{FEATURED DESIGNER} DesignByFee

I first met Fee at the BrisStyle Twilight Markets and I immediately warmed to her.  Her smiley face and happy-go-lucky nature was a real joy to be near, especially when it seemed that Mother Nature was against us stall holders for a while!  It was her beheaded bunny hair combs that really interested me (I have always been a fan of little oddities), and those little bunnies were the start of something truly great.  From pouring resin and playing with clay, to tatting and making moulds, all of her products have a great deal of care and love put into them.  So sit back, grab a cup of tea and enjoy, this is the story of DesignByFee...

<3 Amanda 

How would you describe your work?

A mix of old and new, with a twist of geek goth culture thrown in for good measure. I love working with vintage fabrics and vintage crafting methods such as Tatting, but I also love making chunky Doctor Who inspired cameos, gothy rosary beads. I guess its just a retro-vintage-geek-goth mashup of all the things I like.

How did your Etsy shop come into being?

I had been collecting beads and trinkets for a period of time, in the hopes of one day creating my own jewellery. In January 2011 I lost my job for a period of 4 months due to the Brisbane floods, and with very little luck in finding other employment - I found myself with a lot of time on my hands. I started making simple earrings and brooches, mainly as a way to keep myself busy and posted the results on facebook. A dear friend and fellow BrisStyler, Nel from Quirkville suggested that I should open up an online store - and with demands from my Facebook friends, I took her advice.

Who or What inspires you?

My biggest inspiration is my family, friends and fellow crafters. I am very lucky to have met so many wonderful and talented artists through the BrisStyle family, their work continues to awe and inspire on a daily basis.

Can you describe your studio / work area? 

Chaotic at best - my work table is generally cluttered and covered in a mix of half finished products and prototypes. I do try to keep it tidy, but I have a bad habit of wanting to make everything, all at once.

What is your favorite thing in the shop at the moment?

My favourite thing in the shop at the moment would have to be the Doctor Who Dalek Cameo necklace - I grew up watching Doctor Who with my dad from a very young age, so it has a little bit of sentimental value behind it. I also loved the process of making the cameo itself, from the hand crafting in polymer clay - to creating a mould and then moulding the final piece in hand coloured resin.

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

Online store

Blog

Facebook

Twitter: @designbyfee

Instagram: @designbyfee

December Giveaway Part 1 Winners!

Congratulations Kalynda and Susan!

The random number generator decided that Ali from Jellygnite & Little Jellygnite will be saying goodbye to 'Cherry' the Dashie Dog as she takes up a new residence with Kalynda.


Kalynda said "I'd love the chance to win from either of these talented ladies. And I must say, how beautiful is that dress- love it!!"

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And Susan will be saying hello to the super handy Noah’s Ark children’s library/toy bag made by Robyn of Hot Fudge.

Susan said "Love both the blogs and sewing your work space. The Noahs ark bag is just great,
susan".

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Kalynda and Susan could you please send us an email with your postal address to brisstyleteam@gmail.com so Ali and Robyn can pop your items in the mail for you :)

And thank-you to everyone who entered. Don't forget, we will have another double giveaway starting later TODAY - don't leave this space!!! We will be having gorgeous giveaway items from the very talented Chrisy of Art Decadence and El from Rock n Wrap. So make sure you get your entry in for this one, and enjoy reading about our next two featured members at the same time.

May Featured Members and Giveaways!

This month, please give a warm welcome to Benita from Bettsy Kingston and Katie from Kitty Boo Boo, as they give us a sneek 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 - simply 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: Katie Bellotti – Kitty Boo Boo (featuring Machinery)

ETSY SHOP NAME: misskittybooboo

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

I have such a varied array of stuff that I like to make that I don’t think I can just settle on one item!

So I’m giving away a pair of sweet Japanese style ‘Galaxy’ Boo Boo Booties, made from 100% cotton with star print and lined with pink polka dots. They have flower shaped pink iridescent sequins as trim.

‘Galaxy’ Boo Boo Booties

Also a pair of ‘Candy Flower’ hair clips. These are made from Pink and Orange satin ribbon and hand crocheted flowers.

‘Candy Flower’ hair clips

And lastly, this gorgeous ‘Feed the Birds’ badge/button/pin is made from a recycled vintage children’s book.

‘Feed the Birds’ badge/button/pin

2. How would you describe your work?

Mish mashed. Eclectic jumble of goth, punk, rock, rockabilly, retro, vintage and colour. The stuff I make just reflects different aspects of me. Things I like, things I love, things I once was and things I am. I make stuff according to how I feel on that particular day, so one day I’m surrounded in black lace and PVC, the next it’s colourful owls and birds on baby bibs!


‘Machinery’ is a label I put most of my Medieval, Gothic, and Punk stuff under. I make accessories, slings and wraps for babies, clothing, toys and hairclips for kids, clothing, Roller Derby skirts, accessories and hairclips for women, and soon I’ll be making some shirts and capes for Men.

Just about everything is a one off. Some designs are basics but I change the fabrics and construction so that no two pieces are ever quite the same. If I make a custom order for someone, no-one else will ever get one like it without the original buyer's consent.

I love making things, and I really like that other people dig it too.

3. How did your Etsy shop come into being?

I sort of stumbled onto Etsy while I was looking for a teapot. I immediately fell in love with just about everything. I was a buyer on Etsy for a while before I started to sell there.


4. Who or What inspires you?

I’m inspired by so much around me. I carry a notebook that I scribble in and do weird interpretive drawings (that I can hardly decipher later!) I get so many ideas inspired by colours and shapes and just stuff everywhere around me that if I don’t write it down … it disappears.


I am inspired by anyone who is doing what they love because they LOVE it, and find that with my fellow crafters this is exactly why they do it.

The other BrisStylettes, the Brown Owls and some standouts are Jodie from Ric Rac, Amanda Soule from Soule Mama, Pip Lincolne from Meet me at Mike’s and Kathleen Dougherty from Grosgrain.

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

Most of the stuff I make is made from new materials. However the images for most of my badges are recycled from books and magazines. I have always been a re-fashion/up-cycler for myself in regards to clothes but lately some of the things I wear have gained some interest so I will soon be selling up-cycled and re-fashioned stuff soon.

6. Can you describe your studio / work area?

Well that’s a touchy subject around here! (Hee hee) I kind of explode all over the house. I have a lovely room downstairs where I sew which doubles as a guest room but I kind of have small work areas everywhere.


I make hairclips at the dining room table, I cut out fabric either in the dining room or lounge or downstairs on a trestle table. I have a bag of scraps stashed behind the couch so when I sit down I can make yo-yo’s or appliqué shapes. I literally have stashes everywhere.


Not everyone is as enthusiastic though. For example if I were my husband: "How can you work in here? Do you need all that stuff? What are you going to do with this? When are you going to move that pile of fabric? Can we have the dining room back soon?"

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

Oh I love it all. I seem to only make things I really like! I’m amazed most of it actually makes it into the shop! At the moment my favourites are the ‘Twenties Dames’ clips, the ‘Panther on the Loose’ skirt, the ‘Hot Rod’ Apron, the ‘Derby Skirts’ and well I better stop because I can go on and on here!

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

You can find me all over the place:

Blog: http://www.misskittybooboo.blogspot.com
Web: http://www.kittybooboo.com
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/kittybooboo1 AND http://www.myspace.com/machineryapparel
Facebook: (look for Kitty BooBoo)

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Introducing BrisStyle member...


NAME: Benita McGovern

ETSY SHOP NAME: Bettsy Kingston

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

Either a ruffle pant for the girls or a pair of bloomers for the boys in the Hungry Caterpillar. I had been wanting this material for ages and finally found it at a local fabric store. I couldn't wait to make a pair for my son.

Girls' Hungry Caterpillar ruffle pants

OR

Boys' Hungry Caterpillar Bloomers

2. How would you describe your work?

Free spirited. I like to be a little tongue in cheek as well. Some of my favourite creations: P is for Punk and Miet ruffle pants were made for fun and I didn't think they would sell, but they did.


3. How did your Etsy shop come into being?

I was on maternity leave with my second child and wanted something challenging to do. I found a very old pattern for a retro style baby pant in a charity store. The previous pattern owner was a lady by the name of Betty Kingston. They took 4 hrs to make, but I was hooked. I don't get the same level of satisfaction from making anything else. I'm completely addicted to all things Etsy.

4. Who or What inspires you?

I’m inspired by many things from old B movie posters to the latest fabric collections. I get so excited when I come up with another idea for a ruffle combination, I just can't wait to create them.


I'm now back at work full time and find it hard sometimes to juggle everything, but being a member of the BrisStyle Team is still the reason I'm here, there is such a good sense of community and talent working together, they are all very inspiring and reinforce quality in my work.


5. Can you describe your studio / work area?

I started in the lounge room and have ended up in the Laundry.


I covet crafters with open studio spaces! I have a cutting board over the sink and everything within a bookshelf.


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

Free Spirit ruffle pants. I love the polka dot ruffle with the raspberry stripe. The pink balloon material was a lucky and rare find. I have never found more and down to my last metre as I speak. It was also the material I used to make my very first pair, so I guess I'm a little sentimental about them as well.


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

My blog www.bettsykingston.blogspot.com

Thank you Katie and Benita!

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!

April Featured Members and Giveaways!

This month, please give a warm welcome to Louise from Made by Miffy and Christine from Little Chrissy, as they give us a sneek 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 - simply 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: Christine Flatley

ETSY SHOP NAME: Little Chrissy

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

Two Little Chrissy Brooches

A yellow felt bird brooch and one of my tried and true square felt and fabric brooches. Both have been hand-stitched with love and will brighten your fave autumn jacket or bag.


2. How would you describe your work?

Colourful, fun, a little quirky, and made with love to make people smile. I am in love with felt and use it in almost everything I create. Ditto pre-loved fabrics which I find in op-shops. Oh and buttons. Sigh. I really love buttons. Until now I have predominately been making brooches, but have also been making some cute felt baby booties. Family members are currently receiving felt art to hang on their walls, so perhaps some of those might spring up in my shop soon too.

3. How did your Etsy shop come into being?

I first fell in love with Etsy as a shopper, but kept keeping all my purchases and making gifts for friends and family instead. Whoops! I finally decided to open my own shop late last year and have had very kind feedback from a lot of people.


4. Who or What inspires you?

Brisbane artists and crafters of course – we have so much talent in this city it blows me away. I use my blog to motivate myself, but also take inspiration from much-loved magazines like Frankie and Black+White. I always create each piece while thinking of one of my friends, because they are the sort of people I imagine wearing my brooches. Oh and long moonlit walks on the beach, soft kittens etc.

5. Can you describe your studio / work area?

I had managed to hog the study for myself for six months but my partner has just started his own full-time business and so gets priority. I’ve now got a small table beside his desk so we can work together sometimes (cue soppy smiles and fluttered eyelashes). Most of my materials are stuffed unceremoniously in bags in the wardrobe, and I dream one day of having my own room with everything neatly stacked and stashed. Organisation catalogues are my porn…


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

My pink doughnut brooch. It’s been there forever and I’m surprised nobody has bought it because it makes me laugh every time I look at it. I’m thinking very seriously about keeping it for myself… mmmm… pink doughnut.


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

My blog www.little-chrissy.blogspot.com. Please swing by and say hello!

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Introducing BrisStyle member...


NAME: Louise Stuart

ETSY SHOP NAME: Made by Miffy

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

This is the apron that I will be teaching in the Craft Labs at the Stitches and Craft Show in Brisbane 29 April – 3 May and again later this year in Sydney. I will have fab colour combos for people to choose their own kits. Come and join in – it’ll be fun.


2. How would you describe your work?

Work…? Is this work? Are you sure? Well if it is work I would describe it as fun, all consuming (the housework is now way down the priority list!) My style is colour – lots of it. Clashing or complementing combinations that are fun to make and fun to wear. I make the coolest boys boardies, gorgeous little girl’s clothes and sassy Aprons for Mamas. I have just ventured into the world of pattern design and am in the process of publishing my first apron patterns – exciting. Now, are you sure this is work?


3. How did your Etsy shop come into being?

Seemed like fun! I love to sew – and it was getting obvious that people liked my style – as all my friend’s kids were wearing Miffy threads.


4. Who or What inspires you?

Fabric, colour, design, Dr Seuss!

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

Well I haven’t reduced the size of my fabric stash – it has taken on a life of its own – however I do repurpose items as part of my creative endeavours. On my blog there is a tutorial for a bureau redo I did last year for my daughter Darcy. It has won some blog awards and always makes me happy in a way the 80’s ugly pine chest of drawers it was formerly known as never did! I also love to find creative ways to use leftover fabric. See my tutorial for no – sew fabric flowers as one such idea!


6. Can you describe your studio / work area?

I have taken over a room in our house. It is a lovely north facing room and I love calling it my studio – much nicer than “the spare room” isn’t it? My cats hang out in the window whilst I sew. I love having the tv on whilst I work and I am now so well versed on Dr Phil that I can offer advice on almost any modern social dysfunction dilemma you may have!


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

Well – not actually in my shop – but my favourite thing is my new Saucy Apron Recipe! It is guaranteed calorie free fun in the kitchen! The pattern will be launched at the Stitches and Craft Show in Brisbane and also in my Etsy store and at Madebymiffy.com too!


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

Made by Miffy Website
Made by Miffy Blog
Miffy's World on Twitter
Louise Stuart on Facebook
Founding member of The Apron-Nation - come and join us. We are taking over the world one kitchen at a time!

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Thank you Christine and Louise!

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.

The very best of luck to you all!