FK chats to Sandra from Sydney based paper label, Blueberry Paper

Can you describe your creative process?
I will start sketching out ideas in pencil, all that’s in my head at this stage is something like “I want to do a monkey card”. From there I will go online and through my collection of books on everything from fashion and textile design to children’s storybooks and magazines looking for a spark of some element I might use on a card. Sometimes I’ll look for colour combinations or pattern inspiration. Usually then I’ll gather everything in my notebook and leave it there for a few days, just to let the ideas settle and then I’ll take a look again in a few days with fresh eyes. When I feel like I have something to work with I start painting drawing and lino cutting to arrange the elements which I then scan and work on in Photoshop. Then I play with the elements until it feels “done”. The designs always ends up completely different to how I originally thought they would!

We have been working very hard behind the scenes so stay tuned for more details and updates. Make sure you mark the Melbourne event on your calender, and if you want to help spread the word via your social networks here is our facebook event invite.

Along with the amazing list below the Melbourne Markets will also include specialist stalls from some of our sponsors! Frankie Magazine / Made590 / Leeloo as well as our own Find me, Keep me stall with our new summer range!

And the full line up…

A Curious Bestiary & Co
Adorning Al
Almond Tree Frames
Amy Eating Apples
Antigone K Accessories
Attic Accessories
Aung
Aunty Cookie
Beattie
Belafonte
Bespoke Letterpress
Betty Jo
Black and Bird
Black Box
Bob’s Boutique
Boniko’s Safehouse
Brkich/ Jen Hall Designs
Buka Projects
Castlebox
Chik
Cloth Poppy
Corky Saint Clair
Cserpent Art
Cuff Off
Cupcake Wrapper Co
Dames & Divas
Dominique Sepulveda
Elkadesign
Elkhorn
Emotional Baggage
Formosa Design
Frankie & Ray
Georgie Love
Ginny & Jude Designs
Golden Ink Collaborative
Gretchen Hillhouse Design
Hamb
Harvest Textiles/ Ink & Spindle
Heima
Herbert & Friends
HMC Design
Hummingbird Road/ The Owl Utopia
I Dream A Highway
IMOK
In-sync Design
Itchy Bird
Jane Peacock
Jubly-Umph Originals
KaiKai Collections
Katarina Freene
Kindling
Kylie Gartside
Labthreeofive
Lady Phillips
Lark
Lavallier
Lightly
Little Circus Design
Little Green Dress
Little Jane St
Lola & Bailey
Lore Lore
Love by Geneine Honey
Love In The Wilderness
Luce Handmade
Made by Mosey
Made by White/ The Storybook Rabbit
Madz Has Runaway
Make Me Iconic
Maru
Mattt
Meet Me At Mikes
Melbourne Street
Meow Girl
Middlemost Clothing
Milkwood Design
Mini Envy
Miss Be Designs
Miss Haidee
Modernist T-Shirts
Mohini Jewellery
Mondocherry
Mooch’n Around
Mookah
Moss & Myrtle
Myrtle & Lace
Nell Design
Nikita
Nikki Catalano
Notions
Odds & Ends Handmade
Ohme Ohmi
Oishi-m
Okt-ober Dee
Only Midge
Pear Shaped/Empress Design
Petals in Metals
Pigeonhole
Pip Keane Design
Pocket Carnival/ Benconservato/ SpinSpin
Ra Ra Superstar
Rabbit & the Duck
Record Attempts
Red Parka Designs
Reissued
Retro Print Revival
Roman Skateboards
Ruby & Sage
Secret Squirrel
Shabana Jacobson
Shady Designs
Shagpile
Shonah
Shuky Design
Simply Phoebe
Sisken
South For The Summer
Spoon Savvy
Studio Oat
Sunday Morning Designs
Sweet William
The Good Cat
The Design Kids
This Is / Stella Ann
Tiger & Hare
Tilli Michelle
Tinker by Printink Studio
TMOD
Treepartydesign
Truffaux
Twiglet
Two Layers Of Cells
Two Threads
Ute Australian Design
Victoria Mason Jewellery
Vintage Prints
Wah-Wah Wears
White Square
Wind and Water Designs
Write To Me
Yardage Design

]]> http://www.thefinderskeepers.com/blog/2010/09/melbourne-springsummer-designers-announced/feed/ 2 http://www.thefinderskeepers.com/blog/2010/09/melbourne-springsummer-designers-announced/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=melbourne-springsummer-designers-announced http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheFindersKeepers/~3/YWhddRsAyhQ/ http://www.thefinderskeepers.com/blog/2010/09/featured-shop-mr-sparrow/#comments Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:00:56 +0000 Finders Keepers http://www.thefinderskeepers.com/blog/?p=3105

FK talks to Anna, owner of Perth shop Mr Sparrow

Tell us a bit about Mr Sparrow and the concept behind it.
My aim with Mr Sparrow was to create a haven for beautiful things. It is is a home, gift and garden store with…

FK talks to Anna, owner of Perth shop Mr Sparrow

Tell us a bit about Mr Sparrow and the concept behind it.
My aim with Mr Sparrow was to create a haven for beautiful things. It is is a home, gift and garden store with a mix of old and new, designer and hand-made, with products sourced from all over the globe. The emphasis is on quality and good design, with each product telling a story, whether it is a beautifully-crafted teacup from the early 1900s or a modern lasercut steel shadow projector. I try to stock products that are really different and exciting, and that are not stocked elsewhere in WA or even Australia. I like to support smaller, independent designers whose focus is on unique and handmade products, and also love eco-friendly, organic or chemical-free products made from recycled or sustainable resources. From the beginning, I really wanted to create a space that was as exciting and enjoyable as the products themselves, so that people would come here as much for the experience as the products. I hope that visitors to my shop feel like they’ve stepped into another world for a few moments, and leave feeling inspired and excited by what they’ve seen.

When did you open the doors and what was the motivation?
I opened just over two years ago, in June 2008. It was something I had been thinking about for a long time – a little shop that brought together all the things I loved. I had managed a small business before and enjoyed it, and I have always been passionate about beautifully-designed objects, and filled my house with both old and new treasures, so I just knew that this was something I had to do. My husband and I went overseas for a year, living in Berlin and travelling through Europe and the USA, and I was busily collecting design and product ideas the whole time – taking photos, scribbling down brand names in shops, and collating a book of ideas. I got so excited by everything I saw there, I couldn’t wait to get home and open my own shop. When we got back I enrolled in the government’s NEIS course and started working towards opening my business. It took about another six months before I opened Mr Sparrow’s doors.

What labels & product do you stock and what are you always searching for?
I stock a mix of homewares, stationery, jewellery, accessories, children’s and babies’ gifts, gardening accessories, plants, and just lots of unusual gifts. Some of the Australian products I stock are Laikonik Once-A-Year Books, Claystone pottery, Amelie’s Room cot and picnic blankets, Daniela Tommasi scarves, and Have You Met Miss Jones bone china pieces. I also stock lots of international brands, including O-Check stationery, Perch! ceramics, KAHLA porcelain, Marjorie Victor jewellery, BOSKKE Sky Planters…and lots more! I’m always searching for something really innovative and different, anything that really gets me excited, either because of its clever design, its sustainability or its beauty.

What has been the most successful aspect of your store?
I think people really enjoy the atmosphere of the store, which is what I had hoped. I have a fishpond in an old bathtub, lots of fresh flowers and plants, and I try to display the products in a way that helps people to understand their functionality and picture them in their own home. Also, I have little hand-written postcards displayed with all the products that give a bit of information about the designer or brand, which customers really love. I always find it gives something so much more meaning if you know where it has come from and what has gone into making it. There is a bit of a sense of a Sparrow community, too, through my loyal customers, subscribers and blog readers, and I love that.

What is the design & art scene like in Perth?
It has changed a lot in the last few years. There are now lots of markets focusing on local handmade products, like the Perth Upmarket and Made on the Left, which is fantastic. There are also lots of little galleries opening up, or shops that also exhibit local art, especially around the city. I think there has been a global shift towards embracing local, handmade and independent design, and we have definitely felt that here in Perth. There are so many young, creative people doing exciting things, like the William Street Collective, as well as websites that promote the local art and design scene, like Sixthousand and Dropstitch.  There is definitely a strong community feeling amongst independent shop owners and designers, and a sense of supporting each other, which is really nice.

What advice would you give to others wanting to follow in your footsteps?
I think if you feel the drive to start your own business, you have to at least give it a go because if you don’t then you will always be wondering what might have been. It’s definitely not an easy road to take, and I think you have to be really passionate about what you’re doing to make it work, but if it does then the rewards are definitely worth all the hard work! I’d also really recommend doing NEIS if you can because it really helps you to clarify your ideas and work out all the details you might not otherwise think about, plus it also provides a bit of financial support, which helps. As part of NEIS, you write a business plan, which I think is really important – even if you don’t stick to it, it really helps to break everything down and get you thinking about all that’s involved in starting a business, and it can be a really useful thing to go back to if you ever feel yourself losing your focus…which I find happens from time to time! I think doing lots of research and talking to other people in the industry can be really helpful too.

All the specific details:
Shop 3, 223 Bagot Road,
Subiaco WA 6008
Ph 08 9381 6362

Trading Hours:
Monday to Friday 9.30am – 5.30pm,
Saturday 10am – 5pm
and online all the time!

www.mrsparrow.com.au

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FK chats to Melbourne’s card geniuses, Able and Game

Able and Game is quite well known given the short time frame you’ve been up and running. Can you tell us where the name comes from?
Coming up with a business name that you like is really hard. I think one of the reasons I decided to really push Able and Game was because I liked the name and didn’t want to let it go to waste! The two words come from Gareth and my initials with an E stuck on the end to form a word, Anna is the Able and Gareth is the Game.
What are your backgrounds and how did you get started?
I have a background in fine art and did my Bachelor degree in painting and drawing at the University of Ballarat. Gareth has a degree in computer science from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. After university I worked as a secondary teacher and had an accessory label called Anna Laura and Gareth has previously worked as a business analyst, application developer and software engineer and currently works freelance as a web application developer.

We love your quirky cards! Where does the inspiration come from?
So many different places and each card has its own a unique story. We also get some help from friends and family. My sister is good at coming up with ideas, particularly for our train station cards. Our ‘I would give up my superfast internet card – for the weekend’ came about after our DSL modem broke a few years back and we had to go back to dial up for a week while waiting for a replacement modem. I think we both came out in hives and remember it as the worst week ever.

What was the hardest part about starting your label?
Working from home on your own is hard, it can be isolating and you often end up wasting time online because you want some human interaction. Suddenly you’re wasting half an hour on facebook looking at the wedding album of someone you don’t even know. Sure you can put it under “research for wedding cards” but with no one to tell you off you can suddenly justify a whole bunch of stuff that really is a waste of time.

Tell us your top 3 things to do in Melbourne to get inspired.
Walking around the city at night when it is quiet, but not too late. Sunday nights are good because there are not too many people around. The other night I walked from Carlton down to Flinders Street and although it was a bit chilly it was a nice way to relax and take in the buildings and public art. On the weekend we do markets on both Saturday and Sunday. We have a regular stall at Rose Street Market and have some of good friends who also have stalls. It is great fun to catch up after five days of working alone by talking shop and looking at new products people have made. We often head to a pub afterwards for dinner and drinks and by Monday you feel pretty recharged to start the week ahead. Melbourne also has loads of things on during the week, which is good for people like us who work on the weekend. Gogo dancing and gallery openings, anything you can do with a drink and a friend is always going to make a good night!

What’s the next stage for Able and Game?
We are always thinking of new cards, trying to come up with that perfect card that make someone tell his friend his cheeks are hurting from laughing so much. We also have some new stationery items as well as a few giftware items. I keep dreaming of the day we can hire someone else and I can have a co-worker. I have a feeling whoever it will be will need to be able to listen to my inane gibbering about card ideas, cats and television shows.

www.ableandgame.com

FK talks to Sydney fashion designer, Beattie.

Tell us a little more about your self titled clothing label, Beattie.

My name is Beatrice Lanser, but most people call me Beattie. So when deciding on a name for my own Fashion label I decided on “Beattie” as I knew I would never tire of it and it feels comfortable to me. I once wrote to the Royal Family in England when Princess Beatrice was born to tell them that they may like to call her Beattie as a nickname, as it seemed to work well for me. I have clearly always felt like I had something to say! Not following fashion trends, I seek to make clothes that are fun, special and naive. These are clothes you can wear with your favourite vintage cardigan or the tailored Jacket you stole from your Grandpa or that t shirt you picked up last year. All the fabrics I use are made for royalty – think linen, silk, cotton and wool. The unique textiles are limited editions, designed in house and hand screen printed in Sydney by a wonderful family business. All the clothes are handmade by me in a studio on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, though I am hoping to use some local businesses to help me next year.

Can you share your experiences so far and how it lead you to fashion design?

I grew up learning arts and crafts from my mother and grandmothers and learning how to draw from my architect father. When I was old enough I studied a Bachelor of Design in Fashion and Textiles graduating with Honours in 2003.  After studying, my first job was with Sandra Thom a Sydney Fashion designer who learnt how to drape in India. Everything was made by a team of four people including myself in a small room above a shop in Paddington. Each piece was absolutely unique and contained a variety of vintage fabrics in natural fibres and all handstitched together with quilters running stitch. I then moved to London where I worked in design and quality control for a gentlemans shirtmaker and learnt to love menswear and classic styling. Both these jobs influenced me immensely and when I was brave enough, I started my own fashion label in 2008 that brought together my love of handstitching and classic styling.

We love your unique prints! Where do you find the inspiration?

I like looking at what is around me and then reflecting simple elements into drawings. Things that inspire me are: my friends, vintage fabrics, handpainted crockery, architecture details, the sea, gardens, indoor plants, travels to other cultures and movies that make my heart sing. For instance at the moment I have “Gulgong Bessa” which was inspired by the humble Besser Bricks from this sixties public swimming pool in Gulgong [near Mudgee]. I just love their pattern and repeat and the positive negative space and also the feeling I had swimming there last summer. One of the other prints “Rio boardwalk” was inpsired by a trip I took to Brazil last year. There is this landscapre architect who designed a lot of the public walkways, spaces and gardens in Brazil, Roberto Burle Marx – I was so blown away by his work. Rio Boardwalk is my interpretation of the paving on Copacabana beach promenade. I love designing my own prints , that has definately helped me to stand out in the fashion crowd though it is one of the scariest parts too! As the moments when I decide on my prints and the colourways for the season requires great courage and confidence.

What piece of advice would you give to others starting out?

Be you. Have a go. There are a lot of people who talk about what they want to do, but not many who actually do it. It does take great courage to put yourself out in the world on show and be truly you, but the truth is that only you can do what you can do. So why not do what you love! I also remembering getting overwhelmed as my brain catapulted too far into the future. I found that by starting small and having achievable goals was most helpful to me. So instead of saying I am going to design a whole collection and sell it and manufacture it, I just focused on making this one dress, in 2 colours and my own textile print and see how it goes. I knew I could do that. And I did and it has grown from there.

What creative activities do you enjoy in Sydney?

I actually really love Sydney. I love swimming in the ocean looking at the underwater creatures, it is like a special art gallery that requires goggles to see the colours and shapes. I love going to the Sydney Biennale on the old ferries to Cockatoo Island. I love going to see live music, especially at the Enmore Theatre. The acoustics are amazing and it is such a beautiful building. I really enjoy small cafes in Manly, Surry Hills and Darlinghurst. Sitting in cafes is seriously delightful people whatching. I often get inspired by what people are wearing and what they are talking about. I have also been selling at various markets around Sydney and this is seriously fun. But the people you get to meet, the stories you get to tell, the stories you get to hear, it truly encourages my carnival nature! Rozelle markets is a favourite of mine for seaching for that peice of old fabric or hand printed postcard or an enamel bowl, a perfect Sunday activity.

What can we expect from Beattie in 2011?

Well Beattie is going to get bigger in 2011! I have just gone full time on “Beattie” so that I can open my very own shop in Fairlight (just up the hill from Manly), New South Wales! This is something I have not even dared to dream about too much! So I am pretty excited. The shop will be full of clothing for men and women, accessories, handknits and some other things not to be let out of the bag quite yet. So, new textile designs, new styles, new website and some of the classic old Beattie styles to keep me and my customers relaxed.

www.wearbeattie.com.au

FK talks to Magali and Jason from their store, Wolf at the Door

Wolf at the Door just celebrated its first birthday! Tell us about your lovely shop.
Wolf At The Door is a regional makers space that supports the contemporary global makers movement – we have a real passion for the hand-made. We stock the work of many contemporary Melbourne and interstate makers, designers and artists, plus the work of many local designers and makers. They include porcelain maker Kris Coad, textile maker Only Midge, graphic designer Tristan Varga-Miller aka The Mojo Box, sculptor/printmaker John Barter, local porcelain maker Bridget Bodenham, jeweller Caravan, artist John Butt and many more.

Wolf At The Door is also a ‘one stop shop’ for unique gifts, interior designers and stylists, and it is becoming popular as a ‘gift registry’ for weddings, birthdays and engagements. wolf is housed in a beautiful old Hepburn building filled with history and character. We also take a lot of care in how we display the work – and we have a gallery in which we have regular art exhibitions – plus a sculpture garden out the back!

What was the inspiration with opening Wolf at the Door?
There is a real gap in regional Victoria for this kind of work to get supported and showcased. We are both artists ourselves (Jason is an award-winning sculptor and Magali an in-demand graphic and web designer), and we have always been a part of this kind of makers culture. So when we moved to the country, we wanted to bring this with us. And also create a place where the local community could also be encouraged and supported.

What kind of treats and treasures can we expect to find at Wolf at the Door?
So many!! From lovely handmade buttons and brooches, to ceramic jewelery.. Giant sculpted foam spark plugs to delicately fashioned porcelain bones, antler dishes and tea cup light fittings… Beautiful hand-made clothes for women and children, cool tee shirts from Mr. Bucket for the men-folk, vintage test tubes and 16mm cameras.. Awesome contemporary prints from Larry Parkinson, David Waters, Carey Potter.. We also have an authentic 1950s operation table from Britain in our front window! We stock the work of over 60 labels, artists and makers so we always have heaps of things in the shop! It usually takes people quite a while to ‘do the circuit’ and check everything out! they love a good poke around and we encourage it – and a chat too!

What has been the most successful aspect of your store?
Supporting the local makers culture and engaging with the local community; bringing unique and quality work to the region, having some great art exhibitions in our gallery space, and making this kind of makers culture accessible to regional Victoria – and to the many city tourists who come here each weekend, who may not get exposed to this kind of work back in Melbourne. and the clothes – we stock independent labels like Dot and Herbey, Queen, Once Upon A time – these aren’t just clothes – they are ‘pieces’! they sell very well…

We’ve also just opened a brand new art complex in nearby Kyneton called Stockroom. It is Wolf on a much bigger scale – we have 7 artists studios, a giant split-level retail store, 2 big exhibition spaces, a makers ‘retail concept space’ and a beautiful ‘clothes forest’.. We renovated a 150 year-old butter factory (870 square meters) and we’re hoping it will become a thriving art epicenter in the region, where artist and makers not only exhibit heir work, but sell it direct to the public. A learning center and cafe are also on the way…

What is the design & art scene like in Hepburn Springs?
It’s healthy! Lots of artists and makers move to Dayelsford and the broader region from Melbourne and other places – and many people born here also return after spending time in the city.. There are heaps of talented people living and working around Hepburn – and you never know who’s just moved here, or is making amazing work, just around the corner..

There is also the Daylesford Makers Market and a number of other stores around us that also support and do well from this kind of design and makers culture. We enjoy feeling part of a community and a ‘movement’ so to speak.

What advice would you give to others wanting to follow in your footsteps?
Do your research! Don’t just go into it for the money! Be organised! Be sincere and support and sustain the community around you – support those who support you! Stay true to your gut feeling – and have fun too!

www.wolfatthedoor.com.au

Tanya Ruxton from We Are Messengers top 6 picks for August:

1. Freewheelin print by Naomi Murrel
2. Pretty Vintage Floral Garland by Paperklip Design
3. Wattle Vase by Augus and Celeste
4. Tea Time Print by Bindi Booth
5. Bright Ideas Notebook by La Rara
6. Petula Tea Towel by Printink

Renee Anne‘s top 6 picks for August:

1. Letter B Poster Print by draw! pilgrim
2. Cheater Mint Fabric by Aunty Cookie
3. Rice Paper Tape – Lime Strip Set by Blossom Creations
4. 3*fold neon green circle card by Lox+savvy
5. Patchwork Pillow by Moose and Bird
6. She’ll Be Apples Card by Naomi Murrell

Alischa Herrmann from Bespoke Letterpress top 6 picks for August:

1. Zurich Purse by Sisken
2. Feather Throw Cushion by Elkhorn
3. Girl on Mountain top by Nikki Catalano
4. Baby Boat Mobile by Made by Mosey
5. Wolf Girl Print by Tabitha Emma
6. Zebra and Girls print by Kareena Zerefos

1. “You’re all sorts of lovely” card by Able and Game
2. Aunt Mabel’s handbag brooch by Betty jo
3. Ribbons cushion by pony rider
4. Calico tote by Blink Designs
5. Kewpie doll studs by Liana Kabel
6. Rainbow diary cover by Scotatto

1. Red ‘Orchard’ hand-printed teatowel by Pippijoe
2. Orange, Green and Yellow Pencil Set by MissIsa
3. Birch Forest Cushion Cover by Buttongrass
4. Pink Flower Brooch by Alfalfa
5. Field of Flowers Coin Purse by SeventhSphere
6. Organic Hand Screenprinted Rooftops Fabric by Lara Cameron

Sarah Thornton from the Finders Keepers top 6 picks for August:

1. Home, Sweet Home cushion by Aunty Cookie
2. Vintage Fabric Super Clutch by Kitty Came Home
3. Poppy Tea Towel ‘Dandy’ by Puddin’ Head
4. Cushion Cover by Spin Spin
5. Marmalade Tea Towel Pack by Printink Studio
6. Lovely Folk print by Naomi Murrell

We’re really excited to let you know that the Finders Keepers will be taking over the Arcade Project at Gaffa from September to December this year.
The Arcade project is a unique opportunity for emerging designers to have their own small retail pop up spaces for a short term, hosted by contemporary art space Gaffa in their amazing Gallery space in Sydney’s CBD. There are 4 small pop up retail spaces that will rotate every month, that the Finders Keepers will be co-hosting.

For designers: This will give you an opportunity to further grow your brand and experience being in a retail space whilst under the guidance and help of us alongside Gaffa.  This also gives you the freedom to carry on working outside of the retail space whilst it is being hosted, so you do not have to physically be there 6 days a week whilst your retail space is in operation. The spaces are open to your creativity an empty white canvas for you to make your own!

The Arcade project is a new concept that was started by Gaffa this year, they are currently offering 3 month blocks in this retail spaces. The Finders Keepers saw this as an exciting opportunity to get involved and exclusively offer designers shorter leases of making the space exciting with rotating designers, and helping them bring their work to the next level, beyond what market stalls can bring.

For customers & design enthusiasts: Alongside the Arcade spaces The Finders Keepers will also be offering support with ‘Meet the Makers’ launch evenings and some very exciting workshops and talks over the last 3 months of the year. Stay tuned for the exciting program and more details. It is also an exciting way to bring emerging design to Sydney’s CBD and with fresh new retail every few weeks, as well as Gaffa having new shows in their 3 galleries every 2 weeks, it will be a great and unique place to visit and shop!

Interested in finding out more?? Email us at info@thefinderskeepers.com and we can send through more info, you may apply as an indivdual or a collective shop space. Applications are open for a limited time so get in quick!

http://www.gaffa.com.au/

FK talks to Sydney based artist, Renee Anne who is also one part of collectives Leeloo & Twin Set.

How would you describe your style of illustration?
Hard to describe?… I would say that my style is “natural and organic”, in the sense that I try to not over think concepts and my technique.  I prefer to let the marks and lines form as they should, not how they should.  I love using a technique known as “blind contour” where I look at the subject I am drawing, and not the paper!  That way you are drawing what you actually see, as opposed to what you think you are seeing.  I like to keep my work playful, light, and fun, with a pastel, vintage-y, eco aesthetic.

What or who most inspires your work?
Without going for the cliched response, I really think everything inspires me.  I love looking, and I love seeing.  Most often it is a thought that “inspires” me to get creating, and from there I like to draw on other influences, be they music, art, food, photographs to come to a finished product.  I am ALWAYS the most inspired after a good yoga class, which often means working late into the night!

What is your background and when did you start illustrating?
I have always been a “drawer” (what is the difference hehe!), sketching things in my bedroom for hours as opposed to watching tv when I was young.  I guess since I became internet obsessed and space limited a lot of my work then moved to the computer, however I try to keep traditional methods of drawing in my work, even if I am doing so digitally.  I was studying Art Teaching at COFA in Paddington for 3 years, so I guess I learnt some of the more “technical” things along the way there… however after lots of thinking and realising, I decided that teaching wasn’t for me and went on the pursue all things creative!

How would you describe your creative process?
I don’t think I have a very strict process when it comes to creating.  I have so many blank notebooks and visual diaries, purchased with the intention of plotting and planning ideas, but I never seem to fill them.  Instead, when an idea pops into my head I tend to JUMP at it, unpack all my tools and dive straight in.  I would probably save myself a lot of time and effort if I planned such creative spurts (I live in a tiny apartment and everything needs to be packed up in boxes after I have finished working), but I find such things hard to plan, and when an idea hits me, I can’t be bothered waiting!

Besides from being an illustrator what other ventures do you have?
As much as I would love to be a 100% full time illustrator, I find that my creative ADHD keeps me from sitting still for too long.  I work a few days a week with the fabulous Angela from Leeloo.com.au, helping with many aspects of the business including photographing the gorgeous products!  We (Angela and I) also decided to start a little vintage online clothing shop {twin set} to help channel our love for vintage styling and clothes.  We co-ordinate all the photoshoots, source the clothes and run the store and it is so much fun! I also have been working as a styling assistant at Real Living magazine, working on lots of shoots and fun projects with them.  Interior styling is something that I would LOVE to get into more, and I think it works well with my illustrating side of things, getting me out of the house and working those muscles with all the heavy lifting!!

What do you love most about running your blog?
Being able to use it as an outlet for when I want to buy something but know I shouldn’t.  Instead I just blog about it and I feel like then it wont be lost in the deep abyss that is the online world.  I also love the community and interactive side of things, being able to communicate with like minded peeps from all over the world!

What has been your favourite project/exhibition to work on and why?
Oh my, honestly all of them!  I think it would have to be the first exhibition I coordinated and co-curated with Angela last year titled Once Upon, where we invited 38 emerging and established artists from around Australia to create works representative of a fairytale.  Despite the many many late nights, hundreds of emails, and all hard work, the end result was truly magical. We had over 300 attend on the opening night! Absolutely worth every minute. Since then we have continued to ride the exhibition wave and are loving it. We are taking our second show DisBand (which was held in Sydney in May) to Melbourne, which opens on the 26th August at No Vacancy Gallery.

What new work or projects are you working on at the moment?
Ahhhhh, it seems like I have too many to even think!  Apart from working on my artworks for DisBand (as mentioned above!) and getting everything sorted for our first Melbourne show, I am also in the process of preparing my portfolio (harder than you would think!) and working on getting agency representation (hello!!? anyone!! hehe).  I recently had the pleasure of illustrating and designing Jason Grant’s website and as a result have a few more projects in the pipeline. Always seeking more though

www.renee-anne.com.au

FK chats to Melinda, from Sydney based fashion label Roger + Peach.

Tell us a little about your sweet label, Roger + Peach.
Roger + Peach is a small handmade women’s wear and accessories label of the girly, cute and feminine variety that has been brought into existence slowly but surely by myself. It was originally dreamt up by three friends (myself and my 2 besties at the time) in a dusty lounge room when we were young and naive or vivacious and enthusiastic which is how I like to think of it. We were going to Start Roger + Peach and take over the world from what I remember! I then stuck with the name because it had history (Roger dodger was my car’s name and Mama peachy was my besties car’s name and that’s how we came up with the name) And over time R+P’s aesthetic silently evolved and it is what it is today.

What is your creative background and how did it lead you to where you are now?
I had always been the creative type. After studying Certificate 4 in Design at TAFE I thought I wanted to be an Interior Designer and fashion didn’t really register on my radar. Not long after I had finished this course I got a job at a well know fabric store in the dress department which meant spending many a day dreaming up what lovely garments I could whip together with all the beautiful fabrics surrounding me. It was only then that it finally clicked that fashion was what I wanted to do. I studied an advanced Diploma in Fashion Design and after deciding to leave the course early I rented some studio space. 2 years later, along with lots of learning, lots of mistakes and finally getting my act together to hold weekly market stalls at Glebe and Bondi I have been able to quit my day job and become a fully self employed fashion designer.

What do you find the most challenging about running your label?
Because I am a one woman show I am the accountant, the book keeper, the web designer, the marketing director, creative director, designer, graphic designer, pattern maker, seamstress, quality control officer and sales girl amongst other things which at times becomes very over whelming. This in turn makes organising myself tricky sometimes as I often feel like I need to be doing 20 things at the same time.
I also find it challenging to know when to stop. My partner has banned me from bringing any work home because this is the only time we get to see each other so those few hours every evening we have together have become precious. I am definitely getting better at all the above which is a positive thing and in saying all that, the benefits and pay off’s of running your own business far out way the challenges.

What other creative hobbies do you have?
To be honest I don’t have any other creative hobbies because at this point in time Roger + Peach is a 7 day a week business. Although I do devour magazines at an alarming rate… does that count?!

What are you inspired by at the moment and how does that translate into your range?
At the moment I am working on my summer collection for the markets. This is inspired by water color floral’s which basically translates into pretty colours like peach, Tiffany blue, corals, citrus yellows along with soft flowers like poppies & peonies. This will be translated into soft floaty silk and cotton dresses, skirts and tops that will be screen printed with floral imagery and lots of accessories that combine techniques such as crochet and beading.

What are your dreams for Roger & Peach in the future?
The ultimate dream for Roger + Peach would be to open up a shop stocking not only my range but also supporting local and national designers. All of my stockists have been very supportive and understanding and I in turn would like to be able to return the favour one day to them and to also give small emerging labels the leg up that I have received again and again.

www.rogerandpeach.net