Experience

• 

  Banner Biz

  • Founder & Chief Applique Artist

    • Nov 1995 - Present

    The Accidental Business Start … The BANNER BIZ story.Hi there. I am Maria Smythe, founder and chief applique artist at Banner Biz.The beginning: Despite putting myself through university by sewing, for a while I didn’t consider this skill I had learnt from my mother as more than a useful hobby, and so became a maths teacher. Some years later, with a move to Queensland from New Zealand via South Australia, sewing – and in particular, applique work – became a business.In 1997 when my youngest son was at Sunshine Beach State High School in Queensland the Principal there was looking, with great difficultly, for a school banner. At the time I was creating a dragon wall-hanging for my eldest son so I showed this to the Principal. He immediately asked me to applique the school logo onto a banner.Shortly after I delivered the banner, the Principal suggested I create a business around the work since other schools wanted to know where he had purchased his banner. (He also ordered a Lectern banner and 2 smaller ones to be used as gifts for students travelling to overseas schools).And so: Word spread quickly in the education community and the business grew. I discovered a natural aptitude for design and colour which combined perfectly with years of experience and a love of sewing learnt at my perfectionist mother’s side. So from the outset, stitch-work of the highest quality has been the Banner Biz trademark. Banner Biz appliquéd banners and wall-hangings are created in the traditional method using layers of fabric on fabric. Each character is individually cut, set and finely satin-stitched by our experienced team. My hand-crafted artwork is easily distinguished from mass-produced banners and is a testament to the passion in my work.To date I have created beautiful and functional appliqued artwork for hundreds of schools and businesses throughout Australia and private works in Australia and New Zealand.Let’s hope you can join this group!

  • Owner

    • 1995 - Present

    Banner Biz has been creating high quality banners for schools, clubs and private dwellings for 15 years. We produce appliquéd banners and wall-hangings for promotional and ceremonial use.Our largest project to date has been 7 Wall-Hangings, 1.7m wide x 3.5m deep for Nagle College, Bairnsdale, Victoria. Attention to detail and superior workmanship is our competitive edge. We can work with your logo or design, or assist in developing such, to create a functional artwork.Printed music stand banners, vinyl and magnetic banners are also part of our range.Maria has been sewing since she was about 14, these skills helping pay her way at University in Auckland, New Zealand. Her experience teaching in Adelaide for 2 years when first moving to Australia, and a long family history in Education, have been useful in dealing with schools regarding their banner requirements.

• 

  Appliqeshon

  • Noosa Heads, Queensland, Australia

  • Manufacturer

    • Jan 1985 - Feb 1998
    • Noosa Heads, Queensland, Australia

    Appliqeshon began with the manufacture of appliquéd T-shirts for women and, with success, gradually added a range of other clothing. This business supplied boutiques from Adelaide and Sydney to Brisbane and Toowoomba. Our range of large size clothing was particularly successful.Manufacture of women's clothing for Party Plan business, K-Sa-Rah, followed with Maria going into partnership with Kaye - responsible for the marketing of the goods. This partnership flourished with 25 women selling for K-Sa-Rah at its peak.

• 

  Brighton Boys Technical School

  • Adelaide, Australia

  • Maths Teacher

    • Jan 1972 - 1974
    • Adelaide, Australia