Meet the Maker - Orbmaker

Today we chat with Olivia from Orbmaker

Where are you from and where do you live?
I grew up on Flinders Island and now I live in Hobart. 

How did you come up with the name for your business?
I went through many ideas, but many things felt too restrictive or twee. Luckily, my initials spell a word (thanks Mum!), I like round things, and I make things. Done.
It took ages of playing with words, ideas and acronyms. Eventually I settled on my initials, which are also a word (thanks Mum!), and I like circles, so it stuck. ·

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your product
I am a photographer at heart, and I love to shoot analogue. I shifted back to analogue in second year university because I felt myself getting really tense about the control I had over the process and the images when I shot digital. Creatively, that was stifling - I wasn't focusing on ideas and process, and I was spending too much time at the computer and not with the camera in my hand. I had to force myself to give that up when I returned to analogue photography, and let the camera be my collaborator, not my tool. I graduated in 2014 and in the midst of working and bill paying, my photography practice has suffered. I had the opportunity to sell some wares at the Mona Market (MOMA) last summer and decided that something photographically based would be the excuse I needed to shoot as much film as possible! Unfortunately, many art practices are resource-heavy and many of our materials are single use. 35mm film cassettes are often only used once, and although some labs go to great lengths to prevent it, much ends up in landfill. My earrings put a small but visible dent in that, and I try to keep my practice as low-impact as I can. ·

How long have you been an Etsy seller?
I just joined Etsy a year ago. I've been getting my business off the ground slowly, selling at markets and by word of mouth. Etsy was my next step! ·

What inspired you to begin creating?
I've always been a collector, of things and ideas. My house is a mess. I like to use 'everyday' objects, things that are perhaps forgotten or overlooked, but are beautiful in themselves. I need to have a decent amount of material before I feel brave enough to start hacking into things, hence the collecting urge. Photography is a way of collecting moments and ideas, and I'm working on collecting small things - like stamps and photographs - instead of big things, like cameras, books, and furniture.

Can you give us a brief idea of your creative or curating process?
I'm a tinkerer. I get my ideas when my hands are busy. I like to play with my materials and tools, thinking through different processes and trying new things. The ideas come from that.

Where do you want to see your business in the future?
I needed a structured, creative outlet, and so far things have grown quite organically. I want to learn new skills and techniques, and push my ideas and materials further in interesting ways. 

What do you like about being an Etsy seller?
I am learning so much! I recently had my first sale and I was so excited. It's lovely to have a platform and community to tap into and learn from. ·

Where do you work on your pieces?
My pieces are a cross-Derwent affair. I do initial preparation at my dining table in Moonah, do the heavy work (cutting, doming, drilling) at my friend's jewellery studio in her shed in Bellerive, and back to Moonah for final assembly (table, floor, couch, as required).

Where can you be found? 
Etsy 
Instagram 
Facebook
Markets: Cuckoo Artisan Market and The Market, Hobart.