WELCOME TO THE DREAMERS. 

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I was born in Orange and grew up in Orange and Wollongong. Creativity has always been a HUGE part of my life. My grandfather made stained glass windows, and I grew up in a family where art and music were part of everyday life. I'm one of four kids, and we are all crafty in some way. We made our own fun a lot of the time, and our mum even made us homemade Cabbage Patch Dolls! 

Who's in your fam?

I co-parent with my ex-partner Beau, who is fantastic. We are great mates, and I couldn't ask for a better person to co-parent our two girls, Maggie and Fleur. Then there's Molly, our beloved Springer Spaniel, who is our family's constant joy.

Your house is beautiful! Tell us about the Stanwell Park community.

I've made incredible connections with the people in this town. Ones I'll keep for life. I've been shown nothing but goodwill, kindness and support when we had our babies - to when they started school - and to now when some of our babies are now heading off to high school! We head to the surf club on Friday nights for a cheap dinner and a beer, and the kids all run around on the beach with their mates. I sometimes miss the food of the Inner West in Sydney, where I lived before moving here, but the natural surroundings and the beach is a dream life for the kids!  

 I remember seeing 'The Strides' in the Stanny CWA Hall when we first moved here. Families came with kids, beers and their dogs and crammed into the hall for the gig. It was hot, loud and so so fun. I remember thinking, 'When will the penny drop'? This place is so awesome! This town has seen and supported my career transitions from designer, to parent, to potter, back to designer and now all three again. This is the kind of town where you make friends who leave lemons and honey at your door when you are sick, help with the kids when you're overwhelmed, or go for a walk with you when you need some air. It's going to be hard leaving this UTOPIAN lifestyle, but you never know where we'll be in a year. 

Stanny folks warm your soul with love, kindness and creativity. This is a special place with special vibes and it will leave a lasting impression on mine and our kids' lives! 

How did you get into pottery?

In high school, my 'full of beans' Art Teacher (Mrs Armstrong) saw that I picked up the pottery wheel pretty fast and sent me to do my first pit firing when I was 13. It was with a heap of other high school kids who were doing ceramics at school and held at Wollongong Uni Creative Arts Department. This really made me feel like I had a gift for ceramics and boosted my confidence. 

So, after high school, I studied for five years in Fine Arts and did my Bachelor of Creative Arts, where I studied all things art and design. Since then, I have attended many different smaller pottery courses; however, by and large, I've learned more in the last seven years by owning a ceramics business. I learn so much from teaching as the students often want to make strange and different things. There is so much to know, and I think it's why I love pottery so much. I'm constantly learning and never bored.

We love the colours you use in your work. Where do you draw inspiration from?

In my most recent body of work, I draw inspo from the colours and brushwork of the Australian landscape painter, Luke Sciberras. But you can also imagine I have around 50 different Pinterest boards with new and different things I would like to try and explore.

Any advice for people wanting to pursue their passions in life? 

My advice is that there may be times when, in order to pivot or change, you may need to do two or three jobs in order to pick the one you like best. Work while you study, study while you work and don't be a snob about the status of your workplace. There is something to gain and learn from every job. It all contributes to your materiality and creativity in the end.

What are your favourite Banabae pieces?

I LOVE the cotton bedding coverlets. They feel very country and traditional. It's the perfect all-season weight, and I love the detailed prints. I also love the Flower Power Tufted Rug in Maggie's room and my trusty old Banabae Rad Mamma Cord Cap. I also love the Banabae cushions. They are plump and full of character. There is a certain charm to all things that Banabae do. I love that it feels 'inspired' as opposed to trend-based and keeps the kid's rooms looking cute and original.

SHOP PEACHES FAVOURITES FROM BANABAE: