Creative of the Month: Bryony Bourke

From a very early age, I’ve always been obsessed with dance and theatre. It was blatantly obvious as a child from any onlooker that I was one of those artsy children. Born and raised in Devon in the South West of England, I travelled everywhere to get anywhere. I used to paint in the car, draw on the train, wherever and however I travelled, the art supplies came with me.

I danced competitively in any spare hours I had and so was always surrounded by beautiful costumes. If you mash the two hobbies together, you end up with costume design and that’s exactly where I ended up.  I went to The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (University) to study theatre design becoming a specialist in Costume Design.

 
After graduating I worked all over the country in film, TV and theatre. The days were long and the hours draining, I loved it but it was taking a toll. I’d met my now Australian husband during my first year and when the RAAF posted him back to Australia, I was ready to jump to a new start a fresh adventure.


From my little bedroom in Devon, for someone known reason, Instagram promoted 'Fashions On The Field', the only time where algorithms really were spot on showing me something I’d love! I told my mum that’s what I’m going to do. 

Now, at this point, I had a degree and I had ambition, but I didn’t necessarily have any making experience. I’d only made items necessary to complete my degree. I jumped on a plane to Aus with one suitcase, ready to start my new chapter, I got a job at Spotlight for 6 months and spend my wages on machines, patterns and fabric with my staff discount. 

Over the next year or two I just kept practicing. With current trends, a little help from my Pinterest page, I slowly learnt how to realise my designs using tutorials on YouTube - it’s definitely one thing, coming up with designs and another thing making it!

I attended my first ever ‘Fashions on the Field’ event in Wyong in 2019 making ‘top 10’ and a week later won at Forster Tuncurry - I was instantly hooked.

I started travelling to new places, meet new people and wear my latest creations. It was the perfect introduction to sewing construction, NSW towns and finding likeminded people. I still compete, my makes still push my creativity, trying new shapes and fabrics I wasn’t brave enough to try before. 

Wearing an original design is beyond special, the idea of never blending and being completely myself. 

Local Inspiration

If a fellow creative had a few days to explore the creative side of your city/town, what would be your recommended itinerary?
Include sight-seeing, markets, galleries, shopping, and eating out! 

Newcastle is known for a few things… Mainly, the world's largest coal exporting harbor, it’s rich convict history, and stunning surf beaches... Recently, in the past 20 or so years, has started to clean up its act and is now becoming a city known for its vibrant graffiti art and food and drink scene, we know how to brunch.  

There is a few gems spotted around the city and surrounding bays, a few I’ve listed below!

 The ‘Lighthouse Arts Newcastle’ is located in the old cottages on the Nobby's headland and offers residencies for writers and artists, exhibitions and events.

‘The Lock-Up’, the old jail, is now an independent arts hub showcasing local and contemporary Australian art. It’s home to Timeless Textiles, a textile/fibre space - well worth a visit. 

As an artist, I’m biased towards ‘Creative Village Newcastle’ nestled in Charlestown square shopping centre as I have my own creative space there. 

Slightly further away is Maitland’s ‘Brough House’ & their Fibremakers Space, it’s relatively new and somewhere to watch as it develops!

Both ‘Newcastle Art Gallery’ and ‘Maitland Regional Art Gallery’ are wonderful exhibition spaces too. 

We do love artisan markets in the city also! 

For fabric shops, we’ve quilting specialists ‘Zig Zag Sewing’, ‘Spotlight Bennett’s Green’, ‘sew.be’ curated, ‘Onpoint Patchwork & Needlecraft’, Marimekko supplier ‘Pappa Sven’ and the cutest shop ‘Sonny & Scout’ who also teach sewing. A little further a field would be ‘Thorpe & Co’, ‘Morriset Fabrics and Crafts’ and ‘The Makers Place Hunter Region’ - now that’s a treasure trove!

I love sewing garments, both machine and by hand. My wonderful Mum is a cross stitcher and so I’ve a soft spot for embroidery too. 

I started quilting two years ago, making my Christmas tree skirts and stockings for the whole family. I’m absolutely in awe of material manipulation and am keen to learn the art of smocking next year!

Your favourite recipe to share

Being British, I’m all about a tasty winter warmer and nothing can beat Rhubarb Crumble. It’s a super easy fan favourite, packed with flavour, just pair it with ice cream, custard or cream. 

https://www.nigella.com/recipes/rhubarb-crumble

Your favourite sewing pattern
What is your all-time favourite sewing pattern and why?

Wowee this is a hard one. I don’t think I’ve ever followed a pattern from start to finish! 

Can I be beyond boring but brutally honest and say McCall’s 7279. It’s the most versatile pattern ever and my absolute go to base pattern. I change the skirt, switch up the sleeve, add a collar, you name it, for most of my makes, I’ve used this pattern. 

Current Projects

What project/s do you have currently on the go?

I’m currently making my FOTF outfits for Newcastle Ladies Day in September as well as Melbourne Cup and Oaks Day down in Flemington in November.

I’ve also got the final touches for two pieces for the Newcastle Show next year. I do make casual pieces but they’re definitely a spur of the moment sew which fabric from the stash. 

Dive into the vibrant world of BRYONY on Instagram: @bryony.t