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Category Archives: Interviews
Natural Child World Magazine – Subscription Giveaway
Would you describe yourself as a modern parent trying to lead a sustainable lifestyle for your family? If your answer is a resounding “yes”, then boil the kettle and put your feet up as there’s a new magazine that is sure to help steer you in the right direction. USA based Natural Child World (NCW) magazine features innovative and modern product design for your children along with articles and tips from a variety of experts on child rearing – in a modern and sustainable way. No tie dye or hippies in sight – promise!
NCW first launched in L.A in early 2011, and quickly attracted a national readership across the USA via outlets such as Barnes and Noble and Wholefoods USA. To celebrate its first birthday, the magazine has just launched worldwide via online subscription, making it an easy and accessible read from your ipad, laptop or desktop computer!
Barbara Manconi, Managing Editor of NCW is no newcomer to the sustainability scene. With a background in “green” marketing, teaching and consultancy work she brings many years experience to NCW. She generously gave us her time to answer a few questions, plus provide us with a quick peek at what to expect in next month’s mag.
1. Where did the idea for Natural Child World stem from?
First and foremost from the love for children and the love for beautiful design. NCW was born with aspiration to promote the attractive side of sustainability to modern parents with a conscience and a taste for life. I wanted to defeat a stereotype: green means sacrifices. I wanted to prove that is possible to live a healthier and a more sustainable life without sacrificing style, taste or performance.
NCW is the result of many years of experience as a marketing professional consulting for international clients and teaching at major American Universities Sustainability and Green Strategies. I couldn’t find for my clients an outlet that would feature exceptional design, great photography and sustainable principles. The sad choice was simply between traditional parenting magazines full of redundant information and far from sustainable content or “tree hugger/granola” type of publication that would alienate the majority of people not willing to “commit” to that extent.
2. What are the main features readers can expect to find in the magazine?
The magazine has a heavy focus on design and style. Simply because giant leaps have been achieved in these industries and amazing companies are producing beautiful products using sustainable principles as tools for innovation. For this reason many of our readers compare us to Dwell magazine. For our clean and minimalistic design and content we have been compared to Wallpaper magazine. The most important thing that also sets us apart I think is the fact that we feature international and global content. From the Fashion Summit in Copenhagen to the small design studio in Melbourne, we bring to our readers the latest trends in modern parenting and modern sustainability with no boundaries and borders. So that parents can feel inspired and more connected.
3. What do you see as the important issues for raising children in today’s climate?
Education is key. At different levels. A) Parents need to educate themselves more than ever to be able to make informed decisions for their families and be able to navigate through often misleading claims. B) Parents need to understand the responsibility of being role models for their children and start shifting to healthier and more sustainable behavior that can be emulated by the little ones.
4. What do you see as important features in designing new products for children?
Leaving aside safety standards that are obviously key, a successful product nowdays is a product that can “grow” with the child. Children grow so fast and get bored so easily, a product that can follow and adapt to multiple life stages will last longer, will meet parents’ (and wallets’) favor as well as create less waste. Another key element is also the opportunity to spur children’s imagination. A new generation of children are growing up oversaturated with technology, and parents are increasingly concerned that imagination and active play are at risk. This is an amazing opportunity for companies to come up with creative ideas.
5. What were your top 3 children’s design products for 2011?
- Kalon Studios Hut Hut Kids, a modern reinterpretation of the rocking horse, created with innovative non-toxic resins (kalonstudios.com);
- 5 Phases 1st hybrid baby bottle internal glass bottle + covered by a shell of plastic; and
- Ubabub pod cribs, ultra stylish and safe, and…Australian!!
6. Can you give us a sneak peek into what’s in store for Natural Child World 2012?
We will be expanding online, launching our online shop and affiliate program, and we are looking at international distribution in Europe, Australia and Asia.
7. Where can Australian readers find your magazine?
The print edition can be purchased online at www.naturalchildworld.com and we are launching our digital edition for computers and iPad in March 2012. This will be available on our website as well and on zinio.com. Currently we are looking into physical distribution into Australia and New Zealand.
++ GIVEAWAY DETAILS ++
To celebrate the worldwide launch, we have 3 online subscriptions to giveaway!
To enter simply follow instructions below.
(i) LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW telling us why you’d like to win a subscription to Natural Child World; AND for an extra entry
(ii) By midnight on Friday 24th Feb (Australian EST), “Like” Natural Child World on facebook with comment “I’d love to read Natural Child World in Australia”.
The winners will be drawn at random on Saturday 25th February 2012 (Australian EST). The winners will be notified by email. GOODLUCK!
Posted in Competition/Giveaway, eco baby + child, Interviews
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Interview: New sustainable fashion label ~ Karmatique
Being in the right place at the right time, can shift the course of your future, and this is exactly what happened with fashion designers Anita Tamati and Kimberley Quintal from the relatively new sustainable fashion label, Karmatique. It was whilst working in hospitality they first met. When their friendship blossomed, they decided to fuse their respective skills as a fashion bridal stylist (Anita) and local fashion design understudy (Kimberley), to launch their own fashion brand ~ with sustainable fashion as its central focus.
Based in Bondi, Sydney, Karmatique are carving a niche in the sustainable fashion industry, and we hope making other fashion leaders stand up and take notice too! Not only have they developed an eye catching range with a 1960′s flavour, but they have done so by incorporating sustainable design practices. Organic farmed cotton and bamboo is sourced from Queensland, and recycled textiles sourced from markets, antique fairs op shops and garage sales are ingeniously incorporated into their range. As they approach their first year anniversary, we spoke to Kimberley and Anita who shared with us a little more about their range:
1. You both share a love for sustainability – Why is this important to you?
A: Growing up in New Zealand in a small town, being green was a way of living, everyone had a garden, recycled, supported the locals, everyone did their bit – so to be honest I can’t imagine a life without it!
K: I grew up in a household where recycling and composting were common practice. I have had a kooky obsession with removing the plastic from window envelopes for as long as I can remember. It was a natural progression for our label to focus on sustainability as it is ingrained in both of us.
2. How do you incorporate sustainable design into the karmatique range?
We design around the vintage and recycled fabric and trimmings we source. In order to minimise waste we created karmatique boudoir a sustainable lingerie line made from the off cuts of our collection and recycled or vintage trimmings.
3. What inspired the first Karmatique range?
The light hearted romanticism of the 60’s and 70’s, as well as fabrics and trimmings we sourced from far and wide.
4. You are working towards being a carbon neutral business – What efforts are you taking, and what is your penultimate goal?
Yes, we are working towards being carbon neutral. We are also donating a percentage of the sales towards planting trees within Australia and practicing sustainability in both our design and work practices. Our penultimate goal is to be an internationally recognised brand inspiring and educating people on eco living trough design!
5. Share with our readers your easy eco living tip!
+ Plant a garden – even if it’s just herbs
+ Buy local in season produce. It’s much better for your health and is has less impact on the environment. J
+ Avoid plastic bags whenever you can by taking reusable cloth bags with you
+ If you do get plastic bags with your shopping, re use! Don’t just throw!
+ Recycle! Don’t just throw everything away. As they say one person’s trash is someone else’s treasure!!
+ Think before you buy. If you can buy local, then do!
Karmatiqe is available at Paris Texas and The Candy Store (both in Surry Hills, Sydney) and The Coop Store (Manly and Melbourne). Keep an eye on their website, which whilst under construction, will be showcasing their full range soon!
Posted in Interviews, sustainable fashion
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Odds & Ends have it all stitched up with reclaimed materials.
Do you love plants but manage to kill everything left in your care? Andrea Daniel of Odds&endS may have the perfect solution for you. Her plant range looks good, requires no watering, they withstand extremes of temperature, never wilt and are not plastic! Too good to be true, you say? Okay, whilst the cacti plants are not real, they look close to the real thing, although a lot cuddlier than the real version!
Just last year, Andrea Daniels launched Odds&endS, a craft label devoted to traditional crafting techniques utilising antique and reclaimed materials. In addition to her signature cacti pieces, Andrea also creates some very friendly looking soft toys and patchwork blankets crafted from old pullovers made pure wool, cashmere and mohair jumpers.
Trained in Industrial design and holding a BA in Fashion Design, Andrea works part-time in the fashion industry, in addition to running Odds&endS. Between juggling both occupations, Andrea kindly spared a few moments to share with us a little further insight into Odds&endS:
1. What inspired you to start Odds and Ends? I have trained in Design (Fashion and Industrial Design) and always been a self-confessed craft lover. What started as a hobby making soft toys and cacti for friends, lead to participation in some design markets, which then developed into private and retail orders. Odds&endS was initially about finding inspiration in my large collection of vintage textiles, to create unique handmade products.
2. Who inspires you? My family are a wonderful support and encourage me to keep up the work involved in running a label. Creatively, I admire Ray and Charles Eames for their whimsical sense of design, coupled with their beautiful appreciate for form and function. If I had one wish, it would be to visit their home case house study #8 – so amazing!
3. What are your favourite pieces? In my collection of Odds&endS, I do love to make the knitted cacti. I never expected for a product concept to literally evolve the way that it has. I have to giggle when I find myself gravitating towards the landscaping magazines and botanical journals when I am at the Newsagent.
Beautiful original 1950's pots in "The Vintage Collection"
4. What does a typical day at Odds & Ends involve? No two days working on Odds&endS are the same. I try to vary my work tasks each day, but guaranteed there is always lots of knitting and hand sewing to complete! Over time I have worked out ways of streamlining my practices, so generally I will work away at one task at a time. For example, I will spend a morning on knitting, afternoon sewing and then preparing/cutting pattern pieces for the soft toys/blanket collections. Evenings are great for administration and time for online marketing….I love blogging, and reading other design blogs!
5. What can we expect to see from Odds & Ends over the next twelve months? I am very excited about Odds&endS expanding into new product categories in the coming year. I hope to launch a stationary and illustration collection in collaboration with my sister Renee who has a background in printmaking and design. I also have some exciting exhibition proposals in the making…expect to see some larger than life knitted cacti!!
6. Share with us your easy eco living tip: I love thrift shopping, and where possible buy preloved over new. There is so much character in a vintage piece and often the quality and craftsmanship exceeds the fast mass production products of recent times.
Thanks Andrea!
Posted in eco baby + child, gifts, Interviews
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The PanelPop introduces a new sustainable art medium
We discovered the wonderful world of PanelPop just a few weeks ago when visiting the Design Made Trade show in Melbourne. Tasmanian artist Beth Emily was showcasing her beautiful watercolour prints, some of which were printed upon a rustic boxed timber frame. Upon further exploration, Beth Emily sung the praises of local Fitzroy based framers named PanelPop, who have introduced an innovative new “canvas” to the art world. Made largely from products destined for landfill, the PanelPop comprises a porcelain like surface encased within a salvaged timber frame and backed with recycled polystyrene.
What is so inventive about the PanelPop is the variety of ways it can be used – Artists can sketch, paint and even sculpt directly onto the surface. If you have captured the perfect landscape shot on your camera, just send in your digital image which can be printed directly upon the PanelPop surface. PanelPop also print the works of select artists, such as Beth Emily, which I found too hard to walk past. After admiring her work at Design Made Trade and again later at PanelPop, I returned home with 3 pieces on order!
You can order PanelPop art panels directly online, but if you are in Melbourne
their studio in Brunswick St, Fitzroy, is well worth a visit. An assortment of different sized frames featuring an eclectic range of images adorn the walls, and are also stacked upon the floor in artful fashion.
The Panel Pop Team - sans Lloyd Briggs
The PanelPop was stumbled upon by Tony Knoll, who came across the idea to cast the timber frame and surface as one. In partnership with Nick McGrath and Emma
Griffin, they further developed the idea and launched the PanelPop in 2008, after which Lloyd Briggs also joined the team!. We had so many questions about the beautiful PanelPop’s and Emma Griffin happily obliged:
1. What inspired you to create the PanelPop frame? The
inspiration came from two points 1. the desire to make something truly
beautiful from the waste no-one else can work with and 2. Introducing a genuine
alternative to paper and canvas. With no great changes in the world of art
surfaces since the invention of paper over 1000 years ago we were charged to
discover, explore and finally create a solid, smooth and pre-framed
alternative.
2. How has the PanelPop frame been used? PanelPop is a product that assists peoples creativity. In a blank form any medium is receptive. It’s used in illustration and painting or the combination of both. Printing Photos onto the stone using a UV cured
printer marries perfect photo quality images with the natural nuances of the
stone and timber. The uniqueness of a finished PanelPop commingles the
individual characters of the used materials with the most recent print
technology, with no glass the detail and depth is uninterrupted. It’s a tricky
attribute to articulate but its the part that creative souls fall in love with.
3. What has been your most exciting PanelPop print/commission?
Mostly it’s what we’re working on at the time. Today we produced a
36 piece wall for a surprise 80th. The photos start the mans life as a small
boy in Greece through the army, cane cutting in qld for immigration, purchasing
his first real estate agency, winning a ground breaking case and returning to
Greece to celebrate his success in Australia. These are heading to the walls of
an institutional restaurant in Melbourne
and combine the private life with artful grace and charm.
4. What can we expect to see from PanelPop in the future? Yarra
City Council are now separating and delivering their relevant waste to PanelPop
for repurposing. This means polystyrene (EPS) and timber from the council
district is having a second life as a PanelPop art surface. If we can create
this cyclic model interstate and o/s, we can build an environmentally
sustainable product that eats into our waste and taps into our creativity
whilst being insanely beautiful – that would be nice.
5. Share with us your easy eco living tip: Don’t buy over
packaged goods. Grow your own food. Look after people. Put a jumper on.
LOVE the polystyrene box workbench
++ PanelPop ++
117 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, Vic
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Supercyclers upcycle waste products into delicate vessels
Some people have that very special talent to look at an everyday product that is ready to be discarded, and re-create it into something new and useful again. For example, what would you create with an ordinary plastic supermarket shopping bag? Stumped? Designers Liane Rossler and Sarah King (aka Sarak K) are the creative talent behind new design business Supercyclers, and they are helping us look at all sorts of waste products in a whole new light…..including plastic bags.
Supercyclers recently launched the Plastic Fantastic Range to great acclaim at The Other Hemisphere Exhibition in April in Milan. Made from melted down plastic bags crafted into delicate cups and bowls, the Plastic Fantastic Range shows just what can achieved in the arena of sustainable design.
Liane Rossler and Sarah K are an amazing partnership – Each of them stand alone as design gurus in their own right, and together they are a design force! Liane has only recently left Dinosaur Designs after 25 years to work on new projects (lucky us), and has also been involved in various exhibitions with Knitty Gritty Loopy at Sydney Design and Object Gallery. Sarah K is one half of design studio Blakebrough and King, and ALSO curator extraordinaire – amongst numerous exhibitions she curated The Other Hemisphere in Milan and This Hemisphere in Sydney (see below).
In addition to launching Supercyclers, Liane will be launching another project with Heidi Dokulil named Happy Talk in September, collaborating with our Pacific Island neighbours on resourcefulness, self sufficiency, craft and design. So many wonderful projects planned over the next few months!.
The lovely Liane spoke to us about Supercyclers, sharing with us a little more about their design ethos and challenges:
1) What was your inspiration behind starting Supercyclers? We started Supercyclers because we wanted to look at using waste creatively and immediately, encourage others to have some fun doing it, and highlight other creative supercycling projects around the world. Here’s our blurb:
“we are supercyclers and we hope you are too…what is a supercycler? a very fast bike rider? not quite, though we do coincidentally love our bikes and take any opportunity to ride them…supercyclers are people who might ride bikes and who take things that are no longer being used and instead of throwing them into the great pacific garbage patch they make something beautiful, clever and useful…active immediate re-use without sending the stuff to the processing plant this website is devoted to unearthing thebest supercyclers on the planet so that you can either get hold of their products or be inspired to make your own version. supercycle on!”
2) Your very own Plastic Fantastic range recently featured in The Other Hemisphere Exhibition in Milan – What reaction did your supercycled bowls receive? It received an amazing reaction. We were very pleasantly surprised. More than 90,000 people saw the exhibition, and we have had great feedback and follow up from all around the world. People seem to be taken by the simplicity, and the delight of seeing everyday things in a different way. They couldn’t believe that they were just everyday plastic bags.
3) As a designer, what challenges do you face incorporating sustainable principles in your designs? As a designer, we have such a great opportunity. There are so many exciting sustainable materials being developed, so from an innovation point of view, almost anything is possible. I think it’s really important to consider why you are designing a piece and put a lot of consideration into the materials. Whether it something beautifully made in a timeless way, quality design that will last a lifetime, or something recycled or supercycled, or a material that will go back to the earth, You have to think about the resources that went into the materials and where it will end up.
Because technology has advanced so quickly, and everything is available so readily, as a designer, you have to consider what needs to be made. We have more available now then we have ever had before, so in a way, you have to think about designing less, and being resourceful about the way you do things. People will always want to create, and people will always want to collect, so it’s about designing things that give maximum delight with minimum environmental impact.
4) What can we expect to see from Supercyclers in the future? All sorts of different projects using different materials, and collaborations with different people. Products, projects and exhibitions. We love the diversity and freedom of working with all sorts of design challenges
5) Please share with our readers your easy eco living tip! If you think about process – where something comes from, how it was made, who made it, what went into it, and what will happen to it when you have finished with it, as well as how long you will use something for, it helps you to make all sorts of decisions, from food to power and everyday purchases. There is no away. People have powerful influence by deciding how they spend their money and what they support. Cradle to cradle thinking helps the environment, limits what goes to landfill, and makes you think about buying things you will treasure.
If you would like to purchase the Plastic Fantastic Range it will be available at the beautiful Sydney store I Ran The Wrong Way in July. Alternatively, pop on over to the This Hemisphere Exhibition at the Moore Park SupaCentre before the end of the month to view the exhibition which is curated by Sarah K herself!. Also, if you are after some inspirational ideas, check out the Supercyclers guest blog recently on The Design Files, and THIS week Liane also shares with us her eco design shopping treats in Sydney as The Happy Shopper – Is a great read!
Posted in eco design, eco living, Interviews
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Hardwick and Cesko launch their first doily inspired furniture range in sustainable style.
Furniture designers Hardwick and Cesko have just released their first line of sustainably designed furniture, which received a resounding WOW when it arrived in our inbox a few weeks ago. Their precision cut coffee and side tables made from FSC timbers and recyclable steel will dress up any room, and are the perfect example of how sustainable design can be modern, chic and mainstream.
The team behind Hardwick and Cesko are seasoned furniture designer David Hardwick and his partner Melanie Hardwick. Starting their design consultancy business 5 years ago, 2011 marks the year we get to see their own furniture creations, and we are happy to hear more designs are on the way (bamboo chair, desk, shelving units) – If the Cesko tables are any indication of things to come, I think we may be in for quite a treat!
David kindly shared with us a little more about H & C’s designs:
1) You have a background in architecture and furniture design. What inspired you to launch your own business?
Mel & I have somewhat different senses of style hers a little more chaotic than mine, but somewhere there seems to be a cross-over between them and I think that’s where our design inspiration lies. We love things you can form a rapport with, pieces that light up a room rather than blend into it. We weren’t really looking for a gap in the market but maybe have stumbled across one, where objects are created that don’t just look nice but are actively engaging. A lot of the design world seemed a bit untouchable to us, we wanted to do the opposite, to engage and delight, to bring back the fun.
2) Why is it important to you to use FSC timbers in each of your timber designs? “The best friend on earth of man is the tree. When we use the tree respectfully and economically, we have one of the greatest resources on the earth.” Frank Lloyd Wright. Australians have a love affair with this great resource which is why it is even more important to ensure that the way we use it is sustainable. The process to attain FSC certification is very rigorous and with such a large quantity of illegally harvested timber on the market used in everything from paper production to furniture, it really is the only way to guarantee the timber’s source is sustainable. The quicker FSC timbers become an industry standard the better. This is not to say the buck stops with the FSC. Designers have a responsibility to use this great resource economically while also searching for greener material alternatives. At H&C we are looking at using Bamboo as an alternative as it is in many ways a more sustainable resource than timber. It takes only 5 years to grow to a harvestable maturation, soaks up more carbon dioxide than trees and uses less water to cultivate.
3) What influenced your design of the Miss Cesko Table The inspiration for these tables stemmed from a fascination with the intricate detail of crochet and more specifically doilies. These items hint at a pride in decoration and detail that has been somewhat lost in the minimal and sometimes stark interiors and furniture that have dominated the market in recent times. The design was intended to reflect this lost tradition within a contemporary context. The Miss Cesko tables are our 1st furniture release, currently available in 2 sizes, Coffee Table & Side Table. We will be adding a Dining Table and possibly an Outdoor or Café table in the future.
4) Where does the name Cesko come from? Melanie’s Mum grew up on Korcula a small island on the Dalmatian coast of Croatia where families were known by their nicknames, Melanie’s family were the ‘Ceskos’ (pronounced Chesko) I always liked the name and it worked well with Hardwick so we decided to go with it.
5) Where can our readers purchase your furniture? The tables are available through Hardwick & Cesko directly at the moment but we are currently looking for suitable stockists. We will be re-developing our website shortly to make it more user-friendly for online purchases.
6) Please share with us your easy eco living tip? We’ve recently purchased a soda stream, so we’re making all our own bubbly water. The cost savings are not huge if any, but we have dramatically reduced our use of disposable plastic bottles and also save the carbon emitted from freighting them all over the country.
If your keen eye also spotted the beautiful papercut art in the background of the photographs above, you will be pleased to know Hardwick & Cesko sell these exclusively through their website and stockists. Here is a sneak peek below of some of the range, and more new designs are to be released soon. Head on over to their website to view their full range.
Posted in eco brands, eco design, eco living, Interviews, sustainable furniture
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GIVEAWAY: RUBA transform old car tyres into modern design products
Today we are pleased to share with you some innovative recycled homeware products coming out of new Melbourne based design company RUBA, in addition to a little giveaway they would like to provide one lucky reader! Read on to learn more…
Made from recycled tyre and shoe sole product, Ruba have turned an ordinary product into a useful and unique range of homewares that include placemats, coasters, desksets and mouse pads.
If Ruba’s range of tabletop products could talk, we bet they would have quite a story to tell of their prior travels!. Here, Ruba designers Sonia Attard and Lisa Vincitorio share with us more about their brand:
1. What inspired you to design with recycled rubber? There are way too many used tyres in landfill. This product is not biodegradable but it is recyclable, yet only a small percentage are recycled. We wanted to create something that really gave these tyres a second life in an application that you would not first think of. We wanted to design something with substance behind it. We came across this flooring product made of recycled tyres, and the left overs from shoe sole manufacture. The material has a lovely textural quality, it is visually interesting and has fantastic thermal properties. This enticed us to explored ways to use recycled tyre matting – used in flooring and childrens’ playgrounds – in homewares.
2. Tell us about your range! The Ruba range of products comprise Placemats and coasters, which won’t bend out of shape, are warm and inviting to touch, waterproof, heat resistant, dishwasher safe, and non-slip. They are available in 6 different designs to cater for different tastes. Also included in the collection are 4 styles of mouse pads and 3 styles of desk sets for the office.
3. What have been your major challenges launching a new business? It is always a challenge to balance product affordability when working with Australian manufacturers. We are proud to have produced a Melbourne designed and manufactured product. We like the control we have over our final product and like the fact that we are supporting our industry need in Australia.
4. What can we expect to see from Ruba in the future? We are pleased to announce that we will be using recycled tyres to expand our range of homeware products, as well as exploring the material in a furniture application as well.
5. What is your easy eco living tip? Almost everything can have a second life, it just needs to be discovered.
++ GIVEAWAY: RUBA Coaster Set ++
One lucky reader will soon be protecting your tables with a set of Ruba’s Round Coasters valued at $39.95. To enter, please leave a comment below telling us which is your favourite RUBA product – Pop on over to the Ruba Website or Facebook page and let us know. The winner will be drawn at random on Monday 23 May after 7pm. Goodluck!
Posted in Competition/Giveaway, eco design, eco living, Interviews
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Interview: Mae reusable fabric wall decals
When you were growing up, how many times were you chastised by your parents for taking pieces of paint off the wall from your stickers and taped up posters? Australian brand Mae has solved this problem by creating a reusable wall decal made from fabric that is removable, washable, non-toxic, biodegradable AND does not leave marks on your walls!
The Mae decal range is a little sweet, mildly folksy, has a dose of quirky and a whole lot of fun all mixed into one. The Mae range is HUGE, offering everything from nature scenes to pirate ships, wintery weather clouds, teapots, cool cars, dress ups, scrabble tiles, circus and more! All are designed to be used separately or added together to create amazing scenes.
The fabric decals are not just for kids. We particualrly like these scrabble like message tiles – leave a message for your loved one, stick your favourite saying on your wall, label your drawers!
The Mae girls clearly have alot of fun, which is reflected in their designs. Here we speak to the talented team:
1. What was your inspiration behind deciding to design reusable wall stickers? A course of events really… we originally set out to design wallpaper, lampshades and cushions. I guess that is why we ended up with lots of patterns in the detail of the decals. At the time we started working together we would never have believed anyone if they told us we would end up designing decals.
2. Your designs are a bit retro, a little vintage, and a little fairytale whimsy – How do you describe your style! Well it isn’t just one person designing there is two of us who design and another with a strong opinion (he he) so its a merger of all of us (three in total). I am a firm believer that neither of us could run a business alone, the compliment is what keeps us alive. But the one thing we all have a love for is vintage and the sweet things in life (which unfortunately includes far too many cupcakes!)
3. You place a great importance on sourcing your materials for your decals close to home. Does this present design challenges? I can’t imagine doing it any other way.. especially given the small quantities that we started out with. We never had the joy of a financial start up so it worked perfectly for us. I must admit we are all very strong believers on working with the little guy, so much good comes of it. And the fact that we are not part of the transport industry until we send our orders out is great.
4. What can we expect to see from Mae in the future? Ooh this is an exciting topic for us as we get ready for our next season.. lots of new goodies and not just decals. Unfortunately we can’t tell you anything more!! Sorry for the suspense.
5. Can you share with us your easy eco living tip? I’m very used to living in remote and rural locations so I’m a huge believer if you haven’t got it at home you go without until you are doing your next big shop in town. This I find not only saves petrol and money.. but it creates a self sufficient attitude where you grow, make or simply make do. You would be surprised how much time you free up in your week for the good things in life like hanging out with family and enjoying each others company. Lucky for me I live life with tank water, big vege gardens and lots of others growing and making nearby so eco living does come easy. But then again this is why we made the decision to bring up our little family here.
We do love the Mae range, and are very excited to now stock a small range of Mae decals online at the State of Green!
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Posted in eco baby + child, eco design, Interviews
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Stuart Williams sustainably focused designs draw on the wonderment of nature
What is in the air and water in Tasmania? Incredible talent just keep coming forth, with our latest being environmentally conscious designer Stuart Williams. Since completing his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (major in furniture design) at UTAS in 2004, he has exhibited his beautiful eco sensitive furniture pieces at leading design events from Tasmania to Milan, has been shortlisted and won a number of design awards and has been commissioned to design a number of public pieces. You may well have sat on one of his bar stools at the Henry Jones Art Hotel in Hobart, at one of his reading tables in the State Library of Tasmania or on an outdoor table at Baker D.Chirico Bakery in St Kilda.
Lake Burbury (2009): Hoop Pine Marine Plywood, celery top pine, biodegradable organic oil
(Personally, I am coveting the Lake Burbury sideboard).
Buttongrass Tallboy (2010): Celery Top Pine, Marine Ply, biodegradable organic oil
Stuart Williams affinity with nature and focus on sustainability is evident throughout his work. Sustainable timbers and biodegradable organic oil are used in his designs, and he says his “work is about finding a sense of place within the urban landscape… it is the wonderment of the natural world that inspires my creativity. For me it’s about reminding people to think about their environment, their place, the space they live in, and about finding peace”.
Standing Lamp (left) and Light 67 (right)
We have been hounding Stuart Williams for a little while now, and he recently caught some precious spare moments during an exhibition in Hobart to answer our questions (for which we are very gracious!):
1) What inspired you to use salvaged and sustainably sourced materials in your designs? Well firstly I find it hard to justify making anything in a world full of so much all ready… the only way I can is to try and be as responsible as I can, be conscious of the materials I use, how much I use and how much waste is created or minimised.
2) Your most recent designs are your Lake Burbury sideboard and tallboy – Can you share with us your design philosophy behind these pieces? These cabinets are a way of documenting my relationship with Tasmania and its wild places – of capturing the wildness that I love, and the wonderment that it conjures in me. This enormous fear of the unknown draws me into it repeatedly, building anticipation, and holding me in its isolation, they are about finding a sense of place within the urban landscape and reminding people to think about their environment, their place, the space they live in and about finding peace.
3) What has been your career highlight so far? I guess it would be exhibiting in Milan and realizing that Australian design is just a good as anywhere else! Then it would be my first solo exhibition in 2007 where I got some great positive feedback and enough confirmation to believe in myself.
4) What can we expect to see from Stuart Williams in 2011? A new house! I am currently building a new house in South Hobart and should be completed by the end of May 2011. I also have a solo show at Handmark gallery in Hobart in November 2011.
5) Please share with our readers your easy eco living tip! Think before you buy!
You can check out Stuart Williams current exhibition at Designed Objects Tasmania online. And if you are reading this Stuart, we think if your sustainably focused designs are anything to go by, your soon to be completed house must have some special features too …. we’re giving you lots of warning – photos hint hint …..
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Posted in eco awards, eco design, eco living, Interviews, sustainable furniture
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Sanctus Stones natural motivational jewellery
We all love a bit of bling – it dresses up an otherwise average outfit, can add a vibrant touch of colour and a point of visual interest. If you have been on the look out for the perfect piece of bling that reflects your personality, in addition to providing you with an added boost to your health and well being, Sanctus Stones motivational jewellery made from a 100% natural crystals and semi-precious stones may be just what you are after.
Seen on previous contestants on Next Top Model and worn by journalist/blogger Mia Freedman, there are motivational jewellery pieces to bring on good fortune, provide boundless energy, give you health, help you get pain free, lose weight and even set you on the path to becoming a millionaire, attract the opposite gender and the list goes on!
Wendy Dugan is the creative designer behind Sanctus Stones, which she launched in 2006. In Wendys words, “It is our hope that Sanctus Stones® jewellery will provide not only the right positive energy to help people achieve their goals, but a constant visual reminder to keep moving in the right direction”. Wendy shared with us a little more about her business, the philosophy of Sanctus Stones jewellery, in addition to a great healthy recipe!:
1. After being a successful business woman, what inspired you to start jewellery design, and in particular use crystals? After spending 30 years as a stay-at-home mum to my four children, I learnt the ins and outs of property investment and eventually built a portfolio of more than 25 properties. I reached a stage where I felt it was important for me to connect with my creative side and bring more balance into my life, so I completed a jewellery making course which I loved. I decided to incorporate crystals into my collections after collecting them for many years and being a strong believer in their healing properties. I have had crystals in my own home for many years – there is a huge block of rose quartz at my front door to welcome guests with love, energising clear quartz in my bathroom and amethyst in my lounge room for its settling qualities.
2. You describe your pieces as “Wearable Energy”. Can you share with us what that means? I select unique combinations of healing stones sourced carefully from around the world for their powerful properties to inspire wearers to unlock the happiness, wellness and fulfilment within. I design each piece of eco-friendly jewellery using crystals and semi-precious gemstones chosen for their ability to heal and enhance wellbeing, therefore providing ‘wearable energy’ to the wearer. We also encourage wearers to see their jewellery as a visual reminder to stay on track and achieve their goals through acting as a symbol of empowerment, hope and focus. I’ve always believed in creating your own success and encouraged my kids to always think and act positively – I even stuck positive affirmations to their bathroom mirror. It is so clear to me that what you think is what you become, and I’ve been on that path for as long as I can remember.
3. Where do you draw your inspiration from your designs? I get inspired by so many different influences I experience in my day – be it travel, magazines, books I collect from overseas and certain colours that make an impression on me. I have always loved the philosophy of feng shui, the Ancient Chinese system that reveals how to balance the energies of any space to boost the health and luck for the people in that space. My latest collection, ‘The Elements’ range was inspired by three key elements of nature – water, air and fire. I based a necklace and wristlet around each of these elements to help wearers tap into each of these forces of nature. The water pieces are called Pure, the air pieces Destiny and fire pieces Performance.
4. What are your dreams for Sanctus Stones in the future? My ultimate dream is for Sanctus Stones’ jewellery and philosophies to impact and help many people throughout the world – that is so important to me. I’d also like to extend the reach of Sanctus Stones into areas of personal and business coaching to further bring our philosophies to life and help people realise their true path.
5. Can you share with us your easy eco living tip? I incorporate as much raw foods as possible into my diet and I have the greatest organic herb, vegetable and flower garden at home. I did a course some years ago in macrobiotic cooking and love making my own natural chocolate, hummus and tahini biscuits. I also make my own muesli which is always a hit with the family so I thought I’d share the recipe with your readers.
Wendy’s breakfast muesli treat
3 cups oats 1 cup roughly chopped pecan nuts
1 cup pepitas Half a cup of shredded coconut
1 teaspoon cinnamon Half a cup of maple syrup (natural)
1 teaspoon mixed spices 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup cranberries 1 cup natural dried sultanas
Can use other dried fruit eg apricots – apples.
1. Combine the oats, pecans, pepitas, coconut, spices, oil and maple syrup well.
2. Spread out over a tray with some baking paper.
3. Bake 180c for 15 to 20 mins
4. When it is golden brown, remove from the oven, and as it is cooling break it up a little.
5. When cool mix in the dried fruit.
Store in glass jars and refrigerate.
Thanks Wendy – Do pop on over to the Sanctus Stones website to view their great range!
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Posted in eco design, gifts, Interviews
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