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!

Kate from Studio Cockatoo is this week's Monday Maker

Studio Cockatoo is a very well known brand around SE QLD, and I'm sure you have seen at least one of their very recognisable prints popping up in a gorgeous boutique somewhere.

Kate Bordessa is the name behind the brand and she was very happy to share some tips with us.

Hi Kate it's so lovely of you to make the time to share your thoughts on creativity with us all today

Can you tell us please, were you creative as a child?

Yes I was a creative child, I pretty much lived in a dream world. I loved beads and crochet, also collecting bits and bobs, pebbles, sea glass, scraps of fabric.

How would you describe your work? 

Modern, geometric and fresh!

And do you think your work has evolved since you started? 

Yes definitely. I have very much let the creation of new designs be guided by customer input and requests. 

Recently I've noticed I'm working with less bright colours and more pastel tones.

How did you start selling online?

I built my own website through shopify, its very easy to use and edit.

Who or what inspires you? 

My friends inspire me, they are a creative bunch of gorgeous and unique women :) 

Are you able to reduce, reuse, recycle as part of your creative process Kate? 

We try to be as environmentally friendly as possible. We do all our own printing and packing in house and use recycled materials wherever we can. We print with water based inks we do not use cartridges.
 

Can you describe your studio for us?

Organised chaos! 

We are lucky enough to work from our home studio in Pomona  (sunshine coast hinterland). 

Our dog Doug likes to supervise operations from under my desk, also serving as the ultimate foot warmer :)  

Do you have a favourite thing to make?

I love doing custom portraits for people, I always feel so humbled when asked to create a piece as a way to remember a four legged friend that has passed away.

Aww, so cute. 

And how did your shop name come about? 

Our studio backs onto parkland and we have lots of trees that attract the native birds. Especially the cockatoos, who are very noisy and lovable.

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

It's really hard to say, you never know what opportunities will present themselves, I like to keep my options open.

 

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

Firstly figure out if there a demand for your craft. 

Have you found a niche? 

Focus on your point of difference, be unique and create your own style. 

Be confident and passionate about your craft :)

Such good advice, thank you Kate. Can you describe your typical creative day?

First up is coffee then the school run, then more coffee. 

Being self employed I have found self management to be vital. I find it very challenging most days to find balance with work, family and me. 

I'm most creative when I get all the necessary functional parts of running the business out of the way, paperwork, ordering materials etc. 

Although I find inspiration often tends to occurs at unusual times, like 3am... hence the coffee addiction.

And you're not the only creative person I know who gains inspiration at crazy hours of the night. It seems to be a common theme amongst creative geniuses.  

                                                        

Do you have a Favourite quote?

Do what you love, love what you do 

Do you listen to music or podcasts while creating?

Normally I work in silence.

What is your favourite handmade item that you have bought?

I can't possibly choose!!!  

Where can we find you online?

www.studiocockatoo.com.au
www.instagram.com/studiocockatoo

How long have you been a member of brisstyle?

Must be 3 or 4 years now :)

And how did you find out about brisstyle?

Through Friends.

Why did you become a member?

I love the network to creatives, although I don't post on the forum regularly, I have found other peoples post to be really helpful and interesting. 

It's also a great way to keep uptodate with what's going on in creative circles around Brissy.

Why do you craft?

Crafting = happiness 

Thank you so much Kate. X