When made’n’found first began, I knew there was one Australian crafter that I HAD to interview. It took a little time in her busy schedule but here it is…
If you ask anyone in the Australian art and craft community to name the most influential identities on the scene, the name Pip Lincolne will often crop up.
The 41 year old (41, is she serious? she looks 31) author and mother of three owns Meet Me At Mikes. ‘Mikes’ is a store which sells vintage and handmade goods, created by people Pip and her partner Cam admire and love.
The difference with ‘Mikes’ is that Pip’s taste and eye for the unique is renown, making a successful indie business that is, in turn, admired and loved the nation-round.
“Meet Me At Mikes evolved from a skate store we ran in Richmond,” said Pip. “We decided that, as rad as skateboards are, it was not really where we saw ourselves in ten years time.”
Thus was born Meet Me At Mikes, and, now located in Fitzroy (just north of the Melbourne CBD), ‘Mikes’ is part of one of the most inspirational art communities in Australia.
“We live upstairs and have a studio on Gertrude Street too (shared with jeweler Victoria Mason)” said Pip. “Our shop is staffed by myself, my partner and my daughter – it’s a real family affair”.
As well as Meet Me At Mikes, Pip is an author. Her first book, called – wait for it – Meet Me At Mikes, was hugely successful and it’s follow up, Sew La Tea Do is due out later this year. She also writes for Frankie magazine and has a blog which attracts readers from across the globe (and was ranked #1 Australian Female Blogger by BlogChicks).
“I’m not sure what the future holds,” Pip told made’n’found. “We do lots of different things and our ‘many pans on the fire’ approach keeps things interesting and fun. Retail is tough though and a transition to online trading may be on the cards down the track.”
In relation to having a store though, Pip affirms: “It’s really wonderful having a bricks and mortar store. We get to meet lots of creative people and connect with our customers face to face.” She adds, “we get to run projects like ‘The Envelope Project’ and ‘Softies for Mirabel’, which would be much harder to do without a store window!”
made’n’found is very much about indie and handmade art and craft, following the strong tradition Pip has started. I asked Pip about this.
“Hopefully people will continue to support what we do and will choose to shop indie as much as possible. That would totally keep the ‘Mikes’ dream alive, but having said that we are in charge of keeping it alive too.”
No matter what happens in the future with ‘Mikes’ (even if we know it will flourish!), Pip has created a craft legacy that goes from strength to strength each month, called Brown Owls.
“Brown Owls grew from our Mike’s stitching nights. Demand became so huge that we couldn’t seat everyone in our little shop”, she said. It has transitioned in so many ways since the first year and chapters sprang up in other cities too, which was wonderful.”
This year, a central Brown Owls member website was created and people are starting their own chapters across Australia (and it’s even creeping across the globe!). “The wonderful thing about Brown Owls is that it is taking the virtual relationships we are making and translating them to real-life relationships and skill sharing,” Pip said. Labeling the Owls a “newfangled CWA”, it creates craft communities all over the place where there might otherwise not have been that motivation.
So what is next for this busy, crafty goddess?
“Get my studio up and running nicely!” I’m not sure about others but that is a continuing, life long goal here at made’n’found! Other goals for Pip include a book about blogging for creatives, and the continual public speaking engagements she undertakes.
And for the wider crafting community, Pip offers these sage words: “Let’s all play nicely for the greater good. I hope it (the handmade community) continues to grow steadily and people continue to make friends and share their skills.”
“I think it’s really important to strike a balance between making for profit and making for pleasure and to encourage new people to get crafty as well,” Pip continued. “And I think it’s really important to leave that competitive streak at the door in the craft world.”
(c) made’n’found 2010
