Tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is Gaye Naismith. I live and work in Footscray in Melbourne's inner west. I was born and grew up in New Zealand, moving to Melbourne many years ago in my early twenties. I studied photography when I left school then later, as a mature age student, I studied Cinema, Media and Cultural studies. I wrote my MA thesis on aspects of the television series Xena: Warrior Princess. I now work full-time in my craft based business as well as 1 day a week at a desk job.
Can you explain your craft/art and the material you like to use? On my own, as Gaye Abandon, I make clothes, accessories and homewares from recycled, vintage and new materials. I collaborate with my stitching buddy Melanie Hill to make the Body Parts range of winter accessories from recycled jumpers . Needless to say I spend a lot of time in front of my trusty Bernina!
Where do you get your inspiration and what is your creative process? Finding time for creative contemplation and play can be difficult when you're busy filling orders and meeting demand for existing products, so inspiration mostly comes during the making process from the textiles I use. I love matching colours, patterns and textures and combining different materials in visually pleasing ways. I like working within limitations, such as those imposed by using pre-existing recycled materials, as this forces me to be innovative and lateral about how I can transform them.
How long have you been creating and how did you get into craft/art? I got into sewing and knitting when I was about 10. In New Zealand at that time if you were female, you knew how to sew. We did sewing in Home Economics class at school from Grade 6 but me, all my girfriends and my sisters were all well into sewing by then. In fact there was so much competition between my two elder sisters and I to use our Mum's sewing machine that my grandparents ended up buying the three of us a second hand Singer each.
How did you come up with your business name? Gaye Abandon was an obvious choice for a girl called Gaye! I had the name long before I had my label. It turns out Gaye Abandon is also the name of the saloon owner in a US western-themed comic strip from the sixties called Rick O'Shay, not to mention a popular choice for drag queens! Tubeway Armies, the signature product in Melanie and my Body Parts range came from an eighties post-punk electronic band called Tubeway Army led by Gary Newman.
What resources 'have or do you' use to help your creative pursuits (i.e. groups, classes, shops, websites etc)?
When I decided I wanted to try and make a business out of sewing and craft in 2005 I went and did NEIS (New Enterprise Incentive Scheme). This is a 6 week course funded by the federal government designed to get people on low incomes into self employment. It provides you with the basic tools for starting up a small business and helps out with income support for the first year. It was a great reality check about the financial and lifestyle realities of generating your own income. My greatest help with what I do is my super-supportive partner Rachel who is always ready and willing to help me out with feedback, practical and emotional support and currently, painting my new studio! She's also my 'in-house' model for my online shops. How lucky am I?!
What's your best advice for someone starting up?
Do a NEIS course! Baby steps--- start small, try out different products, do markets and sell a range of things at different price points, exchange information with other crafty types and read their blogs.
Do you have any advertising/promotion tips for sellers to be successful?
We do lots of cross promotion between our physical presence at markets and our online presence by handing out postcards at markets promoting the Gaye Abandon website and our madeit store and advertising our market dates online. Many of our customers either find us first at the market then visit us online or conversely encounter us on the net then track us down at the market.
Can you share any lessons that you have learned the hard way? If you're paying someone to do something for you that is part of your creative vision-- such as pattern making, screenprinting or graphic design-- you have to be very, very clear about your expectations. Creating spec and instructions sheets and double checking everything is essential.
What do you like to do besides creating? The usual things that are essential for quality of life.... cooking, eating good food, catching up with friends, regular yoga, bushwalking, getting out of town to anywhere (though that doesn't happen nearly often enough).
What is your favourite music, television show, film, book, website? TV Show: Currently i'm immersed in True Blood and The Wire on DVD. I love pretty much all the cooking and gardening shows on the ABC and SBS -- Pho's Kitchen, Food Safari, Gardening Australia, Costa's Garden. Books: Seem to be on a 'post-apocalyptic' theme at the moment. Recently read 'The Year of the Flood' by Margaret Atwood and 'The Road' by Cormac McCarthy both of which I loved. I've got 'Blindness' by Jose Saramago lined up next. Films: Don't seem to have time to go the the cinema any more so haven't seen any new films recently. Fave directors: Todd Haynes, Antonioni. Websites:linoforest.blogspot.com findmakedo.blogspot.com designspongeonline.com abc.net.au/rn
What would be your perfect day?
A 25 degree, blue sky day at the beach, swimming and laying on the warm sand listening to the sea.
Who is one of your favourite madeit seller, explain why in less than 10 words? 3 Girls and a Goat- exquisite paper design, immaculate packaging, beautifully photographed and presented shop!
