July Feature - Hungry Designs & Giveaway

Every month I will be showcasing local talent - pin ups, crafters, shops - you name it.

My first feature is with the amazing Amanda from Hungry Designs. I have watched her business grow over the years and admired her journey. She is not only very talented, but also such a kind soul. 

You can also enter her giveaway! Read more below.

Tell us a bit about Hungry Designs...

Hungry Designs started when I was at university.  I studied Illustration & Printmaking in Scotland and while in my final year, I created a line of screenprinted tees under the fake brand "Hungry Designs".  After completing my Honours Degree, I really fell out of love with drawing and took my creative side in a different direction, and started making trinket and charm jewellery.  Friends and family encouraged me to sell my accessories at local markets and events.

In 2009, I moved back to Australia to be with my family, bring my now-husband Colin with me.  Here I was encouraged to start to draw again.  Reluctantly I started illustrating designs at local events and markets that I attended and the response was fantastic.  The trinket and charm jewellery started to take a back seat as I started to take Hungry Designs in a completely new direction.  

I have so many themes and collections, I think this was a subconscious decision, my first collection of wearable art designs was a massive range.  An umbrella girl, zombie, day of the dead girl and a voodoo girl.  I think from there I always knew that Hungry Designs would have something for everyone, for all tastes and age groups.

When did you discover you had an artistic talent?

I have always doodled and drawn and art was always my favourite subject at school.  So I think I always knew that I would study art and design.  I just didn't know that art would consume my life and I would have my own small business based solely on my illustrations.  *grin*

What is your favourite creation to date?

I'm quite indecisive, and to be honest my favourites change on an almost daily basis...I wear the first Day of the Dead girl that I had cut a lot.  I think that is more because I wear a lot of reds and browns though, so she is perfect for most of my outfits!  I am rather smitten with the Cheshire Cat design from the new Wonderland Collection though.  I love that the hoops are cut out and that the clothing that you wear shows through.

Has anyone had your artwork tattooed or are you contemplating one for yourself?

I am fortunate enough to have a few of my designs tattooed on lovely ladies.  It's always a huge compliment and I am always thrilled when I am asked to either design a tattoo or if someone can have one of my illustrations tattooed on their person.  It's the ultimate wearable art. 

I would love to have tattoos, but I am far too indecisive.  I would love a Day of the Dead design on my arm, because this reflects Hungry Designs. But I would like to have the tattoo turn our exactly the same as my illustration and I have never found a tattoo artist that could work in the same way as me.  Tattoos are obviously so permanent and I would have to be 100% happy with the final product and my concern would be that I would look at it and see flaws.  I much prefer piercings - I have 13 and counting!

Who/what inspires you?

I am incredibly inspired by modern American comic book illustrations.  I am a massive collector of comic books and I think it is obvious that I am inspired by them.  I am also inspired by fairy tales, poems and my love of Disney films.  My husband, Colin, inspires me.  He is the first person that I go to when I have a new idea and we speak about the ideas, and it often grows into something quite out of control!  My fans and friends on Facebook inspire me on a daily basis.  I am so grateful for every comment and every piece of feedback I receive.  It's refreshing.  

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

I enjoy that my art is an accessory.  It's worn, touched and matches outfits and personalities.  It represents the people who wear them and I am always so blown away that people want to WEAR my art.  I love this most about Hungry Designs and am so grateful.  

What do you do in your spare time away from Hungry Designs?

I love watching foreign films.  If I watch a film at home, I am normally answering emails, drawing or doing something Hungry Designs related.  It's really very difficult for me to switch off.  When I watch foreign films, I have to focus on the film, reading the subtitles.  I enjoy that it forces me to switch off.  Hungry Designs is like my child - I don't have any children but know a lot of people who do.  They talk about their children a lot and because Hungry Designs is my child, it's what I talk about.  Everything seems to be about Hungry Designs in some way.  Everything feeds into it.  

I like to bake for the same reason that I enjoy watching foreign films, baking forces me to focus on non-Hungry Designs related things.  The same can be said for reading comic books and painting my nails.  

Most of all I love spending times with Colin and our two guinea pigs.  There's nothing better than sharing my life with someone as special as Colin.  I know that Hungry Designs wouldn't be what it is without Colin.  He's the Wizard, behind the curtain, pulling the cords and pushing the buttons on the beastly machine that is Hungry Designs.  

What’s your favourite travel spot or somewhere you really want to go?

I do love Scotland: Colin and I plan to go back and visit his family and our friends.  Although, if they weren't there we probably wouldn't go back as often.  There are so many places in the world to visit, it seems a shame to visit the same destination over and over.  

Colin has never been to New York and we plan to travel to America in 2013, spending Christmas in Disneyland, Florida and New Year in New York.  

We also want to explore Australia a lot more.  It always seems that when you live in a country, you never explore what is in your back garden, but dream of destinations that are further afield.

If you had a piece of advice for up and coming artists across the globe what would it be?

Be open to change, advice and the world around you.  Find your niche, and themes that haven't been done before - originality is key when building a successful business.  Be good to those around you and embrace other creatives with open arms.  Being a creative is quite solitary work and having creative friends makes things much easier: they encourage you and their honesty will push you to be a better business owner and designer. 

What's next for HD?

We are focused on our homewares range.  We are busy sewing cushions and putting together clocks.  It's exciting for us that Hungry Designs is no longer solely brooches.  I have a new Halloween range coming out in September - I'm insanely excited about this, it's all top secret at the moment!  *grin*

Now that is one inspiring interview! Go out there and be creative. It's wonderful to see how Amanda's brand has evolved from brooches to endless possibilities! 

Amanda has also been kind enough to offer readers a chance to win 3 x $25 vouchers as part of her giveaway :)

To be in the running:

• Pop over to her Facebook page and 'like' - Hungry Designs, and,

• Post a comment on her page saying Miss Rockabilly sent you!

It's that easy! Good luck!

Winners will be drawn at the end of August.

Stay tuned for more fantastic interviews and giveaways in the coming months!