Spotlight: Chicken Ink. Creative

Tell us a bit about yourself?
Hello! Wow this is exciting! I’m Tania and I live in the lakeside town of Paynesville on the Gippsland Lakes (it’s the boating capital of Victoria - Google it. It’s great!). My husband, daughter and I escaped - eh I mean... ‘relocated’ here from Melbourne a little over a year ago. I am a stay at home Mum to my beautiful, darling Madeleine (nearly 2), and I also teach general business studies casually at the local community college. My background is in financial services management and training (I know, a totally different world to craft, right?). Oh and I am amateur photographer. Oh and crafter.....of course!



Can you explain your craft/art and the material you like to use?

Fabric, fabric, fabric - and all it’s lovely accoutrements! My items are designed to add beautiful fabric goodness into people’s everyday lives. Bags, fabric covered diaries and notebooks and the like, softies/cushions, soft blocks and more - nice stuff for women and kids. Some buyers are even lucky enough to buy an item embellished with one of my grandmother’s vintage buttons; some of them would have to be over 60 years old!


Where do you get your inspiration and what is your creative process?
From everywhere! Books, magazines, blogs, TV (sometimes but not often), when I am out and about... I like to see what people are wearing and carrying; colour combos, shapes, patterns, styles. Sometimes I just daydream. I always carry a notebook and pen with me to capture those inspirational moments! Once I have an idea, I research different techniques then pull all these together to come up with my own way of doing things.

I test my new designs in calico first, just to make sure that it works in real life the same way that it does in my head. Then I select lots of fabric combos - I always make items in bulk quantities as I feel that it is a better and more efficient use of time and resources to make product in batches (think green!) But each will be different - be it a variation in size, fabric, embellishments etc. I rarely make 2 things the same.

And as I sew, the ghost of my maternal grandmother sits on my shoulder telling me to “baste it and press it as you go if you want a professional finish”- she is a very insistent woman not easily ignored!


To read the full interview visit the
Chicken Ink. Creative's spotlight page

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Every fortnight madeit spotlights a new designer about their art & craft, advice for success and much more. Be inspired!

Project: popsticks craft

popsticks craft is brought to you by madeit seller eclecticmoi
visit madeit.com.au/eclecticmoi


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Price: approx $12.00
Time to make: 3hours
Requirements: 1000 popsticks, PVA glue, firm cardboard (for the box bottoms, you can make the bottoms out of popsticks but we cheated)
Ability: Beginner - my children are 8,10 & 14 yrs old and non of them had ever built with popsticks before

There is nothing better than doing a craft with your children that you did when you were a child. Popsticks craft is an easy and affordable way to keep your children busy and away from the TV in the school holidays or weekend.

You can make a range of items and the children can personalise them with extra bits and pieces from around the house. We added vintage stove knobs & a starfish to the box lids - what a great personal touch.

Website: Daydream a little Lily

Tell us a little bit about your website?
Daydream Lily is a mix of art, photography, handmade, vintage and a touch of fashion all with a dreamy romantic aesthetic. My original about section read "indie art : handmade jewellery : vintage finds and other pretty things" its evolved a little since then to include photography and creative homes.

when/why did you open your website?
I started Daydream Lily in 2007, I think I only had 10 readers for the first 6 months. Id just finished uni and started my first full time professional job. I was going to work then coming home and that was it. I felt I wasn't being creative anymore and wanted to connect with other creative types. My sister - Bec Winnel - was back studying art so I guess we helped each and both started our online ventures together. We started with myspace then went to blogging.

What is the favourite part about running your website?
All the people I've gotten to meet through it, whether online or in real life. The blogging and handmade community is so supportive, you dont really understand till your part of it. Also I love all the artists work that I get to share, its great to be able to promote and support independent designers.

Why do you love handmade so much?
The uniqueness, I actually get really excited coming across a new indie designer or artist. Getting to connect with the actual designer and know your money is going straight to them brings me back to buying handmade over mass produced.

Name 5 reason why your visitors keep coming back to your website?
This is a hard one, I ask myself this too.. perhaps its,
1. frequent updates - I post daily.
2. unique original finds - whether it be photographers or handmade.
3. I spend alot of time surfing the internet finding the most beautiful and inspiring things so you dont have to
4. apparently I have an "eye" for good finds (some readers have told me this)
5. the occasional giveaway - these always seem to draw the readers in.

Visit the Daydream Lily website for your daily picturesque adventure.

bibs for bouncing babies!

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Visit madeit.com.au for more handmade gift ideas

new seller quick five!

New seller : theclipcafe
http://www.madeit.com.au/theclipcafe

How did you find about madeit?
I actually stumbled across it looking for craft fairs in Perth on the internet. Your site was mentioned on a community blogspot as an avenue for Australians to display their wares. So many talented Australians!!

Explain your style?
I would like to think my style is "Pretty and Practical" with prices to suit all. Ranging from Baby Girls to Mums I aim to explore and create the unique and different.

What makes you happy?
Seeing my children play together, enjoying each others company.

What makes you sad?
When my Husband has to travel away for work.

What can't you live without?
A Hope and Vision of the Future.

Project: sewing machine cover

Price: Free online
Time to make:1.5 - 2 hours
Clear instructions included: Yes
Additional material needed: Yes
Ability: Beginner

Need a funky cover for your sewing machine - then make this your weekend project. Not only will you get some time on your beloved sewing machine but your craft area will look great with a burst of colour.

There a plenty of tutorials on the web and we thought this tutorial by spool was the one to try. After finding the perfect fabric for my cover, I did want the tutorial suggested and measured my machine. I did have to adjust the measurements to suit and cut a pattern on paper first. I also use interfacing to make the fabric stand up and give it some structure.

Now my machine is o'so cozy!!
Bec xx

Newcastle: relax at the Blackbird Corner

Tell us a little bit about your store?
Blackbird Corner was set up by me (Nici) my Sister Jen & my partner Sean in 2006 in Cooks Hill - Newcastle NSW.



When/why did you open your store?
After years of wearing clothes we'd designed & made ourselves we realised there was a demand for what we were into. Because we design/make most of our stock we pretty much just make what we like and have never really been particularly interested in what’s in or out of fashion. We all love anything to do with birds and oriental fabric/styles are definite faves too.

We also wanted to create a store where people can feel comfortable, be greeted with a mixture of subtle scents from our incense & the handmade scented "Touch of Bohemia" Soy Wax Candles. Customers can spend as long as they like browsing, or take a seat & flick gently through one of the gorgeous Aussie Mags we stock whilst listening to our fave tunes.































What labels designers do you stock in your store?
The things we make & sell include: unique Clothing + Printed Tees + Accessories + Cards + Homewares. We cater for Women in sizes 4 to 18+ and Men from Small to 2XXL with a teeny range for babies & toddlers. My labels are called Wayward Girl & LINT. Jen's is Hex(6) + Jen & I make a range called My Fascist Mother. Sean's label Anorak is our biggest seller. We have also taken a few select items on consignment but only from long term customers due to the size constraints of our tiny shop. Oh and we happily stock a collection of Zines by Suzy Pow from Bird in the Hand Zine Distro too! www.zines.wordpress.com































Why do you love handmade so much?
We love making & selling quality limited run & one off handmade wares. Seeing someone walking down the street wearing an outfit we made is immensely satisfying & rewarding. We also try to support other Crafty Folk
whenever we can - we recognise that these things are Labours of Love! Admittedly we do sell some “mass produced” things too - toys & trinkets that remind us of the those we had when we were young, which make us feel nostalgic & happy. We also stock a pretty good range of Aussie Magazines (including Frankie, Peppermint & Wooden Toy Quarterly - yay!) + LOMO Cameras too!



Name 5 feelings that your customers will feel when they enter your store.
Comfortable, Welcome, Relaxed, Inspired, Happy


Visit Blackbird Corner at
70 Darby Street, Cooks Hill, Newcastle
(cnr Queen & Darby Streets Next to Cooks Hill Books)
Phone: 02 4929 4350

Open Tues 12-4, Weds - Fri 11-5, Sat 10-3, Sun 11-3 (closed Mondays)

For more directions visit their website

bear hug!

Click on the picture to view item




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Visit madeit.com.au for more handmade gift ideas