They work with very different materials, but Blue Mountains artists Brianna Peterson and Grace Wood share a knack for creating beautiful handcrafted items in demand on Etsy.com - an online global marketplace for handmade and vintage goods.
Both made a shortlist last week of 54 finalists from Australia and New Zealand in the second annual Etsy Design Awards and are now in the running to win a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Etsy headquarters in New York.
Woodford designer and textile artist, Ms Wood, runs Grace Wood Design which was selected in the 'business as unusual' category for its innovative use of felt and earthy range of bed and cushion covers, throws, table runners, scarves and cosy cups.
A receptionist three days per week, she spends the rest of her time working in her home studio using natural fibres and dyeing techniques and also dabbles in larger scale, collaborative projects with other artists - most recently creating a 'floating cubbyhouse' with Kevin Tong as part of the 2015 Indesign event in Sydney.
Ms Wood started the business after returning inspired from a four-month internship in the Netherlands in 2013 with felt artist Claudy Jongstra, who uses fine wool from her own flock and natural dyes from plants grown in her garden.
"She had a very holistic approach that I really identified with and it was very important to her to have that connection with nature," Ms Wood said.
"I want to create products that people really cherish and hold onto and that have a strong personal aesthetic, otherwise I would be just mass producing things.
"I was lucky to find something I connected with and I'd like to thank Etsy for their support.
"In the longer term I want to work on a larger scale with felt to make things like feature walls and installations in public spaces - that's where I can see myself going."
It's the second year in a row that Katoomba porcelain jewellery maker Brianna Peterson (Mrs Peterson Pottery) is an Etsy Design Awards finalist in the fashion and accessories category.
Her love for ceramics began at an early age in her nanna's ceramics studio and it continues at home each day where she handcrafts earrings, tiny porcelain rings and gorgeous pendants that feature designs inspired by clouds passing over the Upper Mountains.
For more information about the awards and finalists, visit www.etsydesignawards.com.
