Monday, May 31, 2010

new seller quick five :: Felix & Lily

new seller quick five :: Felix & Lily
www.madeit.com.au/felixandlily

How did you find about madeit?
Krystal
- whilst online shopping. I’m a self-confessed online shopping addict, especially when it comes to handmade.
Lauren - a little while ago, searching for handmade items in Australia. I rediscovered it when Krystal and I started working together, and I'm so glad we did!

Explain your style
Krystal - sweet but not too sweet, I simply adore the 50s and most things vintage. My top loves are buttons, polka dot fabric & kawaii!
Lauren - I love simple, vintage, grandma-style. At the moment, I'm loving felt, florals, anything coral coloured, and cardigans.

What makes you happy?
Krystal - kisses from Felix (even if they are slobbery!), warm cookies, hot English breakfast tea, sun showers, op shopping, listening to my fav tunes.
Lauren - lots of tea, long hot showers, playing in the dirt with Lily, long nap-times (which means more craft-time!), and finding new treasures at the markets.

What makes you sad?
Krystal - animal cruelty is the one thing that always saddens me. I wish there was more I could do to help them.
Lauren - short nap times!

What can't you live without?
Krystal - Hope, passion & love. They are what drives me to keep creating new designs & pushing myself to try new things.
Lauren - My sweet family. They inspire me everyday.




Thursday, May 27, 2010

yellow mellow

Click on the picture to view item





..............................................................................................................................
Visit madeit.com.au for more handmade goodies

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

mum who makes :: How Tweetitis

mum who makes :: How Tweetitis
www.madeit.com.au/HowTweetitis

Tell us a bit about yourself?

My name is Christine I am a 30’ish’ Mum to two wonderful children Jarvis (3) and Carys (nearly 2 but going on 20). I live in Adelaide, South Australia and I am a social butterfly who loves to spend time with my little ones experiencing life! I wont say no to a good night out on the dance floor or at a concert, I am addicted to John Hughes movies, celebrity magazines, daydreaming, shopping, and I am quite certain that I am allergic to camping so have decided not to give that one a go yet. I am lucky to have the best parents and sister in the world and great friends in my life who always support and encouraged me in whatever I do.

Can you explain your craft/art and the materials you like to use?
I make accessories for the young and the young at heart. I love to make items with a touch of vintage style and a sense of fun. I am inspired by my childhood memories and my obsession with 1950s Hollywood glam. I love to use Japanese fabrics, silk, lace, feathers and I can not go past a bit of bling! I am a bit of a closet sewer as well and have made some one off pieces for my daughter so who knows you may see some in store one day as well.

How long have you been creating and how did you get into making handmade goodies?
I have always had a creative streak in me, it started with story writing when I was in Primary School the teachers were amazed by the short stories I would write and I would often draw sketches of the characters from the stories. I also used to make kooky handmade presents for my parents. I have always loved fabrics and bought handmade where I could. After having my children and admiring their creativity, I found a renewed energy in to my crafts and started making things when they were napping (I know that is when Mummy is supposed to sleep). I absolutely love it and I only make things that I really enjoy creating and now I cant stop! I find I now whip out the sketch pad and draw out some design ideas and I love it when they turn out just as I had imagined.

How do you juggle motherhood & crafting/managing your business?
Lots of late nights! I do try to incorporate the kids were suitable. They love to see what I make and they have fun doing mini photo shoots with me. Even my son loves trying on my samples so I have a few shots for his 21st! The time I get to spend with them is so precious so I do try to make sure the time we have together is quality time, but I also think it is great for them to see me creating as often when we are crafting together they will say things like ‘look I am making pretty things like Mummy’ which always makes me smile.

Do you have any advice to other Mothers who are wanting to start creating handmade goodies?
Do it! I was very shy and reserved to share my creations with the world to start with, but now I am proud and I think that it is a great example for our children to respect handmade and creativity and you are only constrained by your imagination.
Some helpful tips are to get social online, I have found some great forums (like the one on Made It) where lots of businesses are more than helpful to share experiences with others. There are always places like Facebook and Twitter, which are a great way to promote what you do. I have also found markets a perfect opportunity to not only to you get to meet other crafters in person, but to see and meet your customers face to face is wonderful. I get a lot of joy from seeing little girls squealing with excitement at my creations and putting them on straight away. I wish you much luck and success if you do decide to give it a go!




Tuesday, May 25, 2010

black & white

Click on the picture to view item





..............................................................................................................................
Visit madeit.com.au for more handmade goodies

Monday, May 24, 2010

new seller quick five :: Two Smitten

new seller quick five :: Two Smitten
madeit.com.au/TwoSmitten

How did you find about madeit?
Friends Friends Friends, everyone seemed to know about Made It except me! ...and now I'm not just a seller, I have the potential to be an addicted shopper...my husband is keeping a VERY close eye on me!

Explain your style
My style is a mixed bag! My home style is beachy and relaxed, but with Two Smitten...I am so inspired by everyone around me, in particular family and friends...my office is an eclectic mix of their style and inspirations! A bit of simple, a bit of dramatic, a bit of vintage...altho if my son had his way everything would be blue! (BAA-LOO as pronounced by my 2yr old!)

What makes you happy?
My incredibly supportive husband, my "growing up to fast" kids, Two Smitten - my sanity and place to feel like a grown up, the beach, dancing with my kids - sunnies on playing air guitar, realising that I am a better cleaner than cook, family walks in the rain (much to my hubbys dislike and 2yr olds delight!), everything about rain!!!, being with my friends who make me laugh so much my eyes water, the idea of reading books and magazines (never have time anymore!), people who follow their hearts, creating new things and transforming ideas into something that is Two Smitten, photos (memories!), getting into my pj's at the end of the day!

What makes you sad?
Bills, arrogant people, forgetting my sunnies!

What can't you live without?
My hubby, kids, sunnies and a mocha frappe no cream!




Friday, May 21, 2010

Project: upcycled paper bow!

It's such a pleasure giving gifts, seeing the look of surprise on someones face as they open it, you may also like to present your gift with as much effort as you put in to either looking for it or making it. Put a twist on your prezzie and keep it green by recycling some magazine pages into paper bows.

To begin you'll need a stapler, glue stick, scalpel, an old mag and a ruler. In hindsight some double sided tape would have been a real help but I managed without it.

You'll need 9 strips of paper 1.9 cm wide, cut 3 strips 19 cm long, 3 strips 16.5 cm long, 2 strips 14 cm long and the last one 11.5 cm long.

The rest is the fun part, keeping the colourful side down put a dab of glue sitck in the center of the strip, fold in the end and give it a twist before sticking. Once you've glued all your strips stack them largest to smallest so you can get a feel for the bow, stack it to see how it all comes together, staple the three largest together, do the same with the other sizes too, now you are ready to staple or glue the little stacks together which will create your bow! For further instruction and measurements in inches check out the how about orange blog. Best of all its free!

Happy wrapping!
Vanessa.




Thursday, May 20, 2010

works of wood

Click on the picture to view item





..............................................................................................................................
Visit madeit.com.au for more handmade goodies

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

mum who makes :: Winnie and Clem

mum who makes :: Winnie and Clem
madeit.com.au/WinnieandClem

Tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is Anita and I am a Mum to 2 beautiful children, Ella (3) and Jackson (1). I am also a farmers wife, a daughter, a sister, and an aunty. I live on a farm just out of a small town called Taralga, about 60km from the nearest city, Goulburn in the Southern Tablelands of NSW. After having grown up the country it was refreshing to move back to farm life with fresh air, a vegie garden and of course loads of hard work. I love beautiful things...especially when they are handmade. In my small rural community I am surrounded by people that make - jewellery, chocolates, art, and preserves, it all inspires me! My professional background is in science and pharmaceuticals and whilst I love that job it is fields away from being able to create!

Can you explain your craft/art and the materials you like to use?
I am a sewer. I make practical homewares that are beautiful. I believe in indulging in gorgeous designer fabrics but making them into useful and practical items. I like my items to be unique, for example my peg aprons are something not seen in main stream retail and my perfect fit aprons offer a design feature different from most aprons. I also make kids buckets hats, again from designer fabrics. Kids hats are a must for any sun sensible parent, so why not make them fun and stylish as well as practical. Having been taught to sew by my Mum, a dress maker and couture wedding dress designer, I am a perfectionist. I only sell items I would be happy to purchase myself. I believe in quality and durability, hence my items are either topstitched or feature reinforced stitching.

How long have you been creating and how did you get into making handmade goodies?
I have been creating since I was a child. My Mum started teaching us to sew before we were at school. I remember my Mum's sewing room with a cupboard overflowing with fabric and we use to rummage through it for what we wanted and while she made it up she would set us down with a needle and thread to do our card of stitches. I have always made clothes for myself and my friends. I remember making year 10 formal dresses for a group of my school friends many years ago! Before I had my children I started making bags, and then when my kids came along, they, along with my home became my focus and my inspiration, hence my range of homewares and kidswear.

How do you juggle motherhood & crafting/managing your business?
I think mothers have a natural ability to juggle many things. I do however have a very supportive husband and I am often saved at the end of the day with a good glass of sav blanc. Fortunately my husband has also managed 2 small businesses so his advice has been invaluable. I find that because I have orders to do or new items to post on my store, I am more structured and so my kids get good quality time with me. I am due to return to my "paid" job in August and whilst most of this can be worked at home I will have to travel to Sydney (4hour commute) one day a week...needless to say I may have a very different opinion on juggling motherhood, career and Winnie&Clem then!

Do you have any advice to other Mothers who are wanting to start creating handmade goodies?
Its great to have a Mummy thing, so go for it but I would offer these three pieces of advice -
1. Choose your items carefully and limit your range of goods, it is easy to get caught up in the excitement of wanting to create but sometimes a smaller range is better and easier to manage
2. Listen to other crafters, read blogs, use the internet, books, forums etc for as much advice and inspiration as you can.
3. Share the experience with your kids, it teaches them so much and they will start to appreciate the basics in life. My daughter now asks when we are in a shop "who made this?" or if we are in the supermarket "who grew this?", it just makes me smile!




Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Roseship

Click on the picture to view item





..............................................................................................................................
Visit madeit.com.au for more handmade goodies

You may also like:

Related Posts with Thumbnails