4 minute read
OUR PEOPLE
If the shoe fits, wear it - or so the saying goes. GLENIS GREEN introduces June Reilly who finds that if the shoe fits, it simply has to be decorated.
Atalented artist with a lifelong background of self-taught painting and sculpting, a normally gregarious June Reilly found herself at a loose end when the Covid-19 lockdowns began last year.
Advertisement
Not one to admit defeat (pun intended) June scouted about for something to keep her artistic hands occupied and soon saw a blank canvas – literally – in white canvas sneakers.
Inspiration and several pots of textile and acrylic paint later and June’s “Happy Shoes” were born – hand painted with big, bright original designs.
She was tempted to call her venture “Happy Feet” but felt it would conjure up images of penguins from the popular children’s movie, so Happy Shoes it is.
Her creations were immediately popular and she has found herself with plenty of customers, even at the Hibiscus Retirement Village at Sippy Downs where she has lived for the past 12 years.
Many people may remember June as the owner of a pottery studio at Glastonbury near Gympie called about 1pm,” she laughs. June said her Happy Shoes usually started out as basic white sneakers from somewhere like Big W. She usually spends about four hours painting them with different designs which she gleans from her own experiences and sometimes inspiration from the internet. She usually sells them for about $35 to $50, or a bit less for children’s shoes which, with cute bumblebee and ladybird designs, are very popular. She also decorates more expensive shoes such as Nikes with sparkles and pretty trims and these have become especially popular among friends who like line dancing. When not painting shoes June turns her hand to portraits of people – and pets – when commissioned. One day she got tired of looking at the blank blinds on her kitchen window and Australiana, which she ran for many years even painted them with shoals of bright while her husband John worked for the fish which now swim across the view to gas company there. her lush garden.
When John retired, they moved to the She has kept a few pottery works at her Coast and she has been keeping up her art home from her Australiana days and still pieces ever since. John died three years ago does others on commission – usually with but she has her three children and six an Australian theme, from shearers to grandchildren to keep her entertained. kookaburras and possums, which are in
Now a youthful 80, June became well high demand. known for her Australian-themed pottery Finding an outlet for her Happy Shoes works which included a range of larrikin characters and animals involved in various activities.
She still has one of her own detailed works portraying The Man From Ironbark and the mischievous barber.
“I have done art all my life,” June says. “I just enjoy it … I wasn’t taught. I got a lot of inspiration from the countryside.”
She and two friends from the village, Karen and Anita, have also started art classes for other residents at Hibiscus when Covid allows. They do it as much for the hilarity and company as the art experience.
“We do about three quarters of an hour of art and then have coffee and chat until There’s no limit to June’s Happy Shoes. June in the days when she owned the Australiana pottery studio near Gympie. hasn’t been easy with lockdowns and restrictions affecting a range of local markets where they would usually sell, but there have been successful exhibitions at Kawana and in her village and word of mouth helps.
June said that now, rather than buying and decorating a range of shoes in many different sizes, she prefers people to buy their own shoes in their size and bring them to her for her “happy” treatment.
They will also be on sale at a special Hibiscus Retirement Village market on November 6, from about 8.30am to 3pm in the village hall.
A keen traveller and lover of cruising, June is looking forward to once again hitting the high seas with friends when some sort of normality resumes.
“We have an absolute ball,” she says.
Trivia and table tennis also factor on her calendar but not line dancing.
“I’m not coordinated enough,” June laughs, adding that osteoarthritis is also an issue after having broken both her wrists at various times.
But mostly these days she spreads the happiness around with her colourful shoes – quite a feat in itself. June can be contacted on 5477 0746.
- Judy, daughter of Bribie Cove resident. - Judy, daughter of Bribie Cove resident. All the staff have
They make each resident feel worthy Our Local Aged Care Residences:
Bribie Cove | Bongaree 199–213 Goodwin Drive Glasshouse Views | Beerwah Our Victorian Residences:96–104 Peachester Road Buderim Views | Buderim 383 Mooloolaba Road
441 Waterfall Gully Road, RosebudThe Ormsby | Buderim 33 Newmans Road, Templestowe 112 Burnett Street 1 Innisfallen Avenue, Templestowe CapellaBay | Capalaba 260 Old Cleveland Rd East Seaton Place | Cleveland 111 Smith Street Seabrook | Deception Bay 15 - 29 Bonton Ave
