The Hinterland Times is keen to highlight local folks who are committed to home-grown business ventures. Whether it’s making toys, propagating plants, inventing jam recipes or crafting gold rings, these are the people helping shape the future of our region.
This month we introduce you to Nina and James O’Brien, a couple of superb graphic designers in their 20s who are making their mark with refreshingly new Tee Shirt and greetings card designs.
Surrounded by tall eucalypts on their seven acre property midway between Montville and Palmwoods, it’s not surprising that Nina and James love trees. In fact, their two business ventures have a woody theme. Kindling is Nina’s brand for her exclusive male Tee Shirts. “It means to ignite and inspire”, says Nina. “It also means a collection of wood. I love timber and sticks and driftwood”.
Nina’s shirts are not just any old Tee. Each one tells a story – a caterpillar on one side and a cacoon and moth on the other, or a kite on the front with its owner on the back. The strong linear designs often combine screen printing and a stitched element to convey a gently whimsical impression.
Under the banner of Ember Design James produces graphic design for the new Sunshine Coast Council and private businesses on the Coast. “Ember reflects the glow and warmth in a wood fire”, says James. “And”, Nina adds, “we want to offer graphic design that serves a long time and emanates the warmth of a business”.
Sustainability also shapes their approach to what they do. So Nina’s Tee Shirts are made from Australian cotton and manufactured on the Sunshine Coast. “That’s my way of localising a product and keeping the quality high,” says Nina. “It’s important because many aspects of the fashion industry are quickly disappearing”.
“The nature of my product has so much of me in it”, says Nina who works from their home studio. “I love printing and sewing and people are attracted to that hand-made look and feel. They like the fact that my buttons don’t come off”, she adds with a laugh.
With sales into hand-made product shops in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, Kindling shirts are gaining popularity. But this busy pair of designers is adding value to their business with a range of greetings cards that are selling like the proverbial hot cakes. Printed on earthy recycled paper, their card designs also continue their strong natural themes and whimsical narratives.
Nina recently gained a RADF arts grant through Council to build an on-site store on her website. She wants to connect more with buyers in this region.
This creative couple likes to keep their fingers in many pies. James is after more web designs and Nina is moving into designing women’s dresses and hair bands.
“We find we’re working more and more together”, says James. “It’s challenging at times”, adds Nina, “but there’s
a real spark there. We push each other and we enjoy that process”.
“Working from home” says Nina, “is making our work our lifestyle. That’s better than leaving home to go to work”.
Not a bad work ethic and suggests the home-based business of Kindling and Ember should continue to thrive.
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