Just off the back of sharing a sunny weekend with Brisbane label Kirralee & Co, we gear up to spy their beautifully crafted, sustainable creations at FK Melbourne! Wall art with a purpose, and stunning geometric shapes to weave in with other homely treasures – we have adored seeing Kirralee & Co shine at Finders Keepers season upon season.

Kirralee & Co debuted many moons ago at Finders Keepers AW16! How did you come to be a seller at Finders Keepers? Can you tell us about your journey so far and how your Ipswich-based business has grown and evolved? 

I found out about the Finders Keepers while I was living at the Sunshine Coast from a friend who offered to take me in 2012. I was blown away by the market and while it became a regular event in my calendar, I never thought I would be on the other side of the tables. As I went along to each market, I met so many makers and my first time behind the tables was helping out Natalie from Corner Block Studio with her stall. In 2014 we moved back to Brisbane and began making our wares just as a hobby. We opened up an Etsy shop in 2015 and felt ready to take on a Finders Keepers Debut stall in Sydney in 2016. Today we operate as a team of 3 and it is now the main stream of income for our family. We have a few special stockists in QLD, NSW and VIC, we run workshops and travel interstate when we can for markets.

We’ve been eyeing off some beautiful designs popping up via your IG lately! Tell us about your latest pieces and the inspiration behind them?

When I first began designing, I was purely inspired by geometric shapes and forms. Now as I spend more time observing life around me I am deeply intrigued by our built environment and the architectural decisions that have been made. Our new designs come from noticing things such as a cornice in a domestic home, or the assemblage like qualities of a city environment and I try and capture forms from these kind of spaces.

As a creator of minimal, sustainable solutions for living and decorating how do you ‘seek’ out objects for your own home? 

I normally have “The Buyerarchy of needs” in mind when I think about items for my home, so I tend to either use something I already have in a new way, thrift or make my own if we need something.

If I do need to buy something I first seek out local / sustainable / ethical items first. Having said that, I think I’m more of an essentialist than a minimalist and to me having art in my home environment is a must so we do have a few special artworks and sculptures around as well.

What would be your key piece of advice to first time sellers at The Finders Keepers?  

Choose your best items and make more than what you think you’ll need. Have confidence in your work, offer higher priced items but also bring some lower ones as well. Don’t do it alone, seek out advice before the market, bring someone along to help out over the weekend and while you’re there spend time meeting new people.

Can you share your proudest moment running your business and your hopes for the future? 

For me, I feel most proud, when I see the progress we have made and when I see the products we have worked on from concept to prototype to completion being enjoyed by people we don’t even know.

Our hopes for the future are to continue to develop new designs that will bring this same enjoyment to people for long periods of time.

instagram.com/kirralee_and_co
kirralee.co