wilga daughter

Wilga Daughter showcases the work of sisters Michelle and Christine Hannan. 

Michelle and Christine were raised in the small rural community of Goondiwindi and have fond memories of playing in and around their favourite Wilga tree on the family property.

Michelle and Christine are proud of their rural heritage and often attend local events such as picnic races.. These events have helped shape the Wilga Daughter range. Wilga Daughter pieces are designed with versatility in mind, being suitable for everyday wear through to special events.

Michelle and Christine have traveled extensively together and individually and have collected many unique beads and stones from a range of countries over the years. Michelle has recently returned home with many new beads, including Venetian Murano glass, after spending four months in Europe.

wilga mother

Wilga Mother showcases the work of Kay Hannan.

Kay was brought up in a home where her tailoress mother made beautiful clothing for discerning women. This love of individuality, creativity and artistic delight has always been part of her life. Kay discovered the world of lampwork in 2007, and realised that this would be the avenue for her creativity.

All of Kay's work is made of “found” items. Kay is not a bead maker herself, but uses high quality beads produced by glass-makers in Australia,The United States, and Canada. In the true artistic style, these lampworkers have become wonderful friends who are prepared to share the knowledge and expertise they have acquired over the years. Many Wilga Mother pieces are made with beads from artists who regularly show in galleries. 

wilga maramali

Kay has worked in the Aboriginal community of Boggabilla and Toomelah for over 20 years. In the past year Kay has formed a small company with a number of Aboriginal women.  These women produce jewellery based on Aboriginal themes. Their company is called maramali which means "handmade" in the Kamillaroi dialect.

The support which this venture has received from beadmakers in Australia, the US and Canada has been overwhelming, with many lampworkers donating beads and others offering to feature work on their websites. Five artists have enjoyed the challenge of producing specially commissioned beads based on the Australian Aboriginal flag.

One aim of maramali is to produce beautiful jewellery for Aboriginal people. Many young Aboriginal people appreciate contemporary jewellery which also acknowledges their culture. This range is available to all purchasers, including the many tourists who travel through our area, and will soon be available online at wilga.com.au.