Robyn Stewart has been a creative on and off for over 30 years, starting as a production style potter in ceramics, then moving to silver smithing and now she has combined the two mediums to create the jewellery and homewares brand, Birdy and Clementine.
Travelling from her studio on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Robyn is a frequent stallholder at the Handmade Canberra markets. Robyn says she is driven by an earring addiction, making bold colourful earrings that are playfully elegant. Each small batch of earrings begins as a spontaneous inquiry into pattern and colour. There is no mass production, just thoughtful creation with Birdy and Clementine’s hallmark 24kt gold linework bringing the process to completion. Each pair of earrings is unique, a mini abstract in porcelain using various techniques. When time permits, Robyn also creates functional ware for the home, favourites being vases and serving dishes.
Tiny works of art
Robyn always knew that this was what she wanted to do, so rather than a side hustle she jumped straight in and started a business from day one. She says that while there are people using the same medium as herself, namely porcelain, no other designers are doing exactly what she does. Robyn didn’t start out trying to identify a niche, she just created what she liked and found a group of people who liked her designs and have since become loyal customers. Robyn says there are customers that have purchased close to 40 pairs of her earrings, contacting her directly when she posts a new design on her social media. When asked how she differentiates her jewellery from others at markets for example, Robyn said she does this by the way she displays her work. This draws people and they become not only interested in the pieces but also the process used to create them. The process, says Robyn, becomes a key selling point in itself.
Robyn says that she sells very little of her work wholesale as it is so labour intensive. Most of her work is sold in regional galleries, the Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane, a couple of smaller businesses that focus on handmade products and then at the larger designer markets such as Handmade Canberra.
Preparing for a market
Once Robyn has had confirmation that she is accepted into a market, the pressure is on to produce enough product. Because the process involves three different firings, she needs a minimum of four weeks to get from nothing to a pair of earrings or a pot. Robyn also has to factor in variables like the weather, which can affect drying times. When you add in firing times, cooling times and glazing times as well as time for assembly, pricing and packaging; it’s a minimum of 6 weeks to get ready for a large market.
Robyn spoke about trends and buying patterns at markets and noted that because her product is unique her sales aren’t adversely impacted by changes in trends. Robyn did say that many smaller creators do have to reinvent themselves, but to date her designs continue to be in demand.
While Robyn did participate in online markets during Covid, she is happy back to seeing her customers face-to-face at markets where they can peruse different designs and ask her questions.
You can find out when Robyn is next in Canberra by visiting her Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/birdyandclementine.
Find out more about Handmade Canberra at https://handmadecanberra.com.au/