Posted on 7 September 2013

Meet the Maker – Jacaranda Handmade

5 minutes with/ Featured/ Handmade business/ Introducing/ Meet The Maker

 Let’s meet the lovely Lindsey from Jacaranda Handmade.

 

Tell us about your business:

Jacaranda Handmade is a teeny tiny business that I run in my ˜spare time, in between working 4 days a week and looking after my 2 girls. I specialise in handmade dolls and baby items, and make clothing by custom order.

 

What inspired you to start your business?

I got serious about sewing again after my second daughter was born. I started collecting fabric, ribbons and patterns, and it lit a creative fire in me. Friends and family encouraged me to go into business, and I saw it as a way to fund my new hobby.

 

Is there an interesting anecdote behind your business name?

I had put off starting a business for quite a while because I couldn’t come up with a name. In November 2010, I was talking to a work friend about possible names and we could see Jacarandas in bloom from our office window. So Jacaranda Handmade was born.

Jacaranda Handmade

What is the most satisfying part of what you do?

Having happy customers who let me know how much they love their items.

 

Have you tried something in business that didnt work as planned, or on the flip side “ worked out better than expected?

After having dolls available by custom order for a long time and not getting any orders, I decided to make up a few in April 2012 just to see if they would sell. The response was amazing and I ended up making and selling over 50 dolls last year.

 

What would be your best tip for someone thinking about selling their handcrafted goods?

Make what you love.

 

What is your favourite item you make?

Im currently in love with the hedgehog softies. I love coming up with different fabric combinations.

Jacaranda Handmade

Any personal or business highlights in the last year:

The lead-up to Christmas 2012 was amazing. I made so many personalised stockings, Santa sacks, and gifts – I was working right up until Christmas week. It was exciting that so many people wanted a piece of JH as part of their holiday memories.

 

3 things about you that people might not know:

  • I was born near Boston
  • I absolutely adore ballet
  • I recently completely overhauled my diet, and am now obsessed with fresh fruits and vegetables

Jacaranda Handmade

 Meet the Maker – Jacaranda Handmade

Posted on 5 September 2013

A Middle Eastern Style Bazaar with an Eco Twist

markets/ Shopping

Get ready to give the earth a big handmade hug on Saturday September 7 as the popular BrisStyle indie Eco Market turns into a Middle Eastern style Bazaar to help celebrate the Queensland Museums Afghanistan Exhibition.

Alongside the wares of BrisStyle artisans who live, craft, stitch and dye by the mantra of reduce, reuse and recycle, the BrisStyle Eco Bazaar will have a decidedly Bedouin feel with belly dancers, middle eastern food and music to get everyone shimmying to the Eco beat.

Every handmade item for sale must meet BrisStyle’s strict eco-criteria, guaranteeing ethical shoppers will purchase unique and exquisitely made creations without putting a strain on their wallets or our earth’s precious resources. There will also be a selection of vintage, collectibles and crafty de-stash items to add to the bazaar like atmosphere.

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Posted on 4 September 2013

Charlie Bird Clothing

5 minutes with/ Featured/ New Product/ Shopping

Charlie Bird Clothing is a collection of short run children’s-wear from Mornington based designer Ali Milligan. Each garment is skilfully created by hand on the Peninsula using mostly local suppliers. Through playful use of colour and texture she creates nostalgic couture clothing that reflects the sense of joy and wonder of childhood. Each item is a small piece of happiness to adorn your little ones wardrobe.

In her spare time, Ali is a hoarder of vintage fabrics, a purveyor of op shops, and enjoys drinking tea and being awesome.

 

Summer 13-14 range is about colour blocking, versatility and all out fun times Each item stands out on its own or can be mixed and matched with basics to dress it up or down. The colours are reminiscent of hot summer days by the beach, ice-cream and school holiday lolly bags!

 

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Guest Post by Alison at Charlie Bird Clothing

 

Handmade Emporium
Posted on 3 September 2013

Music and Maths

Guest Post

Do you have a child who struggles with maths? You may have heard that there is a connection between maths and music; that by learning a musical instrument, children can improve their ability to answer maths questions. But it actually isnt as simple as reading a sheet of music.

 

In order to improve maths ability, music needs to be taught using a sequence of rhythm and pitch that can be more interactive and fun for young children than simply reading notes.

 

One phenomenon, The Mozart Effect, is the idea that listening to Mozart produces a short term improvement of spatial-temporal reasoning, which can enhance the ability to learn maths. Another study showed that grade one students had a better understanding of maths after 6 months of playing music games that emphasised sequential development through rhythm and pitch.

 

So its not just the process of learning to read music that improves maths ability necessarily. Its more about a specific type of interactive learning – hopefully making music classes more interesting – than simply learning an instrument. But as music becomes more difficult to fund in primary schools, there is a danger of specialist music classes becoming obsolete.

 

Lets make sure that music classes remain an important part of the school curriculum so we can ensure that our children are given the best opportunity to feel confident at maths.

 

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Guest Post written by Karina Reyne,  co-partner of Handmade Emporium, the hip handmade marketplace. Check out the best of handmade at Handmade Emporium

 

 

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