skyeandstarz

Hi all,

I would love to introduce you to a very creative, talented and lovely friend of mine....Robina Meehan.

She makes amazing products out of leather that just look so organic and appealing. Bina has her own unique style and a wonderful way of expressing herself through her work.

She has an online business called Binakaye and I can't urge you enough to take a look. I recently commission her to make me some headbands for Starzia and this is what she came up with...........

I also asked if she would do an interview with me and she most kindly agreed.

Bina,what is your biggest passion?

In my 'whole' life it is to create and maintain a truly happy nuclear family. Where old fashioned values are maintained and memories are created to be shared for generations to come.

Exclusively, my biggest passion for binakaye is to create functional (each piece must serve a purpose) leatherworks that will last to be handed down for generations to tell stories of how they came to own a binakaye piece.

AND, I want to sell a wallet for $460!!! If Barrett Alley can why can't I?!

Bina, tell me, do you have any favourite artists who inspire you to create?

Barrett Alley! I LOVE their stuff..

Adam Leddin! He's currently doing my logo artwork and is a genius graphic designer!!

I suppose my first every inspiration was Treeva Stone.

She no longer does jewellery but created AMAZING jewellery and bags for years.

I bought a hair on hide handbag from her in 2003 for $140. I was a student and saved and saved and made sure she didn't sell that bag to anyone else!!

I fell in love. It took me quite a few years to realise that i could recreate some of that magic myself if I chose!!

What do you love most about what you do?

The flexibility. That I'm not restricted to ONLY creating one style or size or shape or article. I can make a hundred of something or just one. I can take as long as I chose or get it done fast.

Mostly I love that I can incorporate my creativity with living the dream of 'home and family'!

And tell me, why did you choose leather as a creative business?

I never imagined anything else. For me everything MUST be of natural fibre. Leather has such personality all of it's own. No two animals are identical and for that reason no two pieces of leather can ever be the same and therefore my work is always changing.

There's no chance of boredom... not that there could be really....

After all 'only boring people get bored!!" ha!

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Living 'outbush' somewhere?

Heck! who knows where. With my husband and little brood. Living from our properties livestock and having the most amazing veggie garden EVER!! Happy little souls developing into all they dream to be, all around me!

Blissfully turning leather into works of functional art being sold across the world with the assistance of ever changing nerd machines (computers!)

What amazing projects are you working on now?

I've just completed a series of high-end belts for a wedding party in central Australia in September.

Satisfying job. Being a part of a HUGE memory making day. A wedding!!

I'm also plugging away at some stock for an upcoming craft market on 9 October in Geraldton, WA.

My order book is calling me with a few other jobs too, but I've learnt I can't force a job if it's not ready to come!!

What are your dreams for your business?

As previously mentioned i WILL sell a wallet for $460!!

But I dream of it being a little label all of it's own. Only ever created by me (never mass produced). To be profitable enough that I don't have to work nursing shifts at a nursing home but never too busy that it squeezes me away from my family and mates.

And my last question.....Where do you get your ideas and inspiration from?

Everywhere and anywhere!! Mostly when I'm not looking for it I'll stumble across something that trigger's an idea.

Often gifts people give me set me on a tangent. People who know me well often encourage me with ideas and when the mood swings and my self confidence is up I set sail!!!

Bina, thank you so much for sharing all this with us. Starzia and I wish you all the best in your creative journey. We think that you are absolutely amazing and your passion and commitment has been an inspiration to us.

Skye:) and Starz*