Otis + Otto
Kirsty, the owner behind Otis and Otto had always aspired to curate her own retail space/gallery, initially launching Otis and Otto as an online canvas / blog for recording & sharing creative ideas. Over time she continued to develop and cultivate an online presence, expanding on her blog via social media platforms Instagram / Pinterest and eventually opening a small online shop. Operated out of Jan Juc, Australia, her online business aims to support independent artisans who "champion intuitive, natural living objects and staples".
Kirsty’s thoughtfully curated selection of handcrafted ceramics, jewelry, weavings and wooden vessels from Australian & international artisans espouse a simple, neutral aesthetic / color palette.
“I look to support artisans who opt for recycled sustainable materials and use traditional or hand made processes.”
Her inspiration comes from natural phenomena and the great outdoors. She grew up spending most of her childhood outdoors - camping, fishing, and collecting things. On putting together the collection Kirsty says she is clearly ‘drawn to handmade and repurposed objects which are simple and purposeful yet beautiful and sentimental’.
For Kirsty, who works solo, balancing between work and her personal life can be difficult. She finds that setting deadlines / prioritizing her time helps her to stay focused and work more efficiently.
Her average day starts with breakfast, emails and outlining the daily ‘to-dos’. When she isn’t working on Otis and Otto she can be found gardening, baking and crafting with her daughter. Long-term she intends to nurture and grow the Otis and Otto shop collection, working collaboratively with artists and spending quality time with her family. She is also determined to cut down on social media time in the evenings and capitalize on early morning starts!
Photos: Otis + Otto
