Intern Wanted!

Wanted: a jewellery intern! 

Rochedale, Brisbane. 9am -2pm Tuesday. 

Creative, reliable, passionate about jewellery, some experience an advantage. Tools not necessary.

My previous intern went on to undertake a jewellery apprenticeship and has stayed a close friend. So I'm looking for someone who is interested in learning, or furthering their skills as a jeweller, while helping me fill orders. Duties will include finishing and polishing castings, then progress from there. Training in jewellery design, creation, small business, industry contacts and bench time in exchange. Suit someone looking for experience to gain an apprenticeship, or someone looking to start their own small business. 

Please email me at Christina-lowry@hotmail.com with some info about yourself and any examples of your work - even in another creative field. Know someone who might be interested? Please point them this way! xx

Australian Ceramics Open Studio

It's not very often you get to wander around an artist's workshop, peer in to their collections of tools, discuss their gallery of work, while also making and decorating your very own clay plate. But so was my day yesterday. In a picturesque Brisbane street, with trees yawning over the road, a cat languidly crossed from one side to another as I walked up to a tall Queenslander. One might not expect the hive of creative activity on it's ground floor. 

Five kilns line up at attention in Stephanie Outridge Field's Studio. A gallery ringed with white plinths supports work from learned hands. While the work space features work concerned with motifs of home, leaves and texture. Amid the blocks of clay, pots of colour and works of art, one is invited to try their hand at smoothing, cutting, soothing and decorating their very own plate, under the guidance of Rachel Cramer. And what a joy that was! The cold soft clay. The tips and techniques. The act of making. I was reminded that I am more at home working with metal than I am with clay! But I thoroughly enjoyed it.  

My lovely, wonky plate supported a painted and pricked out doily inspired design - of course - which I am so excited to see dried and fired. I could not resist Rachel's scallop textured cups and a faceted sculpture/bowl created by Stephanie. They will be well loved additions to my collection. Indeed, I hope one day to have a few more pieces of my own making fired in those very kilns...

Many thanks again to Stephanie and Rachel, and to Australian Ceramics for organising the Open Studio weekend. If you are local to Clayfield, Brisbane, pop in today (Sunday, 16/2/15), or else check out the other open studio's being hosted all around Australia today.

Small World After All

At the Red Hill Fair market on Saturday I had one of those moments that reminds you how small the world is. It was a family market, so we chatted with many Mums with bubs coming past to browse my stall. My twin sister and market helper, Fiona, noticed one young Mum with a pair of gorgeous Each To Own drop earrings. She commented on them. as she has quite a collection of Kirsten's work herself. We three chatted about Kirsten's dangly earrings, the conversation turned to Finders Keepers, from there to Paper Boat Press - Kylie being another amazing Brisbane creative and Finders Keepers frequent flyer. As it turned out, the girl with the amazing earrings helps Kylie with admin work! 

I gushed about how kind Kylie had been when last I visited her gallery, wearing Oscar who was only a month of two old. Kylie had generously invited me in to her own home at the back of the gallery to breastfeed my grisly baby. When I returned to the gallery space she was chatting to two women, one of whom was heavily pregnant. Then Oscar vomited up his milk. It wasn't your average baby posit. A small spit up on the shoulder like my first and second child had done. But rather the kind that ended up as dinner plate size splash on the ground. Accompanied by a comical 'splat' noise. Oscar felt better. I felt embarrassed. Kylie smiled and started helping me clean up. While the heavily pregnant woman looked on in shock. The Mama with the earrings laughed and said 'That pregnant woman was me!' I recognised her the instant she said it! We both laughed about how I had felt so embarrassed, while she had been shocked that a baby could do that. 

What a small, strange world it is indeed, when you can bump in to a stranger a year apart and tell them a story that includes them!

-

PS. Thanks for all the support and love at the market! It was so very good to meet so many of you. It was a thrill each time someone came past and showed me that they were wearing something I made, or told me that they followed me on Instagram. I love making those connections in real life that bridge the social media gap.

Brisbane Pearl Threading Workshop!

My lovely Brisbane-ites, join me for a crafty morning, Saturday 21st February at Newstead, as I teach traditional pearl threading and you create your own knotted pearl strand.

If you love pearls, beads and jewellery, this workshop is a must. Perfect for beginners, makers wishing to learn a new skill, or those wanting to add a new service to their business. The workshop will equip you with pearls, thread, clasp, beading needles and gimp to create your first necklace, as well as a kit to take home in order to practice the new techniques. The workshop will provide you with step by step instructions, wholesale contacts and resource list, tips and tricks, as well as details on charging out re-threading to clients. 

I encourage you to bring along any pieces you would like advice on, whether it's Grandma's pearls or a broken strand of beads. After completing the workshop you will have your own strand of traditionally knotted pearls, and the know how to thread pearls and beads like a professional.

An additional selection of pearls and clasps will be available for purchase on the day.

Places are limited so Book Now!

I'm so excited! Can't wait to share my years of experience with you. xx

33!

I celebrated my birthday this past weekend with some of my favourite people and favourite things. Having already had an early birthday present farm stay didn't stop my sweet family from making the weekend all about me. Dave took the children to visit the big dinosaurs so that I may wander through the wonderful Bristyle markets in the Whale Mall, we all explored the children's art room at GOMA, and then I left them busily making their own Magic Lands (and you can too) while I visited the Future Beauty exhibition, luxuriously alone. 

It's such a shame photography wasn't permitted, as words alone can not do justice to the experience. The space, the designs, the elegance and the outrageousness. If you are a lover of design, fashion or art, there is something in this collection for everyone - except possibly children. We meandered back to the car through the museum and gazed at dinosaur bones, pinned beetles and a formaldehyde shark. I stumbled upon a crystal and mineral collection tucked away on a landing in a stair well and drooled over the contents until my husband dragged me away. (I shall share pictures with you tomorrow.)

Yesterday there was flowers, wine, a lovely lunch and even a delightful nap.

Happy birthday to me and my beautiful twin sister! xx

Of runny noses and golden rings

New in the shop, Elsa Rings

Last week my poor five year old brought a virus home from school, complete with temperatures, coughing and runny nose. And while my big boy spent a few cabin fevered days inside before returning happily to school, the virus has been much harder on the little ones. My poor three month old and two year old have coughed, cried and clung to Mama throughout the last few nights, and fussed throughout the days. I thought I was handling mothering x three well, until illness struck. Though no matter how many children you have, sickness and broken sleep are no great combination.

In spite of this, there have been stolen moments in the studio. Stock taking and tagging my jewellery, playing with my freshly delivered banner, uploading the newly finished fine, gold Elsa Rings to the shop, and working on BrisStyle market prep. It feels good to do at least one little creative thing each day.

Sneaking in a nap feels pretty good too...


I hope you are keeping well, feeling creative and enjoying some beautiful Spring weather.
I would love to see any Brisbane folk at City Hall this Saturday!
Mention my blog to receive 10% off any full priced stock. xx

Fellow Brisbane-ites!

Yes, I am excited to announce that I shall be setting up shop for the first time at the lovely BrisStyle Indie Markets in Town Hall, on the 20th of September! Write it in you diary, circle it on your calender, make a note of it on your fridge.

Come and say hello, try on my jewellery and take advantage of market only specials. 

I look forward to meeting you there!

Finders Keepers Wrap Up

Photo taken by Nic @yardagedesign


My goodies! Test Pattern bib by Curly Pops, La de dah Kids crochet fox rattle (a gift to baby from Kylie), Deadwood creative recycled skateboard bangles (one for myself and one for Fiona for Christmas), Rabbit and the Duck washi tape (mustaches and spots!), doily stamp from The Spring Shop, glass beakers from Kara Rosenlund's darling caravan, and the gorgeous hydrangea was a lovely surprise from Sarah.

If not for the Big Hearted Business morning tea, where Clare Bowditch filled me full of inspiration and challenged me to write down my business plan, I would never have found myself chatting to Nic, Kylie and Jennie afterwards about my dream of 'one day' having a stall at the Finders Keepers market. That 'one day' seemed so far off though. Maybe when the kids were in school and I had more time. Maybe when I had more money. (Maybe when I had more confidence.) Nic asked me why not now? She told me I was ready, and she, Kylie and Jennie all encouraged me to take the plunge. And they continued to encourage and support me each step of the journey from the entrance of Metro Arts to the verandah of The Old Museum three months later.

I hardly slept at all Friday night. I woke up with butterflies in my tummy, which didn't go away until the first customers started chatting and buying. My fears that no one would buy my jewellery were unfounded - we all think things like this in the middle of the night though, don't we? But I felt so welcomed and received such positive feed back about my work. It's so easy too, when you are a stay at home Mum working from home, to feel cut off and loose perspective on your work. It was so rewarding to hear what worked, what people like about my designs and my colourful, vintage-y stall. The bowl of beads to design your own necklace was especially successful and I so enjoyed seeing the amazing combinations that people came up with. And it was really satisfying to see so many pieces find new, loving homes.

I met so many fantastic people too. It sounds like such a cliche, but it's so true. Complete strangers came up to me to tell me that they read my blog and they admire my work (hello!), instagramers introduced themselves and tagged me in their photos, friends and family visited too. I was blessed to have fantastic stall neighbours, Workshop 8_5. Sophie and Johnno were so friendly and supportive. I was especially fortunate to have my dearest twin sister, Fiona, working at the stall with me all weekend. She was the perfect assistant. Not sure how I am going to cope when she moves to Canberra next year...

So thank you once again to everyone that came to visit, brought my jewellery, or sent words of encouragement and support! 

It really does pay to follow your dreams. 

Big Hearted Business in Brisbane

For many years Clare Bowditch had a dream to 'teach creative people about business, and business people about creativity, in ways that make sense.' That dream is becoming a reality as her business venture, Big Hearted Business, grows. As a jeweller and one woman business, trying to make a carer from my creativity, I knew I wanted to hear the wisdom Clare has earnt on her own journey.  And so I eagerly attended the Brisbane Big Hearted Business morning tea, taking my place in the old theatre seats, surrounded by creative talent. I'm so pleased that I did.

 

With honesty, humour and generosity, Clare spoke about dreams, community, careers, marketing, networking and money. She asked, 'what is your dream'? A simple question to which I thought I already knew the answer. Funny how the simple questions can throw you. When I started to write it down, I was surprised by my response. She continued, discussing the process of growing that dream with "tiny consistent actions" and declaring that all successful businesses needed, "The three M's. Money, marketing and mental awesomeness."

 

I left the talk feeling energised and inspired, having reached new conclusions, ready to push myself out of my comfort zone. However, it was the post morning tea discussions with Kylie, Nic and Jennie that really cemented those thoughts and pushed me even further. Without Nic's suggestion, and Kylie and Jennie's encouragement, I may have continued to talk myself out of one dream in particular. I didn't think I was ready, I thought it was too soon, too big a financial gamble - but I am going to take the risk and apply for the Brisbane Finders Keepers markets. I'm really very excited about it, and nervous too. They may not accept my application. But I won't know unless I try!

 

So, if things go quiet around here it's because I am writing my application, working at the jewellery bench and designing my market table. You can keep up to date over on instagram. :)

 

PS. If you are interested in what I make, please join my mailing list to be the first to find out about shop updates and special offers.



Weekending - in the City

 

I love visiting Brisbane City. There is always a sense that something is happening. A sense of possibility. A sense that you may stumble upon something fun, interesting or different. Something out of the ordinary from our usual day to day. And so it was Saturday.

 

When our previous plans fell through I asked Cohen what he wanted to do with our day. "Make art at the gallery." (Music to this Mama's ears.) And so we did. First there were little mouths to feed, public art to admire and bridges to cross. We peered in to the river, peered up at the buildings, pointed out all the interesting things we saw. We discovered a live band at the top of the Mall and Cohen did a little dance. We treated ourselves to our favourite foods. Looked at a few stores. Then we found our way to the Pop Up Ekka at Southbank, where we patted baby animals, feed balls in to the mouths of clowns and Cohen proudly caught a rubber duckie. As we neared the end of our loop Emerson fell asleep. We wandered through the Queensland Art Gallery and on to the children's art centre at the Gallery of Modern Art, where we decorated kangaroo masks and hopped around on the scenery. By the time we were driving home both children were asleep.

 

Yes, I love visiting the City, and the City didn't disappoint.

30/52

 

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013." Che and Fidel.

 

Cohen: Sitting on a million dollar elephant.

Emerson: A look of nervous triumph, as she reached her goal.

 

I've been especially mindful this week to enjoy the pace of our slow mornings, the simple structure of our days, and the one on one time I am afforded throughout the day with my little ones. It makes such a difference when I remember there is not so much I 'have' to do, rather things I 'want' to do, and take the pressure off accordingly.

 

Two of my favourites from last week - my milky way and this jen day.

Finders Keepers Weekending

Kara Rosenlund

and O designs

knot another etsy shop

each to own

Yardage Design

Crayon Chick

Pattie Murray Ceramic Artist

Red Tree Designs

O Little Sister

Kylie and I, The Old Museum, lunch - nom nom nom!

My treasures from the day - a vintage enamel colander from Travelling Wares, washi tape from rabbit and the duck, handmade porcelain button from Pattie Murray, a bangle blank from Yardage Design and a sweet little camera stamp my sister gifted me.

 

I visited the Finders Keepers market this weekend and it did not disappoint. The sun shone, the market goers made for wonderful people watching, the stall holders were a creative, friendly lot and were it not for my budget, I could have quite happily added my financial support to every single one of them. So much handmade goodness! So many gorgeous vintage pieces! So many delicious looking food options! If you missed out, check out some of the links above.

It was so very nice to chat to the stall holders - some of whom I have 'known' online for some time, others who were new to me and now count me in their number as a blog or instagram follower. What a fabulous set up. What a fantastic way to be introduced to new and exciting creative talent. Especially lovely was the chance to finally meet Kylie - chatting with her it felt like we were picking up where we had left off, just like old friends.

I do believe Finders Keepers is my new favourite.
Have you been?
What's you favourite market?