brisStyle

President - Rebcca Cason (edward and lilly)

Rebecca Cason has a background in arts management and creative enterprise. She is Business Manager for Eyeline contemporary visual arts magazine, President of BrisStyle Inc, runs the Brisbane based chapter of Brown Owls craft group with Samantha Gilkes from Jetta's Nest and has her own little craft practice on the side, edward & lilly handmade designs. Rebecca's role on the BrisStyle committee is to oversee the strategic development and business planning of the organisation.

Treasurer - Benita McGovern (Bettsy Kingston & Bettsy Kingston MYO)

Busy mum of three Benita McGovern works full time as an accountant, but somehow manages to fit in a parallel life as Bettsy Kingston. Bettsy Kingston started five years ago and joined etsy three years ago. Benita is a firm advocate for BrisStyle and believes that it doesn't matter what stage you are at, BrisStyle is a supportive group that understands your passion. BrisStyle has such a range of different skills but the level of creativity is enormous and she is proud to be a part of the work - Benita believes that the BrisStyle committee and direction should also support this diversity. Benita also started selling her patterns in 2009 and this is now a successful commercial part of Bettsy Kingston. The proceeds support charities, specifically Médecins Sans Frontières, project 18 and the Plan UK: Because I am a Girl campaign amongst others. These aspects of her work and her twenty years of experience as an accountant are suited to support members in the role of Treasurer.

Secretary  - Belinda Harris (enticing icing + liddle apples)  

Coming from a background of Retail, Membership Services and then moving on to a Sales Administrator role, Belinda Harris excels at keeping the ‘virtual' BrisStyle office humming along. When not sending out emails, organising advertising or following up on invoices, Bel loves to create new creations with her brother and business partner Brett, for their label liddle apples using crafts and skills taught to them by their late Nan Beryl. Bel also spends her time looking after her two boys, in her veggie garden and baking and making sweet art creations for her other etsy store enticing icing.     

Events Co-ordinator - Helen Berthold (Ruby Red Studios + Ruby 2 go go)

Kitsch Eco crafter by day for her labels Ruby Red Studios and Ruby 2 go go, part time Air Hostess by night and everything BrisStyle in between, Helen is passionate about people and dedicated to making BrisStyle a warm, friendly, creative environment for all. One of BrisStyle's original founding members, she has brought her professional expertise in coaching, development and management training to her various roles within the BrisStyle Committee, In particular, her project management and marketeering experience both locally and internationally has been an asset to her role as Markets and Events Co-ordinator since the groups inception. Always the hostess, Helen is committed to serving the BrisStyle community for the long term ....as well as the odd tea and coffee from time to time!

Membership Administrator - Sam Gilkes (Jettas Nest)                            

Samantha Gilkes comes from a policy and procedure management background. She is also a loving mum of three and creator of the label Jetta's Nest. When not painting her famous illustrations, she is crocheting the night away or giving Suzy scroll saw a good workout creating unique wearable art pieces from salvaged and recycled timber. Taking over from Bel when BrisStyle began to grow, Sam has been our Membership Administrator for the last two years and also runs the Brisbane based chapter of Brown Owls craft group with Rebecca Cason from edward & lilly.

Marketing Co-ordinator - Sarah Rossiter 

Sarah is a seasoned event organiser and marketing consultant, she is a self confessed craft enthusiast and knows the difference between croquet and crochet. She grew up in Brisbane and has lived in Sydney and Melbourne. Now settled back in the Sunshine State - Brisbane is home to her DIY crafting business and marketing consultancy.

Blog Editor - Melinda Hume (moose and bird)

Melinda is a lover of all things crafty, vintage, homely and handmade. Her weaknesses are vintage china, delicious baked goods, freshly cut flowers, peppermint tea and vintage fabric. The fabrics she collects on her regular thrifty adventures are used to create sewn items for her label, moose & bird. After studying design and working as a Children's wear Designer for a local Brisbane company she craved a simpler less hectic life so changed professions, began moose & bird and joined the BrisStyle team. With her keen eye and great sense of style, Melinda's role as our Blog Editor sees her spreading the handmade love for all to read.

Media Assistant - Teneale Muir (wicked child designs)

As part of the media team, Teneale helps spread the word on all things BrisStyle through our Face book, Twitter and Blog. She also lists all the BrisStyle market and event information to online advertisers and newspapers before each big event. Her days are spent in customer service saving money for her next craft project. Her nights are spent on the sewing machine making little wicked dolls and other softies for her small business Wicked Child Designs. Teneale creates weird meals like tofu stroganoff, and is studying hard to become a librarian. She has a wonderful husband and a crazy budgie called Fish.

Committee Member : Gill Pyke (Catamation)

Gill makes origami jewellery for her label Catamation and is a printmaker, amongst other things holding qualifications and experience in graphic and web design, multimedia, animation, fine art, silver smithing and fashion design. For the last two years she has been an active committee member of Impress Printmakers - a non-profit printmaking community studio. While her two year position with Impress is coming to an end, she feels that she can add value to the BrisStyle community through the skills she has learnt from being a member of other community organisations, as well as her experience in marketing and branding from over 15 years of working in advertising agencies.

We would also like to make mention to our retired life members who were part of our founding comittee and without them BrisStyle would definitley have not turned into what it is today xx

Amanda Francey of Amalou Studios
Robyn Dixon of Hot Fudge
Ali Chisholm of Jellygnite & Little Jellygnite
Bec Hollis of Where's Becky Bean

Special thanks must also go to Esther Neijman of Green Envy Designs for that very first coffee meet up where it all began...