In late April of this year I found myself on a long, solitary walk toward Fortitude Valley. The day saw me outwardly troubled – my strides were not meant to be meeting Brisbane turf. On the contrary, my feet and I were supposed to be in Melbourne studying Musical Theatre.

Madelin Newman wears Rachel’s first trial dress for ‘I Make. You Wear It’

Practicing vocal scales, shuffling about in a leotard, and working on my high kicks, THAT was supposed to be my life. However, as I’d decided (after a year of study at VCA) that ‘jazz hands’ weren’t for me, my now Brisbane-based life was watching me stagger across suburban zebra crossings in pursuit of a bacon and cheese burger from Grill’d, and contemplating what on earth I was going to do this year to fill the void of having run away from school.

Yet, somewhere between Kedron and a Kiwi Slurpee from the Lutwyche 7/11 an idea occurred to me that would solve my dilemma. The concept was to set myself a challenge to make a series of dresses in a few hours, over a number of Saturday nights. An on-and-off sewer from way back, and a big fan of the TV show ‘ready, steady…cook.’ the idea of setting myself some sort of creative, time-constricted endeavor, thoroughly appealed.

After an in depth chat to my best friend it was decided that the idea was indeed well suited to a blog and that I should use the concept to try and raise some money for charity.

The next day saw me trawling the Internet in pursuit of a charity that I wanted to assist. After lengthy searching I finally found NAPCAN, an Australian charity set up to prevent child abuse and neglect in Australia. Having known many people who, as children, were once affected by abuse and/or neglect, the importance of what this charity strives to do greatly appealed to me. After reading their mission statement I gave NAPCAN a call and told them that I wanted to try and raise their charity $25,000. The rest …beginning on August 7…is history!

The website www.imakeyouwearit.com was created by the incredibly internet-talented and time generous Matt Hickey, and was launched earlier this month. Thus far I have received support from BORDERS stores and I will be doing live dressmakings in both their City and Chermside stores to raise donations and awareness for the project. Currently I have been working on trialing my ‘quick sewing skills’, cultivating interest in NAPCAN to outside sources, and getting people interested in following my online and offline journey to raise $25,000.

Whilst ‘i make. you wear it’ is striving to support NAPCAN and raise awareness, the project also hopes to encourage other young people to actively pursue their ideas and help out in their community. It’s crazy just how possible ANYTHING is if you are willing to put the hard work in. And hey, if you’re feeling uninspired, maybe get a slurpee and go for a hefty stroll. It worked for me…

I Make. You Wear It. Begins on August 7 2010 and goes until January 1 2011. Check out the website on www.imakeyouwearit.com and show your support!

For more information or to contact Rachel directly, email her at: rachel@imakeyouwearit.com.

Check out the other entries and have a listen to Shannon’s winning song about Neighbour Day here:

My Neighbourhood by Shannon Becquigny

We asked Shannon a few quick questions when she came in to collect her prize.

1. When did you first become interested in music?
I’ve always been interested in music, ever since I can remember!  I have long-ago memories of singing nursery rhymes and times tables.  However, I have become more serious about it in the last couple of years.  I wrote my first song in year 4 and did my first recording in year 6.  Since then I’ve been writing and recording a lot – at home and school, and even in the car or on the bus I jot down ideas for my next song.  I find it relaxing and enjoyable to be able to let out emotions through songs.  I play cello and piano, and sing of course, and I love the feeling of achievement once I’ve really nailed a difficult piece or completed a new song.  I’m in several ensembles at school, and really enjoy music camps.

2. What do you want to be doing in 5yrs?
In 5 years I hope to be at university studying music, or better still, in a recording studio recording my songs professionally.  I want people to hear my songs because if I enjoy and have fun writing and recording them, I think people would have enjoy and have fun listening to them.

3. How did you find out about Neighbour Day?
I found out about Neighbour Day by reading about it on the Visible Ink website after my mum handed me the ad from my school newsletter.

4. What made you enter the Neighbour Day competition?
I enjoy entering competitions and liked the way this one sounded – being able to be as creative and original as I could.  I love writing and recording songs so I thought it would be a great opportunity to record one for the competition, especially as I’d never considered writing a song about my neighbourhood before.  It was an excellent experience and a pleasant change from my usual style.

5. Do you think its important for young people to know their neighbours? Why?

I think it’s important for young people to know their neighbours because there are so many interesting people around us! Those people could live their lives and not be noticed by us, which would be a shame because it would be sad to not know such interesting people.  There is so much you can learn from new people – people who do or see things differently.  It can bring a whole new perspective or way of looking at things which you may not have known before.  Also, if you’re living in the same street as someone, it’s good to be friendly with them.  It makes the world a better place and has many advantages!

“I am not a food expert- I am just a food lover, and so want to share my love of food with you.”

Who are you? Give a complete stranger a brief snapshot into your world…

I’m a 23 year old girl living in Qld, my adoptive State. I’ve been in BrisVegas for 5 years after moving here from my cute country hometown in NSW. I work in Communications/PR and write my own food blog. I also write columns for an online magazine.  I’m pretty infactuated with all things food (hence the food blog) and spend much of my time trawling around restaurants/providores/food festivals/wine & cocktail bars in Brisbane looking for awesome food and wine to blog about. I also blog about the occasional horrible experience too! Whilst I love eating out, I love cooking in my tiny kitchen with one of my many cooking appliances, re-planting my herb garden after it is inevitably eaten by possums, and reading one of my new books or old vogue, delicious or gourmet traveller magazines.

Get Visible: if there’s anything else you’d like to add, speak now or forever hold your peace!
It’s great to see that Brisbane is really surging ahead in the food stakes. It’s no secret that we have been about 20 years behind the other states but we are starting to catch up. I’m really happy to report on all the triumphs happening in QLD – be it restaurants, produce, wineries or anything food related. We are now represented by a small but savvy contingent of food bloggers and people are starting to understand the value of good food. It’s also fabulous to see such a young element to the dining/food scene- lots of enthusiasm and vigour which is really shining through.

Check out the Gastronomy Gal blog at http://gastronomy-gal.blogspot.com/

Jaleesa Pon holding the first issue of M.A.D4Teens

• Jaleesa Pon. 20 year-old Brisbane local.
• A Multicultural girl of PNG/Chinese heritage.
• The oldest of 4 kids.
• Love food and spending time with family and friends.
• Huge fan of the arts – I enjoy the theatre, ballroom dancing, playing piano and singing.
• Travel rocks my world! One of my life missions is to travel overseas at least once a year every year … that’s how much I love it!
• A broadcaster on the multicultural youth radio show “Oxygen” (Radio 4EB 98.1FM).
• I work in the finance industry and am revelling in the challenges.
• And I also work with like-minded young people who are committed to the same things.

What are you working on right now?

M.A.D4Teens Magazine – the magazine that is Making A Difference.
It’s a magazine that is independently created and publised by a team of young people for other young people to enjoy. It exists to give youth opportunities to:

1. gain work experience in working behind the scenes of a publication;
2. be featured in the magazine and be recognised for their talent(s)
3. form friendships with like-minded teens
4. & meet influential figures in the industry

I’m also working on the building of an educational, encouraging and interactive online community for youth.

When do you feel at your best and when you feel at your worst how do
you get through it?

I feel at my best when I honour my word and fulfill on the committments I’ve made AND
also when I know I’ve made a difference to another and left a smile on their face!

When I feel at my worst, I have a look for what happened that had me get down (the situation / event / circumstance).
Then I give myself the freedom to be upset/uncomfortable etc. and allow myself to be a ‘drama queen’.. BUT only for a few minutes!
Then I simply get back in action and get on with what needs to be done next. Nothing can be accomplished when you wallow in things that have already happened.

Where do you see yourself in five years time?

In 5 years time I see myself as a bold entrepreneur; building businesses and working in/with various communities around the world, making a difference to them.

I also see myself married, in a healthy financial position, continuing to work with the team of M.A.D4Teens Magazine, learning another language and still travelling… of course!

Why do you do what you do?

What I’m committed to is transforming the world through empowering and enabling young people.  I want to make a difference to the youth community.

WHY?
Because youth are the leaders of our future and are the people who will be responsible for what happens in the world… and when I turn on the news, I want to see a world that works. Not one that is full of pain; poverty and wars.

How have you been able to do what you love?

By managing my time and by always taking the next steps.

Get Visible: if there’s anything else you’d like to add, speak now or forever hold your peace!

To find out more visit www.mad4teens.com.
You can also follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/mad4teens

For all the best events, workshops, festivals and more, head to http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/facilities-recreation/Whats-on/index.htm

We caught up with 23 year old founder of Neu Creative, Yarron Frauenfelder, who works to create appealing designs and promo art in Brisbane.

Who are you? Give a complete stranger a brief snapshot into your world…

I’m a locally based Brisbane graphic designer, with projects in music, fashion & cultural industries.
I have started Neu Creative; a is graphic design platform that allows me to explore a double sided approach to design. The first allows me to work as a designer, creating company identities and print material for promotion and products. The second allows me to explore design on a more personal level, working on projects and ideas to develop a greater portfolio through creative passion.

What are you working on right now?

At the moment I am working with clients in the music industry. Projects Include a logo for a club & record label, as well as motion graphics for a festival in Los Angels.

When do you feel at your best and when you feel at your worst how do you get through it?

As any freelancer will know, there are always the slow and busy times. I find that when I am busiest… I am the most happy. Sometimes the slow times can get you down, but its all about soldering on and generating work for yourself, self promotion can sometimes be very difficult.

Where do you see yourself in five years time?

I would love to transform Neu Creative into a small studio, expanding and collecting a passionate team of people, and keep creating great work.

Why do you do what you do?

I love being creative for a living, Its great to work at something your passionate about – Fusing design and music really hits the spot for me.

How have you been able to do what you love?

Being active and persistent in learning the skills I need to get to where I am.
Networking in the right industries helps generate talk, and in turn bring jobs.
I think the key is to keep creating consistent good work so to keep your clients talking about you in a positive way.

Get Visible: if there’s anything else you’d like to add, speak now or forever hold your peace!

www.neucreative.com
http://neucreative.bigcartel.com/

http://twitter.com/neucreative
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brisbane-Australia/neu-creative/80446959788?ref=ts

Who are you? Give a complete stranger a brief snapshot into your world…

I have 4 brothers and 3 sisters (all their names start with K!) and I enjoy hanging out with my friends, taking photos and I’m always on my computer.

What are you working on right now?

Taking photos for Breaking Ground to be showcased Zillmere Multicultural Festival on May 22. I’m also working on the Sandgate High School magazine and I’m one of the two photographers.

When do you feel at your best and when you feel at your worst how do you get through it?

I always feel good! I love listening to music, going to the city and being with my friends. I talk to my friends when I’m feeling down instead of bottling it all up.

Where do you see yourself in five years time?

I have no idea. I wanna do wedding photography because I like taking photos of people dressed up pretty and looking at their best.

Why do you do what you do?

It’s fun! It’s interesting because you can take a photo of something and then it might not be there next time. It’s like memories – you can take photos and save the memory even after the moment has gone.

How have you been able to do what you love?

I spoke to Roger from Respec and he helped me get the opportunity to take photos of Breaking Ground. You can do anything if you set your mind to it. You tell someone what you want to do, and then they’ll tell something and it will come your way.

Get Visible: if there’s anything else you’d like to add, speak now or forever hold your peace!

Come and see the photos at Zillmere Multicultural Festival! Here’s a sample if you can’t wait…