Tutor Profiles

DANI RAPINETT
Founder, Owner & Director of Creativity

Dani is the Founder & Director of Creativity at Whimsical Creatives.

For as long as she can remember she has loved to ‘create’. She began beading and creating jewellery in 2004 after attending a short 2 hour class during a particularly challenging period in her life.  She soon become obsessed with all things shiny (and in particular artisan beads, silver and gemstones) and not long after that her beads were over the house – they had become her ‘therapy’ – and she had enough to start a small shop……literally!
In 2006 The Whimsical Bead was born, and in 2025 it evolved into Whimsical Creatives.
Somewhere during that time Dani discovered a wonderful medium that she had not heard much about – polymer clay.
It sparked a passion in her and for her it never ceases to amaze and never becomes boring – there is always something new to learn. Dani’s first love however, was metal, which started early in her teenage years, although she never had the opportunity to explore this passion until recently. She loves hammering, forming and playing with fire and shiny things.

Dani’s inspiration comes from the world around her. The majority of her pieces combine her love of colour and texture.

Dani loves to teach and pass on her knowledge and she feels very lucky that people want to learn from her.

Dani says, “There is nothing like empowering someone with knowledge and watching that knowledge grow as their enthusiasm does. Many of my students are amazed by what they have been able to achieve in class and leave with such a huge smile on their face and an eagerness to keep creating. It is a wonderful feeling to know that I’ve helped create that happiness and enthusiasm”.

Dani suffers from multiple chronic illnesses and so she understands each student has individual expectations and needs when attending workshops. She encourages students to contact her in regards to any queries or concerns they may have, as she is happy to work with you and any issues you may have when attending workshops – from food intolerances to anxiety disorders – whatever it may be, Dani hopes you can feel comfortable to attend the studio and explore your own creativity. She believes strongly in the power of art therapy.

Dani has won a number of awards for her jewellery work. She holds a Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment and Certificate III in Retail Supervision .
She has a Diploma in Children’s Services and has previously worked in the Early Childhood Industry for almost 17 years.
She also has a current Working With Children Check, First Aid, Asthma and Anaphylaxis training.

You can read more about Dani and her journey on the ‘About Us’ page and you can view and shop her jewellery and artwork at Dani Art & Jewellery.

Dani looks forward to welcoming you to the Whimsical Creatives Studio.

ALANA JONES
Wire Work & Mixed Media

Alana has been creating and making since around 8 years of age and has always been delighted by pretty sparkly things, so of course designing jewellery was the perfect avenue for her!

Being surround by a rainbow of beads and an array of components makes her very happy. As a jewellery maker wire is one of her favourite mediums, as it can be bent and shaped into almost anything!

Alana lives in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne with her husband, 3 kids and their many furbabies. She holds a current First Aid certificate and Working with Children Check.

Alana trades under the name Sparkling Dragon Designs and you can find her on Instagram & Facebook.
You will also often find Alana supporting Dani in the running of Whimsical Creatives.
She is an integral and much loved part of the studio.

LARA LE REVEUR
Metal Clay / Polymer Clay Sculpture

Lara has been involved with the Arts and Crafts movement at some level for most of her life.

She worked for 13 years in the family business, which taught porcelain doll making and other associated crafts. During that time she was lucky enough to have had exposure to several excellent sculpting teachers, which is her preferred method of expression. She also traveled to the US to study antique doll conservation and restoration.

In early 2014 she returned to the US and completed two Metal Clay accreditation programs and is one of only a few in Australia who has completed this training.
At present Lara divides her creative time between fabricating small run or one of a kind objects and jewellery using contemporary clays and teaching classes in base metal and precious metal clay.

Lara has temporarily relocated to Germany. We are hoping she will return late 2025 and her workshops will resume in early 2026.

SIOBHAN  VAN  BERGEIJK
Polymer Clay & Jewellery Making

Siobhan is a jewellery artist and designer who takes her inspiration from just about anywhere – nature, patterns, styles, fashion, eras, food and art. Siobhan has used many different mediums and is currently working with polymer clay and its limitless potential of shape, colour and pattern. She can translate and manipulate just about anything she sees into a wearable piece of polymer clay art! After many years working in a corporate environment, it was time to walk away from the procedural confines, set herself free of the shackles and let the right brain take over and realise its potential. Always a lover of pretty trinkets, adornments and sparkly things, with a soft spot for antique and boho styles, it was only natural that jewellery making became her thing!

Siobhan sells her pieces under her ‘Berjique’ brand

RENE HAHN
Graphic Arts

MEG THOMPSON
Bead Work

Beading became a proper hobby for Meg when she was about 15 years old. At this time she was still stringing and remembers writing craft shopping lists to ‘buy bigger beads’ as she was jealous of the pretty bigger glass beads her sister had in her stash. Finally she caved to her subconscious and embraced those tiny beads called seed beads!

Meg is a self taught bead artist. She taught herself peyote stitch at 16, and many many stitches and techniques since then, finally discovering bead embroidery in 2011 and she has never looked back!

Meg’s biggest passion is bead embroidery, but she also greatly enjoy bead weaving and combining the two.
You can find her on Instagram and Facebook at  ‘A Beaded World’.

When she is not beading, Meg is working in a pathology lab as a medical scientist. She has a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science. Meg enjoys the analytical and somewhat creative thinking required in this career and she’s passionate about making a difference in people’s lives.

Meg’s other hobbies include creating with polymer clay, playing and teaching flute, reading, and playing board games.

JOYCE O’BRIEN
Retail & Studio Support

Whilst Joyce is not technically a tutor here at the studio, she is an integral part of Whimsical Creatives.

You will often find Joyce helping customers (and shopping for her own supplies!) in the retail shop and supporting other tutors during their workshops.

Joyce loves being creative and dabbles in multiple mediums however her passion lies in creating jewellery with beautiful beads including gemstones and sparkly crystals and expanding her metal work and silversmithing skills.

Joyce lives in the Yarra Valley with her husband, daughter, two guinea pigs and a gorgeous black Labrador, Riley (who is our Kenzi’s best friend!).

Joyce is always happy to have a chat and answer any questions you may have so please say hello if you see her in the shop!

LEANNE FERGEUS
Mixed Media

Leanne has had a passion for creating art since she was old enough to hold a pencil. Spanning several decades, she has found ways to express herself through several mediums, dabbling in watercolours, botanical illustration, pottery, mosaics patchwork and many other art forms. Leanne studied Colour and Design at the Melbourne Studio of Art and was a teacher of fine embroidery.

Leanne is inspired by the beauty of nature, colour and texture and is known for the vibrancy of colour found in her artwork. Her love of jewellery making led her to rediscover her passions for polymer clay.

“When I’m in my workroom creating I feel like everything including time, stands still. It is my therapy, meditation and happy place. It is a time for being fully in the moment and recharging my spirit.”

With a thirst for knowledge relating to her creative passions and a desire to impart her knowledge, Leanne believes there is nothing more satisfying than encouraging others on their own creative path.

Leanne creates under the business name Leanne Fergeus Art and you can find her over on Instagram and Facebook @leannefergeusart

AMANDA REISHI
Pottery/Ceramics

Amanda Reish is a ceramic artist, workshop facilitator and creative entrepreneur who blends traditional techniques with a modern touch, creating small batch ceramics that uplift and inspire life’s everyday moments.
The playful juxtaposition between earthy and natural, and bright and delicate tones marks her signature style.
Amanda believes that handmade pottery cultivates our connection with the earth, the land, and our inner sense of home.

Amanda is also a Creative Arts Therapist.
She lives in the beautiful Yarra Valley and her business is Everyday Clay.

CLARE DUNSTAN
Watercolours/Illustration

We are excited to welcome Clare to our Whimsical Team in Semester 2, 2025.

Living in the leafy suburb of Research in Melbourne, local artist and illustrator Clare Dunstan of Tog & Pini creates her art from a small, cozy studio which she shares with her guinea pigs, her loyal dog Fred and occasional chicken visits.

Clare’s love of animals is at the heart of her work, which features charming, hand-painted watercolours of furry and feathered creatures. These delicate artworks are then transformed into a variety of beautiful, handcrafted products including greeting cards, prints, jewellery, and textiles. Her designs capture the playful and whimsical side of nature, all with a quirky sense of humour. Whether it’s a colourful bird perched on a branch or a regal rabbit in a lavish setting, Clare’s art brings warmth and joy to everyday life. Her commitment to creating unique, handmade pieces ensures that each item is as special as the creatures she lovingly portrays.

CLARE DAVISON
Saw Piercing

Passionate about jewellery but unable to find the kind of bold unique alternative pieces she wanted to wear, Clare set out to make the Gothic fine jewellery she wanted to see. As a born tinkerer and lover of dark ornament, at just 18 years old it was immediately clear that jeweller was the perfect vocation.

Clare graduated from Curtin University of Technology with a Bachelor of Arts (Jewellery Design) in 2008 where she discovered she loved making jewellery even more than she loved wearing it. In her final year at University Skadi Jewellery Design was born.

Clare currently lives in Melbourne/Naarm, Australia with her wonderful partner, cats Betty and Peggy and their vast collection of books. She spends her days at home in her little studio designing and making jewellery while the cats supervise and make helpful suggestions like ‘wouldn’t it be better if it was on the floor?’.

PAULA GETHING
Beadwork

Paula loves to bead … it is how she relaxes, gets creative and learns. Paula has been beading for more than 15 years, and her great thrill is that her passion for beading is being shared with others – either through teaching, sharing her craft or seeing others wear her finished jewellery.

Beading away in her studio, with her current favourite TV show on the iPad, is one of the things Paula loves to do!
With a cup of peppermint tea and loads of lovely shiny things to play with, it’s how she likes to spend her time.

Paula creates under the business name ‘On a String’.