IRIS

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Hi all! IRIS Britton finally has an official site with every post redesigned and all typography hand designed by yours truly. 

I have some pretty sweet posts in line for 2016 so stay tuned xx

www.irisbritton.com

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So happy with how these photos turned out, this babe town is @sarahmcewan wearing @nomusenolabel a bikini label that supports a child in need with every purchase ‼️ No Muse No Label is this months feature on @iristheblog BUT it won't be posted on my tumblr blog as I've secretly been working on an actual site 👼🏼 I'll be launching the site on MONDAY with posts that never made it to the blog such as snaps from @undressrunways and personal thoughts/writing I don't usually share and cool typography I did by hand and soon to be MORE 💻🎉

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IRIS meets Sean Pyke

Sean Pyke. The twenty-one year old self taught photographer based in Brisbane. This month, Sean shares his background in relation to his creative work with some positive words along the way.

IRIS: How did you get into photography?

Sean: I was travelling to Thailand earlier this year in February and I decided to buy myself a small compact film camera for the trip. I didn't know what I wanted to shoot, but I just took photo of everything that looked cool to me. When I arrived home I got three rolls developed and after seeing the results I was hooked.

That's amazing, you started THIS year and you have already grown so much. Is there any tips you can give to those just starting to look into being behind the camera?

My tip would be to get your hands on a camera, wether it be digital or film and just start taking photos of things you like. Photography really has no limits; you have a lot of power to do what you like and do it for yourself not anyone else.

Have you always been interested in this line of work?

Not until I got my first batch of film developed. I used to paint quite a lot, but in a bittersweet way, since photography walked into my life I haven’t really picked up another paintbrush.

What and/or who inspires you?

Ever since I was around the age of 6 or 7 I loved Asian Cinema, a lot of Wong Kar Wai’s films play a huge inspiration behind my work, also a huge list of other Chinese, Taiwanese and Japanese films. Aside from cinema, I would say my biggest inspiration would have to be Chinese artist Ren Hang; his work really is the main motivating force behind my decision to start doing portrait style photography.

What are your goals for the future?

I’m studying Secondary Education at University, so I would like to potentially move to Indonesia or Japan and teach English and continue taking cool photos. Photography is still a hobby to me, but if shooting gets busy enough, who knows what might happen.

You're a positive being, can you share some advice for those who are looking to start chasing their own dreams?

I’m a really big fan of being happy and making other people happy. I believe if you truly find a love and passion for something and it brings you happiness, continue doing it and if you can help people along the way that's even better. ☺

Take a look at all of Seans work on http://www.seanpyke.com

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IRIS meets Lisa Ferguson

Lisa Ferguson. Passionate about helping people regain their personal power through movement and integrating a higher purpose. This twenty-eight year old aussie lady is spreading the positive message on how we can all be the best versions of ourselves. This month, Lisa shares her journey in a bid to motivate and empower others into inspired action.

IRIS: What drove you to work in the health and fitness industry?

Lisa: I first was interested in becoming involved in the fitness industry after I had great success with a Personal Trainer when I was 19.  I had lost 20kg on my own, and had another 20kg to lose.  Phil was awesome – we now haven’t trained together for 7 years, yet he was still one of the first to send me a message for my birthday over the weekend – and I know he didn’t cheat on Facebook!  I really wanted to help bring this awesome experience and results to others which is the first thing that really got me to take action in the general direction.  Since then, different things drive me to continue to develop opportunities in the fitness industry, like raising the professional bar, shifting the focus and challenging the culture.

Have you always been interested in this field of work?

I always enjoyed and been involved in some kind of sport and recreation, but had never really considered a career in the field.  Even once I had become qualified and started working in a ‘gym’, I didn’t like the culture and the shallow, aesthetic and egotistical focus.  With a belief of ‘there has got to be more than this’, I got searching, but the harder I looked, the worse it seemed to get.  Disgusted with the money hungry culture where it wasn’t actually about helping people with their health, I was ready to pack up and leave after less than a year to become a police officer.  Then I met Paul, and I couldn’t believe that there was another human out there just like me, who actually wanted to help change people’s lives.  We teamed up a short time later, and Freedom was born – a space where everyBODY can strive toward optimal health and ultimate vitality – what a health and fitness facility should be about!

Do you have your own health and fitness story you would like to share?

My own personal health and fitness story is an ever-evolving one.  In the past 15 years, I have lost and gained well over 100kgs, been obese, been an athlete, suffered from eating disorders, and had severe body image challenges.  While these challenges were tough, it has taught me so much.  Right now I am the happiest and healthiest I have ever been.  I don’t diet.  There are some things I choose not to eat, but I don’t label myself as ‘vegetarian’, ‘vegan’, ‘paleo’ or anything like that – I have just become really in tune with my body and have a really great connection to it, that I have learnt some things make me feel great, and others not so much. I listen to my body and can identify the difference between being slack and actually needing to rest.  I exercise because it makes me feel good and helps keep me healthy and strong so I can own my place on this planet, not because I hate myself and couldn’t possibly be in acceptance of who I am until I lose ‘just 5 more kilos’.  I can do a chin up and like lifting heavy things.  I love mountain biking, dancing and playing sport.  I don’t take gym selfies and post them on Facebook.  I’m a bit of a hippy at heart, but an utmost professional at the same time.  I love keeping it real, and relatable and truthful from a place of good intent and love.

What have you got planned for the future?

My plans for the future right now are to keep an open mind and an open heart and see where I am lead next.  I have an interestingly broad set of professional skills, backed up by a strong spirit, so something unique that will encompass all of these aspects is just around the corner I think.  I have a strong will and guidance to use my voice in some capacity, perhaps through writing or speaking – I’d love to say singing, but pretty sure I’m not going to be the next Australian Idol, that’s for sure!  But while the journey is unknown, it is my intention to infuse everything I encounter with a grateful heart and grounded spirit – this is that hippy coming through that I was talking about!

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IRIS meets Pirates Dreaming 

Pirates Dreaming, the jewellery brand made for the daring and the bold. Based in Byron Bay, the studio is exactly where the magic happens. Adelaide, the founder and creative director tells us the background of the unique designs and what she has in store for us in the near future.

IRIS: Lets start from the beginning. How did you come about starting Pirates Dreaming? Was it something you always planned to do?

Adelaide: It all began with a one way ticket to Bangkok. I started a travel blog with my partner at the time and called it Piratesdreaming. That continued all the way to Canada, which is where we began making jewellery and Piratesdreaming the label was born.

It wasn’t something I planned, but I guess in a way I did dream of design and creativity becoming part of my lifestyle, not long before, when I was on a remote beach surrounded by whales and bears.

Your designs are very unique, where do you find a lot of your inspiration? 

I guess a lot of the inspiration comes from my immediate environment. I am fortunate to live in a beautiful part of the world, surrounded by breathtaking beauty and so many creative friends, this certainly influences me and provides a continual source of inspiration.

Often new designs come from mistakes. This is what I love about getting lost in the moment of creating, you never know what will appear when you are not looking.

I must ask, seeing as your designs started off being made from thrifted finds - what sparked you to start turning your found treasures into these unique pieces?  

When Piratesdreaming began I was living in Canada and the thrift stores there were amazing. We would spend hours searching for beautiful spoons which would become rings.

I love the Americana style of design, and there are quite a few rings in the collection based on antique spoons from North America.

Is there anything we should all keep an eye out for? 

There is an exciting new collection coming soon, it will be launched mid November. It is a collaboration with Jack Bailey from Motorcitybreakdown, we designed a range inspired by the landscapes of Tasmania.

Jack took the jewellery on an adventure to the deep heart of Tasmania’s wilderness, where he photographed it in the natural surroundings. I am really excited about this range as it is something very different to what I have done before.

Take a look at Pirates Dreaming’s designs on http://piratesdreaming.com

Instagram piratesdreaming

Blog @piratesdreaming

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Testing out my new bb today 📷 Thanks to @callumdorward for being my beautiful model 🌿💕

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Jackie McCosker, the face behind Saheli Designs. The Australian twenty-four year old has been working hard on the new brand Saheli Designs that only launched in August 2015. This social enterprise has changed many lives of girls and women in Bhikamkor, India. Here’s how it all started and what’s yet to come.

IRIS: What drove you to start up Saheli Designs?

Jackie: In 2014 I graduated and booked flights to India with no goal but to learn more about the realities of extreme poverty. Eventually, I found this amazing organisation called the Institute for Philanthropy and Humanitarian Development and signed up to do an internship with them. At first we decided to work off pre-existing knowledge about embroidery and stitching, but by the second week it became clear we needed to connect the women with an international audience to generate an income. What’s a better way to guarantee the future of a project then to follow through with it yourself?

That’s incredible! So tell us more about the background of Saheli Designs, what is your overall aim?

Our centre is a safe space where women from all walks of life can sit and work together in a safe and comfortable environment, earning a fair wage for their time. In India women are deliberately excluded from the workforce, and when they are lucky enough to get a job they earn 40% less for the same work. Because of the general lack of education and work opportunities, women don’t have an equal input into their home life. Most in rural areas are malnourished and go without essential healthcare because they feel they are unable to prioritise household funds for themselves. By working with Saheli Designs women are able to generate their own incomes and take charge of their own lives. We take in women of all ages, religions and castes, and together they are bringing their community together and elevating each other’s status. It’s more than just the money, it’s the social support. It’s particularly special to empower the widows of Bhikamkor, traditionally the most exiled group of all.

Is there anything we should keep an eye out for in the near future?

Keep an eye out for new stock coming in this month, and ongoing opportunities to volunteer with us in both Australia and India

Excellent, I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled! I have to ask if this experience has affected you personally at all? Has it changed your perspective or how you go about your daily lifestyle choices?

Yes. Working in the village has had a very humbling effect on me. I’ve always tried to live ethically, but now I’m even more focused on limiting my consumerism. We have so much stuff in Australia, and we take it for granted. Running water? Luxury. Electric lights? Luxury. I’m trying to cut back my life to essentials only and be grateful for what I do have. The money I’ll save on living simply can be put back into travel and the business.I’m also really conscious of how we spend our money. Every dollar is a vote, and now I try to understand the story of every product I buy. Every object passes through so many hands and uses so many resources to get to us. I want to make sure the story of my possessions are good ones. I don’t want my consumerism to harm anyone any more.

Click onto https://www.etsy.com/shop/sahelidesigns to see the Saheli Designs for yourself!

Facebook Saheli Designs

Instagram @sahelidesigns

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Hello spring 🌞

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IRIS meets Holloway

Oh man, where shall I start? Holloway is a continuously growing business in West End, Brisbane that is run by hard working and talented men. By day the boutique sell handmade eyewear and watches made from recycled timber and by night they turn into a candlelit restaurant. The guys behind the scenes spend most days making their collections in store and if you’re lucky you’ll catch them playing their music with the instruments they have on show. Seeing as all of the collections are made by hand you cannot go wrong at Holloway, who doesn’t want a unique piece to wear all year round?! The place is a gem to find on Hardgrave Road and once you’ve been in store you will know it won’t be the last visit. Did I mention they worked with recycled timber? Yes I did but I’m mentioning it again. The timber they use are from recycled and repurposed skateboard decks. So not only do they make one of a kind designs, they put in a great deal of thought into where the materials come from - a big win win! 

Now that you know a little bit more about Holloway, here’s a few photos of the store!

Want more of Holloway? Click the links below or visit them yourself at 69 Hardgrave Road, West End 4101 

http://www.hollowayeyewear.com.au

Facebook Holloway

Tumblr byholloway

Instagram @byholloway​

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Cuties outside SWOP

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You can now like IRIS on Facebook! Exciting projects coming soon !!! https://www.facebook.com/iristheblog

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IRIS meets Julie

A nineteen year old vegan, studying law in “Bris-lame”. She shares that Japanese street wear inspires her personal style and on an average day she’s most comfortable being a potato in bed whilst reading manga and eating pudding.

IRIS: How long have you been Vegan? Julie: Since the 6th of March 2014 - WOO!

Where did you first hear about the Vegan lifestyle? I first heard about it on a facebook page for my universities vegetarian and vegan club. Someone had posted Earthlings (the documentary) on the page - after that I went vegetarian for a month then went vegan.

Have you had any benefits from this lifestyle? If so, what are they? Yes! My skin is clearer and smoother. My digestion is way better so hardly any bloating. I’m always energised and I don’t know if this sounds weird but I feel in touch with nature and animals…

Not weird at all! - Do you have any tips for whoever wants to turn vegan? Make sure your diet is mainly fresh fruit and vegetables for energy levels and getting the right nutrients! Vegucate yourself *winks*

Do you have any favourite Vegan documentaries you would like to share? My favourite documentaries would have to be Earthling, Forks Over Knives, Food Inc and Gary Yourofskys speech on YouTube, “the best speech you will ever hear” !!!!!

Who inspires you? People who inspire me are Freelee the Banana girl and Gary Yourofsky, cause he’s so badass and is my favourite animal rights activist!

If for a moment, the whole world had to listen to what you had to say - what would you say? Wake up people! If you care about animals or call yourselves animal lovers then you would not eat them - BIATCH!

Here’s a random question, what is a weird fact about yourself that you’d like to share? I am obsessed with pudding and the pudding emoticon, seriously.

Want more of Julie? Catch her on instagram @puddingjulie

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Hello

Firstly, I would like to say welcome to the next chapter of Iris the Blog and secondly, thank you very much for giving me a chance to share my thoughts with you. 

Next chapter? Yes that’s right, Iris the Blog will continue sharing all personal projects but there will be more of it. I will begin sharing written posts and short film clips on topics that will hopefully inspire you. My ultimate goal for this blog is to always inspire. 

So what kind of ‘topics’ are we talking about here? I’m talking about ‘life’ itself. Not sounding like a preaching hippy here, I want to share what really happens in the world, our environment, to people of poverty, to people in our everyday lives, to animals in factories, to stories I personally feel need a voice. 

I have gained valuable knowledge from literature, documentaries, organisations and fellow bloggers - I plan to continue learning more by doing more hands on projects - This will fuel me to create strong content to inspire your daily doings. More importantly is that I am learning with you.

Like I said, I will continue to share my personal projects like I have been since the beginning - my photography, illustrations and street style snaps I take around Brisbane. Iris the Blog is just opening up to more possibilities.

I hope I haven’t lost your interest by now, if you are still reading and interested on the topics I mentioned then keep your eyes peeled as I will be posting regularly!

IRIS

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Grace

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Salli parti

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Winter