Monday Maker - Bagua Lala

Hello Sadia, tell us a bit about yourself.

Were you creative as a child?

I think I was more curious and my Mother encouraged me to try different things. I remember I had a collection of beads and a 'Spirograph'.

And your parents, are they creative?

My Mother knows how to draw.




How would you describe your work?

I do little things with my hands for your beautiful fingers and ears. I really think that we don't need to wait for people to give us a gift to feel loved. Our style is a way to present our identity, and I try to propose a panel of colours to fit with our state of mind too. This is about feelings, each jewellery piece has a story, and has come from a different part of the world, so when somebody buys one of my products, a real relationship starts between them.

How has your work evolved since you started?

I worked with recycled buttons from my Mother, originally, and then when travelling I decided to keep a piece of each place we visited by collecting a few buttons that were really different from what I had ever seen. Then I decided to add some ribbon and play with different materials.

Recently, I have created earrings, adding beads to my work. I am surprise I didn't go to beads first but I always have been in love with buttons! :)

Who or what inspires you?

I think I am inspired mostly by artists like Van Gogh, drawers of Zentangling as well as writers of personal development books

Brisbane and Queensland encourage me to keep my eyes open to creativity. Everything around is so colourful! Nature is so impressive. I love patterns for example and you can find patterns everywhere!

Do you reduce, reuse, recycle as part of your creative process?  

YES! Some of my buttons and beads come from my secret box. Clients sometimes offer me some of their beautiful 'leftovers' and hope I can do something with it.

Sometimes, I can create something after many years! One of my last pair of earrings has been made with a necklace I had stashed more than 15 years ago.

Can you describe your workspace?

I have a special room to create, I always go back in the living room to have light and be near the kitchen to prepare cups of tea.

What is your favourite thing to make?

I think the earrings are becoming something I prefer, probably because it is new to me and I like to challenge myself. I also create my own gift boxes and I really enjoy doing that.

I love Zentangling and drawing classes as well as drawing on paper or fabrics. I am thinking about doing something with these new skills.

How did your business/shop name come about?

Bagua Lala comes from Bague à Lala which means in French :  Ring of Lala. Lala, is one of my nicknames I received from a friend at school and it stays

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

I would like to create a different line in jewellery, handmade cards and decoration. But 12 months doesn't look like enough time so during this time I will improve my skills and my style.

Do you have a top tip to others wanting to break into the handmade market?

I would say enjoy the opportunity to talk people. You don't need to wait for them to purchase, try to imagine you are them and get to know your customers.

There are so many choices everywhere, and we are all trying to do our best to please people. But remember to continue to create things that YOU like by adding love and piece of soul in everything you create.

Respect your product, they are born from you. They were just ideas before you decided to give birth to them. Enjoy speaking with your stall neighbours, you can share a lot of things and advice with other creative people!

Describe your typical creative day for us?

I put everything I have on my table before I start work.  It looks like a mess. Often I will go back to a previous creation, to repair or to change something.

I like to go buying new supplies even if I have enough at home. I mix what I already have with new things. Sometimes, as I told you about recycling, I can buy something and wait several months before using it. That's really funny because when I buy, I know exactly what I want to do with it.

Do you have a Favourite inspirational quote?

'The better is the enemy of good'.

But it sounds so much better in French, "Le mieux est l'ennemi du bien" and 'Do your best at this precise time, that's the most important.'

Favourite Music while creating?

Music of my teenage years or any playlist I have made on Spotify. I have one with just soft songs

How long have you been a member of BrisStyle?

I am still 'new', I arrived in July 2016.

How did you find out about BrisStyle and what made you take them plunge and become a member?

Thanks to Sarah from Designs of the Heart, when I met her at an Etsy market and thanks to Meg from Stychy Wytchy when I discovered my first Twilight market as a customer.

I wanted to be a visible part of a community. I like this idea in the City. You feel supported and you can share. I like it a lot.

Why do you craft?

I like this question.! I think I like to invite others to not forget themselves, especially women.

When you offer yourself as a gift, it is a sign of self-esteem and you can improve your self-esteem this way.

I like to invite people to make a special gift too. Something with a story, a personality. I think I like to achieve things. It makes me feel really proud of myself.

Delightful Beads

Let's say hello to Marissa from Delightful Beads.

Hi Marissa so firstly we'd love to know if you were creative as a child? 

I was more of a tomboy.

Do you come from a creative family? 

Yes, my Mother was a very creative artist and my Father sculpts.

How would you describe your work? 

I believe it’s modern and obviously handmade. 
A lot of it is very sparkly.

How has your work evolved since you started?

It is a lot simpler now.

How did you start selling on Etsy?

Just applied and am still posting listings from pieces I did a while ago!

Who or what inspires you?

Artisans on YouTube who are at the top of their game as well as nature and Pinterest.

Do you reduce, reuse, recycle as part of your creative process?   

Yes. All Silver and Copper are recycled. Beads & findings from necklaces no longer needed are reused and eco-friendly? 

Describe your workspace?  

I have a great work space with lots of storage and high and low tables and every imaginable tool or gadget known to man!



Do you have a favourite thing to make?

That’s a hard question for me because I work in so many media. They are all very satisfying but I would have to say Precious Metal Clay is so amazing in that you have a chunk of clay, modify and heat it and voila your piece is now silver.

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

I definitely need to do more work to my website and Etsy shop.

Do you have a top tip to others wanting to break into the creative market?

Keep it simple.

Can you describe a typical creative day for you?

It would start early and depending on what I am doing work through most of the day with 20 minute breaks throughout, sometimes into the night.

Do you have a favourite quote you would like to share with us?  

”If not us, who? If not now, when?"

Do like to listen to music or watch a favourite movie while creating?

Very occasionally I enjoy classical music, but nine out of ten, silence.



Do you have a favourite handmade item made by someone other than yourself?

I received as a gift a beautiful almost steampunk porcelain heart in powder blue from an artist friend.

Where can we find you online?

www.delightfulbeads.com.au   
www.facebook.com/delightfulbeads   
www.Etsy.com/au/shop/DelightfulBeadsAus

 How long have you been a member of brisstyle?

I would say about 18 months to two years.



How did you find out about BrisStyle? 

When looking for markets to sell at I came across BrisStyle and put in an application form.

Why did you become a member? 

I like how BrisStyle runs it’s business - they are a smooth, efficient and very friendly team.

Why do you craft? 

It keeps me busy and keeps my creative vein pulsing.

Thank you Marissa.

Today's Monday Maker is Robyn Stewart from Birdy and Clementine

Were you creative as a child/do you come from a creative family?

My mum was crafty and my Aunt was a painter but I only remember making mud pies.

How would you describe your work?

A little bit retro a little bit modern, feminine and complicated like me :0. I focus primarily on surface decoration as that is my first love and I like to wing it as I have a low boredom threshold'.

How has your work evolved since you started? 

I started a looonnnggg time ago with a big hiatus where I moved interstate and was the main caregiver for my gorgeous gals- they were my priority for many years. Now that I am an empty nester I can indulge my passions again . My work has changed firing temperatures and  am using new techniques but I look at my work from 20 years ago and I can still see similarities in the colour palette,the lustre used and the simple shapes although I was doing wheel work a lot more then and now I prefer to hand build and slip cast my original proto types.

How did you start selling online/ Etsy?

Ahh this for me is the big change... way back when you did art shows and sold face to face  now the online world is massive. It's great opportunity to have a global audience, incredibly exciting but alas my photography skills need a lot of work so I don't really have a presence there as yet. I have a shop.. it's rather sad only two items listed to date.

Who or what inspires you?

Colour, pattern and texture be it in the natural world or man made... life really - it's full of amazing things.

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

I have solar panel assisted electric kilns which I fire predominately when the sun is shining. I prefer to keep packaging to a minimum and use recycled where possible.

Describe your studio/workspace?

I have two workspaces, actually that's a lie because if I need to commandeer the whole house I will! I have just done The Finders Keepers for the first time and I literally took over the spare bedroom and had work stations dotted throughout the house, nothing was sacred, the dining room ,the living room two verandahs... you get the picture. :)

Generally though I have a tidy area which is my studio upstairs (an enclosed verandah) where I do my hand building , decorating and lustering and downstairs where I slip cast , make a big ole mess and have my kilns

What is your favourite thing to make?

Right now I love love love making earrings. I treat each one like a mini abstract painting and enjoy where they end up.

How did your business/shop name come about?

A brainstorming session with my eldest daughter. I know I wanted Birdy (Robyn) and the Clementine was brainstormed from a bunch of 50's names as I feel my work harks back to that era (albeit in a lateral way)

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

I have so many ideas but I am currently time poor... more tableware, more jewels. I love a good cup and I used to specialise in teapots so I would like to develop that further.

What’s your top tip to others wanting to break into the handmade/creative market?

Well I feel like I'm still doing that myself but basically you need to take yourself seriously and do the work.As boring as that sounds everyday you need to do something that takes you forward and sometimes that ain't sexy.

Describe your typical creative day?

They are often long. I have breakky then walk into the studio upstairs and depending on what I am making I could be running up and down stairs all day between work spaces. I mix it up a bit otherwise the body protests so if I alternate fine and gross motor skills I find I can work longer. I tend to focus way too much on the making and very little on the marketing.

Music or movie while creating?

I have a very eclectic taste in music so it could be anything from classic to folk, funk. grunge, alternative, world, R &B etc

What is your favourite handmade item that you have bought?

So many... I  really appreciate and collect antique hand stitched fabrics especially from minority tribes in Asia.

Where can we find you online/stockists?

 www.birdyandclementine.com

How long have you been a member of brisstyle?

Almost two years

Why do you craft?

Because that is the true expression of who I am. Be yourself people!

Jemica is the brain behind MeekzContemporary and she is our Monday Maker this week

Jemica and I go way back, I can't even remember the first market we met at, and we share a common interest.

Recycling!

Hi there Meekz, so glad I finally nailed you down for an interview.

Hi Anita
Thanks, I would love to be interviewed thanks for thinking of me :P
 

Well my first question is:

Were you creative as a child and do you come from a creative family?

Yes to both. I loved to do art and craft with my mum when I was little. My mum you could say is a gypsie and has been everywhere and done everything. She is very skilled in sewing, carpentry, floristry, beauty therapy, hospitality etc and has always tried to teach me everything from an early age.

How would you describe your work? 

I would describe my practice as evolving.  I love the notion that I am creating something out of nothing and that a piece of throw away metal can be turned into something beautiful and inspiring.  

Art can be anything and it is the story or journey taken that makes it rich.   

So how has your work evolved since you started?

My jewellery has evolved dramatically since I started back at university. I explored using lots of recycled materials as a source of inspiration and substance for my jewellery from plastic buttons, to hessian rope, to fabric off cuts and finally to recycled acrylic signs.   As a silversmith this gave me great excitement to explore the possibilities, but something was lacking.  

A shift and focus back to using recycled metals last year as my sole source of materials has filled the void and given me back the enjoyment I missed as a metalsmith.  I now work entirely with recycled metal from road signs, electrical wire, kitchen fittings, recycled and preloved sterling silver and gold jewellery, crockery and cutlery and other metals including recycled copper, brass and aluminium.  

The tactile qualities of working with metal and using traditional tools and techniques has sparked alive again the joy I found at university in making jewellery and given me a more fulfilling purpose in knowing that the traditional art of silversmithing is still continuing today.

How did you start selling online?

I started selling online through etsy to begin with.  This was an easy manageable outlet for me to sell my jewellery online along side facebook. 1 year later, I decided to pursue my own website, after I felt it was hard to find or locate me as at the time there were no Australian search areas on Etsy to refine your search for local designers and I felt I was getting missed.

I have now refined and changed my website 3 times as technology has progressed and with new formats, layouts, and underlying codes have changed.  This however has meant that I now have the ability to manage and edit my own website using Wix.com and find this greatly satisfying knowing that I can control the entire look, feel and format of my website and don't need to pay any one else to add or change content.  

Who or what inspires you?

My fellow jewellers, friends, and family inspire me everyday.  Art in general as well as direct topics such as architecture, geometry and fashion are great influencers in my practice and help to shape the outcomes of my work.  My sketches play a big part in the design of each piece and usually form the basis of each piece.

I know you reduce, reuse, recycle as part of your creative process but can you tell us how your art is eco - friendly?

I pride myself in having an environmentally sustainable practice from the techniques used to the materials I source.  I love to recycle, reuse, up-cycle and incorporate preloved materials such as road signs, tea pots, lamp shades, electrical wire, sterling silver cutlery/crockery/jewellery as well as copper piping, hot water systems, brass kitchen fittings etc.  Everything I source is locally found.  The tactile nature of working with raw materials alongside existing forms always creates a dialogue for me and continually keeps me searching for ways to express new stories.  

Can you describe your workspace?

My newly renovated studio space is fantastic.  I now have 4 fully functioning jewellers benches by which I can hold regular jewellery workshops to teach the community about traditional silversmithing.   Made with the help of my parents the benches are all made from recycled wood including two table tops.  We resurfaced the concrete floor, added a splash of paint and dad even made me a gorgeous sign to go out the front.

Do you have a favourite thing to make?

I love making all my jewellery.  There are no two pieces that are alike across all my ranges.  

My wrapped up range - (The brightly coloured wire jewellery)  Each piece is hand weaved using my signature weave and no two pieces are ever alike.  The simple form and minimalist design of this range make any piece the prefect accessory for an outfit.  The array of colours available allow for perfect colour coordination or colour matching.

My hammer texture range explores mark making and texturisation.  Featuring nine hand forged designs along with a combination of letter, number and symbol stamping, this collection provides the most possibilities for individual, personal and custom exploration.  No two pieces are ever the same.  Colour, pattern, texture and theme are the most inspiring characteristics of this collection for me.

How did your business name come about?

My business name : Meekz Contemporary Jewellery  came about from a play on my nickname - Meeka.  Unable to register Meeka at the business registry, I changed it to Meekz and added Contemporary Jewellery as a descriptive element and hence Meekz Contemporary Jewellery was born.

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

I would like to see myself still teaching and designing new pieces within 12 months. I would like to perhaps travel and explore maybe a residency or go on a jewellery tour overseas to see how other jewellers practice and gain some insight.  Learning and creating networks is a big passion of mine and keeps me motivated and passionate.

What's your top tip to others wanting to break into the creative market?

Be passionate, driven and self motivated.  It is a big scary world out there but if you put in the hard work you wont regret it.  

Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it and if you can ... help others as we are all in the same boat.

Describe your typical creative day?

A typical creative day of making in the studio is filled with great music, plenty of water and my mood boards.  The hours are long, the techniques and number of tools used is some days enormous but the joy I get out of creating something from nothing is priceless.  Knowing that I made a piece of jewellery that someone one day will cherish is all that matters.  

Do you have a Favourite quote?

My favourite quote is by Albert Einstein and is Knowledge is Imagination.   This to me is great and I understand where he was going with this, but as an artist I have reinterpreted this and created my own personal quote and mantra. - "Imagination is Knowledge".  If we first don't create, imagine and explore then how can we know! Knowledge can't be created without imagination and so hence Imagination is Knowledge.   

Do you prefer Music or movies while creating?

Definitely Music

What is your favourite handmade item that you have bought?

My favourite handmade item that I have bought to date would have to be my original Little Brown Dog set of rectangular cushions made by the wonderful Bec Lewis.  They feature 2 guinea fowl's one on each cushion and are the perfect statement homeware in my room!

Where can we find you online?

I am on facebook, instagram and have a website.

Facebook - www.facebook.com/meekz.contemporary.jewellery

Instagram - meekzcontemporaryjewellery

Website - www.meekzcontemporaryjewellery.com.au

Plus I have 12  stockists at present and they include:

QLD

Perch and Pantry - Cleveland, Reverse Garbage Echoes Gift Shop - Woolloongabba, Miss Bond Jewellery - Fortitude Valley, Estelle Elliott Designs - Yeronga, KickArts Contemporary Arts - Cairns, Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery Shop - Toowoomba, Bridget Bunchy - The Summit, Erin Lightfoot - Eat Street Market/Hamilton, Nicky's Fashion Fair - Laidley, Story Tree - Boonah, 

SA

E for Ethel - Adelaide

NSW

Zero Degrees - Thredbo

How long have you been a member of Brisstyle?

For ages now, I can't remember and don't know how to find out how long its been now.

How did you find out about Brisstyle?  
From a friend originally

Why did you become a member?

I became a member of Brisstyle to network, meet friends, surround myself with like minded people, to learn how to improve my business at workshops and discussion catch ups and to attend markets and sell my pieces while gaining recognition and get my brand out there. 

Why do you craft?

I craft because I love to make, get creative and experiment.  I am a hands on person and love to learn.

Thank you Meeks.

Anita