This week we welcome Jacquie Rodemann from Under the Shade of a Bonsai Tree! Jacquie is giving an Epheriell Designs reader the chance to win a gorgeous wooden origami crane brooch (I covet this one for my growing brooch collection!). But first, let’s find out a little more about the woman behind the brand…
Where do you live?
In beautiful Hobart, Tasmania.
Where do you do your work?
I have converted a former “junk room” into a little craft nook/studio. I call it my “ME room” – it has nice lighting, with lots of colourful art pieces and prints adorning the walls and I have lots of my favourite knick-knacks there. I have a round table in which I work on my jewellery.
What’s your favourite place in the world, and why?
I’ve travelled quite a bit so this is a tricky question. I love travelling throughout Europe and exploring new places. I lived in Germany for a couple of years and married a man I met there so fortunately we have lots of relatives to visit there fairly regularly. I like old historic cities which have also have a contemporary and hip vibe, a great art scene and cool pubs/cafes/shops. Eg. Barcelona, Berlin, St Petersburg.
Tell us a little bit more about yourself! Your ‘day job’ or business, family, hobbies…
I’m a mum to 3 boys (Liam -7 and twins Alex and Lukas – 4) so life at home can be a bit chaotic to say the least! I also work in customer service for 2 days a week. Jewellery orders and replenishing stock for markets isn’t leaving me with a lot of spare time these days but when I do get a break I love listening to music, op-shopping, reading, baking and vegetarian cooking, yoga, watching films (esp. arthouse/foreign), seeing live bands and travelling.How did you first get into your craft/art?
My mum is an artist (http://www.redbubble.com/people/pomatoceros) and was an art teacher. During my childhood she was always trying (and usually mastering) many crafts so although I haven’t got her painting skills I’ve taken on her interest in aesthetics and trying various crafty pursuits. I started making and selling beaded jewellery when I was about 18 years old but then had a rather long hiatus and only returned to the craft about 2 years ago when I started experimenting with polymer clay, Japanese chiyogami paper and semi-precious stone beads.
What do you make?
I have 3 main ranges of jewellery which I make and sell.
I make jewellery made from polymer clay and Japanese chiyogami paper. I form tiles of various shapes and sizes from the clay which I then cover with the Japanese paper and varnish. I make earrings, hairpins and rings. I also make pendants for necklaces, some of which I use with lovely beads (eg. coral, lava, jade, onyx).
I have a floral lucite resin range in which I use pretty coloured floral cabochons for earring studs, rings, brooches, necklaces and hairpins.
My latest range has an origami crane theme. Laser cut jewellery from Tasmanian wood and also different coloured acrylic to make brooches, necklaces, earrings and brooches.
What are you most proud of making?
I love my origami crane brooches which are laser cut from lovely Tasmanian myrtle wood and then covered with beautiful vibrant Japanese papers.I love incorporating the concept of the Japanese origami crane and it’s symbolism (honour and loyalty) with the beautiful Tasmanian timber and the gorgeous colours and patterns of the Japanese papers.
What do you like the most about selling your wares online?
I love sharing my work with people from all over the world. I’ve had orders from Switzerland, Germany, England, all over the U.S, all over Australia, Israel, Portugal, Phillipines, Holland…It’s fun communicating with people from far, far away and packaging and sending their goodies off into the big wide world! It’s also rewarding to have the feedback about their purchases recorded on Etsy or Made It.
What do you like the least about selling your wares online?
I find it a bit time consuming to photograph and list new products and therefore I have really only been able to keep up with the items I can make larger quantities of which I can then relist once sold. So I have had to leave out most of my one-of-a-kind pieces (e.g most of the polymer clay/chiyogami work).
I love.. selling at local markets. Hobart has developed a wonderful art/craft scene and there are quite a few lovely markets featuring lots of the amazing local talent. It’s so rewarding to receive instant feedback from customers about my work and I love meeting new people and chatting about what I do. I’ve met some great people who are fellow “marketeers” and I love the little community that has emerged here.
Visit Jacquie Online!
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/ShadeOfABonsai
How gorgeous is this brooch? Well – it could be yours! Just enter below – competition is open world-wide!
To Enter:
1. Visit Under the Shade of a Bonsai Tree and come back here leaving a comment about your favourite piece from the store.
2. For additional entries, leave a comment saying that you: followed or subscribed to Epheriell Designs (or already do); have twittered about the givewaway; have shared the giveaway with friends on Facebook, or; you have written a blog post about it.
3. Entries close next Friday, the 20th of August, at 12pm Australian EST.
The winner will be chosen via Random.org
Remember to leave me a way of contacting you.. and Good Luck!
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The winner of last week’s giveaway was mruna – congrats!
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I love all the rings especially the Latte Rose Resin Ring
I love the idea of paper on a wooden crane. That gets me thinking about upcycling by covering things with paper or cloth. Thanks for the inspiration!