How many identities do you have?
1. I am married to Trent & we have been together for 20 years & we have two daughters Sana 10 & Arlie 6. I want to be a strong & positive role model to our girls so my family is always my first priority.
2. I work as a freelance professional stylist & creative director for my own business FEATHERHORSE STUDIO.
3. I’m an artist – I studied fine arts majoring in painting. This is something I really love to do but there are never enough hours in the day.
4. A volunteer Mum – I’m always putting my hand up to help where I can at my girl’s school. I love to be involved as much as I can for them.
Were you always creative growing up?
Yes, I’ve been creative for as long as I remember. Drawing and creating and making. I used to style my cubby house and create different zones within the space & always dreamed of having my own place. I would even style my grandparents home when I stayed there and loved to make everything visually pleasing including my grandfathers shed and stables.
That then evolved in to helping friends and family with their homes.
How has your career evolved to arrive where you are now?
I worked in the fashion industry for 14 years starting as a buyer for a chain of stores. I then evolved to become a sales rep for a local company. I was actually planning on becoming an art teacher so I studied a diploma of fine arts then went on to finish my degree of fine arts.
An opportunity came up for me to be the head designer of the lady’s division for the local brand I was working for so I took it with open arms. I held that position for 4 years designing about 15 ranges which were distributed Australia wide and internationally. We also put together the catalogues, directing & styling the shoots & dealt with production off shore.
During this time, my husband was general manager for a designer furniture retailer so I used to work casually in the stores every now and then & we were lucky enough to travel with the company including going to the Milan Furniture Fair. This trip reignited & cemented my love for interiors, arto and design.
I worked as a fashion designer until I had my babies staying at home with them full time until they were at school and dabbled with commission art, graphic design and interiors over this time.
In 2011, I launched FEATHERHORSE starting as just a blog style Facebook page and it quickly evolved into an established business.
What has been your most defining career moment so far?
I always dreamed of styling interiors for magazines so it has been amazing to be commissioned by nearly all of the national magazines including REAL LIVING, INSIDE OUT, HOUSE & GARDEN, ADORE & HOME BEAUTIFUL. It was wonderful to have one of my interiors that I created to be featured in TOP 50 BEAUTIFUL ROOMS in HOME BEAUTIFUL.
How do you balance being a mum with so many business interests?
It’s a constant juggling act and sometimes I feel totally balanced and other times I struggle to keep up with everything that I need to do. I’ve learnt to roll with the punches and take everything as it comes & to not sweat the small stuff.
What’s next for our Featherhorse?
I’m really happy with where I am at with my business and I feel very lucky to be doing what I love & working with so many incredible people. I have some exciting things planned for FEATHERHORSE expanding on my art practice & integrating it with interiors. There are more collaborations ahead and some things I’m really looking forward to revealing.
What is the greatest piece of advice you could give to all working mum’s out there?
It sounds clichéd, but being a Mum is the most incredible job in the world but like with any job it is equally rewarding as it is draining and challenging. Booking in time to look after yourself is a must whether it’s exercise, reading a book, a quiet moment – this is something I definitely need to do more of.
Doing your best is enough, you are enough. Embrace & learn from every moment – good or bad and Surrender to what is.
