About

Hello & welcome to my Rainbow-filled corner of the world.

Hi I’m Jo Kealley.

I’m a Daughter, a Sister, a Wife & a Mother.

I’m a Designer, a Creator & a Maker.

AND most recently a Potter.

I chase Rainbows & Dream in Colour. I practice & believe in Random Acts of Kindness. I encourage others to pay it forward. I wear flowers in my hair every day. Every single day, even when I am painting the house or washing the dog.

This is my story… {so far}

From as far back as I can remember I have had a pencil in my hand. Nothing excited me as much, or brought me more joy than a new packet of pencils aligned in perfect colour order & so began my love of rainbows & all things colourful.

I’ve been blessed with an Artisan Mum whose creativity knows no bounds, & a Dad whom I often refer to as ‘MacGyver’ for his incredible, creative problem-solving skills.

At school I was never the fastest or the first picked for the sports teams ~ sadly, there were no Art Olympics. BUT, I was the kid asked to design the posters & school magazine covers. Back then I thought that was pretty cool. “Ask Jo to do it, she’s the Arty one” My time to shine was sketch book in hand, pencil at the ready.

It rocked. It still does.

This creative start led me to pursue further education & eventually a career in Graphic Design.

As my friend Ferris Bueller said

“Life moves pretty fast.”

I met my one true love. We laughed & danced our way through the seasons & years. A trip around the world & one precious daughter later, my dream moved from the pages of a sketchbook & became my reality.

Things changed.

It evolved. I evolved.

& then one day early 2006 Glass Fusing & Casting called me into it's delightful intriguing world.

CURLY JO DESIGN was born!

Fast forward to October 2006, the time was now!

Over six months spent dreaming, designing & making saw me take a giant leap of faith & hold my first Market Stall. From the safety of the work bench in my home-based Studio, to one card table at Brisbane’s leading Artisan & Craft Market.

Set on the picturesque Eagle Street Pier - Riverside in the Brisbane CBD, it was million-dollar Real Estate for a few dollars rent.

Markets became my weekend home for six years, at Riverside & then another 7 years at Southbank - 13 years of market weekends.

All a long way from my childhood home in the Wildflower-filled Perth Hills.

Exciting & terrifying in equal measures.

Life got kinda crazy.

Weekdays spent designing & making. Nights spent dreaming in colour…occasionally sleeping. Weekends spent helping my handmade treasures find their forever homes.

Sometimes the housework piled up. Sometimes I had a meltdown. Toasted sandwiches featured more frequently on the dinner menu.

What was once a love of gourmet cooking became a love of cooking glass.

In 2018 I woke up one morning & decided it was time for something different. I made plans, sold half of the business & rebranded to Hello Little Friday. Still making jewellery & homewares but now with Resin. Still ALL. ABOUT. RAINBOWS.

Almost 20 years have flown by.

I’ve created in glass, paper, pen, ink, acrylic, resin & my latest love CLAY!

Brodie has grown from a curly-haired cherub who would answer the phone stating “Mummy is in the Jewel factory” {the Garage} to an enthusiastic & engaging young woman. Matt still listens to my late night ramblings & assures me over cups of tea “Everything will work out fine” He is the most positive optimistic person I know, the perfect guy to have on your team.

Daily I pinch myself that this is all real.

That I haven’t tumbled down some Rainbow-filled Rabbit hole.

That I have a colourful, creative life.

That it is great big enormous bucket-loads of fun.

That I am blessed with a loyal tribe of customers many who have become some of my dearest friends.

That Matt, Brodie & our beautiful Cocker Spaniel - my Studio Hound Jordie, continue to love me, support me, encourage me & put up with my crazy ways.

Thank you for taking the time to read my little tale

Take care and be kind to each other.

xXx

Jo