works of wood

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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!

Roseship

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new seller quick five :: missIsa

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

How did you find about madeit?
I've known about madeit since the very beginning. There was a huge amount of buzz about it and I know lots of my creative friends were very excited that Australia would have its very own handmade selling point. When I started selling handmade products it was a very natural step to join. I've found so much fabulous stuff that I really want (but can't always afford) and of course, some of my closest crafty friend are there!

Explain your style
Pretty. I love pretty things. I love roses, polka dots, vintage books, coffee in beautiful china, garlands, embroidery. I love things that are different and special. I'm very inspired by that peaceful feeling you get when lounging in an armchair watching rain fall. I live for those days. Of course, it helps that I live in Ballarat where it rains all winter.

What makes you happy?
Family. A good political discussion. Waking up after a really good night's sleep to see my children wander out of their rooms with disheveled hair and sleepy grins. Fresh scones with jam and cream. YUM Marriage. I've been married for nearly 10 years and I love it! I also get really satisfied (which, I think, is a version of happiness) when I have finished packaging a set of pencils. they look so cute I could squeal with delight.

What makes you sad?
Domestic violence and running out of chocolate.

What can't you live without?
Chocolate! Salad rolls. My ipod touch. My books (and all the books I will own in the future) Sewing! My grandmother taught me to sew over the phone after giving me a sewing machine for Christmas a few yeas ago. I will never be able to show her quite how grateful I am.I don't think I could live without my Husband. He's awesome.

WIN a $100 madeit voucher!!

Congratulations to Amanda S from NSW, whose number was chosen via random.org as the winner of the $100 voucher. Amanda bought the below items with her $100!





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To celebrate our recent Frankie Magazine advert we are giving one lucky buyer a chance to win a $100 madeit.com.au voucher!!

Simply buy from our Frankie advertisers (see below) and you could win a $100 madeit voucher to spend at any of the stores below. Giveaway runs from the 13th May (today) to the 27th May. Winner will be picked via random.org!

Remember you must buy from one of the below sellers over the next 2 weeks to be entered into the giveaway. Every purchase from the below sellers is an entry!!!!

Click the images below to visit their madeit stores.













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Visit madeit.com.au for more handmade goodies