I love stationery! And one of my first loves was Australian brand Corban & Blair - an avid diary writer, i would go to David Jones every year & buy one of their leather wrap journals, then used their notebooks as travel journals & framed special pictures in their box frames. Last week i heard that this mothers day Corban & Blair are giving you the chance to win this amazing piece of Aboriginal art by Aborigional elder Aunty May. Head over here for the details....
Aunty May is one of nine women co-founders of Euraba Indigenous Artists and Papermakers co-op. Euraba specialises in hand-made paper at their mill in Boggabilla, in Northern New South Wales. The paper is then used to create artworks and a range of paper products. Gillian Corban, the co-founder of Corban & Blair, first met Aunty May in 2007 when she took on a business mentoring role within the community. I was really interested in this as i love aboriginal art and I was lukcy enough to be given the oppoutunity to ask Gillian Corban a few questions about this inititive & her thoughts on mothers day
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Gillian on the right with her cousin & business partner Amanda Blair
How did you become involved in the Euraba Indigenous Artists and Papermakers co-op?
I was assigned to them as a mentor through the Australia Council 5 years ago. I did this in a formal way for 3 years now we maintain the relationships we have built up.
What has working with the aboriginal community taught you?
That education, knowledge, contacts, curiosity, taking risks, getting out of ones comfort zone is the way forward for them and for us. I have met some wonderful people both Indigenous and non- indigenous through this process. It has been a humbling experience and have learned heaps and made some very important friendships.
How do you relate this work back to Corban & Blair?
We have collaborated with Euraba on products, they have bought our frames to display their work, we have used our contacts to sell their art work, we have supported their business initiatives and we have both made new contacts as part of our relationship.
What is your pick of the Corban & Blair range for mums this mothers day?
A Native Flora or Colour album - I would fill the first few pages with photographs of my mum over the past year with a little letter stuck on one of the pages acknowledging her and her long life- she has just turned 87 and still plays golf!
The Flora Collection
Colour Albums
If you could give any gift for your mum this mothers day what would it be?
Good health for the next 10 years.
I also asked Gillian a bit about starting & growing the business and will post that interview this friday along with a giveway of some goodies from Corban & Blair!
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