mum who makes :: Coco Ruby Design

mum who makes :: Coco Ruby Design
madeit.com.au/CocoRubyDesign

Tell us a bit about yourself
I live in Melbourne’s Bayside area with my husband and our two wonderful children aged 8 and 4. I also have two hairy children - a Beaglier dog and Burmese cat. I used to live and work in fabulous places like London, Paris and Vietnam and now I’m proud to say that I’m a stay-at-home mum and I wouldn’t change it for the world. I love the beach, shopping and great coffee, so Melbourne is definitely a great place to call home.



Can you explain your craft/art and the materials you like to use?
I make beaded jewellery, from necklaces and rings to bracelets and earrings. I like to use sterling silver and classic colours that won’t date. I like to think of my jewellery style as simple, stylish and elegant. I also make jewellery that I like and would wear myself.

How long have you been creating and how did you get into making handmade goodies?
Last year I had not a ‘mid-life crisis’, but what I like to call a “creative-crisis”. I had always wanted to do something ‘creative’ but never knew what it was. It was my mum’s birthday and I wanted to buy her a pair of earrings. She doesn’t have pierced ears and I couldn’t find a pair of clip-on’s I liked, so I decided to make her some instead. It all started from there.

How do you juggle motherhood & crafting/managing your business?
I do most of my jewellery at night or when the kids are at school/kinder. I like to create in a ‘quiet’ environment, and unless I’m wearing earmuffs there’s no such thing in our household! Being organised really helps and don’t worry if there’s still a load of washing to be done.

Do you have any advise to other Mothers who are wanting to start creating handmade goodies?
Don’t make excuses as to why you wouldn’t have time to start something you love. Once you start, you will be amazed at how rewarding it can be. Research your market - what are your competitors doing and how can you make your product differentiate from theirs? Buy quality materials to work with as ‘you are your product’. Enjoy what you do, as my husband likes to say: “happy wife, happy life”!

{craftumi} craft supply mix

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Visit craftumi.com.au for all your craft supplies needs

new seller quick five - Little Spunky Monkey

new seller quick five - Little Spunky Monkey
madeit.com.au/RebeccaA

How did you find out about made it?
I found out about madeit from a children's magazine a few years ago and have been an avid buyer ever since. Every week I discover something new on madeit and there is always fresh product and new sellers- it keeps me coming back weekly (or even daily sometimes!).

Explain your style
My style is modern vintage, bold colours and shapes, with clean fresh lines and no fuss products. With my first born being a boy, I always have sympathy for parents of boys with the limited products out there to buy. So if anything I have a leniancy towards cool boy products (while still satisfying my gorgeous girly side as well).

What makes you happy?
I get so easily inspired by other creators and coming up with new designs and seeing them come into fruition is very exciting. I like the challenge of trying to make a new product and working thrpugh problems that may arise, and to see one of my hand made products on my website hakes me very happy. What makes me even happier, is getting wonderful positive feedback from my customers telling me how much they enjoy something that I have made, or the delight on a little one's face then they give something of mine as a present.

What makes you sad?
What makes me sad is being too busy with general day-to-day life stuff that I do not get time to be creative and make things. Creating is my outlet and relax time, and if I have not had a chance to do anything for a couple of days, it definitely gets me down.

What can't you live without?
I can NOT live without my daily blog read. I get so many ideas and inspirational thoughts form reading about other people's lives and creations, and the visual smorgasboard that I read through everyday is what sets me up for an exciting and productive day.

{madeit sellers} blog about craftumi and WIN

As you know we released our sister site craftumi last month and we are giving our madeit sellers the chance to win madeit credit.

All you have to do is blog about craftumi and you will go in the running to win one of four $25 madeit credit vouchers.

You can use text from our launch newsletter here, remember to include a link to www.craftumi.com.au in your post so we can track your post in our web stats. You may also want to include a few of your favourite craftumi finds.

Winners will be announced in next months sellers newsletter. To register for our sellers newsletter click here

Follow craftumi on twitter or facebook

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How do you pronounce craftumi?
Craftumi was inspired by origami
Pronounce craftumi - craft-u-mee
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after-hours crafter :: osier

after-hours crafter :: osier
madeit.com.au/osier

Tell us a bit about yourself?
Well if I was a dog I'd definitely be a "bitsa" - a bit of this, a bit of that. In one day I can be an architecture student, a medical receptionist, a swimming teacher and an indie business owner/designer. Same with my fashion sense - it's all over the place, but I love it that way. I have a passion for the new, and presenting the old in new and exciting ways - I think that definitely comes through in all I design.



Can you explain your craft/art and the materials you like to use?
OSIER has been described by others as "eco-friendly fashion that gives things with a past a place in the present" - and I would have to say that's a pretty good catchline. I love using quirky things like retro cupcake toppers, weird old buttons, vintage fabrics and feathers, and then mixing them with the more sedate and modern mediums like lasercut plywood or polymer clay. I really just love to sit there with all my things surrounding me and see what goes with something else, especially when I should be doing something more important - that's when I get my best ideas.

How long have you been creating and how did you get into making handmade goodies?
I'm pretty sure I came out of the womb with either craft scissors, pom-poms, or glue clenched in my tiny little fists (lets hope it wasn't scissors for my Mum's sake). I'd always been the child at school with the report card that said "Your child needs to apply the same enthusiasm she has for art class in other areas" - and by that they meant maths (I still don't know my times tables!). The business/label side of things sort of had a very innocent and natural start - beaded earrings and other pieces of jewellery for kids at high-school and a couple of my teachers, then I stumbled upon craftster.org, and through them onto the largest handmade website in the world! (before madeit was around). Through that the girls at Made on the Left gave me my first market opportunity in July 2008, and I pretty much haven't stopped since - oh, except to volunteer for MOTL duties (I'm now secretary!)

How do you juggle work & crafting/managing your business?
Sometimes not too well, I'll admit. Its not my two casual jobs that cause the most trouble, the main culprit is my other major passion; architecture. I'm halfway though 5 years at uni to be an architect, so during the break times, it's wonderfully easy- I really get to knuckle down on expanding my plans for OSIER, work on new wholesalers, and catch up with market stock levels. Not so great during term though, when you get a rush of orders just when your building plans are due in a week and you're still on concept...

Do you have any advice to other workers who are wanting to start creating handmade goodies?
My best advice is to make sure you're honest with people - if you havn't started something you should have finished, be upfront, honest, and apologetic about it. Lame excuses/fibs don't help anyone. Oh, actually - the best piece of advice would be to reach out to others in your area who are small indie creatives. Some of my best friends are other Perth artists I met at markets and on forums. Plus I think creating is really good for helping conflicting personalities mesh - in fact I think instead of everyone signing the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, I think they should be made to go to a craft workshop with each other - I'd love to see Kim Jong Il swapping knitting patterns with Barack, wouldn't you?

Invitations for every occasion

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Visit madeit.com.au for more handmade goodies

new seller quick five - Mon Petit Poppet

new seller quick five - Mon Petit Poppet
madeit.com.au/MonPetitPoppet

How did you find out about made it?
When my poppet was born I began crafting and blogging as a way of expressing myself. Through the amazing blogs I read on a daily basis I heard about madeit and I absolutely love that it is a little nook supporting all the brilliant crafty Aussies out there. You guys rock! I'd love for your to pop into my blog monpetitpoppet.blogspot.com for a cuppa!

Explain your style
I have a love affair with all things French! I love to create timeless yet whimsical designs using gorgeous natural fabrics like cotton and linen all with a certain "ooh la la" French vibe. But above all, I want to create things that make people smile!

What makes you happy?
Sun showers, long baths, the call of a whip bird, chocolate eclairs from a hidden Parisian patisserie, seeing elderly couples holding hands, shoe shopping, watching musicians getting lost in their art, making things with my hands, my gorgeous Hubby and the angel we call our daughter...life!!

What makes you sad?
The thought of life without freedom, knowing my little one won't be able to roam the streets getting sponsors for the school spell-a-thon like I used to be able to do, dropping my "ice cream man" ice cream as the van drives away, seeing other creatures suffering, apathy and ignorance, the last piece of chocolate.

What can't you live without?
In a nutshell...my man and my girl. They are simply magic!!!

September - Blog about madeit Giveaway!

Winners Announced!!

1st Prize
herewegoloopylou
madeit.com.au/herewegoloopylou
visit blog herewegoloopylou.blogspot.com

2nd & 3rd Prize
Rainbow & Pearl
madeit.com.au/RainbowandPearl
visit blog rainbowandpearl.blogspot.com

Green Tree
madeit.com.au/greentree
visit blog greentreegoods.blogspot.com





Thank you to all our sellers who have been blogging their favourite madeit finds. We are glad to announce our September prize pack for the past month.

1st Prize
$30 madeit seller credit
Newsletter advert (worth $38.50)
Book - The Anti 9-5 Guide by Michelle Goodman

2nd & 3rd Prize
$20 madeit seller credit

Giveaway Details
• The posts can be madeit finds for example five or so items based on a theme, new items or just items you love for the week.
• The month will end on the 15th of each month.
• To be eligible for the prize you must blog every week of the month.
• In return for blogging about madeit we will add you to our "Lovely Peeps who blog about madeit" list. Please email your blog to madeit
• Winners will be contacted via email and published on our blog.

If you aren't listed in our "Lovely Peeps who blog about madeit" list, please leave your blog address in the comments.

Thank you for promoting madeit.

whimsical illustration

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Visit madeit.com.au for more handmade goodies

mum who makes :: eco kitty

mum who makes :: eco kitty
madeit.com.au/ecokitty

Tell us a bit about yourself
Howdy! I'm Sara, aka eco kitty, and I live in Launceston with my spunky husband Mike (scientist, musician, photographer), my gorgeous sister Lauren (Twilight/Harry Potter obsessed, super assistant!) and my pretty princess Ginger (4, loves cats, tiaras and pink). I also have a 10 1/2 year old boy Myles who lives in Sydney with his Dad and stepmum. We recently sold pretty much everything we owned and moved from Sydney with what we could fit in 2 small cars. It's quite the adventure!



Can you explain your craft/art and the materials you like to use?
I like to make functional things that feel nice, look cool and have a cartoonish feel to them. I love touching things so I'm very much into fibres and textiles. I heart sewing, embellishing with buttons, ribbons and giant ric rac, felting, crochet, spinning fibres (I really want to try some dog hair) and I prefer to use natural fibres. It feels like I'm working with nature that way. I make quilts, door snakes, hair clips, brooches, earrings, aprons, scarves and whatever takes my fancy!

How long have you been creating and how did you get into making handmade goodies?
I think I've always been crafty! My mum was always making dancing costumes, quilts and things so I wanted to play too. Art, music and drama were my favourite (and best) subjects at school. I've always loved giving people presents and hand made gifts are the best. A few years ago I stopped buying Christmas presents for family and we gave them homemade beer, food and trinkets and eco kitty grew out of that. Plus I make things for myself, put a picture on facebook and then get swamped with requests for me to make more!

How do you juggle motherhood & crafting/managing your business?
If only it were as easy as actual juggling! That I can do! Juggling is rhythmic, controlled and meditative. Motherhood is chaotic, random and spontaneous! I try to embrace the chaos. I write very short to-do lists and try not to get overly anxious about housework or my appearance. I work on eco kitty at random times of the day and I try to include Ginger as much as possible. She is a great helper as she gets older! And my sister is like a bonus - she is always helping with making dinner and providing comic relief.

Do you have any advise to other Mothers who are wanting to start creating handmade goodies?
Advice is a tricky beast. I actually just wrote a big ranty blog post about advice so I would say to trust your instincts and don't be afraid of making mistakes. Something that worked for someone else might be an epic fail for you but that's OK. Without mistakes, you would never learn or grow. Love what you do, its the best job you will ever have (making stuff + being with your family = AWESOME!) but it will try your patience sometimes so it helps to love it.