A new Facebook group ‘Artisans of Orange’ is looking to link up local creatives and craftspeople.

If there’s one thing that has been clear in my time here at Orange City Life, it’s that we live in a community full of talented creative people, but often these creative pursuits are done in isolation and there is little in the way of interaction.

For local rosin makers Andrew and Emma Baker and sculptors Eden and Carl Plaisted the advantages of sharing ideas and knowledge became immediately apparent when they began working together and they are now hoping build a local community of like-minded artists, tinkerers, hobbyist and professionals.

“We started talking about it in the shed the other day,” said Andrew, “A Facebook group for people in Orange who use their hands to create stuff, because there is a lot that goes on in Orange and a lot of it is behind the scenes and hidden So this about sharing craft, sharing ideas, because we’ve found there is a lot of benefit in it.”

Orange City Life has previously written about brother Eden and Carl Plaisted, who relocated from Sydney in February to start their sculpture and design business. And we recently spoke with Andrew and Emma Baker, whose Leatherwood Rosin is prized by string players the world over.

But with Andrew and Emma’s rosin business growing, they recently began employing Eden part-time and found they had much to share and help each other.

“When I started working with these two, we were talking about solving a problem and I'd give them a different perspective on how to do that, which is what Carl and I do; if I can't troubleshoot it, I give it to him and he trouble shoots it,” said Eden.

“You could spend years doing something one way and not even knowing that it can be done easier, quicker, better,” said Andrew.

“But you see someone doing something similar and you just suddenly realise there is a technique you can use for your own thing. So we though sharing ideas behind the scenes, working on creating something in a Facebook group would be a fun thing for a lot of people.”

There are no limits on who can join up the Artisans of Orange Facebook, but if you like to work with your hands, this could be the group for you.

“Anyone that loves working with their hands or making bespoke stuff or crafty stuff or niche market products,” said Eden. 

“Even winemakers and foodie types,” said Andrew. “Sculptor, potters, painters, drawers… anyone who takes something and turns it into something that has a use or a function or an artistic beauty.”

If the group gets going, Eden said they might even look at informal meet-ups and possibly more in the future.

“We are not really sure where this will head, but two years down the tack maybe there is enough momentum that we can do a seasonal market for everyone to trot up with their wares … who knows?”