Two local makers will be bringing something new to this weekend’s Seasons of New England expo.
Clan of Wild will make its first appearance at Seasons of New England this year, bringing a colourful collection of handcrafted hair accessories made right here in the New England.
Behind the business is Uralla local Alyssa McRae-Cameron, whose range centres on one simple idea done exceptionally well: bows. Big bows, small bows, matching pairs, bows on clips or bows on headbands.
“It’s a really great way to show off your personal style,” Alyssa said.
While Clan of Wild has been selling online through Etsy for the past three years, the move into markets – and a new website coming very soon – marks a new chapter for the growing small business.
But the idea began far from market stalls and business plans. Most locals know Alyssa as the nurse in Emergency that always makes you feel calm… and her husband Greg revealed the crafting started as a mental break from the pressures of the pointy end of healthcare.
“I built her a little office at the back of the house so that when she came home from work and needed to de-stress, she could go down there and create.”
What started with colouring in soon evolved into epoxy work and intricate handmade cards, including fold-out and pop-up designs. But it was the bows that truly took off.
“After that she started making hair bows for the kids. The bows were a hit – the kids at school loved them so much they kept asking for more,” he said.
“At that time, we had five girls in the house, and with all their friends wanting bows as well,” Greg said.
Clan of Wild is a whole family effort, with support behind the scenes helping bring the business to life, including dad, Bruce McRae from Macsound, who with Greg helps to organise things like tables and displays so she doesn’t need to worry.
Now, as Alyssa prepares for her first Seasons of New England appearance – around shifts at the hospital – the scale of that demand is clear.
“She’s very stressed about it, but she’s already made over 200 bows… and there’s about 50 more that just need the metal clips put on,” Greg said while Alyssa slept after night shift.
Visitors to Seasons of New England this weekend will be among the first to see the full Clan of Wild range in person, as Alyssa takes her handmade creations from the home studio to the market stall in only her second markets appearance ever.
Tenterfield Soap Co will also be among the local makers showcasing their work at Seasons of New England this weekend, bringing a range of handmade skincare products created with a focus on simplicity, transparency and care – and a brand new hair care range.
Behind the business is Jess, owner and maker, who began making soap not as a business idea, but as a solution to a problem close to home.
“I began making soap when my young son was getting a rash on his back,” she said.
“We would go to the doctors, be given a prescription for cream, the rash would go away, and it would inevitably return.”
Frustrated by the cycle, Jess started looking more closely at the products she was using.
“I read the back of a packet of soap one day and was shocked at the ingredients that it contained and how I didn’t know what most of them were. I knew that there had to be a better way.”
That moment became the starting point for Tenterfield Soap Co, a small-batch skincare brand built on using ingredients that are both recognisable and beneficial.
Each bar of soap is made by hand in Tenterfield using the traditional cold process method, with recipes carefully developed and tested locally. The focus is on quality over quantity, with pure essential oils, natural colourants and thoughtfully selected ingredients forming the foundation of every product.
“We use all top quality ingredients so that only the best is touching your skin,” Jess said.
What began with soap has since expanded into a broader range of skincare and grooming products, including tallow balms, lip balms, beard oils and washes, and nail oils.
The latest addition to the range is ‘Your Last Shampoo’, launched a few weeks ago at the Apple & Grape Festival in Stanthorpe, these simple and thoughtfully crafted shampoo bars have different ingredients for different hair types – and no plastic bottle for landfill once they’re done.
“All ingredients are carefully chosen for the benefits that they bring to your skin and body,” Jess said.
Check out the range at this weekend’s Seasons of New England expo, or on their website.
Were celebrating all things made in New England! Read more Made in New England stories here.
It’s not too late to nominate your locally made products or business – find out more here.