About

The Make It Collective was started by Kelli Vizzari in Melbourne. While Kelli loved the independence that comes with running a small creative brand, she also knew how hard it was to actually run her business and still have time to design, create and make.

She gathered together a group of like-minded artisans who could share a stall at local markets. Having other creatives there to support each other’s budding businesses allowed each one to grow faster than on their own. And customers loved that they could find independent local brands in the one place.

The Make It Collective has now grown to become an Australia-wide community of makers and lovers of handmade. Through our directory, markets, workshops and our retail store we provide a place for creatives to come together for support, collaboration and friendship, while allowing those who appreciate original design to discover new products.

Our mission is to celebrate unique and handcrafted goods with a focus on locally-sourced, organic and sustainable goods. But more than that, The Make It Collective is about celebrating the vibrant and diverse makers, designers' and artists of Australia.

Here you’ll discover a curated selection of clothing, kids items, body and beauty products, jewelry, art, ceramics and homewares designed and made by Australian makers. Browse our directory to find makers and markets near you, or visit one of our markets or our Retail store at 264 High st Northcote. And if you want to get a little hands on, we run workshops to help you uncover your creative side.

Roving Design

Kelli Vizzari

Kelli was first introduced to felting 6 years ago doing a workshop to make a children’s playscape for her daughter Alannah. This started a love for all things wool and yarn.

Over the next 6 years she has experimented with wool making everything from jewellery, scarves and cushions.

If that is not enough Kelli Is the founder of The Make It Collective deciding to bring together a group of like-minded artisan’s to create a new shopping experience for the customer who loves to buy handmade.

alittlecoy

Jayde McDonald

alittlecoy is a Melbourne based label which showcases a range of unique handmade jewellery & accessories, combining a love of craft with fun, individual pieces that remain flirtatiously shy.

Inspired by colourful patterns, retro & vintage prints and vintage buttons, Jayde creates items of jewellery that are quirky and expressive.

The alittlecoy range includes items made with the following materials:
– Vintage & retro sourced fabrics, clay and acrylic hand printed fabrics – Using this unique technique Jayde creates custom pieces, incorporating works of art and graphic design right through to photographs of amazing wall paper and turning them into everyday wearable accessories.

Striving to make quality handmade products she operates using the most environmentally sustainable products and processes possible, whilst supporting small, local and Australian business’.

JASKA

Jenni Armstrong

JASKA is a Melbourne based young female clothing and accessories brand.

Jenni has always loved fabric and creating and sewing her own garments. She was introduction to a sewing machine by her Grandma and Mum when she was 14, and to this day she still uses her Grandma’s Jenome machine. Jenni went on to study Fashion Design and Garment Technology at Marleston College in Adelaide.

JASKA was born from a love of bright and fun cotton fabrics, she now uses the amazing fabric of Jennifer Paganelli from Sis Boom.

I love making easy to wear, comfortable and age appropriate clothing and accessories for girls aged 2 – 12. Jenni also makes a range of accessories to go with the garments. They complement the designs as well as using up the smaller pieces of gorgeous fabric.

Alisa Tanaka-King

Alisa Tanaka-King is a Melbourne based artist, with a practice which focuses on sustainability and the handmade. She is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts (University of Melbourne) having completed a Bachelor of Fine Art (printmaking) and Graduate Diploma of Performance Creation (animateuring). Since 2009, Alisa has been represented by Hawthorn Studio & Gallery, while exhibiting across Melbourne at various galleries and events. She currently has a studio space at Paradise Hills Artist Run Space, and prints at the Australian Print Workshop access studio.

Snafu Designs

Lhasa & Yomi

Snafu are sister duo who have a love for all things creative especially fashion and design. Lhasa studied Jewellery and Object Design in Sydney and Yomi studied Fashion Design in Melbourne. Their love for anything crafty means that they have multiple projects on the go and always have new ideas for their range of jewellery.

Petite Green

Amy Wong from Petite Green has been making terrariums and teaching people how to make terrariums for over five years in Melbourne. She has run workshops in both Sydney and Melbourne and lectured at The University of Melbourne. Not only does she create terrariums with meticulous detail, she also takes great pride in producing fun and educational workshops.

Whimsical By Nature

Kristine Oss

Kristine Oss of Whimsical by nature is an artist specialising in hand made, resin jewellery & event decorations, as well as creations using cuttlefish , natural objects and recycled materials . Living and working from her home studio on the Mornington Peninsula she is inspired by ocean and nature.

Kristine comes from an artistic background in fashion and millinery. 4 years ago the desire to work with resin started her obsession with this new medium. Resin and hand carved cuttlefish decorations were the start of the Whimsical by Nature brand . With great success at Peninsula markets, she decided to expand her range introducing bangles , pendants and rings.

Soul Stories

Tams

Artist, lamplighter and storyteller ~ l’m always working hard to return all of the wonderful stories that have been given to me in some kind of magical way or another…

After a mega dance career and country change, l find myself fumbling from day to day with a smile on my face and gypsying between two exciting worlds dear to my soul. One being the multi-cultured Melbourne with its creative hustle and bustle… the other my tiny hometown of Heyfield, in the bush with its fun loving locals, cows and sheep.

I sincerely hope that from the hundreds of stories l have written, perhaps one will reach into your heart and give it a gentle squeeze – that just one will remind you how to feel, and open you up to some of the yummy stuff in life that is so easily forgotten…

When l write & illustrate these Soul Stories, l honestly feel like l’m pulling out pieces of your essence, mixing them up with the real, the pretend and perhaps even a touch of my own heart and turning them into something beautiful for you to read…

On a side note ~ l’m obsessed with spoiling my beloved Bengal cat ‘Dantechicken’, riding my bike, maintaining a vegan & eco friendly lifestyle, following my heart and eating at least 14 bananas every day. Wherever l wander, l will continue to be inspired by beautiful souls and their incredible stories…