Larisa Milekhina

My name is Larisa.

My first profession is bookkeeping but my hobby is handmade craft. In Russia after graduating and working for a few years in financial area I did some study in designing and modelling clothes. My decision to study this was after trying to find something for myself to wear at the shops and markets but only finding very low quality clothes and products on offer.  Yet at the same time, fabric shops started to import more and more of good quality and very nice fabric.

Thus it was a very interesting period to take advantage of and start developing my own dress products with such available fabric. This is how my hobby of sewing started. Then I switched to some photography classes with my first film camera, a Nikkon. I was also learning English at an evening Uni program.

When I came to Australia, I moved from place to place 5 times, met my partner and I have 2 children.
I studied again accounting and between all this developed my hobby of trying different types of craft using different techniques and materials etc. In Russia I started from batik but after a couple of years in Australia really I began to try drawings and paintings using acrylics and oils. Then I started handmade jewellery. I believe it’s really such a creative way to express yourself.

I use different types of beads including lampwork and Pandora beads plus different natural gems.I came to understand that people in Australia are not just interested in gold and diamonds. After visiting Melbourne Beads Expo and doing some research online and in the library I started to create handmade jewellery. I participated in a few markets and gained some experience working in an expensive opp shop where I donated some of the clothes that I created while in Russia.The staff were impressed and appreciated my donations.

I haven’t done any degree in Art from a special program in Tafe or Uni. My creations are born from my soul, heart and life experience. The motto for all my work is: Art is in everything, for everyone and everywhere as life is wonderful!!! and we all need it in our own avenue of lifeI repeat my works very rarely … it’s almost impossible I would say, but I can do things in a very similar way in some cases upon request. I am very appreciative when people understand this.

If you are interested in any of my craft just message me through my Facebook page or message service. If I have any additional web access to my work, such as a website, Pininterest or Instagram, this will be announced on my FB page. I hope to meet new customers and get new inspirations for great creative works. At this moment I present a few examples of my work. Please take a look, enjoy and choose something for yourself.

Please find and like my Facebook page: ART WONDER AVENUEhttps://www.facebook.com/artwonderave...