Getting to know Maree…

Tell us about your current business.  What do you offer, how long you’ve been there, and

the size of your business?

The idea to do more with my handmade hobby began to develop whilst I was still working as a

Primary Teacher in a local school. Once I’d made the decision to finish my teaching career 7

years ago, I began to work in our family business and also had opportunity to turn my hobby into

the small handmade business that it is today: FaithandEvie.

What does FaithandEvie offer? It offers you the opportunity to choose handmade, to choose

items that are made with thought, care and represent a desire to slow down and consider your

choices.

FaithandEvie has become known for modern crochet accessories for your home - think baskets,

bags, coasters and accessories for yourself - think necklaces and earrings. Each item is

handmade by me, using fibres and findings that have been chosen specifically for their quality,

eco friendliness and, where possible, produced in Australia. As I make each item by hand no two

items are ever exactly the same and are only ever available in limited quantities.

 

On a good day what do you love most about being in business?

I love that being the woman behind the business allows me to direct where it heads, to make

choices that align with my values. Sometimes those choices may turn out to be not quite what

was expected and a pivot may be required, but they’re all learning opportunities and that is

rewarding. Of course, the thing I love most is the creating – making things that are aesthetic,

textural and purposeful, and if it is chosen by someone well that is the icing on the cake.

 

What has been the biggest hurdle you have had to overcome as Women in business?

The biggest hurdle has been the juggle of life responsibilities with giving my business the real

time that it deserves, not just spare moments in between everything else. It has been a real

mindset adjustment for me, valuing what I do enough to treat it as a business and not just a

hobby.

 

In terms of you and your business, what are you most proud of?

I’m super proud that I took the leap of faith at the beginning. What started off as a small hobby

with a few friends wanting to pay for items and me selling at the odd market has now grown into

my business. A business that now has items available alongside the works of amazing local

artists and artisans at PS Artisan Collective in Nelson Bay, and has been selected to join the

Madeit Australia platform, where I am now a Verified Artisan for the - Handmade not Massmade

movement. I’m proud that the I am part of the growing community of people who are choosing

local, choosing slow and choosing handmade.

 

What strategies do you use to try and keep a work/life balance? 

The juggle of family life, managing our family business and working on FaithandEvie has

presented enormous challenges at times. I did for many years just do what I could and honestly

my business was pushed aside as I considered other things were more worthy of my time. It was

in recent times that I reached out to Fiona from YOUtopia WELLbeing who helped me really

identify what was truly important to me, what my vision was and how I needed to give those

things time to really become what I envisioned.

I have a weekly plan that helps me prioritise and organise times in my days, it is a little flexible

but I like structure and this does help me. I also use the Pomodoro time management technique

when working – this helps me stay focused, pushes those distractions away. I also have small

periods of time where I don’t focus on my business – it may be a short holiday or a few days of

just doing life without FaithandEvie – this I find helps my mind, helps me reset again.

 

What do you love about being business womAn in Port Stephens?

Port Stephens is an area of natural beauty that really fosters creativity. We are fortunate that

there is a wonderful community of artists and makers in Port Stephens who celebrate

creativeness, the arts and each other, I love being part of that. I also love the opportunities

available to learn from the many other women in business in the area and collaborate with them

at different times. PSWIB is one such avenue that fosters collaboration and a sense of

community for women in business, so being a member is a great opportunity to learn, grow and

develop a network of like minded people.