I just went to a craft show once a year in Toowoomba and did demonstrations, and sold handmade gifts. I sold these at the craft show and then ventured into the wholesale side of the business. Then one Sunday afternoon I thought it might be fun to open a shop for a few weeks, just to clear some excess stock I had at home. Tuesday of the same week, we opened the doors in a little shop in Oakey and never looked back. That was 17 years ago. What about our Pig ? People often ask me why I use a pig for my logo. I grew up on a pig farm, used to feed them, play in the pig sheds as a child. My dad always seemed to have a piggery. When I grew up I swore I’d never, ever marry a pig farmer, so what did I do? I married a pig farmer. When were first married, I had baby pigs in the house (just as well we couldn’t afford carpets). The babies are so cute. I used to bottle feed the runts when their mums didn’t want to. They would run up to you as soon as they saw you coming with their bottle, then lay in your arms just like a baby while they drank. Then I started collecting the pretend ones. Every birthday and Christmas I get a new ‘litter of pigs’. Last count was over 250. When I first started the business, I wanted a logo that was a little different from the norm. Then one day someone suggested I use something that I really love. The choice was obvious. The pig has character, so I drew the pig sewing a patchwork quilt, my other great love. So who is Rhonda ? I have been in the craft industry for over 35 years. I started when I left school, when my parents bought a craft shop in Toowoomba. I started sewing when I was very young. Sitting on my mother’s lap, or standing behind her when she sewed. Most crafts I have taught myself from books and developed my own style. When you have a shop that stocks most crafts, you have to keep yourself well informed of all the different techniques. When my parents closed down their business, I continued to teach at different venues, designing my own patterns that I used in my classes, until opening my own business during Christmas 2003. My things I love to do the most are singing, patchwork, all manor of craft and gardening. Oh, and ride my motorbikes!
