Oh, hi, I'm so glad you found me!
Established on the first day of spring in 2014, Whistle & Page is the embodiment of my creative soul—a place where the simple, the delicate, and the beautiful come together in harmony. As the founder and maker, I invite you to find beauty in simplicity and to get cosy, whether in the form of handmade pottery, intimate watercolour illustrations and photography, or heartfelt children’s books. My work is gently swayed by the seasons and a reflection of my life in the rural heart of Murrumbateman, nestled in the rolling hills and lush pastures of New South Wales, Australia. From my hands to your hearts—this is the essence of everything I create. Slowly. Intentionally. Wholeheartedly.
Welcome to the world of Whistle & Page. I’m so grateful you’re here.
Storytime
Whistle & Page has been my dream hustle for the past ten years. However, before pursuing it full-time, I worked in the finance and communications industry in corporate and for-purpose sectors for almost twenty years. I still love creating engaging content for individuals and businesses. I concentrate on copywriting services, including editing, for impactful digital and printed material. I develop content for business needs, social media, events, promotional and professional publications, and other custom projects.
In the winter of 2019, just before the world stopped, we embarked on a life-changing and earth-shattering tree change, which seems like a no-brainer now. We realised that the rat race of a fast-paced life was no longer sustainable or bearable, and therefore, something had to change. With my husband and a toddler in tow, we took the plunge and relocated 300 km from semi-rural New South Wales (NSW) in the Camden district to full-on rural NSW.
Pottery - My Ikigai - My Passion and Purpose
My pottery, made in small batches in my home studio, is deeply inspired by the surrounding landscape, with an emphasis on the Japanese philosophy of Wabi-Sabi. I find beauty in the imperfect, the transient, and the naturally weathered forms around me. Just as the seasons shift and the earth wears its time gracefully, I seek to craft functional pottery that feels like it has a quiet, timeless presence. Each piece, whether a mug, bowl, or plate, is intended to bring warmth to your home, creating a subtle but lasting connection between me, the maker, the pottery, and you, the patron. I believe that the objects we interact with daily can enhance our connection to the world around us and to ourselves. When I make a mug, for example, I think about the warmth it will hold and the hands that will keep it. The shapes and textures I employ are influenced by the wild, rugged beauty of my environment—the worn stones, the endless sky, the changing leaves. The pieces are tactile, with soft curves and textured surfaces, meant to be held and touched, to create a sense of grounding in our busy lives.
Now for a bit of background: As I mentioned, I live in an old country town on the outskirts of regional NSW, near the nation’s capital — on Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country. To me, it’s serenity – she gets me. But before I called Australia home, my heart belonged to another, Bangladesh. I took my first breath across the sea, about ten thousand kilometres away and almost four decades ago in a concrete jungle. This tiny, fertile country in southern Asia is surrounded by the largest river deltas and cradled by magnificent mangroves, which I was utterly oblivious to until I was about six when we visited our hometown in the countryside of Podamdi. I hold my most profound connection with my culture in that village. I always recall the same memory...
I am running past the courtyard of our family home, and my family is following close by. The pigeons are starting to coo, and my dadu (paternal grandmother) is making pitha (winter sweets) on a clay-moulded stove with some help – the smell of wood burning and that hint of sweet treat filled the fresh morning air. I make my way through the sugarcane fields, a forest full of mango and jackfruit trees scattered with patches of palm and bamboo. Feeling like I’ve stepped back in time, I stop and find myself in a clearing with a cluster of little clay and straw huts, where all the local farmers live in harmony.
The villagers invite us to share tea. It’s late monsoon season, and the rain starts to pour. We take shelter in one of the larger huts. I look around; it’s unlike any other house I’ve ever been to. For starters, there were no rooms. There were no doors or windows either, just large openings carefully maintained to make sure there were no cracks in the clay. There were mud walls, floor and even some built-in furniture. On the floor, there are beautifully laid hand-stitched nakshi kantha (traditional tapestries and blankets) with scenes of old tales for future generations. There was so much beauty in the simplicity of the village that you couldn’t help but get cosy. Tea was served in the most exquisite terracotta tea set that, even then, I knew, was only brought out for special visitors. Overwhelmed with gratitude, I take my handle-less teacup and sit on the floor on a pretty nakshi kantha.
I sit by the large window opening, clasping my sweet hot tea with both hands. A little old lady greets me with a lovely little blanket, which she places on my bare knees. I smile and thank her. The gorgeous pattern set in red and black stitches against the white cotton reminded me of the blanket my nanu (maternal grandmother) made, sitting patiently on mum’s bed back home, awaiting our return.
I look out the window to watch the rain. The wood in the communal outdoor stove has begun to smoke. Through it, across the courtyard, I see her. She was sitting entirely still by the window of a smaller hut while her long, ebony hair danced with the breeze.
With a similar blanket to keep her cosy, she has a half-read book in one hand and a clay teacup in the other. As the raindrops kiss her tanned skin, it glistens like tiny specks of diamonds. The nameless girl was the perfect vision of self-care and joy all wrapped in one.
This sweet memory is forever locked in time and eventually became the foundation of Whistle & Page.
All my handcrafted pieces are inspired by the charming Podamdi. I mainly use neutral tones and natural materials to capture the true meaning of comfort and calm.
Welcome again! I hope you enjoy your visit and find something extraordinary that fills your heart with delight.