STEVIE MAY COLLECTIVE: FEATURING MELODY JASMINE
Tell us a little about your adorable Zephyr.
Zephyr is like an extension of our hearts, it’s one amazing thing to pop a human into this world, but as you watch them grow and notice how truly individual we all are, it’s incredible. He has so many of my traits and Matty’s, yet he really is so himself. He is gentle hearted, highly sensitive to feelings yet physically strong, ridiculously confident and social. He might cry over a friend shunning him, a flower dying before it blooms, yet fall over and get bleeding knees without a care. He will start a full conversation about anything with almost anyone and become an adults bestie in 10 mins, which he definitely doesn’t get from me! I have never felt a love like I do for Zephyr, he is truly one of a kind.
You’re an incredibly talented creative, business owner and mother to little Zephyr. How do you keep a balanced lifestyle?
Well thank you! It’s certainly not balanced. I am usually an all or nothing kind of person, which isn’t always good for me. Family, work & fun/down time would be amazing but at the moment it is only the Zephyr & work time. Both me and my partner run our own businesses (he creates amazing surfboards) so we usually work any moment we can. I have Zephyr basically all day everyday except when he’s in school 2 days a week (when I get 3.5 free hours to work between drop off/pick up). So I work on the computer in between hanging with him. We live in a converted old 60’s school bus on a property in Byron, we don’t have a TV & Zephyr spends most of his time riding bikes on the property, playing in mud, collecting fallen branches for the fire. Just playing in nature basically rain, hail or shine. We do have a little inside time everyday though. This is calm time to have lunch and a break in a still environment, read books, lay in a cubby house, draw ect.. I usually do 5-8 hours on the computer each day but this is mostly after he is in bed. Then of course I do photoshoots and my amazing mum cares for Z while I do this. Pretty hectic, so when I get asked to ‘come & have a coffee and catch up’, if you are kid free, it prob ain’t gonna happen…
What’s the most important advice you share with Zephyr?
Care for others, yourself & your environment.
But most often used words are CALM DOWN haha...
You’re raising Zephyr on a farm in rural Byron, how does this reflect your desire to live sustainably?
Well, living in our bus is definitely a sustainable way of living, even if an un-intentional one. We can only fit what we need, if it’s not a necessity or an extremely loved and used often it’s a no go. We are on solar power, tank water, gas cooking and hot water and we often re-use our grey water on our garden to prevent running out. We don’t eat meat and compost is thrown into the bush. I’ve never been into using chemicals in the home or on ourselves, & we buy eco for all of that. The list goes on, but we certainly are not perfect, definitely always room for improvement.
With his blonde curly locks, linen shirts and felt flat caps, Zephyr is one of the most stylish kids around. Does he share your love for style?
Definatly, I don’t know if this is something that is natural ingrained in him, but it’s actually crazy he changes his clothes as much as he talks! From the second he could point, he would tell me what he wanted to wear (over time I’ve had to hide bunches of clothes from him that are just too nasty to see the light of day). He often goes to someone’s house or his pre-school and will SEEK & FIND their clothes or the spare clothes and change instantly into them. He comes home in a ‘loaned outfit’ from school every day haha..
You love to mix vintage with modern in your styling, what is your most treasured vintage item?
I have boxes of vintage packed away that I have collected since I was ever able to buy anything myself. Mum and I lived in op-shops & local markets. I always collected anything I thought was interesting & beautiful. Not knowing the history of ‘found vintage’ pieces has always fascinated me since a young girl. I have maybe 7 huge tubs of stuff of which I’m still adding a thing here & there. The not extremely special pieces get sold at garage sales but the things I have kept I will probably keep for my grandkids!
Your mother took these beautiful photos of you and Zephyr in rural Victoria; do you still look to your own mum for advice?
Yes she did, on my auto-focus film camera. She is blind as a bat so I was telling her to listen to the beeps to know the shot is in focus because she couldn’t see much! Yes we are super close. We share everything with each other and always have. My mum was always the one that my friends or cousins could even talk to for advice even when they couldn’t share that with their own parents. She has a truly open, nonjudgmental sweet heart, open to hear anything from anyone & be there with in a soft understanding way, which might not always be the ‘right answers’ but will always make you feel loved & comforted.
How has motherhood changed your life?
In every way. I am selfless (A little too selfless, make that a whole lot actually) & it has opened my eyes more bringing me a step closer to realizing what actually matters in life. It has changed my life path to a more genuine one. Life is very real!!
STAY INSPIRED
Melody Jasmine styles the Yoko Maxi Dress, Capture The Castle L/S Midi Dress, and the Dodie Maxi Dress.