1) Tell us a little bit about your label (art) and what you do?
Gaia is supposed to represent a lifestyle. You know that one where you wake up, brew your coffee, bask in the sunlight that is streaming through your window that happens to be way up in a tree overlooking the ocean. You sip on your coffee and light up that spliff you rolled the night before. Throw on some clothes…. or not; carefree, creative and eternally happy, in touch with yourself and nature. It’s the idea that everything is connected in some shape or form, we are organic and raw and content.
2) What inspires your work?
Gaia is inspired by earth and travel, it has an eco take. Something that keeps you in touch with nature even when you’re in a city or on the constant move. It keeps you grounded and in touch with your ultimate goals. Sometimes when life seems unbalanced and a little out of hand, I look down at the cowrie shell on my wrist and it reminds me of the life I am working towards, it reminds me of the ocean, creating and simplicity.
3) What jobs have you done other than being an artist?
Loads of hospitality jobs, and I worked as a supervisor in a retail store for quite a while. Nothing out of the ordinary really. I dressed up in a morph suit and wore a billboard to make the rent this one time, that was interesting.
4) What memorable responses have you had to your work?
I first started making jewellery when I was about 12 and selling it in my school fairs. My parents were super supportive and encouraged me to pursue what I loved, but the feedback from my peers and parents of other kids was what really kept me going, everyone was so excited and inspired that I was doing my own thing at 12. So when the doubt set in the second time round, I just kept remembering all these people who helped me thrive when I was young.
5) One thing you can’t live without?
So typical, but I really love my coffee.
6) What gets you up in the morning?
My life is incredible, I’ve been travelling for a year and a half, I live in a different country, the people that are in my life are incredible, positive influences, life has so much to offer that staying in bed is the difficulty.
7) How would your best friend describe you in 3 words?
Well I asked around and I got determined, crazy and fun.
8) What is the next skill you want to learn?
Piercing ! I’m by no means covered in loads of piercings, but I think they are super cool and I would love to build that into part-time work.
9) What is your dream project?
Building a guesthouse right by the ocean. Basically it’s going to be an organic, artistic, nutrition, meditation meets yoga, athletic, wellness kind of place for people to come and work on themselves, and be surrounded by positive energy, good food and good coffee.
10) Favourite or most inspirational place in Sydney?
I spend a lot of time at Good God, the DJ’s are unreal and getting lost dancing in the smokey atmosphere is loads of fun.
11) What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
Work in inches, and give 100% to every single one, then step foreword. Life is a game of inches and it’s critical to give as much thought and effort into the first as you will your last.
12) What advice would you give to new, aspiring Makers?
Give love and positive energy into what you do, your work will reflect it and people not only are attracted to that but appreciate it as well.
13) And most importantly, what would your ultimate karaoke song be?
Oh wow.. probably anything by ABBA. A little Gimme Gimme Gimme