About

I am Deb Baker owner/operator of Sew Crafty Goodness and Sew Crafty Living. I am a graphic designer, mother to three fabulous small people – Ned, Molly and Ava, avid crafter, thrifter, make-doer, frequent hair style changer and wife of Jud Baker aka The Helpful Historian @helpfulhistory.

From a very young age I’ve loved to create things. Growing up with a mother who was a home economics teacher and an artist, I was always encouraged to make stuff. I learnt to sew, paint, draw, experiment and play. It was therefore a natural progression for me as an adult to move into a career as a graphic designer. However, after a couple of decades working in a corporate environment I found it all a bit meaningless and unfulfilling. It just didn’t sit right with me anymore.

So somewhere in the mid-nineties my husband and I threw in our careers and opted for a simple life to start our family. We made our “tree change” to the beautiful Sunshine Coast hinterland village of Cooran.

During this last decade and a half I’ve devoted my time and energy to raising our three children and along the way have dabbled in the odd small business and done some freelance design work while thinking about what I might do when I grow up.

Through all of this I’ve continued to make stuff, partly because I NEED to create, partly because I had some little people in my life to inspire me but mostly out of a strong desire to not “buy” into the consumer driven world we now seem to find ourselves in. A world where we feel compelled to fill our lives with new stuff rather than making do with what we already have on hand. So a lot of my early work was “upcycled” and I created myself a little hobby business making toys, clothing and accessories to sell at markets.

So like any good crafter I was able to source some fabulous vintage items for my creations and I also started purchasing craft supplies in bulk. And so was borne the idea to sell the excess in a little online store.

In 2011 I set up Sew Crafty Goodness – an online craft, haberdashery and fabric shop. This has now evolved to a blog, my own range of products and tutorials and a new home for my online store “Sew Crafty Living”.

In 2013 I found my home was bursting at the seams with products and the line between family life and work life was blurring so I started looking around for a small space I could rent to use as a shop/studio space and also somewhere to run workshops. I had been running craft workshops in our local hall and for various local councils and community groups but I really craved a little space to call my own. I moved into my little shop space here in Cooran in late 2013 and it is my home away from home. I love it so much. It is so invigorating to have a place to go to that isn’t home. I did love the freedom of working from home however I’ve come to realise over the years that I am not nearly as disciplined as I thought I was.

I am passionate about great design, crafting, stationery supplies, snail mail, upcycling and handmade. I have a stack of projects I’m developing for 2015 including my own product lines. I love working with paper crafts, felt and ink and paints. I’ve rediscovered my love for calligraphy and am excited to be working on a range of greeting cards. I’m also in the process of putting together stationery and snail mail packs. Plus I have a subscription mail service starting this year. In 2014 I started a snail mail group and I’m also looking forward to growing that.

Some trivia about me
I am a Virgo (read: perfectionist, procrastinator, general pain in the bum)
I’ve rediscovered my love of coffee since opening my shop but really am a tea drinker
I love the country life but at times crave a bit of city life and culture
I am desperate to live in another country (preferably somewhere in Europe) with my family for a couple of years (or more)…this urge has grown since our family did a European trip a few years ago
I generally have about five books on the go at one time but rarely find the time to read any of them
I change my hair style and colour regularly (partly out of boredom but mostly in an attempt to cover the grey)
My favourite place in the world is Galicia, Spain
I am a savoury girl (I can take or leave sweets – even chocolate!)
I have to create something every day
One food I could not live without would be olives
Favourite drink : Mojito
Three words to describe me : passionate, obsessive, critical
We have a Groodle named Grover
My number one priority in life is my family – adore my husband and children!
Favourite TV shows : Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead

Thanks for popping by and be sure to check in from time to time. Much love. Deb xx