macramé masterpiece

MEET BRYDIE STEWART – MACRAMÉ ARTIST, VISUAL ARTS EDUCATOR AND THE CREATOR BEHIND THE INSTA-FAMOUS MARY MAKER STUDIO

Words Jo Failes

Creative, calming and crafty – the art of macramé is back in a big way. For Kiama’s Brydie Stewart, she has affectionately become the go-to macramé master, teaching thousands of people how to create and enjoy the mindful art of knotting. From the moment you check out her oodles of coloured yarns, silks, ribbons, strings and ropes you might be inspired to create your very own macramé wall hanging or plant holder masterpiece, too.

With its vast range of macramé cord supplies and materials, Mary Maker Studio is a welcoming space for arty folk to come together. Brydie cofounded the @macramemovement on Instagram and Facebook; a global community for 'knotters' to connect, and share helpful tips and advice.

"The community just grew itself!" laughs Brydie. "I really just wanted a place for customers to connect. Instagram is where we share the work that they've created and we've got a community on Facebook with about 15,000 makers. We've got people from all over the world who are now best friends who bonded through this fibre.

Brydie calls Kiama home and loves everything about living in this stunning coastal location – and her studio is a place where visitors to the region can take time out for a highly emotional and sensory experience.

"Kiama is a great place to have a creative business," Brydie says. "In the past five years I've taught about 5000 people. There's a beautiful energy here, and my home studio is such an energetic space. People just walk in and touch everything. We as humans like to touch, but we're told not to, so for people to walk into my space and put their hands on the fibre – that is what I want! It's that release of energy, letting go of emotion, connecting back to what our body wants to do, and the instinct is to touch it!"

Innovating the fibre world on a global scale, a visit to Mary Maker Studio online is where you’ll find every Pantone colour you can imagine. The latest collections to drop, Cloud 9 and Recycled Luxe, are simply stunning with earthy hues you can mix and match – from duck-egg blue, terracotta, and the delectable-sounding toffee, caramel, pink lemonade, and peach, to gorgeous green muted tones of ivy, sage, peppermint and eucalyptus.

"When I'm standing in front of my yarns I'm so proud of all of the products," Brydie says. "I design them all myself – I don't just import them from a manufacturer. Each colour is a chosen Pantone and is then matched to another Pantone; they're all corresponding to the different seasons. When I do a collection launch I cry. It means so much to me, so I have lots of pride from standing in front of these pictures!" laughs Brydie.

The global pandemic has helped the studio to thrive, with curious crafters suddenly stuck at home with time on their hands to have a go at their first macramé creation.The past year has presented Brydie with challenges, especially with her new recycled luxe range and delays with shipping, but it also allowed her alreadyestablished online community and connections to grow in spades.

So many people turned to craft and so many people found me, and because we were all in lockdown I had time to really connect with these people

"For me, the pandemic was incredible for so many reasons," Brydie reflects. "So many people turned to craft and so many people found me, and because we were all in lockdown I had time to really connect with these people. People wanted to hear a voice, a welcoming, calming voice, and I talked to them about how I got into macramé.

"I was a school teacher and was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis," says Brydie. "And in that moment, it was a turning point... it was the catalyst to changing my life. I was in a secure career, in charge of four people, and I just went 'nope, not doing it' and I quit that job to just do this."

Brydie’s infectious enthusiasm makes one want to immediately sign up for her workshops and learn the art of meditating through macramé. "Someone might purchase a $50 roll of cotton and out of that roll they will get two weeks of creative time, they will go on an internal journey, and will make one or two artworks that makes them feel really wonderful," says Brydie. "And then they will gift them to their friends, so it's just all positive. You've got people who have lost their job and now do macramé. It's a beautiful, mediative skill and the sense of community and connection just grows from there. I've got the best job in the world."

Brydie plans to return to in-person macramé workshops soon and to delve into other creative areas too, including ceramics and painting, and will offer platters with fresh food from her garden. In the meantime, head to her online shop for all the inspo you need to start making, creating and healing as you delve into the sensory world of macramé.