We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Myrtle & Me as our very first Regional Program recipient at the Melbourne Design Market SS25!
Based in the lush landscapes of Tasmania/ Lutruwita’s Meander Valley, Jocelyn and Michael have built a brand that beautifully captures the magic of their island home through handcrafted jewellery and sustainable design. Their work not only celebrates nature but also champions it, making them the perfect makers to kick off this new program, which shines a light on the incredible talent thriving in regional and rural communities. We couldn’t be prouder to have them join us in Melbourne this October.
What does being selected as a recipient of The Finders Keepers Regional Program mean to you and your business?
We are so excited and grateful to be part of The Finders Keepers Regional Program! We have worked so hard to get to where we are, which, being based in a small rural town in Tasmania, can be difficult at times! This opportunity to be selected to bring our designs to The Finders Keepers feels so validating, and that all our efforts have been worthwhile.
Myrtle & Me began in the lush landscapes of the Meander Valley. How has living and working in Deloraine influenced your creativity and designs?
Our business actually started in Hobart on the slopes of kunanyi/Mt Wellington, where, even though it’s technically a city, you’re never far away from amazing nature. However, our goal has always been the same – to share our love of the Tasmanian wilderness with people. Since moving to the Meander Valley seven years ago, we’ve found it such an inspiring location. From our studio, we can see the Great Western Tiers mountain range, which is currently dusted with snow. Being located near the heart of Tassie, too, it’s also super easy to access so many different parts of the island. The community in Deloraine, our local town, is extremely welcoming too, with a strong artistic scene, so we’ve fit right in!
Your jewellery combines nature photography with sustainable materials like bamboo and recycled silver. Can you tell us why sustainability is such a core part of your brand?
Our goal from the beginning has been to express our love for the beauty of the natural world and its fragility. Therefore, it seemed hypocritical for us to communicate this love with disposable fast fashion or using practices that damage the environment. So we’ve put hundreds of hours into sourcing sustainable materials, such as bamboo (being a grass, it grows quicker than trees and is easier to regrow), recycled silver and packaging, and minimising plastic wherever we can. We’re also a member of 1% For The Planet and donate percentages of our sales to a variety of environmental causes that are close to our hearts. To date, we’ve helped plant nearly 27,000 mangrove trees, as mangroves and wetlands are something Michael is particularly passionate about. We’re never going to be perfect, but we’ve really tried our best.
You’ll be debuting new designs at the Melbourne market, inspired by endangered and threatened Australian fauna. What sparked this collection, and what do you hope people take away from it?
We’re super excited to introduce two new designs for The Finders Keepers. It’s been a long time coming, and we’ve had so many requests for it, but finally, we’ll be sharing a Tasmanian Devil and Eastern Quoll in earrings, pendants & brooches. Our dream has always been to share the beauty of our natural surroundings and hopefully inspire people to care more about them. We strongly believe that if people connect with nature from a place of love and beauty, rather than a sense of fear or doom, they are more likely to stand up for its protection. So we choose designs that celebrate these threatened species, like the Tasmanian Devil. Hopefully, by wearing the design and seeing this cheeky face every day, it stays in our consciousness, so we don’t forget them.
For many of our visitors, this will be their first time seeing your work in person. What can they expect when they visit your stall?
We have a beautiful selection of pendants, earrings, brooches and gift cards, which all represent different parts of the Tasmanian landscape. The materials we use, such as bamboo, give our products an organic feel that people love. We also find that our gift cards double as easy art cards for people who don’t wear jewellery but still want a piece of Tasmania to take with them.
Regional makers often bring something really unique to the table. How do you think your rural roots shape the story behind Myrtle & Me?
Living rurally, we get the chance to sink into the pace of country life. This allows us to really get into the flow when capturing a subject for a design. It’s great to be able to snap an interesting photo when you’re out casually walking, but being able to absorb into the landscape and really hone in on that tiny detail, like a miniature sassafras flower on the rainforest floor illuminated by a tiny beam of light from a break in the canopy above, is such a privilege for us.
What questions do you want our market-goers to ask you?
We love meeting new people and sharing our story! Ask us about the animals or plants featured in our designs – we’ve got unique stories for every one. We are both extremely passionate about nature too (Jocelyn has a background in environmental science and Michael’s a nature nerd), so feel free to ask us anything about what’s special about our island home. Bonus points for asking Michael about wetlands, or Jocelyn about fungi.