Meet the Makers...Yula You from Lane 2 Designs

Hello friends!  This morning we're having a chat one of our newest members, Yula You from Lane 2 Designs...

How would you describe your work? 
Contemporary and innovative.

Who or what inspires you?
I was trained as a landscape architect, and there is an analysis mapping method called ‘figure ground’ which is a tool to study the physical form of towns and cities. It simplifies the streets and buildings into black and white graphics. That gave me the inspiration to bring these patterns into jewelry design, and that’s how everything begins. 

Can you describe your studio / work area? (you can provide a pic for inclusion on blog if you wish.) 

I quit my day job at the end of last year, and have started working at home as a freelance landscape architect and jewelry designer. I live in an old Queenslander with my boyfriend and a cat, and three bush turkeys give us a regular visit.

What is your favorite thing to make? 

My favorite thing to make is jewelry. As there are so many ideas and materials you can explore on these small objects. I am practicing on handmade jewelry now, and hope it would be my next project.

How did you decide on your business name (if applicable)? 

#8 Hongshan Lane 2 was the place I spent childhood at in China, which is also the place where my dad grew up. With urban development, the laneway was demolished when I was 11 and is now occupied by high-raised apartments. I can still remember those lovely times spent with my friends and cousins in lane 2, playing silly games, watching cartoons, and having cold noodles and bamboo beds on summer nights. I can still remember how I simply enjoyed making stuff and drawing pictures when I was a kid. Hope I can keep this simple passion and joy in my heart, and let it lead my way.

Where do you hope to see your creative journey taking you in the next 12 months? 
I hope I could bring my own culture into design in the near future, eg. Chinese shadow play.

Chinese shadow play is almost extinct in China, as it needs lots of skills with years of practice, but low income. Today young people in China prefer watching TV and movies, rather than shadow play shows. Most of the people who know how to make and play shadow puppets are at their advanced age.

After I quit my job in Australia, I went back to China and found a home studio in a small village in Qianan, and stayed there for a week to learn making shadow play puppets. It was a memorable time of my life. I wish I could bring this tradition into contemporary design, and make it more connected to today’s life, and let more people in the world know about this great culture.









What is your favourite handmade item that you have bought? There are a lot, but the most favorite one would be a shadow play puppet. 

Etsy Shop:  Lane 2 Designs

Blog: Lane 2 Designs

Thanks for sharing with us Yula and thanks for hanging out with us this morning dear readers, have a great weekend!!

x Sam

Fibre Fest 2013

From 1 to 3 March 2013, QLD Spinners Weavers & fibre Artists Ltd's, biennial exhibition will again be celebrating excellence in all fibre arts.

While the diverse techniques on display are based in tradition, the directions contemporary artists take them in are anything but old fashioned.

Spinning, weaving, dyeing, felting, knitting, crochet, braiding, basketry, papermaking and bookmaking - they are all represented and you've never seen anything like them before.

In addition to the exhibition there will be a gallery shop and demonstrations catering to all ages with activities for the younger visitors.

An opening event will be held at 6:30pm Friday 1 March 2013.

Further details can be found at: qldspinners.org.au or by contacting fibrefest@qldspinners.org.au

BrisStyle indie Twilight Market here we come!

Get set for another event-filled week with the BrisStyle indie Twilight Market debuting for the year this Friday!  Your first I ♥ Craft :: Master Class kicks off next week too and bookings are already open for the next I ♥ Craft :: Creative Development Session. So read on to find out how you can be a part of them all!  It's our first market of the year and it's set to put you in handmade heaven! We'll have lots of your favourite stall holders plus a whole host of new members ready to share their new season creations with you. Drop in after work or make a special trip in for a great, family friendly night out. Tell me more..... What: BrisStyle indie Twilight Market When: Friday 22 February Where: King George Square, Brisbane City Time: 5-9pm Many thanks to all who made last Saturday's Start Me Up session about Online Selling basics such a hoot! Sam certainly gave us all a great insight into her inspirational world with so many easy to apply hands-on tips to get us started.  It was great to see so many familiar faces coming back for the latest tips as well as many new ones, eager to connect with other creatives and learn more about the world of online selling.  With a crowd of over 100 local crafters, it showed that creativity is alive and well in our Brisbane! Many thanks to all who travelled from the Sunshine and Gold Coasts as well as those from the west.  Our next session, Get the Look - Top Tips to Stylish Images is on Saturday 16 March from 10-12.30pm at Chermside Library. As these sessions are always popular, make sure to book in so you don't miss out! Master Classes Sam Gilkes returns to take you through all the finer points about Online Selling next Thursday 28 February from 6.30-10.30pm at Chermside Library.  A smaller class size will see everyone seated at tables so they can explore the world of online selling "up close and personal".  Bring along your laptops, iPads, Smart Phones and products to achieve instant results. Places are filling fast so don't miss out, book now! Attend them all or pick and choose to suit, places are limited so book now! Have a wonderful week and we look forward to catching up with you at this Friday's BrisStyle indie Twilight Market from 5pm-9pm.

Tiny Owl Workshop

Hitting 15 of Brisbane's trendiest café's from Valentine's day will become a lot more interesting as you'll be bale to read one of 12 micro romance-related stories printed on your paper napkin, all written by Brisbane authors and printed by Tiny Owl Workshop.

Whether you’re looking for love, are lovelorn or all loved up there’s a 300-word story or two for everyone printed on the paper napkins, says QUT humanities graduate Sue Wright who asked emerging Brisbane authors to write a piece of flash fiction about finding/losing love.

“The response was tremendous and we have a variety of quirky, fun stories that can be read in the time it takes to imbibe a coffee,” Ms Wright says.

“There’s a love-at-first-sight story, a falling out of love story, a love across a crowded room story, a short memoir, and one about a gamer and his anxiety-filled attempt to ask a non-gamer out. 

“I thought the napkin stories seemed like a great way for people to connect with and celebrate local writers. Brisbane has some wonderfully talented writers and we’re keen to help get their stories out there, and the cafes have been fantastically supportive.’

QUT graduates are among the authors:

Freya Wright-Brough, a screenwriter graduated from QUT last year. Her story “God, not another bad hair day” is about the god of the BHD who is fed-up with the job until he causes two people to meet and fall in love.

“Flash fiction isn’t something I’d seek out but if it’s there in a cafe I would want to read more of it,” she said.

Jack Vening, who won the QUT 2010 undergrad and 2012 postgrad creative writing prizes, wrote about a boy who tries to find a girl he met on a family trip through Kalgoolie as a child.

“It's mainly a lamentation, or a love-letter to a memory that he's actively seeking to reclaim, though it's impossible,” says Jack, a contributor to Stilts, the online Brisbane-centric literary site started by QUT graduates.

QUT honours graduate Alana Eising’s story is called 'Love the Sea' and is about a woman who runs away to find solace in the sea she loves

“I'm always exploring the effect the sea has on people and relationships, both as a metaphor and as a physical thing,” Alana says.

Copies of each of the stories will be available on napkins from these cafes on Thursday, 14 February:

§  The Little Prince Espresso - Woolloongabba

§  Avid Reader - West End

§  Black Cat Books - Paddington

§  Riverbend Books and Teahouse - Bulimba

§  Hallowed Grounds Espresso - Mt Gravatt

§  Shucked Espresso - Newstead

§  Rendezvous - Dayboro

§  Chica Cino - Nundah Village

§  Woolloongabba Antique Centre - Woolloongabba, of course

§  Lady Marmalade - Stones Corner

§  Brother Espresso - Brisbane City, Bulimba, Windsor

§  The Fifth Battery - Fortitude Valley

§  Library Cafe – State Library of Queensland, Southbank

§  Southside Tea Room - Morningside

You can Find Tiny Owl Workshop on twitter or Contact Sue Wright at tinyowlworkshop@gmail.com

NEW :: I ♥ Craft :: Master Classes and Creative Development Sessions

::Your NEW Master Classes have arrived :: We're excited to announce that the first I ♥ Craft :: Master Class is open for bookings! Based on your feedback, we have designed a series of smaller, intensive sessions which will see you up close and personal with local experts in their creative fields. You'll be encouraged to bring along your products, laptops, ipads, camera's and a host of other items so you can get instant results depending on the topic. These are hands on sessions designed by professional crafters for crafters, so whether you're a hobbyist or a seasoned professional, these sessions will allow you to network with your fellow participants as well as successful creative business owners. A great investment in your creative development! Read on for how you can book for the first I ♥ Craft :: Master Class of 2013as well as the next I ♥ Craft :: Creative Development Session. Top Tip: Recap with all the 2012 sessions HERE. Accessing the online video sessions is super easy. If you're not a BrisStyle member, sign up as a guestand you're in! Image courtesy of sleepless storyteller NEW Master Class :: ONLINE SELLING - Up Close and personal Thinking about selling your handmade wares online but don’t know where to start? Have an online presence which needs some love and attention to bring it up to date with the latest trends? Let successful online selling artist and crafter, Sam Gilkes from Jetta's Nest guide you through a host of contemporary tips whilst helping you develop your brand and signature style. Bring along your laptops / iPads and products to get instant results throughout this four-hour intensive session. DATE Thursday 28 February 2013 TIME 6.30pm – 10.30 pm VENUE Chermside Library, 375 Hamilton Rd, Chermside 4032 COST $80 Places are limited BOOK NOW! STOP PRESS: Book in for all 6 sessions and receive a 10% discount! Image courtesy of Sandrine Marsh Photography ::GET THE LOOK – Tops Tips to Stylish Images :: Turn your crisp, clear, stylish image-envy into reality! This session hosted by the ever so clever Melanie Gray Augustin from Kimono Reincarnate will give you the essentials to achieve coveted contemporary product photography, including some super simple styling basics fromSandrine Marsh. This year's session has a nice little stylish twist so make sure you register for this early for a morning of amazing new tips and tricks. DATE Saturday 16 March 2013 TIME 10 – 12.30 pm VENUE Chermside Library, 375 Hamilton Rd, Chermside 4032 COST FREE Places are limited BOOK NOW Presented by BrisStyle Inc and supported by the Brisbane City Council In the meantime, keep up with all the 2013 BrisStyle action, via the: BrisStyle Blog Facebook Page Instagram @brisstyle Twitter ::BrisStyle Membership:: Are you passionate about handmade? Would you like to meet like-minded creative people? Do you want to take your craft to the next level? Are you keen to take part in markets and events? BrisStyle Inc. provides support and creative opportunities for independent artists, crafters and designers who call Queensland and Northern New South Wales home. The 2013 BrisStyle membership experience includes: creative business development sessions;  markets, events and exhibitions; promotional opportunities;  personal website profile;  social networking;  access to our online forum;  Etsy team affiliation; and much, much more!! For less than a ball of yarn per week, you too can be a member of BrisStyle’s fabulous and fun crafty community. STOP PRESS! Join now and take advantage of our half-year, HALF-PRICEmembership special! From now until June, membership is just $40 for individuals and $50 for partnerships.Tell me more....

Do romance Reverse Garbage-style this Valentines Day with exhibition, Reduce, Reuse, Romance!

Reverse Emporium's February exhibition Reduce, Reuse, Romance, celebrates Valentines Day, Reverse Garbage-style. The exhibition will showcase up-cycled objects and art with a romantic flavour that are perfect sustainable gifts for your sweetheart! 

“Reduce, Reuse, Romance challenged artists to explore themes of love and romance and create items to present as Valentines gifts using salvaged and scavenged materials ” says Exhibition Co-ordinator Brooke Nelson.

Featuring the work of over 20 local artists, craftworkers and designers who work with salvaged materials, there will be a diverse range of items on display and for sale including fine artworks, paper goods, jewellery, sculptural items, fashion accessories, cards, decorations, home wares and more!

We'll also be celebrating sustainable romance on opening night in style with live sets from local act, Little Planes Land and band, Zvonsky!

Reduce, Reuse, Romance runs from 9 - 28 February 2013, open Monday to Saturday from 9 to 5pm. Reverse Emporium, Reverse Garbage 20 Burke St Woolloongabba.

Image 3 girls and a Goat

Opening Event Party: Saturday 9 February 2013
Time: 6.30pm - 9.30pm
Where: Reverse Emporium at Reverse Garbage
20 Burke Street, Woolloongabba 
RSVP HERE
Featuring: Sustainable Valentines gifts and art
Sets from Little Planes Land
and Zvonsky
Free finger food
Cash bar
Late night warehouse shopping! 

Contributing artists: 
Meekz Contemporary Jewellery, 3 Girls & a Goat, Lalaluka, Casia Moses, Delwyn Scurr, Sacred Ibis, Trendy Nana Rugs, Mosaicrazy, Jesse Wright, Colin Norris, Claire Poppi, Marta Walenda, Beth Addison Smith, Lane 2 Design, F:a Papersmithery, Blanket Homewares, Kory Foster, Kath-Lynn Smith, Three Pockets, Tracy Poblano, Bog Standard Design and Spiritfire Designs.