August 30, 2010
papier mache's beck marshall
To create a product is one thing. To do it with integrity is something else altogether. I've long admired people who work towards a "greater good". Ie, it's not just about the money, or fame, or whatever else it is that so many chase. I'm talking about people who want to contribute to the "bigger picture". Kate Bezar of Dumbo feather comes to mind, and I believe the crew behind Papier Mache - including editor Beck Marshall - are in that space too. Issue 4 is online now, and watch out for coming issues in print too.
Which five words best describe you? Flighty, emotional, crazily busy-minded.
What was your first job/career and what path have you taken since? Funny to think all that way back... At 12 my first job was on the weekends in a tiny little sandwich shack at a beach called "The Pass" in Byron Bay. I made so many jaffles in the hot, hot summer for a ridiculously small amount of money. May path ever since has been a pretty windy, fun and strange adventure... over a few countries and careers.
What's the best lesson you've learnt along the way? Well, I have this theory that I attract serious life lessons (why I can't attract the odd butterfly on my windowsill seems so unfair). I have now learnt the best thing is to find your own ship to sail. Don't look back and be strong and truthful to who you have on board!
What's your proudest career achievement? I've had a few. The launch of Papier Mache obviously is a huge achievement. It was born from scribbles on paper and extracts from a zillion scrapbooks I've collected over the years. I also used to own a little children's store in Sydney and painting the logo on the awning with my kids and watching my mum and husband nail in the last nail before opening the doors was pretty cool.
What's been your best decision? Buying my now husband (who was a complete stranger at that moment) lunch.
Who inspires you? So many people. It is super amazing what we are able to access nowadays by just clicking away so the breadth of inspirational people is growing larger for me each day. I have been loving my usual suspects of unreal people for some time now but it's fun to keep adding. (Oooh, and my mum because she somehow raised three pretty wild kids on her own, and did a damn fine job - I freak out trying to raise my two with a husband and loads of support!).
What are you passionate about? Trying to make an honest and wholesome attempt of raising my girls, and sticking to see something in my life through for once.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? I have never given it much thought really, but if I was a long-haul flight or boring bus ride somewhere I'd be pretty happy to sit next to Leonard Cohen.
What dream do you still want to fulfil? Own a house with a back door, front door and windows on both sides; see a printed version of Papier Mache. Mmmm... I could go on and on.
What are you reading? On the road by Jack Kerouac. I like to read Kerouac when I'm after some inspiration of a seriously unique kind.
images courtesy of papier mache