10 QUESTIONS WITH... AMELIA FULLARTON

Amelia Fullarton has fast become a go-to photographer in the beautiful area of Byron Bay. She’s known for her portraiture work - mainly for weddings and also with children. But she’s also gaining quite a following for capturing her own sweet family - two girls Arlo and Agnes - in and around their beachside home. Amelia is originally from Sydney though. She grew up on the outskirts - in Dural. Her family had land there and she and her sister rode horses growing up, and had a real taste of country life. About seven years ago Amelia moved to Byron after travelling through Europe with some of her best friends. “We just didn’t want the holiday to be over,” she says. “Byron was the next best thing. I’d like to eventually settle in the hinterland, on some land so the girls can enjoy what I had. I love the simplicity country life has to offer.”

Because Amelia’s youngest daughter is still a newborn, she is enjoying some time out from her busy wedding photography schedule. Once Agnes is a little bigger though, she anticipates having to work a lot at night while the girls sleep. “The juggle is tough and like most working mums some days I feel really stressed,” she says. “But I’m one of those people who loves the chaos of family life; I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

1 As a child I used to wear… the same outfit every day. Well, at least I tried. Mum said I used to cry when it was getting washed then go down to the clothesline to wait and watch while it dried.

2 My bedroom was… painted more times then I can count. Now I’m a parent, looking back I love how relaxed my folks were about it all. Pink, blue, different shades of purple. It was amazing; I realise now how that creative freedom is just so great for young children.

3 When I was a teenager I used to… be trouble. Having two girls, I’m already having serious concerns about what we might be in for!

4 After high school I wanted to be… an interior designer. I studied at Enmore in Sydney, straight after high school.

5 A seminal moment was… most definitely when Arlo, my first daughter, was born or more so that first year of her life. I was finishing up a degree with a newborn and starting to apply for jobs within that field. Every interview l went to - and there were a few - l walked out feeling like absolute crap, like l knew l wasn’t going to get it. My heart wasn’t in it and if l did get a job, I’d have to work five days to earn enough to pay for daycare and miss out on watching my daughter grow up. It’s this sad reality for women that we are faced with now, to be able to live off one income is tough and we feel pressure to wear many hats. I knew l had to find what it was l loved to do. l’d take photos of Arlo on my little film cameras and these images would bring me so much joy but l couldn’t think of one person who would take some “non-cheesy” photos of my family. l thought l could do this for people; l would love to do this for people. I guess it grew from there. Thanks to her, l pushed myself out of my comfort zone. l had someone l needed to think of now that was more important to me than myself and that can make a woman do some pretty powerful stuff.  

6 I never thought I would… be the first out of my friends to have children. I fell in love with my partner when I was 21 and was pregnant with our first daughter at 23. Before I met him I never imagined this is where l would be. l loved the freedom of being single, the travelling and boozy nights. But l’ve found a great man and l’ll willingly give up all my boozy nights for breastfeeds in bed. Ha!

7 I’ve learnt to… not be too hard on myself. Well, at least I’m trying. It’s a real struggle for me to never feel like I’m doing good enough. Whether that be with work or being a mother. For my work it’s important that l be critical so I can improve but some days I think I just need to pat myself on the back and say, “hey, you’re doin' okay!”. 

8 I know… that this life is short. That we live in an incredible country where anything is possible. I hope my kids never lose perspective on just how lucky they are for those reasons alone.

9 I share because… there’s something l really enjoy about documenting life, especially the good moments. I know a lot of people say it gets a bit too much all the pretty pictures but for me not so much. I try not to take it too seriously, all you have to do is pick up a newspaper or switch on your television to see how much war and sadness there is in this world. For me, if l can share what might just be a moment of happiness in my day then it’s worth sharing. Cause we all know it aint’ always peaches and cream, behind every pretty picture is a pile of mess. 

10 If I had an unexpected morning to myself I would… read, go for a drive, take a long walk without any rush to get home, be lazy, drink champagne, go to breakfast and order pancakes - knowing they aren’t going to get eaten by someone other then myself - have a proper conversation with all of my best friends without being interrupted every five minutes. I could keep going but l might bore you.

image courtesy of amelia fullarton 

10 QUESTIONS... WITH KAROLINA CARR OF BETWEEN BLUE AND PURPLE

“This is my favourite space in my house because this is where my family live. We talk, we laugh, we cry, we dance, we jump, we rest, we get dizzy, we play, we learn and we love. This is the absolute heart of my home; this is where all the magic happens.”

Karolina Carr’s story can be divided into three distinct chapters - with a detour to the UK. She lived most of her childhood in Adelaide, South Australia, after her parents arrived in Australia from Poland 32 years ago as refugees. Karolina’s mother was seven months pregnant when she landed on foreign soil. At five-months-old Karolina’s parents separated and her mother raised her alone while working full time. “We are very close, and I love her dearly,” Karolina says. When she was 15, her mother decided to take the two of them to the UK for a two-year adventure. “The move was one of my most treasured experiences,” Karolina says. “I travelled, experienced a different life and made beautiful and strong friendships. I was intentionally taken out of my comfort zone and given the chance to live something new and I made the most of it.” When she returned to Australia, she completed a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication, Media and Culture at the University of South Australia.

Afterwards she travelled around Europe on her own and then moved to Perth with her boyfriend Josh, who was her highschool sweetheart and is now her husband. During her time in Western Australia, Karolina enrolled in a music industry course at TAFE and worked at a wallpaper and home styling shop. “I loved that job,” she says. “I was in my element - styling and being creative.” After their time in Perth, Karolina and Josh explored as much of the world as time would allow. They stayed in a range of places from Marrakech to Tuscany and Champagne, where he proposed. “My time in Perth was where I found complete freedom, I explored many of my interests such as writing, drawing, music and sewing. I took a lot of classes - I still do - most recently I worked on my pottery skills,” she says. “I did so much on my own; I learnt a lot about myself this way.”

Four years after arriving in Perth, the couple moved back to Karolina’s hometown of Adelaide. She is now the mother of daughter Violet, aged two, and Jude, eight weeks old, and documents their lives together on Between Blue and Purple. “They are my heart, my life and my treasures,” she says. “I adore them both beyond measure.” Recently they moved into a beautiful old house with their very own “secret garden” in the Adelaide Hills and are slowly renovating it, being as hands-on as possible. 

Karolina is on maternity leave from working as a case manager for a not-for-profit organisation, helping to create opportunities for children through positive role models and enriching experiences. “I work with children who experience social isolation, economic and other complex forms of disadvantage, and match them with volunteer respite carers who willingly give their time, care and support,” she says. “My role is extremely fulfilling, yet also emotionally draining. Before I had children I was able to better cope with my work, but since returning I have been challenged, because now, my heart beats differently and my eyes see differently.”

Karolina says, “I care wholeheartedly and always want to help everyone. I am creative and love beautiful things. I am also an extremely organised person, who likes things a certain way, everything has a place, and I love a list. I am a free, but grounded. I am social, but am also comfortable in my own company. But most importantly I am happy.”

1 As a child I used to wear… dresses, overalls, knee-high socks and anything the 80s had to offer. My mum handmade a lot of beautiful clothes for me; they were always my favourites. She does the same for my daughter; they are always my favourites.

2 My bedroom was… my special space, a space which I always shared with friends, which I decorated with enthusiasm. I put a serious amount of energy into it to make it mine, and reflect who I was at that particular time. I was always decorating, styling and... cleaning it - yes, I was that teenager. It was always a work in progress and would change as I did. I cherished my bedroom, I feel the same about my home now, as I did my bedroom then.

3 When I was a teenager I used to… spend every single waking hour with my friends. I was a mischief maker of the lightest degree.

4 After high school I wanted to be… well, I wasn’t exactly sure. All I knew was that I was excited to start my journey wherever that was going. I knew I wanted to go to university - so picked something - and knew I wanted to travel, so… well, that’s what I did; anything beyond that was unknown.

5 A seminal moment was…  a six-month period a few years ago where I learnt, first-hand, about life and death. I watched my mother-in-law, a devoted mum and Nanna pass away and then six months later I had my first child, my daughter, sweet Violet. Both experiences changed me, they opened my eyes and my heart and altered my perspective. New life helped heal the heartbreaking loss, while loss gave me appreciation for the sweet new miraculous life. 

6 I never thought I would… run a marathon. Yes, in 2011 I ran - and finished - the New York City Marathon. I am not an incredibly sporty girl - yoga and walks are more my thing, but suddenly I got the idea into my head, so my husband and I just did it. I still find it hard to believe what I’m saying. Often when I tell people, I go into a state of disbelief and then I realise I’m actually being serious. So let me just shout it from the roof top - because, again, I’m finding it hard to believe - I ran the New York City Marathon! Wait! What?

7 I’ve learnt to… I’m learning to let things go and trust that doing my best is actually enough. I’ve learnt that my children are here to teach me - that, and about 784 other lessons I have yet to learn. They are my life, my adorable beloved teachers. I trust them and I want to be sure to follow their lead.

8 I know… I am exactly where I need to be right now. I’m doing absolutely what I should be.

9 I share because… that’s what I do, I always have and always will, it’s my nature. I share because I want to be generous always and with everything - except my food, unless I’ve made enough. That is something I’m working on, it’s an only child thing. I share to connect. I share because there is no point, for me not to, and it makes me happy.

10 If I had an unexpected morning to myself I would… if I was feeling particularly energetic - like I could get out of my PJs, I would start the day with a yoga class, otherwise I would start the day by getting something tasty from the local patisserie, maybe while still in my PJs - I have been known to do this, when necessary. I would then probably relax with a cup of tea, and said yummy pastry, in my garden weather-permitting or by the fire - if I ever learn to light it - but I’d at least light a candle in lieu of fire. And finally I would catch up on all the magazine subscriptions I never find time to read, but continue to buy in the hope that one day I will have a “morning to myself” - hallelujah!

image courtesy of karolina carr

10 QUESTIONS WITH NICOLE YOUNG

Buddhism has featured quite prominently in the life of Nicole Young, an Australian expat living in London. After studying marketing at Swinburne University in Melbourne and working in management at fashion retailer Witchery, she changed careers and worked for a florist, managing big clients for large-scale events. The owner and her family were practising Buddhists and Nicole became so involved with the religion that she almost become a Buddhist nun. About a year later the florist asked Nicole if she wanted to buy her out, but her daughters asked for time to consider their options first. “I thought this would be a good time to fulfil my dream of travelling independently around Europe whilst plans fell into place,” she says.

Nicole travelled around Europe for about a year on $50 a day, ending up in Morocco, where she decided to fly to London and get a working holiday visa. After a short stint as a PA, she was asked to run corporate events. “For six years I ended up, amongst other things, organising events for a 1000 guests at the National Portrait Gallery and spending an almost obscene amount of time at Claridges, running client events there on behalf of my company,” Nicole says. “I had a fantastic time, really living the London life - parties, events, chef’s tables, premieres…”

Two weeks before she was due to return to Australia - via Dharamsala, to meet the Dalai Lama - she met her husband. After getting married and becoming pregnant with their son, Joseph, Nicole stopped working. “It was not part of my plan at all,” she says. “But I just wanted to be with him, and in the end it was absolutely the right decision for us as a family for me to stay at home. Joseph had serious hearing and speech issues - all since resolved - which I just couldn’t have given my full attention to had I been working the hours required in event management.”

Nicole has now been living in London for 16 years, and is based in North London with her family of four, including daughter Amalia, four. Joseph is now seven. “I still haven’t climbed Everest,” Nicole says. “Or met the Dalai Lama!”

1 As a child I used to wear… a lot of corduroy! I’m not sure I ever had a choice about what I wore. I had two older brothers and four cousins, all boys, so there were a lot of hand-me-downs. I grew up on a small farm of sorts, and I was a bit of a tomboy so I’m not sure I really cared very much about what I was wearing until I got older. However, both my grandmother and my mother were quite handy with a sewing machine and I remember having some beautiful dresses made for me. Even now, I’m always drawn to anything smocked.

2 My bedroom was… all white. I suppose what was special about it to me was that it was my own, whereas my brothers had to share. I remember using my wardrobe doors as classroom chalkboards to play teacher when I was little, and just a few weeks ago I found my daughter doing the same, all her teddies lined up as if in class, which made me smile.

3 When I was a teenager I used to… be the good girl. I was always up for having a good time and, yes, rules were broken but I was never particularly rebellious. I suppose I was just always somewhere in the middle.

4 After high school I wanted to be… in my head, I thought I’d be some high-flying PR exec, but in my heart I wanted to be either a marine biologist or an interpreter, which probably shows either just how naïve I was, or how desperate I was to go see the world. Now that I’m a mother I’m determined to encourage my children to seek each and every opportunity to follow their hearts, to choose a path that truly interests them, one that fills them with a sense of wonder about the world and where they might fit into it, rather than doing the thing that everyone else is doing, or a job that is merely seen as being “sensible”.

5 A seminal moment was… I suppose I should say having my children or meeting my husband and in a round-about way, these were key moments. However, I remember flying into Rome, my first ever overseas experience, not speaking a word of Italian - and suddenly realising that not everyone spoke English - sitting in a tiny hotel room with my backpack and a Lonely Planet, wondering what on earth I had done. I was overcome with fear, I was completely on my own and a very long way from home. I told myself that I at least had to go see the Colosseum and having done that I would head straight back to the airport and fly home. So as I walked the streets of Rome,  eating gelato I knew then and there that there was no way I was going home until I’d seen every single thing that I had come so far to see. And I’ve always felt that that moment, sat in the shadows of the Colosseum, was the moment that led me on to the rest of my life.

6 I never thought I would… be asked to be a part of something like this. I never thought I would be a mother, and a stay-at-home mum at that, or marry an English guy or live in a cold climate. Shows how little I know.

7 I’ve learnt to… make really good risotto. I’ve learnt that I, nor anything I do, need be perfect and - to quote - “that the sun will go down without any help from me”. 

8 I know… how important it is to have great and true friends in life but that it’s even more important to be a loyal friend myself. I know that we’re all much stronger than we think we are. And I know exactly who I am and that perhaps she’s not so bad after all.

9 I share because… I love the connections it has brought me. And I’d feel mean to not share when so many share with me. I’m just very curious about other people and their lives, and I love seeing other people’s feeds. I’ve literally watched children grow up before my eyes in these little squares and, quite simply, it makes me happy. If my photos and little stories can make someone smile, then that’s a good thing, right? It also turns out that I just really enjoy taking photos and having a little gallery of my own to curate.

10 If I had an unexpected morning to myself I would… take a very long walk through Regent's Park with my dog but the truth is that I’d probably spend the whole morning procrastinating over my options and then my time would be up before I’d done anything at all.

image courtesy of nicole young

10 QUESTIONS WITH ASHLEY JENNETT OF THE STORK AND THE BEANSTALK

“The kitchen table is the quintessential area where it all goes down. Because my husband works from home, we spend many mornings together as a family eating breakfast, and later dinner. The record player and our record collection is directly behind the table and we all enjoy listening to music during this time as well - that is when the TV doesn’t win that battle because we all know the value a few moments of peace. We have a view of the ocean from our kitchen table as well and it’s nice to look out the window and see the sun setting... though you have to ignore the rush of cars travelling on the freeway, which is practically in our backyard, but the record player does a good - enough - job of that.”

Ashley Jennett of The Stork and the Beanstalk admits that she often stumbles when filling out forms requiring her to list her occupation. She works part-time as a hospital nurse to meet the practical needs of her life, but she also dedicates a lot of time to photographing families and weddings. The images she creates are moody and timeless, and imbued with beautiful light. “My heart resides with my photography,” Ashley says.

Last year she also opened a clothing shop The Bee & The Fox with her husband selling what has quickly turned into an iconic t-shirt. While the business has grown quickly, so too has the work for it, Ashley says. “Each job gives me a little something different and while I struggled for a long time about not being able to give 100 per cent to any one thing, I now appreciate each position for what it provides and view them collectively as having a symbiotic relationship, where each one is made better because the other exists,” she says. 

Ashley was born in Van Nuys, California, which is part of “The Valley” and the where the term “Valley Girl” was coined - thanks in part to Marilyn Monroe, who hung out in the Valley often. While Ashely has spent most of my life in Southern California, she spent five years “living independently and making a lot of mistakes” in San Francisco in her 20s. She’s now based in a small beach town called San Clemente, south of Los Angeles and north of San Diego. Ashley lives there with her husband, their two boys, a boxer dog, and a growing baby in her belly. 

“Like most, the path I’ve traveled is not without its bumps and detours,” she says. “A huge part to any success I’ve encountered is the support I’ve received from my husband as well as a philosophy I’ve adopted in life to simply go with it and learn along the way. Some of my biggest mistakes and biggest heartaches have turned out to be the source of strength behind my biggest leaps forward.” 

1 As a child I used to wear... white cowboy boots. With everything. Including my girl scout uniform. 

2 My bedroom was... covered with posters my mom gave me from the 60s and beaded curtains. I’d also cut things out from magazines and tape them all over my walls. 

3 When I was a teenager I used to... think I knew it all. I was a bitch to my mom. Sorry, mom. I developed late and was all around pretty immature.

4 After high school I wanted to... know what it is what I wanted to do because the reality is I didn’t have a clue. 

5 A seminal moment was... having my heart broken by a guy who didn’t deserve me. I travelled the world shortly after that relationship ended and it was during that time I built the foundation of who I am today.

6 I never thought I would... be a mother to a girl. And so far, I’m not. We don’t know the gender of the baby in my belly and are hoping to hold off on finding out.

7 I’ve learnt to... eat leftover pizza. And the truth is, I now love it even better the next day.

8 I know... what I do and I don’t know what I don’t know.

9 I share because... it makes the world feel like a smaller place and I like the conversation and community aspect of it. 

10 If I had an unexpected morning to myself I would... sleep in. Then I’d like to think I’d have the energy to get up and clean... because a clean house is where it’s at. 

image courtesy of ashely jennett

10 QUESTIONS WITH MICHELLE HOUSEL OF DANCEY PANTS DISCO

“Our apartment is very tiny and my studio is really just a cleaned-up portion of the garage but it is just enough for me to be content. It is my space that is untouched by others and is a place of inspiration and imagination. I really love having the room to work on my work as well as other projects that may begin from a spark of inspiration and motivation.”

After Michelle Housel’s last year at college she spent her last $200 buying a one-way ticket to Nantucket. She had fallen in love with the island and its people after she helped a high-end boutique from her native Florida to set up a second location there. While Michelle, also known as Dancey Pants Disco, had grown up in Florida and graduated with a BFA in Illustration, “I always knew I wasn’t meant to be there,” she says. “Being a red-head in the sunshine state was a bit brutal.” Soon after arriving on Nantucket she fell in love, had a son, Odin, and has pretty much called the island her home ever since, although she is now focussed on buying land off the island to build “the house of our dreams”. As well as creating illustrations, Michelle is perhaps most well known for her beautiful rag dolls. There’s a wonderful interview with her on Kirsten Rickert’s site too - about the steps she takes to live a more earth-friendly life.

1 As a child I used to wear... dresses, dresses, and more dresses. I also really love Native American culture so I tried to wear leather pouches and beaded garments whenever possible too. My Nana is Mexican so embroidered dresses were also a part of our childhood wardrobe. As I grew into a teenager, I rebelled by wearing striped tights and plaid skirts, my mom hated it but I think that made me like it more - I love you mom!

2 My bedroom was... small, but bright. The windows weren’t very big but I always had the curtains open. I had a desk with a sewing machine where I would sew doll clothes as a teenager. There was a tall shelf that reached almost to the ceiling, each shelf contained a separate collection. I’ve always been a collector so I still have little collections on display in my home now. When I was young I would rearrange my room almost every month - I loved the change and craved in constantly. 

3 When I was a teenager I used to... sew, draw, journal, listen to music, and paint. My childhood was a fairly protected one and I never snuck out to party or do anything I wasn't supposed to. I was very much a goody two shoes. I didn’t mind it much then because I really didn't know any different, but now I wish I had done a bit more rebelling or had a bit more freedom. At the same time, I am glad that I was at home a lot - I played around with building an HTML website and sold doll dresses for a specific type of doll for about $75 to $100 each at only sixteen years old. I wish I still journaled regularly, it was really helpful through harder times.

4 After high school I wanted... to go to college. I wasn't sure if I wanted to go for early childhood development or for art, but eventually I chose art. I wanted to be an illustrator and still do, but am glad I get to share this journey with my own little man. He inspires me daily to seek out the magic in life which makes it easier to feel inspired when it comes to the art-making.

5 A seminal moment was... when I met all of my Nantucket friends. I had a very sheltered childhood and every single one of my Nantucket friends had already experienced so much more than I had because of the freedoms allowed to them. That summer I gained a sudden independence and confidence that I didn't have before. I came back home at the end of the summer, quit the job that had proven many times that I wasn’t appreciated, and actually enjoyed my senior year of college working at a vintage clothing store and making massive amounts of art. 

6 I never thought I would... be making dolls as my “job”. I’m working on some other things that seem to be going well, but I never thought doll-making would be one of them. I made little rag dolls in high school for friends and then made dolls a little closer to the ones I make now while in college. I always thought it was a gift making hobby more than a possible career path but I’m so grateful it’s turned into what it has.

7 I’ve learnt to… appreciate food and handmade goods. As a teenager, I made things that I sold but never felt like they were worth what I should have charged. Now, I am aware of the work that goes into a craft and how much materials can be in addition to all of the training and trial and error before reaching the point of production. The same goes for food. We were around a lot of fast food when we were young and I never learned to cook until after college. Now that I grow my own food and try to buy food locally, I appreciate cooking it and the meal that we eat at the end. Growing or foraging for our food makes meal planning exciting and for me, it seems much more fulfilling.

8 I know... that magic exists in the mundane. I’ve practiced seeking it out and it really boosts my morale. I have a much easier time thinking positively when I can see little bits of magic everywhere.

9 I share because... I love the community that evolves through it. Sharing bits of myself and befriending those who share bits of themselves that I find magical. 

10 If I had an unexpected morning to myself I would... ah! Everything? Can I fit everything into a single morning? Make tea, read some of my favourite books or the newest issue of Taproot Magazine, listen to some melodic music while embroidering, go for a bike ride, jump in the ocean, and practice the ukulele. I could probably fit all of that in, right? Ha!

image courtesy of michelle housel of dancey pants disco

10 QUESTIONS WITH... ANNABELLE HICKSON

“This is our new ‘commercial kitchen’ in the shed where I am in the process of putting together pecan products to sell online. It is my favourite spot because what was a dim container with faux wood vinyl panelling was transformed in two days on a non-existent budget into what I think is an incredibly beautiful room. It also has glorious natural light and under the guise of a working kitchen, I have managed to nab myself a quasi room of my own for my blog.”

“I have this awful tendency to focus on the things that could be rather than see the beauty in what I actually have, so I started The Dailys as a kind of tool to help me see what is in front of me,” says blogger and photographer Annabelle Hickson. “I was also yearning to have a creative focus that was beyond being a mother and the concept of a blog as a virtual Virginia Woolf Room of One’s Own was very appealing.” 

Annabelle was born in Madrid while her parents worked there when she was a young child, but grew up in Sydney. At university she studied arts and commerce and majored in Latin and finance - “which probably gives you some indication as to how confused I was then”, she says. After months of interning at The Australian newspaper she was offered a cadetship and worked in the Sydney office before being based in the Brisbane bureau. It was then that she met her husband, a cotton farmer. 

“He lured me into a life in the country, which I initially hated, but several kids later and after a whole lot of growing up, I have come to cherish my life in the bush,” Annabelle says. They are now based in the Dumaresq Valley near New South Wales’ border with Queensland. It is from here that she photographs food and flowers, and shares recipes and stories of life in the country on her blog The Dailys.

“It is important that the photos I take are of the ordinary and daily moments of my life - not too tweaked, not too constructed - but then it is also important to me to present them as beautifully as possible,” Annabelle says. “Best foot forward.”

1 As a child I used to wear… beautiful hand-sewn party dresses complete with sashes thanks to mum. My sister and best friend wore matching ones. I also adored wearing my Brownie uniform and ran an unsuccessful campaign to be allowed to wear it to school on Thursdays.

2 My bedroom was… upstairs with three large windows looking over the garden flanked by long, drapey Colefax and Fowler floral curtains. All I wanted to do was stick posters of Jason Donavon up on the wall but mum wouldn't let me.

3 When I was a teenager I used to… sneak into the secret attic room accessed through a tiny door via a cupboard in my bedroom and smoke heaps of Peter Stuyvesant cigarettes, read Jack Kerouac and listen to The Cure on repeat while wearing light brown corduroy pants I had crudely modified into flares.

4 After high school I wanted to be… a journalist, which luckily I was, although that came after phases of wanting to be a publisher, an investment banker - I thought the cash would be nice, but didn’t even make it into the first round of interviews - and then really anything at all, just as long as it was something not to do with waitressing in mediocre cafes or delivering unwanted pamphlets to suburban letterboxes.

5 A seminal moment was... having my first child who cried a lot for a long time. It was a long, rather intense period where I eventually had to accept I couldn’t fix everything or bring about a happy ending and control the outcome whenever I saw fit. Some things often take time and they are often out of your hands.

6 I never thought I would... live in the middle of nowhere married to a farmer. But the big open skies and the kookaburras and the crisp air and the simple world of limited choices, I wouldn’t swap for the world. Well, maybe Paris. And actually Sydney also looks pretty good, but with young kids this is where I want to be.

7 I’ve learnt to… say no when I mean no. It dawned on me that I could either spend my life baking for school fundraising events or seconding motions in dreaded committees - I sound like Betty Homemaker here, but there is a lot of pressure to be involved in these things in country towns, and especially when there are only 15 kids in the entire school - or I could put a limit on time spent on this stuff and do something that was more meaningful to me.

8 I know… now that drama is not as important as I thought it was. I operate in cycles of borderline manic productivity followed by depressive slumps and life is better when I aim to steady the keel rather than hang off either side of the rocking ship.

9 I share because... it makes me feel alive to connect with like-minded people and because it gives me a semi-official framework in which to be creative, but if I am honest mostly because I am a little girl that is still looking for validation.

10 If I had an unexpected morning to myself I would... stay in bed and read - I am reading Karl Ove Knausgrad's My Struggle series at the moment, and cannot get enough - and then cook something new or with lots of chopping that would otherwise flip my lid if the kids were around.

image courtesy of annabelle hickson

10 QUESTIONS WITH... MADELEINE SARGENT

“I’m standing at the dining table, which is where everything happens. Kids homework, Mexican feasts with friends and making all our grand plans. It’s definitely where the action is and it’s one of my favourite places to be.”

Madeleine Sargent stepped behind her sewing machine to help find a way out of post-natal depression following the birth of her first child, son Otto. She found it therapeutic and learnt that she enjoyed the creative process. Five years later, after the birth of her daughter Coco, Madeleine started to make cloud mobiles from vintage handkerchiefs, as well as hanky blankies, under the name Made by Mosey and they put her on the crafting map. In recent years she’s expanded her range to include feather garlands and a range of cool and colourful cushions. You can read about her early journey on Daily Imprint. Here, she shares a little more about herself.

1 As a child I used to wear… the best clothes. My mum dressed me and my siblings beautifully. Denim overalls, patent Mary Janes, tights and liberty smocks, short shorts and tee-shirts with rainbows.

2 My bedroom was… shared with my sister. So much fun! Endless dreaming, plotting, make-believe and dressing up. Lots of posters of Whitney Houston and Leonardo Di Caprio plastered on the walls too. 

3 When I was a teenager I used to… dream of travelling, falling in love and being a back-up singer for De La Soul. Two out of three isn’t so bad. 

4 After high school I wanted to be… a photographer. 

5 A seminal moment was… having my son at 25. My husband, who was 23 at the time, and I stepped up to the challenge albeit penniless and petrified! We were fortunate to have a safety net beneath us woven from love and support of the strongest kind so whenever we fell, we were able to get right back up. My husband and I have come a long way together and I’m very proud of the little family we’ve created.

6 I never thought I would… have a baby at 25! 

7 I've learnt to… accept that I will never be able to have long, blonde, straight hair that moves. 

8 I know… a lot of hip-hop lyrics - especially early 90s - and drop them into conversations frequently. 

9 I share because… it’s fun and feels good to share. I also love the community and conversation and want to contribute in some small way. 

10 If I had an unexpected morning to myself I would… still spend it at the studio. I love what I do and pinch myself that I’m able to do it so you would definitely find me at the my machine sewing. And pinching.

image courtesy of madeleine sargent

10 QUESTIONS WITH... SARA TASKER

"Taken in my kitchen, the room I'm always drawn to the most. There are old whitewashed beams, windows looking onto open green hills, and an AGA - an old-fashioned cast-iron range cooker - that's like the warm beating heart of our whole home. I have a desk upstairs, but most often I find myself working at the kitchen table, for the light, the warmth, and the way the ideas seem to flow. Plus also, I'm nearer to any cake."

Sara Tasker grew up in Manchester, England and had only ever lived a city life until she moved to the countryside last northern hemisphere summer. “It was a change driven by a lot of things, but mostly the need for space, physically and mentally,” she says. “All three of us needed to escape.” She chronicles her family life in the blog Me and Orla, and the Instagram account of the same name. “Photography has always been a hobby, something like a tangible form of daydreaming for me, and I never considered that it could be anything else,” Sara says. “Then I discovered Instagram, and everything grew - now suddenly it's a viable option, and I’m feeling unsure about how to bring it all together.” 

Words were her first real love and she studied linguistics at university and worked in the field of speech and language therapy for a decade. “I’m passionate about people with learning disabilities and special needs - I've met so many amazing young people, and learned so much from them.” Since motherhood life has changed, though. “I feel like a line was drawn the day she came; before then, I saw the world in black and white. She came along and now it's in glorious, dazzling technicolour.” Now Sara says she is at a cross-roads of deciding between her work with children with special needs and taking a leap to follow different, older dreams.

1 As a child I used to wear... whatever my mother told me to wear. It was totally non-negotiable - one time I pleaded to wear a favourite dress, and she tore it to shreds. It continued right into my early teens, and I found it suffocating.

2 My bedroom was... inhabited by little people who would come out of the skirting boards at night in their cars. I didn’t make it up; I definitely remember seeing him!

3 When I was a teenager I used to... spend all of my available time overthinking and analysing. It’s a brilliant skill, but also paralsying - if we could read minds, I think we’d probably never leave the house.

4 After high school I wanted to be... a writer. I just assumed this would happen; I'd raised myself on Enid Blyton books where every girl has a talent that turns into a career. I never really thought about the “how”.

5 A seminal moment was... meeting my other half, Rory. I don’t believe that anyone requires a partner to complete them, but when we sat down together on our first date, I felt so many things fall into place. I picture him as the stake supporting little sapling-tree-me - the roots are still mine, and they’re growing stronger, but he helps me stay upright when the strong winds blow.

6 I never thought I would... be breastfeeding and co-sleeping with a toddler! She’s decided how she wants to be parented, and I’m just following her lead and learning as I go.

7 I’ve learnt to... sit on the fence a bit more and not see the world so black and white. Or I’m trying, at least.

8 I know... all the words to every Tori Amos song ever written. Why aren’t we best friends already?

9 I share because... I love feeling connected. It has been so healing and inspiring to discover other people all over the world with the same values and ideals, seeing things the same way. I spent such a long time feeling strange and isolated when I was younger; through sharing online, I’ve found my “tribe”.

10 If I had an unexpected morning to myself I would... As much as I’d love to give a glamourous answer like “read in the bath with a margarita”, in truth, I’d probably just sleep. Go back to bed, let the sun stream in, listen to the birdsong and dream. What could be better?

image courtesy of sara tasker