Tangerine Thursday

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Visit madeit.com.au for more handmade goodies

Mum who makes :: ButtonsbyLouLou

Mum who makes :: ButtonsbyLouLou
madeit.com.au/ButtonsbyLouLou

Tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is Lou. I live in Melbourne, although grew up in country Victoria. I have 2 little boys aged 1 and 3 and they keep me very busy of course.

Can you explain your craft/art and the materials you like to use?
I make fabric covered buttons into all sorts of accessories for adults and children - from earrings and cufflinks to sewing buttons, hair accessories and magnets. I love beautiful fabrics and am continually inspired by new prints and designs. I can't sew so this is the perfect excuse for buying too much fabric.

How long have you been creating and how did you get into making handmade goodies?
I started making buttons in 2008 as gifts for family and friends and things got out of control when I started selling some things online and people actually bought them! I have now made thousands of buttons and more than I ever thought possible. All by hand, all one at a time.

How do you juggle motherhood & crafting/managing your business?
With difficulty. I make things during sleep times/quiet times and I snatch bits of computer time throughout the day and at night. I need to make things at night but I find it difficult because I am so exhausted by then. I have recently got a babysitter for a half day a week to give me some productive 'day time' making. My sister is also starting to help me out with bits and pieces. I am looking forward to reading 'The divided heart: Art & Motherhood' by Rachel Power as the juggle (and struggle) of creative mums is ringing true for me at the moment.

Do you have any advice to other Mothers who are wanting to start creating handmade goodies?
Make what you like, not what you think others will like. Develop your own style rather than copying others. Try new things and enjoy!

Spotlight: Mishmash Designs

Tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is Michelle Vella I live in Sth Morang Victoria. My partners name is Bruno and we have 6 sons, Rhys 20, Leigh 18, Alex 15, Ben 14, Samuel, 11 and Max 10. I work at Spoltight Sth Morang, I managed the craft Department there for two years but stepped down as it was way to much for me (Hours) although I am a work freak. I now organise all events at Spolight including all craft workshops..I love it. I love to spend time with my family and I love to go for a swim and also enjoy walking.

What's your best advice for someone starting up? 

My best adive to starting up would be to stay positive, things don't happen over night. Take your time in taking photos and listing your items. I am very focussed on customer support so always answer emails as soon as possible. List new items regulary.

Do you have any advertising/promotion tips for sellers to be successful?

Twitter is a great place to promote your items in your store - twitter.com/mishmashdesigns. Also having a blog is a great idea - mishmashdesigns.blogspot.com. Blogs are great for free giveaways. I think Business cards are great to have as well. Also remebering that family and friends are a great way to get you name out there.

Can you share any lessons that you have learned the hard way?

I can remember when I first started I put the incorrect email down as my paypal. I was so excited when I received my first sale that I didn't even notice that I hadn't been paid for days. So now I always make sure to take my time through listing and enter correct information. Also a good lesson is communication. If you are running late with an order it's always best to be honest and communicate with your customer. Normally people are very understanding but just like to know what is going on.

To read the full interview visit the
Mishmash Designs's spotlight page

new seller quick five :: kittycollects

New seller :: kittycollects
madeit.com.au/kittycollects


How did you find about madeit?
A friend asked for my advice on a bag she was about to purchase from madeit, and I was immediately enamored. I love the fact that madeit supports Australian crafters, and thought it would be the perfect place to start selling my wares.

Explain your style?
My style was recently described as "gramorous" - a combination of grandma and glamorous. Hopefully with a little less gran and more of the glam, but you be the judge!

What makes you happy?
Finding gorgeous fabric from friendly and efficient online sellers.

What makes you sad?
Forget the GFC, the SFC (Sydney Fabric Crisis) is devastating! The lack of original and affordable fabric in Sydney makes me sad.

What can't you live without?
Love, laughter, some good tunes, spare time for creative outlets, and my camera.

Let's Shop! - New shopping cart!

On Thursday we added a new shopping cart to madeit.com.au

The shopping cart allows you to buy multiple items from one or more sellers. You can add and remove items easily and you can now send a message to the seller on checkout (size, colour or just a lovely note). Payments to the sellers must be made within 3 days of confirming your purchase.

We think the shopping cart is fab and will make the buying & selling process on madeit a lot easier. Even Mum had a test drive of the cart and has given it the thumbs up! Thanks Mum!

Woo Hoo - Win one of five $30 vouchers!



To celebrate our new shopping cart & our birthday (yes it's been a year since our relaunch) we are giving away five $30 madeit gift vouchers to five buyers who use our shopping cart & buy item(s) over the weekend.

All purchases on Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 February 2010 will go into the draw. Winners will be notified on Monday 1st March.

Thanks for buying Australian handmade
♥ madeit & our sellers

Happy Birthday!!

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Visit madeit.com.au for more handmade goodies

Mum who makes :: Giggleberry

Mum who makes :: Giggleberry
madeit.com.au/Giggleberry

Tell us a bit about yourself?
I'm a stay at home mummy to three busy bees. My 9yo step daughter, 2yo daughter & 1yo son - I LOVE being a mum and am having the time of my life hanging out with my kiddies! I have a wonderful hubby and I can't help but keep my hands busy creating things!



Can you explain your craft/art and the materials you like to use?
I make and sell fabric bunting banners - they are also know as garlands, swag, pennant strings. I could play with fabric and my sewing machine for hours and hours on end and get a kick out of putting a bunting banner together. Like many crafters out there I have a major fabric addiction!

How long have you been creating and how did you get into making handmade goodies?
I have always enjoyed creating things from as far back as I remember. Giggleberry Creations came about just over 2 years ago when I wanted something different and fun to decorate my baby girls bedroom. I took the left over fabric from a quilt my mum had made her and created my very 1st bunting banner. When family and friends saw it and wanted one I started taking orders... Giggleberry Creations has grown from there. I have made banners for parties, bedrooms, weddings, market stalls even caravans for people all over the world!

How do you juggle motherhood & crafting/managing your business?
Routine and no TV. I am lucky to have kids who sleep well so take advantage of snooze times to get the things done that little fingers would love to 'help' with like cutting fabric, emails, blogging, taking product photos. We are a TV free home (yup, you read that right. lol) so when the kids are in bed at night I find it very therapeutic to sew, sew, sew with a quiet house around me.

Do you have any advice to other Mothers who are wanting to start creating handmade goodies?
I say find something you truly enjoy doing - the last thing you want is to give away the precious 'me time' mum's get to be doing something you don't enjoy.
I also challenge you to turn your TV off for a week and see just how much more time you find you have to do things - truly :D

We ♥ ACT sellers!!

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Visit madeit.com.au for more handmade goodies

New seller quick five :: tairavora

New seller :: tairavora
madeit.com.au/tairavora

How did you find about madeit?
I was alerted to this all Australian handmade site by a friend of a friend.

Explain your style?
I am attracted to bright colours and patterns found in man made objects and nature. I like to challenge myself by photographing day-to-day objects and making them look beautiful. I try to make the ordinary look extraordinary!

What makes you happy?
A creative day spent taking photographs, or working at home sanding, staining and varnishing my wood blocks gives me great satisfaction. Sharing quality time with my family and close friends, listening to my favourite CDs, and enjoying cute puppy photos with my boyfriend (soon I will have my own!) also make me happy.

What makes you sad?
Having grown up in India I have seen how poverty compromises human behaviour and this makes me sad. Wars, armies, dishonesty, animal cruelty and people destroying the environment make me sad too.

What can't you live without?
Sharing smiles and laughter with my family, friends and partner.