We interview Tania about 'Shop Handmade Australia'!

Tell us a little bit about your website?

The Shop Handmade Australia blog and associated Facebook page caters to the Australian shopper and lover of handmade. They seek items that are lovingly produced in the homes/workshops of hard working people around Australia; items which are not available in mainstream stores; items which are made with love and a creative spark, and delivered with excellent customer service and care. Items which are contemporary, beautiful, whimsical and original.

 SHA is discerning and aims to facilitate a genuine connection of buyer to artist in a meaningful way. We are not a store; just a doorway into the handmade community. Here, people connect with Aussie crafting businesses and artists who will tell about their sales, specials, events, auctions, new products, markets and more. In addition, we work hard to inform about handmade news as well as shopping guides, interviews, competitions and more.

For the seller, SHA is an extension to their own online stores, market stands, blogs and Facebook pages; helping them increase their reach to potential buyers. For the buyer, it provides quality, short, sharp and easy to digest information about Australian handmade businesses; connecting them to products they are interested in and helping them to benefit from sales and special events.

When/why did you open your website?
We are quite new, with our first blog post published on 20 April 2011. It is the sister site to The Contemporary Handmade Alliance; a blog and Facebook page which I have been operating since May 2010. Where the CHA is an information and support source for the handmade maker, SHA is an information source for the handmade buyer. It just made sense to address both sides of the industry.

What is the favourite part about running your website?
Seeing it grow, be well received and achieving its goals, with the industry genuinely benefitting from the hard work I put in! At the time of writing this, we have collected over 770 follows on Facebook in just 10 days; thanks largely to people in the industry who have thrown their support behind it and spread the word. I love that; it makes me happy.

Why do you love handmade so much?
I love what the handmade community stands for; a return to our roots, a sense of community, kindness to the earth, support for our local economy, people working from home whilst being with their families, people expressing their creative spirits and following their passions. If we could all find a way to do what makes us truly happy, the world would be a happier place.

Name 5 reasons why your visitors keep coming back to your website?
Handmade, community, quality, connection, benefit


Shop Handmade Australia
BLOG, Facebook Page

Contemporary Handmade Australia
BLOG, Facebook Page

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Websites we ♥ :: Handmade Cooperative

Tell us a little bit about your website?
Our Handmade Cooperative blog is all about promoting strictly Australian handmade items for kids to as many people as possible. We have two blog posts per week: i) a themed shopping guide where we showcase 10 items, and ii) either a Clever Crafter interview and giveaway, or “The Sensational Six” which promotes kids items around a common theme from crafters not necessarily within the Coop.


When/why did you open your website?
Our blog is almost one month old and already we have close to 400 fans on Facebook and almost 100 followers to our blog. We started our blog because we were disappointed in the outrageous advertising rates large corporate style guides were charging work at home mums and other small businesses – we certainly could not afford these rates and knew that a lot of other people were in the same boat. The blog was born because we wanted to provide crafters with a cooperative environment where people could contribute to blog posts and could have their logos and links permanently on the website and be “Members”. In return we ask that they promote the blog posts to all of their own business’s customers, fans and followers. We believe “word of mouth” and a “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours” approach are powerful tools.

What is the favourite part about running your website?
Getting a sneak peek at all of the fantastic kids items created by our clever crafters before they get uploaded to the shopping guides, and conversing with such a great team of people. We also love meeting lots of lovely crafters and building a strong and supportive network of like minded people.

Why do you love handmade so much?
We love the passion behind what people make. You will find that most handmade products are made by women (wives and mums) who use crafting as their personal release. They do it for themselves because it makes them happy and it gives them a sense of satisfaction and personal worth. The best thing though is that customers can share in this passion by purchasing and enjoying the wonderful items created.

Name 5 reasons why your visitors keep coming back to your website?
Team-work, word-of-mouth, quality products, supportive environment, promotional opportunities


Visit handmadecooperative.blogspot.com for your daily dose of Australian Handmade Kids wear and goodies!

Website: Daydream a little Lily

Tell us a little bit about your website?
Daydream Lily is a mix of art, photography, handmade, vintage and a touch of fashion all with a dreamy romantic aesthetic. My original about section read "indie art : handmade jewellery : vintage finds and other pretty things" its evolved a little since then to include photography and creative homes.

when/why did you open your website?
I started Daydream Lily in 2007, I think I only had 10 readers for the first 6 months. Id just finished uni and started my first full time professional job. I was going to work then coming home and that was it. I felt I wasn't being creative anymore and wanted to connect with other creative types. My sister - Bec Winnel - was back studying art so I guess we helped each and both started our online ventures together. We started with myspace then went to blogging.

What is the favourite part about running your website?
All the people I've gotten to meet through it, whether online or in real life. The blogging and handmade community is so supportive, you dont really understand till your part of it. Also I love all the artists work that I get to share, its great to be able to promote and support independent designers.

Why do you love handmade so much?
The uniqueness, I actually get really excited coming across a new indie designer or artist. Getting to connect with the actual designer and know your money is going straight to them brings me back to buying handmade over mass produced.

Name 5 reason why your visitors keep coming back to your website?
This is a hard one, I ask myself this too.. perhaps its,
1. frequent updates - I post daily.
2. unique original finds - whether it be photographers or handmade.
3. I spend alot of time surfing the internet finding the most beautiful and inspiring things so you dont have to
4. apparently I have an "eye" for good finds (some readers have told me this)
5. the occasional giveaway - these always seem to draw the readers in.

Visit the Daydream Lily website for your daily picturesque adventure.

Spreading the handmade love :: handmade kids

Tell us a little bit about your website?
Handmade Kids is a place you can come and find all the fabulous and unique creations that Aussies are making for kids in Australia.
As well as features and reviews we also have fun challenges and giveaway on the site.

when/why did you open your website?
Handmade Kids has been going for over a year now. I started the site as I found I was more and more heading towards purchasing non mass produced items for my kids and so when looking for things would come across so many great stores. When I would talk about things no one ever believed me there was so much good stuff out there, so I started blogging about it, hoping one day someone might read it.

What is the favourite part about running your website?
My favourite part of Handmade Kids is when we come across and item that stops and makes us go WOW. We get to see so many great items and stores contacting us about what they do and we love exploring them. Quite often Caz and myself can be found emailing each other saying “I want this”.

Why do you love handmade so much?
Quality & Unique. The biggest two drawcards for me, is that the quality of so many items is fantastic. Someone has put a lot of time into make sure it is. And the goods are always unique. I live in a place where we don’t have a lot of choice in children’s items and I like to be different, and love my kids to stand out from the crowd.

Name 5 reason why your visitors keep coming back to your website?
• There is always something new to see
• Unlike other shopping blogs, Handmade Kids offers completely handcrafted items
• The appeal of handmade items is growing more and more and they want to find cool stuff easily
• We have fabulous giveaways
• The want to see the latest and greatest handcrafted items

Visit the Handmade Kids website for a daily dose of cute finds.