Watch Brigitte 'bring to life' how she feels internally, using clay.
Each Piece is a reflection of how Brigitte is feeling internally. Journaling and healing through creating.
Follow Brigitte on Insta @crackedinthecoconutclay
Pieces can also be purchased via her website https://www.crackedinthecoconutclay.com
]]>Watch our video Meditations with Tom Carroll.
]]>This series is called SOL Sessions. What is it that you do that makes your SOL sing?
I am a ceramic artist and watercolour painter. I am driven by a deep desire to create with my hands and better understand what draws me towards these practices. I truly believe that there are very innate reasons that ones heart has specific passions, interests and desires, and its our responsibility to awaken, understand and utilise these gifts.
Tell us about your career path. How did you get to where you are now?
I’ve always been passionate about art and watercolour painting as long as I can remember, its always been a passion for my life. This led me to study fine arts and secondary education. During my time there we had all the facilities for wheel throwing but was never taught the wheel as part of our course. One evening after class I had to give it a go, it looked like such a beautiful process. This one evening of solo experimenting turned into days and days of late nights in the studio practicing and practicing. I honestly just wanted to make a really nice dining set for my husband and I (which still has not happened). There was something so beautiful and incredibly infuriating about the process, no matter how stressed or how quickly you want to get somewhere or make something you can’t rush this process and it forces you to slow right down, be present with what’s in front of you and appreciate its pace above your own. A character trait I’ve always struggled with. From here I absolutely fell in love with the art form, bouncing between the intriguing and challenging chemistry behind my glaze development and navigating different clay properties. I suppose from here everything unfolded really organically, I was conscious to make sure my creativity wasn’t being squished or moulded by anything or anyone else. I honestly never intended to be running a business, I purely want to keep following this creative race I had to discover within myself.
What does living a Soulful life mean, or look like to you?
To remain soulful in my life, I believe the most important thing for me is to remain open, vulnerable and willing to lay all of ‘me’ down, always, especially with those closest to my heart. I believe, that the harder something is to share or open up about, the more important that it is for you to share. Sometimes its just takes talking with someone to be able to better understand and navigate yourself and what your feeling… I guess you could say, understanding your soul better.
How important is creativity in your daily life?
Creativity, dreaming and imagination is what drives me, it what’s keeps me motivated and excited for a new day. It's easy to go through the motions sometimes running a small business, I can often find myself stuck on repeat. For this, it is so important for me to constantly mix things up and make sure I always have a side creative project running, just for me (or several), even if its slower moving its a nice reminder of why I love what I do and helps keep my creativity alive and sparking fresh ideas constantly.
Don’t compromise on what you’re driven by and love doing, even if it doesn’t make sense in the ‘career world’. I believe if you keep pursuing what you love and what you’re passionate about doors always open even if they don’t exist now. If you genuinely love and pursue what you're doing, work will always find you. I think too often today we are pressured to do this the other way round.
Do you have any daily routines that nurture your soul?
I’ve always been inspired by our time outdoors in nature and this has always been a vital part of my daily routine. Whether it’s an early morning run, a surf or a dive with sea creatures, there’s always spaces for inspiration, a breath of fresh air and a moment to reconnect with the most important parts of your world.
Finally, tell us about an upcoming project you’re passionate about?
I’ve been working on releasing a series of lamps (feels like forever ago) which have finally come to completion and will be launching in January. I think the project I’m most excited for next, now that I have the process more streamlined, is the next release of lamps currently underway. This is really different to anything I’ve ever done before and I’m both excited and challenged by the process. For now this ones a secret, but I can’t wait to share it. Follow @by.rubyrobinson to find out when it launches!
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Adventure. Prior to having my children I travelled the world a few times over. Barefoot and usually in the ocean, I lived the simple life gaining experiences. I appreciate fresh air and crisp clean water and now that I can introduce my babies to the same lifestyle. We are more grounded now with the changing world and I am learning how to become rooted but still escaping out into the wild as often as I can - my SOL can continue its song.
Tell us about your career path. How did you get to where you are now?
My path was (and will always be) adventure. As I travelled I worked as a scuba diver then transitioned to eco active holidays management and settled down to live on a small Caribbean island teaching kitesurfing. Life happened and I had to move home back to Canada. Two years ago we decided to relocate to Australia and now I'm a stay home mama to three beautiful children.
What does living a Soulful life mean, or look like to you?
Simplicity. Accumulation of life experiences. Surrounding myself with quality humans and finding myself on a gorgeous beach to soak in the ocean air. Life is too short to not find purpose or passion. Have every action or interaction have a purpose or a conscious beauty.
How important is creativity in your daily life?
Very important. Especially as a mother. My time for just myself is limited so having a creative outlet to still feel my individualism is extremely important. Idle hands are nowhere to be found and my DIY bins are full of supplies.
Do you have any daily routines that nurture your soul?
A Shower. Negative ions are produced by the movement of water and being in the shower gives me a clear head and replenishes my ideas bank. Having a daily shower is calming and often I close my eyes and pretend I'm still standing under that waterfall at the end of the Kalalau trail on Kauai.
Finally, tell us about an upcoming project you’re passionate about?
We are purchasing a fair bit of land to build our dream home and live off grid. Always been a dream of mine and now we are there and its happening, Providing our children with the best possible lifestyle ( in our opinion) to always wander and live wild.
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Family and friends, building things, wilderness, getting into the water.
Tell us about your career path. How did you get to where you are now?
Call me crazy. I’m attracted to challenges. Becoming an engineer was inevitable.
What does living a Soulful life mean, or look like to you?
Something like “Love, liberty and craft”. Probably supposed to be said in Spanish but it seems to translate well.
What were the biggest challenges when engineering The Wanderer?
Being functional and simple is a challenge and for me it is the ultimate goal in design. Maybe it’s a little ode to Bauhaus and Shaker but we mustn’t forget that our aspiration is to make a great trolley to be your helper.
Combining all the contributors was challenging. Farming, metal work, factories, logistics, customs, communication, economics. No contributor is ignored in the planning but there is also a need to pull them together to get the trolley right for our Wanderers.
Working closely with the product team, we considered a whole bunch of different options and eventually I was able to come away with a great concept.
Designers have the saying “God is in the detail” and engineers like to say “The Devil is in the detail”. I believe both are true.
While I often work with much larger devices, which weigh in the many hundreds of tonnes, the Wanderer Trolley weighs only a few kilos. Such a difference in size doesn’t make this design any less important. We went to great lengths to ensure the design is safe, functional and dependable.
What did you find the most interesting when visiting the factory and bamboo plantations?
I was very interested in seeing the different land uses living side by side and even complementing each other. In the hills, there was bamboo, tea, rice, market gardens and forestry, interlaced with intricate civil works. Down in the valleys there is a regional town and other smaller villages. These host the industries that make use of the produce from the hills. It’s a beautiful area and one can see the beginnings of a local tourism industry that looks akin to our wineries.
Do you have any daily routines that nurture your soul?
Hug my family and step outside with my kids to see what the day has in store.
Finally, tell us about an upcoming project you’re passionate about?
Australia’s own Energiewende and more trolleys !
]]>This feature is different from our usual as it spotlights one of our own- co-founder Zoe Dent via Bed Threads Makers Home Tour. Click here to view the full story on Bed.Threads website, and see below a feature excerpt with images taken by the talend Alana Landsberry for Bed Threads.
"The laidback vibes of Dent’s house are reflected in Wandering Sol, the homewares business she co-founded with a view to producing sustainable, essential products for everyday life. The range is curated, offering simple things like the perfect basket bag, a cart for carrying groceries and a range of gardening tools. Nothing extraneous, everything of the highest quality. “We are a slow brand in the truest of senses,” she says, “as every item we make is carefully considered and built to last… We are creating products that are unique, or reimagining existing products, this point of difference has enabled us to stand out of the crowd.”
Talk us through your creative process. Where do you start?
We usually start with a need that Narelle and I have both identified in our lives that we have not been able to find a sustainable product to meet our demands. Wandering Sol’s launch product is a sustainable, foldable shopping trolley that we had both needed, but could not find existed.
Following the idea and market research process, we then sketch designs, create colour pallets and research and source the most sustainable, functional raw materials. Finally we work alongside skilled designers, engineers and suppliers to actualise the final product.
What’s been the most challenging lesson learnt since you started your business?
Patience! Every new product takes a lot longer than expected. We also launched alongside COVID which of course has had its challenges, but as a small business we are nimble, and so we have just had to practice resilience, and work within the continually moving boundaries.
What’s been the best thing that’s happened to you since you started your business?
Seeing our creative visions come to life. When we saw our first customers using our wares, and started to receive overwhelming positive feedback and love for our products, it was such a joy.
Do you have a single piece of advice you’d give to your younger self or someone looking to start their own business?
A sustainable growth mindset is key. Running a small business alongside nurturing a young family means we are constantly challenged, yet these challenges are an opportunity for growth and learning. We both value the health of our families over the needs of the business, so finding balance is key, and keeping a long term view crucial to make sure we don’t burn out in the interim.
What are your top tips for a well-styled bedroom, and home generally?
Layering texture and tones such as the stunning textural Bed Threads linens creates warmth and character.
This textural element extends to wall art. We have so many talented artisans in Australia, many whose works are very affordable and sculptural handmade artworks creates a point of difference.
Bringing nature inside also compliments this natural sculptural element as an oversized branch or potted plant can enhance the connection with the outdoors, which we all need to balance the screen heavy modern life.
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This series is called SOL Sessions. What is it that you do that makes your SOL sing?
Creating art is what makes my SOL sing. I create textile paintings through a combination of paint and embroidery, which I feel creates feminine, delicate, tactile pieces.
Tell us about your career path. How did you get to where you are now?
Well I’m actually a veterinary nurse and have been for many years now. Art has always been a hobby of mine, but friends and others have encouraged me to start selling my work so here I am!
What does living a Soulful life mean, or look like to you?
A Solful life to me is having good friends, a sense of community and purpose. Being close to and in nature as often as possible and doing what makes you happy.
How important is creativity in your day to day life?
Creativity is very important in my everyday life, I feel a little flat if I haven’t taken the time to pick up my work each day. However I also feel that creativity stretches much further than we think and sitting down to paint isn’t the only way to get creative.
Do you have any daily routines that nurture your soul?
Definitely. I like to start my day slowly and spend most mornings up on my local headland with a coffee catching up with friends and making new ones. The community energy up there is amazing and I often get inspiration after talking to people or just enjoying the ocean views. Then a quick dip in the ocean, which always clears my head and then home to paint. A walk in nature always feels nurturing and helps me when I’m lacking energy or direction.
Talk us through your creative process. Where do you start?
I generally start by getting inspiration from beautiful images I often find on Pinterest or certain Instagram accounts. I’m hoping in the future to set up photoshoots on the beach to get my own original poses and images, but for now I am inspired by others.
Finally, tell us about an upcoming project you’re passionate about
My upcoming project I’m most excited about is this beautiful collaboration I am doing with Wandering Sol for Christmas. I’m over the moon to be asked to collaborate with two such lovely, supportive women and excited to see how it progresses. Check out the print here and more of Faye's work at www.fayehanshawart.com
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What have been the biggest challenges, or lessons in creating a values aligned business?
"I think being authentic is the only way to align with your values otherwise they are just a set of objectives. There can’t be challenges when you are authentic."
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Being a mother. Absolutely this has been the most blessed experience in my life! And definitely cooking. I love to cook so much – it makes me the happiest woman alive ; ) Add to that some old rock and roll on my record player and my family waiting to be fed and I am very much SOL singing!!
Tell us about your career path. How did you get to where you are now?
It’s been a colourful journey and each layer overlaps which is very beautiful.
From a background in photography that took me to Sri Lanka where I was.an aid worker following the Tsunami. I fell in love with this island and with my cousin I started a sustainable fashion label which we made with ladies whom we helped following the devastation.
We grew out of those grass roots eventually and i feel like the high level of health that I discovered living in Sri Lanka and becoming a part owner of a thriving health retreat over there, pushed me towards studying nutrition which is now an extension of me and everything I do.
What does living a Soulful life mean, or look like to you?
Being happy with yourself and at peace with the way life is. Giving to others and especially the next generation as the state of the world is their legacy.
How important is creativity in your day to day life?
Fundamental. I am such a creative soul and expressing myself creatively - which is mainly through my cooking - is a way to breathe out all I am feeling.
What have been the biggest challenges, or lessons in creating a values aligned business?
I think being authentic is the only way to align with your values otherwise they are just a set of objectives. There can’t be challenges when you are authentic.
Do you have any daily routines that nurture your soul?
Meditation. Swimming in the ocean. Reading books with my girls. Playing music. Hand-rolled incense. Drinking herbal tea. Oh and eating Loco Love chocolate ; )
Talk us through your creative process. Where do you start?
I start by understanding what cuisine I am cooking. Spices, herbs, flavours are very much chosen based on where the dish I am creating has originated from. This is definitely an important foundation and from there I start to choose the medicinal herbs I want to include for their physiological impact. There must be a healing synergy and an overall taste sensation in everything I create and whilst I am a perfectionist I also like to think of my broths and meals as dynamic. They can be adapted and enrich your diet in so many ways.
Finally, tell us about an upcoming project you’re passionate about
I am passionate about the new additions coming to my menu. I have so many idea and directions to take my broth – to summer foods and daily staples – I am excited to bring practical delicious ideas to mothers repertoire so they can feel their full potential! To order your restorative Made for Mothers broth visit https://www.instagram.com/madefor.mothers/
]]>What have been the biggest challenges, or lessons in creating a values aligned business?
The greatest challenge for me has been reconciling value-aligned with revenue. The way the world works is that the environment comes cheap and any work that is beneficial to it or society should be no cost ... which is frigging crazy. Polluters don't pay, people expect social or environmental work to be done pro-bono or given for free and some people criticise others for trying to allow themselves an income by doing good work. It's changing but needs to change faster. A price on carbon would be a good start.
]]>This series is called SOL Sessions. What is it that you do that makes your SOL sing?
Living my values.
Tell us about your career path. How did you get to where you are now?
What does living a Soulful life mean, or look like to you?
To me that means living your values, exercising and getting into nature each day making sure you have a balance between all things that are important to you and creating.
How important is creativity in your day to day life?
It's a core part of the human condition and one that is so important to me. I have so many interests and ideas, I love creating art, businesses and exploring new concepts. If anything it's too important because I've got into a mindset that if I need to be productive at every waking moment and that is a gauge of a successful day. If anything I need to learn how to chill the F out and be more mindful and present and simply enjoy the creativity of the present moment as it is e.g. nature rather than feeling I need to be the one to create.
What have been the biggest challenges, or lessons in creating a values aligned business?
The greatest challenge for me has been reconciling value-aligned with revenue. The way the world works is that the environment comes cheap and any work that is beneficial to it or society should be no cost ... which is frigging crazy. Polluters don't pay, people expect social or environmental work to be done pro-bono or given for free and some people criticise others for trying to allow themselves an income by doing good work. It's changing but needs to change faster. A price on carbon would be a good start.
Do you have any daily routines that nurture your soul?
I have the ultimate soul morning and I honestly can't understand why more people don't do it. A 6am run with my besties through bush track and ending with a cold swim (no matter what the weather)... seriously the best thing in the world and I get to do it every day. Awake, rejuvenated and have had fun before the world (or the rest of my house) wakes up.
Talk us through your creative process. Where do you start?
I start by starting. I'm a big believer in fake it til you make it. I've started 2 businesses with hardly any capital and I get my course participants to feel like they are living zero waste before they even change their shopping. It's all about starting when it's less than perfect, doing snowball actions (actions that lead to more actions e.g. launching a course with only 1 week created... good incentive to get the other 5 weeks done) and building a website. The number 1 piece of business advice I can give is start building a website... by the time you are ready to hit 'publish' you will have used the website process as your creative process to refine your business ideas and you'll have a business!
Finally, tell us about an upcoming project you’re passionate about.
Sending my book version of 6 Weeks to Plastic Free to the publisher and getting it published.!! Hopefully writing this is a snowball action that will keep me accountable for getting it out the door. Watch this space.
For more information on Jacqui's 6 Weeks to Plastic Free course visit www.6weekstoplasticfree.com
]]>This series is called SOL Sessions. What is it that you do that makes your SOL sing? So many things make my SOL sing, obviously painting first and foremost. Travelling certainly makes my soul sing, seeing new landscapes for the very first time! Surfing is a SOL singing activity I can’t live without.
]]>This series is called SOL Sessions. What is it that you do that makes your SOL sing?
So many things make my SOL sing, obviously painting first and foremost. Travelling certainly makes my soul sing, seeing new landscapes for the very first time! Surfing is a SOL singing activity I can’t live without.
Tell us about your career path. How did you get to where you are now?
I have loved art my whole life and have always been creative, it is a part of me. Throughout school I studied the subject and went on to do a Bachelor of design degree at UTS.
After finishing uni, I fell into a job doing murals, frescoes and special finishes in high end houses. I was also selling canvas paintings during that period. I spent many years travelling and completed the first year at the International Art School. I now find myself in this beautiful studio in Avalon, working towards exhibitions in the near future. I am also giving private drawing and painting lessons to both adults and children and I look forward to creating group sessions in the coming months. Of course, paint and wine evenings will be available soon!
What does living a Soulful life mean to you?
Living a Soulful life means living my truth. I have had to make some very difficult life decisions in order to follow my heart and creative spirit. We need to be very brave to live in a way that recognises our deepest inner desires.
How important is creativity in your day to day life?
I couldn’t live without creativity in my life on a daily basis. My hands are always busy, knitting, crocheting, card making, I don’t like to sit around I always need to achieve!
What have been the biggest challenges, or lessons in creating a values aligned business?
I am still facing many challenges in creating my business. The biggest being my ability to find a business mind! Bringing up three children and wanting to be present for them always also presents challenges.
Do you have any daily routines that nurture your soul?
Everyday I like to either surf or run as part of my routine to nurture my soul. It is so vital for my body and health to keep up these activities, especially to clear the mind. Connecting with my friends in the surf is definitely my highest priority, that is absolute food for the soul.
Talk us through your creative process. Where do you start?
My creative process always varies between jobs. I usually have an idea and and an image in my mind of something I would like to translate into an artwork. I am very good at visualising an end result, I just need to decide on a process that will get me there.
I will start with some sketches or computer images to work out how the piece will come together. I often google images to give me inspiration and go from there.
I like to stretch my own canvases although I am finding these days that bought ones are almost as good quality and save a lot of time. A blank canvas is an exciting object to me, so many possibilities! Once the first brush stroke is down, the process takes on its own life and sometimes heads in a completely new direction.
Finally, tell us about an upcoming project you’re passionate about.
I have recently been accepted as part of the Pittwater Artist’s Trail, just before COVID struck and I hope to get the opportunity to open my studio to the public as part of the trail when it is safe to go ahead with it.
I am also looking forward to holding an exhibition in my own space in the summer months. I am presently working on a series of headlands in the Pittwater area and will be excited to present them in that exhibition.
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