In their own words - Sisterhood Sewing

Hello again,

I prepared a lovely post for you all, featuring an interview with the lovely Ellie from Sisterhood Sewing and yesterday it was supposed to appear on the blog for your reading pleasure, but it somehow got swallowed up by the great (and sometimes quite unfriendly) web monster.  I wonder where it went, certainly not here that is for sure!

So, here today, I bring you an interview with darling Ellie, an apology for this not arriving as expected, and a note to say that I will also be posting the wonderful and exciting Sisterhood Sewing giveaway today, in a separate post.

So read, enjoy, be inspired.

Thanks to Ellie for taking the time to share with us, and be sure to check out her lovely wares, and show her some support http://www.sisterhoodsewing.com/ and on Facebook here


When did Sisterhood Sewing begin? 
Sisterhood sewing began 2009 . I belong in a group of fabulous women from Generation Church who have monthly events called Sisterhood.  One night we had a guest speaker from teen challenge queensland ( which helps young people to get free from addictions).
I  thought how can i use what God has given me to help others,,,, from there my mind was flooded with creative ideas and i started my first range of babushka dolls. once my friends knew what i did they started ordering them and telling their friends.

How did you learn your craft?
mainly self taught, trial and error.

What was the motivation to start creating? What was the push that saw you decide to start selling your items? in my spare time, ha ha ,being a stay at home mum i had made a stock pile of babushkas and owls. My sister helped me run my first market stall at the coolangatta beach markets. it did sell products but it was so exhausting that it took me about  year to do more markets.

How did you decide on the best forum for showcasing and selling your wares?  Which have you found the most successful and why?trying different local markets to see which ones attract my kind of shopper.
The village Markets are great because they promote their stallholders and advertise well.

What are your favourite materials to work with?beautiful cotton fabric,luxurious furnishing fabrics.  and my personal fave Cool VINTAGE fabric which i find so hard to part with.


Where do you get the inspiration for your pieces from?i look for trends eg babushkas and owls at the moment and i try to make mine a bit different and extremly cute.
i  have lots of creative friends of all ages and they often have some fantastic ideas and i work on the pattern. for example the pirate owl idea was from a friend who is a graphic  designer.  I made 5 of them for her nephews for christmas with their initials sewn on the wing.

Who do you imagine to be a buyer and lover of your items?my range at the moment is ALL ages. i have people buy mainly for themselves but so often for gifts for friends and family of ALL ages, to people tracking me down for baby gifts.


What has been the highlight for you since it all began? What about the most challenging bits? the popularity of  handmade has helped, and FACEBOOK is the best way for showing people what you are up to.

What was the last thing you created?am in the process of a vampire owl.... stay tuned.

What new things will we be seeing from Sisterhood Sewing in 2011?different styles of owls


What is the best thing about living a creative life on the Gold Coast? so many markets to choose from
meeting other friendly helpful creative stall owners

What is the most Challenging?most challenging is keeping work, life, family balance.

Thanks Ellie!

Much love
Hatch ..xx

In Their Own Words - Savage Kitten

Oh Helloooooo!

Sorry to have been absent from this space yesterday, I know, I was supposed to share with you an interview with the darling Kim at Savage Kitten, but all number of weird, wacky and downright interruptive things kept me at bay from the keyboard. 
One of which, involved removing an itsy bitsy gecko from a banner that was hanging on the wall, to which he had crawled into drying paint, and found himself well and truly stuck!

But, enough about me and Mr Gecko, onto far more impressive and inspiring things...

Today, Ladies and Gentlemen, I WILL bring you an interview with the darling Kim from Savage Kitten.

Read away, be inspired....

How did Savage Kitten all begin? What was the lightbulb moment when you decided to sell your goodies?
Savage Kitten started in a much different form to its current form. I used to make felt logo’s and sew them on t-shirts. Funny story about how that came about, but I think my audience has changed from those days. To be honest I have no idea why I started making jewellery, but somewhere about 2 years ago there was a lightbulb moment and it just happened organically. 

How and when did you learn your crafting skills?I have never had any formal training as such. I remember in school getting high marks for cross stitch, sewing, all that kind of thing. I think I just had a knack for it. I love hands on. My mum and I used to sit in our laundry and sew on an old Singer sewing machine with a foot pedal that was pretty cool.

What inspires you to create?Everything… I visualise things a lot. I did a drawing course about 2 years ago and it taught me persistence more than anything, but it also seemed to give me an artist’s eye. I def see the world differently since opening up this side of my brain. I can’t go outside without seeing a photo opportunity!

What was the last thing you made? What will be the next?The latest thing I have made is what I have called hair-candy. These are hair accessories made from felt, with buttons and beads. I have had quite a few requests for hair accessories.  I think these have an art nouveau look to them.
What’s next… well I would like it to be dresses, everyday dresses. That is the plan, but we’ll see. I have started to group some of my items under a sub-heading of wardrobe by Savage Kitten, so I hope to explore this is 2011.

What do you wish there was more of for artisans on the Coast?A dedicated, indoor (!) artists markets that does not sell second hand, vintage or mass produced items.

What has been the best moment since it all began?Feedback. I have received the most extraordinary feedback and it just blows me away. When people get what I am doing it is all worthwhile.

What about the most challenging moment?I find trying to sell, analyse, get numbers of followers and general number crunching to be so tiresome. It can also put so much pressure on you. Last year I wanted to throw it all in as I think I had become obsessed by all of this. I had to stop and remember why I do it and enjoy that. I prefer to create and do not like making on the premise of selling, tis a difficult balance for a business, tis perfect for the artist.

What is 2011 bringing for Savage Kitten?As I mentioned I would like to work on the wardrobe side of Savage Kitten, this includes my scarves and felt brooches and hair-candy. I would also like to see SK in some stores and to work on my art and maybe start to sell prints etc.


Thanks for sharing with us Kim!

You can find out more about Savage Kitten below:


http://savagekitten.etsy.com/
http://facebook.com/SavageKitten
http://twitter.com/SavageKitten
http://savagekitten.blogspot.com/
http://kimwheeler.wordpress.com/

Tomorrow (and I promise it WILL be tomorrow) there is going to be a giveaway generously donated by Savage Kitten, so be sure to check back if you would like to get your hot little hands on some SK goodies.

Much love

Hatch ..xx

In their own words - Alipink

Today my little darlin's you can find out even more about the delightful Ali from Alipink! 
Hooray, I hear you say!
She is a super-dee-dooper lady indeed, with a crafting conscience, an artistic view of the Gold Coast's future, and best of all, a huge love of creating! Read on my merry men, and find out for yourselves!


How long have you been in business, and what was the light bulb moment that made it all begin?I have been in business since late 2008.  Prior to then I was making and selling items to friends and friends-of-friends.  On-line markets such as etsy have made selling handmade goods more achievable for little businesses like mine.  Oh, and my children got a little older which gave me more time at the sewing machine.

What do you think makes alipink unique? When it comes down to it is is the fabrics that make alipink products unique.  alipink is part of the movement towards a more thoughtful use of resources.  I believe that by using beautiful and unique fabrics in products then this encourages 'mindful' use of these products.  Choosing to purchase a handmade item rather than a throwaway mass-produced item also fosters mindfulness.  It is great to see so many artists and crafters with the same philosophy.

What are you influenced and inspired by when creating? I am inspired by the fabrics themselves when I am creating - the size of the print, the colours and the need to avoid holes or marks often dictates the size and shape of an item.  I also love to browse craft books and magazines and have a growing collection of vintage craft books.  I don't really read blogs but I do pop in to check out http://www.meetmeatmikes.blogspot.com/, http://www.whipup.net/ and http://www.designspongeonline.com/ every now and again. 

When did you last create, and what was it?
The last major project I undertook was a coin quilt for my friend's new baby boy.  Each 'coin' was a different vintage or retro fabric in shades of blue, red and yellow.  I knew she would appreciate the time and effort that went into the quilt and I can imagine her little one choosing his favourite 'coin' when he is older. 

What will you be creating next?
I have four unfinished quilts in my sewing room at the moment so hope to be completing them over the Christmas / New Year break.

Where or how did you learn your craft? I have been sewing and crafting since I was a child. I can remember being taught to embroider and knit by my grandmother.  My mother is a great sewer and made all our clothes when we were children.  It was a while before she'd let me near the sewing machine though!  I bought my own sewing machine in my early twenties and have been developing my sewing skills since then.  I still knit and embroider and have recently learnt to crochet (thank you YouTube!).

What has been the best moment since it all began? What about the most challenging?The best part of alipink is getting positive feedback from customers.  I also love the nostalgia that my fabrics produce in buyers.  I often get comments like "I had sheets with that print when I was a child" or "My grandma had a table cloth like that".
The most challenging part is trying to make this venture self-supporting.  At the moment I can justify my expenditure as I have a part-time job but I am always conscious to avoid being a drain on the family budget.

What are your favourite materials to work with? Where do you source them? I love all vintage fabrics but am particularly enamoured with vintage bed linen at the moment as I have recently started quilting.  My fabrics are sourced mainly from op shops but I have kind family and friends who pass pieces on to me.  When I am looking for new fabrics I go to local online sellers http://www.ijustlovethatfabric.com.au/, http://www.voodoorabbit.etsy.com/, http://www.funkyfabrix.com.au/ and http://www.fabric4u2.com.au/.

Describe the Art/Craft community of the Gold Coast as you see it?It is constantly surprising.  I am originally from Sydney and moved to the Gold Coast about four years ago after a period of time in regional NSW and in London.  The Gold Coast is not all shopping malls, canal developments and bogans -  there is a diverse population here with a definite creative and environmentally and politically aware thread running through it.  I love living here!

What do you wish there was more of available for crafters and artisans on the Coast?
I would love the Gold Coast to host a dedicated handmade market.  There are lots of great markets here now and it would be great to be able to showcase artists and crafters without competition from mass-produced / imported products.

What do you wish for the future of art, creativity, and culture on the Coast? 
I can see the creative community growing here on the Gold Coast, especially through groups such as Crafty Coasters and The Hatchling Society Crafternoons.  The push against the giant shopping malls has begun! 

And what about the future for alipink?There are some new ventures ahead for alipink in partnership with other creative friends here on the Gold Coast. I am always looking for opportunities to reach new customers too and would love to be stocked in some local shops.  Hopefully 2011 will be the year that alipink becomes self-supporting.


Here's where you can find more of those truly scrumptious Alipink goodies....
Etsy http://www.alipink.etsy.com/
Facey www.facebook.com/alipinkbags
Web http://www.alipink.com/
Tweet http://www.twitter.com/alipinkbags

Thanks so much to the wonderful Ali for taking the time to share with us! What a gem she is! Tis nice indeed to find locals with the same creative, handcrafting ideals, perhaps this 'Gold Coast artistic Utopia' thing I keep rattling on about is not implausible after all!  Ali is on my side!

Be sure to check back tomorrow, to find out you can get your hot little hands on a FREE piece of Alipink treasure all for yourself! Nice, Thanks again Ali!

Love Hatch
..xx

In their own words - Friends for Felix

This week is all about the wonderful little felty treasures made by Mel from Friends for Felix.
Today we share an interview with her, find out about her passion for crafting, her inspiration to create and her dreams for the artistic future of the coast.

Thanks so much for sharing with us Mel.

If you want to see the real life Friends for Felix goodies, you will be able to find them, this Sunday, at the Burleigh Arts and Crafts markets

How long have you been in business, and what was the lightbulb moment that made it all begin?
since mid 2010. After my son was born I was trying to think of someway that I combine my love of craft and the love of my son! (I teach drama classes with children by trade and was missing that creative outlet)

My lightbulb moment was in the baby changeroom at a local shopping centre at Burleigh where they have mobiles over the changetables. Seeing my son's enjoyment made me decide that that was what we needed at home. From there I realised that I could also create stuffed feltie toys for him. At the time he was little enough that I could sew while breastfeeding (no way I could do that now, he would want to join in!!!)

I had friends and family members tell me that I should sell my work so I got up the courage to make myself a facebook page. This weekend I am taking the next step and having a market stall at the Burleigh Arts and Craft markets.

What has been the most rewarding experience so far?Recieving orders from strangers and having people trust my craft enough for me to create custom orders for them. Getting positive feedback is very rewarding and witnessing other babies playing with my feltie toys is magical!


What are your favourite materials to work with? Where do you source them?
Three top materials are felt, ribbon and embroidery thread. Felt by far is my favourite. It is really forgiving, great to cut and no hemming!!  Good old spotlight at the moment is the source of a lot of my goods.

 I wish that there were some great local craft stores around my area. I also love to upcycyle/reclycle old fabrics. At the moment I am working on some stuffed toys created from old business shirt sleeves (still a work in progress)!

Describe who you imagine a buyer/lover of Friends for Felix goodies to be? I would love those who appreciate handmade goods, love all things cute, and be of any age. I would love for someone to buy a feltie or a mobile for themselves, not just for the children in their lives!

When did you last create, and what was it you created?
Things have been so busy of late in my house with our little man teething, my 'real' job, getting organised (and anxious! ek!) for our market stall and life in general that I haven't created any new pieces for a while. Last night I finished a new mobile. It is by far my favourite piece and given me a bit of a new lease on my Friends for Felix life! A mobile consisting of four little clouds, a smiling sun and a hot air balloon. Which got me inspired and then I made some little icecreams stuffed feltie toys that I finished this morning.

What do you wish for the future of art, creativity, and culture on the Coast? 
There are so many talented artists and musicians on the gold coast, it would be wonderful to see it become more and more popular. For more people to support local talent, there is so much of it on the Coast.
I would love to see a handmade-only store on the gold coast, wouldnt it be great to see somewhere like james st in burleigh? A kind of collective where artists could display their works for sale, maybe with a coffeeshop using local produce and supporting local live original music, a space for workshops with local artists - wouldn't that just be amazing! I can dream!!!

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Mel and the Friends for Felix loveables can be found in the following places

friendsforfelix@gmail.com - for orders etc
www.facebook.com/forfelix - to check out what is currently on offer
http://friendsforfelix.blogspot.com/ - if you want to read about what goes on behind the scenes in the Friends for Felix household!!!
_______________________________________________________________________

Head down to Burleigh beach markets this weekend and show your support for Mel and her little felt treaures, and don't forget to come back tomorrow for your chance to win some handcrafted special little Christmas treats from Friends for Felix!

In their own words - Flat White Spaces

Firstly, may we apologise profusely to Dave Child and Jay Woods of Flat White Spaces. In a very unintentional error, we ommitted their names yesterday as the brains and brilliance behind the Flat White Spaces art project.  Oh whoopsie doo, how very amateur and embarrasing a thing to do!  Sorry boys! A big congratulations to you ALL for the marvelous endeavour that Flat White Spaces is.
________________________________________________________________________________

And now, in todays post you will find an interview with one of the three, (yes three) marvelous men behind Flat White Spaces, Dave Lydiard. 
Find out what their passion is, where they are headed, and how the Gold Coast is going to become a beautiful arts hub because of them.


What was the motivation behind starting up Flat White Spaces?
The motivation behind Flat White was to make the Gold Coast a more visually rich and cultural environment. The Gold Coast is home to some super talented artists who don't get the recognition they deserve, unless they up and move to another city or country. We hope that with time and the help of the community and other like minded groups to change all that.

Who do you hope will be influenced/inspired by what you are doing?Hopefully we can inspire artists of all disciplines to stay on or come to the Gold Coast to exhibit and progress their work. We also hope to help the general population accept and appreciate how valuable art can be to a their community and environment.

What do you find to be the most rewarding thing about working within the Arts spectrum on the Gold Coast?
The most rewarding part about working in the arts scene is seeing an artist who has worked really to progress their works get recognized for it. It also really encouraging to hear how pumped people are when we tell them about our plans for Flat White Spaces and the Gold Coast.

What is the most Challenging?
At this stage, the most challenging part of the project is doing all the planning, paperwork and behind the scenes boring stuff. It's really tough to sit down and do it when there are so many opportunities out there right now but we want to create a solid foundation for Flat White so the project doesn't just roll over and die due to poor initial planning.

Describe the art scene of the Gold Coast through your eyes?
Through our eyes, we feel that up until recently the Coast has been a bit of a cultural wasteland. Things are slowly changing though, with galleries like 19Karen popping up, arts collective Rabbit + Cocoon which will be opening in January and events like Swell Sculpture Festival beginning to get really popular.

What do you wish for the future of art, creativity, and culture on the Coast?
We hope for the Gold Coast to become internationally recognized as a place that accepts, supports, produces and promotes artistic talent...a bit like Melbourne, except with way better weather!

What about the future of Flat White Spaces?
Hopefully, Flat White Spaces can help the Gold Coast become the type of place described in the previous answer...we know the Gold Coast has the talent and people willing to work hard to make the region a cultural and artist powerhouse, and we want to be around when it happens! As for what Flat White Spaces will evolve into, we have our plans...but they are too top secret to say just yet!
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If you are a Gold Coast Artist, would like to find out more about Flat White Spaces, or have a 'flat white space' that might be perfect for filling up with local creative pieces, you can find them at:  
                        
                                                   http://www.flatwhitespaces.com/

In Their Own Words - Hungry Designs

Due to unfriendliness from the internet Gods, this has been a little delayed, but here and now, I present to you an interview with this week's Showcase Local Creative, Amanda Whitelaw from Hungry Designs.
Find out more about this very talented lady, how Hungry Designs has grown, and what makes her inspired to create. 

When did Hungry Designs begin? What was the motivation to start creating?
Hungry Designs started when I was studying at Art School in Scotland.  I studied Illustration & Printmaking at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design and in my final year I began work on a project questioning the cost of fashion and luxuries and the cost of starvation and poverty.  I screen printed a set of t-shirts with the label “Hungry Designs”  The name just stuck and while Hungry Designs is a completely different beast, it’s nice to know that the name is still appropriate. 

How did you learn your craft?
I wouldn’t say I learned my craft.  I am a self confessed geek and love modern American comics.  I am inspired by them every day and am so thankful that I picked up my first comic book in the library when I was 15.  It is a love affair that encourages me to create and better myself and my designs.

What are your favourite materials to work with?
I primarily work in pencils and digital colours.  I am a screen printer by trade and always have a soft spot for printmaking, although the facilities aren’t as readily available as I would like them to be.

Where do you get the inspiration for each piece from?
I am inspired by comics, macabre themes (especially zombies!) as well as more whimsy and romantic themes, such as my Balloon Girl brooches.  I love pin up and these saucy women provide an ever changing source of inspiration for me.

Who do you imagine to be a buyer and lover of your items?
I am constantly surprised by what customers Hungry Designs attracts.  I have had more mature ladies buying brooches for themselves and their granddaughters and then I have had young children who adore the Typewriter Key Rings.  My customer base shifts and switches and I love meeting customers.  They are so enthusiastic and I enjoy getting their feedback. 

What has been the highlight for you since it all began?
A highlight for me was being featured in Gold Coast October Style Magazine.  This was so nerve wracking!  I don’t really seem myself as the face of Hungry Designs and prefer to think this of my products.  So having my photograph in a magazine for people to see was a little unnerving. 

Also finding out that Andrew G is the proud owner of a Hungry Designs Polaroid Brooch was very exciting!  He bought one of my brooches from Leeloo (https://www.leeloo.com.au/) and I’m thrilled!

Describe the Art scene of the Gold Coast through your eyes?
I think the Gold Coast is fantastic as it always seems to be changing.  People are so willing to buy handmade goods and no longer is it thought that only Granny’s knit.  The handmade scene is very much here and people are embracing it.  They appreciate the time and effort that goes into designing and creating accessories and other wares.  Customers are inquisitive and like to know that what they have bought isn’t mass produced.

What do you wish for the future of art, creativity, and culture on the Coast?
Although I love the markets I attend on the Gold Coast (The Village Markets), I would like to see more markets on the Gold Coast that are strictly handmade.  I am a member of BrisStyle an LOVE their markets.  They specialize in markets that are strictly handmade and everything is so thoughtful and well put together.  I would love to see something like this on the Gold Coast.

What about for the future of Hungry Designs?
I am hoping that Hungry Designs will have even more handmade accessories in the coming years.  I’m looking at making purses with my illustrations printed on the fabric as well as screen printed tote bags.  I am very happy with the direction that Hungry Designs is going in and am hopeful that this continues.

Thanks so very much to Amanda for taking the time to share her brilliance with us, and be sure to come back tomorrow for your chance to win Three YES THREE original Hungry Designs Wearable Art Brooches!  Woweee!!

IN THEIR OWN WORDS - WINNIFREDS DAUGHTER

This week's Showcase Local Creative is the lovely Jess from Winnifred's Daughter. 
Here you will find an interview with Jess, in which you will find out a little more about Winnifreds Daughter, what inspires and excites her creativity, and what life is like as a creative on the Gold Coast.

Thanks Jess!

What inspired you to start Winnifreds Daughter?
Having already studied and worked in various areas of the arts industry, somehow I have always come back to crafting.  Winnifreds Daughter is the outcome of my finally succumbing to my secret passion for all things snipping, snapping, sketching and stitching and harnessing that passion into an achievable business venture.

What are your favourite materials to work with?The entire process from selecting the pre-loved fabrics to attaching the product tag to one of my creations is a labor of love.  I troll local op-shops for beautiful fabrics and these, along with gorgeous buttons and lace are what make my products unique; once a particular fabric has been used up, there is no popping down to the shop for more and therefore, everything is limited edition. The materials that will run out one day are always the ones I love most- it makes them special.

How did you learn your craft?
The name Winnifreds Daughter came from a nickname my uncle gave to my mum when he was a child (he couldn’t quite say ‘Jennifer’ so he called her ‘Winnie’ instead).  I was keen to find a name that paid testament to the fact that all of my craft and sewing skills were taught to me by my mother.  Ever since forever she has taken my sister and I along to craft shows, gallery exhibitions and markets to get ideas for our creations.
 
Who do you imagine to be a buyer and lover of your items?
Anyone who squeals when a cute dog walks past, is partial to puddle stomping, still plays dress-ups, enjoys devouring cupcakes with white icing and loves all things one-of-a-kind and handmade. 

What has been the highlight for you since it all began?The most rewarding moment of the Winnifreds Daughter experience so far was when I posted my very first item in my online store.   That moment was the conclusion to a year of preparation and the beginning of running my very own little business which was extremely gratifying.  

What do you find to be the most rewarding thing about working within the Arts spectrum on the Gold Coast?
I have lived on the Gold Coast for about 12 years and in that time have been amazed at how much it has developed in terms of opportunities for artists.  Personally, being previously involved in photography, visual arts and film, I have found attainable avenues to get my work out into the community through local annual arts awards and gallery competitions.  Seeing your work hanging on a gallery wall alongside fellow creative workers is an enormously rewarding thing for any aspiring artist.

What is the most Challenging?
Given that art (in any form) is subjective, the most difficult thing about carving out a career within the arts spectrum on the Gold Coast is creating art and craft products that are unique and distinctive.  There are a vast number of incredibly talented individuals living on the Gold Coast and therein lies the challenge of breaking through with concepts and creations that are crowd pleasing and memorable.  
Describe the Art scene of the Gold Coast through your eyes? 
The heart and soul of the Gold Coast art scene can be primarily found in the many arts and craft markets that take place every weekend of the month.  It is here that artistic expression takes on forms of all kinds and I adore being able to shop for beautiful treasures knowing that they’ve been created by hand and with love.  To me, this is the ultimate community-based art scene.

What do you wish for the future of art, creativity, and culture on the Coast?
As an aspiring artist and practicing crafter, my priority is to get my work out there where people can see it and any prospect of increasing the volume of creativity and artistic culture in the Gold Coast community is positive.  For me, the future of expanding and enhancing the variety and degree of artistic practices on the Gold Coast, lies in the avenues, opportunities and pathways provided for artists and creative folk to express themselves.  Ultimately, the more galleries we open, the more artists can get their art on the walls, the greater the number of competitions organised, the greater the number of aspirers can enter.  This is what I think needs to happen to turn the Gold Coast into the creative hub we all know it can be.

What about the future of Winnifred's Daughter?
My hope for Winnifreds Daughter is that it finds a place in the crafting community locally, nationally and internationally.  I plan to expand the product range and explore other forms of merchandise development and make my brand the best it can be.  As long as my creative juices are permitted to flow, I shall remain content.

* If you missed yesterday's Winnifreds Daughter post, you can find it here*

Contact Winnifred's Daughter here (Email)
Shop Winnifred here (Etsy) and
Become a WD fan here (Facebook)

Jess and her Winnifreds Daughter Creations are also attending the Pine Ridge Craft Markets, wich will be held on 13th November, Xmas shopping anyone?... All readers and supporters of The Hatchling Society have generously been offered a 10% discount from Winnifreds Daughter when purchasing from these markets, so be sure to head along and check out the wealth of creative talent the Gold Coast has to offer.

Once again a huge thanks to Jess for sharing with us, and inspiring us all to get involved in the growth of the Gold Coast creative community.

Much love
Hatch ..xx

In their own words: Onceworn Twiceloved

Here my fine feathered friends, you will find some Q&A with the lovely Sue from Onceworn all about what she does, why she does it, and what life for her is like on the (not so sunny of late) Gold Coast

You can find Sue's
Etsy shop here:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/onceworn
Madeit shop here: http://www.madeit.com.au/onceworn

Darling Sue has kindly donated some handcrafted, upcycled, made with love goodness which will be up for grabs to one lucky blog reader tomorrow, so be sure to come back and check it out!

But now, lets see what Sue has to say....

What was the motivation behind starting up onceworn? Onceworn twiceloved is the outlet for my creative side, satisfying a passion for op-shopping, design and sewing.  It all started with needing a new handbag myself, and has just grown from there.  I make one-of-a-kind handbags and accesories from secondhand and vintage leather jackets and fabrics.
 
Who do you invisage as a buyer/wearer/lover of your items?
I design things that I like to use and wear myself.  I see onceworn appealing to women who like something unique and quirky, but still practical, well designed and well-made.  I hope that the fact that I am re-purpposing things that might otherwise be thrown away is also a drawcard from a sustainability point of view.  My bags come with a tag showing the original jacket that they were created from so you can see what they started out life as.
 

How did you learn your craft?
I have sewn on and off for my whole life, making lots of my own clothes and things for our home.  My mum taught me to sew when I was really young.  She's the best seamstress ever, and has way more patience than me.  She tolerated many a tantrum when the sewing machine chewed up the cotton and jammed!  
 
What is the best thing you have found to repurpose?
I recently came across my best find ever, a vintage steel grey-blue full length leather ladies trench coat for $10!!!  It would make the most beautiful bag, and I won't lie, I'm tempted, but there are some things that are perfect just as they are.  I can't bring myself to cut it, so I'm going to wear it in winter! 

 
Describe the art scene of the Gold Coast through your eyes? I've only been on the coast for 10 years, but over that time I have definitely seen the arts, crafts and design scene on the Gold Coast grow, slowly but steadily.  There are new markets showcasing handcrafted items, and arty, different shops and galleries popping up all the time.  There isn't really one spot where these types of shops/galleries and venues are concentrated here though, like in alot of major cities, and that makes it difficult for them to get discovered.  I love it that blogs like The Hatchling Society are able to give these people and places the exposure they deserve, and I'll certainly be checking back in regularly.
 
What do you dream for the future of onceworn?
I would love for onceworn to become a full-time job and have more time to create. I have alot more ideas for things I'd like to make, homewares and other things.  If I could sew full-time it would be great!  

Be sure to show your support for this wonderful Gold Coast lady and her wares, and from The Hatchling Society, a great big THANKS SUE!!

If you, or someone you know would like to be the Showcase seller (or even the one asking the questions) you can contact us on facebook here or by Email contact.hatchling@gmail.com

Don't forget to share and be a part of the creative uprising of the Coast

..xx Hatch

Showcase Wednesday (Even though its Thursday) The Gold Coast Mobile Visual Art Unit

Find out what it is like to be a creative Entreprenuer on the Gold Coast with Jane Whittred from the Gold Coast Mobile Visual Art Unit.....

What do you think makes your business unique?
The combination of my Bachelor of Art and Education Diploma and a life time of experience in the visual arts.

What are you influenced and inspired by when creating?
I love being self employed and to be able to use my mix of qualifications under one hat and make a difference to a group or an individual is all I need to go further. A light bulb flicked on after the 10th parent asked me to do something like this as they wanted their children to use their brains creatively like we did when we were kids. There is too much 'screen' distraction these days. The business just kept growing with new opportunities appearing every week.

Describe who you imagine a Mobile Visual Art participant to be?
They range from kindy age (exploring colour and using fine motor skills) right through to aged care (art therapy) and everyone else in between. I would love to work with different disabilities, both mental and physical as well soon.

Describe a typical day in the life of the Mobile Visual Art Unit?
Hard to describe as no day is the same. At the end of the day there are always smiling faces and a sense of confidence about the person and what they have created.

What do you find to be the most rewarding thing about working within the Arts spectrum on the Gold Coast?
We live in a very fast moving part of the country with some of the most beautiful beaches in the world and yet although the Arts Community is not huge, we are still here and will continue to grow.

What is the most Challenging?
The low dollar value of genuine artwork, the willingness to follow trends rather than creating or purchasing individual pieces and the price parents and the education system is willing to spend on educating our youth through visual art.

Describe the Gold Coast through your eyes?
Although I have grown up on the Gold Coast and love the place I don't like how we have accepted our boring style of architecture which sets a low expectation of our creativity. Saying that, with our fabulous climate up here it will never be dull.

What do you wish for the future of art, creativity, and culture on the Coast?
 I visited St Ives, Cornwall (UK) 6 years ago and adored how they had little artist studios on every corner of every street. Where ever you looked there was talent and although Gold Coast can't be compared (for so many reasons) how lovely it would be to support our talent and have little studios popping up all over the place and the community really getting behind them and buying local quality art.

Thank you so much to Jane for sharing a little bit of magic with us all.
You can find Jane on Facey here or you can send her through an Email at whittred_art@bigpond.com

In their own words: Buttons Dior

Find out what being a creative on the Gold Coast is like for Buttons Dior.
Here you can read an interview with the creator, designer and brain behind it all, the fabulous Nic Dior...

What do you think makes Buttons Dior unique?
Because 99% of my items are made with unique, quirky and one of a kind buttons. Our entire range is one of a kind, you will not find it in other sizes or colours.

What are you influenced and inspired by when creating?
My grandmother had a huge collection of buttons that i spent hours sifting through. I was amazed at the gorgeous little embellishments and with already having a clothing line to cater for children and alternate families, i thought i would expand and involve these Delicious buttons.

Vintage Flowers Singlet

Describe who you imagine a Buttons Dior wearer to be?
Someone who doesn't roll with the crowds. Who is happy to be seen in one off items.

4.) What is the best thing about your job?
I can work at home, surrounded by my 3 little angels. I can also pack my gear up and created from different locations. Expanding my inspiration.

What do you find to be the most rewarding thing about being an Artisan on the Gold Coast, and what is the most Challenging?
The most rewarding would have to be the exposure. The Gold Coast is very tight knit and word of mouth spreads fast. Everyone is always supporting new and upcoming artisans and with alot of boutique stores around, every one is willing to give you a go.

On the flip side, that would also be my challenging, as there as so many devine designers on the gold coast, that you really need to Stop, and think about where you want your business to take you.

 Im not in it for the fame or the money. Im in in to provide alternate clothing, to families on a tight budget like us. And a way of releasing my creativity. Its also a great way to meet new and wonderful people!

Buttons Dior at the Burleigh Farmers Market

Thank you so much to the wonderful Nic for letting us all find out about the workings and inspiration of a very talented woman.

Buttons Dior can be found on Facey here and you can contact Buttons by email: buttonsdior@gmail.com

Show your support for local artisans doing something unique and brilliant on the Gold Coast people.

With love
Hatch ..xx