Profile: Soft Constructions

We would like to introduce our new 'profiles blogger', Alira Callaghan. Alira has a strong interest in supporting local artists, designers and creatives and she will be bringing you articles on talented local creatives. The subject of her first profile is Seonaidh Murphy’s Soft Constructions.

What sort of things does Soft Constructions encompass? 
Soft Constructions is a Perth based illustration and design studio focused on creating unique, original and playful designs and products for their customers and clients. I use popular culture as inspiration and then utilise both hand worked and digital techniques (combined with a twist of humour) to create designs that can find themselves on any number of products.  There is a retail side to the business as well as a design side that is more focused on creating custom designs and products for clients such as menus, uniforms, logos etc.

I know you have a background in both art and design, what was it that attracted you to the textile side of design?I had always been involved in working with textiles.  Even at art school I did a lot of experimentation with textiles and sculpture.  I guess there is something about the tactility of it being able to be used to create 2d and 3d shapes.  I enjoy working between the two spheres of art and design because it gives me a creative outlet but I can still be business focused.

Can you briefly explain what is involved in your design process?
I do a bit of trend research and come up with some ideas.  Then I collect imagery and after that I start piecing together my designs.  From there I start incorporating puns and drawing them and painting them as I see fit.  Next I scan the design in and do any digital alterations and edits to it and it gets made into whichever product it needs to be.
 

Images courtesy of Soft Constructions

Does Soft Constructions offer you a creative outlet that is different to when you have done work in the fashion industry?
Definitely.  Soft Constructions allows me to utilize more of my skills and gives me the freedom to cross over into multiple disciplines.  I also get to indulge in my illustration skills, which is great!

A lot of your designs incorporate humour, have you always enjoyed the pun game or did that come through developing your practice?
I’ve always had a bit of a sense of humour.  Some people enjoy it and some people don’t, it wasn’t always very well received when I was in art school.  I feel like I have the ability to switch between serious and funny though and know the circumstances in which to use my comedic devices. 

What is your favourite aspect of your work for Soft Constructions? 
My favourite aspect is constantly growing the business into new and exciting places.  As I grow more opportunities come up and I really enjoy the challenge of being faced with new problems to solve.

Do you try to source your materials and services locally?
I try to source as much locally as I can and if I can’t source it locally I use Australian suppliers.  It can be hard but I seem to be able to make it work at the moment.

Images courtesy of Soft Constructions

How important has it been to the success of Soft Constructions to have support from the community and likeminded people?
It has been really important.  Being able to be inspired by the people around you gives you the strength to grow and flourish as a business.  I love being around people that are as excited as I am to make a difference and create unique and successful businesses.

What project/s are you currently working on?
I have lots of little things in the works.  I have a few custom products with local businesses that I’ll be able to let you in on soon.  I also have plans to grow the business into a very exciting place next year but I can’t say too much.

Where can we find your designs and products?
You can find our products at www.softconstructions.com and in:
Sugar and Nice, Inglewood        The Little Cheese Shop, Bayswater
Common Ground, Fremantle      Kakulas Sister, Fremantle
The Tenth State, Nedlands         Perth Upmarket

And soon to be in: 
Compendium, Fremantle       Addison and Steele, North Perth
Beehive, Fremantle


Alira Callaghan

Bassendean goes arty with 'Open'

The Town of Bassendean will once again showcase their creative townsfolk and celebrate art in all its forms. ‘Open’ is a day of open studios, creative workshops, exhibitions, installations and more. It’s all happening on Sunday 3rd May, 10am - 4pm in various locations throughout the suburbs of Bassendean, Ashfield, and Eden Hill.

More than 50 artists have registered their involvement, there will be 4 creative workshops, 8 exhibitions/displays and a design market.

Made on the Left stallholders Enid Twiglet and Sally Ridge Illustration will be there offering an embroidery workshop and pet portraits.

Download the brochure for more information or contact the Cultural Development Officer on 9377 8000 or email mail@bassendean.wa.gov.au.

Artist Talks

Deadline is holding the first in a series of artists talks (catered to artists of all mediums) on Tuesday the 24th at the Blue Room Theatre.

Come along, be inspired and pick the brains of some creative industry greats! 

Entry is pay what you feel. Arrive at 6:45 for a 7pm start.

Deadline is about giving artists with a lack of deadlines - deadlines. It exists as a way to get emerging artists (or artists that can only do art in their spare time) to make art that they've been putting off making and to evolve as artists through skill development and new challenges. 

About the speakers:

THE MOST IMPORTANT TALK. EVER.
Guy Hamilton Howlett (Senior Creative) 
Guy Hamilton Howlett did a lot of things in his 20s: short filmmaker, musician, screenwriter and more. But not very well. Then, the day before he turned 27, he began a career in advertising. He's now recognized as WA's most consistently awarded creative. He will be giving the most important talk. Ever. 

SIX THINGS I DO THAT HELP ME WITH CREATIVITY. 
Mike Sequeira (Creative Director) 
Michael Sequeira, Creative Director at Trilogy, is an award-winning Creative with over 25 years experience in Perth and in London. He has created campaigns for clients as diverse Master Card, Coke, L’Oréal, IKEA, Kleenheat and Peet. In Mike’s opinion everyone has the ability to be more creative.

TIME MANAGEMENT AND GETTING SHIT DONE.
Bonnie Davies (Comedian)
Bonnie Davies has performed and worked across events, festivals, arts organisations, music and comedy in both Perth and the UK. She's also a big fan of lists and getting things done – so if you want to get better at managing your time and getting shit done - she's the one for the job. 

Deadline Tuesday Talks are proudly sponsored by Healthway, to promote the Drug Aware Message, and Propel Youth Arts WA.

Side Project zine launch

Side Project is a new Perth-based quarterly zine about making things, living a creative life and fitting it in around all that other stuff by three ladies who all love craft, design and art. They share a passion for creativity and have put this magazine together over lots of meetings with cake and cups of tea.
If you’ve ever admired another person’s creative skills but felt lost as to how to get there yourself, Side Project is here to help. The zine and blog are brimming with craft projects, tutorials, inspiration and creative advice for the time-poor dabbler to the seasoned artisan.
No matter what your profession or daily routine, carving out time to create something beautiful for yourself is an important part of a balanced life. Take a break, have a cup of tea, flip through the zine and be inspired to start your own side project.

Join the Side Project team for the launch at 6-8pm, Friday 21st November at
Beau Est Mien (458 William St, Northbridge).
www.sideprojectmag.com

Rent Free Shop Space Opportunity in Montage

Montage Collective Pop-up Shop together with Propel Youth Arts WA, are accepting applications from young Perth makers/sellers for a ‘Rent Free August’ guest spot in their current pop-up shop in William St, Northbridge.

The chosen young maker will also be able to work in store and learn from the group of experienced makers and sellers. Working in-store will be on a voluntary basis - not essential but a great opportunity to learn about selling their own creations.

If this sounds like just the thing for you, then go here to access the application form and get your samples in quick smart!

Important Info
Applicants must :-

• be under 25 years of age
• design and make your own products. The more ‘hands on’ you are the better!
• complete the application form and return it by 24th July
• bring samples of your work in-store to Montage 454 William St Northbridge by 24th July. (Physical samples of your work are needed to assess quality and originality and can be dropped in to the shop during opening hours. Tue - Fri: 11-6, Sat: 11-5, Sun: 11-4)

The rent-free spot begins on Saturday 2nd August, so applicants must have enough stock in hand to fill a space approx 1m x 35cm or equivalent, depending on product, by this date.

The successful applicant will be designated their own spot in the shop totally rent-free (usually $20/week) for the period 2nd – 31st August 2014.

The only cost to the maker will be a small percentage on any sales made during the month (10% for cash and 15% eftpos sales). This charge goes towards the shop and bank overheads. No sales = no costs.

24th July – applications due
28th July – lucky winner announced
2nd – 31st August – winner's work available for sale at Montage.

Links
Montage Collective Facebook 
Montage Collective Blog
email Montage

Sell at Montage
If you are not eligible to apply for the free space, you can still join in! Montage is looking for hand crafted products to sell as one of their guest artists for August.

If you would like to apply, please fill in the online application form here.

Call Out for 2014 Creative Challenge Artists

AWESOME Arts is calling out for contemporary artists who have experience working with children and young people in diverse and complex communities.

Skills in facilitating storytelling would be ideal for our 2014 theme Shaping Stories, which has been devised in partnership with the State Library of Western Australia.

Creative Challenge is AWESOME’s year round artist-in-residency program that celebrates the bright young things living in regional and remote Western Australia. Two artists take residence in each community for two weeks to share their knowledge and skills. The program is process-driven, involving participants in research, conceptual development, and creation of artwork that communicates the uniqueness of their community.

These residencies aim to spark creative play, independent thinking, and story telling, with our key aspiration being to give voice to young West Australian’s living in regional and remote communities. The program is renowned for offering high quality arts experiences, encouraging young people to consider their individual and collective community identity.

Are you up to the challenge? If you’re an artist and want to become involved please email ccd@awesomearts.com or call (08) 9328 9666 or visit the website and download an artist application kit today. Deadline for applications is 5pm Friday 31 Jan 2014.

ArtsCAMP staff wanted

ArtsCAMP is an exciting weeklong creative experience for young people (15 –  17) to explore the arts and apply their talents in a real world setting happening from 6 – 10 October, 2013 at the Bickley Outdoor Recreation Camp. 

ArtsCAMP 2013 is about developing the skills necessary to create marketable art. Campers will participate in large group activities as well as small group workshops, with the ultimate goal to create an album and music video from the ground up. 

Propel Youth Arts WA has coordinated the camp and they are looking for creative, collaborative, encouraging artists to teach students of varying skill levels in music performance, song writing, producing, sound mixing, photography, graphic design, and film. 

It’s important that you have experience working with young people in training settings, that you’re open-minded and flexible, and able to support young people in personal and creative growth.

To find out more about staff roles and responsibilities please visit www.propel.org.au/about/jobs/25

Applications for staff members close 13th September, 2013.

If you are 15 – 17 and would like to find out more about attending the camp, visit http://www.propel.org.au/projects/artscamp.

Big Hearted Business Morning Tea

Big Hearted Business is the love-child of Clare Bowditch, who first began mentoring “creative-types” over a decade ago as the leader of a “Musician’s Self Management and Promotion” course at her local community house. Clare Bowditch has gone on to become one of Australia’s most successful ARIA Award-winning songwriters and has a long list of accomplishments.

Big Hearted Business is here to teach creative people about business, and business people about creativity, in ways that make sense.
Join Clare for an intimate morning tea, where she’ll serve you tea and oranges and biscuits and tell you everything she knows about building a creative career/business, living the life you yearn for, and taking care of yourself as you “step up”.


This is a two hour event including
 Clare’s best career advice EVER, a Q & A,  tea and special biscuits and a chance to “connect with your peeps”.

Date: 31ST August
Time: 10am-12pm
Location: Perth City Farm, Exhibition Space, 1 City Farm Pl East Perth
Cost: $57 Inc GST

Book your tickets here.

MYRE

Have you heard of the Spacemarket MYRE project?
It's a very exciting project where the empty old Myer building in Fremantle is being taken over and turned into a place of unique retail and public activity, a destination unto itself. 

They are seeking applications from individuals, groups or businesses with skills and experience in areas such as product design, fabrication, workshops, the visual arts and culture. There will be areas for workshops and retail spaces which will all make up the MYRE community.

Andy of A Good Looking Man has a lease on a whole floor of the building and is looking to fill it with makers with a retail slant. This video shows some of the space but if you want to see it in person, there is a guided walk through the space at 2pm on Saturday 10th August. Meet at the Kings Square entrance. Don't miss this exciting opportunity!

For more information on the project and an application form, download the Expressions of Interest document. All additional queries can be sent to: production@myrefreo.com.au during the EOI period (closes 26th August). Please also check in on: www.facebook.com/spcmrkt and http://www.facebook.com/agoodlookingman.com.au regularly.

Stallholder Profile: St Saviours

St Saviours are Matt Bale and Kate Hulett. They were first time stallholders at the July 2013 market and here is a bit more about them:

Tell us a bit about your business.

The concept for St Saviours actually started when Matt and I were on holiday in Perth a few years ago. We re-trimmed one of Matt’s hats while we were in Margaret River, and chatted about how it’s impossible to find non-mass-produced and affordable hats suitable for everyday wear. We both already had a thing for hats at this point…

Fast forward a year and we held our first market stall in London selling a load of hats we’d trimmed with vintage materials, flowers, feathers, interesting ribbons and so on. We sold one hat at our first market, and were completely stoked!

We slowly attracted a dedicated following, and were soon selling weekly at London’s Sunday Up Market, and at summer music festivals across the UK. We ended up quitting our ‘day jobs’ when a buyer from Topshop picked us up for their flagship Oxford Circus store… then Anthropologie on Regent Street… then Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge. The most exciting day was when Kylie Minogue bought one of our hats. We then saw a photo of her in a St Saviours hat, with Stella McCartney at the Madonna concert (cue overexcited screaming)!!

St Saviours was named after the converted vicarage we lived in, in East London. It’s where we did all our work. We left London in January 2013 to start a new life in Perth.

How does the UK compare to Perth in the handmade trade?

We have been doing A LOT of research in Perth, and are totally excited by what we’ve seen. There appears to be a super healthy handmade scene – I think the difference in Perth (when compared to the UK) is that there are less opportunities for the designer-makers to be exposed to the consumers. For example, less weekly markets, less festivals with curated shopping areas, less independent shops looking to stock local product, and so on. That’s why design markets, pop-up shops and support from existing retailers are so important – these opportunities encourage growth and development of the creative, handmade scene.

The great thing is that the people of Perth are really supportive of the markets, interesting shops, art/artists, and so on, so it’s the perfect storm of fantastic local supply, and eager demand.

In London, a lot of the markets are starting to become overrun with the ‘same-old-crap’ – lots of mass produced jewellery and fashion imported straight from abroad, so you start seeing different stalls within one market, selling the same stuff. This is so tragic, and means the people who really hand-make their goods are struggling as their products are inevitably more expensive and are swallowed up by the mass-produced rubbish. In addition, the customers start staying away. Why bother coming to a ‘designer’ market, when hardly anyone there is actually involved in the design process?

We found that organisations running the markets In the UK had lax screening criteria for their sellers – this is totally opposite in Perth. It’s like applying for a flipping Visa trying to get into Perth markets! But that’s great, and means customers know they are seeing products which are unique, interesting, well made, locally made, and so on.

Also we’ve seen some fantastic and innovative products, designers and artists in Perth – there is a real buzz in the creative scene which is evidenced through the fab markets, the pop-up shops and the concept stores dotted about town.

The key issue I can see in Perth, and this would apply to many designer-makers, is the access to, and the availability of, materials. It can be a struggle sourcing raw materials locally, and therefore you’re forced to ship items over from the East Coast, or abroad. And of course this means your costs increase before you’ve even started.

What inspires you?

We are very inspired by colour, texture and pattern, so you will see lots of our hats make use of interesting colour combinations and textured trimmings. Matt is currently obsessing over patterns and is designing some patterns for printing onto silk for hat trims and linings, and ladies scarves.

I guess we have an underlying aim to make hats for ‘people like us’, so that inspires us when we’re designing. We want ‘people like us’ to be able to afford them, and have access to them, and want to wear them – we have no grand aims to become the hat supplier to The Queen!


What do you love most about selling at markets?

The market is where we began our hat trade, and we both adore it (though, to be honest, the weekly Sunday early mornings/late nights in London did become mildly tiresome).

The markets are the best way to really ‘sell’ the features of your product to a customer.  I can’t count the number of people who have said “I’m buying this hat because you’re so passionate about it.”

I always say that talking to customers about your product is like going on a City Tour. You learn so much more, and the buildings, monuments and history are much more meaningful when you are with a guide. As a market trader, you are that guide.

And we really love that – chatting to customers about the hats is great fun. We completely missed talking to customers when we launched in Topshop, so much so that we’d often go in and hang around our stall in order to chat with customers.

What materials do you use?

Almost all our winter hats are blocked with wool-felt and the summer styles are generally woven paper, or Panama. We have worked with fur felt, straw, siminay, and other fabrics, but wool and Panama are our favourites. The trims range from millinery petersham, feathers, silk flowers, vintage silk ties, leather, laser cut vinyl… all sorts of things – trimming is the fun part.

What is your favourite part of the creative process?

We don’t work with collections; we are slap-dash and make things as they take our fancy. So this is really fun. If we spot a great silk scarf in a vintage shop – we then see how many uses we can get from the fabric. Pill box hat cover, a bow tie, hat trim… we love transforming vintage items into new products. It’s also exciting when we have new felt colours coming in for the hats, or a batch of newly dyed ribbons. There is always a flurry of excitement when there are new colours to play with…

What’s been your most popular item or line to date?

We sold thousands of hats in Topshop in Oxford Circus, and overall - the ladies fedora shape, was probably our most popular. It’s easy to wear, can look both smart, and casual – and (lucky for us) celebrities are always spotted wearing fedoras. We made an affordable, interesting, not-mass-produced product, which really resonated with the audience.

What new products are you working on?

We are looking into doing more unique hairpieces and hats suitable for weddings/races – without going down the fascinator or huge-80’s-style-hat road.

We are also really keen to continue make our hats with local supplies – which is proving tricky so far…

Where can we find you?

We are in the process of working out how we are going to get our hats ‘out there’ in Perth. We have a very exciting concept in the pipework, which entails hats and more… but it’s too early to talk about that now. In the meantime – we will be signing up take part in Perth’s designer markets, including of course, Made on the Left (if we make it through the screening process!).

Web: www.constructedinlondon.com

Write: hello@constructedinlondon.com

Follow: www.twitter.com/StSavioursHats

Like: www.facebook.com/StSavioursHats

Style and Focus blog

Style and Focus is an exciting new blog that is Perth based. It concentrates on creatives that have taken their style and designs to the next level. “We have called ourselves a ‘blogazine'!”, says Jody, as we show original images and writing, much like the magazines that we freelance for. The articles will continue to grow in their focus and style to bring together all aspects of what makes beautiful homes. 

Photography By Jody D’Arcy. Produced and styled by Jo Carmichael

The blog is a collaboration between photographer, Jody D’Arcy and stylist, Jo Carmichael who have an eye for beautiful things and want to source and share with their readers some serious eye candy. Their backgrounds include work for publications such as Inside Out, Home Beautiful, House & Garden, Country Style and Scoop magazine. From all their combined experience, they want to showcase people they have come across (all proudly sandgroper talent), beautiful things they have discovered, style and design hints, tips and forecasts and project it all onto one special blog to share. They focus mainly on the home and garden and all its trimmings, discovering the people behind the design and things they love. 

Jo and Jody specialise in creating beautiful and thoughtful styled images for websites, advertising and online stores. Their clients range from architects such as KADA, online stores like Bowerhouse and builders such as National Estate Builders. If you are stumped on how to showcase your products and style, Jo and Jody can round it up, story board, create sets and photograph it for you for all your business needs.

Their vision is to connect, grow and support Perth burgeoning talent base, fostering all that is original and beautiful for example, Made on the Left stallholder, Fluid Ink. 

Fluid Ink Letterpress

So be sure to check them out! Sign up to their newsletter, like them on Facebook to follow what they are up to. It will also give you a fresh insight into what’s happening on your own doorstep. 

Stallholder Profile: Spotlight on "Little Mo and Friends"

Little Mo and Friends was the winner of our Best Stall Display for our November 2012 market. Not only did Helena win us over with her display, she also makes the sweetest things for young and old! Let's go behind the scenes...

Tell us a bit about yourself
I’m Helena, creator/illustrator of Little Mo and Friends.

What materials do you use?
Ink and paper mostly when I’m drawing. And if I am making products from my art, I like sourcing out recycled paper and vintage art frames or vintage pendants to frame my drawings.



What steps do you take to prepare for a market?
I try to at least have two or three new products to feature in my market, just to make it exciting for my return customers. When I style my stall, I usually make that new product my feature piece.



What is your favourite part of the creative process?
Getting lost in my drawings and observing my rough sketches evolve into physical products that are worn and cherished by my customers.

What’s been your most popular item or line to date?
For my online shop it’s been my mystery bag. If you’re unsure of what to buy in my shop, grab a mystery bag and I’ll fill it with art goodies; prints, notebooks and jewellery. When I first listed it in in my shop, my husband said nobody is going to buy it because they don’t know what’s inside it. But it’s been my most popular item, so I guess people do like surprises!

For my markets, it’s my illustrated jewellery. I think it’s an affordable way to collect my art and wear it everyday!



What is the most exciting thing that has come out of selling your designs through markets?
Meeting my online customers in person and meeting new friends and new customers! I’m always so grateful for their support and encouragement.



What advice would you give someone who wants to sell their crafts?
Make something totally unique and all about you. Don’t copy. Be original.



What goals do you have in store for the future?
Drawing and producing more artworks, drawing a book and having a small exhibition would be nice.

www.littlemoandfriends.com

www.facebook.com/littlemoandfriends