It’s been just over one year since Finders Keepers was introduced to Paxxy & Flora at their Debut stall in Brisbane! Ceramist Cas has been filling our lives with rainbows since (literally!).. with unique vases for flower lovers, rainbow trinket plates for jewellery collectors, pots for plant people and kitchenware for foodies – Making the everyday even more special!
Read on as Cas shares her journey to a fulfilling path, knuckling down during hard times and always remembering the joy of flowers!

Don’t miss viewing Paxxy & Flora’s Online Marketplace shop too! Click images to shop her inspiring range! Plus a few designer favorites at the end!

I look around my home at the pieces I’ve collected and each one brings a little bit of joy knowing the meaning behind it – I want to share that with other people.

Tell us about your business and how it started?

You know when someone says something to you or asks a question and it changes the way you think about things? Well the start of Paxxy & Flora was made up of a series of those moments, refusal to settle for a life I didn’t love, a dreamtime epiphany (literally) and really, really good timing!

P&F is about creating individual pieces that make your favourite things that little bit more special, or that put a smile on your face when you see them. I really believe in the value of handmade and the positive impact it can have on your home and life, even just tiny bits at a time. I look around my home at the pieces I’ve collected and each one brings a little bit of joy knowing the meaning behind it – I want to share that with other people.

What influences your work, and what sparks your creativity?

A large portion of my work stems from things that I personally want or need in my home. I definitely prefer more minimalistic style so it’s easy to mix and match and can stick with you as you move through different stages of life. I like to encourage conscious buying – pieces that you truly connect with and will treasure for years to come, opposed to something you like right now but will likely replace in 6 months time for the newest trend.

I find creativity for me comes from a number of different places, but flowers is a big one! This influence comes through in a lot of my work – whether it’s vessels or vases to display them, soft pastel colours, frilled petal-like edges or actual flower shapes moulded into the pieces. Even when I’m not making anything flower-related, if I have some on my workbench the creativity is flowing and I know I’m in for a good day!

What impact has 2020 had on your business and how have you changed your direction?

With everything that has been happening so far this year, I consider myself very lucky in comparison to the hardship so many others have faced. I had a number of really exciting events and things planned from April onwards so it was definitely a bit disappointing when that all disappeared essentially overnight. I’ve tried to see the positive in the situation and use this time to get organised and really knuckle down on the behind the scenes aspect of my business so I come out better equipped on the other side. I’ve kept busy working on refining my products for future events and sampling a small wholesale range, learning new skills while experimenting with some new designs and I introduced a made-to-order customisable rainbow product in lieu of workshops, which I love!

I’ve tried to see the positive in the situation and use this time to get organised and really knuckle down on the behind the scenes aspect of my business so I come out better equipped on the other side.

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What are you watching / reading / listening to right now that is inspiring and uplifting?

I spend the majority of my day with my AirPods in listening to the same Aussie hip-hop on repeat as it always puts me in a good mood. I find it’s a bit like handmade brands vs the big commercial guys – you get a view behind the scenes, and behind the music is just a bunch of cool, down to earth, totally normal dudes doing what they love and that is where the magic lies.

I also binged Next in Fashion on Netflix…twice. I absolutely loved the work of so many of the designers and seeing their visions come together. I found their creativity and positivity so uplifting. And Minju’s creations.. just wow!!

What do you love creating the most!

Oh man, this is like asking me to choose my favourite flower (the correct answer is ‘all of them!’)

I’ve been going a bit dash crazy lately – I just want to put it on everything!! I really love working with the speckle clay these pieces are made from and hand painting the dash patterns, while time consuming, is really quite relaxing and so satisfying when it’s finished. This is the one style that I just keep adding and adding to my personal collection at home as it goes with pretty much everything.

I’m also really loving working on the custom rainbow pieces. It’s so fun seeing what colours and styles people choose and getting to create a unique piece that I know they will treasure is pretty great.

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Bonus Q – Can you share your fave designers keeping good company with Paxxy & Flora on the Finders Keepers Online Marketplace at the moment?!

There are so many amazing makers on the Marketplace! I’ve been swooning over the plates and cups by Elisa Bartels – they are so stunning! I love the Tiger Tootsie Culotte by Hook+Eye, Middle Child is always a fav and I love all of Juno + Ace’s fabulous mobiles as well.

From my own range on the Finders Keepers Marketplace my Dash Rainbow Frill Plates are one of my favourites at the moment. This design is so versatile – I’m using a similar one under my candles on the coffee table which have been getting an absolute workout during iso! The fine detailing and frilled edge never get old. I’ve also got some plant cuttings in a couple of Volcano Vases, which are giving me all the good feels.