Makers Part 3

This week's maker from etsy is Kristy, an Aussie girl who makes beautiful and sophisticated soy candles in her home kitchen. They have delectable flavours like Toasted Coconut, Sex on the Beach, Love Spells and Champagne and Strawberries and she sells them from her etsy store Maison Blanche. Why Maison Blanche? check out her store for the story....

Can you tell me a little about your background? 

My name is Kristy Payne and I live in Sydney Australia. I was always a creative kid. My family would be the first to tell you. I used to wake everyone up on Saturday mornings at 5am when I was young, to the sound of a sticky tape dispenser because I was making shoes out of old tissue boxes I took from the bin. Or maybe it was hat. Probably both. My day job is working for an amazing cosmetics company that is natural and ethical and an all around happy place. Working here has taught me how different aromas influence mood and access memories. I also really like cats.

                                      


What do you make?

I make hand-poured scented soy candles.
                            

What attracted you to this particular medium?

I really love candles. It’s as simple as that. At nighttime I would turn my lights off and burn dozens candles scattered over the bookshelves in my home. I started to notice that the candles I were using were either burning uneven or producing soot that would stain the wall and books around it. So I looked into making my own candles that burnt all the way to the edges and didn’t produce soot or fumes. And that’s when I discovered soy wax!

How did you get started?

I had created candles for my own home, but when I really started making candles was at Christmas time. I made a candle for every household in my family. I picked scents that I thought reflected them, and packaged them up with some home made dog biscuits.

Two weeks later we all got together for my grandpas birthday, and the reception and appreciation I received for my candles was amazing. Everyone was so pleased not only with the scent, but the quality and aesthetics. I don’t think I had ever made something to be proud of before.

                         

How long have you been making?

I started making candles in 2012

How does your practice fit in with your everyday life? Do you have your own studio space and when do you work and where?



I take one day a week and dedicated it to my candles. Whether it’s taking photos, getting scent inspiration, test burning or actually producing the candles.

I make candles out of my kitchen at home.






What are the best and worst aspects about working with this medium? 



The best is that I’m able to work with a renewable ingredient, soy wax. It’s made from 100% soybeans from America. It makes me proud that the product I’m putting into the world isn’t in-turn hurting it.

The worst would have to be the time it takes to make a candle from start to finish. There are so many aspects that go in to creating a perfectly even and well-scented candle. From heating to the perfect temperature, waiting for it to cool 20 degrees to be able to mix in scent, and then more waiting until it is ready to pour. And after all that, it takes 24 hours to set.

Who or what inspires you?

Other sellers on Etsy. The creativity in the Etsy community blows my mind. They inspire me on a daily basis to pick up my game, take risks and give myself fully to my craft. People, who I don’t even know, become my support as well as motivation, to be the best creator I can be.

Do you get creative blocks? If so, how do you deal with it?

My creative block, realistically, is more like laziness. The best way to deal with trying to juggle a day job and a handmade business is to schedule time around my days off to really focus on being creative and productive. When I need a kick in the butt to get motivated, I start with the things I’m most passionate about, at the moment it’s growing my business on social media, and I find everything will follow.

What other mediums would you love to explore? 



I would love to take my fondness of soy, fragrance and natural products into the world of hair and body products.

                                            

What do you hope to do next with your practice?

I hope to be able to quit my day job (every Etsian’s dream). But in the short term, I hope to be able to create more scents that I can make into candles and start to sell wholesale to local independent businesses.

Thank you Kristy! Are you a maker or an artist? - I would love to feature you - its painless and gives your work exposure - it is so inspirational to hear about other creatives, as everyone's story is interesting. Contact me today!

Making Part 2

This is my second post about creatives. Darlene is a teacher, a blogger, a mother, and an artist living in Santa Fe in New Mexico and in her spare time she creates unique jewellery out of old bike parts, cast off toys, buttons, bits of wire and anything old and interesting which she sell in her etsy shop darlicioushouse. 

Can you tell me a little about your background?
I am a second grade teacher that creates for mental health stability!

What do you make?
I create one-of-a-kind upcycled industrial chic with bike parts and found objects.

What attracted you to this particular medium? How did you get started?
I started using found objects when i couldn't afford silver anymore (I was a silversmith for many years). I just got hooked on using what ever I could find, then one day, my husband broke a chain and I asked if it came apart even more and a love was born! The love of bike parts!

How long have you been making?
I have been creating since a child. My mom was a never ending enthusiast of making things and I caught the bug.

How does your practice fit in with your everyday life? Do you have your own studio space and when do you work and where?
Every day life? Not so much as I grade, lesson plan, create fun projects...all for school. But on the weekends, this is my life line! I work on an enclosed back porch that i share with my hubby and his bikes. Just a small WWII industrial desk, a table and me!

What are the best and worst aspects about working with this medium?
The best part is creating something unique out of cast offs and the down side is creating with just castoffs as they can be limiting at times but of course, freeing at others.

Who or what inspires you?
Junk inspires me and my desire for balance drives me. My family is my biggest cheerleader!

Do you get creative blocks? If so, how do you deal with it?
My creative blocks occur when the goods go low and I am limited in what I can create so to unblock, I scour etsy and thrift stores for new components as well as looking around on the ground. I once found a folded up, driven over yellow sanders pad that lent itself well to a fabulous neck piece made with an old pencil, black linen and inner tubing. I used the sewing machine to put it all together. What fun and it sold immediately, now that's inspiring!

                                     

What other mediums would you love to explore?
I would love to explore clay more. We had a local "you make it, we bake it" place which was fun and I got hooked, but it went out of business. The whole family would go and it would cost a little money but they provided the clay, tools and glazes. We made snakes, coiled pots, trays...whatever the mind saw. Fun, fun!

What do you hope to do next with your practice?
I want to get back into shows. I do the Santa Fe Recycled Art Show every year, but would enjoy doing more. I am currently looking to be juried in to a weekend gig for the summer. That would be cool!

     

Thank you Darlene! Are you a maker or an artist? - I would love to feature you - its painless and gives your work exposure - it is so inspirational to hear about other creatives, as everyone's story is interesting. Contact me today!

Making Part 1

As an artist, I am always interested in the process of creativity. Selling and upcycling vintage on etsy gives me an opportunity to meet both collectors and makers. Previous blog posts have focused on collectors, and now, here is an interview with my first 'maker', Lorena. Lorena is a fashion designer and illustrator based in Nundah in Brisbane, Queensland in Australia and she has two stores on etsy - BaleaRaitzART and BaleaRaitzORIGINAL plus very glamorous blog on fashion. Lorena offers free shipping for any blog readers who visit her stores.

Tell me about your background

My name is Lorena Balea- Raitz and I am a fashion designer and illustrator based in Nundah Brisbane, QLD. I come from Europe and I enjoy every minute in Australia. It'a a wonderful country. 

My family still lives in Germany. My mum influenced me very much and she is one of the reasons why I started a career in this field. I have a background in Fashion and I studied Fashion Design in Los Angeles, and Fashion Design and Fine Art in Timisoara, Romania and I have a Master's in Fashion Design. My interests include Art, History, Fashion, Cooking and Classic movies.

What do you make?

I create fashion accessories and illustrations I specialize in Romanian Point Lace designs and fashionable art such as fashion portraits, fashion illustration, custom fashion illustration, fashionable stationary, etc...

                        

What attracted you to this particular medium? How did you get started?

I was always interested in fashion and art. After finishing my degree in Fashion Designs and Fine Art, I was working as a designer for a few years. Now I work for myself and try to provide original fashion accessories and illustrations for everybody out there! I have always been asked to create something original for my friends to spice up an outift so I came up with the idea to create lace jewelry. 

Fashion illustration was always part of my work and so it was natural that I bring it to another level. Professionally it all started as I was illustrating custom fashion accessories like bags,purses, shoes and custom fashionable party invitations, wedding invitations, etc... all with a fashion twist. 


How long have you been making?

I have been making almost 3 years. 

How does your practice fit in with your everyday life? Do you have your own studio space and when do you work and where?


I can call a room in our flat my studio. I am based in Nundah, Brisbane and I am excited about the vibrant creative area. 



What are the best and worst aspects about working with this medium? 

The best is that I can always create something new and original and the worst is that time is always running out. 

Who or what inspires you?

My inspiration can change daily from music, to culture, art, fashion etc... 
When it comes to fashion accessories I am inspired by ancient lace like the Romanian Point Lace.  When I illustrate I am inspired by my wonderful clients, or by fashion week. 


Do you get creative blocks? If so, how do you deal with it?

Yes, I do! It was never really a panic moment. I learned to relax and let it all come to me. Music helps a lot, fashion documentaries and art history helps a lot to get creative! 

What other mediums would you love to explore? 

I am very interested in creating illustration for blogs and this is a new medium that I started to explore and I offer this to my clients as well. It's all about originality. 

What do you hope to do next with your practice?

I hope that I can bring my practice to the next level and reach more people who are interested in one of a kind fashion accessories and illustrations. 

                                                  

Thank you Lorena! Are you a maker or an artist? - I would love to feature you - its painless and gives your work exposure - it is so inspirational to hear about other creatives, as everyone's story is interesting. Contact me today!

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Sri Lanka Holiday

I've just returned from a short holiday to Sri Lanka 

so for this blog post I thought I would share some of the places we visited there. 

It is a jewel of an island, its bitter 30 year civil war has finally ended and they have picked up the pieces after the 2004 tsunami and now welcome tourists. We found the people so friendly, the food wonderful, and the landscapes of sea, mountains and jungles captivating.

  The view from top of Sigiriya - the apex of Sri Lankan royalty who ruled in the 5th cent AD - yes I actually climbed up - its a long way down...There is a royal swimming pool at the very top of this 200 metre high rock.

 Sunset from the highlands

 Ladies rushing home after a major Hindu celebration - their best saris on....

 Monkeys everywhere

Never before have I been this close to wild elephants - at sunset they are intent on eating! Our jeep is only a few meters away...

 Masks of painted wood used to ward off evil spirits. 

                        The fishing fleet off the east coat at dawn will soon head into the beach and each fisherman will sell his catch at the local market

My favourite - chocolate........

This lady is walking home to her village in the background in the early evening after spending the day working in the tea plantations which line the hillsides around the village. She climbs up and down the steep hills all day filling her yellow bag, getting it weighed and then returning to fill again. Every leaf is hand picked and it is very likely that your cup of tea comes from Sri Lanka via this labor intensive process.