LAURA BRADING, AUSTINMER NSW
TELL US WHERE YOU'VE BEEN, WHERE YOU'RE FROM AND HOW YOU ENDED UP ON THE SOUTH COAST LAURA?
COMMON PEOPLE #18
With dreams of opening her own bookshop Laura Brading an entrepreneurial mother of two has found ways to share her knowledge on the latest books whilst raising her brood. Laura keeps our shelves stocked with the best reads all reviewed by Laura herself under the name Tiny Bookseller. Using a little bit of smarts and a little bit of courage Laura is now ready to launch her new venture WellRead, a curated book subscription service that delivers the best new books and undiscovered gems straight to your door.
WORDS BY LAURA BRADING IMAGES BY ANNA HEYLIGERS
COMMON PEOPLE #18
LAURA BRADING, AUSTINMER NSW
With dreams of opening her own bookshop Laura Brading an entrepreneurial mother of two has found ways to share her knowledge on the latest books whilst raising her brood. Laura keeps our shelves stocked with the best reads all reviewed by Laura herself under the name Tiny Bookseller. Using a little bit of smarts and a little bit of courage Laura is now ready to launch her new venture WellRead, a curated book subscription service that delivers the best new books and undiscovered gems straight to your door.
WORDS BY LAURA BRADING IMAGES BY ANNA HEYLIGERS
My husband and I both grew up in Queensland but moved to Sydney after uni in search of jobs and city lights. I guess we aren't really city people and so the novelty wore off after a while. We moved down south to Austinmer where we quickly acquired a dog, a backyard and a couple of kids, and became full blown adults. Feels like yesterday but we've been here for over 5 years now.
WHY DO YOU LOVE LIVING WHERE YOU DO?
So many reasons! The landscape; the escarpment in particular is an amazing thing to live beneath. It has always felt mystical to me, prehistoric, a great protector. The community is generous and welcoming and interesting. The distance from the city means we can still visit and take advantage of it. And I've had both my babies here, so it feels like home. It's a special place.
TELL US WHERE YOU'VE BEEN, WHERE YOU'RE FROM AND HOW YOU ENDED UP ON THE SOUTH COAST LAURA?
My husband and I both grew up in Queensland but moved to Sydney after uni in search of jobs and city lights. I guess we aren't really city people and so the novelty wore off after a while. We moved down south to Austinmer where we quickly acquired a dog, a backyard and a couple of kids, and became full blown adults. Feels like yesterday but we've been here for over 5 years now.
WHY DO YOU LOVE LIVING WHERE YOU DO?
So many reasons! The landscape; the escarpment in particular is an amazing thing to live beneath. It has always felt mystical to me, prehistoric, a great protector. The community is generous and welcoming and interesting. The distance from the city means we can still visit and take advantage of it. And I've had both my babies here, so it feels like home. It's a special place.
"I had big dreams of opening a bookshop after the birth of my second kid but alas time, money, life. It's a big and expensive undertaking and I also totally underestimated just how much life would change going from 1 to 2 kids."
"I had big dreams of opening a bookshop after the birth of my second kid but alas time, money, life. It's a big and expensive undertaking and I also totally underestimated just how much life would change going from 1 to 2 kids."
WE LOVE YOUR CURATION OF BOOKS ON OUR SHELVES! TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR PASSION AND MOTIVATION BEHIND TINY BOOKSELLER?
I had big dreams of opening a bookshop after the birth of my second kid but alas time, money, life. It's a big and expensive undertaking and I also totally underestimated just how much life would change going from 1 to 2 kids. So I decided to make mini shops I suppose: curated collections in other businesses. It's a passion project really. I value reading so much and am one of those annoyingly evangelical people who like to place books firmly into people's hands and urge them to read it. Sharing books and exchanging conversation around those books gives me great joy in life and so this feels like an extension of that. Also, two lovely sisters decided to open a bookshop in Thirroul and gave me a job there, so it all worked out pretty well!
WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE BOOK ON THE SHELVES RIGHT NOW?
Pachinko is a brilliant, sink-your-teeth-into-it piece of historical fiction written by an incredible women about incredible woman in Korea and Japan. Normal People, if you're one of the few who haven't read it yet, is a deeply interior novel about what it means to be young and in love in all of its messy, nuanced and beautiful glory. Grandma Z Comes to Town is a gorgeous children's book about the special relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren. The imagination and design of the book is stunning! Oh and I can't go past the Little People, Big Dreams series. Vivienne Westwood is in store currently. David Bowie will be coming soon, as will my hero and fav lady, Dolly Parton!
WE LOVE YOUR CURATION OF BOOKS ON OUR SHELVES! TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR PASSION AND MOTIVATION BEHIND TINY BOOKSELLER?
I had big dreams of opening a bookshop after the birth of my second kid but alas time, money, life. It's a big and expensive undertaking and I also totally underestimated just how much life would change going from 1 to 2 kids. So I decided to make mini shops I suppose: curated collections in other businesses. It's a passion project really. I value reading so much and am one of those annoyingly evangelical people who like to place books firmly into people's hands and urge them to read it. Sharing books and exchanging conversation around those books gives me great joy in life and so this feels like an extension of that. Also, two lovely sisters decided to open a bookshop in Thirroul and gave me a job there, so it all worked out pretty well!
WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE BOOK ON THE SHELVES RIGHT NOW?
Pachinko is a brilliant, sink-your-teeth-into-it piece of historical fiction written by an incredible women about incredible woman in Korea and Japan. Normal People, if you're one of the few who haven't read it yet, is a deeply interior novel about what it means to be young and in love in all of its messy, nuanced and beautiful glory. Grandma Z Comes to Town is a gorgeous children's book about the special relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren. The imagination and design of the book is stunning! Oh and I can't go past the Little People, Big Dreams series. Vivienne Westwood is in store currently. David Bowie will be coming soon, as will my hero and fav lady, Dolly Parton!
"I value reading so much and am one of those annoyingly evangelical people who like to place books firmly into people's hands and urge them to read it. Sharing books and exchanging conversation around those books gives me great joy in life and so this feels like an extension of that."
"I value reading so much and am one of those annoyingly evangelical people who like to place books firmly into people's hands and urge them to read it. Sharing books and exchanging conversation around those books gives me great joy in life and so this feels like an extension of that."
IS THERE SOMETHING SPECIAL COMING UP FOR YOU LAURA? OUR BIRDIES HAVE TOLD US THERE'S SOMETHING NEW ON THE HORIZON?
Well, yes. A friend and I have been working on a book subscription business called WellRead. Subscriptions will be available for different time periods and you can also purchase them as gifts. The selections will be carefully curated and designed to stimulate the reading lives of our subscribers. It's about discovery, a move away from the digital world, the joy of reading a great book, maintaining your interest in the world, becoming an interesting person. We'll be launching in the coming months but our Instagram is live and you can sign up to receive news via our website at wellread.com.au.
TELL US WHY YOU SHOP AT NOEL & GLADYS AND YOUR PICKS FOR OUR READERS?
First things first, it smells really good! I challenge you to walk past and not go inside. So yes, lots of lovely smelling things. You can tell that everything in the store has been selected very carefully. There's an appreciation of quality, of craftsmanship, and of beauty. It's a gorgeous store. Many people will have received a ceramic incense burner from me, my go-to gift. I adore the beautiful clothes by All That Remains. Also, I really appreciate how much effort Anna is putting into community events and supporting local artists. It's so much more than a retail store!
Learn more about Laura here.
IS THERE SOMETHING SPECIAL COMING UP FOR YOU LAURA? OUR BIRDIES HAVE TOLD US THERE'S SOMETHING NEW ON THE HORIZON?
Well, yes. A friend and I have been working on a book subscription business called WellRead. Subscriptions will be available for different time periods and you can also purchase them as gifts. The selections will be carefully curated and designed to stimulate the reading lives of our subscribers. It's about discovery, a move away from the digital world, the joy of reading a great book, maintaining your interest in the world, becoming an interesting person. We'll be launching in the coming months but our Instagram is live and you can sign up to receive news via our website at wellread.com.au.
TELL US WHY YOU SHOP AT NOEL & GLADYS AND YOUR PICKS FOR OUR READERS?
First things first, it smells really good! I challenge you to walk past and not go inside. So yes, lots of lovely smelling things. You can tell that everything in the store has been selected very carefully. There's an appreciation of quality, of craftsmanship, and of beauty. It's a gorgeous store. Many people will have received a ceramic incense burner from me, my go-to gift. I adore the beautiful clothes by All That Remains. Also, I really appreciate how much effort Anna is putting into community events and supporting local artists. It's so much more than a retail store!
Learn more about Laura here.
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COMMON PEOPLE #17
JESS & BODIE, BELLAMBI NSW
Meet El Freda, the deceased estate that once was brought back to life by a couple of local creatives Jess & Bodie. Their love for mid-century style meant that this a renovating project pays homage to the cottage it once was, a home full of curated op shop finds that showcase their unique flare. You'll find these two and baby Orla soaking up the sun, listening to records in their 50's fibro shack, as Jess says they're just two hoarders in love.
PREVIOUS ENTRY
COMMON PEOPLE #17
JESS & BODIE, BYRON BAY NSW
Meet El Freda, the deceased estate that once was brought back to life by a couple of local creatives Jess & Bodie. Their love for mid-century style meant that this a renovating project pays homage to the cottage it once was, a home full of curated op shop finds that showcase their unique flare. You'll find these two and baby Orla soaking up the sun, listening to records in their 50's fibro shack, as Jess says they're just two hoarders in love.