The Travelling Tiles visit store



Tell us a bit about yourself?
Well, my name is Jane and I live in the Hunter Valley in NSW. I'm married and live here with my husband, my daughter and my dog. I have another daughter and a son but they have already left home. My husband and I run our own airconditioning business with friend of ours.

Can you explain your craft/art and the material you like to use?
The art materials I use are pretty straight forward. I just need a computer, a camera, a scanner and some ceramic tiles. I digitally design images then make decorative tiles with them to be used as either wall hangings or fridge magnets. I use a lot of photos that were taken by my grandfather in 1957 and 1965 when he went on world trips.

Where do you get your inspiration and what is your creative process?
I get my inspiration from day to day life around me. Things I hear or see. I always keep a pen and notepad with me so I can write down funny or quirky things I hear or see. I keep one near the tv as well and one near the bed. You always think you're going to remember things but you never do so just jot it down at the time. So I usually hear something first then let it roll around my head for a couple of days, then a picture will begin to form to go with it. And its easy to get inspired using Papa's photos. They're real little pieces of history. Its been very interesting looking through them.

How long have you been creating and how did you get into craft/art?
I only started making the tiles about three years ago. I'd never thought of myself as creative at all before that. I guess having three children aged under four and running our own business didn't leave me much time to explore my creativity. But then they got older and I had more time to myself. I'd always taken photos so I bought myself Photoshop and started teaching myself how to enhance and manipulate photos. It wasn't long before I discovered you could do a whole lot more with it so I set about learning all I could about it. I can't even really remember where the idea for the tiles came from. Just seemed like a good idea I guess. Something different than just having a photo framed on the wall.

How did you come up with your business name?
The Travelling Tiles. Mainly because I'd sold a few in the USA and one had gone to the UK so it was like they were travelling around the world. Also I didn't sell any in NSW for a while, they all went to WA and QLD. So they were my travellingtiles. Also I had the thought that a lot of them were using photos Papa had taken while he was travelling the world.

What resources 'have or do you' use to help your creative pursuits (i.e. groups, classes, shops, websites etc)?
I am a big fan of the internet. And I'm very thankful to all the people out there who are willing to share their knowledge in the form of tutorials and tutorial videos. Just about anything you need to know, there are instructions out there. I've also bought a lot of books over the last couple of years. But its mainly just been trial and error for me. When I first started creating I stumbled over this website digitalartquirks.com and was amazed by the talent on show there. I lurked about thinking I'd never be good enough to post anything there. But I did, and to my surprise people liked what I did and they were all friendly and supportive. So finding like minded people helps a lot.

What's your best advice for someone starting up?
Just keep at it. And don't expect it to take off straight away. I remember when we started our airconditioning business the accountant told us that it would be seven years before we would really start seeing results. So I keep that in mind. Just plug away at it.

Do you have any advertising/promotion tips for sellers to be successful?
Lol, no, not at all, I'm terrible at self promotion. I don't like to feel pushy. There are some things I do though. Like I always donate items to fundraisers. I figure you never know who might buy your item. They could own fifty stores across Australia and love your product so much they want to stock it. I also give friends items to show at their workplaces it they have a lot of traffic through. And I send samples to shops.

Can you share any lessons that you have learned the hard way?
Not really. Nothing too drastic. I have learned lessons but I just see it as part of the learning curve. Its all been trial and error for me. You don't know if something is going to work until you try it, so I think you have to take some risks. You might waste some money and time in the process but you're never going to know if you don't give it a go.

What do you like to do besides creating?
Read, read, read. I read every spare second I have.

What is your favourite music, television show, film, book, website?
MUSIC changes often but for now its Love Outside Andromeda and Jill Barber

TELEVISION SHOW True Blood

BOOK Impossible to pick but anything by John Connolly is good.

WEBSITE
digitalartquirks.com
any-body.org

What would be your perfect day?
Hmmm, a day when no one came running to me with their dramas and fights.

Who is your favourite madeit seller, explain why in less than 10 words?
vinylwalldesign - simple but very stylish

The Travelling Tiles visit store

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Sunday 1st November 2009