Kicking off 2025 in style, Rachel Burke brought her signature sparkle to the Sunshine Coast with two standout events at Light Industry Studio in Kunda Park.

An audience of 40 enjoyed the R|Talks: Creativity, Craft and Courage event on the Thursday evening followed by a hands-on upcycling R|Masterclass: From the Mundane to the Majestic on the Saturday taking participants through the ideation, design and execution process resulting in a unique handbag made from a humble pantry box.

Rachel Burke is a multidisciplinary artist, author, and designer whose dazzling, textural creations redefine craft as an art form. Known for transforming everyday objects into bold, wearable pieces, her work has attracted a global following—including icons like Cate Blanchett and Harry Styles. With a fearless DIY ethos and an unmistakable aesthetic, Burke champions creativity as a radical act of self-expression.

The Art of Showing Up

The room was buzzing at our first R|Talk for 2025 with Rachel Burke and local textile artist Shaye Hardisty side by side for a lively and deeply personal discussion facilitated by Laura Jackson, Sewing Coordinator at Peppermint Magazine. The two artists were united on the need to create with courage, especially in a world where craft is often overlooked as a legitimate art form.

For Burke, wearing her own work in public is her most courageous act. For Hardisty, being brave is embracing imperfection and trusting that the right ideas will find her. Both artists shared their thoughts on embracing the label of artist and the creative processes and disciplined routines that allow them to stay in the ‘flow’ and keep making. The creative community of makers, artists, and fashion lovers, listened intently as the three women sparked off each other’s passion and enthusiasm and answered direct questions from the crowd. Mingling with fans and followers afterwards, Rachel and Shaye chatted with smaller groups and posed for photos.

Amidst all the insights shared, the key takeaway of the night was creative success isn’t measured by the final product—it’s in the daily practice of showing up.

Crafting the Unexpected

At the R|Masterclass, Burke swapped the microphone for a glue gun, leading an intimate group through a process of fearless creativity. From the Mundane to the Majestic challenged participants to transform a cereal box into a statement handbag.

With pom-poms, pipe cleaners, rhinestones, and a wild array of other materials at their fingertips, attendees began the day by sitting down with Burke to hear about her creative process and her cross-disciplinary career. Then, they were guided to sketch and ideate their designs, before diving into the making process. Using framing tape, participants reinforced the structure of their cereal box bags to create lasting wearable art pieces.

The full-day session was a masterclass in creative play and pure joy, where mistakes weren’t failures but fuel for new ideas. “Trust the flow” Burke reminded the group, encouraging them to follow ideas as they came up rather than overthinking or discarding them.

The Boldest Act

The Refinery’s latest programming showcased craft as a gateway to discovery. Discovery of joy in the process. Discovery of confidence in one’s own creative instincts. And most importantly, the realisation that the boldest act an artist can take is simply beginning.