Meet the Maker: Jane Newham | Visit her store and read more below

We first spotted Doops Designs on Instagram and were all abuzz about the cheerful prints on handmade women’s apparel and home goods. Jane Newham is the maker behind those silhouettes as well as the designs—some of which she screen prints by hand—all destined for warm-weather comfort and style. She hails from the little country town of Dunoon (her neighbors’ cows sometimes make a cameo in her photos), tucked in the hills behind Byron Bay in New South Wales, Australia. Join us on this next around-the-world trip to meet the amazing people using Spoonflower!

My day starts with:

“Having a cuppa outside before the kids get up and watching the sunrise. We are heading into our summer soon, and as you can see with all my work it’s very much summer-inspired. I love summer; I love the smell in the air—we live on a beautiful farm looking out over onto rolling hills with a national park in the background. I grew up here, though I moved to Melbourne when I was 18, and then moved back when I was 38 and have been here for two years now and love it. I’m a country girl at heart, though I do miss the hustle & bustle of the city.”

Jane in her home | Her kids playing outside before a summer storm rolled in | Doops Designs’ Prickly Feathers Dress

I fell in love with making goods when:

“I can’t remember, as I’ve been making things since I was a little one. I took after my mum in giving gifts that I’ve created. I started selling my work in 2015 when I opened up an Etsy shop. They were having this challenge, and if you opened up a shop at that particular time, you would get two mentors to help you. There were about 100 of us in this group, and I can’t tell you how much that has changed my life. The friends I’ve made and the help was just so amazing.”

When I’m in my studio, I feel:

“Like me and I can’t get over that I’m actually making a living from what I love to do. It’s stressful when I get a big rush of orders at one time, though I look out my window over the view and think how lucky I am to get to work from home and create work I love.”

The cows next to Jane’s home

Who inspires your work and why?

“My mother was a textile teacher and then became a chef for 27 years. She is extremely creative and passionate about everything. So I would have to say my mum!”

What’s in your toolbox as a maker and artist?

“Fabric ink for when I screen print. My iPad and Photoshop for creating my work and putting it into a repeat for fabric. I draw, so my main thing is a pencil & rubber that then gets turned into a design on CAD.”

Doops Designs’ fabric bundle | Olive’s Garden T-Shirt | Silks

What’s your proudest accomplishment over the last year?

“My business is growing every month so fast and more and more people are discovering Doops Designs. I’ll be in an Australian Designer market in November called Finders Keepers and have always wanted to be in this, so I’m so proud of myself for getting this far.”

Doops Designs’ Blooming Cactus Linen Tea Towel | Greeting Card Set | Cowgirl Bloom Dress

What piece of your wardrobe best represents your style?

“I’m a dress girl and a lover of linen. I hope that one day soon Spoonflower will have the option of a lightweight linen, as I live in linen.”

What do you wish someone had told you before starting a small business?

“How much work is in the book work/tax. This is the not-so-nice part about running a small business, though I’m learning lots as I go.”

Rolls of Doops Designs fabrics

What has been an important resource to you as a small business owner?

“I studied textile design at Uni and did three years in print. I then went on to work in lots of places where Photoshop and Illustrator were a must, so I’m a pro now. This has helped me in so many ways: editing my website/photos for my products and making everything pop. Everything is online now so if you don’t make your work look great in photos and online it won’t sell, no matter how gorgeous it is. So my recommendation to others is to is learn some kind of editing program/software.”

Doops Designs’ Mor Mor’s Garden Skirt and Confetti Sleeveless Top

My favorite Spoonflower textile to work with is…

Kona Cotton and the Organic Cotton Knit, because they represent ME. The Kona Cotton I use for my dresses and the Organic Knit I use for my T-shirts, which are my main sellers. The colours always come out so vibrant, and I can trust these fabrics as I now have used them for two years or more.”


 

If you haven’t already bookmarked at least three things from Doops Designs’ shop, go start there and then follow Jane on Instagram to be wowed by her vibrant collection and fascinating process shots.

Are you a designer or a maker using Spoonflower fabrics? Don’t forget to tag your Instagram photos with #Spoonflower for the chance to be featured on our feed!