Stallholder profile Blue Shell Creations

Our newest stall holder in Ipswich is Michelle from Blue Shell Creations

https://www.facebook.com/BlueShellCreations?fref=ts

Name: Michelle Gillett

Your Business: Blue Shell Creations 

The suburb/town you live in: Moggill

What is it that you make and what skills do you use? 

Quilts, Household items and jewellery.  I design and make my own quilts, I crochet, knit, sew and embroider

What inspired you to start your business? 

I want to see if I can make my hobby into a successful small business.  I wanted more work life balance and out of the corporate rat race and do what I enjoy for a living. I decided last year to create Blue Shell Creations and see if doing what I love could bring in some reward.

How long have you been ‘creating’? 

For about 6 years now.  However, I have fond memories of my grandmother teaching me how to knit as a child.  Something to this day I cherish that she passed down to me.

Is it a full time/ part time/hobby or business? 

At the moment its a hobby that I would like to become a part time business.

Where do you sell your creations? Online/markets etc.. 

The Handmade Expo of course :)  and Etsy

What makes what you do special or different? 

I design my own quilts and I also create one off pieces.  I use only high quality products to make my designs.  

What is the most rewarding part of what you do? 

Loving what I do and seeing someone else receive joy from my finished product.  Also knowing that my quilts leave behind a legacy.  They will still be here when I am gone.

What is your favourite product that you make? 

My first love is quilting but a close second is to crochet.

Do you teach classes or workshops? I don't at the moment but I would love to in the future.

Stallholder profile Bella BBQ

New stallholder profile is all about Bella BBQ

https://www.facebook.com/bellabbq?fref=ts

Name:  

Steve Hellyer

Your Business: 

Bella BBQ   

   

The suburb/town you live: 

Redbank Plains

What is it that you make and what skills do you use? 

We slow smoke our pork and brisket  and create burgers that have been voted in some of Brisbane’s top 10 must have burgers

What inspired you to start your business? 

I was a stay at home dad and got a little bored during the day, and loved watching BBQ Pitmasters, and decided that I wanted to learn how to smoke like them. After much practice and some fails, I am now consistently putting out high quality food for the public to eat.

How long have you been ‘creating’? 

I have been creating for around 4 years, and the business has been up and running for nearly a year, but only been in our food van for 2 months and taking the food truck scene by storm.

Is it a full time/ part time/hobby or business? 

This is our full time business

Where do you sell your creations? 

The Handmade Expo, Boundary St Markets, Rocklea Markets, Love Your Local Markets, Brooky Bite Nite, Private Functions

What makes what you do special or different? 

I think what stands out for Bella BBQ is the story, Bella our daughter is the only girl in between our 7 children, and Bella meaning beautiful, is how we came up with the Bella BBQ name. Each burger/meal always goes out with love and care, I’m quite a perfectionist and love creating burgers for our customers.

What is the most rewarding part of what you do? 

Hearing back from our customers about how much they love our product and showing BBQ enthusiasts what I do.

What is your favourite product that you make? 

I love all my product,but I must say my favourite at the moment is our brisket burger with house made mac and cheese, it is to die for!!

Stallholder profile...Outback Heart and Craft

New stallholder profile is Outback Heart and Craft

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Outback-Heart-and-Craft/1532389437028990?fref=ts

Your name: 

Claire 

Business name 

Outback Heart and Craft 

The suburb/town you live: 

Logan, Qld

What is it that you make and what skills do you use? 

I source great quality, handmade items from our rural craftspeople who due to distance and location may not get the exposure they deserve for their items. Where possible our items have a rural look / to them and each of our items have a spiel written by their creator so that customers can understand exactly where their piece is coming from.

What inspired you to start your business? 

Having worked in Outback Qld for quite a few years I was able to see firsthand the hidden talents of our bush. Having moved back to Brisbane I am now in a position I can support our rural people through showcasing their wonderful items and telling their story to a much larger audience.

How long have you been ‘creating’? 

Outback Heart and Craft has only been established since January 2015 and we have only recently begun the market scene after researching our ideal locations and sourcing items to sell.

Is it a full time/ part time/hobby or business? 

At this stage Outback Heart and Craft is a part time business / passion of mine which I would like to develop into a fulltime business.

Where do you sell your creations? 

Ipswich Handmade Expo, Mount Tamborine Markets and Twilight Makers Market, Raby Bay. You can also buy through our facebook page and we are looking to create a website in the future.

What makes what you do special or different? 

Wow! How do I summarise this part? Outback Heart and Craft is about showcasing the people of the bush - the heart of our Outback. Each person out there has their own story to tell - through teaching their children via Distance Education, drought, flood, working the property or having their husbands / family members working away and in general just being the most adaptable, resilient, welcoming people you will ever meet. These people, along with the passion of living on and working the land are also very talented in their own crafts, however due to sometimes isolation but always location can only get their crafts noticed via their own Facebook page or word of mouth. It is our goal to help bridge this distance through sourcing the pieces, some very unique and OOAK and showcasing them to you along with their story so that you too get an appreciation and a better understanding of our extremely talented people of the bush!

What is the most rewarding part of what you do? 

Sharing the stories but then also letting our suppliers know at the end of each market that one of their pieces has a new home - somewhere in this big city...

Stallholder profile...The Coffee Can

Our newest stallholder is in Cairns and her business is to sustain all the caffeine and hot chocolate addicts out there ! 

https://www.facebook.com/Mycoffeecan?ref=hl

Your name:  

Sharon Murphy

Your Business   

The Coffee Can,  

The suburb/town you live:  

Redlynch, Cairns

What is it that you make and what skills do you use?  

Coffee - qualified Barista

What inspired you to start your business?  

To provide a quality coffee and great service in a mobile format - which fits around my family. 

How long have you been creating? 

I have always been creative, sewing and baking are my other passions.

Is it a full time/ part time/hobby or business?  

Business - brand new and this will be our first Market!

Where do you sell your creations? 

North side of Cairns, visiting small, large and remote workplaces - just give me a call!  and the Handmade Expo Market in Cairns!

What makes what you so special or different?  

Professional and friendly service with great coffee and delicious homemade snacks.

What is the most rewarding part of what you do?  

When someone enjoys my coffee or cakes.

What is your favourite product that you make?  

My special hot chocolate topped with cream and marshmallows!

Do you teach classes or workshops?  

Not yet - watch this space :-)

Stallholder profile Korinas Kreations

Todays amazing stallholder profile is Korinas Kreations

https://www.facebook.com/korinaskreations?fref=ts

The suburb/town you live in now:

Townsville

What is it that you make and what skills do you use?
I make fun, bright handmade stuffed toys using Funky Friends Factory patterns on my trusty Janome sewing machine

What inspired you to start your business?
After receiving my first sewing machine for Mother's Day in 2011 I met Pauline who is the designer of Funky Friends Factory. I bought my first pattern and was instantly hooked! My husband encouraged me to take my new found passion for sewing toys and turn it into a business.

How long have you been creating?
I've been making stuffed toys for almost 4 years now.

Is it a full time/ part time/hobby or business?
It is a fulltime business now and I also have the privilege to work closely with Pauline the designer of Funky Friends Factory, helping her by testing her new patterns, sewing samples, preparing toy kits and editing her patterns.

Where do you sell your creations?
You can find my creations at The Handmade Expo Cairns, online at www.madeit.com.au, at Cool Stuff 4 Kids in Bundaberg, at The Art & Craft Cottage in Ipswich, at Handmade Cans in Cairns and at Little Mai on the Gold Coast.

What makes what you so special or different?
I always try to make OOAK and rarely do I make the same toy in the same fabrics. Each toy is made to perfection and each one has it's own little personality

What is the most rewarding part of what you do?
Receiving wonderful feedback from customers and getting to see the faces of the little ones (and sometimes big ones) with their Korina's Kreation!

What is your favourite product that you make?
Ooh that's a hard one! My favourite's would have to be the Sugar Plum Fairy Ballerina, Lion, Hippo and Ducky

Do you teach classes or workshops?
No but I'd like to someday