Keen on old fashion.

I thought I'd share with you the article I had written about me in the Footscray Star Newspaper on 13th September, 2011 -


THEY’RE the handbags and accessories made from coffee sacks.


Spotswood artist Erica Keen works with a range of vintage and recycled fabrics and fibres to create bags, satchels, pillows, door snakes and beanies.


Ms Keen, 30, makes her pieces using her mother’s old Husqvarna sewing machine and sells online under the label Been and Done.


“It’s great for me because I get to do what I want to do overseas, from home,” she said.


“It’s a nice way for people to recognise the value of something that can be reused.”


Ms Keen also works with Green Collective and the African Women’s Sewing Enterprise, a social enterprise which teaches women to sew and chat freely in a safe and creative environment. 


She is currently studying Textile Design and Development at RMIT and has applied for a three-year placement in East Africa with her husband to work with the women there.


Ms Keen and her husband Ben visited the region at the start of 2009 to get a feel for the area.


“We lived in a rural area where we were the only foreigners… we lived in a mud hut with no running water,” she said.


“We chose to live really simply – it was easier to get a snapshot of real life when you weren’t being treated like a tourist.


“It was great.


“We’re both pretty passionate about making a difference in the world.”


Ms Keen is one of nearly 50 stallholders who will exhibit their made-in-Melbourne creations at the Maribyrnong Makers Market on Saturday 17 September, from 9.30am until 3.30pm.


The market will run out of Seddon’s Uniting Church Hall, go to www.maribyrnongmakersmarket.com.au for more information.


Wow, what amazing article! There will be one more huge Maribyrnong Makers Market in Seddon on the 26th November - be sure to come along and check it out. I will have a stall with my handmade homewares, plus Ben will be busking as a Living Statue and I will also be busking with Balloon Sculpting! 

Comments

  1. "Spotswood artist Erica keen" wowzr what a title..shame they got the other title wrong=ms;-)

    Awesome exposure..i wonder how many people read that article and started to think about what they could do?

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

I love comments! And I love that you have dropped by to visit my blog. Thanks! E xx