Introducing Rebecca from Smith Originals who is not only a newcomer to Piccadilly Market on the 3rd August but also to the whole craft business world.

Loving her unique creations as I am sure you will also.



Tell us a little about yourself?
About a year ago I realised the corporate jungle wasn’t for me so I made a break for it and now I spend my days surrounded by fabric in a little cottage in Hepburn.

How did you come up with your business name?
My last name is Smith, which is far from original, so it’s really an ironic title I guess.

Tell us how your product/range came about?
I’ve made bags for friends for years and found that bags gave a lot more scope for creativity. You can put fabrics, colours and textures together in a bag that you can’t get away with in clothing! As for hats, I’ve always been a hat person. Moving to Hepburn really gave me a great excuse to wear them more, but I couldn’t find the kinds of comfy winter hats I wanted to wear. So I started making them.

How long have you been in business for?
Only a few months.  Glad to have you on board so quickly

What inspires you?
A lot of things. People who are passionate about something, whatever it is. Living in Hepburn. The creative community.

Have you always been ‘crafty’ or has it bloomed later in life?
Always! My mum and grandmothers were all crafty. Sewing, knitting, crotchet, cross-stitch - you name it. I’ve sewn my whole life.

What is something cool that most people wouldn’t know about you?
I’m less cool, more nerdy! I learnt Flamenco dance for a couple of years. It was fierce, I’d love to take it up again one day.

If money was no object what would be your dream destination right now?
Russia, or Austria. With a stopover in Toronto to see a friend.

Favorite book?
The Call of the Wild. Or anything Vonnegut.

What is your favorite website(s) ?        
The Oatmeal, followed closely by Etsy. Or any fabric website.

Have you ever met anyone famous?
Not really. I did trip over Andrew Gaze’s foot in a food court once, but to be fair he takes up a lot of space.  Funny!!!

Say Hi to Renee from Tubtime Treats who makes deliciously smelling soaps that sound fabulous. She will be at the next Piccadilly Market on 3 August in Geelong.


Tell us a little about yourself?
I'm 29 and just recently engaged. I live in Inverleigh and work full time as a Registered Nurse

How did you come up with your business name?
I wanted to incorporate the fact that I sell products that are mainly for use in the bath and that they are based mostly on yummy dessert type flavours. Hence the name Tubtime Treats.

Tell us how your product/range came about?
I was sitting at Panache in town with a girlfriend drinking a pot of Earl Grey, and the smell was so intoxicating i said to her "wouldnt you just love to be able to bath in that smell." Then I got to thinking and researching how I could make soaps that smell like yumminess.

How long have you been in business for?
I have only been making soaps for a little over 18 months, and have probably only really had it operating as a business for about a year now.

What inspires you?

Well, its pretty clear that I am an absolutely HUGE fan of desserts. I often think that if I bath in my Double Chocolate Fudge rather that eating normal fudge then its not as guilty :) How nice would that be?

Have you always been ‘crafty’ or has it bloomed later in life?
I dont think so. It really came about later in my life, probably during my early 20's when I attempted to cross stitch a gift for my newly born -niece, but discovered i was definitely no cross-stitcher, but that definitely got my interest up in making and crafting things for people.

If money was no object what would be your dream destination right now?
Ooh, tough one. I think that would have to be Canada. Have always been interested in going there but my interests have grown in the lst few years since being with my partner and growing a love for the outdoors and cold climates

Favorite book?
Can't ever narrow that one down, can I choose 2? Firstly would have to say Flowers in the Attic by V.C Andrews.

But am also an extremely huge fan of (WAIT FOR IT)... Harry Potter...!!! I started reading it in my teen years and just fell in love with the magic and creativity of it all


What is your favorite website(s) ? 
Hmm, probably not very original, but right now i would have to say pinterest, if you want ideas/inspiration, best site        

Have you ever met anyone famous?
I was lucky enough to meet Guy Pearce once and spoke to him for over an hour. Fantastic individual

Meet Amy and Tiff from Moiety who are a great collaboration of creative minds. You can see them at Piccadilly Market on Sunday 3 August.





Tell us a little about yourself?
Moiety is a collaboration between two friends from different art mediums exploring how art often transcends and stretches traditional boundaries.  Amy Laker Bruni  has been breathing new life back into ephemeral, nostalgic & whimsical pieces of wearable pieces often incorporating upcycled components. As an artist Tiffany Morris North, draws inspiration from her natural surrounds to create botanical inspired paintings and drawings, resembling textured decorative wallpaper or fabric collage. We share a deep love for nature in all it's details, and a curiosity of anything handmade.

How did you come up with your business name?
Moiety is French meaning 'of two equal parts'. We both bring a completely different skillset into creating pieces of jewellery that combines both of these. Tiffany works fine exotic threads into miniature crochet shapes, draws/stitches pictures, or carves stamps that Amy uses to make moulds, where either the works are embedded into clear resin or colours are played around with for their carved line. Others are captured between glass and soldered to create a double sided whimsical specimen.

Tell us how your product/range came about?
 We have individually been selling our own wares at markets next to each other for years, and it was a very natural transition to want to take one form and compliment it with the other. Amy had been using maps & words from old books in her jewellery range. Tiffany had always crocheted and hand embroidered her paintings. One tiny little ring blossomed into a forest of ideas and an ever growing jewellery range.



How long have you been in business for?
 In our respective creating and making fields we have been doing the rounds for just under two decades. Together, the seeds of Moiety were planted last year. We now share a working space at the newly opened Ink & Thread studios in Kallista, which is another of our creations.

What inspires you?
 We are both incredibly inspired by the constant changing and wondrous natural architecture in the world around us. While we both live in the hills of Mt Dandenong with incredibly lush native forests encroaching on our doorsteps, we both grew up and spend many holidays still beside the ocean.
As artists we often find it hard not to be inspired; where senses challenge how we interpret that into a tangible, where emotions evoke how colour is used, where vying away from mainstream consciousness leads to experimentation & a need to try and create something new.

Have you always been ‘crafty’ or has it bloomed later in life?
Amy:  I debuted the market scene aged 12, but it has been only 'later in life' that I have embraced the serious 'professional artist'
Tiff:  I can't remember a time when I wasn't drawing, making, sewing.

What is something cool that most people wouldn’t know about you?
 Amy: hmmm....I was a ski lift operator in Colorado for a season.  I so wanted to do that
Tiff: That I painted a traditional canal boat while living in England. Very cool

If money was no object what would be your dream destination right now?
 Amy: A year in Greenland. That is random :)
Tiff: Italy

Favorite book?
Amy: The Dictionary, words are my thing
Tiffany: The World of Ornament, pictures are my thing!

What is your favorite website(s) ?  
Amy: Etsy (Lillebeart.etsy.com) & Instagram (lillebeart)      
 Tiff: The Design Files and Gennines Art

Have you ever met anyone famous?
Amy: I met George Harrison and his McLaren Grand Prix team the year before he died, where he personally gave me his metal team pin. Grand ol' days!
Tiff: I used to work in the film industry so I met lots of famous people, but I did have dinner once with Jason Alexander (George from Seinfeld)

Moiety will be running a giveaway on their Moiety Facebook page so be sure to check that out too.