Posted on 25 August 2012

Meet the Maker ~ Calamity Bolt

Meet The Maker

Today we have the pleasure of getting to know Elke from Calamity Bolt a little bit better, so Elke¦.

Tell us about your business:
Calamity Bolt specialises in designing keepsake hobby-horses, old-fashioned toys for young imaginations. I especially love re-purposing vintage linen and embroidered pieces and using sustainably-produced, organic and natural materials.

What inspired you to start your business?
Planets aligned somehow in the time-poor years as a new mum. My business grew out of an intrinsic need to create and a preference for handmade over mass-produced toys. I started to sew. I made hobby-horse toys for my children one Christmas and Ive been making them ever since, for children all round Australia and further afield.

Is there an interesting anecdote behind your business name?
˜Calamity Bolt was the affectionate title given to one of my then 4 year old daughters artworks. A few months later, it was whipped off the fridge door and adopted not only as my logo but business name too. Fast forward nearly three years and ˜Calamity Bolt gallops on. My daughter is still drawing, this current logo fresh off the sketchpad. It makes me all kinds of happy!

What is the most satisfying part of what you do?
Seeing the same customers coming back time and again is always a delight. Its wonderful hearing where the horses go when they leave my hands, a real joy knowing they brighten playtime, at the same time treading lightly on the earth.

Have you tried something in business that didnt work as planned, or on the flip side worked out better than expected?
Yes, so many times! Take starting a business page on facebook for example. I had my reservations initially and even unpublished my page for several weeks. It didnt feel like me. However, I gave myself a stern talking to and decided to trial it for 12 months. So glad! For customer interaction and word-of-mouth, turns out facebook is a downright cool place to be!

What would be your best tip for someone thinking about selling their handcrafted goods?
Strive to find your niche. Make what you love and love what you make. There is a certain vulnerability in putting your creative ˜heart and soul out there but there is also a joy in sharing. Start the journey. Just start! Learn as you go and enjoy the ride!

What is your favourite item you make?
The vintage fillies, each unique, each so sweet.

Any personal or business highlights in the last year?
Supplying the National Gallery of Australia shop with exclusively designed Calamity Bolt ˜Renaissance horses has been a huge highlight for me this year.

3 things about you (not business related) that people might not know
Hmmm! Sure!
1. Raw dark chocolate, anytime! Just add chai for a match made in heaven.
2. I may have been Japanese in a past life. I love all things Japan.
3. When no ones about, I play piano.

Thank you Elke, it has been a pleasure meeting you, the maker!

Posted on 23 August 2012

The Handmade Cooperative Shopping Guide

Accessorize/ Featured/ Hand Made Blog/ Wear

The Handmade Cooperative is a shopping blog dedicated to promoting quality Australian handmade products for children. Their fortnightly shopping guides feature unique and stylish handmade products made by talented coop members. As a cooperative, their 60 members are able to support and promote each others products, which help their members reach a greater number of potential buyers.

Robot Word Art Tee – Blue Jacaranda

Indigo Denim Pink Plaid Shorts – Missy Melly

Quirky Boat – Quirky Designs for Kids

Linen Jacket – Tillytom

Halle Pendent – Halle Jay

Charlie Cap – Winnie&Clem

Posted on 22 August 2012

Spring Trends: Bold Stripes

Accessorize/ Featured/ Hand Made Blog/ Shopping/ Trends/ Wear

Stripes are classic when it comes to fashion trends. The’re always fashionable, look great in any colour and on any piece of clothing. Mix and match them with the other spring trends we have so far touched on, graphic tees and bright colours for this spring.

Don’t just think of straight horizontal or vertical strip, chevron and animal stripes are a must this season, check out these handmade finds to add to your child’s wardrobe…..

 

Chevron Dress – Vintagebubbles

Stripe Wrap – Fourzero

Chevron Bib – Little Boubba

Stripe Long Tee – Little Lambs

Striped Cross Over Dress – Little Owl

Retro Shorts – Little Toot Creations

Toddler Tote – Ally the Cat Boutique

Modern Cloth Nappy – MyMyMy Kids

Bubba Friendly Necklace – Made By Mamabug

 

Posted on 21 August 2012

How to Take Decent Photos in Low Light

Guest Post

Ever wonder how professional photographer tend to get such good results in quite low light? Yes they tend to have fancy cameras, but the most important piece of kit for low light photography is a tripod.

Not all of us can afford a fancy DSLR with a super duper lens, but if you haven’t used your camera on a manual setting now is the time, and a functional tripod can be picked up for $50-$100 and is really worth the investment.

This technique will work best for non moving objects, landscapes and interiors. Not great for portraits as even slight movement will appear blurry.

So I’ll preface this with: I’m not a professional photographer, everything I have learnt has been from trial and error but this is what works for me.

So the tricks are:
Steady camera (tripod)
Long exposure
Low Aperture value
High ISO speed
Read your camera manual

As an example I took this photo above in a very dark room, 7pm on a rainy night with minimal natural light and no artificial light. I have not edited this photo in any way apart from cropping for composition.

It had a 4 sec exposure which is very long, so to minimise the camera shake I had the camera down on the bench. A tripod is ideal for long exposure times.
The ISO speed was 1600 and the aperture value 7.1

I adjusted these values manually with an Aperture Value (Av) preference setting. This means I set the aperture and the camera decides the speed.

Even if you only have a basic point and shoot digital camera, have a read of your manual, most will allow for some sort of manual setting adjustment.

Ok, have I confused you with Av’s and ISOs and gobbledygook? Do yourself a favour and read this excellent explanation of how a camera works, I guarantee that it will never shoot on an auto setting ever again.

So now it’s time to have some fun playing with your camera…

This Guest Post is brought to you by Cintia over at My Poppet. She is a blogger, crafter and online store owner.  Want more My Poppet? Read the blog or visit the online store.

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