Stallholder Profile TLC Handmade Gifts and Cards

Stallholder Profile
Tania from TLC Handmade Gifts and Cards
https://www.facebook.com/TlcHandmadeGiftsCraftSupplies?fref=ts

Name:   Tania Wilson

           

Business name:  TLC Handmade Gifts & Cards

The suburb/town Gabbadah, Western Australia

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

Custom invitations, party decorations, greeting cards and misc gifts – decorated mugs, wine glasses, Birthday Boards, canvas art, glass night lights, t-shirts, stubby holders, birth announcements, home decor etc

What inspired you to start your business?  

I wanted to fund my craft habit – all things crafty are expensive!

How long have you been ‘creating’?  

I started scrapbooking approximately 12 years ago and I have always had an interest in anything crafty.

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

Part-time and trying to build it up so that I can spend more time creating and trying new ideas.

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

Just started doing markets, but for the last 18months I have been successfully selling online.

What makes what you do special or different?  

I take a lot of care in the work that I produce and I think I treat all my clients with respect and bend over backwards to make sure they are happy.

What is the most rewarding part of what you do?  

The feedback, the referrals and the repeat business.  I really enjoy and get a buzz when I hear how happy a client is with an order J

What is your favourite product that you make?  

Too many to choose – I love playing and creating and trying new techniques. Currently I am experimenting with sublimation printing J

Do you teach classes or workshops?  

I teach classes in Scrapbooking, Stamping and Beyond the Page projects.  I also run school holiday craft sessions for primary school aged children.  These can be done in your home or mine – minimum of three participants J

Stallholder profile Sugar and Spice Creations

Stallholder Profile

Mel from Sugar and Spice Creations

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

Name : Mel Spicer

Business name:  Sugar and Spice Creations

Town you live in now: Rockhampton, Queensland

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

Sewn items for mums & bubs.

What inspired you to start your business? 

My 'creative other half' Bec Christiansen was my initial inspiration when she found out that she was pregnant.  I couldn't wait to make all sorts of gorgeous goodies for her & her girls! They are my current test subjects ;)

How long have you been ‘creating’? 

I brought my first sewing machine only just over 2 years ago & launched Sugar & Spice Creations soon after.

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

It's my full time job at the moment!

Where do you sell your creations? 

Online/markets etc..  Online (Facebook), The Handmade Expo Market, Rockhampton, word of mouth, baby expos and other markets.

What makes what you do special or different? 

My core product is our Travel Change Mat, which is part of the Essentials Set.  I designed this product with advice from Bec.  I initially had made a simple version which we saw could use some altering to make it more practical & user friendly.  It's been a hit with my customers and I'm currently working on an even more improved version!!

What is the most rewarding part of what you do? 

Peoples amazement that I've created these items & when a customer says they 'have to have' something particular because they saw someone else with one.

What is your favourite product that you make? 

Our newest product, the Lunch Bags, are my current favourite product.  It's so great to be able to offer a product that encourages reusing & sustainability.

Do you teach classes or workshops?

I would love the opportunity!  I have a great studio at home now & would welcome doing one on one sewing lessons ;)

Stallholder Profile House of Nicnax

Stallholder Profile..Nicole from House of Nicnax

www.facebook.com/houseofnicnax

Name: Nicole Macey

Business name: House of Nicnax

Town you live in now: Gosnells WA

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

I am best known for my handmade owl doorstops. I also make pillows, softies, nappy bag pouches and a few other bits and pieces. I love to sew – so I am always creating new things to bring to the markets! I also love to work with both new and upcycled materials

What inspired you to start your business? 

I started off making an owl doorstop for my grandma one day. From there I took a few orders and started selling to family and friends. I enjoy doing markets as I love meeting new people – both the customers and the other creative stall holders.

How long have you been ‘creating’? 

I have been making my doorstops and doing “House of Nicnax” for about 4 years now. I have been “creating” for as long as I can remember though. About 10yrs ago I used to sell handmade jewellery at a local market, and previous to that – as a kid- my sister and I used to make and sell finger puppets. I have very creative parents – so I blame them!!!

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

It is still a bit of a hobby business but I do think it is becoming more of a part-time business as I am spending most of my days “owling”! I would like for it to become more of a part-time thing over the next year.

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

Currently I have been selling at local markets and school fairs around the southern suburbs of Perth. I don’t have any regular ones at the moment – but as of August I will be attending the Rockingham Handmade Expo each month!!

I also sell online at www.etsy.com/shop/houseofnicnax and also on my Facebook page www.facebook.com/houseofnicnax

What makes what you do special or different? 

I love what I do! I create for me really and being able to sell it to people who love it is such a bonus!

My products are all handmade and designed by me.

What is the most rewarding part of what you do? 

Being able to do what I love! I love that people like my stuff so much that they want to buy it! It is also so rewarding when I stumble across my products on Instagram or Facebook. When people have taken the time to photograph their new doorstop and want to show it off to everyone!

What is your favourite product that you make?

Definitely my owl doorstops! Each one is so different and really does take on it’s own personality!

Stallholder Profile- Tina Barton designs

The third stallholder profile in our series is Tina from Tina barton designs.

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

Name: Tina Barton

Business name: Tina Barton Designs

Town you live in: Rockhampton, Queensland

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

I make modern handmade clothing with vintage appeal for children and ladies, sewing everything myself on my home sewing machine. 

What inspired you to start your business?  

After I had my first child 3 years ago I fell in love with quilting, and then making clothing.  My business started as a hobby which kept me busy while I was at home with baby.

How long have you been ‘creating’?  

I have always had a love of craft, learning to knit and crochet while still at primary school.  I learnt to use a sewing machine when I was a young teenager, but didn't have a lot of time for craft when I left school and got a 'real job'. 

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

Right now it is a part time business but when my kids start school I plan to grow my business to full time.

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

I sell in an online shop on Madeit.com.au in between my pop up shop at The Handmade Expo.  You can also find me on Facebook!

What makes what you do special or different?  

I use a lot of vintage patterns of the 1950s era as well as modern patterns with a retro look.  I blend many different types of fabric in my clothing range, from quality 100% cotton, to linen, wool blends and even suiting fabrics.   I like to think that my range brings back memories of times gone by, but is still modern enough to wear today.

What is the most rewarding part of what you do?  

I am a perfectionist so I get a lot of satisfaction from the construction of a garment pattern and having all my seams line up perfectly, but what I love the most is seeing that garment being worn for the first time.  Something that was just fabric and thread, that I made into clothing, and now someone is actually wearing it!  That is a really good feeling.

What is your favourite product that you make?  

At the moment my favourite would have to be the ladies dresses.  I love that I can make dresses for women of all sizes and shapes and help give them the confidence to feel beautiful no matter their shape.

Do you teach classes or workshops? 

No.  I just simply don't have the time or space.

Stallholder Profile Big Sistah Little Sistah

Our Stallholder profile this time is of Big Sistah Little Sistah,  look out for them travelling to country areas to Markets, Shows and Festivals.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Big-Sistah-Little-Sistah-Womens-Clothing/557644657618444?fref=ts

Name: Nicola Matthews & Lisa Dunn (company partners)

Business name: Big Sistah little sistah

The suburb/town you live in now: Brisbane

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

Handmade and designed women’s clothing with real sizes for real women.

What inspired you to start your business? 

Sick of trying to buy clothes to fit a us “matured aged women with real bodies” A genuine market need for beautiful clothes for larger real women!!

How long have you been ‘creating’?

Lisa has been designing for years I am the business brain behind the operation.

Is it a full time/ part time/hobby or business? Full time business we both work 24 /7 at the moment.

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

The Handmade Expo regional markets, online through our website www.bigsistah.com.au, Handmade Canberra markets, Melbourne markets, Simply Handmade Yamba, Queens Park Toowoomba

WE love getting out of the city and going country!!!

What makes what you do special or different?

We design clothing for real women celebrating all shapes and sizes.

What is the most rewarding part of what you do?

Genuine happy customers who become repeat customers and they really “love” our sizes NO large no extra large its all about “me”

What is your favourite product that you make?

My wardrobe is now enormous, too many clothes to choose from each weekend when we are out and about at markets. There are definitely not enough days in the week to wear all of Lisa’s new designs.

Stallholder profile WittS.Made

Our first stallholder profile in a new ongoing feature is Stacey from WittS.Made 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/WittS-MADE/134420143323861?fref=ts

Name : Stacey & Sam Witt

Business name: WittS. MADE

Town you live in now: Gracemere, Queensland

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

Home wares, furniture, storage pieces, wedding items

What inspired you to start your business? 

Stacey wanted to turn her creative abilities into something productive and that would be of benefit for us financially. Something she was able to do whilst also a stay at home mum.

How long have you been ‘creating’? 

Art was one of Stacey’s majors at High School so it has always been something she was passionate about doing but WittS. MADE was launced September 16^th 2011

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

It is part time for the moment with little ones at home and once our time is freed up with them growing up and going to school we hope to make it into a business that we are both able to commit to full time.

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

Online (Facebook), The Handmade Expo Market, Rockhampton, word of mouth and on occasion other markets.

What makes what you do special or different? 

We like to have items that not only look good but are functional and whenever possible create things that have dual functionality. With four kids we appreciate the need for storage without breaking the budget.

What is the most rewarding part of what you do? 

When we are able to make someone’s idea come to life. Many of our creations have spiked from a customer’s idea. We work together to create something that ticks all the boxes but is also unique to that customer.

What is your favourite product that you make? 

For Sam it’s the beds/furniture as he has no previous experience in carpentry and so each item is a challenge but therefore is truly one-of-a- kind as it is constructed from our own plans rather than a model/plan/design of someone elses.

For Stacey it is the finer details on any of the custom made items, to begin with it is nerve racking as you want very much to do it just right but when it is completed it is all that much more rewarding because you have created something different to what you may normally do.

Do you teach classes or workshops?

No but on many occasions we have talked people through how we have constructed things, especially the casement window transformations.  We have had people say to us our ideas are ones they may not have thought of and we have inspired them to go home and try it themselves. 

Fabulous interview was had with Brendan from www.findhandmade.com.au
Seriously when I read it I thought he must have been speaking with someone else.
I knew I had said all that but when you do a phone interview you have no idea whats going to come out on paper ( so to speak )
All the Handmade Expo are very grateful for the market to be showcased like this and we thank Brendan.
Heres the link to the article.
http://findhandmade.com.au/handmade-expo/