Sunday, September 27, 2015

Monday Maker - Joy of Luminescent Glow Candles

This week we interview Brisstyler Joy, from the label - LuminescentCandles 

Hello JOY  can you tell us a bit about yourself.

Were you creative as a child?
Yes I believe that I was.  I remember (when I was about 8) that I used to collect coloured sands when I was a child to make into colourful bottled arrangements to give away to friends and family. 

Do you come from a creative family? 
My father is a very talented creative woodcrafts man and he has spent most of his spare time over the past 50 years or so building beautiful pieces of furniture and boxes. 

How would you describe your work?  
I would describe it as a work in progress lol.  

I started making soy candles over three years ago and have just started to introduce some jewellery items.  

On a personal level, I would describe my work as  therapeutic as well as unique in some ways. 

How has your work evolved since you started? 
My work is growing all of the time, especially in terms of presentation.   

My packaging for example is a lot more professional looking than it was three years ago.  

Do you sell online? And how did you get started? 
I first started selling to friends, from my Facebook page, on online garage sales and at a local flea market.

Who or what inspires you? 
My suppliers inspire me because without them I wouldn’t be able to create and produce the items that I do.  They offer the pretty things, I buy them then come up with even prettier things.  

Do you reduce, reuse, recycle as part of your creative process? 
Soy wax is eco friendly in that it is not produced using harsh chemicals.  It is also a sustainable product derived from the soy bean plant, which is a totally renewable resource.   

Describe your studio/workspace?  
I currently use a spare bedroom as my work room.  At the moment I like to describe it as organised chaos, it too is a work in progress.   

What is your favourite thing to make?  
At the moment I am really enjoying making jewellery pieces and packaging them nicely.  

How did your business name come about?  
Here is the part where I admit that I am clearly somewhat insane because I have two businesses going on.  Crazy huh?
I started with Luminescent Glow, which recently got changed to Luminescent Glow CANDLE CO.  


I was quite content to meander along running this small (very small) hobby business when I accidentally stumbled across some lockets one day that had a little autism awareness charm in them. 

(I am a former sole parent carer of a boy with autism) Anyway, that was all it took for me to decide that I had to get my hands on them to sell.  So business no 2 arrived. 

To be perfectly honest, the name Luminescent Glow came about because after scouring the internet and registered business names page, it was the only name I could come up with that hadn’t already been taken.  

It has since grown on me though and is now recognised by quite a few people so it’s staying. 

Make A Memory Lockets And Accessories started just over a year ago. I chose that name due to these particular lockets being known as memory lockets. I decided that I could allow customers to create memories by adding little charms that reminded them of places or things that had happened in their lives.  

I now also make these lockets even more unique by designing the contents myself. 

Where do you see your creative journey taking you in the next 12 months? 

Hopefully with a little bit of luck and a heap more determination it will move past a hobby stage.   

What’s your top tip to others wanting to break into the handmade/creative market?
Don’t do it lol.   

Seriously though, it has been and still is a very rewarding pastime.  

It has given me a strong sense of purpose and allowed me to meet some very nice people who I am now proud to call my friends.   

Describe your typical creative day?
Do you really want to know?  I drag myself out of bed like I haven’t slept even though I’ve had a good 7 or so hours, down two cups of tea in quick succession then either hit the craft room or check emails and Facebook.  


On a really good day I might even get something done. 

Do you have a Favourite quote?
"You can make whatever you want out of your life, but first you have to not be afraid to try." 

Do you have a favourite CD to listen to while creating?
This might seem weird to some but I prefer (other than the odd bird chirping or dog barking outside) to work in complete silence.  

What is your favourite handmade item that you have bought?
Soap.  I know a local lady who makes high quality, addictively smelly, scrumptiously gorgeous soap. 

Where can we find you online?
 www.makeamemorylockets.com.au
www.makeamemorylockets.etsy.com

and also on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram as Make A Memory Lockets

How long have you been a member of BrisStyle?
This is my second year nowI can’t remember the exact date that I joined.  

How did you find out about brisstyle?
I found out through a friend

Why did you become a member?

Because BrisStyle is a high end quality market and I believe that the products I have to offer fit in with that level of quality. 

I also find other members to be friendly and helpful.

Why do you craft?

I have suffered a lot of adversity in my life so I craft as a form of therapy. 

Being able to show case my creative ability (I believe) is good for my mental health. 

I also get a small (cart wheels on the ceiling type) kick out of the positive feedback I receive from customers.  

Thanks so much for chatting with us today Joy, it was great getting to know a little bit more about your business. Anita x
 

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Monday Maker - My Aunty Anna ( she's not really MY Aunty Anna )

This week I have selected Kate from the label 'My Aunty Anna' as our guest for the Monday Maker series. I met Kate via Instagram and was just amazed at her creativity in her everyday life. And also her prolific use of recycled materials for her work.
Would you like to meet Kate?


So tell us a bit about yourself  My Aunty Anna, 

Were you creative as a child? 
My Mum taught me to knit when I was about seven - I still have the first thing that I made, all weird and full of mistakes and holes. I was always knitting, sewing, embroidering, and just generally making stuff all through childhood and my teens. I stopped in my early 20s because I started to feel self conscious about being able to do all of those 'feminine' and 'domestic' things.

I started crafting again when I was traveling about 12 years ago, I found myself spending lots of time on buses and trains and feeling like I could be spending the time being productive. I bought some yarn and knitting needles in an op shop in the   UK and that was that! 

Do you come from a creative family?
Yes. Mum was always knitting, sewing, spinning, doing pottery etc. She still quilts and does mosaics and lead light.

I love the way that people of all ages, men and women, are now embracing these skills again and how it's being done in a way that empowers people.

How would you describe your work?
My spin at the moment is that I create community 
through craft. 
I do this by facilitating workshops and social crafting groups, installing communal craft projects at events and festivals (giant communal weaving loom, giant knitting loom, and other communal weaving projects), and by creating temporary interactive craft spaces where people come in and experience a colourful and tactile space and can also make something to add to the installation. 
Often the materials involved in the communal craft or temporary space have been donated or produced by others in my community - so there's a real sense of ownership and of having contributed to the project.





How has your work evolved since you started?
It's always changing. I'm always moving from one thing to another, and experimenting with different techniques and materials. 

When I joined BrisStyle I had this idea that I was going to make things to sell - and I do, but it's never been my main focus. I really don't like mass producing things - I don't enjoy making the same things all the time I have to be moving and changing what I'm doing. 

After doing one market I realised it just didn't feel like my thing. Maybe I'll do more of that when I find the time!  Often I feel like I provide an experience where people can take a break from the real world for a bit and take some time for themselves to be creative and hang out with other people - rather than creating a product as such.

Anouk - the next generation of crafter



Nature Wands
 Do you sell online? 
it's still on my 'to do' list :) 

Who or what inspires you? 
So many things. The obvious eye candy like Instagram and Pinterest trigger ideas, but ideas can come from anywhere. 

Often when I'm asleep or half awake some crazy idea pops up and I run with it. But I'm definitely inspired by retro and vintage crafts and craft books etc. 

So much of what we are doing really isn't new - these crafts and techniques have been around for a really long time. 

We think about the most recent craft resurgence in the 70s when we think of things like weaving and macrame but they've been around for much longer than that and across so many different cultures. The way we do these things now has definitely changed and evolved - different styles and materials, a real emphasis on upcycling, and even different motivations for doing these things because of how our lifestyles have changed and the influence of technology etc.  
But the crafts are essentially the same as they've always been and I have a deep respect for all the crafters and makers that come before us - it's like we stand on each others shoulders with those skills having been passed on from one generation to the next stretching back in time. 

When I think of my Mum teaching me to knit and her mother having taught her and so on, it's just mind blowing.


  
T-Shirt Yarn Tassels
 Do you reduce, reuse, recycle as part of your creative process? Always and as much as possible. 
I use a lot of vintage/retro materials. I op shop a lot - and always have so I have way too much stuff. People are always giving me stuff! 
It's also great to be able to make do with what you have and what you can find - it can make some crafts really affordable and therefore accessible to people. 
 For example, my large communal weaving loom is constructed from timber salvaged from building sites and the materials that are used for the weaving are donated clothing, linens, fabrics, bedding and other random things. I cut these into strips and create a type of yarn out of them that is used for weaving. 

Describe your studio/workspace?
Messy. Out of control. Mostly my studio just acts as storage and most of the making happens in my dining room :)

What is your favourite thing to make?
I can't answer this - certainly I tend to make things with fibre and yarn etc the most. So things like weaving, knitting, crocheting, etc are things that I always come back to. And PomPoms!


 How did the name 'My Aunty Anna' come about?
I spent ages thinking about this - I wanted a name that somehow suggested the past or things being recycled/upcycled/preloved, without being too obvious or using words like vintage or retro. I was on a weekend away with friends when one of the kids taught my daughter an old clapping rhyme called My Aunty Anna - I liked the alliteration and that the rhyme has it's own history, ( now and again I come across someone who knows the rhyme).


I also think the word 'Aunty' suggests an older woman and a link with a past time. 

As a business name it seems to be remembered and people identify me with it so I guess in that sense it's worked as a branding exercise.

Where do you see your creative journey taking you in the next 12 months?
I just don't know. I can't predict it. Probably doing bigger things, creating bigger spaces and installations.

I have some crazy ideas and I'm always up for a ridiculous crafting challenge. Everything just seems to be getting bigger at the moment - just in the last couple of months there was a 6.5 m tall knitted/macrame teepee that I made with a friend (Jennine from Fibre Arts Road ) a really big yarn bombing installation in my local area, and then PARK(ing) Day for BrisStyle last week - we had three parks so it was almost 18m long.

What’s your top tip to others wanting to break into the handmade/creative market?Join BrisStyle ;) find something that you love and something that you do well, and make it yours, make it unique. You'll be inspired by others, we all are, but try not to rip off the work of others even though there is rarely anything that is truly new or unique.Love what you do and own it, but realise that you have to work very hard to make it work. Think about your motivation for wanting to do it - is it money, or is it something else? 

Describe your typical creative day?Drop the kids at school. Work like crazy on whatever it is that I'm obsessed with at the time, ignoring things like housework, then pick the kids up again and try to tidy up a bit so it looks like I've done something other than craft.

  
Maths comes in handy when building a Teepee


What kind of music do you like to listen to while creating?

                          I prefer silence. I don't get enough of that. 

                          Do you have a favourite quote?
                         "It is what it is" - author unknown 

What is your favourite handmade item that you have bought?I have a lot of jewellery from local makers. One of my favourite handmade things at the moment is a bangle made on a 3D printer - a friend made it for me and I'm a closet science nerd so I love it.
Where can we find you online?My online life is mainly Facebook and Instagram. 
How long have you been a member of brisstyle? Maybe two years. 
How did you find out about brisstyle?
I've known Bel for a long time. So I've known about BrisStyle from the early days and visited the markets in their various locations. 
Why did you become a member?
Partly for the support that BrisStyle and it's members provide, and to support BrisStyle and everything it does for makers/crafters/artisans. 
Being a member of BrisStyle has given me opportunities to do a whole range of things -  workshops, presentations, markets, installations, and meeting a bunch of other creative people.
Why do you craft?
Because I have to. I have no choice, it's in my DNA. I can't help myself and have to always be making something, being productive and busy. Other people watch TV or read or whatever, I make. It also keeps me sane (ish).
Thanks so much Kate it was great chatting with you, Anita x
P.S Don't forget you can vote for Kate's amazing installation for BrisStyle as Part of BNE PARK(ing) Day, by heading HERE (voting closes at 9am Sept 21st)

Monday, September 14, 2015

Monday Maker - Meet Yvonne & Dolly from Lemondoll

This week we will get to know Yvonne from Lemon Doll Illustrations and her gorgeous caravan studio, Dolly.


Read on to find out what makes her creatively tick.

Hello Yvonne, and thanks so much for sharing your thoughts with us today.
Firstly I'm curious to know.

Were you creative as a child?
I recall keeping a day to day Diary as a child and always wanting to draw little depictions of my very important or hugely dramatic day!  Mum gave me this Diary on a recent visit from Ireland and I couldn't believe she had looked after it all these years. My amazing Mum x

I enjoyed Art at school but never pursued it.  Instead I chose secretarial studies, however, when I had my first little girl we began drawing pictures on her chalkboard and low and behold my love for drawing was pretty much reignited.

Do you come from a creative family?
Definitely. They never sit still for a second. Mum is always rummaging around looking for her next project to upcycle/paint/wallpaper.

Dad has practically built their beachside cottage from scratch and my brother is very talented hair colourist (proud sis here).

How would you describe your work?
My hobby is my work and I am genuinely delighted to be doing what I love most and making a living from it.  

I have a passion for everything and anything with a connection to the past. I seek out vintage crockery and hand draw a variety of illustrations directly onto the plates, cups, and vases.  

They can feature cute little buildings from my local village Sandgate, vintage suitcases, old world quirky characters and gorgeous plush antique household items and furniture.

I also love to draw illustrations on paper and create little characters who while away the hours frolicking with friends.  Each character has his or her own quirky personality.  

How has your work evolved since you started?
I took the transitional step from drawing on chalkboard to drawing on paper.  Although, I have been known to improvise and draw on whatever is close at hand i.e. chocolate boxes, paper plates, receipts and planks of wood!  

I love the sheer simplicity of drawing on paper with pencil.  I have recently begun creating digital images from my hand drawn illustrations and applying clean crisp lines.  My favourite part is the colouring in. Bliss!

How did you start selling online?  I went along to an Etsy market a few years ago after having my first bambino and was really impressed by the quality and professionalism on display. 

I was an Etsy virgin if it’s okay to say that!! I walked away hugely inspired with a head full of dreams and possibilities and that general feeling of “Wow there are other people besides me that enjoy sitting down and doing something creative.

Who or what inspires you?
My illustrations have been inspired by a ridiculous amount of both personal and awe inspiring memories in my life.

♥ watching old world movies with my cousins
♥ being mesmerized by the beautiful, glamorous and glitzy stage costumes
♥ inhaling the elegant and jaw dropping vintage fashions of the day or as my Nan would say the ‘rig outs’
♥ being fascinated by the neat as a pin and not a hair out of place vintage hairstylesI have truly unruly hair!
♥ am smitten when I see beautiful hand crafted antique furniture and gorgeous Georgian/Victorian round silk cushionsand last but not least;
♥ My heart skips a beat when I see some of the beautiful ornate colonial buildings in Sandgate and Brisbane surrounds.

Do you reduce, reuse, and recycle as part of your creative process?
The three R’s are most definitely the way to go.                                         

How is your art eco-friendly?
By Recycling and reusing vintage crockery and injecting them with a little extra personality whilst not completely taking away from the integrity of the piece.
Saving these beautiful treasured pieces from landfill is paramount to me.

Can you tell us a bit about Dolly
My Art Studio is my 1954 Vintage Caravan “Dolly”.  I found her on gumtree and it was love at first sight.  Dolly is my Art and Craft sanctuary!  Originally grey and white in colour she is now a combination of colours and textures.  Think Kath Kidston meets Laura Ashley meets Retro!  

I miraculously house pretty much most of my stock in Dolly. My pencils, watercolour paints, brushes, ink pens, paper, cardstock, jewellery pieces, and crockery.  I have even managed to squeeze in my supersized Printer!  

It took me a while to organise a place for everything.  I now know where most of my stuff is which a miracle in itself for me! Plus I had to clean her up for photos for this interview! 

What is your favourite thing to make?
Of late my favourite thing to make is patterns.  What a wonderful feeling it would be for me to see one of my patterned designs on fabric. I have that one on my list of goals to achieve. 

How did your business name Lemon Doll come about?
I had been trying to come up with a name for ages and just couldn't seem to find anything that made me reach that va va voom moment until one day I heard someone ask for a label in a shop called Living Doll and the name “Lemon Doll” sprung to mind.  I felt it had a vintage twist (pardon the pun!)





Where do you see your creative journey taking you in the next 12 months?
I would ideally love to see Lemon Doll Illustrations holding a really strong market and retail presence over the next 12 months.  

It would be a huge sense of fulfilment to see my stock selling well at the Marketsat the gorgeous local Hand Made Artisan stores in Brisbane, and last but not lease selling wonderfully Online over the next 12 months.  How good would that be? Must put that down on my Vision Board!!

What’s your top tip to others wanting to break into the handmade/creative market?
Keep an Ideas notepad on you at all times! 

Open an Online Shop.  It’s extremely easy to set up…it really is!  This will push you to create what you want to create because you will feel that your Online Shop’s shelves are in desperate need of stock.  This will hopefully push you even more.

Focus on one thing at a time! I tell myself that day in and day out.   

What is a typical creative day for you?
 7.00amI love my sleep so I really have to push myself to get up & walk zombified to the coffee machine!!  All good to go now! I keep on top of the kids to get ready for school etc.   
8.15 Drop off kids – do a little happy dance…No of course I don’t do that!!! 
9.00Come home – Clean my topsy turvy house 
10:00Pick job at hand for the morning – i.e. Draw a custom Vintage Plate Design, Create pencil illustration, Watercolour completed illustrations, Create digital illustration, Print Final illustrations on my Printer etc.2.00pmPackage finished Brooches and store
2.30Pick up my little angels
3.30Have snack – Catch up on all our day’s events
4:30Get everything organised for the next day
6.00Dinner
11.00 Sleep J zzzz

Do you have a  Favourite quote?“Be yourself, everyone else is already taken” 
And "If the mountain won’t come to Muhammed then Muhammed must go to the Mountain” 

Do you have a favourite movie or CD you love to listen or watch while creating?
Caro Emerald, Ellie Golding, Lily Allen, and Eliza Doolittle. Generally anything upbeat that keeps me motivated.

What is your favourite handmade item that you have bought?
 cute aqua coloured crochet Beret from a local lady who is just starting up her own little business.  

Where can we find you online/stockists?




How long have you been a member of BrisStyle?2 months now  Yippee!

And How did you find out about BrisStyle?
Instagram and the Markets. I went onto the BrisStyle Instagram account and followed their page.  I attended a Workshop and spoke to one of the Events Co-ordinators and it peaked my interest from thereon in. 

Why did you become a member Yvonne?
I wanted to create as many opportunities to get Lemon Doll Illustrations widely known in the Handmade and Artisan world.  My head and my heart advised me to jump on board with BrisStyle to promote my small Business and learn from other well respected and highly regarded creatives in this industry.  BrisStyle also have an excellent reputation in the Handmade and Creative world.  I also love how they have a passion for supporting small businesses.

Last but not least, Why do you craft?
For the pure LOVE of it x

Thanks so much Yvonne and Dolly for sharing a little bit of yourself with us all.
We look forward to seeing you very soon debuting at the next Brisstyle market.

Anita x

Monday, September 7, 2015

Monday Maker - Meet Diana from Unique Lulu

Today in our Monday Maker Series we are chatting to Diana from Unqiue LuLu...
    
Were you creative as a child/do you come from a creative familyI come from a very creative family, but I was the one whose creativity was lost somewhere in the universe. As a child, I was never creative, struggled with it and felt a bit left aside as everyone in my family was so creative. 

How would you describe your work?
As a fun creative process where I can express myself and be who I really am.

How has your work evolved since you started
I have to say it has evolved A LOT, when I started it was just something that I liked, now it's something I feel passion for and that has given me the tools and motivation to look out on how to improve my products, the production, materials and designs. 

I was a bit terrified of doing this and telling the world who I am, creating my social media pages, the gatherings, meet ups, etc. has given Unique Lulú a chance to be out there, for me that is a massive evolution considering I only started a couple of months ago.

How did you start selling online/ Etsy?
I was encouraged by my sister to start an etsy shop with the few products I had at the moment.

Who or what inspires you?
I’m inspired by tribal, nordic and modern patterns. I’m obsessed with pastel colours but have found lately that neon colours go really well with my products. 

Do you reduce, reuse, recycle as part of your creative process?  
I do reuse and recycle some of the materials. For the handmade stamps, I use the leftovers of the cork that I use for the coasters. And the leftover from the fabric that I use as lining is also used as part of the packaging process of my product.

Describe your studio/workspace?
I work from home, my dining room/studio is where I create and produce.

What is your favourite thing to make?
I would have to say creating the stamps and creating fun designs with them for my products.

How did your business/shop name come about?
Unique Lulú comes from my middle name, which is Lucía, it was also my grandmother’s name who was VERY creative.
I love my middle name but it has always been that… “Just my middle name” so I wanted to be able to actually feel identified with it and, in a way, it also honours my grandmother.
‘Unique’ describes my products; they are all different and funky.

Where do you see your creative journey taking you in the next 12 months?
I see myself working full time in Unique Lulú, it might take more than 12 months, but I’m sure I’m on the right path and of course, my main goal is to make people feel happy with what I produce. 

What’s your top tip to others wanting to break into the handmade/creative market?
To STRONGLY believe in yourself and what you are capable of!

Describe your typical creative day.
Everyday is different for me. No day is the same, they are all creative, just expressed in different ways. One day you are smashing your designs and then another day you are a star managing your social media networks (for me they consume a lot of your creativity) and so on. 

I try not to fight with myself if I’m not creative one day with one thing in particular. I will swap to another (of the many) tasks that have to be done. 

Favourite quote?
“As you place more and more of your energy on what you intend to manifest, you’ll start seeing those intentions materializing”  - Dr. Wayne Dyer

What is your favourite Music or movie to have playing while creating ? 
Folk/Indie music is my favourite 

What is your favourite handmade item that you have bought?
A bird painting made by an amazing Colombian artist. It was painted on a paper made out of vegetable fibre which gives it a really cool rustic vibe and outlines the details of the bird. 

Where can we find you online/stockists (links etc)?
    Instagram@uniquelulu_homewares

How long have you been a member of brisstyle?
I’m very new, I became a member at the beginning of August 2015.

How did you find out about brisstyle?
I went to one of the BrisStyle Indie Markets in May, saw all the information about Brisstyle and started looking more into it.

Why did you become a member?
Apart from all the benefits they give you as a member to make your handmade business grow, I love what Brisstyle do as a community to support craftisans. It’s not just about having a lot of members, but what I feel is that Brisstyle is creating a family where everyone supports each other and brings the best out of each member.

Why do you craft? It allows me to be me; I enjoy crafting, experimenting and creating. I also find crafting as a very useful tool to work on my mind and thought.

Thank you so much Diana, for sharing your creative story with us, we look forward to watching your business grow over the coming months! Stay tuned for next Monday as we introduce you to another Monday Maker. 

Anita x