In the Spotlight: Mum's Cupboard

This week the BrisStyle team 'took 5' with Anita Gosden from Mum's Cupboard to talk all things craft!

How would you describe your work?
Varied, a little eclectic and constantly changing.

How did your Etsy shop come into being?
Quite by accident, simply put I wanted to join BrisStyle and it was a requirement.

Who or What inspires you?
Other artisans inspire me and so do colours.  I LOVE COLOUR. I'd hate to be a dog and only see in black and white (if that urban myth is true).

Do you 'reduce, reuse, recycle' as part of your creative process? If yes, how is your art/craft eco-friendly?
Yes, I definitely 'reduce, reuse, recycle' everything. I love the challenge of making something out of nothing. That's also how I cook, I can make a fabulous meal out of seemingly nothing in the fridge.  Just ask my husband - I'm actually pretty good at it.  Originally craft began long before craft shops were ever around. Imagination and Mum's Cupboard were all you needed. I treasure a pair of slippers a friend's Mum gave me. They are knitted from old panty hose (I'm wearing them now). Can you believe it! Now that is what I call craft.

Can you describe your studio/work area?
Always messy. We live in a two room flat (three if you count the bathroom). It used to be a garage and my brother-in-law built an extra room onto it so he could live here many years ago with his wife and two little toddlers.  Well the extension is our kitchen/lounge/bedroom and hubby's soundroom but the second room (the garage) is mine. All mine. It's better than nothing. I have two tables set up and the stereo. It works.

What is your favourite thing in the shop at the moment?
I love my vintage fabric bag. It's made of a sheer fabric and is reversible and I was given the idea for it by Paula, the lovely lady who supplied all the vintage fabric that she had inherited from a dear elderly friend.

Do you have any other places that people can view/purchase your work?

Etsy Shop

Blog

Facebook

Thank-you Anita for sharing your creative inspirations with us!

In the Spotlight: Hextasy

We always love catching up with our members to find out all about their craft and what makes them tick creatively! This month we caught up with Samantha from Hextasy to chat about how she got started, her creative inspirations and her plans for the future.

How would you describe your work?
My work is neither black nor white, it's every other colour in between.  It combines many different techniques and materials, however, glass in any shape or form is my heart's desire.

How did your Etsy shop come into being?
Over a decade ago while I was working as a digital fantasy artist, 'hextasy' had become the label under which I created my deviant designs. In 2006 after taking a break from anything remotely artistic, my fingers were restless and I once again found myself needing to create, and with a love of jewellery this is where my designs of decadence started.  Beadwork turned into wire wrapping, then metal work, enameling, polymer clay, metal clay and then finally glass.  After discovering the beautiful effects of dichroic glass and fusing this spawned my passion and with the introduction of lampworking and making glass beads this has been the last piece of the puzzle to my life's passion. My store is a never ending evolution of my creative journey.

Who or What inspires you?
My inspiration comes from many sources, nature, music, colour, but most of all I love to create little worlds that other people can carry with them.  I love the idea that you are not only receiving a piece of jewellery, you are receiving a world that has been captured into a piece of decadent wearable art which is truly unique.  I'm always thrilled to hear from my customers and get a real kick out of finding out which corner of the world my work is being sent too and am very humbled by this.

Do you 'reduce, reuse, recycle' as part of your creative process? If yes, how is your art/craft eco-friendly?

No part of my glass work goes to waste.  I'm a hoarder when it comes to saving off cuts and they are always able to be incorporated into my future work. One of the joys of the medium is that they can be recycled if a project doesn't work out.

Can you describe your studio/work area?
My studio has grown quite considerably over the past few years, from a small fishing tackle box to a dedicated beading room.  To be honest, beads occupy pretty much every room in the house.  I have laid claim to a corner in the garage for my lampworking (as shown below).  The plans are to build a fully air-conditioned studio over the next couple of years.

What is your favourte thing in the shop at the moment?
My favourite item in my shop at the moment would have to be the Sea Shore Seas Sterling Silver Lampwork Bracelet.  I just love the combination of colours with the silver and my lampwork beads.

Where can people view or purchase your work?

Website

Etsy

Artfire

Facebook

Blog

Thank-you Samantha for taking the time to chat to us about hextasy!

Going Green with Red tree designs!

This week, the BrisStyle team caught up with Margeaux, the eco lovin' lady behind Red tree designs.
This is what she had to say about her sustainable and ethical clothing and accessories label.

How would you describe your work?
I design and make 'Red tree designs' shoulder bags and women's and children's clothing from vintage and pre-loved fabrics.  I would say the style of my clothing and bags is classic, simple and practical in natural or earthy colours.

How did your Etsy shop come into being?
I have always designed and made my own clothes and bags and secretly dreamed of one day selling my wares, so while on maternity leave, I grabbed the opportunity.  After selling from a market stall for a while, my friend suggested I sell on Etsy and now I'm obsessed. I love it - I can create and sell from home, without having to leave 'the mountain' and my two little boys.

Who or What inspires you?
My inspiration comes from the gorgeous pre-loved fabric that I find.  There's nothing better than finding the most perfect second-hand piece of fabric (say a curtain, upholstery remnant or vintage sheet) in a beautiful soft or earthy colour and great texture and turning it into a lovely dress or bag to be used and loved again.....very rewarding.

Do you 'reduce, reuse, recycle' as part of your creative process? If yes, how is your art/craft eco-friendly?
Absolutely. I try to make Red tree designs as eco-friendly as I can. I only use second-hand or vintage fabric, zips, buttons, leather belts, wooden curtain rings etc.  My tags, business cards, and packaging are all made from recycled paper. I even use cereal boxes (turned inside out) to make my post packs - which I then walk to the post office!

Can you describe your studio/work area?
My sewing room is a loft at the top of my wooden house, looking out into the bush in Mt Nebo. I love being up there sewing, looking out into the trees and listening to the sound of birds and my sleeping babies (and a noisy sewing machine!).

What is your favourite thing in the shop at the moment?
At the moment I really like my up-cycled shoulder bags which are made from upholstery remnants, curtains etc. They're so slouchy, practical and stylish in such beautiful colours.  Every time I finish one I think 'if this doesn't sell quickly, I'll keep it for myself'.

Do you have any other places that people can view/purchase your work?
Red tree designs can also be found at Made It and ethikl.

What an inspirational 'designer' and 'maker'! Thank-you for letting us take a peek into your world Margeaux.