Julie-Ann is my “other half” when it comes to DUST – our Etsy Street Team.  We share the work of running and managing the team.  I think of us as the team mothers.  But now she’s in an induced coma in ICU, unaware that she’s lost her fifteen year old daughter Jacinda.

Jacinda Twigg

Julie-Ann and Jacinda come from a country town – Nhill.  Julie-Ann does a whole lot for her community, as well as for our team.  Please say a prayer, light a candle, send good thoughts – whatever it is you do at times like this, for my friend, and her family at this very difficult time.

If you’d like to make a donation, the National Australia Bank is accepting donations for the Jacinda Twigg Family, or you can also donate to our DUST team paypal account, and we’ll do whatever the family wants with the money once they’re able to make those decisions.

Make sure you always tell the people that matter that you love them.

That was copied from my own blog.  I wrote it on Tuesday after hearing the news about Julie-Ann.  She’s doing better now, her condition has been upgraded to serious (instead of critical), she’s still in a coma, but she’s becoming more aware.

Pearl Stud Earrings

• Her sister-in-law has created a facebook group to keep people updated on her condition.
• There is a thread in the Etsy DUST team area (it’s public) with info on donating an item to one of the fund raising treasuries.
• Donate to our DUST team paypal account – all money raised will be given directly to the Twigg family.
• To donate at the National Bank – Account Name:-Twigg Family Appeal
  SWIFT CODE:- NATAAU3303M
  BSB:- 083-680 (may or may not use the dash)
  Account No:- 11746 4124
  Some banks may also want the Branch Address – National Australia Bank, 75 Firebrace Street, Horsham, Victoria, 3400.

Brass heart on delicate brass chain

Please keep Julie-Ann, and her husband Len, and Nicholas and Michael, her sons, and Jessica, her other daughter, the rest of the family, and that of Don Kernot, the pilot, in your prayers.

Gum Leaves Pin Cushion by spincushions

The Australian teams on etsy have joined together for an exciting cross-team Australia Day event! Teams from all around Australia are participating- the Down Under Street Team (DUST), the Sydney Etsy Team, the MadeOnTheLeft team from Perth, and the BrisStyle team from Brisbane.

Find some amazing handmade or vintage goodies, or pick up some craft supplies to make something special! Participating shops are offering a discount of between 15%-25% across their entire store between January 26th-31st (Aus time).

How to get the special Australia Day discount:
Enter the discount code ausday in the coupon code space during checkout between 26th-31st

Use the code for:
15% off these items
20% off these items
25% off these items
*Note- more items will be added from the 26th, so check back then to make sure you don’t miss out!

Support for the flood disaster

From My Heart Card donated by glasfaden

As part of the Australia Day event, we’d also like to help spread the word about the efforts on etsy to raise funds for those affected by the terrible flood disaster in Queensland.

The BrisStyle team is running a Handmade Ark Flood Appeal, with some or all proceeds from items sold to be donated to the Premier’s Disaster Relief Fund. Browse items from the Ark Appeal here or find out more on the BrisStyle Blog.

The DUST team has set up a dedicated shop with all proceeds (minus etsy and PayPal fees) to be donated to the premier’s flood appeal. Visit the AusDisasterRelief shop here.
(please note- the flood fundraising appeals are separate from the Australia Day discount offer)

Front page images from
Australian Disaster Relief store
Baubles for Bellas
Moags and Smeet

Original post courtesy of Nicky, from Morphologica, and the Australian Etsy Blog

Conference Attendees

Attendees came via planes, trains and… combi vans. One attendee, Tasha Chawner, came from Walcha in regional New South Wales, a drive of around nine hours! This was not the first time some of the team have gotten together, in fact, some have developed real-world friendships (yes, I’m looking at you Ali and Emma!).

The glowing Emma of feliciafairy was the chief organiser of the conference and she did a wonderful job. The conference kicked off with cocktails and canapes in the beachfront Chateau Beachside, home of the famous buffet breakfast (which was also enjoyed by many the day after those cocktails!) and right on the beachfront in famous Surfers Paradise.

The one day conference, also held at Chateau Beachside boasted a fabulous view of the perfect surf and an inspiring business seminar by Trish Goodfield of Trish Alan Designs. Trish talked to attendees about how to make more money from our crafts by teaching others. Trish has made a name for herself in this field and really got us thinking. Trish has even written a book on the topic which will be released soon.

Morning and afternoon workshops rounded out the conference, with pearl knotting with the fabulous Andrea of andyjusty, and freeform crochet with Meg of artnomadix in the morning, and more crocheting in the afternoon alongside zentangling with Melanie and Jade of wiccked and scherre.

Emma and Andrea, pearl knotting

It didn’t feel like we were mostly all meeting for the first time – it felt more like a getting together of old friends. (Melanie of wiccked)

After a full day of crafty practice and discussion, participants were ready and rearing to go for the concluding conference dinner event. Unfortunately, I failed to double check the time and instead of being 20 minutes late, I was 1 hour and 20 minutes late (FAIL) and so, missed the festivities. However, I was assured everyone had a wonderful time.

Next year’s conference is on the books, with locations such as Walcha or Adelaide being tossed about. We shall certainly keep you informed of our planning progress!

Search for dust team on etsy for work by the fabulously talented Down Under Street Team.

This post written by Angelene for the Australian Etsy Blog and kindly republished with permission.

1…You are jewellery designer. I believe you have many other commitments also. Please tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Julie-Ann and I am in country Victoria in a little town called Nhill. We are the midway point on the Highway between Melbourne and Adelaide.
I am a wife, mum to 4 kids and nanna to one. My children have their own problems that hubby and I have to deal with. We have an autistic son, a daughter with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (mixed connective tissue disease), a son with dyslexia compounded with a language disorder – which brings a lot of medical and professional appointments.
I am an Avon representative and have been for the last 20 years. I’m also a member of Business Nhill – our local town’s business group. I am co-leader of an ebay team and admin on the etsy down under street team (DUST). I list on ArtFire, Etsy & MadeIt with blog, facebook, flickr, myspace, plurk, twitter type promotions.
I love to teach the recorder to the primary kids at one of our local schools and have done so for 8 years now. Other school commitments include: Parents & Friends treasurer; classroom help on Friday mornings; and I’m on the secondary school chaplaincy committee.
I am also on our church’s Parish Council and treasurer for the last 10 years or so. I also do the weekly pew sheets for church.
I love to play clarinet and read – when I can find the time!

Bangle Bracelet, Sterling Silver, Crystal, Red Tiger’s Eye – JJs

2…Please tell us more about your role on DUST (down under street team).
I joined DUST not long after I joined Etsy, way back in June/July 2007. I am the contact person for new members. Australian Etsy sellers can contact me with questions and requests to join the team, I then send an email with all the relevant details. Once the new member has joined the team’s forum, I receive an email to activate their account, after doing this I send a convo back to let them know their account is activated and include a few helpful links.

I also organise the teams Chit-Chat threads, each week on the Etsy forum and fortnightly on the DUST forum.

I instigated the monthly Sale and organise the promotion thread for that in the Etsy forum’s and try to do an item/seller of the day at least a few times a week. It’s a great way to show the Etsy community what we Aussie can do when we band together.

The only other thing I do on a regular basis is to organise the DUST Swap bi-monthly. We have a sign-up month and then the fun begins when I pair up the partners and the swapping begins. We have had many happy swappers and DUSTers learn a little about each other through the swaps.

Necklace, Rose Quartz, Swarovski, Sterling, Rhodium – JJs

3…Can you tell us a little about how you became a jewellery artist?
I went to a craft group in the early 2000’s; the craft was beading Christmas Decorations with plastic beads. I was able to read the patterns and make the decorations without any extra help even though I had never beaded before. So I bought some beads and started playing and the rest as they say is history!

4…How would you describe your jewellery?
Perfect for all occasions from casual day wear to a night on the town. Colourful, elegant, fun and probably comical at times.

Bracelet, Sterlling Silver, Prasiolite, Adventurine, Pearl, Lampwork Beads – JJs

5…What does creating mean to you?
It’s my time out, time away from the responsibilities’ and duties of daily life; whether it’s family or other organisations.

6…Is there anything you would like to add?
You can find me here…
Blog, ArtFire, Etsy, MadeIt, FaceBook and Twitter

All my links are always on my blog…
Always open to a custom order, contact me through one of my sites above.

Melinda the Monkey

Please tell me a little about your product – what do you make, how do you do it, and why do you make it (inspiration, fun, whatever).

I make lots of different things actually, but my favourite things to create are children’s clothes and soft toys. I think one of the reasons that I love to make these specifically is because I have lots of younger brothers and sisters, and I have always enjoyed making things for them. Seeing the delight they had in using items I made inspired me to make them for other children too.

Scrap Bed Quilt

Is crafting your fulltime occupation, or do you have a dayjob, family or other daily responsibility?

No I would love if I could craft all day every day, but that’s just isn’t the reality. I help with homeschooling my siblings, teach a RE class at a local school and lots of other home type duties too.

Dot The Dinosaur

What do you think makes your product stand out from the rest?

It’s so hard to find nice little girl dresses at the shops – that’s why I think mine (but also other handmade dresses) should stick out. I try hard to choose pretty materials that will attract any little girl’s eye and I make sure they are sewn carefully so the dresses will last for ages.

Where do you sell, and where can we find you? Please include websites, regular markets, etc.

I sell on etsy and on madeit.

Please tell our readers something quirky or funny about yourself.

Hmm, something quirky or funny – let me think….. I suppose I have lots of quirky little habits. One of them being that I will only ever eat off the same spoon. We have lots of different brands of spoons, but there is only one that I will ever eat off. I will search through the whole drawer to find it and if I can’t find it and it’s dirty I will wash it up just so I can eat off it. Weird I know

Round Apron Dress – Size 2

Thanks so much for taking the time to be interviewed, it has been lovely getting to know you and your craft better.

3. What are you favourite materials to work with?
My favourite materials change all the time, right now I’m really enjoying
working with vintage components, I also get a kick out of mixing different metals together.

Full Bloom Locket Necklace – Ivory Lucite and Vintaj Brass

4. I’ve noticed that you use a lot of vintage supplies and beads in your jewellery – where do you find such great items?
I spend a lot of time seeking out great supplies from around the world and I have found a few really good suppliers that are helpful and friendly who are also a joy to deal with.

Turquoise and Crisp White Roses – Hair Pins 2x Sets

5. What is the number 1 thing that you know now, that you wish you knew when you were a new seller on Etsy?
When I was a new seller I felt like a little fish in a big Etsy pond and
very alone, but after a while I made myself familiar with other Melbournian sellers and later joined the Etsy DUST Team. It’s good to know there are groups you can join where you can give and receive support.

Vintage Mulberry Swirl – Oxidized Sterling Silver Earrings
6. When you’re not creating or selling, how do you spend your time?
I’m constantly running around after my girls with Kinder and School,
sports, parties and general house maintenance. I’ll also be helping my
husband a lot more this year with his business.
I enjoy catching up with friends and family, reading, writing and listening to music. I dream of travelling some more.

7. What’s the nicest thing anyone has said about your jewellery?
Ooooo this is hard to answer because any compliment is always nice to hear, but the most sentimental would be my first Etsy feedback which I was thrilled with at the time, (and still am quite chuffed about)

“My mother received this & she says it’s absolutely beautiful! Incredibly
fast shipping too :) Can’t say enough good things about this transaction. . .”

8. Where and what would you like to be doing in 5 years time?
It’d be nice to stay here in Eltham, Victoria and own our dream home.
I’d love to have a handmade/craft shop, where I could sell things that I
make and have other arty/crafty people sell their goodies too.
Above all else I hope that my family and I remain healthy and happy – if we have that, I’ll be very content.

1. Tell us about yourself (where you live, your family life, where you grew up)
I live in Sydney with my husband and my 2 girls who are 3 and 18 months. My house is quite hectic – the girls are both very active and determined and I run 2 businesses from home so there is always something going on and a mini-drama to deal with. I’ve always lived in Sydney, I moved around a lot when I was at Art School so have experienced life in quite a few suburbs but home for now is the North West of Sydney. I grew up in a reasonably large family – 3 older brothers and I was the only girl, and the youngest! My Dad gave us all nicknames, mine was Bill and as our surname started with a Mc, I became Billy Mac.

2. Describe yourself in 5 words.
Creative, stubborn, ambitious, honest, cuddly

3. When and how did you first start creating/crafting?
I’ve always been artistic. I was always drawing, painting or dancing as a child but when I reached high school I knew that this was it, Art was my ‘thing’. I went to UNSW, College of Fine Arts for 4 years and when I graduated moved around in a few different jobs within magazines and retail advertising where I was amongst very creative people but I wasn’t being creative myself. In the back of my mind I knew that I was still an artist but I had pushed aside the ‘making’. After having my 1st child I started my own graphic design business which meant that I took the lid off my artistic self again and after having my 2nd child I started billy mac clothing. It has been so fantastic to use my creative skills again – with billy mac clothing I am creating my own work and not channeling my artistic side through my clients work. It’s an absolute joy and my kids have great t-shirts to wear.

I found after having my girls that there were fantastic garments for babies, but then for around the 2 years up age group the reasonably priced garments were either printed with Disney or Bratz Dolls licensed images or they were attempting to make girls in particular, dress much older than they were. I needed to find t-shirts for my toddler to wear to Pre-school that I wasn’t too precious about if she got paint on them, had her shoulders covered in case of sunburn when she was playing outside, but also made her look like ‘the coolest kid in town’! I couldn’t find anything within my price range so decided to focus on making my own.

4. Where is your favourite place in the world?
My favourite place in the world is wherever my family and friends are, and hopefully there’s good wine and nice cheese there … and if there’s not, I’ll bring some with me!

5. Where would you like to travel?
It’s no secret to anyone who knows me that my dream is to travel to Europe. I’ve been dreaming and talking and planning my trip for years and years but life keeps getting in the way! My husband works for Qantas so there’s no excuse. Our trip will be a little different now with 2 little girls in tow but we will definitely be going to Europe before they start school. Top of the hit list is Florence, Rome, Tuscany, Paris, Barcelona, London …. I could keep going but they’re the obvious big cities for most travellers!

6. Describe your business in 5 words.
Cool, retro, quirky, bold, fun

7. Where do you create your items and what materials do you use?
My studio is at home, I have a room at the back of our house which at the moment is chaotic as I’m preparing to sell at my first markets. All my designs are done on a Mac using Adobe Illustrator. The design part is my favourite part of the process, they are then printed via a couple of different methods depending on the design and heat pressed onto the garment. All of my t-shirts are 100% cotton and are printed with sturdy vinyl or digital prints. I’m experimenting with a few different print methods and weighing up the options between quality but still trying to keep costs reasonable. I’ve been focussing on short-sleeve t-shirts square cut for the boys and a gorgeous puff sleeve for the girls, but now that the weather is getting cooler I’m expanding the range to include long sleeves, baby onesies and am trying to decide if hoodies might be the way to go?

8. Where and what would you like to be doing in 5 years time?
In 5 years time my girls will be 8 and 6 … so they’ll both be at school (will this mean I’ll have some free time?). I’d love to be living somewhere near the ocean and near great schools for my girls. I imagine my days will be filled with school drop offs and pickups; and running my graphic design business and billy mac clothing in between. I’m hoping the hard work that I’m putting in now will reap rewards in the future and that life will be a little smoother! Oh and I’d love our house to be filled with all the gorgeous paintings, and homewares and pretty little things that I picked up during our travels through Europe.

Please tell me a little about your product – what do you make, how do you do it, and why do you make it (inspiration, fun, whatever).
I make jewellery I love it. My tagline in my store is that I go to my happy place while hammering, I am rapt in wire wrapping, and I find beauty in beading… it really is true! I find it therapeutic to be absorbed in detailed wire wrapping, and love getting my frustration out by hammering something

Is crafting your full-time occupation, or do you have a day job, family or other daily responsibility?
I wish! No, I work full-time as a policy advisor in Government, as well as run a spray tanning business (quick plug for Ange’s Spray Tanning!). Obviously this psychotically full working life will change when we have kids, but I will always find time for jewellery making.

What do you think makes your product stand out from the rest?
Well, I think I have good taste and make my pieces to a high quality standard. In all my work you’ll see neat wire wraps, lovely quality components – sterling silver, gold fill, and high grade gems. Also, all my silver is recycled – I buy from a manufacturer that creates new wire out of recycled sterling. So while I don’t push the eco-friendly angle so much, it is inherently eco-friendly.

Where do you sell, and where can we find you? Please include websites, regular markets, etc.
I’m on etsy (http://www.angelene.etsy.com), madeit (http://www.madeit.com.au/angelene) and zibbet (http://www.zibbet.com/angelene). I do the odd BrisStyle market from time to time in Brisbane too. However, with my hectic work schedule online is just about all I have time for. I’d rather spend my time crafting than selling – making is fun, selling is not so much! My facebook fans have often commented on how they can see how much I enjoy what I do, through my regular updates – I share my creation process and seek feedback from fans. You can have a look at my fanpage here http://www.facebook.com/AngeleneEtsy

Please tell our readers something quirky or funny about yourself.
I was once on the cover of a magazine. Curious? I have a post about it on my blog (http://www.angelenefay.blogspot.com) – a funny story really! I did a favour for a friend who wanted some stock photos, and they got discovered on the net by a magazine, who subsequently put me on the cover, and on the inside next to the story! Tres bizarre!

Thanks so much for taking the time to be interviewed, it has been lovely getting to know you and your craft better.
Caitlin

Maddo, aka Samara, has been a big Etsy fan for a long time and I thank her very much for introducing me to the Etsy world. I encouraged her to pop in on our Christmas In July Sale thread and she was so impressed with how friendly the team was (and that she got so many lovely prizes) that she signed up to DUST.

In Samara’s Etsy store you will find lots of gorgeous creations like

Beaded Jewellery - Cupids Kiss

Ocean Adventure

papillons dans le jardin

retro gift tags

She also recently listed this adorable bracelet adorned with teapots and teacups – As soon as I saw this I knew I just had to have it. For those that don’t know I am ever so slightly addicted to collecting teapots. This bracelet will be getting worn when Samara and I go to watch Alice in Wonderland next year. I have seen her room of supplies so if you want a bangle like this she would be happy to make it.

A Charming Tea Party

We have so much talent in our wonderful Dust Team and it so great to see it building in numbers everyday.  So welcome to Maddabling and all our recent new dust members.  Shopping is getting easier everyday – Handmade Rocks!

Note from DUST admin: Del wrote this post quite a while ago, it’s just taken me a long time to post it. Sorry Del and Samara!

Handcrafted Brass Bangle - Urban Chic Bangle by ForYouDesigns

stormy blue silk tunic, by BlueSeaBlue

Large hand stitched leather dove coin purse with wrist strap, by Penny Farrow

Heartbreaker Mini Dress, by StrikingKittens

Rosaria Ladies Romanesque Kaftan Deluxe Satin Blouse Top, by RosariaDesign

Cappucino Capri pants, by VenusRising1

Upcycled / Recycled,Reinvented tshirt Dress, by ALittleCheekyPanties

Streamlined Sterling Silver Earrings - Urban Eco Range, by Epheriell

Soft Sculptural Hat - Chocolate brown, by caldidesign

find more street fashion from australian capital cities –
brisbane
and a newbie from australian etsy seller RE-read
sydney
canberra
adelaide
melbourne
perth
i couldn’t find any links for darwin or hobart street fashion websites. if you live in one of those areas, maybe you could start one!