No Bull

NO BULL

The colder days are setting in and it’s now that we try to figure out how to stay warm while we’re watching GoT. Handmade of course has the answer. We’re pleased to be welcoming Oohbulldust back to the market on 29 & 30 June.

Based a stone’s throw away from Canberra, Sam Longmore has created a warming business from adversity. A country girl, she grew up riding motorbikes and helping farmers. It was then that she learned she wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty, and this work ethic has stayed with her.

It was Sam’s ambition to join the army, and she was working two jobs to save up when she was involved in a car accident that left her hemiplegic – she lost the use of the right side of her body. Confined to a wheelchair, and facing a life of rehabilitation, she refused to fall into a mental slump and decided to use her creative skills to overcome the frustration and keep busy.

Says Sam: “One day, after a lot of trial and error, I invented my very own large-scale knitting method. (No way. Me, Sam, an inventor!) I incorporated my love of the land and tracked down some beautiful Australian merino wool, taught myself to dye & felt the wool on a larger scale and off I went. Ohhbulldust was born.”

Now, Sam makes her collection by hand and has a solid following. She uses Australian merino wool and creates throws, cushions and accessories such as scarves, hats and jewellery. Her trademark style is a chunky look, perfect for those Winter days, and her range is evolving.

“It’s been my saviour, keeping my mind constantly busy, getting me out meeting new, creative and influential people,” says Sam. “I know there are others that do what I do but no one does it my way.”

Following her experience, Sam’s an advocate for mental health and we always love seeing her positivity when she arrives to set up at the market. We asked Sam a few questions about her upcoming visit to Handmade and the approaching Winter season.

WHAT’S NEW FOR HANDMADE?

I have some new, flat felted and knitted combo snoods coming along with me and a new market stall set up!

WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT HANDMADE?

For me, it’s being able to speak to and make connections with so many like minded people, whether that be stall holders or market attendees. It’s beautiful hearing everyone’s stories about why they create. So many market attendees have given me the strength and idea that I can do whatever I put my mind to. It’s an incredible feeling given from a complete stranger.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE THING ABOUT CANBERRA?

Well it’s only 40 minutes from me now. I have a lot of beautiful connections with the people in Canberra and the talent, WOW Canberra has some of the most incredibly talented people I know – art, dance, design, you name it, Canberra has it. I also like how the city/country lifestyle is portrayed throughout Canberra and its surroundings. Being a country girl through and through, I feel that’s really important.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO MOST ABOUT WINTER?

Wood fires, hot cuppas, camping and Ohhbulldust winter woollies. Give me a natural fibre to keep me warm any day. And a good ole fashioned snuggle on the couch!

IT’S OUR FOODIE MARKET. WHAT WILL YOU BE BUYING FROM HANDMADE’S GOURMET FOOD HALL?

Stop it! How can you chose just one thing… hmmm, I may be a little biased but I’ll definitely be picking myself up some dark chocolate coated almonds and some licorice from the Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory. (My family is from Junee and I can’t get enough!)

Callie

Caroline Leevers is responsible for the Handmade brand, including the website, Handmade Style, the newsletter and the online magazine. When she's not hanging out with the lovely Handmade team, she runs Callie & Co Design, a Canberra graphic design studio that crafts brands for small businesses. Her favourite things about Canberra are the seasons (especially Autumn), the big sky, the coffee and the great events.