Member discounts: Check it out!
If you're on our mailing list, you might have seen an email from me recently calling out for businesses within our little community to offer a discount on their products or services to CWC Members. The response was overwhelming!
How lovely to know that many of you are willing to give a little something to a fellow CWC Member and support eachother in your creative business endeavours.
So it is with great pleasure that I launch the CWC Member Discounts page. With products and services covering design, printing, footwear, coaching, fabrics, artwork, photography and marketing services and much, much more - there has never been a better time to join CWC!
Below is a quick run down of what you can receive if you are a Full Member. Log in if you're already a member and click here to redeem your discounts.
PRODUCTS
Shelley Panton Studio 10% off any purchase instore (excluding photography and artwork)
Habbot Shoes $40.00 gift voucher for use instore or online
Zigo Zago - Artisan wool and fabrics 10% off instore or online
Koko Vanilla - cardmaking supplies 20% off your first purchase
Sarah Coombes - custom-made shoes 20% off any custom-made shoe order
Note Couture - custom stationery and cards 10% off any order
Marie Larkin - artwork 30% off all original artworks, prints and merchandise
SERVICES
Marketing & Photography
Martina Gemmola Phot0graphy 20% off a headshot/portrait session
One-hour 'Mini Marketing Meetup' with Nicky Tillyer For the cost of a coffee and cake Nicky will meet with you in a cafe of your choice and help you get some marketing strategies and plans in place. You will walk away with some concrete next steps to lift your marketing and the profile of your work. Nicky has a masters in marketing, over 15 years industry experience and a passion for creativity and fun.
Design & Printing
Siobahn Donoghue Design Studio Discount on hourly rate for interior design services
House and Universe - styling, props and design services 20% off all services until Spring 2013
Frankie & Swiss - Digital textile printing One free metre of custom-printed fabric for every 10 metres ordered
WOWOWA Architecture 20% off concept design fees for New Homes / Renovations / Extensions over $200k
Business promotion
Clever Mamma 10% off 6-month and 12-month listings
Wellbeing
Crafting Health - Naturopathy and massage 20% off initial consultation
Coaching & E-courses
Total Balance - life and business coaching 10% off single coaching sessions $250 off the Creative Startup Coaching Program
Artful Genius - creative motivation courses 50% off VITAL eVolution e-course: Five-minute exercises to get your brain into creative gear and help you play for play's sake
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More businesses will be added over time to our discount list (though I think this is a pretty great group already!).
Thanks to all the generous businesses who put their hand up to be involved in this initiative for CWC Members.
Log in and click here to start redeeming your discounts, or join us!
Scenes From Sydney: A Creative Revolution?
By Jaclyn Carlson Melbourne has long been hailed as Australia's creative capitol, the epi-centre of all things cool and cultural but is that all about the change? Recently Sydney seems to be undergoing a creative shift and a surplus of creative events, businesses and businesswomen seem to be popping up ready to give Melbourne a run for its money.
This past weekend while I was hosting a creative event of my own, I was talking to an interior architect who had recently made the move from Melbourne to Sydney. We explored this same topic and she agreed that Sydney certainly seemed to be embracing and encouraging collaboration in a completely new way. Women are reaching out to one another to not only collaborate in a business sense but also to fuel a creative fire in their personal lives. Below are a few stand out businesses and women that have popped onto our creative radar and you might just want to keep an eye on them:
Alphabet Family Journal. Founded by photographer Luisa Brimble this new creative venture is set to launch in just a few months and already the images and content have us inspired.
Finders Keepers Markets. This coming weekend they return to Sydney with their biggest showing yet - over 200 creative designers & businesses you won't want to miss.
The Ooh Blog. A new one to add to my daily reading list, this new blog just recently launched with an event called Start Up Salon, a meeting of online mavens - yes you'll want to watch this space to see what they come up with in the months to come!
What do you have to say about Sydney's creative revolution?
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{ Tess' note } This seems as good a time as any to let all you Sydneysiders know that CWC is planning its second Sydney event on Saturday 27 July! Mark your diaries, and more details will be announced in the coming weeks...
Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Jaclyn Carlson is the author behind the Sydney-based blog, Little Paper Trees. When not documenting her expat adventures, she can be found working for one of Australia’s top design & homewares trade shows. Passionate and prone to wasting hours on Pinterest, she has years of experience in marketing, advertising and PR and aims to put Sydney’s creative women in the spotlight with her monthly column.
Interview: Fran Mether of Mooku
By Andrea McArthur
For as long as I can remember I have been in love with statement jewellery pieces, pieces that 'speak' to you. Fran Mether of the Melbourne based accessories label Mooku designs and crafts such pieces. All Mooku pieces are handmade from quality materials including: resin, bamboo and sterling silver. Each piece a statement in itself.
It’s Fran's love of simple clean lines, modern design and colour that guides the flow of inspiration for each piece. In working closely with local and international craftspeople, Fran’s unique jewellery range stays both contemporary and original.
What led you down your current path?
I studied Industrial Design at University of Canberra and then went on to work in packaging and homewares design. Trend and colour forecasting became a major part of each role I had, and now I utilise these skills and my love of colour to build collections and stories through Mooku’s jewellery.
Working for some of Australia’s major retailers was an excellent training ground for me as a designer and helped me develop a specific set of skills. Through Mooku I now love the fact that I can design my own ideas and use sources of inspiration that aren’t necessarily part of any commercial trend.
Where do you feel most inspired?
My mind is ticking all day long with new ideas - admiring a shade of colour, a typeface on the side of the bus, or a cool silhouette of a 1970’s lamp shade. But at the end of each day I need a calm corner or a cosy bed to sit back and reflect on the things I’ve seen during the day. One inspired form can ignite many pages of drawing in my sketch book.
Who do you admire?
I am constantly attracted to some amazing independent local designers, producing their pieces and being able to make a living from it. Labels such as Ella Sanders, Sisken, Studio Antic and NancyBird.
What has been your most favourite project in recent years?
Designing my latest range. Whilst not due out until August, ‘Cabin Retreat’ will bring to life some new exciting pieces I have been working on for the last six months.
During the first two years of my business I worked with a number of suppliers and crafts people. Today I have now established great relationships with many of them and am able to explore new techniques and materials with them and my new range highlights this important evolution.
What does a typical day at work involve for you?
First thing in the morning my husband and I take turns at getting up with the kids whilst the other sleeps in – both of us are night owls so our mornings are typically very slow.
A few days a week I get to concentrate solely on Mooku. My day usually consists of coffee (an absolute necessity in the morning), emails, printing out new orders, then I knuckle down to work on big projects for the week – this may be updating my website, developing new packaging artwork, preparing for a market or designing my next range… the list goes on!
My working hours often continue well into the evenings after the kids are in bed and I’m usually emailing suppliers, packing orders or working on the accounts (or I ask my husband to!).
What future plans do you have for your creative business?
The next big plan is to launch my new range at this years Melbourne Life In Style. At Life In Style I am aiming to meet some amazing independent retailers that I can introduce my label to. The event will be a huge learning curve for me but I am really excited.
5 Questions in 5 minutes
Getting Personal
Studio Sounds, what's playing? For me - The Audrey’s For the kids - Justine Clarke
What are you currently reading? ‘The Whole-Brain Child’, by Daniel J Siegel & Tina Payne Bryson. I’m trying to make sense of my three-and-a-half year old!
I am also reading a series of recently discovered letters my Finnish Grandfather wrote to his own father. The letters date from 1919 when he was not yet 16 as a Finnish soldier and they continue on through his life when he moved to Australia. There are over one hundred letters in total.
Can you share a few of your go to inspiration resources?
- Gems
- And a whole bookcase of historical design and interior books I have collected over the years.
What is your local areas best kept secret? Nearly three years ago we moved the family out to the leafy suburb of Montmorency (in the north-east of Melbourne, west of Eltham). It seems like a country town at times and we absolutely love the local shopping village on Were Street. Some of the best coffee in Melbourne can be found at The Were Street Food Store or Espresso 3094.
You can contact Fran through the following channels: Email Fran: fran@mooku.com.au See Mooku's range: www.mooku.com.au
Andrea McArthur has a passion for all things visual. Type is her true love and goes weak at the knees over beautiful design. Andrea works as a freelance graphic designer in Brisbane by day and lectures in graphic design by night. You will find her sharing design related goodness via @andyjane_mc
Call out for title page designers - Conversations with Creative Women: Volume Two
Hey everyone, great news: the follow-up to our popular first book, Conversations with Creative Women, is on its way!
Yes, I've interviewed a new bunch of fantastically creative and inspiring ladies and Conversations with Creative Women: Volume Two will be released in paperback format later this year.
But we're still in the early stages of pulling the book together, which is what this post is all about.
I'm on the lookout for title page designers for Volume Two.
In Conversations with Creative Women: Volume One, introducing each interview within the book was a title page designed by another local lady. You can see some of the magnificent examples in this post, and you can read these older posts about the designs and the creative minds behind them.
The title pages, inspired by the work the interviewee is involved in, were such a surprising and enlightening addition to the book as a whole, that I am excited to invite a group of new designers to participate this time.
So if you're a designer, illustrator, painter, crafter or anyone who would be interested in participating in this new book, read on.
How to apply to design a title page for Conversations with Creative Women: Volume Two:
The application process is simple, but we would greatly appreciate if you could follow these guidelines exactly:
1. Send an email to Tess admin<at>creativewomenscircle.com.au with the subject title 'Title page designer'
2. Include a link to your work online in the email and/or attach 2-3 examples of your work as jpegs (under 5mb in total please!)
3. Please note that we cannot accept .zip files or images embedded into Word documents.
If your application is successful:
If your application is successful, you'll be sent a proper brief, plus a list of the women we're interviewing for this book. You'll then have a choice of who you would like to design for!
A few things to note:
- We may receive a lot of applications, so if you are not contacted to participate please do not be discouraged about the quality of your work. We keep all applications on file and there may be other opportunities to contribute at another time.
- If you send examples of your typographic-based work, this will really help us gauge if your style is right for the book.
- The title page can be created in any medium, so even if you're a sculpter, sewer, or someone who works with three-dimensional materials, consider applying!
- If your application is successful, we will send you the full brief and all the relevant details.
- This project needs to be completed by the end of June 2013, so please consider if you are going to be away or if June is a particularly busy month for you before applying.
- This will not be a paid opportunity, but your professional bio and contact details will appear within the book and you will receive a substantial discount if you choose to purchase a copy of the book when it is released.
Applications close 10pm THIS Sunday 26 May 2013.
I look forward to receiving your application!
What's new in social media? Video stars
By Susan Goodwin It looks like 2013 is shaping up to be the year of video blogging.
As everyone looks for new and interesting ways to engage with their fans, we’ve moved beyond the static of pretty picture to the immediacy of the moving image.
The good thing is you don’t need loads of fancy equipment to create and share videos.
Here are just a few ways to add some videos to your social media repertoire:
Gifs Not quite a video but a super easy way to add some movement to your blog. Try makeagif as the simple solution to making your own animated Gif.
YouTube Not just for watching daggy music video clips from the 80’s! You can upload your own videos or you can just create your own playlist. It's a great way to showcase other artists, creators and influencers that inspire you (and the occasional daggy music video clip too!).
Vimeo A more refined version of You Tube and a great resource for some really gorgeous videos that show a lot of skill and talent. If you can make your own videos showcasing them here ensures many creatives will have access to your great work.
Vine A great new App that is the Instagram of video. Follow along, post your own videos right from your very own smart phone. Once you sign up, an easy step by step guide takes you through your first post. Super easy and highly addictive. I can see this being as big as Instagram soon.
Vine, Vimeo and You Tube can all be embedded into your blog as well as being shared via their various apps and sites, allowing you to get more mileage out of your videos.
And maybe you will discover you’re a star!
Bricks and Mortar: Empire Vintage
By Catherine Harvey Vintage, adj. - Too old to be considered modern, but not old enough to be considered antique. Source: Urban Dictionary.
There is something about the word 'vintage' that instantly conjures up an image in my mind of an amazing collectible that I don't have, but definitely want. There is a distinct sense of accomplishment when I find a unique item that could either be a perfect addition to my home or a thoughtful present to someone who has it all. Empire Vintage is exactly the store to find these unique pieces.
The design aesthetic, as described by owner Lynda Gardener, is "a mix of vintage industrial, rustic, country, touch of French, which forever evolves and changes, however the aesthetic is always vintage. I may change colours and styles but it must always be old and filled with character." And character is certainly what fills this store. There is an eclectic mix of old jars, boxing gloves, gardening books and industrial lighting (along with pigeon hole shelving that contains plenty more) that really does cover a large spectrum of potential 'finds'.
The store itself, perhaps similar to the items it houses, also has it's own unique history that has evolved over the last twenty years (to be celebrated next March 2014). Firstly, the interiors were decorated in country rustic, then it became more feminine with lots of whites and florals whereas now the current, and very recent, fit out has an old hardware store feel that has been painted with charcoals and greys. The aesthetic changes to the store does, fortunately, coincide with the fact that Lyn also runs her own interior design business (Gardener & Marks). In addition to this, she also owns and runs the boutique accommodation in Daylesford (The White House) which is basically a combination of 'Empire Vintage' in an actual 'home' environment - styled, of course, by Lyn herself.
Now Lyn (as you can already tell) is a woman with drive. Her career began as a visual merchandiser/stylist for Levi Strauss setting up concept stores and training employees around Australia. It was this, along with being a collector from a young age, that propelled her into the business woman she has become today. As to work and life balance, Lyn now manages to juggle all three businesses whilst at the same time giving herself every weekend off. Now that is inspiring! How has she achieved this? As she says, "I have believed in myself and always given opportunities a go. I never wanted to to hear myself saying, 'I should have or I could have.' " So, to this day, Lyn still has a list of challenges she would like to achieve - including one she is secretly working on right now so keep your eyes out for what's next.
In the meantime, you could always head to Empire Vintage to find the next item for your own collection.
63 Cardigan Place, Albert Park Victoria 3206 Phone: (03) 9682 6677 Tuesday – Saturday: 10am – 5pm Sunday 11am – 4pm
Catherine Harvey lives and breathes design. Working at one of Melbourne’s top studio’s, she is rarely ever away from her computer. She loves to keep up to date with the design industry in a global and local context and follows too many blogs to count! You can follow her findings here.
Organise Me: How to Create a Happy Work Space
I’ve just returned to Melbourne after 12 weeks travelling around the USA and Canada and it’s time for me to create a happy, creative space for me to get my big ideas in order and get to work on them. I thought I’d share with you the things I found essential in creating a happy work space.
- Get a bookshelf for all those books that you use for inspiration and take the time to set it up in a way that makes you happy when you look at it and makes it easy for you to find the things you’re always looking for. Shelves make it easier to spot what you’re looking for than boxes
- Invest in pretty stationery. It’s much more fun to write your notes on a pretty notepad in brightly coloured pens, than it is to scribble everything down on the back of used envelopes and napkins. Allow yourself to get a notebook for each of your big ideas if you prefer to handwrite. It keeps everything together in one place and you can add it to your bookshelf.
- Add some artwork to your space. Having pretty cards or prints in your creative space makes it a much nicer place to be when you’re on a deadline or you’re itching to get outside.
- Have a calendar or diary (that works for you) and make it as colourful as you wish. I find it’s easier to plan a timeline on paper, so I like to have a calendar on my desk with colours signifying different things. It makes it easier for me to see how things fit together. Even if you’re more an online calendar person, most will allow colour coding for you to see how your plans and projects come together.
- Have a place for everything. If you can get creatively messy like me, you’ll know how great it is to have somewhere to put everything when the working day is over. There’s nothing like walking into an organised work space in the morning and knowing where everything is. It’s much better than one where you walk in and feel instantly overwhelmed. Having somewhere for your projects to live whilst your working on them can make your space happy and welcoming for you.
I found that these helped me to feel more at home in my new, much smaller, work space and feel less overwhelmed with getting back into a working frame of mind after 12 weeks exploring North America. Even if you are already settled in your work space these could help you to check that your space is working the best it can for you.
Dannielle is a blogger, serial organiser and passionate traveller. She has a secret love of 90s teen movies and can often be found on Twitter. In 2013, Dannielle packed up her life in Melbourne into one suitcase and moved to Canada to make her crazy dream of a more adventurous life happen. But she quickly found the inspiration she was searching for was in Melbourne and has recently returned home. You can find out more on her blog.