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Read what women have used their loan for in recent newsletters.  More stories follow the business directory. Business Directory  - supporting women in their business  Below is a list of women's businesses that have been supported by an Angel Fund loan at some stage.  FLORIST Krystyna Fajkiel twig  flowers | fibre | form tel 379 2024 Central Christchurch BEAUTY THERAPY Beauty Within of Lincoln www.bwithin.com Beauty & Massage therapy  Jess  tel. 325 2639 tel. 021 1028 008 Karen Chin tel. 331 6115 Spreydon Usana Consultant Natural facial, body & hair care Natural health supplements Myone Makaore   myonemakoare@yahoo.com tel. 960 5334 Independent Mary Kay consultant FASHION Kun-J-Na    kanhchanak@hotmail.com tel. 344 1344 Designer Fashion Made to Measure Party Plan Fashion Tracey Smith   myspace.com/iris costume NZ Made Goth Gear  www.thornapple.co.nz PVC, Gothlolita & Gourmet corsets for Boys and girls and divas HEALTH Emma Bickley   emma.bickley@ihug.co.nz tel. 388 2565 027 6552 556 Healer, Life Celebrant  Goddess workhops Malia Hill    maliahill@hotmail.com tel. 323 9850 027 293 3167 Breastchek for Cancer Belfast Robin Kerr    robin.kerr@zhengqi.co.nz Zheng Qi is compliementary Health care – acupuncture  & flower essences. tel. 328 9053 021 848 211 The Stables 22 Canterbury Street Lyttelton  Jo Nicholas Tel. 388 6380 027 652 2144 SOLEutions Reflexologist ORGANIC PRODUCTS Nature2U  www.nature2u.mionegroup.com Supplier of MiEssence  Organic products. Maria Tel. (03) 329 0016 CATERING Mint Catering mintcateringcompany@gmail.com Tel. 328 9902 021 222 8541 Catering for Corporate  and Special Occasions   ARTS Olga Camps    olgacamps@gmail.com Artist and Arts Tutor  tel. 021 024 00552 Isabelle Gauthier   isabelle.art@hotmail.com Freelance surrealist artist  tel. 027 213 3469 Originals & Commissions Roseanne Jones   www.roseannejones.com Graphic artist  Internet based artist Angela Kiripatea   amkz00@gmail.com Flax weaver Artist & Tutor Vanissa Robson   vanissa.aroha@hotmail.com Artist and Musician ‘Journey to Soul’ recorded album Awhina Young   awhina_young@yahoo.com DJ  tel. 027 344 4432      The stories below are drawn from earlier newsletters. November 2004 SUE GETS HER CARDS INTO 20 MUSEUM SHOPS! Sue has had a flair for art since she was young – but lacked confidence to believe she could make a career of her creative work.  As a mature age student she took the risk of pursuing further study to get a qualification and completed a bachelor of design in Visual Communication, graduating in 2003.  The course set Sue on a career path and she began looking for work in the graphic design area.  . It was hard work to get into this field, without work experience, and to get work experience you need to have a design job! Sue decided to trust her skills as an artist.  She decided to launch herself into self-employment.

Now she feels the relief and freedom of not looking in the situations vacant column! She has decided to create her own job, as a visual communicator.  While establishing herself Sue also spent 6 weeks doing a course at Deep Wells called ‘Life in the Third Age’.  She says the seed of direction was planted there in the question posed: “if you could do anything you wanted what would it be?”…for Sue, Art was the answer, not graphic design … but still her confidence floundered….. Sue pushed into a small business course with the Small Business Enterprise Centre, and had ideas of running art courses for holiday programmes, or making cards.  Art history was one of her major subjects while studying and Sue had produced a substantial number of acrylic paintings depicting Kiwiana through the decades.  Her designs were eye-catching.  Sue had not made an appointment with me at the Angel Fund Wahine Putea, but popped into the Office with all her bits and pieces on her way to getting quotes to reproduce the paintings as gift cards.

Sue says the timing was amazing, within a week her loan was approved and she was off to the printers to get her cards reproduced!  She overcame her initial dread of marketing, launched herself into cold calling and searching the internet for museums with shops.  She made up folders with samples and price lists and sent them off to friends in different parts of NZ and within 8 weeks had covered her costs and was ready to reinvest in a second print run! 

“The most exciting moment was when I got a small order from Christchurch Art Gallery – 60 cards!” Sue said.  Since then she has been offered commission work from another Museum.  Sue is now supplying up to 20 outlets with a print run of 1,200.

Since getting her cards printed Sue’s confidence and horizons have grown significantly.  Networking has led to new contacts and opportunities and also people offering new ideas for how to develop her work.  Lucille, from Salvation Army Employment Plus has done some one-to-one mentoring, helping Sue to plan and maintain her momentum as well as expanding her ideas.  Particularly the idea of not just having ‘one’ job, but getting an income from 3 or 4 different strands of creative work.  Sue is now pursuing the idea of producing life drawings for pregnant women and new mothers and also free-lance graphic design.  She says having a mentor has made her accountable, given her space to think out loud, and provided constructive criticism and positive reinforcement to her ideas and work.

A ‘weekend ‘Fuse’ course which Sue came across on the library notice board introduced her to other artists who wanted to make money from their art.  The input was helpful and Sue will attend a longer course getting in to the details of how to plan exhibitions, contracts etc…

The two exhibition possibilities Sue now has have come from contact with a framing firm, and referral to a publisher has given Sue a new lead on presentation of her art history themes, and a goal to work towards.

Sue particularly enjoyed referring her friend in the North Island to a gallery when they approached her for cards.  “It felt great to be able to say go to Wellington City Gallery, my cards are stocked there!” Sue comments.

Sue is full of ideas, she is smiling, positive, and her confidence is growing and carrying her through.
 
 

Story taken from Sept 02 newsletter Celebrating Kiri’s first sale!!!  Kiri makes beautiful carved and painted pictures in wood, but she also carves egg’s!!  In six hours Kiri can transform an ordinary ostritch egg into a beautiful and unique work of art. Kiri say’s she did not really enjoy art at school - the programme and the teachers didn’t suit.  But today she is happily creating some vivid, unique and wonderful works of art!  Her unique sand designed frames enhance the overall originality and effect of her pictures. About 10 years ago Kiri was approached by Oamaru Bird Sanctuary to make a model bird for promotion of the sanctuary.  She said it took 2 years to complete! (papier mache).  Following on from this they asked her to paint the exterior of 2 trucks, what a job!  The results were great, her talent were on display.... Kiri’s was interested in developing her skills and knowledge and this led her to Hagley Community College’s Foundation Art course.

She needed help with the fees, so approached the Angel Fund and a loan was granted for her to undertake the year long course.  “It was a very useful course, introducing a range of concepts and techniques and exposing participants to different mediums - clay, 3-D sculpture, photography and computer”. But carving was what caught Kiri’s imagination, and this year she has worked away developing her ideas. 

In order to go into production Kiri needed materials and paints.  Again, up front money was required.  Kiri had paid off her loan and was saving with the Angel Fund, so applied for funds and used her savings as a ‘top up’ to get the necessary items.  Just a few months later Kiri has produced a range of beautiful products, featuring NZ Maori art and native flora and fauna.  She is supplying her work through Te toi Mana Gallery and, yes, the first picture sold just last week!!

Kiri would like to make a name for herself, and has a dream of owning her own gallery some day!  Visit the gallery and see for yourself, I’m sure you will be impressed! 

Kiri’s talents together with financial help from the Angel fund have added something beautiful to the world - thanks to our donors and lenders for helping get Kiri’s dreams off to a great start!
 
 
 

Story taken from April 2003 newsletter Louise makes ear candles! Ever heard of ear candling?  It’s a gentle and relaxing natural process of clearing the ears of wax and debris, using the draft created from the heat of a hollow taper like candle.  Does it work?  Louise says it’s great for things like head colds, ear infections, sinus troubles, hearing loss, for pre-flight treatment, swimmers, divers the list goes on! The result, a clear head and nasal passages!  Louise says its good for everyone, it’s all about looking after your ears! Louise learned how to make this health product working to support her mother’s business when things were busy, in Australia.  However, life was not working out for Louise, and she recently returned to Christchurch with her young son.  She always wanted to work for herself, and, while on the DPB, she attended the Christchurch Small Business Enterprise Centre course on how to set up and run a business.  When she had done the homework to explore if she could make a go of ear candling in New Zealand, the next stop was the Angel Fund.  A loan was granted for materials and business cards, and Louise’s business was launched. Louise is passionate about her new business, and over the last months has been hard at work promoting her product through health stores and naturopaths north and south.

People often fall asleep during the  process, which takes 15-20 minutes  per ear.  “All you hear is a gentle  wind like sound, like at the  beach” Louise says.

There has been good interest, and it was great to hear from Louise that she is heading toward her goal of financial independence!

Louise’s advice for women about launching a business idea - “decide to do it, research the idea well, then just do it - don’t make excuses! 
Louise’s aim - “to be a nation wide supplier and have her product well known by the general public”.
Louise’s opinion on the Angel Fund loan - “it has been a great confidence boost and allowed me to get established in self-employment, which has advantages of flexibility with young children!”

At the time the article was written, Louise’s products were available locally through: The Herb Centre, Healthy Living, Marshalls Health, Homestead Health, Concern Cottage, Kahunkura Natural Family Health & Saga Gibbs.