MAKERS - Issue 1

ISSUE ONE | Autumn 2015

MAKE STUFF EVERY DAY

AUTUMN Contents 06// Photography Feature

Debbie Hartley guides us through the 52 Week Photography Challenge she undertook in 2014

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28// Blogger Spotlight

15// Workshops at the Hub

30// Small Business profile

33// creativity abroad

Amy Birchall asks Crystal McGann what Raspberry Spool is all about

Making Soy Candles, Glass Etching and designing Resin Jewellery at The Hub

Wita Puspita shares her studio space and more with Amy Birchall

Natalie Opie shares her travel adventures and the Magic of Marrakech

32// Stationery Series

36// BLOGGER DIY

The highly anticipated NEON trend and some gorgeous finds by Claudia Owen

Gina Ciancio shows us how quick and easy it is to get in the decorating spirit

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11// Easter Feature

Learn how to sew your very own “Mug Rug” in this stepby-step tutorial with Krafty Kuka

16// Get crafty

Shake your Pom Poms - on your hands, head and body!

A fun DIY craft project with Grace Bryant

20// Mother’s Day Printables

Not sure what to do for Mother’s Day this year? Claudia Owen has you covered!

24// creating with kids

Natalie Elphenstine explains how easy (and fulfilling!) it is creating with kids

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38// Party time DIY feature

Get your Clueless on with these awesome “Whatever” party downloads from PartiArti

The Editor’s Letter

39// Makers Project Kits

Check out what’s been going out in our Makers’ Membership Craft Project Kits

40// Event Listings

What’s on in March, April and May at The Makers’ Hub and around Canberra

Mikaela Danvers 46

Welcome to our very first issue of MAKERS, an online magazine for creative people First up, I’d like to say thank you! Thank you for being here, for reading this, for being awesome. I have to pinch myself almost every day, because I am just so lucky to be able to do something this creative, fulfilling and rewarding as my job, and you reading this magazine shows me that what I’m doing matters =) Whilst collating the content for our very first issue, I’ve just been blown away with the quality of the articles and images, and the commitment and dedication our contributors have shown with this little project of mine. So of course, a massive thank you goes out to them also, and please do check out their respective websites, they are all amazing people!

46// Insta Interview 5 Quick Questions with Photographer, Educator and all-round beautiful person, Christine Pobke

Now please, sit back, relax with a cuppa (or beverage of choice) and do enjoy everything we have to offer you in our first issue of MAKERS.

mikaela

♥︎

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guest Contributors ISSUE ONE 2015

Helen

Natalie opie Natalie lives in Canberra and is a full-time mum to three (soon to be four!) beautiful kids. In between raising her young family she works as a freelance graphic designer, owns an online jewellery business, and is currently studying to become an art therapist. www.bazaarcollections.com

cheung

Helen is the brains and design skills behind Parti Arti.

gina ciancio Gina runs STYLE CURATOR, a blog for people who appreciate design and want regular inspiration and ideas to create a more stylish home.

At STYLE CURATOR you’ll find other creative DIY ideas, top tips for the home, interviews with artists and experts in the design industry and lots of other stylish news.

PartiArti helps you create a pop-culture themed party experience that all grown-ups can enjoy. It offers a “Readi-to-Parti” box of party goods that is personalised to the occasion and individual that you wish to celebrate, along with an ideas guide that saves you the hassle of searching for inspiration online. www.partiartishop.com

paw - ARTIST PAW is a Canberra based artist, creating bright, bold, abstract art for your eyes to feast on. His work can be seen all around Canberra on the streets, brightening your day! www.facebook.com/ pawwadabartist

www.stylecurator.com.au

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Regular Contributors 2015

Amy Birchall

claudia owen

AMY is a Canberra-based journalist, website editor and content writer who helps small businesses tell better stories.

Claudia is a surface designer and a lover of stationery, homewares and textiles. She wants to live surrounded by bright colours and patterns and dreams of living a creative life. You can follow her creative adventures on her blog.

Amy has just launched her eBook “Like A Boss” featuring interviews with successful entrepreneurs on how to win in business and life. amylouisebirchall.com

claudiaowen.com

Natalie Elphinstone Natalie is One Scrappy Doctor. Her main crafty interests have revolved around papercraft and she is heavily involved in the scrapbooking and cardmaking scene. Natalie designs for Studio Calico and Jot Magazine and is on The Makers’ Collective MAKING TEAM. onescrappydoctor.com

Grace Bryant Grace is a children’s writer and budding illustrator. She aspires to create spaces in which the imagination can thrive, to inspire others to make a little space for creativity and to encourage everyone to rediscover the joy of just drawing for the sake of drawing.

Grace is also an imaginer and tea-lover, who understands that life is too important to be taken seriously. Grace is a member of The Makers’ Collective MAKING TEAM.

Bron kraftykuka Bron can’t remember ever not making things - her main ‘every day’ crafts are sewing (including quilting), knitting and cross stitch, but she’ll take any excuse to play with paper craft (stamps and punches and glue, oh my!) and she love love loves to try new things!

Bron is also a member of The Makers’ Collective MAKING TEAM. kraftykuka.blogspot.com.au

www.gracebryant.com

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52 weeks photo project

Debbie Hartley 6 | AUTUMN 2015 The Makers’ Collective

Photography Feature

How long have you been a photographer? How did you get started, and how did you learn how to use a camera?

I started taking photos about 9 years ago when I purchased my first point and shoot camera. I enjoyed creating photos so much that I upgraded to a DSLR camera.

I am pretty much self taught - through reading magazines and the internet - however when I purchased my DSLR camera I didn’t know how to use it properly and I attended a course with the Canberra School of Photography. This is where I learned a lot about my camera and its functions.

The course also covered other aspects of photography and was very valuable in my learning.

What is the 52 week challenge and how did you get involved?

I joined the 52 week challenge through a Facebook group “My Four Hens Photography” mainly as I was feeling unmotivated at the time, and wanted a way to challenge myself to create new images. The 52 week challenge was great, as each week a new subject was listed and the idea was to interpret the subject how you like and upload a photo to the group. There was no pressure, and if you couldn’t think of anything to fit the weekly challenge you could photograph whatever you wanted and upload it.

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Photography Feature

It was all about increasing your photography skills and pushing yourself to take new photos each week.

I am happy to say that I did not miss a week!

There are a number of 52 week or 365 day projects on Facebook and other social media platforms, they are quite easy to find, and you can start them any time - it doesn’t have to be at the beginning of the year! I have in the past also completed a personal 365 project - my challenge to myself was to take an Instagram photo every day of something red - I completed this project without missing a day too!

Are there any other photography challenges you take part in during the year?

I have not taken part in any other photography challenges recently, although in the past I have entered, and been successful with the Canberra Photomarathon, winning the inaugural competition. Unfortunately the competition is no longer running.

What awards or prizes have you won for your images?

I have won a number of awards and prizes over the years.

My greatest achievement has been winning first place in the International Garden Photographer of the Year 2013,

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Photography Feature

Beauty of Plants section. This is a world wide competition which attracts over 15,000 entries each year. In the same competition in a previous year, I was listed as a finalist.

I have been successful in the Canberra Times photography competition, winning the winter competition in 2012. More recently I placed first in a macro photography magazine competition.

My photos have appeared in magazines, and my photos have also appeared on magazine covers. One of my photos was also selected to appear on the cover of the 2015 Bureau of Meteorology Calendar.

I enjoy entering competitions as I love challenging myself!

What do you love most about photography?

I love photography, it is something that I am passionate about. I love the creative outlet that it offers, and I love pushing myself to think of different ways to photograph things.

Debbie regularly uploads her beautiful images to her Facebook Page: Debbie Hartley Photography. Make sure you check it out!

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Photography Feature

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Easter mug rug sewing tutorial bron

Krafty Kuka

If you spend much time on crafty social media you might have noticed the sewing community has gone a bit nuts for mug rugs - and not without reason! Bigger than a coaster but smaller than a place mat, these guys are not only handy and cute but also quick to make and the perfect size to practice the skills and techniques you use in quilting.

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easter sewing tutorial with KRAFTY KUKA

At 6.5 inches by 9 inches this Easter inspired mug rug will be perfect for your cup of tea and a hot cross bun (if you can stand to cover up that cute bunny!)

What you’ll need: ✚ Nine

squares of fabric for the patchwork section cut to 2.5”x2.5” each

✚ Strip

of fabric for the bunny background - cut to 3”x6.5”

✚ Scrap

of grey fabric for your bunny

✚ Piece

of quilt batting at least 6.5” by 9”

✚ Piece

of fabric for the backing - at at least 9” by

11.5” ✚ Small

piece of paper-backed fabric adhesive such as Vliesofix (available from your local craft or quilting shop)

✚ Template

for your bunny (I used a bunny cookie cutter, you could also do a search online for a simple bunny shape)

✚ Your

basic sewing supplies

Step 1: We’re going to start by making the patchwork

section. Using a seam of 1/4 inch, sew your 9 squares together into rows of 3, then the rows together to make a square 6.5”x6.5”. Set this aside while we get the bunny section ready.

Step 2: Draw around your template with a pencil onto

the paper side of the Vliesofix, and then iron onto the back of your grey fabric (check the manufacturer’s instructions).

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easter sewing tutorial with KRAFTY KUKA

Step 3: Cut around your pencil outline. This should give you

Hooray - the top of your mug rug is ready! If you have a favourite technique for quilting and binding you can go ahead and use those to finish your mug rug. Otherwise, keep following the steps below.

a bunny shape with the papery Vliesofix on the back. Now, carefully peel the paper off, position your bunny in the middle of your bunny background fabric and iron on (again, it’s a good idea to check the manufacturer’s instructions, just to make sure!). Next sew carefully around your bunny, keeping as close to the edge as you can (this stitching is optional, but I think it looks cute, and also helps secure your bunny to the fabric).

Step 4: Now you can sew the patchwork square you prepared

in step 1 and the bunny section together. Make sure you have the right sides facing each-other, and use a 1/4 inch seam.

Step 5: It’s time to get your mug rug ready for quilting!

Trim your mug rug top to a nice straight rectangle, and your batting piece to the same size (trimming the batting now will make binding easier later).

Lay your backing piece down with the wrong side up, then centre the batting on the backing and the mug rug top on top of that (making sure you have at least 1” of backing fabric all the way around).

Pin your three layers together so that nothing shifts while you’re quilting (it’s a good idea to use safety pins for this regular pins tend to be a bit too prickly!)

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easter sewing tutorial with KRAFTY KUKA

Step 6: You’re ready to quilt! I like to quilt by

Step 8: Taa daa!! Your mug rug is finished! Make a cup

sewing along each seam - so between the bunny and patchwork sections, and along the grid of the patchwork squares.

of tea, grab yourself a treat, put your feet up and enjoy!

And don’t forget to share a picture of your finished project!

Step 7: All that’s left now is to bind. For a small project

Now that you can MAKE a mug rug, here are

like this I like to use the backing piece for binding too - some ideas for you to MAKE it your own! there is a fantastic tutorial on the Cluck Cluck Sew blog ✚ Try a different quilt block for the patchwork section - 6.5” unfinished (6” finished) is a really popular Trim your backing to 1” bigger than the top and batting block size so you can find loads of free patterns all the way, then fold up and sew to finish the binding online as described in the Cluck Cluck Sew tutorial.

✚ Swap

out the bunny for a different appliqué shape if you can draw it on the Vliesofix you can appliqué it

✚ Instead

of appliqué you could embroider a design, or use a stencil and fabric paint, or even stamps and fabric ink to personalise the ‘bunny’ side

✚ Embellish

your mug rug with buttons, ribbon, lace or ric-rac. Or pom-pom trim! www.kraftykuka.blogspot.com.au

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workshops at the makers’ hub

resin jewellery The Resin Embedding Workshop is always a sticky one, literally.

Using Epoxy resin to embed objects in bangle moulds, the results are always worth the mess.

The Soy Candles and Glass Etching Workshop is a popular one with good reason, and such a fun way to spend an evening with a friend, learning a new skill.

soy candles These are just two of the many creative workshops we ran at The Makers’ Hub in March. If you would like to learn a craft, spend a fun evening with friends, or just take a break from the daily grind, why don’t you check out what else we have on offer? The Makers’ Hub Workshops are wide and varied, and I’m sure we have something for everyone!

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shake your Pom Poms Grace Bryant GraceBryant.com

Pompoms are often associated with childhood memories of oversized, scratchy and ribbed beanies. They also sometimes serve as an unpleasant reminder of the claustrophobia of jumper sleeves being jammed up into jacket sleeves.

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crafty diy

with GRACE BRYANT

However, these woolly creatures also bear collective memories of the warmth of winter. Pompoms are mementos of white breath puffing into a choochoo, the crunch of crispy grass under gumboots, slivers of snow caught in eyelashes, or jellybeans lovingly tucked into pockets for extra energy on ski trips.

twitching on your lips, “What kind of fruit loop is this kid?” To be honest, I’m probably a yellow fruit loop and I’m okay with fruity. The following is dedicated to those that are either accepting of quirkiness, are young at heart, or just want a little more pom-to-the-pom action.

Pompoms are also linked with those who perform aerobatics feats to encourage even the crappiest of sporting teams. Indeed, they play a key role in the success of cheerleaders around the world. Would a cheerleader be as effective without the help of his/her pompoms?

To me, the answer is an undeniable no.

Everyone knows how to make pompoms.

If you don’t, you soon will, because you’ll look it up on the internet or ask a crafty person. Basically all you need is yarn and scissors. There are optional extras, like cardboard, but it’s possible to create yarn bubbles without it. I also recently discovered you can also buy pompoms at craft stores. They look a little different, but definitely still make you feel happy. Once you’ve got your stash sorted, why not try one of the following?

Pompoms are just marvellous.

Pompoms are just marvellous.

I have such a crush on these furry cuties that I’ve decided to reintroduce them to my wardrobe. I can sense the question

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crafty diy

with GRACE BRYANT

Run some chain through a few pompoms & make a necklace that says “R-A-D-I-C-A-L, go YOU!” (You’ll need chain and findings, available either from craft stores, or by smashing up a necklace that you don’t wear anymore.)

WARNING: You’ll probably want to rest your cheek on your hand all day, as it’s like a tiny cushion. Or a hug from a Pokémon. A cute one, like Jigglypuff. Or the one that looks like a marshmallow.

You know the one.

Grab your hot glue gun and stick some of your cheery fluffs to a headband for an accessory that is so cute that you’ll probably be approached by strangers for cuddles. (Everyone has a hot glue gun and a spare headband, right?)

Wearing my new accessories, my perspective has changed. I’m repressing joyous urges to roll down hills, to pop orange slices in the freezer for Saturday morning soccer and to frolic in piles of leaves that smell like old encyclopaedias.

Or my personal favourite, pop a pompom on a ring and propose!

I feel ready for cold weather.

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(Okay, don’t propose. Grab some adjustable rings from the craft store and fire off a few shots on your hot glue gun!)

In fact, I feel like shaking my pompoms and welcoming autumn back with a spritely spin and a spirited song.

“YAYYYYYYY COLD!” www.GraceBryant.com

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Get the eBook now!

Mother’s Day breakfast in bed claudia owen Surface Designer

Mother’s day is fast approaching and to help you get ready for the big day I have put together a beautiful printable for you. Mother’s day is on Sunday 10th May so let’s start getting ready now!

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MOTHER’S DAY SPECIAL

with CLAUDIA OWEN

Mums do so much for us and it’s nice to make them feel special by doing something for them. One of the simplest ways to say thank you is by preparing a gorgeous breakfast in bed just for her.

This printable will help you get the right look for the masterpiece you will put together in the kitchen.

Unfortunately, I can’t help you with the cooking but I can definitely help you with some ideas. To help you cook something yummy for your mum I’ve put together a board on Pinterest with a number of recipe ideas. (https:// www.pinterest.com/claudiaowenblog/ mothers-day-breakfast-in-bed-ideas/).

There are savoury and sweet little treats for every mum! Personally, I can’t resist a savoury little something, anything with

eggs and spinach is good for me!

To download this Mother’s Day breakfast in bed please click on this link. The printable comes with instructions on how to put it together so you’ll know exactly what to do.

This printable includes: ✚

Mother’s Day card

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Place mat

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Tea bag paper label

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World’s Best Mum badge

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Flags with four different words. Yum! I love you, Delish and Love

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Gift tag

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Happy Mother’s Day round flag

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Mother’s Day gift voucher­­ 21 | AUTUMN 2015 The Makers’ Collective

To put this printable together you will also need: ✚

Hand held single hole puncher

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Scissors

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Cutting knife

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Steel ruler

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Home printer (or go to your local Officeworks to print. In Canberra I can print an A4 sheet for around $2 each) Paper. I would recommend getting the card, voucher, badge and gift tag printed on a thicker type of paper so that it looks and feel better. For the little flags, place mat and tea bag you

can use 80gsm printer paper (which is what most printers use) ✚

Toothpicks. I cut the ends on one side and I left the pointy side on the other so I put them in the food

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Cutting board

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Double sided tape

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✚ ✚

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Small wooden clothes peg (to attach to the back of the badge) Bone folder for scoring your card Baker’s twine or thread for the gift tag

You can find lots of ideas in this Mother’s day breakfast ideas board I’ve curated on Pinterest.

If you like crafting, chances are you already have all the things you need to put this printable together.

Hope you enjoy putting this Mother’s Day printable together and I hope it brings a big smile to your mum! www.ClaudiaOwen.com

Your mum’s favorite tea bag and of course…

A delicious breakfast for mum!

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Making Art with Minors:

Why it’s Great to Create with Kids

Natalie Elphinstone One Scrappy Doctor

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creating with kids

with NATALIE ELPHINSTONE

Here are some reasons why it’s great to create with kids Here are two fundamental truths: One, I love my kids (pretty obvious stuff) and two, I love to create (you probably already figured that one out too?)

And yet, the revelation that these two passions of mine could be combined into one epic adventure was a long time coming. Weird hey? The idea that I could collaborate with my kids to make art and craft projects together never occurred to me until fairly recently.

I guess for a start there were a couple, mostly imaginative, obstacles to overcome. There’s their age to begin with. I always thought they would need to reach a certain threshold of maturity before they would be interested in creating something with me. And yet, from the time they were toddlers they wanted to squish their hands in paint, pick up a pencil to make marks and glue bits and pieces together to create collages. My supplies were always more interesting than their own of course. The signs were there.

Then there’s my own bias that says my creative time is ME-time. My perfectionism demands my projects are done in a certain way that only I know how to achieve. Getting the kids involved is only going to mess things up. Creating can be quite a solitary pursuit when you think about it. And I’m not suggesting that’s necessarily a bad thing. By all means, set aside the me-time as your own form of therapy and relaxation – I know that’s what I do. But perhaps you also want to set aside some collaborative-time to work on some fun art and craft projects with your kids? Allow this time to be messy with no fear of mistakes. Make a rule to make no rules! Because at the end of the day we’re merely talking about paint and paper – if it turns into a blobby brown mess then so what? Throw it away and start again! Concentrate on exploring the process rather than creating a final product.

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There’s all those lovely psychological reasons like it helps grow your relationship, creates closer attachment, instills confidence, promotes communication and builds problem-solving skills in your children.

There’s great developmental reasons such as increasing fine-motor skills, colour recognition and selfexpression in younger kids, and learning design principles, the value of practice and perseverance and even dabbling in science experiments for older kids.

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Then there’s what you’ll get out of it. A greater understanding of your child’s preferences and personality.

Insight into how they view their world. A sneak peak into their future career choices perhaps?

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Did I mention that it’s also just a whole bunch of fun?!

Have I got you all inspired to start making something yet? Maybe you’re wondering where to begin, and what type of activities I’m even talking about.

Let me share some examples of projects I’ve created alongside my kids in recent times and you’ll see how easy it is.

Keep in mind my girls are 8 and 5, so you might need to adjust these to something more age-appropriate if your kids are older or younger.

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creating with kids

with NATALIE ELPHINSTONE

The Crayon Resist Technique You know the one, where you draw a picture or a pretty pattern in crayon on some plain paper and then you paint over the top with water paints to make the image really stand out? Classic fun for all ages really.

Things to do with Stamp & Ink Sometimes it’s as simple as giving my girls a piece of paper, a selection of stamps and an inkpad or two. It doesn’t have to become anything; they just enjoy the process of transferring colour! But to make it more inventive I sometimes give them different ‘tools’ instead of stamps. Here she’s using foam dabbers, but you can try utensils or cut vegetables or toys like Lego!!

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creating with kids

with NATALIE ELPHINSTONE

At the end of the day it’s all about interacting with your kids, letting them try out new things and watching their creative muscle grow.

And fun.

It’s always about the fun!

Anything with Paint My girl’s favourite medium is paint – of any colour or any variety, and there are a million things you can do with paint.

Of course you can just paint a picture, or you can try different techniques like sprinkling salt or rubbing alcohol over water paint to create amazing reactions.

This is what happened when I suggested to my 5 year old that she might like to paint some flowers. She took me much more literally than I imagined! I love the creative mind of a child don’t you?

Colourful Science Experiments I found this idea on Pinterest and couldn’t wait to give it a go (that’s a great resource for activity ideas by the way!)

I supplied my girls with a dish of baking soda, bowls of vinegar mixed with food colouring, and a small syringe or dropper.

They squirted in different colours for hours and watched it fizz.

www.onescrappydoctor.com

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Blogger Spotlight

by AMY BIRCHALL

Crystal mcGann If you think quilting is an antiquated hobby reserved for little old ladies in rocking chairs, Crystal McGann urges you to think again. She’s the quilting extraordinaire behind quilting blog Raspberry Spool, which was known as Two Little Aussie Birds until a rebrand in February this year. (Spend five minutes on the website and you’ll soon realise quilting has come a long way since Grandma’s heyday.)

Raspberry Spool

interested in quilting. I want to share my journey, mistakes, struggles and inspiration, rather than just show off the finished product.

“I think anyone can post a photograph of a finished quilt that looks great, but it’s something different to explain where you got stuck, and how you solved that problem.”

On the day of our interview, Crystal is preparing to fly out to Austin, Texas for Crystal, who describes herself as a Quiltcon, the international show and modern woman and a modern quilter, conference of the Modern Quilt Guild. says her vision is to use blogging to She says she is looking forward to finally empower women to express their meeting other quilting bloggers facecreativity and personality through craft. to-face, particularly those who she has Though she has blogged for several profiled in her Modern Quilting Modern years, she’s only focused seriously on Women series, which she launched growing the blog and her online business in 2014 to celebrate “what makes us for about twelve months. who we are as individuals and as a “Quilting is what I do. I really love it, community of quilters”. and I’m passionate about it. When I first Last year Crystal also released her started blogging, it was an extension of first quilt pattern, came fourth in what I was already doing,” she says. international online elimination “Over time I’ve realised that I’d like to sewing competition Sewvivor and was make the blog approached to publish in several quilt less about what and craft magazines. She says blogging I do and more has played a key role in this success, and about helping in 2015 she plans to make Raspberry others who are Spool an even more important priority.

I want to share my journey, mistakes, struggles and inspiration, rather than just show off the finished product.

Her rebranding from Two Little Aussie Birds to Raspberry Spool has played a part in this, and she says that changing her blog’s name and direction will give her more options in the future.

“I stopped, regrouped and decided to start focusing on my blog and online business, rather than selling patterns and kits,” she explains.

Her goals for 2015 include releasing printed patterns for wholesalers, building the blog and customer base, releasing at least six new digital patterns and securing a paid teaching job.

At the moment, Crystal generates revenue from selling patterns, sponsorships and affiliate marketing. But she says that bloggers need to be smart about using affiliate links, as sidebar links aren’t always effective.

“You have to be really lucky for someone to click on an affiliate link on the sidebar [of your website] and for them to then go on and purchase the product. It works better when you recommend a product and provide the link within an article”.

Check out the Raspberry Spool blog here!

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EDUCATION | INSPIRATION | PERSERVERANCE A website that will help nuture and grow you as a blogger. Providing branding advice, productivity tips, free printables and more.

Come and join the Bloggers’ Collective and unleash the blogger in you.

www.bloggerscollective.com.au

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small business profile

by AMY BIRCHALL

wita puspita Design is Yay

Stationery-obsessed illustrator, blogger and designer Wita Puspita believes that if your dream job doesn’t exist, you need to create it.

have to wait for a suitable career to land in her lap. She was smart, talented and creative – why not start her own business instead?

When Indonesian-born designer and illustrator Wita Puspita graduated from university in 2006 (she studied communication design at Melbourne’s RMIT), she struggled to find fulltime work related to her passion for illustration and paper goods.

“In Canberra, most of the design jobs were either in government or in graphic design, whereas my work is mostly illustration, and jobs like that don’t come up that often around here. I decided to do my own thing.”

The job hunt continued as she worked as a freelance graphic designer for clients in Australia and Indonesia. Several unsuccessful job interviews later, Wita realised that she didn’t

Wita designed her own line of greeting cards and art prints, started creative lifestyle blog Design is Yay and most recently launched custom portrait illustration business Pippa Paper. She also designs printables which are

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available to download for free on her blog or to purchase at her Etsy shop.

posts before lunch and then spend the afternoon taking photos and creating printables,” she says.

Over time she has refined her product range based on what sells and what doesn’t.

Wita handles all design, administration, printing, assembling and shipping herself, and admits that even though it’s not always easy, she loves what she does.

“Greeting cards didn’t work well for me, for example, but instead of giving up and thinking that nobody wanted to buy my work, I tried something new. If something doesn’t work out, then try to find something that you still like, but will also work well for you,” she says.

Wita now works full-time as a blogger, designer and illustrator from her small home studio in Canberra. She says that one of the things she loves about her work is creating affordable designs and paper goods that make people feel good.

“There are lots of products out there that look nice but aren’t affordable, so I enjoy making stationery that looks good but also isn’t too expensive.”

She says that a typical day involves taking care of administrative work such as emails in the morning and leaving the afternoon free for creative tasks.

“I wake up, do my chores and then start replying to emails. Because Pinterest is such an important part of my blog, I spend about an hour scheduling pins for the rest of the say. Normally I’ll plan blog

“It’s really hard work but when it’s working out for you it pays off and is worth it.”

She lists Design is Yay featuring in Inside Out magazine last year as one of her proudest achievements (it was also voted as one of the Top 40 beauty and lifestyle blogs in the Kidspot Voices of 2014 Awards and has over 20,000 visitors per month), but says that like most blogs, success did not come overnight.

“I’ve only been blogging for about three years, so in the first and second year not much was going on. It’s only in the third year that things have started to really take off,” she says.

Her advice to others looking to pursue a full-time creative career is to stop over-thinking and just do it.

“Even though you have a day job for now, there’s no reason why you can’t start today. You don’t need to start big, as you can always start small and expand later.” www.DesignIsYay.com 31 | AUTUMN 2015 The Makers’ Collective

Stationery trends

C

B

A

and Gorgeous Finds with CLAUDIA OWEN

D

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F

This is one trend in stationery that I’ve been looking forward to. I’m an 80’s child so it’s in my blood to have a soft spot for neon colours.

You have probably seen neon popping around the place and if you have recently been to the mall you might have noticed this trend as well.

We expect to see the neon trend seep through stationery items in the coming months and what a joy that is. This is one trend that I want to embrace and surround myself with neon clothes, neon homewares, neon stationery, neon everything!

G

a. Neon orange notebook from Teals Prairie

To help you get the look I’ve collected some gorgeous items that incorporate the neon trend.

J Enjoy!

b. Blank cards set from Violet Tinder c. Neon Mothers Day card from Oh Geez Design d. Thanks dude card from Yellow House Handmade

f. Neon tape from Nordstrom

h. Super journal from Notbook Notbuk i. Neon pencils from Newton and the Apple j. Pencil pouch from Eveden k. Neon Je T’aime letterpress card from Parrott Design Studio l. Fluorescent colored pencil set from MoMA Store m. Neon prints from Sugar and Spice Blog

I

ClaudiaOwen.com

e. Handmade neon envelopes from Party Happier

g. Neon paper gift bows from How About Orange

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M K

L

The Magic of Marrakech natalie opie Bazaar Collections

My love affair with Morocco first started fifteen years ago after stumbling across a book on North African interiors. The images of Islamic architecture, Moorish decorative arts, and diverse natural landscapes of Morocco seemed to leap off the page. My eyes were drawn in by the amazing rich and vibrant colours that my heart skipped a beat. From this moment on I could hear Morocco calling me!

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creativity abroad

with NATALIE OPIE

After several months of saving and planning, a girlfriend and I boarded a plane.

Destination? Mohammed V International Airport, Casablanca! The plan? To soak up the chaos and vibrancy of life in Morocco whilst celebrating a dream come true. And over a span of eight weeks we did just that! We travelled on dusty buses and trains from the tip of Tangiers to as far south as Sidi Ifni; venturing endlessly through the souks of Casablanca, Fes and Marrakech looking for treasure and inspiration; and with a sense of adventure and amazement we wandered everywhere else in between.

So, I guess it’s no surprise that my soul has yearned to find its way back to this mysterious and exotic country influenced by many diverse cultures...

French, Portuguese, Spanish, African, Persian and Islam... just to name a few!

With the desert winds in my favour I was able to travel back to Morocco with three girlfriends last November.

Unlike my first trip, this trip came with a mission. My mission (which I chose to accept!) was about networking with local jewellery merchants in the souk and sourcing unusual beads for my online business - Bazaar Collections. And I had two week to complete it... Easy, right?!

At first, it was like walking down memory lane and for a brief moment time had stood still. The Djamaa el-Fna (the main square in Marrakech) was still very much alive with snake charmers, water sellers, henna artists, fortune tellers, magicians, and manic food sellers trying to grab your attention... all at once! The narrow windy streets in the souk bursting with people, just as I remembered, all bustling their way through with a sense of purpose and energy. Stand too long in one place and you’re likely to be caught up in the sea of mayhem! With the sweet smell of fresh Moroccan almond cakes triggering my memories, I began to loose my focus. And fast! Suddenly my mission seemed harder than I thought.

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creativity abroad

with NATALIE OPIE

Luckily, my three other girlfriends were on the same mission so this helped kept me on track.

We shopped hard for two weeks!

Everywhere I looked in the souk there were tiny little shops filled with treasures. Baskets and dusty boxes filled to the brim with silver beads and old coin charms. Berber and Tuareg silver amulets lay in piles waiting to be sorted and appreciated. And strings of semi-precious stones hung by the dozens all lined up in a beautiful display of colour. We sat for hours. Shop after shop. Merchant after merchant... looking, sorting, admiring, and drooling over everything that was on offer in

this famous red city. And through their broken english (and our french) we sat over a mint tea with many of the merchant traders we had come to know, chatting about life in Morocco, their heritage, and of course, the art of tribal adornment.

Two weeks in Marrakech went in the blink of an eye and before I knew it I was boarding a plane back to Sydney... If the desert winds are ever back in my favour I hope to be there again, sipping mint tea and watching the sun set over the Koutoubia Mosque whilst listening to the call to prayer echoing across the vibrant city... Inshallah! www.bazaarcollections.com

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DIY Clay easter tags gina ciancio Style Curator

Gina Ciancio from STYLE CURATOR shows us how to create your own clay tags for Easter. A fun activity to do with the kids, these tags are so versatile they can be used as gift tags, ornaments or even name settings to decorate your Easter table.

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blogger diy

by GINA CIANCIO

Items you will need: ✚

1/2 cup corn flour (or corn starch if you are in America)

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I cup baking soda

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3/4 cup water

✚ Pot ✚

Tea towel

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Rolling pin

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Wooden spoon

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Measuring cups

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Cookie cutter

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Baking tray

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Baking paper

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Skewer

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Paint, glitter or other items to decorate

Step 1: In a pot, cook the corn flour, baking soda and water over medium heat.

Step 2: Continue stirring until it thickens and once it forms into a thick paste, remove it from the heat and cover the pot with a damp tea towel.

Step 3: Once the dough has cooled, knead it out on a clean work surface that’s dusted in corn flour.

Step 4: Roll the dough out until it’s about 2-5mm thick (if it’s too thick, it is more likely

to crack or warp when you bake it in the oven).

Step 5: Use a cookie cutter to cut out the shapes you want and with the skewer poke out a small hole at the top of the ornament so you can hang it.

Step 6: Place the forms on a baking tray that’s lined with baking paper and bake in the oven for 20 minutes at 80 degrees. Flip the shapes over and bake for another 10-20 minutes. You will know they are ready when they become bright white all over.

Step 7: Once they have cooled, paint or decorate them however you like! We have used some of our favourite colours from Haymes this year including Cool Cantalope, Charlotte, Ocean Cruise and Copper.

Tip: You can leave the surface of your ornaments smooth or make impressions into the clay before you bake them — think cookie stamps that allow you to imprint words, leaves or flowers, or even write a personalized Easter message!

We love these clay Easter tags and can imagine them adding a burst of colour and style to any Easter table. www.stylecurator.com.au 37 | AUTUMN 2015 The Makers’ Collective

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Makers’ Box project kits

fabric wrapped bangles

decorative yarn balls

Makers’ Memberships The Makers’ Box has it all. It’s unique. It’s fun. It’s comprehensive. It usually has glitter.

A quarterly craft-in-a-box project kit containing 3 months worth of fun, delivered to your door in March, June, September and December.

You know how you spend, um… way too much time scrolling down that never-ending Pinterest page of cool projects to try?

Well we’ve tried them. And we’re SENDING THEM RIGHT TO YOU. So quit scrolling and get making.

gold foil trays

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events directory 24//MAR

THE Makers’ hub birthday party We are celebrating The Makers’ Hub being in existence for 12 months with a birthday party! We’ll have snacks, drinks, music and of course a free making activity for everyone, because that’s how we roll! Be sure to check out the wrap-up on the blog in April.

26//MAR

Soy Candles & Glass Etching Participants in this workshop learn the fun and easy art of making their very own soy candles. Our experienced instructor goes through the process of choosing your wax, wick and container, melting, pouring, curing, plus working with fragrances.

28//MAR

drop-in studio: easter hats Pop in to The Makers’ Hub and let your kids go nuts with our Easter Hat Project Kit, which includes a hat or crown template, stickers, feathers, paper, cardboard and some other bits and bobs. The kids will also have access to scissors, glue, glitter, and bucket-loads of fun crafty times.

03//APR

adobe illustrator This Illustrator intensive covers the fundamentals of how to begin using this powerful program. You will complete several exercises and be shown how to create your own simple vector graphics and patterns, to be used on your blog, in your business or just for fun!

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events directory

11//APR

hustle & scout twilight FASHION market We’ll be running a POP-UP MAKERS’S HUB at the next Hustle & Scout on April 11th, so be sure to get along and join in some fun workshops!

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events directory 15//APR

blog branding If you’ve just started blogging and have been researching online you’re probably becoming super overwhelmed with all the information available. At the end of this workshop you’ll feel equipped to brand your blog and become an advocate for your blogs message.

16//APR

wordpress 101 We’ve identified WordPress as the premium platform for blogging.

The majority of successful blogs use WordPress and research shows that most bloggers will convert to WordPress within the first year of blogging.

18//APR

digital marketing In the modern world digital marketing is a key component of any blog or business. With majority of people spending on average 4 hours a day online, it’s important to include a digital marketing strategy for your blog or business.

19//APR

happy fruit coasters Add a pop of colour to your desk with these Happy Fruit Coasters.

They promise to brighten up your day! And they make great presents!

If you ever wanted to learn to crochet in the round this is the perfect workshop to get you started.

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events directory 23//APR

arm crochet A super fun and seriously rewarding project! Learn to crochet without a hook and use your arms instead! In this 2 hour workshop you’ll make the ultimate fashion accessory for autumn your friends will be envious of your craftiness!

24//APR

crazy cuff polymer bangles Want to learn a fun, fast and fabulous polymer clay technique to add crazy splashes of colour to your accessories wardrobe? Come and play in the Crazy Cuff Workshop! Make incredible jewellery and gain the knowledge to make more to match all your outfits!

25//APR

sewing for beginners - cushion covers New sewing machine? Or inherited one and have no idea how to use it?

Update your décor in an afternoon or make a cute gift by learning to sew an envelope cushion cover. Learn to thread your machine, straight stitch and zig zag stitch and build confidence in using your sewing machine.

30//APR

crochet cactus amigurumi If you don’t have those magic green fingers don’t panic, this cactus Amigurumi crochet workshop will be perfect for you. You’ll finally be able to own plants you can’t kill! In 3 hours you will be introduced to the Japanese art of Amigurumi and the basics of 3D construction.

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events directory 01//MAY

bath bombs & BODY SCRUB Create your own pamper package in an evening at The Makers’ Hub, learning how to make Bath Bombs and Body Scrub. This fun and easy workshop is perfect to do with a friend, so bring one along and get ready to relax!

02//MAY

drop-in workshop: mother’s day silver pendants Pop in to The Makers’ Hub the weekend before Mother’s Day to create your very own Silver Metal Clay Pendant, with your child’s fingerprints!

Once fired, metal clay is 99% silver. Perfect as a gift for a grandparent or something special for yourself.

08//MAY

little legends craft group A regular crafty meet-up for Toddlers, the Little Legends Craft Group allows parents to have a cuppa whilst the kids get messy and flex their creative muscle with various art and craft activities suited to their age group.

09//MAY

paper folding with artist anna trundle Join Melbourne based paper artist Anna Trundle in this unique workshop that will teach you techniques and tips to help you construct a striking three-dimensional paper sculpture from a template. Why not book in for two and treat mum to a fun Saturday afternoon for Mother’s day!

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events directory 15//MAY

happy fruit coasters Add a pop of colour to your desk with these Happy Fruit Coasters.

They promise to brighten up your day! And they make great presents!

If you ever wanted to learn to crochet in the round this is the perfect workshop to get you started.

16//MAY

silversmith sterling stackers In this fun 2 hour workshop, Cindy from The World Rocks! Jewelry Designs teaches you how to make your very own set of 3 sterling silver stacking rings, and a sterling silver bangle. All materials and tools will be supplied.

22//MAY

sewing for beginners - bunting Party bunting really is quite easy to make yourself and a great way to use up left over scrap fabric. It’s not just for parties either, use it to brighten up any space in your home. Learn how to thread your machine, straight stitch and zig zag stitch to complete a party bunting project.

28//MAY

lip balm & solid fragrances Get your beauty routine sorted by creating your own lip balm and solid fragrance at The Makers’ Hub. Know exactly what ingredients are going into your products, and have fun at the same time! Bring a friend for a lovely evening with great people.

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Insta interview Christne pobke Photos: 2k Followers: 20k

Pobke Photography 46 | AUTUMN 2015 The Makers’ Collective

insta interview

5 Quick Questions

How long have you been using Instagram for?

What inspires the types of photos you post?

i’ve been using instagram for about three years. maybe four.

i try to create a visual diary of my family... what we do, how we adventure, what we’ve eaten that day. it’s so special being able to go back in time through my IG feed to see the changes in my girls or the adventures we’ve been having as a family.

Who are three of your favourite people or brands you follow on Instagram? @frostyphoto

@ifurie

@documentingdelight

Do you do anything with your instagram photos after you share them? i print them into books via chatbooks. they print 60 of my images into mini books and mail them out to me in volumes as soon as those 60 are collated. it’s brilliant! :)

What is your favourite thing about Instagram? i love being able to connect with so many people from around the world and seeing what they’re up to. and i love the ideas and conversations shared! :) Follow Christine on Instagram: @Pobke

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THANK YOU FOR READING!

WWW.THEMAKERSCOLLECTIVE.COM.AU 49 | AUTUMN 2015 The Makers’ Collective