With We cre8, you know you are dealing with high quality, ethical businesses that aim to enhance your busy lifestyle. In one place you can source a range of products, services and experiences, all cre8ed by women with a passion for what they do. The website will keep you informed of competitions, promotions, new businesses & special events. It's an online community where you can chat with other customers & give feedback to the businesses. This ensures standards are kept high and each business is constantly striving to do their utmost for customer satisfaction.

Being involved with a group of motivated businesswomen keeps everyone moving forward with fresh ideas. We cre8 is a completely not for profit group that aims to provide support and practical business strategies for women who want success and balance in their lives. There are no joining fees and extremely reasonable rates for being part of the website. The monthly meetings are an honest exchange of feedback and an opportunity to pool ideas & resources for maximising advertising and sales opportunites. Experts in all areas of business and personal development are sourced to give direct and relevent information and help to the group. Above all, it's a group of positive women who support each other to reach their goals in an atmosphere of trust, good humour and friendship.

You are encouraged to write your thoughts and ideas on our blog site www.we-cre8.blogspot.com

Style your life......Products, Services, Experiences. Cre8ed by women.

We Cre8 Members profile

Marika Martinez from Women's Own Adventure

Women's Own Adventure is the result of a passion for travel and adventure, as well as the belief that life is too short and great experiences should be shared.

Marika Martinez is the director of Women’s Own Adventure. She is a mother of 2 wonderful grown children who are about to embark on their own life adventures. Marika has had an interesting life where every day was an adventure. Having lived on an island (with water access only) for 14 years with her husband and 2 young children, life was anything but ordinary. There were storms to endure, sinking boats, lack of water and sometimes a sense of exhaustion from carrying absolutely everything (including building materials, groceries, children and dog).

But there was also abundant fun, enduring friendships, adventure every day, a feeling of freedom and a huge sense of achievement. It is these things that inspire one to take the next challenge.

Marika has many years of travel experience to various places and with a love for the great outdoors, learning about different cultures and making new friends, she is always ready for the next challenge. In her 40's she decided to finally learn how to fly, a deep-seated desire that has always been there. Over the years Marika has tried all forms of flight including jumping from a plane with only a parachute, taking lessons on a single engine plane, flying a no engine sailplane, being a passenger on a very tiny ultra light
aircraft, and jumping off cliffs with a paraglider. Paragliding has become her preferred method of flight, with around 100 hours
of airtime behind her; Marika plans to fly for as long as she is able to walk. The freedom this form of flight offers is amazing and is as close to free flight that we humans have been able to achieve so far. If you are interested in trying paragliding, Marika can point you in the right direction.

Allison Roger from Bra(g)

Allison Roger has resides on the Northern Beaches with her husband and two children.  I decided not to go back to the corporate world and instead started my own business so I could spend more time with the family. 

I reconnected with an old school friend at my high school reunion in Canada who had just developed a new product called the Bra(g).  We decided Australian women should not miss out on such a unique, yet practical item! 

I now import and wholesale to Australia and New Zealand.  The bra(g) is definitely an attention grabber - it creates smiles around the globe and keeps us looking beautiful! 

Bra(g)   travel in style...arrive in form

Shane Metcalfe from Raptya

My family and the ocean are the two greatest passions in my life. I have a wonderful husband & three
gorgeous children. After gaining degrees in Physical Education, Drama & Dance, I spent my professional
career in each of these areas, both here and overseas.  I'm currently running two businesses from home.
My husband & I have had a successful wedding & corporate video business for 15 years.

My Raptya business began when I couldn't find a cover up "rashie" that I wanted to wear.... they were all
uncomfortable, unflattering or both! I've always been a beach girl & have been surfing for 30 years. I felt it
was time to develop some sun protection for women that is flattering & sexy as well. Providing the design
expertise is my business partner, Tuila who has worked with the top names in Australian fashion for the past 25 years. 

The sun can cause such devastating damage that I feel our garments are addressing a serious health issue while giving us women the freedom to enjoy the sun & water....and look great at the same time!

Cathy Neich from Cathy’s Niche

For women of all ages seeking a wardrobe update or total new look with their personal presentation, using
the services of Cathy Neich may be well advised.  Trained in colour and style with The Australian
Image Company, Cathy has also been trained and assessed by Napoleon Make-up Academy and is
a professional make-up artist. Her services include individual or group image and make-up
consultations, image and make-up application workshops, personal shopping assistance and mobile
bridal make-up. Wardrobe planning and audits are also a favourite of Cathy’s, “We have so much
untapped potential behind those closed doors. Showing a client the opportunity in their own wardrobe is
quite powerful and it can be done easily and within a budget.”

Based in Warriewood on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Cathy’s enthusiasm and acceptance of continually changing trends in the fashion and beauty industries allows a modern, fresh and individual approach to her work with clients of all ages.  Clients include business executives, brides, school leavers, mums, and business owners.  She is regularly invited to be Guest Speaker to the clientele of numerous fashion & accessory boutiques and hair & beauty salons, and her corporate clients include businesses such as Foxtel, Nutrimetics, CSIRO, and Roche Pharmaceuticals. 

Karen Pini In Style

For 30 years I have been working in the modelling and television industry.

In 1976 I walked on to Scarborough Beach in Perth, Western Australia to enter my first beauty pageant not realising I would be on the world stage by November that same year. The title I won was Miss West Coast, a beach girl competition run by a local television station. From there I was automatically entered in to the Australasian Beach Girl competition in March. Beach girls from all around Australia travelled to Perth to compete for the title. Winning this title entered me in to another beauty competition; the Quest of Quests. This quest was to find entrants for 5 beauty competitions around the world.

They included an Australian entrant for Miss Universe and Miss World. I was chosen to go to London in November to compete for the title of Miss World 1976 and also chosen as Australia’s Golden Dream Girl.

So in November I jetted to London to the Britannia Hotel and then on to the stage of Albert Hall to be watched by millions of people around the world. On the 18th November 1976  I became the first runner-up to Miss World, an amazing year to remember. Living in London for a further two years gave me a chance to work with some of the best photographers in the world including one of my favourite people, Patrick Litchfield. Sadly Patrick is no longer with us but his work lives on and the memories of lots of laughter and beautiful images will remain.

After returning to Australia in 1978 I began my television career with channel 9 in Sydney and was the first presenter of the NSW lotto draw which I continued for 12 years before semi-retirement to look after my three children. Over the years I have worked on many shows in television including The Paul Hogan Show and The Young Doctors.

This story is only part of an interesting life of modelling and presentation work. Over the years that followed I have enjoyed the so called “Glamorous Life” both in modelling and television. It has been a great learning curve for me and the personal skills that I’ve learnt have made me the person I am today.

I attended my first modelling and deportment course when I was 15 and even today I use the skills I learnt way back then. In today’s busy life we don’t always have someone to teach us the basics of modern etiquette and posture or to help us feel we are confident to become successful in our own right.

My dream is to pass on skills of models and presenters to young people so that they can develop a style of their own. We all have great dreams and will travel in different directions and I hope we can all go forward  trying our best to learn and grow as individuals.

Angela Cushway from Vanilla Bean Pictures                                                                                   

The principal photographer and owner of the business Angela Cushway has established a solid clientele and reputation over the past 14 years.

As a mother of two boys Angela has first hand experience with working with children. Her philosophy is to create a fun and relaxed environment that people feel at ease in front of the camera.

Angela is an award winning member of the A.I.P.P (Australian Institute of Professional Photographers).

Karen Forbes from Smartline Home Loans

Karen has lived on the Northern Beaches for over 30 years, and has 2 teenage boys. She has over
20 years of taxation, accounting and investment consulting experience, and now combines a passion for property investment with her financial and business experience to help her clients achieve their vision
for their financial future.

‘I provide my clients with excellent service by really listening and understanding their needs. I pride
myself on my honesty, professionalism, integrity, the ability to present all the options and explain concepts
in plain English.

‘I believe I fill a need in the market for a mortgage adviser who understands finance and tax, knows all the pitfalls of borrowing and buying property, and can explain everything in simple terms. I take all the hassle out of dealing with lenders, while you get on with your lives. My clients have the security of knowing I work for them, not for the bank.’

Lois Nethery from Family Clinic - Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine

Lois Nethery has been involved in the healing professions for over 15 years.

With a background in Psychology, she also trained in Reiki and other forms of energy healing before completing a four year degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Lois lives in the beautiful Northern Beaches area of Sydney with her husband and daughter. She enjoys running a thriving acupuncture practice, balancing this satisfying work with family life.

Linda Moss from Snuggo Infant Travel Wrap  

I am Linda Moss, married with 3 children.After having my second child who, as a baby, would only settle when wrapped, I found the need for something to give her the feeling of being wrapped while we were out and about.

Today with the use of five point harness systems and extremely busy lifestyles, I realised it is near impossible to settle baby by wrapping when on the go, without risking their safety and not using the safety harness.

Thus, for a need, Snuggo Infant Wrap was devised.

Sue Leeds from Butterfly Crafts

I am Sue Leeds and my business is Butterfly Crafts. I am a mother of 2 girls operating my little business from our home on the Northern Beaches.

Since a teenager I always enjoyed creating and trying new crafts, so it’s great being able to join it with fun items for kids and start a successful business.

I now have fun thinking of new items to decorate with my colourful fabric paint that kids would love. I hope you do too.

Rochell Ward from the Chocolate Pot

I love chocolates , of-course, so this creates its own passion for making them. I am running my own business and using my working knowledge of previous years and training in administration and finance procedures.

Working with food in the hotel industry has taught me people will only stand for the best in this industry.

I have enhanced the ingredients and recipes to ensure my chocolates are better than the rest on the store
shelves – shop owners have agreed, saying they are among the finest they've tasted, always asking for more. Everything remains Australian made.

Plans for the future of the business are to

“Re-establish a good distribution Australia-wide and eventually internationally, though always keeping it a boutique and handmade product….”

Felicity Lenehan, Journalist, editor, copywriter

Once upon a time, a looong long time ago, Felicity went on a Knit Wit course - yes, sewing for dummies.  Away she stitched; lime-green leopard-print singlets, the lot. 

In a very roundabout way this lead to a journalist career: As part of a Bachelor of Design in Fashion and Textiles work experience was undertaken in the lap of glamour at the Sydney Morning Herald, working under the fashion editor. What a whirlwind start to a career:  Felicity spent a week with Naomi Campbell, a day with Kylie Minogue, sat in the front row of international fashion shows with oversize sunglasses on, and felt the thrill of seeing work in print every week - all the while trying to avoid becoming a champagne addict.  Eventually the travel bug bit – Africa, Europe, the States, stumbling across a husband along the way. 

After a stint living and working in some of the world’s more interesting parts from Croatia to Romania, Felicity and her hubby landed in Australia and are now working on a challenging project together – raising children.    

Amidst all this Felicity became a well-established writer, fashion and beauty stylist, copywriter and editor.  Her writing covers a wide variety of genres; from serious news journalism, to the funny personality read, to the frivolous fashion/beauty/lifestyle article.  Editing, sub-editing and copywriting skills were tested and sharpened considerably when living overseas and working with foreign language journalists on English publications.  Press releases for all types of businesses, business proposals and compiling website text are just some of the other skills Felicity lends her hand to.  If it needs to be written, Felicity will write it!

Kathy Toumazis, On Fire Design                                                                                                                                            

When Kathy Toumazis was very young she recalls having two wishes, to live on the beach one day and to run her own business. Today, she feels very fortunate to be not only living on the Northern Beaches, but to also be running On Fire Design there.

A young woman with great drive for life, creative arts, fitness and the outdoors, Kathy's attitude is to have fun in whatever she does, not take life too seriously, and always to try to experience new things to keep it
exciting. She believes in goal setting and pushing through to greater levels whether it is for work or play. Kathy knows the importance of having balance in order to keep a strong flow of energy flowing through all she does. Part of this balance is her love for cycling, outdoor adventure and yoga.

Her dedication to running On Fire Design, reflects her positive attitude through to her peers and clients.

On Fire Design initially started as a way to earn some extra pocket money while she worked at an advertising agency. When she was 22 she decided to go out on her own, freelancing as well as servicing her own clients. Kathy has since dabbled in many opportunities, including being in a creative-based partnership, working on developing some networking groups in local areas
with some of her clients, helping run several charity events, project managing and freelancing on contract for many of her clients while also gaining invaluable experience from many business owners and friends she surrounds herself with.

In 2007 she reviewed the way she structures On Fire Design and so far her success her reflected her efforts. Her main goal is to keep expanding her business, increasing her level of marketing and design services to all existing and new clients, and continue to inspire and be inspired by all those she meets along the way.

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