ArtShine: Close Up with Joanne King From Little Chillies

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Close Up with Joanne King From Little Chillies

Tell us a little about yourself and what you do.

I design and run a children’s fashion label, with a ladies’ label in the wings. I’m also a busy mum of two and a Doctor of Clinical Neuropsychology.

Who (or what) inspires you to do what you love in your own creative business?

My inspiration to do what I love comes from internal forces. My husband would describe me as obsessively driven, I wonder if I’m a touch narcissistic, but I think it’s just that I have a great need to accomplish something fulfilling in life and create my own success.

Where do you get your inspiration from when you design?

I love looking at images of old fashion icons, vintage pictures and fabrics, vintage paper dolls, trawling through Japanese craft books and keeping an eye on European colours and styles.

What are the five words that people who know you would use to describe you?

Ambitious, driven, organised, friendly and talkative.

Tell us about your very first job and what path have you taken since then?

I first worked as a cashier in a Game Zone while studying my first year undergraduate studies at University. While I completed my Honours and Postgraduate studies I worked in a few different industries: hospitality, marketing, and sales. When I finished my studies I worked in Australia and overseas as a Clinical Neuropsychologist in brain injury rehabilitation and neuropsychiatry diagnostics. In the background, I’ve always had a passion for drawing, painting and designing garments – but only at a hobby level. When I went on maternity leave with my first child, I felt free to pursue my creative passions and Little Chillies was born.

Describe a typical day in your studio space?

Attempting to do bits and pieces between the mum duties during the day (meals, kinder drop offs, ballet, etc) but it’s very difficult and chaotic. Calling a customer or retailer, packing an order, chasing up my maker, pattern maker and sampler are just some of the tasks I try and get done. Typically I don’t officially start any ‘productive work’ until 8pm to 2am, the quietest and most efficient time to work ….. which gives me little time to sleep.

As a Designer, what is your biggest frustration?

Not enough time to focus on the aspects of the work that I love – designing. Too much time, working in the business; administration, customer service, sales, marketing and warehousing. …..outsourcing required.

Tell us about how you prioritise your work.

I do what ever is most pressing at the time. I’m terrible, no system, just chaos! I’m working on it.

Tell us about how do you connect with other artists, and your customers (i.e. how do you network)?

Markets, pop up shops, and social media sites. In particular, I’ve met a lot of good networks (and friends) through attending trade fairs (Life InStyle) and markets (Magnolia Square).

Life InStyle Melbourne 2012

What advice can you offer other creative people who are just starting out and following their passions?

Give lots of thought and planning to the business and finances. Outsource what you can, so that you have enough time to focus on the aspects that you love about the business.

What dreams do you still want to achieve or fulfil in your life?

Manage a successful business in both my careers as a neuropsychologist and designer, whilst maintaining a happy and healthy personal life. Not quiet all there yet!

What is your proudest moment so far?

Personal: every time my kids do something new – it’s all just part of normal development, but as a parent you think they are the completely amazing. Business: I don’t have one proudest moment as such, but an accumulation of them. In particular, when customers provide great feedback on my garments and come back each season to buy more.

Who do you most want to meet and why?

The Dalai Lama. I love the psychology in Buddhist practice. I also love his voice: he must be wise as he sounds just like Yoda when he talks.

What is the most important lesson in life that you have learned?

You only have one shot in this lifetime and it’s better to have a good ‘crack at it’, than sit around dreaming or wondering ‘what if’!

What book are you reading right now, and do you have a book you would like to recommend?

Trying to start the first book of the True Blood series. I find it hard to make time for myself to read. The only time I ever manage to finish a book is on holidays.