NEW HERVEY BAY STALLHOLDER PROFILE FOR CROZ'S WOOD CARVINGS

Stallholder Profile for Croz's Wood Carvings

Your name: Croz Crosby

Your business name:  Croz’s Wood Carvings

Facebook/website name and link: https://www.facebook.com./crozz22/

The suburb/town you live in now: Hervey Bay

What is it that you make and what skills do you use?: Timber Sea Creatures and Timber signs using various tools & techniques by hand being self-taught.  No laser cutting involved.

What inspired you to start your business?: Work accident

How long have you been creating?: 15 years

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

Where do you sell your creations?: Urangan Pier Markets, Howard Markets, Handmade Expo  & Facebook page, Hervey Bay Art Gallery & selected events.

What makes you so special or different?: I love my fishing, so I pay attention to the detail which makes the pieces very realistic. So people look at the pieces and they know straight away what it is. My pieces are not mass produced.

What is the most rewarding part of what you do?: People posting photos on our FB page with their pieces proudly displayed in their home and for those who received it as a gift

What is your favourite product to make?: Sailfish

Do you teach classes or workshops?: No

NEW MACKAY STALLHOLDER PROFILE FOR CRAFTED BY NATURE

Stallholder Profile for Crafted by Nature

Your name: Amy Phillips

Your business name and facebook/website name and link: 

Crafted by Nature 

Website: www.craftedbynature.com.au

Facebook: www.facebook.com/cbnproducts/

The suburb/town you live in now: 

Moranbah, QLD

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

Handmade, herbal skincare products.

Soap making, lip balm making, bodybutter making, naturopathic principles and philosophies, herbal combinations for specific uses

What inspired you to start your business?

I'm currently studying a Bachelor of Naturopathy via distance from Endeavour College of Natural Health. I moved up here with my partner for his first full time teaching gig and since being up here have craved a more practical application to my degree. I made some lovely products for friends and family at Christmas last year and after rave reviews and a bit of convincing from my partner, I decided I'd make a whole range of products and sell them locally and interstate. For the past few years I've been on a journey of eliminating all chemicals used in my home and on my body and I wanted to provide these alternatives to a local as well as national market. I'm passionate about promoting how dangerous these chemicals can be to our endocrine system and how simply and effective natural alternatives can be. If you can do it naturally why would you try any other way?

How long have you been creating? 

As a business, we've been creating these products for 3 months

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

We run our business part-time while I study and work as a teacher aide at the local high school.

Where do you sell your creations? 

We sell our gorgeous herbal skincare online on our website www.craftedbynature.com.au , at local markets in Moranbah and surrounding towns, Paxton’s Night Markets and at the The Handmade Expo Markets in Mackay.

What makes you so special or different?

What makes us different to others is our use of visible, organic dried herbs which not only bring our soaps to life but also add a beautiful exfoliation medium for the skin. We also design our soap preparations with herbal combinations that can provide specific actions when used on the skin around the body. 

What is the most rewarding part of what you do?

The most rewarding part of selling our products is knowing that we’ve made a small impact in someone’s life by reducing their exposure to toxic chemicals and igniting their journey to discovering a world free from chemicals. We absolutely love hearing all the positive feedback we’ve been revcieving and how our products have improved people’s skin and bathing experience. 

What is your favourite product to make?

Our favourite product to make is the soap range as we get to experiment how to make new colours with completely natural ingredients such as turmeric or matcha tea.

Do you teach classes or workshops?

Unfortunately not at this stage. 

TOOWOOMBA STALLHOLDER PROFILE FOR BEEHOLD

Stallholder blog post for Beehold

A couple of months back I did something that’s not unusual. I approached the beekeeper Alf Crighton at my local farmer’s market and started a conversation. The subject itself wasn’t so remarkable; we just talked bees, and about the amazing benefits and uses for natural, local honey and beeswax. That conversation started a friendship, and ideas flowed. With the availability of Alf’s great beeswax and honey my husband Edwin and I have become artisans of some beautiful handmade products. We launched a business, Beehold with a simple goal - to provide environmentally-friendly household products that are so simple, beautiful, economical and sustainable that our customers won’t miss their store-bought synthetics. I thank Alf, because, with local supplies and support this is a realistic aspiration.

                        Crystal Charles from Beehold and beekeeper Alf Crighton

One of our products is reusable beeswax food wraps. If you’re new to food wraps they are a bacteria resistant alternative to plastic wraps, ziplock bags and other plastic kitchen storage. We used to cringe using cling film knowing it would be used once and end up in landfill. The ingredients of the wraps - beeswax, coconut oil and pine resin on cotton fabric. It’s all natural and will one day go back to the earth. Did I mention they are bacteria resistant? The ingredients naturally keep your food fresh.

Plus they are so cute! I’ve chosen high quality fabrics in a range of themes. My current favourites are the geo designs. Bold and bright :)

We believe sustainability means producing quality products with a decent lifespan. So not only have we taken great care in choosing quality local ingredients and fabrics to begin with, we encourage customers to get back in touch once their wraps are no longer sticky and we will renew them the first time for free.  Our packaging is 100% biodegradable.

Beehold's three wrap pack, in Geo design, with biodegradable packaging

Want something a little different to what you see? Happy to find a custom solution, even name printing so you won’t lose them at school or work.

But food wraps are just the beginning. We also have a line of beautiful skin care products made with all natural ingredients designed to face the harsh Australian environment. Our beeswax body butter has been very popular for locals battling the cold, dry, windy weather.

                        Heavenly beeswax body butter is a moisturiser with a breathable barrier to the elements

Try these products and more at The Toowoomba Handmade Expo Markets, 29th July at the Harristown High School Auditorium. Tip: stop by on your way out so you can also grab a bucket of honey for the road!

Get in touch with me through facebook https://www.facebook.com/beeholdwraps/ or my website www.beehold.com.au for more information and future market times.

Crystal Charles

Beehold Founder and Artisan

NEW LISMORE STALLHOLDER PROFILE FOR RAINBOW CONCEPTION

Stallholder Profile for Rainbow Conception

Your name: Casey Jones

Your business name and facebook/website name and link: Rainbow Conception https://www.facebook.com/rainbowconception/

The suburb/town you live in now: Wollongbar NSW 2477

What is it that you make and what skills do you use?: Personalised and Custom design decals and iron on transfers. I use creative ingenuity.

What inspired you to start your business?:  Looking for a creative outlet whilst being able to spend time with my children not being stuck to the normal grind of 9 to 5 hours.

How long have you been creating?: 1 and 1/2 years

Is it a full time/part time hobby or business?: Part time Business growing into a full time one.

Where do you sell your creations?: Most of my selling is done online and sent all over Australia, but we do local markets and expos too.

What makes you so special or different?: We work with the customer to design and create the one of a kind item specific to their needs.

What is the most rewarding part of what you do?: Happy customers and seeing how they have visions combined with our creative know how have come to life.

What is your favourite product to make?: Baby rompers.

Do you teach classes or workshops?: No

NEW STALLHOLDER PROFILE FOR COCO CREATIONS & FLORISTRY BOUTIQUE

Stallholder Profile for Coco Creations & Floristry Boutique

Your name: Crystal Gladman

Your business name and facebook/website name and link: Coco Creations & Floristy Boutique 
https://www.facebook.com/followyourdreamscoco/ 

The suburb/town you live in now: Mackay/ Eimeo

What is it that you make and what skills do you use?: I make unique custom dreamcatchers & flower crowns. I also hire dreamcatchers for weddings , birthdays etc. All products are handmade by me with love ..

What inspired you to start your business?: I have always been very creative and love creating beautiful things for people, my family also inspired me to do something I'm really passionate about:-) 

How long have you been creating?: I have been creating for about 2.5 years now :-) and many more to come 

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

Where do you sell your creations?  Facebook/ Instagram/ Online/markets / I also supply products to Starcut Flowers Fourways & soon The Handmade Expo

What makes you so special or different?: not one of my creations are the same and very diffrent and unique dreamcaters & flower crowns 

What is the most rewarding part of what you do?: seeing the smile on peoples faces when they buy a beautiful piece for their home .

What is your favourite product to make?:wow hard to choose I would have to say all of it my passion for floristy and having worked in the industry for 3 years definitely makes every product I make my favourite. 

Do you teach classes or workshops? Not something I do yet but in the next couple of months I'll be offering to teach classes :-) 

NEW LISMORE STALLHOLDER PROFILE FOR BURNING WITH HAPPINESS

Stallholder Profile for Burning with Happiness

Your name:  Lisa Benton

Your business name and facebook/website name and link:  Burning with Happiness.    

https://www.facebook.com/burningwithhappiness/

The suburb/town you live in now:  Ballina.

What is it that you make and what skills do you use?:  Pyrography. Wood burning gifts. Burning pictures, patterns and writing onto coasters, photoframes, mirrors, boxes of all kinds, plaques, house signs, door hangers and more. Personalised to order or just different, already burnt items.

What inspired you to start your business?:  I was looking for a hobby for my sister who has a chronic illness and is bedridden. Something we would find fun and could do together and I came across Pyrography. I found I really enjoyed it and loved to make things for my family and friends then decided to share it with the world.

How long have you been creating?: One year.

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

Where do you sell your creations?:  Via Facebook and markets once I build up my stock.

What makes you so special or different?:  I have not seen anyone advertise Pyrography in this area before and most people have not heard of it and I have to explain it to them. They get excited about it once they realise what it is.

What is the most rewarding part of what you do?: Seeing the different creations come to life and people's reactions when I show them.

What is your favourite product to make?:  The coasters as I love drinking coffee and tea and love looking at them as I drink :)

Do you teach classes or workshops?: No, not currently but that would be great down the track one day.

NEW STALLHOLDER PROFILE FOR ARTIST MARY BIRD

Stallholder Profile for Mary Bird Artist

Your name: Mary Bird

Your business name: Mary Bird

Facebook/website name and link: Art - www.paintingsilove.com/artist/marybird

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/spiritquester

The suburb/town you live in now: Maaroom, near Maryborough QLD

What is it that you make and what skills do you use?  Original Artwork on paper and canvas; Colour Prints (framed and unframed), Placemat and Coaster sets, as well as Bookmarks featuring my original art.  I use a variety of mediums: watercolour and acrylic paints, pastels, colour pencils, charcoal, and graphite.  As a self-taught artist, I grew up painting landscapes and seascapes, portraits, and still life, but for the past two decades my work has become more spiritual. I have been doing Spirit Guide drawings at fairs and expos for over ten years now. These are quick pastel, charcoal, graphite, or colour pencil sketches for I usually have 30 minutes or less to do them.

What inspired you to start your business?  I started out in "business" as a Tarot Reader in 1996 and my mystical or spiritual artwork branched off from there, really getting underway in 2000.

How long have you been creating? For as long as I can remember. In childhood, my style of art changed when, not liking the clothes that came with my paper doll sets, I designed my own collections. In my teens, I designed and made clothes for friends and workmates, along with selling drawings and paintings. In 1971, I began a Fashion Design course at college, but unexpected motherhood altered my plans.  My artwork has featured on two book covers and one magazine cover.

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

Where do you sell your creations? I have sold my work privately, at markets, art exhibitions (I have had three to date), and online. The May 2018 The Handmade Expo will be my first.

What makes you so special or different? I have been told my art is “healing”. Colour features prominently in my work and I believe in the power of colour to heal on a very deep level.

What is the most rewarding part of what you do? Seeing people smile, relax, and let go of their troubles - if only for a little while.

What is your favourite product to make?  Lots - from mystical and mythical works to Spirit Guide drawings and SoulScapes. Many of my creations involve specific themes, bright colours, or movement.

Do you teach classes or workshops? I ran Intuitive Art Workshops at the Maryborough Art Gallery in 2014 and would be happy to consider doing something similar under the right circumstances.

NEW LISMORE STALLHOLDER PROFILE FOR BONNIE BUB DESIGNS

Stallholder Profile for Bonnie Bub Designs

Your name: Amy Parkes

Your business name and facebook/website name and link: Bonnie Bub Designs

www.facebook.com/bonniebubdesigns

www.instagram.com/bonniebub_designs

The suburb/town you live in now: Alstonville

What is it that you make and what skills do you use?: I make baby and children’s clothing using mostly recycled fabrics but all depends on customer orders. I also make dummy clips, bibs, baby blankets and burp cloths. I machine sew, knit and hand sew and hot glue. 

What inspired you to start your business?: It was an outlet for some me-time while I was on maternity leave with my daughter. 

How long have you been creating?: I have been sewing since high school and knitting about the same length of time. I began sewing more advanced projects over the last two or so years. 

Is it a full time/part time hobby or business?: It is a part time hobby as I work casually and am also a mother to a 14 month old daughter. 

Where do you sell your creations?: I sell online only at the moment over Instagram and Facebook but am excited to venture into markets like The Handmade Expo and am hoping to try out some more markets. 

What makes you so special or different?: My products are different because I use mostly recycled fabrics for my creations which gives them a unique design, pattern and style. 

What is the most rewarding part of what you do?: Recieving feedback and photographs and reviews of how happy my customers are with their products. 

What is your favourite product to make?: Baby dresses, overalls and rompers are a tie for my favourite products to make. 

Do you teach classes or workshops?: I haven’t held any classes or workshops but I often give my friends tips on sewing and am on several Facebook groups where we all help each other with our creations.