Meet the Northside Crafters: Pivotal Xpressions

Pivotal Xpressions makes unique paper goods that are sure to delight ...

Tell us about what you sell ...
Pivotal Xpressions sell organisational stationery, gift wrap, cards, and paper craft items.

What inspires you?
I find if I go shopping down Brunswick Street, that always inspires me and gives me a boost, (I always take a camera with me). Also everyday activities and events. Recently I went to the Pink concert which had a circus / fun house theme. The event inspired me to design a trapeze greeting card. Inspiration appears at the oddest of times for me.

What's your favorite medium to work in?
Pixels and paper. I design a lot on my trusty computer, thus the pixels. I love to also create with paper. There is nothing like working with paper that has beautiful textures and patterns on them. I'm also starting to have an interest in working with ribbons as well.

What would you be lost without ....
I would be lost without my husband, who has given me lots of encouragement. Also be lost without my creativity and my computer.

What's your fave crafty read

I enjoy reading 'Mixtape', Real Living Magazine (Australian version) and Computer Arts.

What do you like to listen to when you craft?
I tend to listen to the radio through the Internet. Often listen to ABC News Radio or the BBC News Radio. Yes I am a news junkie.

What crafty forums do you lurk in ....
I don't venture into the crafty forums, however I read a lot of paper / stationery blogs that are from America. I have noticed there seems to be a lot more paper blogs originating from the US than Australia. My favourite paper blog would have to be 'Papercrave'.

Whats up next for you on the craft front?
I want to tackle making notepads and develop my gift wrap more. Also want to venture more into crochet. I found more success with crochet than knitting.

Do you have any UFO's (unfinished objects),what are they?
I have too many unfortunately. I have this terrible habit of starting a project, leaving it aside and starting on a new one. Not very productive. A personal project that I have worked on over a two year period, is a mask.

Where else can people shop for your goodies?
People can go to my etsy store www.pivotalxpressions.etsy.com.

Meet the Northside Crafters: Finki Handmade

Jay from Finki is a Northside Makers Committee Member, that will also be a stall holder at Octobers Northside Makers Market.

Tell us about what you sell ...
I have a rather eclectic range. Spanning from art pendants, rings and hair bobbies to stitched baskets, journals and vintage tea towel stools.What inspires you?
All things retro, vintage and wildly colorful.

What's your favourite medium to work in?
I would have to say fabric. 50's, 60's and 70's prints are just out of this world. I still get ridiculously excited when i find good lengths of retro fabric at oppies.

What would you be lost without?
The computer...that sounds so nerdy I know. But I do a lot of graphic design. My images begin on paper, but come to life with the magic of illustrator and photo shop. Not to mention my latest addiction to blogging. Where would I be without that.

What's your fave crafty read
I just bought 'Handmade in Melbourne'.
So inspirational to read about so many talented people that I might even bump into at my local Woolworths.

What do you like to listen to when you craft?
I'm a bit of a silence girl. Is that odd. I get into the zone when I'm the only one in the house and it's dead quiet.....Bliss.
If I'm doing something that's a no brainer and music won't distract me, then I'll go for 'Ministry of sound' or Triple J's like a version.


What crafty forums do you lurk in ....
Are blogs forums... I read lots of blogs. Real people, real experiences. I love the human connection.
I'm such a visual person too, so if i find sites full of art, design, and good taste then I'm lost for hours.
Whats up next for you on the craft front?
A big crafty Christmas.
I have a market every 4 weeks or so, and always challenge myself to have a new product on the table each time. So this month I have funky little 'weekly bill ledgers' and next month I'll have my knitting bags ready to go.
Having this personal challenge is what keeps it interesting.

Do you have any UFO's (unfinished objects),what are they?
Lots and lots and lots. Mainly, I would have to say it would be clothes i tried to make for my self. I'd see stuff on other people and think I could make that! I sort of overlooked the little fact that maybe I also needed that hot bod, to pass it off. I'm not always too good on the visualizing part...


Where else can people shop for your goodies?
www.finki.etsy.com
I also do the sisters market, www.sistersmarket.com.au
Made n' Thornbury market www.madenthornbury.blogspot.com
and of course our new Northside makers market www.northsidemakers.com