On our Australian journey, we visited Doug and Danika in Albury, NSW, whose story graced the cover of our seventh edition of We Are Makers. Meeting them and their family was a highlight of our trip.

Danika and Doug met while studying design at the College of Fine Arts in Sydney in 2005. Their passion for letterpress began in the UK, where they started collecting wood type blocks from charming markets. Back in Australia in 2011, they won a fierce eBay auction for a 1920s Chandler & Price letterpress named 'Wendy', previously housed in a soon-to-be-demolished hospital.

With little experience but plenty of enthusiasm, they learned the art of letterpress from Des, a former printer and mentor who taught at a printing museum in Sydney. Des, who once taught letterpress through a rigorous five-year apprenticeship, generously shared his weekends to help them master the craft.

WANT TO SUPPORT THIS PODCAST? Head over to https://www.wearemakers.shop and pick up a copy of our printed publication. Filled cover to cover with amazing makers from Around the world. We Are Makers Insta: @weare_makers Website: @www.wearemakers.shop D&D Letterpress Insta: @ddletterpress Website: @https://ddletterpress.com.au

On our trip to Australia, we took a flight to Adelaide to meet Heath who was featured in our 2nd Edition of We Are Makers. We were so excited to finally meet and to hear how business has been since March 2021. Timberwolf Design was initiated part-time by its founder Heath Polkinghorne in a modest garden shed (3m x 2m) back in 2015. Recognizing the need for more space to grow, Heath constructed a larger shed (10m x 5m) in 2017 to transition into furniture making full-time. Within two years, the his business had expanded beyond the confines of the home workshop, prompting a move to a 400m2 warehouse in Henley Beach in 2019. The journey from a backyard shed to a full-scale workshop with employees has been immensely challenging yet rewarding. Despite the difficulties, the experience of working independently and running a business remains unparalleled, though it comes with its set of challenges. In our conversation we talk about these challenges and the how his business has grown since we last spoke in 2021. WANT TO SUPPORT THIS PODCAST? Head over to https://www.wearemakers.shop and pick up a copy of our printed publication. Filled cover to cover with amazing makers from Around the world. We Are Makers Insta: @weare_makers Website: @www.wearemakers.shop Timberwolf Design Insta: @timberwolf_design Website: www.timberwolfdesignsa.com

Our Australia trip continued through Geelong and Ashmore, stumbling across Ashmore Arts. We have 3 cracking podcasts to bring you from here. The third of those is Eli Beke who is the maker behind 'Wedge & Edge" Join us on this episode as we find out the journey of Eli Beke, a self-taught craftsman whose style is influenced by Swedish and Japanese carved household objects. Beke combines wood carving, modern metal fabrication, and timber joinery techniques to create objects that are not only beautiful but also functional. Drawing on his background as an electrical engineer, Beke brings a practical perspective to his craft, enhancing the functionality and aesthetics of each piece. His extensive travels by bicycle across Asia in his 20s have also left a profound impact on his work, enriching his designs with a blend of cultural influences and a deep appreciation for craftsmanship WANT TO SUPPORT THIS PODCAST? Head over to https://www.wearemakers.shop and pick up a copy of our printed publication. Filled cover to cover with amazing makers from Around the world. We Are Makers Insta: @weare_makers Website: www.wearemakers.shop Eli Beke Insta: @wedge_edge Website: www.wedgeandedge.com/about ____________________________________________________ Recorded on: Nomono Insta: @nomonosound Website: https://nomono.co/WAM