Tell me a bit about yourself. What do you do?
Hi I’m Bree, I enjoy picnics by the river, afternoon G&T’s and coffee catchups with family and friends. Hahahaha ok more seriously, I’m a mumma of three boys - Jacob is 7 and my twins Edward and Samuel are 5 and I am also the founder of Knot Just Cords which I brought to life in January 2018.
I have designed beginner DIY macrame kits to help encourage busy women to take time out for themselves and get creative. I’ve taken all the guesswork out of learning something new and have made sure the kits are fun, stress free and super easy to follow.
Macrame bought me back to life when I had postnatal depression. It gave me something to focus on that wasn’t my kids and a therapeutic outlet that relaxed my mind when nothing else I had tried could. It’s this mindfulness aspect that creativity provides that I want to show the world and help to encourage busy women to take the time out for themselves they deserve and to prioritise their own self care through creativity.
What caused your soul searching to find your dream career?
It wasn’t really like that for me. I was 37 years old, a mum of 3 little boys and I was completely overwhelmed with everything that involved being a mum.
It was a time in my life where we had moved to Broome for a country posting with work. Eddie and Sam weren’t yet one and Jacob not yet 3. I had no family support, postnatal depression and struggled every day with the responsibilities of being a mum.
Then one day I saw an ad for a macrame workshop and I knew I needed to get out of the house and do this for myself. Honestly, I didn’t even really know what macrame was. All I knew was that it would get me out of the house and away from the kids.
It wasn’t until after that workshop that I realised I hadn’t thought about the kids for 2 hours. TWO WHOLE HOURS!!!! That for the first time in a long time, my every waking thought wasn’t consumed with the boys. I had taken the time for ME. I wasn’t a mum, a wife, a daughter or anything else, I was me.
I needed to find a way to get that into my day every day. So I went home and I would practice my knots every night after the kids went to bed. No matter how tired I was. It helped calm my busy mind which helped me sleep better because even though I was super exhausted, my brain had a really hard time shutting off. Macrame gave me a focus that wasn’t my kids and something to look forward to each day. Without sounding all mooshy and that, but macrame gave me back a piece of me that I had lost after becoming a mum.
It helped me through the hardest chapter of my life. Now I am on the other side of postnatal depression, my kids are all in full time school and I have had time to breathe, I’ve realised it’s my calling, my purpose, to share my journey with other mums and be a kind of guiding light so they know they aren’t alone and that if I can get through what I did can come out the other side, so can they.
What do you like most about your work?
OMG soooo many things!!! Firstly - That I make a difference in women’s lives. I’ve had women reach out to me after hearing parts of my story because I share the truth about being a mum. The no bullsh*t approach to motherhood and the struggles many of us face. It’s not easy being vulnerable and sharing the hard times, but it is my story that has bought me to where I am right now with my business and it is what other mums relate to.
On a lighter note, I also love the fact that I get to play Santa every.single.day. I get to wrap all the kits, write the special notes that loved ones have written on their orders and pop them in my Santa sack delivery bag (I am not even joking - yes I have a Christmas sack as my post office deliver bag). My job makes me smile and brings me loads of happiness knowing that the lucky women receiving my kits will experience the exact same feelings. Gift giving is the actual best.
Can you share one tip to help others figure out their dream career?
What are you passionate about? What makes you jump out of bed in the morning to go and do? What is the first thing you think of when you wake up and the last thing before you go to sleep. Whatever that is, do that! But you need to know its not easy and that I call total bullsh*t on the ‘find the thing you love and you’ll never work a day in your life’, because frankly, I work harder now than I ever did in a 9-5. The difference is I love what I do now. I GET to work, not HAVE to work. And….you’re never too old!
If you could tell your past self one thing in regard to your career change, what would it be?
It will all work out as it should. Don’t worry about what other people think and don’t do what you THINK other people want you to do. Just be yourself, always. Keep believing in yourself even when you think no one else does. Keep going!!! You’re fuc&ing amazing! (wow I think I need to print this out and stick it at my desk……go me!)
Where can people find out more about the work you do?
They can head to www.knotjustcords.com.au where they will find all the details on what macrame kits are available or for more of a behind the scenes type content head to Instagram @knotjustcords or Facebook @knotjustcordsperth
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Would YOU like to find your dream career as well?
I created a simple worksheet, which will support you to get clarity and motivation to find a career that you love and feel passionate about.
Just contact me here to be send this fun worksheet.
This is the start of an exciting journey for you. I just know it.
Much love,
