Tinkers By Design

24/04/2026

Curious any ladies interested in Ladies Tinker night?

Each week will do a little demo of some activity in studio, you are not limited to that activity and choose your own. Note not a workshop. But you will gain some skills, learn something and have a laugh. Can even put on some music to jam to while creating.

Option to Bring your fav take out or left over, eat as a group, have a cuppa, no alcohol, chat and get creative.

Can offer pick up an drop off to Goonellabah but for only 4 ladies. Restriction for car pickup and drop off - No cat hair,
or 24hr contact with VAPES or coconut and no fresh washed hair. Sincerely sorry but severe allergy.

24/04/2026

Weekly Women's group - Thursday 10am to 12 noon
For the creative and not so creative and want to be creative. Or those who would like to have a go.

02/09/2025

Tinker play/experimental:
SUMI ink and PVA on glass.
plus activities planning.. Calligraphy and expressive Calligraphy. When dried the white goes clear.. looks great looking through the glass.. forgot to take pics sorry..

It's interesting how one person can be formal and expressive.

Sumi ink would have to be one of my favourite inks..

A little goes along way. Is light fast an uv stable.. works on many materials.. is make from burnt pine wood, blended with animal glues.. traditional sumi sticks are either blue or brown tone..
No 2 sticks are the same.. some sticks are rare like fine wine.. they get better with age.. I say some, as some are brittle as they age. It depends on the ingredients and whether a student or master made it..
Bottled Sumi tend to be synthetic..

Next experimental, will try sumi sticks vs bottle sumi..

Happy tinkering..

02/09/2025

We'd last week instudio.. 1st time photography set/scene building images for postcards, mother's/father's day cards.. and calender.. very proud moment.. angel client over 150 photos.. now we have hard task.. which ones will make the cut. We did take a quick moment to heart ones stood out for review next week an also delete doubles..

26/08/2025

Preparing for tomorrow project with client.. photos for father's day card and later calender.. client is learning photographing art scenes.. after the boots will become beautiful planters..

Excited for this project tomorrow..

23/08/2025

23/08/2025

New item in store/studio .. huge thank you to Anthony from OZ3D printing.

Finally getting 3d printed projects ticked off.

Also coming in store/studio is some book binding tools.. mini sprig vases/oil scent vase.. these Calligraphy brush stands look amazing, easy to put together.. an more so, I love that it separates Calligraphy brushes to the other brushes..
Also looking forward to seeing the stamps..
Its amazing working with a local 3d designer/printer. This will definitely help the studio/store move forward.. thank you Anthony..

https://www.facebook.com/share/19eMhCg3CC/

11/08/2025

Aug 2nd - at CWA halls, Mina Yamamto Calligraphy workshop pics, Proud moment, this event was a year in the making.

Wow what an amazing day, very relaxing, so many moments everyone was totally engrossed in their calligraphy, you could feel the peace and enjoyment of the moment. I hope everyone felt this.
This is why calligraphy - when the brush, ink an paper come together, always a beautiful mindful moments.

I first met Mina as one of Lismore Japanese Exchange Student in 2024, we connected over our love for Calligraphy. The big black banners, Mina created Welcome to Lismore sign for Japanese Gallery at SCU 25th anniversary. Since I have been mentoring Mina in how to put on an event and becoming an international artist.

Also, this event could not have happened with out Mina Japanese support,
particularly Mina's Calligraphy Sensai - Warasyo.artist_reisei who art practice is calligraphy fans. (please go check her intagram), Reisei sensai also helped Mina with the supplies for this event.

We hope you all enjoyed this event and thank you for participating.

If your interested in calligraphy club please comment below. hope to see you all again in the future.

Yours sincerely Trish and Mina

Note: sorry for the late upload, whole family has been down with nasty coughing bug.. stay safe..

01/08/2025

In studio today...
Exchange students from Yamato Takada Japa, part of the Lismore City Council
Sister city program.

Students were introduced to Artist/illustrator May Gibbs, as great representation of blending Australian native plants and animals into picture stories. Everyone was introduced to different materials and tools. Watercolours, learn to trace, using pastels?, marker pens an much more.

24/07/2025

Would you like to meet up with other women in your community? Are you concerned about improving the conditions of women and their families, in the city and country? Then why not join the Country Women's Association of New South Wales? Membership is open to all women living in NSW and ACT. By joining...