post link below. Don't forget to link back to this post so everyone can check out all the fabulous Etsy finds. Anyone can play along so come join in the fun!

Science Fiction Softie Workshop!

Are you looking for something 'crafty' to do to while away the hours next Saturday, 18th June? BrisStyle member, Teneale, from Wicked Child Designs is running a FREE (yes you heard me, FREE) Science Fiction Softie Workshop where you will be able to make your very own UFO Pincushion. Sounds like the perfect way to spend a cold wintery Saturday morning!

Capalaba Library

Saturday, June 18

10.00am - 12.00noon

Seats are limited so get in quick!

Pop over here to RSVP!

In the Spotlight: Hextasy

We always love catching up with our members to find out all about their craft and what makes them tick creatively! This month we caught up with Samantha from Hextasy to chat about how she got started, her creative inspirations and her plans for the future.

How would you describe your work?
My work is neither black nor white, it's every other colour in between.  It combines many different techniques and materials, however, glass in any shape or form is my heart's desire.

How did your Etsy shop come into being?
Over a decade ago while I was working as a digital fantasy artist, 'hextasy' had become the label under which I created my deviant designs. In 2006 after taking a break from anything remotely artistic, my fingers were restless and I once again found myself needing to create, and with a love of jewellery this is where my designs of decadence started.  Beadwork turned into wire wrapping, then metal work, enameling, polymer clay, metal clay and then finally glass.  After discovering the beautiful effects of dichroic glass and fusing this spawned my passion and with the introduction of lampworking and making glass beads this has been the last piece of the puzzle to my life's passion. My store is a never ending evolution of my creative journey.

Who or What inspires you?
My inspiration comes from many sources, nature, music, colour, but most of all I love to create little worlds that other people can carry with them.  I love the idea that you are not only receiving a piece of jewellery, you are receiving a world that has been captured into a piece of decadent wearable art which is truly unique.  I'm always thrilled to hear from my customers and get a real kick out of finding out which corner of the world my work is being sent too and am very humbled by this.

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

No part of my glass work goes to waste.  I'm a hoarder when it comes to saving off cuts and they are always able to be incorporated into my future work. One of the joys of the medium is that they can be recycled if a project doesn't work out.

Can you describe your studio/work area?
My studio has grown quite considerably over the past few years, from a small fishing tackle box to a dedicated beading room.  To be honest, beads occupy pretty much every room in the house.  I have laid claim to a corner in the garage for my lampworking (as shown below).  The plans are to build a fully air-conditioned studio over the next couple of years.

What is your favourte thing in the shop at the moment?
My favourite item in my shop at the moment would have to be the Sea Shore Seas Sterling Silver Lampwork Bracelet.  I just love the combination of colours with the silver and my lampwork beads.

Where can people view or purchase your work?

Website

Etsy

Artfire

Facebook

Blog

Thank-you Samantha for taking the time to chat to us about hextasy!

Let's Go Shopping

The Racecourse Road Carnival is on this Sunday 5th June, and many BrisStylers will have their shops up along Racecourse Road to help celebrate.

Come along and check out all the brilliant art and craft Brisbane has to offer - here's a few items to tempt you!

Hot pink handmade crocheted flowers

Create and Be Happy

Recycled skateboard button necklace

Kellie Christie

Kitten cabbage roses dress

Kitty Boo Boo

Aqua floral clutch

Sybella

Ear spirals and hooks

Feybles Nel

To take part in our weekly Let's Go Shopping meme, post your Etsy finds on your blog then pop back here and add the blog post link below. Don't forget to link back to this post so everyone can check out all the fabulous Etsy finds. Anyone can play along so come join in the fun. And the BrisStylers look forward to seeing you tomorrow at Racecourse Road!!

Shop Handmade: Belle Bazaar Boutique

Belle Bazaar is a beautiful little boutique style store in Upper Mt Gravatt, Brisbane. We were lucky enough to catch up with Jessica, the owner of Belle Bazaar, to get a glimpse into the world of her gorgeous little shop!

Tell us a little about your background and what path led you to open your shop?
For the past 10 years I worked as a Travel Agent and loved shopping all over the world. My dream one day was to open a little shop that I could fill with amazing items from all over the world. I had my son and soon realised I needed something little to do other then just being a Mum, which I loved. So in September 2010 I started an online Blogazine called Belle Bazaar where I wrote about everyday beautiful things. Through this I met amazing designers who created beautiful clothes, jewellery and much more. In December 2010 I decided to bring my blogazine to life and showcase all of the amazing people I had met in the form of a Twilight Market which launched on 30th April. While organising that a beautiful shop became available and made me think about the possibility of opening my long awaited dream of a little boutique. So in  Feburary this year I asked my network if they would like to be apart of my shop and they all did and that is how the Belle Bazaar Boutique was born.

Tell us what the shop is all about?
Belle Bazaar Boutique is a beautiful shop filled with handmade clothes, jewellery, gifts and much much more. We try and source handmade as well as small boutique manufactured items that are different to most other shops. A shop where you can find quirky and unique gifts from all over the world.

Where did the shop name, Belle Bazaar, come from?
I love the Bazaar's in Morocco and wanted to create a little version of them here in Australia filled with beautiful items, so that is where Belle Bazaar came from, meaning Beautiful Market which I think sums up our shop and market.

How does the shop support independent artists and crafters or the handmade community?
The shop let's people explore what it would be like to showcase their items in a store without having to take on the large costs of opening one themselves. We love supporting all handmade artists by showcasing their wares in the shop or Twilight Market as well as writing about them in our Blogazine. Sharing their beautiful creations with our large network. We also host stall holder get togethers where they can meet other handmade crafters in a nice relaxed social get together and people can talk and swap stories. Usually these get togethers lead to exchanging precious information that helps them grow their business.

How can local designers get involved in the shop?
They can contact us via email belle.bazaar@hotmail.com or check out our Terms & Conditions on our blog www.bellebazaarboutique.blogspot.com or pop in to us at 139 Lumley Street, Upper Mt Gravatt.

What does a typical day at work involve for you?
Depends on if I have my little one with me or not.
I come in and mop and clean the floor. 
Get all my paper work together and ready for the day.
Depending on the week I might change the window display.
Then I answer all of my emails and if I have time I will source new items for the shop.
Try to update the shop, markets and blogazine blogs, check facebook and then it's time to go home.
How do you promote the shop?
I just had a delivery of 10,000 flyers so I will hand these out to promote the shop. I also have a shop stall at the Twilight Markets displaying what we have at the shop. I am continuously updating facebook and my blogs whenever we get anything new into the shop.

By hosting special VIP Nights at the shop. Also the shop is starting to be used for locations for magazine shoots which is great as that is extra exposure for the shop and of course hiring space in online magazines as well as hard covered magazines.

We have been nominated for New Small Business of the Year for the Quest Newspapers Small Business Awards so fingers crossed we can win this.

What is your favourite item in the shop at the moment?
Oh my I don't think I could pick just one.... I am quite partial to all our beautiful girls clothes (as a Mum of 1 boy can be) by Sisters & Co, JD Baby, Charli Jean and Aq Prettiness..... But I am loving the quirkiness and cuteness of Kawaii for You range of Japanese gifts. But for me Jewellery is a must so Ruby Olive, Just Lovely Things, Killari and Petit Plat. Petit Plat is from France and we are the only store outside of Europe which stocks her amazing miniature food jewels.

What's in store for 2011 and beyond?
I have come so far in such a short amount of time pretty much the sky is the limit. I never thought I would be where I am today. I have some great ideas for the handmade scene and getting it out to more and more people, hopefully expanding the markets to other cities and of course the shop as well.

If you would like to pop in and visit the Belle Bazaar Boutique it is located at:

139 Lumley Street, Upper Mt Gravatt, Brisbane

Opening Hours: Tuesday - Friday 9.30am - 4.00pm

Saturday 9.30am - 2.00pm

Closed Monday, Sunday & Public Holidays

Thank-you Jessica for taking the time to share your boutique with us!

All photos copyright to Musie J Photography