In this week's Q&A, toggle.co.nz founders Shelley Simpson and Esther Lamb talk about being online entrepreneurs and the excitement of contemporary craft. Shelley and Esther hand pick the handmade craft and art featured on their online shop and are always looking for interesting, quality work.

Their interest in handcraft extends beyond toggle and they are actively involved in pushing the boundaries of craft. Earlier this year they put together 'Hoopla', a week long workshop that took traditional embroidery into the realm of contemporary art. Esther was also a presenter at the recent Volume Contemporary Craft/Object Symposium at Hawke's Bay Museum and Art Gallery.In this week's Q&A, toggle.co.nz founders Shelley Simpson and Esther Lamb talk about being online entrepreneurs and the excitement of contemporary craft. Shelley and Esther hand pick the handmade craft and art featured on their online shop and are always looking for interesting, quality work.

Their interest in handcraft extends beyond toggle and they are actively involved in pushing the boundaries of craft. Earlier this year they put together 'Hoopla', a week long workshop that took traditional embroidery into the realm of contemporary art. Esther was also a presenter at the recent Volume Contemporary Craft/Object Symposium at Hawke's Bay Museum and Art Gallery.At the symposium Esther talked about some of her favourite designers and craft makers including Trixie Delicious [reworked, vandalized vintage china], Crown Lynn toki by Simon Gamble, Georgina Baker and her interpretation of collecting souvenir spoons and Lindsay Pemberton's Rekindle range of recycled ceramic jewellery.

Shelley and Esther are also advocates of the monthly craft event Kraftbomb and Craftwerk arts, crafts and music events.

During what hours of the day do you feel most inspired?
Anytime that our toddlers are napping.

What aspect of your creative practice gives you the biggest thrill?
With toggle as our main creative focus, we get a thrill when the site is busy and we are selling lots of our maker's work.

Do you like to look at the big picture or focus on the details?
With a website like toggle.co.nz we really have to focus on both.

What's your number one business tip for surviving (and thriving) in the creative industries?
Don't expect people to find you, you have to get out there. Get involved in the community of makers in your field. Take advantage of the support and ideas they can offer.

Which of your projects to date has given you the most satisfaction?
We really enjoyed running the Hoopla! project we ran at ArtStation. It was really great to do an interactive creative project. The joy people had in making their own stitched art work was really rewarding.

What is your definition of craft?
That's really hard to answer, but I suppose anything hand made.

What are the challenges and rewards of being a craft maker?
Makers get a huge amount of satisfaction from their creative process and I guess are frustrated at not being able to give it their full attention, being distracted by other demands such as having to make money!

Do you have any hot tips for selling on the internet?
Take really good photos. Explain your product visually with as many angles and aspects of the work you can. Overcome the challenges of not being able to touch the product. Give as much information as you can. Make sure your website works and keep it dynamic. List new products frequently.

What are your observations of the New Zealand contemporary craft making?
It's a vibrant, exciting place to be. There are so very many talented makers out there and we love being involved. The skill levels and concepts are really strong in a lot of the work we see.

What are your hopes and passions for the future of craft making?
That makers will be able to have the confidence to charge appropriately for their work and we will start to see crafters making a living exclusively from their craft making.

That buyers will support local makers and be prepared to put their money where their mouth is when it comes to buying locally.

What challenges does the industry face?
The current economic landscape might be nerve-wracking for those who rely on an active retail market.

If you could go back and choose a completely different career path to the one you've chosen, what would it be?
Esther: A Surgeon.
Shelley: A Potter

What's the best way to listen to music, and why?
Vinyl on a turntable.

You are given a piece of string, a stick and some fabric. What do you make?
A kite

What's your big idea for 2009?
We are working on some ideas for curating an exhibition based around the body and stitch.

www.toggle.co.nz is a gift shop selling hand picked, handmade gifts. They charge no set up fee, or ongoing fees; instead they work on commission.

Craftwerk is an arts, crafts and music extravaganza based in Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch.

Kraftbomb is held on the last Sunday of every month at Grey Lynn Community Centre.

Volume Contemporary Craft/Object Symposium

28/10/08