The crafty world of Chi Designs

This week the BrisStyle team caught up with Chi from Chi Designs, the perfect place to stock up on gorgeous handmade bags, clutches and accessories.


How would you describe your work?
I try to create bags and accessories that I would be happy to use myself. I spend a lot of time sourcing unique materials and fresh ideas to keep things interesting. I create a limited range of each design to keep items one-of-a-kind.


How did your Etsy shop come into being?
I began sewing as a hobby in March 2009 to fill in my spare hours. After making many mistakes and learning how to sew through many online tutorials; I found I was able to create a few bags that others really enjoyed. I opened my store on Etsy to spread the enjoyment and to fill my creative void.


Who or what inspires you?
I am continually overwhelmed and inspired by the work of the crafty folk found in Brisbane and interstate. The young design community is constantly surprising me with the interesting work that they create around me. And I am constantly pushing myself to emulate the wonderful creations I find daily on Etsy and Australian design blogs.


Can you describe your studio / work area?
I work full time, so my creative work area can be found wherever and whenever I can find the time to fit it in. At any which time; you can find fabric, pins, scissors and glue in my bed, by my TV, in our study and on my balcony.

What is your favourite thing in the shop at the moment?
I love my Love Clutch design, at the moment. It is designed using an organic hemp/cotton blend fabric by Umbrella Prints. It is bright and cheery and makes you think about love!


Check out more from Chi here
Website
Shop
Blog
Facebook
Etsy

Valentine's Day Gift Guide

Let's face it roses and chocolates for Valentine's Day are a thing of the past! Our fabulous BrisStylettes point you in the direction of one-of-a-kind handmade gifts, perfect for spoiling your friends and loved ones this Valentine's Day.


Cute little LOVE magnets from Designs of the Heart say it all; Be my Valentine edible fondant cupcake toppers from brand new Etsy shop Enticing Icing will look super sweet on your Valentine's Day baked treats; spoil her with a gorgeous Love Clutch from Chi Designs or Chicuff's jaw-dropping Adult's Love Heart Yo Yo necklace made from recycled environmental 'green' bags - who could resist such scrumptious treats!


Think outside the hoop with these stunning Gold and Tanzanite Tear Drop earrings from Shazzabeth or pretty yourself up in the sweet Big Pink Heart ring from Denim Days; Sandra Darling's You are the Bloom in my Heart Fine Art Print is sure to bring a smile to anyone's face, and nothing says I love you quite like Hungry Designs' All My Love Necklace.



For the sweetest of gifts you can't go past these lovelies. Hey Harriet's Psst... I Love You set of 4 TtV photos, Mrs Smiley's Vintage Sheet Music Silver Charm Bracelet, Pink Silk Flower Brooch from Obi Lane or 'make like bunnies' with this Kawaii Bunny Rabbit Love Pendant from Kimono Reincarnate.


We all love a good romance on Valentine's Day and who could resist this romantic Wedding in Rome upcycled notebook from Jellygnite or the super eco Organic Valentine Purse from Little Mary Moo. Valentine's Day doesn't have to be all about pink - think outside the square and pin your heart on your sleeve with a Kitty Boo Boo Valentine my heart is blue for you brooch or spoil her rotten with this divine Shattuckite Chrysocolla Wire Wrapped Gold filled pendant from Rock'n'Wrap.


Pretty, perfect and practical gifts like these Red Valentine magnets from TIGA Designs and Pretty in Pink wristlet from Shelley Berelli are sure to be a hit; show the love with a stunning Love U Focal Heart Bead from CreativeArtyFacts, and to top off your Valentine's Day feast how about these fabulous Pig and Glutton hand embroidered vintage napkins from Artdecadence, because a napkin speaks a thousand words!

Still haven't found the perfect gift? Check out more BrisStyle gift ideas here.

BrisStylette Melanie takes part in World's Greatest Shave!

BrisStylette Melanie from Kimono Reincarnate is taking part in the World's Greatest Shave for the Leukaemia Foundation! Here's a little snippet from Melanie:

"When my husband was diagnosed with cancer, a rather rare form of lymphoma, in November last year, it was a shock to say the very least. I had no idea what to expect, what my role of carer was to be and how on earth I was going to manage it all with a new baby. Right from the start the Leukaemia Foundation stepped in. They offered caring advice and support, explained the treatment in much more detail than his doctor had time to do and were instantly like a new friend at our sides, one that I knew I could turn to at anytime. They continue to be there for us and have brightened up some very dark days. Through his treatment we continue to meet more people that have been helped by the Foundation in many ways including access to financial support and with accommodation for the families patients and their families.

So this year, I'm showing my passion for this cause and helping raise money by shaving off all my hair (down to a number two blade)."

You can show your support for Melanie by heading to her sponsorship page here and follow Melanie's progress on her blog here.

Hearts for Haiti

Hearts for Haiti is an Etsy collective where you'll find donated items from Etsy shops to raise money to rebuild Haiti following the devastating earthquake on January 12th. 100% of the proceeds from Hearts for Haiti go directly to Doctors Without Borders.

We encourage you to go and check out the shop where a number of our BrisStylettes have donated items. Here's a little peek at what you'll find from our members:

Large Art Card You are the Bloom in my Heart by our newest BrisStyle member Sandra Darling

Happy Heart Tee by Cute as Buttons

Upcycled army bag by Kerri's Hangups

Vintage Sheet Music 30mm Brass Locket by Mrs Smiley

The crafty world of Tracey D Designs

This week the BrisStyle team had a chat to one of our members Tracey Donohoe of Tracey D Designs. Tracey specialises in handmade cards, and from time to time, other beautiful things. Here's a little peek into her crafty world...


How would you describe your work?
Increasingly eclectic! I started out with papercrafts, but am more and more getting back to my sewing roots, and have been making handbags, totes and toys, and am now exploring mixed media. I’m working on a series of fabric appliquéd coasters and some ‘paper fabric’ at the moment. Greeting cards and papercrafts are still my mainstay. I’m just having a ball!!!

How did your Etsy shop come into being?
I had been making and selling my cards for quite some time and had a couple of different people suggest Etsy. In my usual way, I explored and set up shop all in the one afternoon!! (which is why my shop is actually traceyd01, because, although they tell you, I was in a hurry and didn’t realise that your username becomes your shop name!!!) I just love Etsy, it’s full of such talented people and wonderful, quirky things of beauty. And Etsy introduced me to the wonderful BrisStyle Team, which I find an absolute privilege to be a part of.

Fantasy Heart Journal

Who or What inspires you?
Colour, thrift shops, my button collection, my children, nature, and of course other artists… I went to see the APT recently and was inspired by many of the works there. If I’m in an uncreative space, I get onto Etsy and the BrisStyle blog and am soon back on track

Do you ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ as part of your creative process?
Yes, I do more and more as time goes on. I’m a regular at Reverse Garbage and was brought up to ‘make stuff out of other stuff’, so to me it’s a much more creative way of working, and living for that matter. I went to the Lifeline Bookfest last weekend, and now have lots of lovely old books and pages to reuse. All my cards are posted between recycled cardboard to protect them, and as much as I can, I use recycled or upcycled materials, and I recycle as much of my waste as I can.


Can you describe your studio / work area?
I’m very lucky, and have just moved my craft space from a spare bedroom to a free standing building at my place that we call ‘the cottage’. I teach card making and scrapbooking and the space is perfect for that. It’s extraordinarily messy at the moment, but that’s the creative process, right?!?!

6. What is your favourite thing in your shop at the moment?
Probably my favourite thing would be the set of Regal Wedding Invitations. I love the way they fold out to reveal different information, and the pockets with info cards inside. I also love the embellishments (which I found on Etsy) which really set them off. I’d say that once my butterflies and coasters are up, they will be my new favourites!!

Regal Wedding Invitations

Check out more of Tracey's work here:
Tracey D Designs on Etsy
Tracey's Craft Crush blog

Thanks so much Tracey for sharing your crafty world with us!

BrisStyle gives back

At each BrisStyle Indie Designers Market a charity is supported through the generous support of our members who donate handmade items for the BrisStyle raffle. We are delighted to announce that as a result of the December market $250 was raised for the Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation (ACCF).

The ACCF is dedicated to eliminating cervical cancer in Australia and in developing countries. This is achieved through enabling public awareness programs, screening and related women’s health clinics and by providing cervical cancer vaccine to women who do not have access to it. Simple and inexpensive, but otherwise unavailable treatments can often prevent great suffering. For more information check out the ACCF website or this informative video.

Image from ACCF

To put things in perspective a donation of $50 will enable a girl in a developing country to have all three rounds of HPV vaccine over a 6 month period, or enable 3 women to attend a screening clinic. We were also pleased to discover that one of our market customers is now volunteering for the ACCF!

Photo by Kish Photography & Design

BrisStyle also raised $150 to go toward the Church Ground Funds of our market home at St Augustine's Church in Hamilton.

December Giveaway Part 2 Winners!

Congratulations Carol and Alison!

The random number generator decided that Chrisy from Art Decadence will be posting her super sweet Alice in Wonderland plate off to Carol.


And Alison will be receiving the gorgeous dendritic opal wire-wrapped pendant made by El of Rock n Wrap.

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Carol and Alison could you please send us an email with your postal address to brisstyleteam@gmail.com so Chrisy and El can pop your items in the mail for you :)

Thank-you to everyone who entered - actually thank-you to everyone who has supported this blog throughout the year. Your encouraging comments and participation in the monthly giveaways is a fantastic motivation and inspiration for our members.

And that's it for 2009. We will be taking a bit of a break from the giveaways in January, but will be back bigger and better after a little rest and relaxation. See you on the other side folks.

And Happy New Year!!

XXX
The BrisStyle Team