Introducing Annette from Rainbow Lane. Where every item is handmade!! From her home in Cairns, Queensland, Annette hand makes all of her amazing creations.
Find out why Annette started creating and why she is so passionate about the value of handmade.
Tell us about your creations and your handmade process.
I'm a self-taught sewer and I make my own one-of-a-kind dolls and softies that you can't find anywhere else. I use high-quality linen and cotton fabrics that I know will last a long time and will withstand many hours of friendship and play.
A lot of my dolls are custom ordered where the customer can choose which doll they'd like, what clothing they'd like for the doll, what theme or colours they're after and a doll is born from there. Sometimes when I see a certain fabric it will inspire me to create a doll from my own mind and make it available for customers to purchase.
Every doll ends up with its own little personality and that's what makes them unique and something that will be treasured for years to come.
Tell us a bit about your journey to becoming a handmade artist.
My journey as a sewer started after I had my daughter. I started looking at all the beautiful, handmade clothing that was available, especially for the little ones, and I thought 'I could make that!' So I bought myself a sewing machine and taught myself how to sew.
I started out with basic clothing, moving onto more complicated patterns and later on, moved onto dolls and softies. They're so fun to make and I still get to make clothes, just in miniature!
What is your inspiration or where do you find inspiration?
Inspiration comes not only from my customers who sometimes push me to create dolls I may not have made myself, but also fabric. Colours, patterns and prints inspire which doll I'm going to make, their clothing style and embellishments.
Every doll comes out one-of-a-kind and is very unique and special.
Where did you learn your craft?
I am a self-taught sewer, having only briefing sewn in Home Economics class in high school which was some time ago! My sewing machine came with a how-to DVD which was very easy to follow and I went from there. Modern PDF patterns are extremely easy to follow nowadays and with a lot of practice, I eventually drafted my own patterns to create my own unique dolls.
I also did some pattern testing for a few different clothing brands which enhanced my skills and gave me the opportunity to mix with other sewers and share questions and knowledge with them.
Why is handmade artistry so important to you?
Handmade artistry is extremely important particularly when it comes to preserving a craft and passing it on to the next generation.
If we don't keep our skills alive and teach others, they will be lost forever.
Handmade often goes hand-in-hand with quality and uniqueness - something you can own that has been made with love and the utmost attention to detail. My dolls offer all of those things and they're something I want to be around for a very long time, passing down from generation to generation.
Annette is a much loved member of the Madeit Collective, posting regularly in our Facebook Group ~ The Ultimate Artisan Gift Destination ~ and sharing her new creations as they are released. If you haven't connected with Rainbow Lane already, make sure you join our FB Group and say hi!
