This week is both exciting and challenging as I hang out there at the end of my comfort zone with another first in my life. I opened my shop on <Etsy>.
I recognise it could be a black hole rather than a money spinner. It depends on how well I can raise the shop’s profile and market the products. So, the next step is to learn all about SEO and online marketing … another first. My comfort zone is fading into the distance.
Australiana Collection
The Australiana Collection is a series of 10 posters that celebrate Australia.
The series began many years ago when I decided to create a patchwork wall-hanging of a silhouette of four jumping kangaroos. Not having much patchwork experience and a strong resistance to repetitive activities, my huge project started then sat in a box in the cupboard for years.
I found it, recently, and imagined using the same geometric pattern in a digital poster. The original colours were green and gold against black and brown. In the digital poster, I substituted the brown for the red in the Aboriginal flag.
It was a lot of fun, so I designed one of Australia, then a Koala, and four Emus … until I had 10 posters and decided it was time to stop before it turned into an addiction.
Growing Random Gran
What was I to do with all these pictures? The logical step was to sell them, which meant I needed an outlet, a shop. I could add a shop to my website, but it is new and unknown. Hence, Etsy. In future, I will find other outlets for my products, but for now, its the Random Gran shop on Etsy.
Currently, I sort through my earlier projects, make new creations, and plan future ones—all to go on the website. Adding products is the newest venture as I grow Random Gran’s online presence.
The posters are now available for purchase in the Random Gran shop on Etsy under the category Australiana Collection.
These are the 10 posters. They come in five size ratios: 2×3, 3×4, 4×5, 1×1, and A0-A6. The images here are in the A0-A6 sizing.
Australia Poster
The Australia poster celebrates Australia, the country, with the colours that talk about our nationalism and Indigenous heritage.
Bilby Poster
The Bilby poster celebrates Australia’s alternative to the Easter bunny, the Bilby, an endangered cuddly, little marsupial that has stolen the hearts of many. Celebrating the Easter Bilby is one of the ways to raise awareness of the plight of this lovely animal.
Cockatoo Poster
The Cockatoo poster celebrates the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, a large white parrot native to Australia. It is also found in New Guinea and parts of Indonesia.
Emu Poster
The Emu poster celebrates the statuesque Emu, an Australian native bird that joins the kangaroo in the national Coat of Arms as a sign of moving forward, because the emu and the kangaroo have trouble going backwards.
Goanna Poster
The Goanna poster celebrates the Australia’s native monitor lizard, the Goanna, a fast, climbing lizard found in mainland Australia.
Kangaroo Poster
The Kangaroo poster celebrates the Kangaroo, an Australian native marsupial that joins the emu in the national Coat of Arms as a sign of moving forward, because the kangaroo and the emu have trouble going backwards.
Koala Poster
The Koala poster celebrates another one of Australia’s endangered native marsupials, the Koala, the only living member left in its species. Its nearest cousin is the wombat.
Kookaburra Poster
The Kookaburra poster celebrates Australia’s native bird with the famous laugh. The largest kingfisher, the Kookaburra is also found in New Guinea.
Southern Cross Poster
The Southern Cross poster celebrates the iconic constellation Crux, which appears on the national flag. Close to the celestial south pole, it is clearly visible to Australia.
Windmill Poster
The Windmill poster celebrates an iconic sight in the Australian landscape. Windmills and water tanks provide life-giving water to many Australians in rural communities.
Congratulations on opening your shop and I wish you every success. You have worked extremely hard to get your business underway in difficult times. Love the posters. Looking forward to seeing more of your work. John.
Thanks John. It is a big learning curve and I appreciate your support.