NEW LISMORE STALLHOLDER PROFILE FOR MISTY AND MIM

Stallholder Profile for Misty and Mim

Your name: Leigha Lawlor

Your business name and facebook/website name and link: Misty and Mim 

https://www.facebook.com/mistyandmim/ 

www.mistyandmim.com.au 

The suburb/town you live in now: Clunes

What is it that you make and what skills do you use?: Baby Shower gifts, handmade cards and assorted other gifts

What inspired you to start your business?: To make my own way, be my own boss and do something I love

How long have you been creating?: I have been scrapbooking and making cards for years but this Business is about 3 months old

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

Where do you sell your creations?: The Handmade Expo, Markets, Online and in my shop

What makes you so special or different?: Unique one off gifts, handmade, affordable

What is the most rewarding part of what you do?: Seeing my creations finish and see the happy customers as they purchase them.

What is your favourite product to make?: Nappy cakes

Do you teach classes or workshops?: No

NEW IPSWICH STALLHOLDER PROFILE FOR THE LITTLE KNOTTING CO

Stallholder Profile for The Little Knotting Co

Your name: Danika Sherlock 

Your Business name and Facebook name and link: The Little Knotting Co. check it out on Facebook! www.facebook.com/TheLittleKnottingCo

The suburb/town you live in now: Prenzlau, QLD

What is it that you make and what skills do you use? I hand make all things Macramé using the awesome skill of knots. 

What inspired you to start your business? It initially started as a way to help me through post natal depression. Which then of course developed into a small business. 

How long have you been ‘creating’? A little over 12 months. 

Is it a full time/ part time/hobby or business? The Little Knotting Co. is a small business run by me - a stay at home Mum. 

Where do you sell your creations? I sell my pieces mostly at Markets but sell online via my Facebook page and website too. 

What makes what you do special? My small business is special to me because it helped me through a dark time and now that I’m once again in the sunshine, it allows me the freedom to continue staying at home with my daughter. 

What is the most rewarding part of what you do? The joy it brings my customers & seeing my piece become a part of their home. 

What is your favourite product that you make? Don’t make me choose one! My favourites would have to be my Plant Hangers + my extra large Wall Garlands. 

Do you teach classes or workshops? At this stage I don’t, but I do plan to hold small workshops by the end of the year. 

NEW STALLHOLDER PROFILE FOR LISMORE BASE HOSPITAL AUXILIARY

Stallholder Profile for Lismore Base Hospital Auxiliary

Your name: Diane Miller (President)

Your business name and facebook/website name and link: Lismore Base Hospital Auxiliaryhttps://www.facebook.com/lismorebasehospitalauxiliary/

The suburb/town you live in now: Lismore

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

Skills: Sewing, knitting, crocheting, quilting,

Items: hand-made journals, picture frames, appliqued table linen, baby & children’s soft toys and clothing, aprons, decorated hessian shopping bags, quilts and blankets, bed socks, scarves, booties, beanies.

What inspired you to start your business?: We are a not for profit auxiliary has been in operation for over 100 years for the purpose of providing patient care equipment at Lismore Base Hospital.

How long have you been creating?: Our members have been creating items to support the hospital for over 100 years.

Is it a full time/part time hobby or business?: We are a registered charity manned by volunteers.

Where do you sell your creations?:  In the hospital gift shop, by a daily trolley service throughout the hospital wards. And soon The Handmade Expo in Lismore.

What makes you so special or different?: We don’t benefit personally from the items we make – all monies raised go to improving the quality of care members of our community receive when they are at the hospital.

What is the most rewarding part of what you do?: Seeing the gratitude of staff and patients for the additional equipment we provide to improve health outcomes at the hospital.

What is your favourite product to make?: Each volunteer would have a different response to this question.  We love all our creations.

Do you teach classes or workshops?: No

NEW HERVEY BAY STALLHOLDER PROFILE FOR BAY MACRAME

Stallholder Profile for Bay Macrame

Your name: Amy Doubleday

Your business name - Bay Macrame

Facebook/website name and link: https://www.instagram.com/baymacrame/ 

The suburb/town you live in now: Hervey Bay

What is it that you make and what skills do you use?: I make Necklaces and Pendants using Micro Macrame. I also incorporate natural stones and glass beads.

What inspired you to start your business?: I just love creating. It is a great feeling to create something beautiful from nothing but your own two hands. It is energy that I love to share and it is lovely when your efforts are admired.

How long have you been creating?:I have been teaching myself the art of macrame for just over a year now.  When I first discovered macrame, my years of doodling mandalas, making beaded jewellery and attempts at knitting and crochet just, literally, all tied together and made sense. Perhaps macrame found me.

Is it a full time/part time hobby or business?: Hobby. I consider myself lucky that I get any time to create at all! Life can get pretty hectic at times.

Where do you sell your creations? The Handmade Expo will be my first market.  I do have an Ebay shop as well that has been well received which is nice.

What makes you so special or different?: Every single piece I make is unique.  I have attempted to try and make a 'pattern', but I find it impossible to stick to, it just doesn't feel the same. Each stone speaks differently as well, so all Bay Macrame are one of a kinds.

What is the most rewarding part of what you do?: I find macrame so relaxing. It is my meditation, my calm place.  I find I am always happy when I have the time to create, so each piece has been made with peace, care and positive vibes. 

What is your favourite product to make?: I do enjoy getting lost in a good mandala creation.

Do you teach classes or workshops? No :-) Being self taught, I would find that a bit tricky!

NEW STALLHOLDER PROFILE FOR SARAH WILLIAMS WRITER

Stallholder Profile for Sarah Williams Writer

Your name: Sarah Williams

Your business name and facebook/website name and link: Sarah Williams. www.sarahwilliamsauthor.com https://www.facebook.com/SarahWilliamsWriter/

The suburb/town you live in now: Maleny

What is it that you make and what skills do you use?: I am an author and Independent Publisher. I write Australian fiction and creative journals  

What inspired you to start your business?: I have always loved making up and telling stories, after my children were born I decided to turn my dream into reality.

How long have you been creating?: All my life!

Is it a full time/part time hobby or business?: I am now a fulltime author and publisher.

Where do you sell your creations?: Online ebook retailers like iBooks and Amazon. Most Independent bookstores stock my print copies and you can also borrow through the library.

What makes you so special or different?: My books are all based in Queensland with fair dinkum Qld characters. I have been awarded many prizes and accolades for them and get great reviews.

What is the most rewarding part of what you do?: Being able to finacially support my family and bring love into peoples homes.

What is your favourite product to make?: Romantic fiction. I love a good love story.

Do you teach classes or workshops?: I mentor one-on-one and teach group workshops when asked.

NEW MACKAY STALLHOLDER PROFILE FOR LIFE ON SHACKLETON

Stallholder Profile for Life on Shackleton

Your name: Amy Clark

Your business name and facebook/website name and link:

Life On Shackleton 

Life on Shackleton : Handcrafted Products

https://www.facebook.com/lifeonshackleton/

https://www.instagram.com/life_on_shackleton/

The suburb/town you live in now:

Oakenden 4741

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

Artisan Soap, Cold process technique 

What inspired you to start your business?:

My inspiration comes from my passion for simplicity, the environment and natural skin care. My mission is to create an eye pleasing product using natural ingredients and reducing our environmental foot print.

How long have you been creating?:

I first started creating soap and natural beauty products in 2007. 

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

small business 

Where do you sell your creations?

Mostly market based: River street Night Markets, Sarina Markets, Troppo. And soon The Handmade Expo

What makes you so special or different?:

Our handcrafted cold process soap is free from synthetic foaming agents, fragrance oils and laboratory manufactured colourants. Our ingredients are ethically sourced and products are created in small batches. We are free from petroleum derived colourants and Micas that are inorganic. Our colours from herbal infusions, dried botanicals and clays. Products are scented with essential oils. We also do not use palm oil in our products and we package our soaps in biodegradable or recyclable packaging. 

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

 receiving positive feedback. knowing that the products I create have minimal environmental impact 

What is your favourite product to make?: 

I generally enjoy creating them all. 

Do you teach classes or workshops?

I currently do not teach classes or hold workshops.

NEW STALLHOLDER PROFILE FOR ZEMYLLA

Stallholder Profile for Zemylla

Your name: Helen Piczak

Your Business name: Zemylla

The suburb/town you live in now?: Mitchelton, Queensland

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

What inspired you to start your business?: People kept asking me if I sold the necklaces that I had made, so I thought I would try selling.

How long have you been ‘creating?: 30 years

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

Where do you sell your creations?: Markets and Etsy Online.

What makes what you do special or different?: I do one of a kind Contemporary Tribal Designs. A fusion of old and new.

What is the most rewarding part of what you do?: Creating one off designs and talking to people at the markets

What is your favourite product that you make?: An extra long necklace that can be worn as a 2, 3 or 4 strand necklace

Do you teach classes or workshops?: I am hoping to start a group on Meetup.com.

NEW SUNSHINE COAST STALLHOLDER PROFILE FOR CREATIVEARTWEAR

Stallholder Profile for creativeartWEAR

Your name: Lindy Creeke

Your business name and facebook/website name and link:  creativeartWEAR Australia- www.creativeartwear.com.au,

FB link is @creativeartWEAR, 

The suburb/town you live in now:  Margate, Queensland

What is it that you make and what skills do you use?:  Unique garments for women - using only cotton linen or silk - my sewing skills, sometimes dyeing my own fabric.  I also have a love of detail and embellishment. I have also recently added a DIY element to my business - colour your own hat or cap - the cap and hat designs are by me and the fabric pens I have sourced with excellent inks from Germany.  I have the caps and hats made and printed overseas, but they are a unique product which are available on-line and at special events.

                             

What inspired you to start your business?:  I noticed a need for a niche market - mature women who still wanted to be different - it has also proven to be a success with younger women who wish to have unique, one off garments - particularly in natural fabrics, using natural dyes.  We are not all stock standard sizes and my garments are created with bumps and lumps in mind.  I was never a stock standard size and shape and realised very quickly if I want to dress to impress that I had to make my own clothes.

How long have you been creating?:  Since I was 12, so a very long time, 51 years, I started making bikinis for myself and  friends, which then progressed to selling to the local surf shops 

Is it a full time/part time hobby or business?:  All of these really - it was a hobby I am passionate about which turned into a full-time business - I tried to retire 2 years ago, but it didn’t work - whilst ever there is fabric I will always sew

Where do you sell your creations?:  Since closing my shops (mainly in Queensland, but also in Sydney over the past 10 years) I threw myself into the market world for several years and have now reinvented my business into a mainly on-line business.  Since returning to Queensland I will sometimes sell at special events and The Handmade Expo is my first event for a couple of years.  I will continue to sell at special events only as I would like to sell online - but I do miss the public interaction and I myself prefer the hands on approach - the touchy feely part of fabric and trying a garment on, so getting my head around the on-line phenomenon is taking time.

What makes you so special or different?:  Because I really care about my customers.  I will not let a customer buy one of my garments if it does not fit, or suit her in some other way.  A happy customer is a loyal customer.  My garments are recognisable to my customers and so it is important that my customers always look and feel their best in one of my garments.  And my attention to detail and sourcing amazing fabric.

What is the most rewarding part of what you do?:  Having customers return to tell me the compliments they received when wearing one of my garments.

What is your favourite product to make?:  Different depending on the fabric at hand and my mood.  Always something creative for women.

NEW STALLHOLDER PROFILE FOR GATHERED CREATIONS

Stallholder Profile for Gathered Creations

Your name: Trish

Your business name and facebook/website name and link: Gathered Creations 

https://m.facebook.com/gatheredcreations/

The suburb/town you live in now: Lismore

What is it that you make and what skills do you use?: I’m a crochet designer, I make baskets, blankets, bags & ponchos. With natural cottons, fabric & recycled plastics. 

What inspired you to start your business?: my love for crochet & making purposeful items with yarn & a hook.

How long have you been creating?: on and off for about 10 yrs

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

Where do you sell your creations?: markets, Facebook, family friends & work. 

What makes you so special or different?: I’m considered young for a crocheter & I’m not a Nana. I crochet modern & vintage style items. My baskets are not overly common although are on trend. 

What is the most rewarding part of what you do?: people loving my products & conversations with others about crochet. Making something out of a ball of yarn. 

What is your favourite product to make?: baskets are my signature product. 

Do you teach classes or workshops?: I’ve been asked to 

NEW LISMORE STALLHOLDER PROFILE FOR MEL'S MELTING MOMENTS SOY CANDLES

Stallholder Profile for Mel's Melting Moments Soy Candles

Your name: melanie connell

Your business name and facebook/website name and link: Mels Melting Moments Soy Candles

https://www.facebook.com/melsmeltingmomentssoycandles/?ref=bookmarks 

 

The suburb/town you live in now: Goonellabah

What is it that you make and what skills do you use?: Soaps, candles, diffusers - nice smelly stuff lol

What inspired you to start your business?: I wanted an outlet for my creative side 

How long have you been creating?: 7 years 

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

Where do you sell your creations? Lismore Car boot Market, Channon Craft Market and Online and soon The Handmade Expo.

What makes you so special or different?: ME!!! I started a long time ago, I always have a Mel touch and you can see it in my work how much I love it 

What is the most rewarding part of what you do?: Peoples faces when they smell or see one of my designs or fragrances, from, omg how, is that real, omg it a candle to watching people shove a candle in their friends faces because it smells so damn good lol

What is your favourite product to make?: CANDLES!!! ANY!!! 

Do you teach classes or workshops?: no

THE HANDMADE EXPO IS EXPANDING!!!!

Market Expansion

2018 is an exciting year for The Handmade Expo with 4 new locations opening!!

April saw the new Brisbane Northside location in Strathpine at the Strathpine Community Centre open and sites were booked out within 4 weeks of releasing the application form creating the largest waitlist we've seen in a long time. After closing our Morayfield venue back in 2015 there had been numerous requests to reopen on the northside as handmade businesses were seeking quality avenues to sell their wares at.

July sees the grand opening of our Mackay location which will run twice a year at this stage and will be held at the Mackay PCYC on a Saturday. We had been toying with the idea of opening a market in the Mackay region for some time since Airlie Beach first started and with the success of that market location we decided that now was time to do it. So far since announcing the new venue and putting the application form on the website the response has been fantastic with many of our current Airlie Beach stallholders keen to expand their client base plus loads of new and exciting businesses joining The Handmade Expo family. 

Proserpine won't miss out either with a market date booked for November at the Proserpine Cyclone Shelter! With no completely handmade market in the area our mission is to promote handmade products from the local area as well as from the surrounding region.

After 10 years of holding markets in Queensland The Handmade Expo is extremely excited to be expanding into Northern NSW!!

August is set for our grand opening in Lismore at the Goonellabah Sports & Aquatic Centre. This area has an amazing assortment of creative artisans and we are looking forward to having them all in the one place in a fully indoors venue.

You can find all the dates and locations on our website at www.thehandmadeexpo.com.au