Creative Business Talks - in conversation Teegs from Ink and Spindle

This image used with kind thanks to Artisan Magazine

Tegan Rose is one-beautiful half of the dynamic duo that is Ink & Spindle*; one of this country’s top bespoke screen printing businesses, and a true success story for any small business creative aiming to follow a sustainable and ethical path.

Tegan, call her Teegs, started her career as an art teacher, and discovered she liked the art making and teaching more than the department and rules. A chance meeting led her to her now business partner, Lara Cameron, and the start of a beautiful business that has grown and flourished since it's beginning five years ago.

Ink & Spindle hand screen print organic sustainable fabric, using designs that are organic and nature-based, with modern interpretations and stunning colourways. But this is not all that the pair do! Teegs and Lara are eager to share their passion for sustainable and ethical business with others by sharing their story and experiences with interns as well as their 'competitors'; other creatives and makers.

Being naturally generous, Teegs is back in her heart-home town of Byron Bay for a short while (after sailing a pirate ship from Melbourne. Yep. It's true. She's the daughter of pirates!), and can’t wait to share with you her insights into small business, staying sustainable and ethical, collaborations and partnerships, a view into the fabric and fashion industry, as well as how to stay connected to your true journey and build a work/life balance that makes you contented and fulfilled.

This talk will be an informal night, with questions being answered along the way. Teegs has a broad knowledge on pricing, wholesaling, markets and trade shows, as well as collaborating with others (collaborations include NancyBird Accessories and Matt bags), open studio days, running a Pozible campaign, applying for grants and much more. Ask the question and she’s sure to know the answer!

There’ll be cake (did I mention Teegs’ brother is a chef….), conversation, new friendships and beautiful connections made on the night. Please bring along some business cards to share with others. 

*please please go and visit the Ink & Spindle website, it's such an amazing site with fabulous features, including colour matching their designs and base cloth. I find I&S to be a youthful, vibrant partnership with forward thinking in their business aspect, combined with a heart-felt and honest approach, honouring traditional skills and environmental concerns. 

Conversation with Teegs from Ink & Spindle - Wednesday 9th October, 6.30-8.30pm. Held at Byron Lifestyle store and coffee shop, 109 Johnson St, Byron Bay. $45. Bookings essential - book online here.  

** all images used with kind thanks from Ink & Spindle website, except image of Lara and Teegs used with thanks to Artisan Magazine.

why Instagram is so much more than pretty pictures

I just realised that the freaking amazing thing about Instagram is that it's a whole lot more than itself.
Huh?

When I talk to people, who are my Instagram friends, and my real-life friends, they get what I'm talking about. You might not be an Instagram person, so I wanted to explain it a little more to you. What Instagram really is!

Yesterday someone said to me that Instagram is for the kids, she meant teenagers. And yeah, for sure IG is for the kids, the teenagers. But so much more than that. Oh golly. SO.MUCH.MORE.

This is why I think you *need* to come along to the IG talk I'm hosting as part of Creative Business Talks.  Some of the reasons anyway. I'd be here forever if I shared all the reasons. So I'm narrowing to the main reasons. Mostly they come from what I get out of my personal experience with IG, and from what I've seen other people get out of it. And what we all put it.

1. It's fun. So fun. Part of the best gang.group.club ever. But there's no horrible initiation rituals, there's only a whole lot of lovin'. For sure. Don't believe me? Join up to IG now and find out for yourself.

2. You'll meet people. Yep, like old fashioned penpals. Except you can say good night to these people with sweet thoughtful and lovely messages, and someone on the other side of the world will get it when they wake up in the morning. Or even your friend up the road who you haven't run into for a few days.

3. Every single day you'll be inspired. Not only by the amazing beautiful interesting unusual stunning images that people share - from everywhere, all over, all walks of life and all parts of the world - but by what you put into it. By what you give. It makes me think about my daily adventures in an excellent way. I want to share the beautiful in my life with others, and that makes me *see* it more clearly. {And no, it's not about ignoring the mess of life, or hiding the truth, or pretending we're all superhumans. It's about seeing the beauty in everyday}.

4. You'll get some great contacts that may or may not turn into customers / clients / collaborators / connections / cool fun people (that one yep, the cool fun people bit will happen for sure!).

5. People will support you. Having a bad day - let people know and they'll send you love. I know it - it's happened to me. A simple heart and x from one of my IG friends is sometimes the biggest thing that gets me going. There'll also be a lot of love for things you make. People are supportive and friendly and caring and sharing.

6. You have a record anywhere you carry your phone of all those inspiring things you do and make. You can show people what cool stuff you do and make. You can keep a collection for yourself, in a really cool and easy to access spot, of the cool-eo stuff you make, do, see....

Ok. There's a start. Why I really really do think you need to come along and hear all about IG. For me, I've been loving seeing all the flowers blooming across the world - I never get to have peonies in my house as they don't like the heat, but ah ha - I can see them on IG by those who share with me. And woah - the stunning, simply spectacular magnolias that are flowering all up and down the east coast right now (but not in my garden), oh just too good.

Please send questions or comments. I know some of you may not be IG converts, but I'm on a mission to help us all find the beauty-full in every day and share that with our IG friends.

Ready to sign up? Book here for our workshop.  

*All of these images are used with kindest thanks from the IG stream of Ally, IG Sapa, who blogs over here at everyday miracles. Check out her Instagram feed for so much more than floral love.

Instagram for Creatives - Creative Business Talks with Leah Deighton

Last year I met the most wonderful person, who has become a dear friend and inspiring creative connection. Jo Olive and I have joined our combined talents together to form Creative Business Talks.

Our aim is to bring guest speakers who have skills, experience and a beautiful personality to share with you their knowledge and journey. Being a creative and running your own business is often hard and feels like you're all alone; the reality is that our region has the biggest percentage of creatives outside of a major city in Australia. There are lots of us here, in our studios and workspaces. Creative Business Talks will bring us together, with a combined sense of sharing our skills and our love of being small business creatives. Please read more about us over here.

Our first talk to kick off the new direction is something that we believe every small business and creative maker should be an active part of. Instagram is one of the most powerful of social media forums available for us. Since it's inception in October 2010, Instagram has rivaled Facebook so much that they bought the company to stop any competition! The Creative Business Talks team use Instagram daily, to promote their own small business as well as connect with like-minded makers.

Our guest is the beautifully humble Leah Deighton, who runs the curated online store Sang the Bird, filled with handcrafted goodness. Leah's Instagram images share her heartfelt days with the world, and allow her to live her life in the forest while maintaining her website and being a full time mama. Through her Instagram feed, Leah has been featured on the Times daily blog and in print media Flow Magazine, as well as other online features.

Our talk will take you through the basics of Instagram, including beginners how to, Leah's favourite apps to use, her journey and how Instagram has changed Leah's daily outlook on life, as well as made connections world wide. We have personally seen the benefits of Instagram for small business owners, in the creative realm, from direct sales and customer contact through to media and other promotion.

Instagram for Creative Business Talk - Thursday 19th September, 2013. 6.30-9pm. Held at the Tweed River Art Gallery workshop space. $40 per ticket. Includes tea, coffee, nibbles and take home notes as well as the chance to have fun with our little Instagram photo booth session! Bookings available here.

*all images are from Leah's Instagram feed. Please please go and have a look, and check out here blog too.