Wednesday, October 31, 2012

{FEATURED DESIGNER} Raw Ceramics


Freda is one of those people that you feel drawn to, a person who's smile can light up a room.  Freda is the brains behind Raw Ceramics, a Brisbane based business that specialises in beautiful handmade ceramic homewares and jewellery and it's safe to say her light shines through her products.  Trust me, these pieces are as delightful as Freda is.  I will never forget Freda speaking at a BrisStyle meet up, her happy-go-lucky nature and can-do attitude was infectious!  Her little slogan "I can do that." inspired me and I'm sure many others at that BrisStyle meet up and now I like to think of "I can do that" as being Freda's unofficial catchphrase.  I hope you have your cup of tea at the ready, because Freda's journey into creating handmade ceramic pieces is a fun and interesting one...  

<3 Amanda 


How would you describe your work?
Quirky vintage inspired ceramic giftware which captures the simplicity and beauty in everyday items.
My current collection features hand screen-printed original designs on ceramic pots, bowls and jugs.

Freda, tell us about your background and what path led you to your brand Raw Ceramics?
My love for art started as a young child, growing up in my parents' store in Cairns where they sold artwork by local artists. 
From here, I developed a fascination with drawing portraits which eventually led to working with special effects and sculpting. 
After a 20 year career as a make-up artist spanning across many fields including photographic shoots, weddings, feature films, and special effects, the switch to ceramic art was a natural progression. Clay has always been in the background and it slowly started taking over my life many years ago.
Once I had a proper studio set up with a kiln there was no stopping me....my passion is clay.


Who or What inspires you?
As a visual person, inspiration comes to me sometimes from the simplest things; from finding an object on the beach to rummaging around in an antique store.
My favourite saying is "when you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change". 
Talented artisans doing what they love, including the encouraging BrisStyle community continue to inspire me.

Can you describe your studio / work area? 
My studio is in an old building with 5 other artists, we each have our own space. All of our kilns have their own special corner.
There are a few different work areas to my studio, one area is designated especially for screen-printing to keep it away from the clay.
The clay work areas where I spend most of my time have the walls decorated with drawings, art, inspirational messages and to do lists.
Music is essential too, and no matter how messy the day gets, I clean up at the end of the day so I have a fresh start the next day.


What is your favourite thing in the shop at the moment?
My favourite thing in the shop changes all the time. At the moment it is the "Dishy Dishes"...the name came to me on a whim.
I just love making them and am teaming them up with handmade soaps for gift sets.

Do you have any other places that people can view/purchase your work? 
Blog 


Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Tuesday Treasury

Let's support pink today with our Tuesday Treasury!

Image Source Etsy Treasury
For more details about those pink treasures...

Happy pink Tuesday!

Sandrine x

Saturday, October 27, 2012

WHAT'S NEW and FRESH COMING UP?

Hi,

So much news to share today ** Squeal**!

Firstly, I would love to introduce you to a new Etsy shop freshly opened and looking amazing already!

Meekz Contemporary Jewellery by Jemica Ostrofski.

A beautiful beautiful shop filled with Contemporary and recycled jewellery all handmade by Jemica.

Image courtesy Meekz Contemporary Jewellery




Now on the new products side...

Candykins Crafts has been launching a new range called "High tea in spring".
How sweet!
Delicious handmade felt brooches with delicate hand embroidery stitched by Candice.

Image courtesy Candykins Crafts


InPinkInk has been creating some delightful handmade teacher's Christmas cards.
Yep, hard to believe it...But not long to go!

Image courtesy InPinkInk
Raw ceramics has made it easy for us!
You can now find a "new products" section on their fantastic Web site...

Image courtesy Raw ceramics

With all those new creations ,  I had to share that little quote :)


"Creativity is a natural extension of our enthusiasm. "

Happy weekend!

Sandrine x

Friday, October 26, 2012

Crafty D.I.Y

Hello!

That holiday season is approaching fast...
 It might be time to start looking into some inspiration for  pretty packaging, right?!


Have a look at how to make your own little pillow boxes out of paper at I try DIY.

Image Source

Loving that simple idea on Country living using recycled newspaper.

Image Source
Or perhaps learn to make those doily snowflakes to decorate your gifts, on Hello Naomi.
They would look fantastic on some brown paper!

Image source

Happy Friday!

Sandrine x

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Indie News: Hey Maker! Creative Business Talks

Hello, 

Do you know about the latest Indie news in the Tweed Valley!?


Such a fantastic example of when creative peeps get together, great outcome are to be found!



Image courtesy Hey Maker!



Hey Maker is a new creative collective space in the town of
 Murwillumbah located in the Tweed Valley.
Hey Maker! have just launched their new Workroom + Shop; which features handcrafted work by local makers and will host creative workshops, as well as a gathering space for connecting with like-minded creative folk. 

Thursday evening will see their creative business talk kick start with our wonderful "Brisstylette" Jess Van Den from Epheriell  who will be talking about social media... with price and booking info here.


Hello lovely creatives!

Welcome to the weekly roundup of helpful and though-provoking posts about running an online business. Since I just gave a talk on using social media for your crafty biz for BrisStyle last week (were you there?) I thought I'd focus on social media this week.

etsy on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free

Have an awesome week all!

Jess xx
@JessVanDen

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

{FEATURED DESIGNER} Kiss My Patootie


It's safe to say I'm a big kid.  I know that people often say that they are big kids at heart but I think for me it's more than that.  When I see handmade toys and clothes that are meant for kids my heart does a little happy dance and I want to buy the toys, while I wish the clothing came in adult sizes.  There certainly is some amazing stuff for kids out there and adding to the amazing products meant for kids is BrisStyle member Kiss My Patootie.  Owned and run by Donna, Kiss My Patootie's wares are as adorable as the name itself.  And while I could probably get away with using one of her Monster Purses, I don't think I can squeeze myself into one of the small children's tees...  Here is Donna's story, I hope you have your cup of tea at the ready...  


How would you describe your work?
My creations are bright and colourful and make people smile. They bring out the inner child in people. The main thing I make is kids clothes, but I have a huge range for adults too, including clothing, hairclips, purses, handmade soap, painted glass, cushions and more. I am always trying to learn new skills and try to keep my range of creations growing.

How did your Etsy shop come into being?
I used to sell on ebay, but the costs were getting quite high, so I thought I’d try etsy. Since it is focused on handmade, I figured my clothes and gifts would fit right in.  Unfortunately my online sales have never been as good as selling through shops. 


Who or What inspires you?

My kids inspire me, I first started Kiss My Patootie when I became pregnant with my 1st child (he’s now 12). I found it hard to find kids clothes back then, especially for boys, that were unique and colourful. 


Do you ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ as part of your creative process?  
Although all of the fabric I use is new, I do try and use recycled products when I can. My toy owls and cushions are all stuffed with polyester offcuts that I get from an air conditioning business, these would otherwise go to landfill. I also use all of my scrap fabric for small things like pockets on clothing. I try to reduce waste as much as possible.


Can you describe your studio / work area? 
As my family has grown, my work space has shrunk. I have gone from a whole sewing room to a small corner of my bedroom where I have my sewing table. My work storage space it pretty much spread out in every nook and cranny of my house, from under beds to the tops of every cupboard in my house. I cut all of my patterns on my lounge room floor and screen print on my kitchen table. Although it can be hectic and frustrating not having a set work space, at least every corner of my home is filled with creativity. 


What is your favorite thing in the shop at the moment?
My latest favourite thing that I have been making has to be my monster colouring in bags. They are made from corduroy and fit a colouring in book inside. On the front I have sewn on a monster with crayons for teeth. Very cute!

Do you have any other places that people can view/purchase your work? (
I only have a small range of my creations for sale online. The turnover in the shops that I sell to is quite fast, so I can’t seem to keep up with online sales as well. The shops I sell in are: Handmade Highstreet (Annerly), The Collective Store (Wynnum), Jolie (Brighton), Side Street Vintage (Bulimba), Park Lane in Pittsworth (Pittsworth) and Manna / Cool Shirts (West End).

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

BrisStyle Indie Designers Twilight Market: THIS FRIDAY!


Mark it in your diaries, this Friday 26th October is the BrisStyle Indie Designers Twilight Market!  I'm excited and I hope you are too.  Brisbane's King George Square will be bursting with talented designers and artists showcasing their wares.  These markets give you the chance to browse handmade goodies and chat to the designers who made them.  You can find out more about the event on our Facebook Event Page.  

Where: King George Square, Brisbane
When: 26th October 2012 
Time: 5pm - 9pm 

See you there!
<3 Amanda

Tuesday Treasury

Hello and welcome back to our Tuesday Treasury!

Let's see how spooky we can be today :)?!


Image Source Etsy Treasury
For more dark and intricate details...
OOOoooohhhh
details you can check the treasury here!

Happy Tuesday!

Sandrine x

Monday, October 22, 2012

I Heart Craft :: Social Networking Wrap


I heart craft logo colour
download
Well what a fabbo session that was! Filled with lot's of tips and tricks from the ever so knowledgable Jess Van Den. Many thanks to all those who attended for their enthusiasm for all things creative and of course to Jess for captivating us once again.
Thanks again to all our fabulous volunteers who came early and stayed late to help the session run so smoothly and of course to everyone who brought along their sweet treats for morning tea, too!
Please read on for the top 5 tips from the day.....
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::Social Networking for Creatives ::

Top 5 Tips from Jess Van Den

1) Twitter.com - is like a virtual cocktail party so be yourself and balance your tweets by the rule of 3rds: personal / business / sharing others work.
2) Facebook.com - set up a facebook page for your crafty biz and use the rule of 3rds as above to connect with your audience and keep it fresh. 
3) Instagram - a great place to share all stages of your work - planning, making, finishing, packaging, the finished product...and even it wrapped up ready to post. To view and manage your photos online: Statigram
4) Pinterest.com - great for collecting images for your social media outlets as well as for connecting globally with like-minded creatives.
5) Blogging - Once again, be yourself and remember your aim should be to inform, entertain and teach. Share your work but don't make it all about you. 
Last but not least, is a common thread lately and that is to get connected. Building strong relationships with other creatives breaks down barriers and fosters creativity. 
Forums and Threads: Get connected with like-minded souls:
Locally:
BrisStyle Inc.
Nationally:
Dust
Globally:
Etsy Teams
OCT 26 BITM SQUARE COLLAGEPicMonkey Collage

Speaking of getting connected...we'd love to kick our heels up with you all at this Friday's (Oct 26)

::BrisStyle indie Twilight Market ::

From 5pm - 9pm in King George Square, Brisbane
Then just around the green corner is our BrisStyle indie Eco Market on Nov 10
So mark that in your diaries for one not to miss before the Nov 17 Market 101 Creative Development Session.
See you all then!

About BrisStyle Inc.

For less than a ball of yarn per week, you too can be a member of BrisStyle’sfabulous and fun crafty community.

BrisStyle aims to provide support and creative opportunities to independent artists, crafters and designers. BrisStyle membership is open to individual crafters, designers, artists, artisans and anyone else interested in craft, design and visual arts in Queensland and Northern New South Wales.
For a full list of BrisStyle membership benefits and application informationplease check out all the crafter friendly details HERE.
For more information about becoming a BrisStyle indie Marketeer please check out all the information HERE.

Thanks once again and we really look forward to sharing another great

I ♥ Craft :: BrisStyle Creative Development Session soon.

Presented by BrisStyle Inc. and supported by the Brisbane City Council
NEW BrisStyle Logo 2012
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Saturday, October 20, 2012

What's new and fresh coming up ?!

Hello :)

It is time for news with the next BITM is only few sleeps away...
Today we are sharing what's new and Fresh this season with our talented creators!


Some fantastic news for the Whizzbangle fans!!
You can now indulge in some beautiful vintage inspired resin vases.
Ooh and the cherry on the cake is... that those beautiful vases are also featured in the latest issue of Cleo Magazine!
Congratulations Whizzbangle!

Image Source Whizzbangles

On the Ties and Whimsy side,  there is an awesome new collection of headband/ fascinators.
They are made from recycled leather and upholstery fabric and will be featured in the Undress Brisbane Sustainable runway tonight and at RAW Provocations on the 24th!
How great is that!!

Image courtesy Ties & Whimsy

With our dear Edward and Lilly another little bird told me that some new beautiful Jar cosies are going to make an entrance at the BrisStyle Indie Twilight Market on the 26th of October.
A little preview for you...
Image Source Edward and Lilly
And another fresh new shop will be making an entrance at our next BITM, it is called Danidot Designs, so be sure to go and say hello to Dani and check out in person her gorgeous creations.

Image Source Danidot Designs

Lots of fresh new Designs are coming to life this season, 
so stay tuned for more fresh news next week!

Sandrine x

Friday, October 19, 2012

Crafty D.I.Y


Hello :)

With Halloween around the corner it may be kids costume time :)Non!?

hmmm, let's take a look at some of the awesome D.I.Y costumes out there.
 You never know when you will be hit by an urgent costume request, don't you!  

Chicken you said?!
How cute is that version from Martha Stewart :)

Image Source

Oooh what a pretty little peacock costume here at the train to crazy!

Image Source train to crazy
And now for the serious "costume crafter", here is an adorable little penguin costume D.I.Y
at Make it and love it.

Image Source Make it and love it.

So much fun, aren't they :)
Did you bookmark them?
Remember... you never know when this "urgent" costume call will be coming :)!

Happy Friday!

Sandrine x

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Crafty Biz Carousel ~ 18/10/12



Hello lovely creatives!

Welcome to the weekly roundup of helpful and though-provoking posts about running an online business.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

:: How to Sell Your Craft Online :: Session 1 Wrap!


:: How to Sell Your Craft Online ::
It was a stellar crowd of over 100 local hobbyists and creatives who descended on Brisbane Square Library to find out new tips on taking their hobby to the next level. 
Thank you to everyone who brought the first in this series of mini creative development sessions to life with your attentiveness, inspiring questions and engaging crafty conversation during the morning tea networking time.
The lovely Amy from Brisbane Libraries captured the session here so take the time to explore the Library facebook page to keep up with all their crafty pursuits. Many thanks to Sandra, Emma and all the Library team for making these sessions a reality!
Below is a snapshot of the session and details to book in for the next one...

:: Market Research - have you discovered your niche?
First up were some handy tips and questions to help develop your creative niche to stand out from the online selling crowd. These included
  • Finding your signature style 
  • Striving for the perfect presentation 
  • Developing a name for your business 
  • How to be your own market researcher


:: Kindred Spirits ::
Following this, we looked at the benefits of connecting with other like minded souls both online as well as throughout  Brisbane.

Benefits of Craft Groups 
 Improve your and share skills  
 Help alleviate any sense of isolation 
 Connect with like-minded souls
 Attend  group events 
 Learn from mentors 
 Discover your target audience 
 Attract more sales 

There were also hot tips on where to find the best Supplies in Brisbane too!



There are still two sessions left in this series before we start on some more intensive creative business focused sessions next year.
I doesn't matter if you have missed the first session as we will recap at the beginning of each one. Here are all the details to register:


::  Taking your crafting to the next level (PART TWO) ::
Learn how to market yourself, from branding to business cards, your business name, ABN, packaging and promotion. Learn a simple formula for pricing your work; know your basic rights with intellectual property and discover tips and tricks for photographing your wares.
DATE: Saturday 3 November
TIME: 10-11.30am
VENUEBrisbane Square Library, 266 George Street in central Brisbane
COST:      FREE
::  Taking your crafting to the next level (PART THREE) ::
In readiness for selling, this session will provide 10 tips for setting up your online shop, including the options of EtsyMade it and Blue Caravan. Also covered will be social networking and using the media for promotion, including easy ways to keep statistics. There will also be tips on basic bookkeeping to help you stay grounded. Finally, this session will explore simple steps to get you started selling at markets with ‘Markets 101’.
DATE:       Saturday 1 December
TIME:       10-11.30am
VENUE:     Brisbane Square Library, 266 George Street in central Brisbane
COST:      FREE
Bookings Essential - Call 3403 4166

Brisbane Square Library - Easy Access

With King George Square Car Park, Roma St and South Brisbane Train Stations close by, it's super easy to get to Brisbane Square Library, no matter what your preferred mode of transport.
In particular the King George Square Car Park offers super cheap weekend rates of $12
:: Discover Your Local Library ::
Upcoming Crafty Events:
Brisbane Square Library
* Oct 27: Brisbane Brown Owls Oct 10:30am
Indooroopilly Library
* Nov 22: Meet Loani Prior - 6.30-7.30pm

We're really looking forward to kicking up our handmade heels with you all at these sessions. In the meantime, mark all the 2012 Creative Development Session and BrisStyle indie Market dates in your diaries and keep up with all the other BrisStyle action, via the BrisStyle BlogFacebook and Twitter!

Presented by BrisStyle Inc and supported by the Brisbane City Council