The collector:  My name is Liz Jones, but I also answer to Betty Jo, which has been the name of my jewellery and home wares business for almost 7 years. I am based in Melbourne Australia, which us creative folk believe is the is the cultural hub of the country. It's a great place to be for artists, designers, musicians, writers and performers as there is such a strong community of innovative and inspiring people who live here.

The collection:  I am a magpie and seem to collect  numerous items that are either functional or decorative. I have thousands of pre-loved Buttons, piles of vintage linoleum, and suitcases full of embroidered doilies especially for my jewelery and clock designs, so most of these collections get transformed into something new. Other things I collect for inspiration and appreciation include vintage children's books, ceramic figurines and salt and pepper shakers, anodised soda syphons, swap cards, retro teatowels and teacosies, haberdashery, old toys and games, and random plastic bric-a-brac I collect from beaches.

 

I started making my colour collages in 2009. I am still invoved in the production of these:  Right now I am working on a installation in a larger format , making jewellery with a colour collage theme, and planning some collage workshops. My rubbish rainbows beach plastic series has been very popular and has been featured on dozens of "Green" websites lately.

I like to display my collection around my house. I have some bits and pieces in an antique printers tray and alot of it ends up in my studio.  My house is what you would call artfully cluttered. I have started to limit my collecting to things I actually can use. I don't have a single bit of room left in my book shelves for another vintage children's book, or shelf space in my kitchen for another kitschy figurine! My huge collection of vintage linoleum is forever growing as it has become the mainstay of my designs and i just love it's gorgeous patterns and colours. My favorite find would have to be my set of Clarice Cliff conical shakers. Picked up for a song at my local opportunity shop.