5 minutes with... Going Potty with Marg

Who are you & what do you do?
Hi, I'm Margaret and I create succulent / cacti arrangements in a variety of colourful and unique pots of various shapes and sizes. These mini gardens are resilient and involve minimal care making them suitable for our busy lifestyle.

How did you come up with your business name?
Over the years I had collected numerous pots, so I started making succulent / cacti arrangements for family and friends and it was suggested that I could sell them to the public. As my family thought I'd "gone potty" with the amount of pots I had collected, the name "Going Potty with Marg" was an obvious choice!

Can you please walk us through making one of your products, from conception through completion?
1. Based on the pot I wish to use, I think of a theme (stylish/modern, novelty pots for the kids, old world etc.)
2. I then match the pot with the appropriate colour and shape plants
3. After potting the plant, I then enhance the arrangement with stones, figurines etc.
4. Pricing is then determined by the size of the arrangement, the number of plants used and my output (costs and time).

Where can we find you?
The easiest way to contact me is via phone 0412 413 325 or email margaret@thehuttons.com.au

I also attend various markets including North Sydney Market on Miller, Gordon Rotary Markets and Riverside Markets (Huntley's Point).

What are you looking forward to showing off at Mountain Makers?

I'm looking forward to bringing a selection of pots from my extensive range, including "Air Plants" which are a new edition to my range requiring no soil.

5 minutes with... serpent mandalas

Open Heart - Dream Series Print


Who are you & what do you do?
My name is Lindy Longhurst and I am a fulltime artist. I work with acrylics on canvas, and mixed media on paper.I paint and draw mandalas as well as figurative works on canvas.I sell original artworks, prints, cards, accessories and jewellery with my images on them.

Can you please walk us through making one of your products, from conception through completion?
1. I usually start with very quick sketches, a flash of inspiration from a dream or a vision, single words usually play an important part in the unravelling of an image.
2. I paint it...I often have about 10 - 15 paintings on the go at once. I have periods of lots of activity and then periods where I won't paint for ages.
3. When its done I scan it, piece it together and make reproductions from it. I do all my own printing and make up all my own products.

Where can we find you?
Online:
http://serpentmandalas.com/
http://serpentmandalas.blogspot/.com

Online Shops:
http://serpentmandalas.etsy.com/
http://backyardabundance.com.au/
http://www.willowtreegiftshop.com.au/

Markets:
Glenbrook monthly market, see my website for other market dates and times.

Shops:
The Nook, Leura
The Turning Page Bookshop, Springwood
The Brook, Glenbrook
Yuko Moon, Blackheath
Uttam London, Paddington, Sydney
Stonehouse Gallery, Warrandyte, Melbourne

What are you looking forward to showing off at Mountain Makers?
Some new paintings, my normal range of products and new prints on canvas blocks.

5 minutes with... Anna Kling

Anna Kling Fine Art Service

Who are you & what do you do?
I am Anna Kling, I am a full blood artist who is passionately painting large oil paintings of trees, vegetables and women.
From all my images I then create cards, magnets, journals, prints, blocks and even matchboxes to shrink these big things down to something smaller and affordable.

My business name is Anna Kling Fine Art Service.
You can order your painting in any size of whatever you like.

Can you please walk us through making one of your products, from conception through completion?
steps of making:
1. get inspired in the bush or garden or at life drawing sessions.
2. get my oilsticks or inks out and paint, usually very quickly. It has to be finished in 3 days, if not it’s crap.
3. put it on my wall, if I still like it when I come back to my house, I might make a product out of its image.
4. having exhibitions in galleries, public spaces or at home.
5. selling the artwork to a happy person who will treasure and enjoy it every day.

Where can we find you?
http://www.annakling.com
29 Westbourne Ave Wentworth Falls
:: The Nook, Leura Mall :: Moontree, Leura Mall :: Turning Page, Springwood Mall ::
:: Rare birds, Station St, Wentworth Falls :: 3 Sisters Tourist Information Centre ::
:: Mount Thomah Botanic Garden :: Longview Garden Centre :: Eden Gardens Lane Cove Rd ::
:: Kiku Gallery Bungendore :: Coast Gallery Milton :: Gallery Altenburg Braidwood ::

What are you looking forward to showing off at Mountain Makers?

Looking forward to presenting new smaller paintings with cheeky spring vegetables and all my products.

5 minutes with... Plus 1 Design

The Adorn Purse

Who are you & what do you do?
My name is Kirrily and I spend a lot of time sewing! My business goes by the name Plus 1 Design. My sewing mostly involves making girly things like handbags and purses. I'm not all that much of a girly girl, so I often have a giggle at this, but after sewing a lot of different things, I have decided that this is truly what I love doing.

How did you come up with your business name?
I went to see a band one night and my friend's name was on the guest list with a +1 next to it, so when we were going in, she introduced herself to the door person, and introduced me as +1. At the time I thought it would make a good tshirt. By the next day, I thought it would make a good business name and have been using it ever since.

Can you please walk us through making one of your products, from conception through completion?
The first step is usually the hardest - deciding what to make! As my range increases, this is becoming more and more difficult. Often though, it is dictated by a piece of fabric. So I'll choose one, then let it tell me what I should make it into.

If it is a handbag, then the next steps are deciding which of my patterns to use, or whether to draft a new one. This decision comes from a combination of things - what will work with the chosen fabric and what hardware (o-rings, d-rings, closures, feet etc) and coordinating fabrics I have available. Once that is decided, the fabric is pressed, cut out and interfaced where appropriate. Next is the sewing part which takes many hours. Then there is more pressing, adding the hardware, more sewing, tying off threads and a final press.

I'm a little bit pedantic about small details like making sure things are top-stitched, sewn straight, reinforced, centred, spaced evenly etc etc. This adds to the time it takes me to make something, but the perfectionist in me just can't let it go and I'm glad about that because to me, these little details make for quality work.

Where can we find you?
Etsy and my blog.

What are you looking forward to showing off at Mountain Makers?
Everything! But especially my Adorn Purses. I'm really looking forward to people being able to touch and feel my work. It's something that you don't get when you sell online. This will be my first time showing my work like this so I'm a little nervous, but it should be a great experience.

5 minutes with... planettreasures

Carnival Necklace - brightly colored glass bead necklace

Who are you & what do you do?
I'm Tess.
I design and make jewellery.

How did you come up with your business name?
My business name is planettreasures. It's been so long I can hardly remember.
15 years ago I started making jewellery and my neighbour was a printer and was hassling me to get a name so he could print some display cards for me.
I settled on 'planettreasures' because i am using materials from the earth to make jewellery. Treasures from the planet.
also I'm a big fan of"the planet" on Radio National with Lucky Oceans

Can you please walk us through making one of your products, from conception
through completion, in 5 steps?
1.My creations start with beads.
which involves actually going shopping for them.
I love the whole looking at beads and feeling them and selecting them in person.
I love beautiful, special and unusual beads.

2. I take them home and play with them.
I might store them in drawers and boxes with other beads.
Or just leave them on my desk.

3. when I decide to make something I usually end up making something different from what I had planned.
I might start off with a colour idea and then I drag beads out and arrange them on my table or my bead board, until I'm happy with the result.

4. then I string them or thread them or hang them depending if it is a necklace bracelet earring brooch.

5. Work out the cost. label and it's done.

Where can we find you?
planettreasures.etsy.com
planettreasures.blogspot.com

The Nook, Leura
Glenbrook Market

What are you looking forward to showing off at Mountain Makers?
Earrings and lots of earrings! 'cus I love making earrings.
Also bright and bold necklaces, bracelets featuring Venetian glass, czech glass and handmade glass beads combined with gemstones and freshwater pearls.and some more dainty pieces that are hand woven using tiny glass beads.

5 minutes with... vanilla pixie

unique hair accessories

Tell us a bit about yourself?
I am a wife & stay-at-home mum to three. I enjoy reading (there is always a book on the go), shopping, hanging out with friends & family.

I am organized, structured & under control (ok, most of the time). My background is in administration – in my pre-children life I was Administration Manager to a top Australian hairdressing salon.

My retail obsession is bags (in any form), I am easily annoyed by anyone who doesn’t respect my personal space & I have a sweet tooth… mmmm, donuts.

Tell us a bit about your business?
I went looking for something & couldn’t find what I was after. As it turns out, I wasn’t the only one in this situation. For me, Vanilla Pixie was born out of necessity.

I wanted beautiful, stylish, well-made & hard-to-lose hair accessories for my girls. Having worked in the hairdressing industry for 7 years, I had inside information that told me they just weren’t available. So, with nothing to lose, I made them myself.

Now, 12 months down the track, Vanilla Pixie has achieved over 300 Etsy sales, has stock in 3 different children’s boutiques across Sydney & continues to grow!!

Where did your business name come from?
I wanted something that was fun, sweet & obviously, new. And I didn’t want to give the name any personal attachment.

So, I visited my friends at Wikipedia & looked up words that were evocative for me (food is always a good place to start). Eventually, after much trial & error – and lots of visits to ASIC making sure it wasn’t already taken – voila, Vanilla Pixie.

Along the way I toyed with pomegranates, lavender & thimbleberries :)

My creative process in 5 easy steps…
1. Sit in front of my HUGE ribbon stash
2. Reach for the ribbon that catches my eye today
3. Cut it up (eeek!)
4. Quick finger movements, dab of glue & hold for 5 seconds
5. And there you have it – a Vanilla Pixie original

Where can we find you?
http://www.vanillapixie.etsy.com/
http://www.vanillapixie.blogspot.com/

Retrospections
498a Miller Street, Cammeray NSW

Sweet Thing Boutique
Shop 16a/2 Sentry Drive, Stanhope Gardens NSW

What are you looking forward to showing off at Mountain Makers?
I’ve just ordered a stack of new ribbons from a new supplier in the USA. Can’t wait to see what gorgeous little things they will be made into…

5 minutes with… Button Bower Bird

Button flower bouquet


Who are you & what do you do?
Liz. Scientist (microscopist) working at a University in Sydney. In my spare time I collect vintage buttons, and craft things using buttons.

How did you come up with your business name?
I collect vintage buttons, and my website is called the Button Bower. Being female, and an avid hoarder of vintage buttons, Buttonbowerbird seemed appropriate!

Where can we find you?
Website: http://www.thebuttonbower.com/
Blog: http://bowerbirdz.wordpress.com/
Etsy shop: http://www.buttonbowerbird.etsy.com

What are you looking forward to showing off at Mountain Makers?
Button bouquets, hair accessories, charm bracelets.

5 minutes with... sami bop

Sami Bop ~ vintage & recycled fabric kids creations

Who are you & what do you do?
My name's Danette. I have been sewing for over 30 years and have created my own children's vintage and recycled fabric range, named Sami Bop which I started in early 2006. I studied fashion design and worked in the industry for quite a while so it was a natural progression for me to be doing this from home when I started my own family. I have been recycling fabrics since I can remember and the fabrics I use date from the 1950s onwards so there is large variety of prints and patterns to choose from.

How did you come up with your business name?
Sami Bop was the actual name my son Jasper nicknamed his little sister (Samara) when she was born.

Can you please walk us through making one of your products, from conception through completion, in 5 steps?
1. Starting from a sketch, a prototype, or a combination of ideas and adding or omitting certain details I then draft a pattern.

2. Create a first sample for fit and style.

3. I then grade (or size) the pattern. Generally from a 00 to 5.

4. Then the fun begins with the fabric and print combinations. Pre-shrinking and washing fabrics is an integral part of this process too. I individually make each and every unique item myself, and spend a lot of my time sourcing fabrics and sewing.

Where can we find you?
You can find Sami Bop garments at:www.samibop.etsy.com
The Nook Art and Craft Gallery. Upstairs, 133a The Mall, Leura, NSW.
Glenbrook Market (Glenbrook Infants School, Ross St) 3rd Saturday of the month.
Magpie Market (Lawson Public School, Great Western Hwy, Lawson) 3rd Sunday of the month.
Blue Gum Rotary Market (Faulconbridge Public School, Cnr Grose Rd & Great Western Hwy) 4th Saturday of the month.

What are you looking forward to showing off at Mountain Makers?
I'm really looking forward to presenting my new Sami Bop spring/summer '09 range of dresses, pants, skirts and boys boardshorts at the Mountain Makers exhibition! Hope to see you all there...

5 minutes with... Beadsme / Radicalglass

Radical Glass ~ A Pink Sky - Glass Pendant

Beadsme ~ Bright Blue Skies - Earrings


Who are you & what do you do?
My name is Mandy Harvey and I live in Grose Wold. I am a jewellery creator and a new addition to glass pendant designers.

How did you come up with your business name?
Beadsme - jewellery store - that I cannot remember. I do recall trying for a name and found that someone else already had it (what that was is a mystery) but ended up chopping it about and came up with beadsme.

Radicalglass - glass store - obvious!!! Radical and hopefully unusual designs.

Can you please walk us through making one of your products, from conception through completion, in 5 steps?
Glass pendant - Firstly glass needs to be cut in various shapes. Cleaned thoroughly (or your fingerprints show) and different shapes put together to make different patterns. The glass then needs to go in to a kiln for firing, this can take between 4-5 hours. I then anneal and, usually, leave over night to cool. You never know how they will come out and it is so tempting to peek but you could crack the glass if you do. Pendants are then attached to a bail for hanging on a necklace. Voila!!!! Not too many secrets let out there LOL.

Where can we find you?
I can be found at
beadsme.etsy.com
radicalglass.etsy.com
beadsmeonline.com
beadsme-mandyharvey.blogspot.com
beadsme.silkfair.com

What are you looking forward to showing off at Mountain Makers?
Looking forward to - meeting more local artists and people. I really want to show off the new Radicalglass.

5 minutes with... Journeymoon Art

On the hill 3, original pochoir painting, on paper

Who are you & what do you do?
I'm Mel Jones "Journeymoon Art", I do Pochoir, a french stencil technique of creating and Painting. I also make recycled journals from old books.

How did you come up with your business name?
I love the Moon, and philosophy on life is about life as a journey not just a destination to work towards, and I create art = Journeymoon Art.

Can you please walk us through making one of your products, from conception through completion?
1.The Stencil is hand drawn and hand cut, then placed upon the painting surface. I use paper, canvas, and board to paint upon.

2. Then I begin painting through the stencil onto the surface. I use different textures to create different effects, brush, sponge, cloth etc.

3. The finished painting created after several painting sequences I may need to return to cutting out parts of the stencil as the painting goes along, then paint through again. This usually depends upon the size.

4. When the painting is finished it is "fixed" and lightly varnished.

Where can we find you?
www.journeymoonart.com, there is a list of exhibitions available on my web site, I also sell work through my web site.

I am also at The Nook Arts and Crafts Gallery in Leura NSW, and The Event Horizon Gallery on Bathurst Road Katoomba.

What are you looking forward to showing off at Mountain Makers?
A beautiful range of new paintings large and small, Pochoir covered original art journals, journaling packs, and a large range of groovy retro, vintage and classic recycled journals or diaries.

5 minutes with… Pam de Groot Fibre & Textile art

small bowls & vessels of promise

What do you do?
I work with the ancient craft of felting in new and innovative ways. Felting is everything you should never do to a jumper and a little bit more. This medium is able to be as gossamer as fairies wings, or firm as a rock.

Can you please walk us through making one of your products, from conception through completion, in 5 steps?
Step one. Take the wool fleece and lay out as many layers as is required for the project.
Step two. Add warm soapy water
Step three. Rub gently to entangle the fibres
Step four. Roll the fibres to entangle the fibres more to create a fabric.
Step five. Rinse and allow to dry.
Obviously there is more to it than that, but those steps are the general basis of all feltmaking and the rest is all MAGIC!

Where can we find you?
I can be found at www.pamdegroot.blogspot.com or email at pamdegroot.fibre[at]gmail.com

What are you looking forward to showing off at Mountain Makers?
I will be exhibiting a range of items from wearable art cloth, bags and hats to felted soap.

5 minutes with... {paper by} forget-me-not

wrapping paper by forget-me-not

What do you do?
I make all sorts of stationery items and the material I like to use is paper!

But not just any paper… the stock that I use for my creations is selected for its minimal environmental impact and includes...

100% Australian recycled paper; handmade paper created from basic raw materials (such as waste cotton fabrics from garment industries) from fair trade co- operatives; and upcycled/re-purposed materials like plastic bags, that otherwise end up in our landfills & waterways.

Part of my craft involves designing with minimal packaging in mind, oh and to keep with the green theme, all pieces are handcrafted in a studio that uses green power.

How did you come up with your business name?
It is reflective of the ethos of my business… a commitment to not forget the earth & the impact we have on it through our living… to remember to make environmentally conscious choices.

Can you please walk us through making one of your products, from conception through completion, in 5 steps?
Tricky :). My creative process differs, depending on the product I am making, but for this exercise I shall select: special event stationery

1. Often my process begins with a random creative burst, however, when creating something for a special event {such as wedding stationery} then it is a more structured process… 1st step involves meeting with the bridal couple to listen to what their needs are, how they would like their day represented, and the budget they would like to work to.

2. Next, I go about sampling 3 or more designs that I think would meet the clients needs, including accessories and ensuring that all stationery is themed well {from invites through to placecards & thank you notes}… they are forwarded on to the couple for approval/feedback.

3. Once a design has been selected, the task of wording begins! Harder than it seems, as etiquette comes into play, and there are often many opinions to be considered. This process can take up to 2 weeks to finalise.

4. Once all the typesetting has been approved, then my work really begins… taking up to a further 4 weeks {depending on the quantity of pieces required, its complexity, and the amount of other jobs I am working on at the same time}. This is when I get nervous & a little bit perfectionist… I want everything you come together “just so” and to be beautiful. I generally break a job down into smaller tasks and set-up a production line… always making 10 units over, just in case extras are required by the couple.

5. When completed, I carefully package up all the wedding stationery and make delivery ~ my favourite part of the process. I love to see the face of the bride when she unwraps the tissue to see her wedding invite for the first time… it’s like it suddenly becomes ‘real’ and it’s really exciting to be a small part of that.

Where can we find you?
Online at Etsy, MadeIt and Cosa Verde
In person, I am regularly at Kirribilli, Mosman & Glenbrook Markets each month, and various other special events – all listed here.

What are you looking forward to showing off at Mountain Makers?
I have a new range of organic handmade wrapping papers coloured using vegetable dyes which *I* love, and am hoping that others love them too!

5 minutes with… metal and stone

Solid Sterling Silver Cowrie Shell Amulet Pendant

Who are you & what do you do?
I am Suzanna Coombes jewellery designer maker, silversmith and lapidary.
Born with the name Suzanna married the Coombes bit.

I`ve been making jewellery (and other stuff) for as long as I can remember.Whilst studying jewellery design in the late 80`s I specialized in silver work, combining it with various materials from perspex and found objects, to gold. My work has been exhibited in various group shows, the most recent being with the Jewelers and Metal Smiths group of Australia (JMGA)in an exhibition entitled "The Vessel", and at Metalabs "Expeditions" show held in Sydney.

In 2004 I took up the art of lapidary and stone carving, so my work now has a strong focus on Australian stones ranging from local sapphires, opals and quartzes, to the lesser know jaspers, agates and chrysopraises.

Can you please walk us through making one of your products, from conception through completion, in 5 steps?
It would be impossible to tell you how I make anything in 5 steps it is trade secret and would mean I would have to kill you!!

If you want to know how to make your own in (and it’d take more than 5 steps)
I teach silver smithing classes at Nepean Community Collage or you could join Blaxland Lapidary Club to learn how to cut stones ( also more than 5 steps!)

Where can we find you?
I sell at The Nook in Leura and online via www.metalandstone. etsy.com and direct from workshop, making bespoke pieces.

Introducing Mountain Makers

The Blue Mountains a part of this earth that is not only world heritage listed, but also home to many arty and creative folk. An area never lacking in beauty, eccentricity, inspiration, energy, ideas & good clean fresh air


image by Yegor Korzh and available for purchase here

Excitingly, very soon a group of likeminded crafters & artisans will be gathering together over one weekend to bring you:

Mountain Makers
Exhibition and sale of work by local Etsy Artisans and Friends

This showcase will be held from Saturday 26th ~ Sunday 27th September 2009 at Glenbrook, the gateway to the Mountains… specifically in Glenbrook Hall (next to Glenbrook theatre). Mark the date in your diary, as we'd love to see you there!

Over the coming weeks we look forward to introducing you to some of the talent artists & designers who are involved...

...watch this space!