24 February 2017
Designer Spotlight: Handmadely
visit store
I'm Sara from Handmadely. I produce art prints, paper cuts and cards and I live on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland with my husband, two teenagers and a cat called Charlie (the baby of the family).
I took my degree in Silversmithing and Jewellery design, finally specialising in medal design and production. After graduating, I was very proud to get commissions from both The British Museum and The Victoria & Albert Museum, London. I was also asked to present a paper on my work at the British Art Medal Society's Annual Conference, which was held in Paris.
I started work as a graphic designer and found it was a career that I loved. After taking a break to have children, I found I wanted to get back into creative work but found it difficult to find flexible work hours - so I decided to make my own and Handmadely was born.
I found the Made It community was invaluable when starting out - someone, somewhere had asked the very same question that I needed an answer to! It's also now continually reassuring to see other creative people going through the same experiences, especially when you are working from home.
I started off making anything and everything, including bunting and soft toys (hence the name 'Handmadely' - made by hand) but although I enjoyed sewing, I quickly decided to concentrate on what I knew best - graphic design and paper cutting. The business name 'Handmadely' still stuck though. I'm stubborn like that.
I try to create artwork that I would like to use around my own home. My reasoning is that if I like it, odds are that someone else will, plus I've always got at least one customer - me!
I always have a notebook close by. Inspiration is unpredictable! The best ideas come when I'm just waking up/drifting off, or I'm waiting in the car at school pick up. My notebooks contain scribbles, drawings, quotes, ripped pages from magazines - basically it's my brain in paper form.
I have many ideas floating around at any one time but I find there will be one idea that will not leave me until I've done something about it.
Creation to me is very meditative - I can get lost in the process. It's a lovely way to spend the day.
Visit Handmadely’s Store to find unique art prints: Handmadely
