FK chats to Sandra from Sydney based paper label, Blueberry Paper

Can you describe your creative process?
I will start sketching out ideas in pencil, all that’s in my head at this stage is something like “I want to do a monkey card”. From there I will go online and through my collection of books on everything from fashion and textile design to children’s storybooks and magazines looking for a spark of some element I might use on a card. Sometimes I’ll look for colour combinations or pattern inspiration. Usually then I’ll gather everything in my notebook and leave it there for a few days, just to let the ideas settle and then I’ll take a look again in a few days with fresh eyes. When I feel like I have something to work with I start painting drawing and lino cutting to arrange the elements which I then scan and work on in Photoshop. Then I play with the elements until it feels “done”. The designs always ends up completely different to how I originally thought they would!

FK chats to Melbourne’s card geniuses, Able and Game

Able and Game is quite well known given the short time frame you’ve been up and running. Can you tell us where the name comes from?
Coming up with a business name that you like is really hard. I think one of the reasons I decided to really push Able and Game was because I liked the name and didn’t want to let it go to waste! The two words come from Gareth and my initials with an E stuck on the end to form a word, Anna is the Able and Gareth is the Game.
What are your backgrounds and how did you get started?
I have a background in fine art and did my Bachelor degree in painting and drawing at the University of Ballarat. Gareth has a degree in computer science from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. After university I worked as a secondary teacher and had an accessory label called Anna Laura and Gareth has previously worked as a business analyst, application developer and software engineer and currently works freelance as a web application developer.

We love your quirky cards! Where does the inspiration come from?
So many different places and each card has its own a unique story. We also get some help from friends and family. My sister is good at coming up with ideas, particularly for our train station cards. Our ‘I would give up my superfast internet card – for the weekend’ came about after our DSL modem broke a few years back and we had to go back to dial up for a week while waiting for a replacement modem. I think we both came out in hives and remember it as the worst week ever.

What was the hardest part about starting your label?
Working from home on your own is hard, it can be isolating and you often end up wasting time online because you want some human interaction. Suddenly you’re wasting half an hour on facebook looking at the wedding album of someone you don’t even know. Sure you can put it under “research for wedding cards” but with no one to tell you off you can suddenly justify a whole bunch of stuff that really is a waste of time.

Tell us your top 3 things to do in Melbourne to get inspired.
Walking around the city at night when it is quiet, but not too late. Sunday nights are good because there are not too many people around. The other night I walked from Carlton down to Flinders Street and although it was a bit chilly it was a nice way to relax and take in the buildings and public art. On the weekend we do markets on both Saturday and Sunday. We have a regular stall at Rose Street Market and have some of good friends who also have stalls. It is great fun to catch up after five days of working alone by talking shop and looking at new products people have made. We often head to a pub afterwards for dinner and drinks and by Monday you feel pretty recharged to start the week ahead. Melbourne also has loads of things on during the week, which is good for people like us who work on the weekend. Gogo dancing and gallery openings, anything you can do with a drink and a friend is always going to make a good night!

What’s the next stage for Able and Game?
We are always thinking of new cards, trying to come up with that perfect card that make someone tell his friend his cheeks are hurting from laughing so much. We also have some new stationery items as well as a few giftware items. I keep dreaming of the day we can hire someone else and I can have a co-worker. I have a feeling whoever it will be will need to be able to listen to my inane gibbering about card ideas, cats and television shows.

www.ableandgame.com

FK talks to Magali and Jason from their store, Wolf at the Door

Wolf at the Door just celebrated its first birthday! Tell us about your lovely shop.
Wolf At The Door is a regional makers space that supports the contemporary global makers movement – we have a real passion for the hand-made. We stock the work of many contemporary Melbourne and interstate makers, designers and artists, plus the work of many local designers and makers. They include porcelain maker Kris Coad, textile maker Only Midge, graphic designer Tristan Varga-Miller aka The Mojo Box, sculptor/printmaker John Barter, local porcelain maker Bridget Bodenham, jeweller Caravan, artist John Butt and many more.

Wolf At The Door is also a ‘one stop shop’ for unique gifts, interior designers and stylists, and it is becoming popular as a ‘gift registry’ for weddings, birthdays and engagements. wolf is housed in a beautiful old Hepburn building filled with history and character. We also take a lot of care in how we display the work – and we have a gallery in which we have regular art exhibitions – plus a sculpture garden out the back!

What was the inspiration with opening Wolf at the Door?
There is a real gap in regional Victoria for this kind of work to get supported and showcased. We are both artists ourselves (Jason is an award-winning sculptor and Magali an in-demand graphic and web designer), and we have always been a part of this kind of makers culture. So when we moved to the country, we wanted to bring this with us. And also create a place where the local community could also be encouraged and supported.

What kind of treats and treasures can we expect to find at Wolf at the Door?
So many!! From lovely handmade buttons and brooches, to ceramic jewelery.. Giant sculpted foam spark plugs to delicately fashioned porcelain bones, antler dishes and tea cup light fittings… Beautiful hand-made clothes for women and children, cool tee shirts from Mr. Bucket for the men-folk, vintage test tubes and 16mm cameras.. Awesome contemporary prints from Larry Parkinson, David Waters, Carey Potter.. We also have an authentic 1950s operation table from Britain in our front window! We stock the work of over 60 labels, artists and makers so we always have heaps of things in the shop! It usually takes people quite a while to ‘do the circuit’ and check everything out! they love a good poke around and we encourage it – and a chat too!

What has been the most successful aspect of your store?
Supporting the local makers culture and engaging with the local community; bringing unique and quality work to the region, having some great art exhibitions in our gallery space, and making this kind of makers culture accessible to regional Victoria – and to the many city tourists who come here each weekend, who may not get exposed to this kind of work back in Melbourne. and the clothes – we stock independent labels like Dot and Herbey, Queen, Once Upon A time – these aren’t just clothes – they are ‘pieces’! they sell very well…

We’ve also just opened a brand new art complex in nearby Kyneton called Stockroom. It is Wolf on a much bigger scale – we have 7 artists studios, a giant split-level retail store, 2 big exhibition spaces, a makers ‘retail concept space’ and a beautiful ‘clothes forest’.. We renovated a 150 year-old butter factory (870 square meters) and we’re hoping it will become a thriving art epicenter in the region, where artist and makers not only exhibit heir work, but sell it direct to the public. A learning center and cafe are also on the way…

What is the design & art scene like in Hepburn Springs?
It’s healthy! Lots of artists and makers move to Dayelsford and the broader region from Melbourne and other places – and many people born here also return after spending time in the city.. There are heaps of talented people living and working around Hepburn – and you never know who’s just moved here, or is making amazing work, just around the corner..

There is also the Daylesford Makers Market and a number of other stores around us that also support and do well from this kind of design and makers culture. We enjoy feeling part of a community and a ‘movement’ so to speak.

What advice would you give to others wanting to follow in your footsteps?
Do your research! Don’t just go into it for the money! Be organised! Be sincere and support and sustain the community around you – support those who support you! Stay true to your gut feeling – and have fun too!

www.wolfatthedoor.com.au

FK talks to Sydney based creative mum, Kristen Doran about her textiles business.

Tell us about your self title label, Kristen Doran Design.
Kristen Doran Design produces hand printed textiles, sewing patterns and embroidery patterns. I started the label as a creative outlet while staying at home with my children. What first began as designing and selling bags to friends and family quickly turned into producing my own fabric designs.

What was your background and what lead you to textiles?
I studied fashion design at East Sydney Tafe. On completion I worked in the fashion industry for many years before re-training as a graphic designer. The combination of working in both fields was the perfect precursor to starting my own textile design business. But really it was all just a happy coincidence of circumstances that led me there… Designing bags to fill in time while changing nappies and going to the park, wanting my bags to stand out from the crowd, but not sure how. Dinner with a friend who owns a screenprinting business, having a few designs printed up for my bags and selling them at a local art gallery, stumbling across a blog about craft. And finally falling into the world of blogs and eventually starting my own and people asking me where to buy the fabrics on my bags. I also discovered that selling fabrics was much more achievable than bags with the little time I had available.

Who or what inspires your work?
Many things; sometimes a walk to school with the kids can reveal a new idea, creative friends getting together, my kids, my childhood story books, Art Nouveau and spare time to think and draw.

What do you love about working with fabric?
I love the endless possibilities of working with fabric and also the feel of hand printing. It’s fantastic to see creative people using your fabrics in projects you may never have thought of or had the time to do yourself.

Describe your style of working & creative process
I generally have a few ideas bumping around in my head. They hang there for a while, waiting for late night inspiration to hit before I sketch, scan and get working on the computer. I probably procrastinate for so long about my designs as I  like to create from start to finish in one sitting. So waiting for the time to be able to do that seems like forever. I also like to print out the designs and sticky tape them around the lounge room to live with them for a while and see if I like the size and scale. I also have two little critics (my sons) who like to throw their two cents worth in as well.

What areas would you like to explore more in the future?
I’m having a lot of fun designing backstitch patterns of dolls and robots. I would love to do more of these and maybe even venture into cross stitch patterns.

www.kristendorandesign.blogspot.com

FK talks to Jen from Sydney fashion accessories label, South for the Summer.

Give us a summary about what South for the Summer is.
Perhaps you could help me with that one?! I always fall back on Milliner, but I don’t actually make hats, rather headpieces, headbands, crowns, bows etc… I guess South for the Summer is a niche millinery!

What is your background in design and how has it lead to where you are today?
I trained as a makeup artist which is probably why colour is so important to me and my work. When I moved to Melbourne for a couple of years I worked in an old fashioned perfumery where I wore vintage dresses and I began to make ‘20s style hair pieces for myself. People were buying them off my head in the shop. So when I moved back to Sydney for love, I decided it was time to try to make this into a business and almost 2 years later I’m still my own boss. Happiness! (I also credit the Childrens Encyclopedia, Volume 13 “Make and Do”. I’m pretty sure I made every single project in that book in my early years, I’m sure it’s helped along the way.)

What do you love about having your own label?
Everything! It’s the most flexible job, lifestyle wise it couldn’t be better. I can work whenever I want, and I am really productive at night, so I can begin making things later in the day. To be able to use my hands and make things all day long still makes me pinch myself, that this is my own business. When I see people wearing something I’ve made walking down the street – that is surreal.

Describe your creative process.
I am a very tactile person, so it’s easier for me to pick up materials and begin to try to make something from an image in my mind than to draw it first. Generally playing with materials, bending, cutting, sewing, folding, and then something just happens organically. I might have been influenced by a colour in a painting, and all of a sudden an idea just works and translates to something inspired and wearable.

Where do you find inspiration, and what inspires you about your surroundings?
Two colours next to each other can be enough to set my mind in a spin! It can be on a book cover, a rug, someone’s outfit, nature, anywhere. Old children’s books, the simplicity of Bruno Munari and Enzo Mari. I know exactly what I like and what aesthetically pleases my eye. Trawling through books of Art deco jewellery and looking up at art deco buildings in the city inspired the lines and shapes of my latest collection. Shapes, patterns and colours are my big loves so vintage clothing shops like Zoo, visiting the MCA, and endless clicking through beautiful image blogs are constant sources for me. When I have that lightbulb moment it literally fills me with adrenalin and I make and make and make until it’s done. I can’t take my time and wait until tomorrow. My studio is filled with natural light which is really important, and my image boards on my walls have all sorts of pictures, and collectibles hanging from them and it’s funny how something that you see everyday for a year or more, can one day just jump out at you and be responsible for a whole new design direction.

What exciting things can we expect from South for the Summer next season?
Well! Leather is my current obsession and its texture and colours are sublime. I’m playing with new ways and techniques to use it. However, patchworks, embroidery, weaving and clashing colours are on my mind in upside down sort of ways. The best place for clues is on my blog – www.jensouthforthesummer.blogspot.com!

www.southforthesummer.etsy.com

FK talks to Kelly, Zoe & Penny some of the talented team behind Gaffa Gallery in Sydney’s CBD. We are proud to announce our involvement also with Gaffa on the Arcade Project later on this year.

Tell us about Gaffa Gallery and what we can expect to find in the beautiful 3rd storey building in the Sydney CBD?
Kelly: Hopefully, you can expect to find more than the physical components outlined on our website. You’ll also find an environment that’s artist-run in both attitude and in execution. We pride ourselves on nurturing an environmant where creativity and it’s audience can meet. Gaffa is indebted entirely to Sydney’s Creative Community, it has been built by them, is sustained by them and aims to enduringly provide a space where compelling and new ideas can be tested and refined.

What was the inspiration on starting Gaffa and how has the concepts shaped and evolved into where it is today?
Kelly: Gaffa began through a collaboration between myself, who’s previous background is steeped in the broader visual arts and artist-run initiative community – and Aidan Li, who’s background is more in the contemporary object and art design community. We started off seeking to create a space where the spectrum of disciplines and cross-platform work could come together and be represented. Organically, an entire community has grown around Gaffa and it has become more of a hub where creative practice occurs across a wide range of avenues, through our studios, galleries, events, artist talks and off-site projects.

What have been the main challenges from moving from Surry Hills to the CBD?
Kelly: Because of the much larger scale, the main challenge has definitely been to create and maintain operational systems in an attempt to (at least feel like we are!) rope the chaos into some kind of order around here.

Tell us about the new Arcade Project space and the concept behind it?
Zoe: The Arcade Project is a dedicated retail arcade located on the ground floor of the Gaffa Gallery creative precinct. It is aimed at mid-career designers, upstart emerging makers or any one with an interesting retail idea. Through these short lease pop-up style retail stores we aim to bridge the gap between one off market stall and owner run retail space.

Who is the team behind Gaffa and what are their roles?
Kelly Robson (Director): I am one of the founding directors of Gaffa and for the last four years, have managed and expanded the initiative. My background is in the Visual Arts having studied art for as long as I can remember, in Singapore, London and then finally here in Sydney where I obtained my MVA from Sydney College of the Arts in 2009. Whilst this gives me the invaluable benefit of being able to relate to the artists that we work with, my role in general has always been pretty organic and can range from annual programming, design and installing exhibitions (where my arts background comes in handy) to really mundane but important things like accounting and administration (which my ability to do I can really only attribute to being a Virgoan control freak).

Zoe Brand (Retail Manager): I am a maker, wearer and viewer of contemporary art jewellery. At Gaffa I manage the ground floor retail areas that includes ‘The Arcade Project’ and ‘Sterling’ by Gaffa – a permanent contemporary jewellery and object retail store. This year I am also directing the exhibition program for Keeper Gallery, which is an initiative that gives an emerging curator the opportunity to direct a gallery space for a period of time.

Penny Snars (Operations Assistant): I am an emerging Jewellery and Object maker. My role here at Gaffa is quite fluid. My day will vary from the regular business upkeep, (including dressing displays and pricing stock in our arcades,) to discussions with artists about the curation of their show, assisting in the installation of work and lighting exhibitions. (Lighting exhibitions is a personal favourite!)

What do you love most about working for Gaffa?
Kelly: I love learning things on the go and the sink or swim nature of self-management. There’s never really enough time to over-think or over-stress about anything – and then before you know it, you  have a new skill set and you’re able to contribute it to a community that really appreciates it. Now that Gaffa has expanded and I’ve been able to take on some new team members I am really enjoying sharing the craziness and excitement (along with the workload) and having valuable brainstorming sessions during which we workshop ways to keep this ship afloat and to introduce new ideas into our programs in practical ways.

Zoe: Pretty much everything! I am very fortunate to have such amazing people to work with and the freedom to manage my own workday. Our days tend to be extremely varied as we manage an array of on and off site projects as well as run over 3 levels of creative spaces. Highlights tend to be morning meetings over coffee from KLINK (our in-house café), talking with student groups and curious passers-by about what we do to and who we are, Thursday fortnightly gallery openings, and the opportunity and ability to champion emerging artists, designers and makers.

Penny: I love working within an artist run space. The people I work with are really enthusiastic and friendly, and ever-encouraging. Everyone is like minded in the sense that they want to support our community and foster established and emerging artists. There is such diversity in the type of work artists are making, and the process by which it is produced, and I feel I am constantly learning from the people around me.  I feel fortunate to have such a collection of mentors around me, pushing me to think, problem solve and explore the very nature of contemporary art, and how as a contemporary space, we can support it.

Sterling – their new permanent contemporary jewellery & object retail store.

What are some of the concepts that are unique to Gaffa that don’t currently exist in other Gallery spaces in Sydney?
Kelly: I wouldn’t go as far as to say that there’s anything we do concept-wise that is ‘unique’ to Gaffa that you couldn’t find in any other Sydney art-space as I think there are a number of amazing artist-run initiatives currently in existence which run on a similar model. I think where we are fortunate though, is in the networks that we have developed across a range of creative communities and the recognition we have received from these various areas that we are serious about what we do and won’t just be a flash in the pan. Thanks to this community that has grown around Gaffa, we’ve been able to put quite experimental ideas into practice and because of the continual feedback we receive, we know in which ways they need to be tweaked or tailored to have longevity.

Tell us about the workshops and studios that are at Gaffa.
Now that we have the luxury of more space, we’ve been able to dedicate an entire level, above the gallery to our studios and workshops.
The studios are home to our resident artists, of whom there are currently 12, and are co-managed by Alida Cappelletta, who also maintains her own professional practice. (details of these artists are viewable on our website www.gaffa.com.au)
We are very proud of our communal workshop which boasts much of the equipment you would find in a tertiary institute workshop. Recently we’ve opened our workshop doors up for beginners and intermediate jewellery classes which have been a huge success and are heaps of fun.

http://www.gaffa.com.au/

Studio spaces at Gaffa.

FK talks with Sam who is one half of fashion label, Sanoii+Six

Tell us about your brand, Sanoii + Six
Sanoii+Six is the spawn of two very kooky Central Coast kids. We are a small, handcrafted, colourful label. We are your wingman and we specialise in cotton swimwear and have this season launched our very first clothing range.

What is your backgrounds and how did it all kick off?
We met at TAFE back in 2005 studying our Diploma of Textiles, Clothing and Footwear, but for the first year we didn’t really talk to each other. In our second year at TAFE I got a bit lonely and Vienna was the class clown. When we realised we were as crazy as each other we joined forces. Sanoii+Six didn’t come about until 2007 though, after really only knowing each other for about 5 minutes, we skipped town and headed for a warmer climate. After a while we started to get restless and just wanted to make pretty things. Four industrial machines later and we attempted our first market. It was in the middle of winter (I’m pretty sure the coldest the Gold Coast has ever seen) at the Annual Wintersun festival and we sold one bikini, to (surprise surprise) a Sydney girl!

What did you find the hardest when you started your own label together?
There are so many things that stumped us in the beginning and that continue to stump us. I think the money thing is a huge issue, we have no capital behind us. Hence the reason we are the designer, pattern maker, grader, machinist, tea lady, sales assistant, graphic designer, photographer, etc. but we do this for the love of it! Also we work really well as a team, we balance each other, but we are at the stage where we need to start delegating tasks outside of our little duo, which is something we are really struggling with.

Who or what inspires your work?
At the moment tentacles, desert boots, grandmas, crustaceans, opposites (ie chalk + cheese), people, animal trophies, Jason Schwartzman, moustaches, jupiter bars, life. . . but seriously our inspiration changes constantly. Fabric plays a huge part in our design and inspiration process as our pieces rely heavily on our fabric choices. We try and incorporate a lot of colour, so you could say colour inspires us too.

What do you appreciate the most about living on the coast?
There are so many things the landscape is beautiful, our families, the price of rent, but a big drawcard is living so close to Sydney and Newcastle without the hustle and bustle.

What can we expect for next season?
As we manufacture everything ourselves, we have divided our Spring/Summer range ‘Chalk + Cheese’ into three drops. Drop one was launched at the Brisbane Finders Keepers in June and was our first entire clothing range, Drop two is due out in September and you can keep your peepers open for lots of delightful new swimwear styles!

www.sanoiiandsix.bigcartel.com

FK talks to Kristy, from Melbourne based accessories label Sisken.

Tell us about your leather accessories brand, Sisken.
The Sisken label provides gorgeous handmade leather accessories as an affordable, everyday luxury.
Combining style and functionality, Sisken bags and accessories are practical yet elegant, sensible and sophisticated, useful yet sleek. With a variety of styles and a huge range of coloured leathers, there is a Sisken to suit everyone’s lifestyle.

When did you get started and how did it come about?
Sisken was launched three years ago when, working as a graphic designer in metropolitan Melbourne, I desperately wanted a laptop bag to cater for my needs, aesthetically and in function. Despite an extensive search, I could not find anything suitable and had a bag custom made to my own specifications. And so Sisken was born.
Since this humble beginning, the Sisken collection has expanded to include handbags, purses, satchels, overnight bags and – more recently – beautiful ballet slippers.

Where do you find inspiration?
It is my everyday life that is my inspiration; since starting Sisken I find I have a more acute awareness of everything that surrounds me; I take notice, I enjoy, I sense and I “feel” exactly where I am at that precise moment in time. From an aesthetic perspective it may be as simple as a pattern in a stone fence or beautiful trees and leaves, from a design perspective it may be feedback from other stylish women about the functions they need in a bag but have been unable to find. The actual challenge of creating something that combines beauty and functionality is another inspiration. One of my biggest rewards is when someone tells me how much they love their SISKEN product. On occasion this information filters back through family and friends, leading to the same sense of pride. This feedback ultimately inspires future products. I adore Swedish design, its simplicity, clean lines and delightful combinations of bold colours. Earthy colours, raw textures and often nature-inspired patterns complement perfectly the beautiful leathers we choose.

What do you love most about working with leather?
Leather is a diverse and dynamic material which effortlessly exudes style. I love the texture, the luxurious feel and the fact that no two pieces are exactly the same. As I work closely with leather tailors each season, I learn new and exciting methods which I incorporate into subsequent collections.
Leather is a stylish and practical material which provides me with great motivation. I truly love working with leather and gorgeous fabrics and feel grateful that Sisken has allowed me to use my creativity as a graphic designer and turn my passion into a reality.

Talk us through your creative process.
While being creative has definite synergies with spontaneity, I find structure crucial to maintaining Sisken’s direction. I sketch all my ideas to maintain a record of my thinking process at that time and have books filled with inspirational images and ideas I have collected and recorded, which I return to when working on subsequent collections. I specialise in working with small family owned factories of leather workers who assist me in achieving the high quality products we release each season. I find this personal, hands-on approach allows me to achieve my vision in each and every Sisken piece.

What can we expect to discover in the next Sisken range?
This year has been incredibly busy and I am very excited to be launching a new collection this August. The new collection combines all the Sisken elements our clients know and love – luxurious, rich leathers and stylish and functional design, with a host of new items. Our classic pieces are still on offer as well as new pieces which I just love and hope will become your favourites too. We have gorgeous new totes, more handbags, stylish cross body bags – a beautiful new addition to our range – and simply divine new clutches. I hope you will love our new products just as much as I do!

www.sisken.com.au

FK talks to Maya and Sam, from Tassie label Hideyo.

Tell us about Hideyo, and where the name originates from.
Hideyo is a Japanese name, and it’s Maya’s mother’s name who was a very talented and creative person. We like the name because Maya’s mum and Japanese design in general are strong influences on our work.

What are your individual backgrounds and how did you start working together?
In terms of study, at uni Maya studied sociology, anthropology and Japanese, and Sam studied sustainability science and Asian studies. Neither of us did art or design past school, but Maya in particular had an amazing art teacher at high school. Sam grew up on the Mornington Peninsula near Melbourne and Maya’s from Braidwood in southern NSW, and we met in Canberra while we each had three jobs (and Maya was still studying). After a while we decided we wanted a change, and after lots of thinking and some (very) spur of the moment decisions we ended up moving to Tassie to see what it would be like making stuff for a living. Besides the thought of ‘yeah why don’t we move and do something else’, it was all pretty sudden and random!

What inspired you to start your own label?
There were a few reasons I suppose. We felt like doing something of our own, being our own bosses, and earning our own living. We also discovered a shared love of making things, and a large overlap in aesthetic and taste (very handy!). Having made a start, we were then encouraged and inspired by so many people in our new community. We had no idea when we moved, but the Meander Valley area where we live has a really strong and supportive artistic community. So we’re pretty lucky we chose such a great place to live.

What were some of the challenges you faced starting your own business?
Ok, to get it out of the way at the start – money. We’d love our art to be completely separate… oh well! For a good while we lived pretty simply. Rural Tassie rent sure helps! Now we’re part way through the 12 months of the government NEIS program which has worked really well for us. Choosing what to make and what not to make has always been tricky. And having confidence our things and in ourselves (for example when we have stalls at markets or approach galleries and shops) was a big hurdle. Self discipline was another big one. Working for ourselves from home sounded romantic, but it’s actually really hard work. Unfortunately life can’t just be endless games of scrabble or cards! The transition from our products looking like handmade items to looking like classy, professionally finished handmade items is an ongoing one. It’s been a continual part of our business to improve all that, but seems to happen slowly and only bit by bit (still, looking back we cringe when we see our early stuff so we must have come a ways in that department!). Even before then, developing our skills has been just as much of a challenge. I guess you can only get good by continual practice, which is starting to kick on for us now. For example, Maya had only learnt how to use a sewing machine a couple of weeks before we approached our first shop! Our ethics also pose a big challenge. We want our business to reflect our attitudes towards environmental and social responsibility. Even just basic things like sourcing recycled paper business cards, or sweatshop free clothing that has style, they take so much time to find and research.

What do you love doing in Tassie when you’re not working?
Free time hasn’t come up all that often recently! But we have some bushwalks planned over the next little while, we live so close to beautiful mountains, forests and rivers. Sam’s keen to get back into playing more music after the recent making frenzy, and has a long list of kitchen adventures lined up (making cheddar cheese and croissants are the two at the top of the list). Maya is super keen to knit and sew a bunch of different clothing patterns. We also just bought a night frisbee (looks like a ufo when you turn the light on), so much fun! Oh and we also made a trip – an expensive one – to Kinokuniya bookshop when we were up in Sydney for Finders Keepers (which by the way was awesome, it went really well for us and we met some great people), so we have a few inspiring books to read as well.

What are you working on next?
There’s an exhibition coming up soon that we’re a part of, which is exciting, Objects of Design at the NEW Gallery at UTAS Newnham Campus (Launceston). It’s great to be able to put aside the things that make us money day to day and dream and create a bit more freely. Still brainstorming but we’re keen to let loose a bit on the kusudama (origami balls) we make and incorporate some printing and paper cuts. We’re also really keen to kick off some collaborations that have been schemed up, hopefully starting with Stuart and Chai from Pa-sawan clothing in Melbourne and Loz Abberton of Who Did That.

www.hideyodesigns.com.au