NEW HERVEY BAY STALLHOLDER PROFILE FOR FORBIDDEN TIKI

Stallholder Profile for Forbidden Tiki

Your name: Geoff Pearce

Your business name and facebook/website name and link: https://forbiddentiki.net/

The suburb/town you live in now: Point Vernon, Hervey Bay Qld

What is it that you make and what skills do you use?: I make island/tiki themed artifacts like tiki bar clocks, ornaments and decorative panels and I paint similarly themed artworks. I also sculpt tiki statues from Hebel block.

What inspired you to start your business?: I have long been a fan of the post WWII fascination with the south seas and island lifestyle. The resurgence of the US lead tiki culture in more recent years rekindled my interest. I have a great affection for all things Hawaiian and like to express that feeling in the work I create. Following on from my interest I am a member of long standing of the US based forums, Tiki Central and The Fraternal Order of the Moai where I am known as Thurston Howell IV.

How long have you been creating? I have been creating this type of work for about 20 years but have been painting in various styles for twice that.

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

Where do you sell your creations?: I have sold in small venues like coffee houses in the Southern Highlands in NSW where I lived for some years and more recently in Hervey Bay in a Retro Store called Space & Oddity here in Hervey Bay. Later this year I can be found at The Handmade Expo & Vintage Market.

What makes you so special or different?: There are not so many tiki culture creatives in Australia and its about time we took hold of our place in the South Pacific and what we can offer to this genre.

What is the most rewarding part of what you do?: Seeing others appreciate what I have created.

What is your favourite product to make?: I guess I prefer painting canvasses and decorative panels with island motifs.

Do you teach classes or workshops?: No.

NEW STALLHOLDER PROFILE FOR MOJO'S MOBILE CATERING

Stallholder Profile for Mojo's Mobile Catering

• Your name: Jenny Overson

• Your Business name and Facebook name and link: Mojo’s Mobile Catering (that is my trading name and Facebook name)

• The suburb/town you live in now: Harlin 4306

• What is it that you make and what skills do you use? I make deep fried desserts such as Oreos and Mars Bars,Twix, bananas, apples, bananas in bacon and my newest addition is funnel cakes. They taste like a hot donut but look nothing like it. I serve all of these with or without Bulla Ice cream and topping of the customers choice.

• What inspired you to start your business? I have always wanted my own business and I love to cook for people and to see their reaction. My brother went to the USA and when he came back he raved about the deep fried desserts that they do. So I tested some on family and friends and the rest, as they say, is history. It’s only a short history though as I only started this business in August, 2017.
• How long have you been ‘creating’?

• Is it a full time/ part time/hobby or business? This is my main business. I still do a bit of relief teacher aide work in the local High school in the Special Ed dept. Before my own business I have worked in Special Ed for 17 years.

• Where do you sell your creations and What makes what you do special or different? I mainly like to do food festivals and expos. This is because I need the numbers to buy my goodies as my prices are cheap. I like to keep them that way so that it is affordable for everyone. It is becoming more and more expensive to take a family out so I have kept that foremost in my mind with pricing.

• What is the most rewarding part of what you do? Having repeat customers. I love them coming back, even to tell me how much they enjoyed it. As it is not a common theme in Qld people are trying something new so can be a bit cautious. I have had some people just order one and then come back and get 5!

• What is your favourite product that you make? Funnel cakes. I just love them. They are fun to make because no two are the same but they are absolutely delicious. If I was to have a snack that would be what I would chose and I never thought I would chose something else over chocolate!

• Do you teach classes or workshops?  No

SUNSHINE COAST STALLHOLDER PROFILE FOR PUMP HOUSE POTTERY

Stallholder Profile for Pump House Pottery

Your name: Leona Stevens

Your business name and facebook/website name and link: Pump House Pottery

The suburb/town you live in now: Sunshine Coast. One of the most beautiful places in the world.

What is it that you make and what skills do you use?: I am a potter. I make functional pieces such as bowls plates etc on a pottery wheel. I also make decorative pieces such as bud vases and pin cushions. I use my muscles, haha. Pottery, especially wheel thrown pottery is very labour intensive. When entering a 2.5kg slab of clay on a spinning wheel you have to get your whole body behind it. I also need to plan and design a lot beforehand so I know what I am going to make before I sit down at the wheel. I also need to be good at chemistry as making glazes needs a lot of knowledge and failures.

What inspired you to start your business?: I love working with clay. I can get lost in the making process and before I know it several hours have passed. I also love ceramics in general. I think everyone can relate to the feeling of picking up a lovely finished piece of pottery. Something about pottery just makes you want to pick it up and feel it.  I couldn't think of a better business to be involved in so I wanted to start producing work that people would love as much as me. 

How long have you been creating?: I have been creating for roughly 20 years on and off. 

Is it a full time/part time hobby or business?: I would love it to be my full time business and that is my goal, but at the moment it is just my hobby/part time business. 

Where do you sell your creations?: I have an Etsy store and do sell through facebook. And of course the Handmade Expo. 

What makes you so special or different?: I think what makes my work unique is the fact that I produce most of my work on a wheel and not slabs. I was technically trained so always produce fine work. I love a trimmed foot on pottery, it makes it a little more special. 



What is the most rewarding part of what you do?: Pottery can be a love/hate relationship. At anytime in the process my work can fail; a crack in the piece while drying, a crack from the first firing or second or a glaze not turning out as i expected. But the most rewarding part is after all the time and effort I put into a piece and when I open the kiln for the last time a piece comes out that looks absolutely stunning and not quite what I expected. 

What is your favourite product to make? I love making all the pieces I currently produce. If I had to pick one I think it might be my cake stand / chip and dip bowl. I love the versatility of it and how it can be used for two totally different purposes and the beautiful crisp white of the clay. 

Do you teach classes or workshops? I don't teach classes but I am always happy to share my knowledge with anyone who listens. I am always trying to recruit more potters haha.

TOOWOOMBA STALLHOLDER PROFILE FOR GREEN DANDELION

Stallholder Profile for Green Dandelion

Your name: - Suanne Robertson 

Your Business name and Facebook name and link: - Green Dandelion at https://www.facebook.com/greendandeliontoowoomba/

The suburb/town you live in now: - Mt Lofty

What is it that you make and what skills do you use? - Natural cleaners and laundry products; basic science and mixing skills.

What inspired you to start your business? - The amount of plastic and toxic industrial chemicals present in our everyday household and body products, textiles and cleaners. Also the amount of toxic waste created by these products that is entering our bodies, soil and waterways at an alarming rate, to the detriment of ourselves, our environment, our wildlife and our marine life and ecology.

How long have you been ‘creating’? - I have always chosen a more 'natural' way of life through the products and produce I have chosen personally to bring into our home. I shop only at markets and through bulk food buying groups to avoid supermarket monopolies and to support local farmers and producers, as well as to access more natural and handmade products. In starting my own business this year that is all about reducing plastic and toxic waste, I have moved even more towards handmade natural products for use at home and have started to develop my own range, as well as partnering with likeminded artisans.

Is it a full time/ part time/hobby or business? - A business and passion!

Where do you sell your creations?: We sell at markets as we like to engage with customers face to face - it's much more personal.

What makes what you do special or different? -  The nature of our business is special in that everything is made from natural fibres or sustainable materials and is therefore either compostable, biodegradable, reusable or recyclable, or all of these. Our products support our customers to make behaviour changes that have a huge impact on reducing the use of plastic and the amount of toxic waste entering the environment, and so do we. I love to support start-ups like myself, so all of my handmade range is from very talented and entrepreneurial 'newbies'.

What is the most rewarding part of what you do? - Talking to people about solutions for replacing plastic and reducing their waste. Sharing Green Dandelion tips and tricks - the small changes of individuals have a big impact over time and across the community.

What is your favourite product that you make? - Our Laundry Butter - so smooth and creamy! I actually love hand washing again!

Do you teach classes or workshops? - Not at this stage, but I aspire to coaching people in their homes and presenting at schools, workplaces and community groups in the future.

IPSWICH STALLHOLDER PROFILE FOR ADDI'S COLLECTION

Stallholder Profile for Addi's Collection of Handmade Cards

Your name: Casey Wood.

Your Business name and Facebook name and link: Addi's Collection, Addi's Collection of Handmade Cards www.facebook.com/handmadebyaddiscollection 

The suburb/town you live in now: Aspley.

What is it that you make and what skills do you use? Handmade greeting cards and gift tags.

What inspired you to start? I love creating and was looking for something different once I had kids.

How long have you been ‘creating’? 5 years.

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

Where do you sell your creations?: Markets and online.

What makes what you do special or different?  I never make 2 cards exactly the same. And I tried to cover all walks of life eg female female relationships, male male, 2 kid/ 3 kids/ mum

only family etc etc

What is the most rewarding part of what you do? I love hearing people's surprise when they find a card they can relate to or know someone who it would be perfect for. 

What is your favourite product that you make? Everything. All of my cards are my favourite. If I don't like any element of my cards, I was put them on display.

Do you teach classes or workshops? Not currently.