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”!

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.

mum who makes :: Two Cheeky Monkeys

mum who makes :: Two Cheeky Monkeys
madeit.com.au/TwoCheekyMonkeys

Tell us a bit about yourself?
I live in the leafy eastern suburbs of Melbourne with my husband and two little girls (who are 3 and almost 5). While our location is not super convenient to the city, I enjoy having lots of parks and bike/walking tracks near our home. I used to work as a research scientist (I have a rather unused PhD in pathology, LOL) but now call myself a "crafting mum".



Can you explain your craft/art and the materials you like to use?
I create vintage-inspired jewellery and accessories as well as black and white art prints using upcycled books and dictionaries. My favourite materials to use for my jewellery and accessories are vintage or vintage-style beads, jewels and cabochons, especially items which were made in the 1930's-50's. I started creating black and white art prints because of my love of collaged pieces and my near obsession with old books! I love to browse op shops and second hand book stores, especially for old dictionaries and encyclopaedias.

How long have you been creating and how did you get into making handmade goodies?
I have been crafting in one form or another for most of my life. My mum was the one who first inspired my love of handmade; she taught me to do simple cross stitch and embroidery when I was about 4 or 5 and taught me to use a sewing machine when I was in primary school. I picked up jewellery making in my early teens due to my love of earrings - I think I wore a different pair every day at one stage!

How do you juggle motherhood & crafting/managing your business?
To be honest, if you asked my husband or other family members, they would probably tell you that I am struggling to balance/juggle motherhood and running my own business! I do most of my creating when my girls are asleep or when they are watching their favourite TV show. My mum comes over to visit my girls quite regularly too, so I can often grab an hour or two to catch up on emails and marketing when she visits.

Do you have any advice to other Mothers who are wanting to start creating handmade goodies?
One piece of advice, which I am not very good at following myself, is to be realistic. Creating handmade requires various resources from storage space to finances for supplies, so tackling a craft which requires a lot of working space when you live in a 1 bedroom flat is probably not a good idea (unless you have access to a studio)! And there will be times when, for whatever reason, you will need to step back from your business and slow down a little (or a lot). I really dislike having to slow down, but sometimes my family and my own mind and body just need that break.

mum who makes :: sarahsb

mum who makes :: sarahsb
www.madeit.com.au/sarahsb

Tell us a bit about yourself?
I am a photographer & Mum to 2 little girls, Jemima who is almost 5 & Zoe who is almost 3. We live as a family of four on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. We love living near the beach!



Can you explain your craft/art and the materials you like to use?
I love fabric.....& have fallen in love with all the amazing online fabric stores all over the world. It is so easy to browse & shop from the comfort of your own lounge room! Lately I have been creating fabric wall art with embroidery hoops as well as a few other bits & pieces.

I love to change things up a bit so sometimes you will find different products in my store from fabric covered hair ties, magnets & hair clips, or greeting cards made from all the gorgeous papers I find.

How long have you been creating and how did you get into making handmade goodies?
I have always been creative & opened up my Made it store over a year ago now. I really love having time to myself to be create in the evenings once the girls are tucked up in bed! For me making my handmade goodies is an escape & some time out from the housework & all that being a Mum entails.

How do you juggle motherhood & crafting/managing your business?
I don't juggle it as well as I should - some days all I want to do is spend time creating - so if the girls are happy to sit & draw, paint etc....then I might be able to sneak in a bit of creative time. Other wise it is easier & more productive to wait till they are asleep! My photography business is also something that is keeping me busy & is something I mainly work on during the weekends when my husband is able to be at home with the girls. There are never enough hours in the day to do all I need to do & all I would like to do......

Do you have any advice to other Mothers who are wanting to start creating handmade goodies?
Go for it!! The crafting community is such a fantastic outlet & you meet so many people at markets, through the forums & of course through all the wonderful blogs! I am a blog lover too & my list of must read blogs grows & grows every day!!

mum who makes :: lulufroufrou

mum who makes :: lulufroufrou
madeit.com.au/lulufroufrou

Tell us a bit about yourself?
Hi my name is Linda. I live in Bayside, Melbourne with my cycling mad husband of 7 years, my cheeky chops daughter Louise and Bella our gorgeous old Labrador. I love Melbourne for its great coffee, awesome restaurants and of course its shopping.



Can you explain your craft/art and the materials you like to use?
I make accessories especially for girls - once i found out some of my customers were purchasing for themselves I expanded my range to include pretties for the young at heart too. I have a passion for beautiful designer fabrics and never make anything I wouldn't wear myself or put on my daughter. I like bold colours, kawaii prints and stylish design.

How long have you been creating and how did you get into making handmade goodies?
I have always enjoyed making things for myself and for around the home, I started Lulu Froufrou when my daughter was about one, when I started to get requests for the items I was making for her hair. Once I found Madeit, I never looked back.

How do you juggle motherhood & crafting/managing your business?
To fit everything in I really need to be organised and plan my days in advance. I love routine and both Lou {and I} seem to thrive on it. I try to fit my orders in during nap time and evenings. I make sure to give myself a little 'me time' at the gym so I don’t get overwhelmed and I try to make weekends family time too - with a little crafting when I can.

Do you have any advice to other Mothers who are wanting to start creating handmade goodies?
I never expected how fun and extremely rewarding having a crafting business would be. Don't be afraid to network either, you will be pleasantly surprised at how alike and willing to help we all are. The costs to start are quite low and its amazing how much free information and 'how to' tutorials there are floating around on internet. My top 4 {Free} business tools - The Madeit forum, The Contemporary Handmade Alliance, Picnik and the one and only Facebook. Have confidence in yourself and your work and just give it a go!

mum who makes :: Rupert and Gert

mum who makes :: Rupert and Gert
madeit.com.au/RupertandGert

Tell us a bit about yourself?
I’ve been married to my lovely husband for 14 yrs and we have 3 kids – Ben 11, Lily 9 and Charlotte 7. We live in the Eastern suburbs of wonderful Melbourne. Love visiting the gift shops and galleries of our coastal towns like Queenscliff; especially in Winter when it’s not so busy!

Can you explain your craft/art and the materials you like to use?
I produce hand printed cards using original designs that I have produced from lino-cut. I sometimes use wood as well. The range of colours available to print with give me a fabulous palette to choose from. Hand printing always has that lovely texture to it, too, which I love.
I’ve always been drawn to simple bold designs. There is nothing more exciting then peeling the paper from the lino to see how the print has taken; not always perfect, but when it is.........

How long have you been creating and how did you get into making handmade goodies?
I think that all of us who “ create “ would say that the love of it has been with us for as long as we can remember. The Art Room was my favourite place to be all the way through school. I remember the excitement of getting my first box of Derwent pencils for Christmas. My Nana was a huge influence on me; she spun her own fleece and knitted and crocheted and decorated Wedding cakes! Whether I’m painting or printing or sewing a costume for the school play, I am and always will, love being creative.

How do you juggle motherhood & crafting/managing your business?
Sometimes it has it’s challenges, but mostly it works beautifully. I have all the kids a school, now, so I generally have the day to myself.....unless there’s a sports day, canteen, uniform shop or excursion duty!!! I think it’s good to get into a bit of a routine on the days that you have free - if you can. It’s good not to let things get on top of you....everything always works out in the end.

Do you have any advice to other Mothers who are wanting to start creating handmade goodies?
If you have the time and the passion and the desire then go for it. Think about all the pros and cons with someone who can be objective with you. It’s fantastic fun and very rewarding.. Believe in yourself and your product and treat your customers the way you would like to be treated.

mum who makes :: little star design

mum who makes :: little star design
madeit.com.au/LittleStarDesign

Tell us a bit about yourself?
I live on Queensland’s beautiful Sunshine Coast with my wonderful husband of 14 years and our 3 children aged 7, 5 and 18 months. I create in my home studio in Coolum Beach.
My favourite things to do are sewing, cooking & camping with my family and friends.

Can you explain your craft/art and the materials you like to use?
My business “Little Star Designs” is all about personalised cushions and bags and I love sewing with denim, beautiful designer fabrics and it seems I have a slight obsession with polka dots J For fun I love to sew clothing for my children and crochet, I am currently making a blanket that I’m sure will be a 5 year project!

How long have you been creating and how did you get into making handmade goodies?
My Nan taught me to crochet when I was a little girl and my first ‘business’ was selling crocheted bookworms that I invented when I was 10 years old, I sold them for $1 each to all the girls in Grade 7!
I’ve been sewing since I was 12 and Home Ec was my favourite subject at school, I used to sew all my own clothes and you would usually find me on a Saturday afternoon whipping up a dress to wear out that night.

How do you juggle motherhood & crafting/managing your business?
This is the hard part and the thing I struggle most with. I’ve tried to get into a routine where I do chores first then sew when the baby is asleep which lucky for me is a lot, he loves to sleep J I figure the housework will always be there, but my lovely paying customers may not!

Do you have any advice to other Mothers who are wanting to start creating handmade goodies?
If it’s your true passion just do it! I decided 2010 was going to be my year so I quit my day job so I could spend all my time on Little Star Designs and I have never been happier, I may never be rich because of this decision but a happy Mum is a happy home!

mum who makes :: sheeps clothing

mum who makes :: sheeps clothing
madeit.com.au/SheepsClothing

Tell us a bit about yourself?
I live in the bayside area of Melbourne in an old house that was once a beauty, but is these days a bit tired and shabby. I share my home with my lovely husband of 16 years, our very sweet boys aged 7 and 9, and Harvey, a very spoiled, very beautiful cat.



Can you explain your craft/art and the materials you like to use?
I love knitting in all shapes and forms. I have a strong preference for using Australian wool as I believe we have the best wool in the world. Knitting is so labour intensive that I think the effort that goes into it warrants using the best materials possible.

How long have you been creating and how did you get into making handmade goodies?
I've been knitting for as long as I can remember, 30 years at least. When the boys were little I knitted lots of different things for them and the compliments I received, often from complete strangers, planted the seed for my business. It wasn't until they were a bit older, about 4 and 6 that I finally had the time to do something about it.

How do you juggle motherhood & crafting/managing your business?
I knit mainly in the evenings once the boys have gone to bed, but I can also be found knitting on trains, at the local pool or anywhere else I can squeeze in a few rows. The administration and computer side of things takes more time than I'd like but I try to keep it to an hour or so a day when they are at school so that I can concentrate on being a Mum when they get home from school.

Do you have any advice to other Mothers who are wanting to start creating handmade goodies?
Go for it! But make sure that you pay yourself a decent wage and treat your business as a serious concern, even if it is just a hobby that happens to make you some money.

mum who makes :: soop design

mum who makes :: soop design
madeit.com.au/Soopdesign

Tell us a bit about yourself?
I live in Perth. I am married to a Scotsman and we have 2 children. We spent a great deal of our lives travelling and living overseas but we decided that Perth was going to be the easiest city in which to raise children. We love it here!


Can you explain your craft/art and the materials you like to use?
I love the tactile and organic qualities of handmade papers. I do try to divert myself from this obsession from time to time by introducing other aesthetics and focal materials into my store but I always find myself drawn back to the paper – especially Japanese handmade paper. I just LOVE it and I spend way too much money importing it from around the world.

How long have you been creating and how did you get into making handmade goodies?
I have been working in a creative capacity since 1998. I came back to Perth from a long stint overseas and worked in publicity at the University of WA. I worked mainly in the areas of desktop publishing and graphic design and when I left to have children I started up my own business freelancing in these areas. An old neck injury pretty much put that to a stop so I then started branching out into other areas of design that were not going to require being hunched over a computer all day. That was around 7 years ago and I have been honing my skills since then.

How do you juggle motherhood & crafting/managing your business?
With great difficulty! I love crafting so much that I sometimes find it hard to drag myself away. It’s a constant battle for me implement timeframes and make sure I’m spending enough time with the kiddies and the husband and also taking care of all the domestic chores. I do a lot of work after the kids have gone to bed but I do make sure that it’s tools down for a few hours after school. On saying that, I think mother’s always have a little guilt thing going on. I do feel though, that I am a better mother because I get to do something just for me that I love with a passion.

Do you have any advice to other Mothers who are wanting to start creating handmade goodies?
I would just say to other mum’s that it is important to believe in yourself. As mother’s it’s not unusual for people to look upon what we do as a hobby at best or a time-waster at worst. You have to power through this and not give up. My business has finally become profitable so my peers now take me seriously but it wasn’t always that way. If I had have given up in the beginning I would never have realised my dream of being self-employed in a capacity that I am passionate about.

I would also say to mum’s if you are new at crafting, try to experiment with lots of different genres. The more diverse your experiences, the more likely it will be that you stumble across an aspect of crafting that you thoroughly enjoy and can possibly take to the next level. What better way to spend life than turning your hobby into a business. As the quote says “Real success is finding your lifework in the work that you love”.

mum who makes :: mad stitches

mum who makes :: mad stitches
madeit.com.au/madstitches

Tell us a bit about yourself?
I am an ALMOST (eeek) 30 year old mama to two wee boys Zac, 3, and Tom, 19 months! I reside in a small leafy suburb, by the sea, in the south-east of Melbourne. Prior to being a mama I was a primary school teacher in Bayside, Melbourne. My passions at the moment are making, creating and thrifting at all the local, and not so local op shops. My big loves are sushi, large skinny mochas and sleep!

Can you explain your craft/art and the materials you like to use?
My craft is quite varied at the moment. Last year I started my business, mad stitches, which mainly consisted of children's clothing, using vintage fabrics, recycled buttons and some Japanese fabrics to create unique one off designs! The clothing is still happening, however I have branched out into incorporating my own woman's jewelry range, into my label. I am finding the jewelry to be very popular at the markets, and on madeit too, so this is an area that I am going to focus more on as we slowly roll into 2011! I am always on the look out for pretty doilies, detailed lace and bright bold fabrics to create whimsical outfits for the children of Melbourne!

How long have you been creating and how did you get into making handmade goodies?
I was starting to feel like I was losing myself, day in and day out of being Mum was making me lose my identity, and as much as I adore being Mum, it was becoming monotonous. So, I taught myself to sew! I have always been creative, enjoying arts, drama and music, however I found it very therapeutic to create, without patterns (I don't DO patterns) for other people. My first market happened by accident. Two friends were invited at the last minute to take part in a local market the following day. They didn't have enough stock, so they invited me to join them!

How do you juggle motherhood & crafting/managing your business?
It really is quite the juggling act isn't it? Motherhood itself is a juggling act at the best of times, so to throw a small business into the works is like juggling my own little circus. I do a lot of my crafting when the boys are asleep, and I also dedicate Tuesdays solely to my business (as my Mum and Dad kindly take the boys for the day). As Tom gets older, I am finding that I can do a little bit of extra work while the boys are awake, as they are more able to keep themselves occupied with their own play! Sewing with a little boy pulling at you only creates disasters, so I leave the machine sewing to times when the boys are not around!

Do you have any advice to other Mothers who are wanting to start creating handmade goodies?
Just do it! You don't need to outlay huge amounts of money to start your own business. The biggest benefit to selling on madeit, is that it can cost as little as 35 cents a listing, so it costs next to nothing to have your own little shop up and running . There are so many online communities on the net that are willing to help, share advice and be your sounding board, so you most definitely will not be alone in your venture!!! Seriously, just do it!

mum who makes :: How Tweetitis

mum who makes :: How Tweetitis
www.madeit.com.au/HowTweetitis

Tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is Christine I am a 30’ish’ Mum to two wonderful children Jarvis (3) and Carys (nearly 2 but going on 20). I live in Adelaide, South Australia and I am a social butterfly who loves to spend time with my little ones experiencing life! I wont say no to a good night out on the dance floor or at a concert, I am addicted to John Hughes movies, celebrity magazines, daydreaming, shopping, and I am quite certain that I am allergic to camping so have decided not to give that one a go yet. I am lucky to have the best parents and sister in the world and great friends in my life who always support and encouraged me in whatever I do.

Can you explain your craft/art and the materials you like to use?
I make accessories for the young and the young at heart. I love to make items with a touch of vintage style and a sense of fun. I am inspired by my childhood memories and my obsession with 1950s Hollywood glam. I love to use Japanese fabrics, silk, lace, feathers and I can not go past a bit of bling! I am a bit of a closet sewer as well and have made some one off pieces for my daughter so who knows you may see some in store one day as well.

How long have you been creating and how did you get into making handmade goodies?
I have always had a creative streak in me, it started with story writing when I was in Primary School the teachers were amazed by the short stories I would write and I would often draw sketches of the characters from the stories. I also used to make kooky handmade presents for my parents. I have always loved fabrics and bought handmade where I could. After having my children and admiring their creativity, I found a renewed energy in to my crafts and started making things when they were napping (I know that is when Mummy is supposed to sleep). I absolutely love it and I only make things that I really enjoy creating and now I cant stop! I find I now whip out the sketch pad and draw out some design ideas and I love it when they turn out just as I had imagined.

How do you juggle motherhood & crafting/managing your business?
Lots of late nights! I do try to incorporate the kids were suitable. They love to see what I make and they have fun doing mini photo shoots with me. Even my son loves trying on my samples so I have a few shots for his 21st! The time I get to spend with them is so precious so I do try to make sure the time we have together is quality time, but I also think it is great for them to see me creating as often when we are crafting together they will say things like ‘look I am making pretty things like Mummy’ which always makes me smile.

Do you have any advice to other Mothers who are wanting to start creating handmade goodies?
Do it! I was very shy and reserved to share my creations with the world to start with, but now I am proud and I think that it is a great example for our children to respect handmade and creativity and you are only constrained by your imagination.
Some helpful tips are to get social online, I have found some great forums (like the one on Made It) where lots of businesses are more than helpful to share experiences with others. There are always places like Facebook and Twitter, which are a great way to promote what you do. I have also found markets a perfect opportunity to not only to you get to meet other crafters in person, but to see and meet your customers face to face is wonderful. I get a lot of joy from seeing little girls squealing with excitement at my creations and putting them on straight away. I wish you much luck and success if you do decide to give it a go!

mum who makes :: Winnie and Clem

mum who makes :: Winnie and Clem
madeit.com.au/WinnieandClem

Tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is Anita and I am a Mum to 2 beautiful children, Ella (3) and Jackson (1). I am also a farmers wife, a daughter, a sister, and an aunty. I live on a farm just out of a small town called Taralga, about 60km from the nearest city, Goulburn in the Southern Tablelands of NSW. After having grown up the country it was refreshing to move back to farm life with fresh air, a vegie garden and of course loads of hard work. I love beautiful things...especially when they are handmade. In my small rural community I am surrounded by people that make - jewellery, chocolates, art, and preserves, it all inspires me! My professional background is in science and pharmaceuticals and whilst I love that job it is fields away from being able to create!

Can you explain your craft/art and the materials you like to use?
I am a sewer. I make practical homewares that are beautiful. I believe in indulging in gorgeous designer fabrics but making them into useful and practical items. I like my items to be unique, for example my peg aprons are something not seen in main stream retail and my perfect fit aprons offer a design feature different from most aprons. I also make kids buckets hats, again from designer fabrics. Kids hats are a must for any sun sensible parent, so why not make them fun and stylish as well as practical. Having been taught to sew by my Mum, a dress maker and couture wedding dress designer, I am a perfectionist. I only sell items I would be happy to purchase myself. I believe in quality and durability, hence my items are either topstitched or feature reinforced stitching.

How long have you been creating and how did you get into making handmade goodies?
I have been creating since I was a child. My Mum started teaching us to sew before we were at school. I remember my Mum's sewing room with a cupboard overflowing with fabric and we use to rummage through it for what we wanted and while she made it up she would set us down with a needle and thread to do our card of stitches. I have always made clothes for myself and my friends. I remember making year 10 formal dresses for a group of my school friends many years ago! Before I had my children I started making bags, and then when my kids came along, they, along with my home became my focus and my inspiration, hence my range of homewares and kidswear.

How do you juggle motherhood & crafting/managing your business?
I think mothers have a natural ability to juggle many things. I do however have a very supportive husband and I am often saved at the end of the day with a good glass of sav blanc. Fortunately my husband has also managed 2 small businesses so his advice has been invaluable. I find that because I have orders to do or new items to post on my store, I am more structured and so my kids get good quality time with me. I am due to return to my "paid" job in August and whilst most of this can be worked at home I will have to travel to Sydney (4hour commute) one day a week...needless to say I may have a very different opinion on juggling motherhood, career and Winnie&Clem then!

Do you have any advice to other Mothers who are wanting to start creating handmade goodies?
Its great to have a Mummy thing, so go for it but I would offer these three pieces of advice -
1. Choose your items carefully and limit your range of goods, it is easy to get caught up in the excitement of wanting to create but sometimes a smaller range is better and easier to manage
2. Listen to other crafters, read blogs, use the internet, books, forums etc for as much advice and inspiration as you can.
3. Share the experience with your kids, it teaches them so much and they will start to appreciate the basics in life. My daughter now asks when we are in a shop "who made this?" or if we are in the supermarket "who grew this?", it just makes me smile!

mum who makes :: billy mac

mum who makes :: billy mac
madeit.com.au/billymac

Tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is Christina and I live in Sydney with my husband and my 2 little girls; Miranda who is 3 years old and Peta who is 18 months. We have big dreams of travelling and moving house but for now this is home. My husband and I have made a pact that before the girls start school we’ll take them on a big overseas adventure holiday.


Can you explain your craft/art and the materials you like to use?
I design and print t-shirts for kids aged 0-8 (and every now and then for adults!). My inspiration for my boys range comes from vintage cars and motorbikes; and for my girls range I draw inspiration from pop culture, fine art and interiors. My tagline for billy mac clothing is “t-shirts for the coolest kids in town” and I’ll often ask myself, “would Fonzie wear this t-shirt?” My tools are a Mac, Photoshop and Illustrator; an awesome printer and heatpress. I’ve recently expanded the range to include long sleeve t-shirts and baby onesies and am in the process of printing my first hoodies for winter.
How long have you been creating and how did you get into making handmade goodies?
I’ve always been creative, I studied at UNSW College of Fine Art, then worked in magazines and retail advertising. Like many women who work from home, the birth of my first baby was also the birth of my first business (a graphic design and advertising business) and after I had my second baby I started billy mac clothing. I found it difficult to find clothes for my girls that weren’t too grown up or too “cutesy baby” so I started making my own t-shirts. I officially began trading as billy mac clothing at the start of this year after I was encouraged to have a go at selling my t-shirts and I crossed my fingers that other people would appreciate them.

How do you juggle motherhood & crafting/managing your business?
I struggle with this enormously. Both businesses are a great break from the girls and a chance for me to be a grown up again, but working from home with children has many challenges. As a natural nightowl I take advantage of the hours when they are sleeping and work very late into the night. My older girl goes to daycare 1 day a week so I use that day to catch up and do groceries. I also get my girls involved in parts of the business, Miranda is often at my shoulder telling me she likes what I am doing (or not!), we are regulars at our local post office, and a courier arriving at the door is the highlight of the day as they “help” me carry boxes into my studio.

Do you have any advice to other Mothers who are wanting to start creating handmade goodies?
Definitely do it – it’s a great creative outlet. Many mothers (including myself) struggle with self confidence and lose themselves in the day to day grind of housework and looking after small children. By creating something that you love separate to your children, you give yourself the opportunity to be the person you were before you were a mother. I also believe that putting myself out there, taking risks, following my dreams and achieving something is an enormously positive role model for my girls. But my number 1 piece of advice is get a door for your workspace! We seem to have been renovating for the past 6 years and my studio doesn’t have a door with a handle and there are constantly things missing from my desk. It makes it interesting at tax time when I can’t find any of my paperwork, and what I can find is covered in crayon.