NEW SUNSHINE COAST STALLHOLDER PROFILE FOR ALABASTER SOAPS

Stallholder Profile for Alabaster Soaps

Your name: Monica Spinaze

Your business name and facebook/website name and link: Alabaster Soaps

The suburb/town you live in now: Tullera NSW

What is it that you make and what skills do you use?: I am making home made soap, keeping them as natural as possible and using organic ingredients where possible

What inspired you to start your business?: My sister started to make soap because she and her children had eczema and found most soaps irritating. She found making her own soap reduced the irritation and some for example the goats milk soap seemed to sooth their skin. 

How long have you been creating?: I started making soap this year after staying with my sister who taught me the soap making process fundamentals and I was hooked. I have been selling my soap now for the last 10 months with lots of great feedback 

Is it a full time/part time hobby or business?: Currently I am doing this part time and is a hobby but I would like my soaps to reach more people as I think they are very good for the skin

Where do you sell your creations? Online/markets etc..of course you must include The Handmade Expo LOL?: I am selling my soaps at the Lismore Car boot market twice a month and other markets such as Woodbury riverside market and Kyogle market

What makes you so special or different?:My soaps are as natural as I can make them. I use organic oils, no preservatives, no artificial colours or scents. For colours I use herbs, spices and other vegetable based colours and for scent I use essential oils. Some of the soaps are suitable for vegans. I also make a very mild baby soap.  

What is the most rewarding part of what you do?:I love the process of soap making and each batch is different. I have also loved coming to understand the science behind making soap and also I really enjoy the positive feedback from people saying it is the best soap they have used. That is really rewarding

What is your favourite product to make?: I don't have one special soap to make each is different in smell, texture and lather depending on the type of oils used. My first soap was lavender and I have a friend who provided me with some beautiful dried lavender that is heavenly in soap so that is a favourite however my rose soap comes close to be number one. I can use it on my face and body and the smell in the shower is amazing

Do you teach classes or workshops?: No not at this time

SUNSHINE COAST STALLHOLDER PROFILE FOR JENNY MOODIE DESIGN

Stallholder Profile for Jenny Moodie Design

Your name: Jenny Moodie

Your business name and facebook/website name and link: Jenny Moodie Design

www.jennymoodie-design.com (this needs updating for Australia)

www.facebook.com/jennymoodiedesigner

www.instagram.com/jenny_moodie

 

The suburb/town you live in now: I moved to Coolum Beach in October 2016 with my Australian partner, I'm originally from Edinburgh, Scotland.

What is it that you make and what skills do you use: Jewellery - I create delicate hand crocheted wire jewellery for adults: earrings, necklaces and pendants. Using my Grannies 3mm and 1.5mm metal crochet hooks, 0.315mm colour plated copper core jewellery wire, semi precious gem stone chips/beads and 925 Sterling Silver ear wires, 16 inch snake chains and silver plated findings. My jewellery is bright and playful and the range of colourful wires work well with the natural stones. Each piece is comfortable to wear, it is not scratchy or heavy, the earrings in fact are so lightweight for danglies that you almost don’t notice them. Each piece is presented in a black gift box with ribbon and information tags.

 

Artwork - I love animals and the beautiful patterns, textures and colours created by nature. I enjoy drawing with a sharp pencil to achieve great detail, however discovered I can combine traditional and modern techniques and colour my monochrome drawings digitally to bring them to life. I create my original artworks using a pure graphite pencil on a A4 layout pad. I work from a reference photo which I’ve either taken, been given or adapted from various online images. I scan my drawing, open it in Photoshop, duplicate sections of the drawing several times and apply colour overlays to each layer. The final product is a digital colour print mounted and framed. Prints are limited to 26 editions (my lucky number 13, times two).

What inspired you to start your business: After I graduated in Edinburgh in 2008 with a 1st Class Batchelor of Design Honours Degree I very quickly gained a position with a leading events design company. The events industry can have peaks and quiet times so I decided to start my own small creative business to fill my time productively and continue doing other things I love. I obtained my ABN in October 2016 and I’m hoping I can continue here as I did in Scotland, splitting my time successfully between events work and my own business.

How long have you been creating: I can’t remember a time when I haven’t done some kind of art or craft. I started drawing as soon as I could hold a pencil and remember learning to knit and crochet with wool as a young child with both my Grannies. I made beaded jewellery in my teenage years and whilst at Uni I experimented with heavier copper wire on sculptural projects. This wire had been recycled from old electrical cables that my Electrician Father had collected on re-wires. This thicker wire worked well for sculptural pieces and from there I tried wire wrapped jewellery with stones and sea glass. I then found a supplier of fine copper core jewellery wire which I could use to make more intricate pieces and started making knitted bracelets. One day I was looking through a craft storage box and found my Grannies old crochet hooks and decided to give the wire crochet a go about 6 years ago. To this day I am still using my Grannies metal crochet hooks.

Is it a full time/part time hobby or business: This is a part time business at the moment when I’m not styling weddings and events or managing the warehouse for the company I work with.

Where do you sell your creations: The Handmade Expo Sunshine Coast, Makersville - Montville, Harper St - Peregian Beach, Online @ https://marketplace.profilemag.com.au/jenny-moodie/, Eumundi Pavilion Markets (occasionally), Direct and commissions by word of mouth.

What makes you so special or different: The techniques I use are quite unique combining traditional with modern. You don't see a lot of hand crocheted wire jewellery or detailed pencil drawings coloured digitally.

What is the most rewarding part of what you do: I enjoy the freedom and flexibility of being my own boss and creating something that other people like enough to purchase.

I love when I sit down to create something, I can focus completely on that for a few hours in my own wee creative bubble and shut out the rest of the world. 

 

What is your favourite product to make: I particularly enjoy making one off crocheted wire pendants as a lot of the time the natural gemstones shape the final product so no two pieces will look exactly the same.

Do you teach classes or workshops: No, not currently. I don't want to give away my trade secrets and don't currently have the time.

SUNSHINE COAST STALLHOLDER PROFILE FOR TIBBY LITTLE

Stallholder Profile for Tibby Little

Your name: Elizabeth (Tibby) Little

Your business name and facebook/website name and link: Tibby Little www.facebook.com/TibbyLittleAUS Instagram: @TibbyLittle

The suburb/town you live in now: Currimundi

What is it that you make and what skills do you use?: Handmade children’s clothing such as dresses, rompers, shorts, harem pants.

What inspired you to start your business?: I began making clothes when I was on maternity leave from teaching with my first child. I have been sewing since i was a very young girl, my mother was a pattern maker and sewer.

How long have you been creating?: Since 2011.

Is it a full time/part time hobby or business?: Part time hobby for me as I am a full time teacher normally but on maternity leave with my 3rd.

Where do you sell your creations?: Twilight Caloundra markets, Sunshine Coast Collective market and other markets in the area plus now at The Handmade Expo. Also sell via Facebook.

What makes you so special or different?: Each piece is unique; one of a kind and finished to a very high quality. Patterns are created by my mother who had similar dresses when she was a child.

What is the most rewarding part of what you do?: Seeing my little outfits getting around on the coast or when I am send thank you letters and photos by happy customers.

What is your favourite product to make?: I love my dress sets and the rompers!

Do you teach classes or workshops?: No

HERVEY BAY STALLHOLDER PROFILE FOR BLACKLIST PRINTS

Stallholder Profile for Blacklist Prints

Your name:  Scott & Kylie Burrage

Our company Mascots and Guinea Pigs Jasmine (2.5 years) and Alana and Esther (5 months)

Your business name and facebook/website name and link:  Blacklist Prints

https://www.facebook.com/blacklistprints/

https://www.blacklistprints.com.au/

The suburb/town you live in now: 

We have purchased a property in Marian where our Studio and workshop is now based. 

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

We use our design skills in draughting software to create custom items. We have a number of machines that help us produce our designs. Our laser cutter and engraver is our most used machine. We create engraved chopping boards, wine boxes, puzzles, shelfies, baby blocks and prints - just to name a few. 

What inspired you to start your business?: 

The mining downturn in Mackay meant that Scott's opportunity for draughting work was very limited and Kylie was pregnant with our first daughter, Jasmine. We started Blacklist Prints in order to be able to work for ourselves and have an income to support our family.  Kylie went on maternity leave late 2014 and has continued to work within the business - even up to full term carrying twins!

How long have you been creating?: 

A lot of years, however, started Canvas Printing Feb 2014 & expanded to Engraving August 2014

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

This is a full time business that has now become our main source of income.

Where do you sell your creations? Online/markets etc..of course you must include The Handmade Expo LOL?: 

We started selling at Handmade Markets and expos, our first was a Bridal Expo Feb 2015 with a very small baby in tow. We have done markets in Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville, Monto, Biloela, Capella. This will be our first trip to Hervey Bay. Blacklist Prints now sells nationally through our own website, eBay and Etsy stores. We have also done pop up shops in Rockhampton and Mackay. We are setting up our studio to include a new show room. 

What makes you so special or different?: 

We love to create special mementos that simply outshine the store bought gift. We love to do different types of items and designs. Our customers are not locked into standard templates for engraving. Customers are welcome to share their ideas and for us to create an artwork for them. For example our baby blocks we WILL search for special icons recently we have done dinosaurs and a Viking for a little chap, we change the format, we can change the font - we work with our customers to create something special. 

What is the most rewarding part of what you do?: 

We love hearing back from customers after they have received their items. It's so gratifying to hear that they loved the artwork used and it was well received by the recipient. 

What is your favourite product to make?: 

If you haven't guessed we love our Baby Blocks. I love the individuality of each order. I love to see which little icon people wish to use and the cute quotes and sayings. These blocks are used for all sorts of occasions from Births, First Birthdays and Christenings. We now also have a birth announcement ruler added to our range. 

Do you teach classes or workshops?: 

No we don't do workshops. We work as a husband and wife team with a toddler and two fresh twins. It's just a bit too chaotic to add that into our work day at this stage!

HERVEY BAY STALLHOLDER PROFILE FOR GRANDPA'S TOYS

Stallholder Profile for Grandpa's Toys

Your name:  David Burrage

Your business name and facebook/website name and link:  www.grandpastoys.com.au   www.facebook.com/grandpaswoodentoys/

The suburb/town you live in now: Alton Downs Qld (we have a workshop in Marian also which we share with Blacklist Prints)

What is it that you make and what skills do you use?: Handmade wooden toys for toddlers through to 80 year old. I use carpentry and furniture making skills to create my toys

What inspired you to start your business?: I lost my job and was too young to retire. I used to make toys for our children years ago so started with laundry set and progressed to trucks as people requested.

How long have you been creating?: A lot of years however made this business out of necessity 4 years ago

Is it a full time/part time hobby or business?: This is a business designed to assist making our livelihood.

Where do you sell your creations? Online/markets etc..of course you must include The Handmade Expo LOL?: We mostly sell online and at shopping centres however we do markets (in Mackay, Capella, Biloela and Rockhampton and Agricultural Shows (Marlborough, Ridgelands, Monto and Rockhampton) and The Handmade Expo Markets (mainly Rockhampton however trying THE Hervey Bay for the first time in August 2017

What makes you so special or different?: I guess the wide variety of toys I make and the sturdy nature of them appeals to a lot of people Australia wide.

What is the most rewarding part of what you do?: The comments from the customers and seeing the eyes of children light up when they see my toys.

What is your favourite product to make?: My cattle truck which I can personalise for children, businesses or companies.

Do you teach classes or workshops?: No I don’t have any time. Who would have thought a one man business would be posting products all over Australia.

HERVEY BAY STALLHOLDER PROFILE FOR THE SHED, TOWN & COUNTRY COMMUNITY OPTIONS

Stallholder Profile for The Shed, Town and Country Community Options

Name: Peter Kalbfell.

Business Name: The Shed, Town And Country Community Options, http://tcco.net.au/

What We Make: Wood products, including furniture, wine racks, planter boxes, anything that can be made out of recycled wood.

What Inspired: Giving people with disabilities somewhere to learn new skills, make products to take home and  interact as a group.

How Long: About 2 and a half years.

Where We Sell: To public, markets, friends and family.

What Makes Us Special/Different: Encouraging people with disabilities to have a go and involving them in all of the projects.

Most Rewarding: The smiles on the participants faces all the time.

Favourite Thing to Make: Everything.

Teach Classes Or Workshop: Only open to people with disabilities.