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It's now been a year since a small group of us met and brainstormed about creating local bag libraries to reduce the number of single-use plastic bags we use :D 
These sewing bees are open to everyone; all ages and levels of experience welcome. At each workshop, we have lots of options for lending a hand: from unpicking donated curtains and duvet covers, to pressing, cutting, and sewing. It's a chance to learn some new skills, put old ones into practice, and connect with others through the shared goal of reducing waste.  We have a range of sewing bees at venues throughout the city, and we're keen to hear from any groups who would like to get involved and host a 'bag bee'. Email for more info. Place: Stitch Kitchen Studio, 88 Vogel Street, Dunedin Date: 2nd and 4th Thursday each month (except when Regent bee is on instead) Time: 3-7pm (pop in when you can for as long or short a time as you can) Cost: Free! Plus tea and coffee provided. Registration: Optional, simply email or text Fiona if you're planning to come along. Place: The Valley Project, 262 North Road, North East Valley, Dunedin Date: 1st Saturday each month Time: 10am-1pm (afternoon also available as 'Mend and Make Awesome' follows) Cost: Free! Plus tea and coffee provided. Registration: Optional, simply email or text Fiona if you're planning to come along. Place: The South Dunedin Community Pop-Up, 199 Hillside Road (King Edward Street end), South Dunedin Date: Every Tuesday in May Time: 1-3pm Cost: Free! Registration: Optional, simply email or text Fiona, or see Dunedin Public Library website for more info. Place: Clarkson Room, Regent Theatre, Lower Octagon, Dunedin Date: Thursday 10th May (plus more dates coming soon) Time: 10am-2pm Cost: Free! Registration: Optional, simply email or text Fiona
A special Thank You to everyone who has come along to our sessions and helped us over the past year!!
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We are having a go at bringing our Mend and Make Awesome workshops to the university, to help students deal with the rips and tribulations of their wardrobes (while their mums and grandmas are no longer in reach to pass their mending off to!) It's not only for students though, as anyone can register and get involved! We'll be focusing on simple repairs, like darning, patching holes, and fixing buttons, so this is an excellent opportunity to learn some of these timeless skills. They will be held at OUSA's Clubs and Societies Centre, 84 Albany Street, on Saturday 28th April, and Saturday 26th May, from 2-4pm. There is a $15 charge for these sessions (as opposed to the usual Koha), as we have to cover costs with these. Minimum and maximum numbers also apply. Click the link below for booking and further info on OUSA website: Our 'Mend and Make Awesome' social sewing workshops have been steadily growing in popularity over the last year. So much so, we're struggling to find space for everyone in our Vogel Street studio! With the help of The Valley Project, we are now able to offer these fun and rewarding workshops in their community rooms, 262 North Road, North East Valley. There is plenty of parking, and covered space on the porch for bikes. :) We'll be there on the FIRST SATURDAY of each month for the rest of this year, from 1-4pm (we'll be set up in the morning, running a BAGS FOR GOOD workshop from 10am, and anyone is welcome anytime).
Last year, as part of UNSTITCHED, I ran an 'op shop hop' event, touring central city op shops and sharing my styling tips on shopping well for less. This was a great chance for me to put into practice the knowledge I have gained from my 'previous life' working as a personal image consultant; helping people to understand (and apply) how to dress to suit not just their physical appearance, but their personality and lifestyle.
Recently, I connected with local entrepreneur Kate Grey, co-founder of Pikaado (a new online platform for Dunedinites to share our skills in fun, small-scale workshops, and to find social ways to connect and learn new skills). She had had requests from many people for a workshop where they could get help shopping; to save time, money, and reduce the confusion of working out which of 'this seasons trends' were worthwhile for them. Remembering the fun of the op shop hop, I thought 'why not'? This session is for those of us who are new to thinking about 'shopping consciously' and want some help to 'buy less and choose well', while still enjoying the convenience of 'high street shopping'.  It will be an easy, fun, practical solution to the countless hours of frustration staring at your wardrobe wondering how you have so many clothes and so little you want to wear. There are two time options, Thursday afternoon and Saturday morning, and the groups are limited to 4 people, so it's a great chance to bring a friend or family member, or simply enjoy getting to know a couple of new friends. Date: Thursday 26th April or Saturday 28th April Cost: $45/person (discount applies for booking with others) Registration: Essential, via Pikaado website
Introducing our new creative social networking session! When we had our pop-up shops in 2016 and 2017, we enjoyed the comradery of people popping in for lunch, a chat, and to share their current hand-craft project. With our new name, it was natural to reintroduce this shared space, and one of our favourite cafe's has provided the perfect location! No matter what your level of experience or interest in textile arts, everyone is welcome to join the table for shared conversation, inspiration and practical hand crafts. It's a fantastic way to meet like minded people. Bring your handwork (knitting, needlework, darning...) or whatever is inspiring (or frustrating) you at the moment, and gather for problem-solving, chat and inspiration. Date: Third Thursday every Month! Time: Anytime from 1-3pm Place: Morning Magpie Cafe, 46 (Lower) Stuart St, Dunedin Cost: Just what you order* Registration: Not essential, walk ins welcome. Or email us and we can keep an eye out for you. (*We usually get a pot of tea for the table, so no need to feel out-of-place if you choose not to order anything.)
Included in our program for Fashion Revolution this year, we are delighted to have two events with visiting social entrepreneur, author, and upcyling pioneer Jane Milburn. Jane was born in Owaka, and has lived in Brisbane for the past 20 years. Fi met Jane at the Eco Fashion Week in Perth earlier this year, and we're thrilled she will be returning to Otago for a visit, right on time for Fashion Revolution and ID Dunedin Fashion week. Jane has recently published her book: "Slow Clothing: Finding Meaning in What We Wear". "Slow Clothing" presents a compelling case for why we need to change the way we dress, to live lightly on Earth through the everyday practice of how we wear and care for our clothes. In an era dominated by the passive consumption of cheap and synthetic fashion, Jane Milburn arrived at the Slow Clothing philosophy by refashioning her own garments. The clothing surplus in wardrobes and op shops presents a creative opportunity to revive, adapt, and mend garments to suit ourselves while discovering our unique style.  We have arranged two events with Jane, hosted by the Dunedin Public Library. Jane will share her extensive knowledge and experience with the clothing industry in a public talk (coinciding with Fashion Revolution Day), followed by a practical workshop the following week (coinciding with ID Dunedin Fashion Week):
  We are super excited about being able to participate in this year's international campaign for Fashion Revolution! This will be our third year where we have organised events to coincide with this global campaign to increase awareness, and develop creative solutions, to the devastating problems in the contemporary fashion industry. As in the past 2 years, we will be calling our project "UNSTITCHED". Highlighting our wish to 'unstitch the myths of the fashion industry' and help people to become informed about actions they can take to make positive differences. This year, we are doing something slightly different. We have researched the local impact of the fashion industry, and will deliver an interactive seminar presenting this information, adapted to suit different audiences and time frames. Our aim is to connect with groups to empower their members and wider public audiences with the ideas of a 'pro-fashion revolution': How they can learn more about the choices available; understanding care labels and garment quality; using resources, such as the 'Good On You' app, to identify companies/labels which reflect their personal values; and the benefits of supporting local business and independent design. Join us for an informal, interactive discussion on contemporary fashion and our place in this global industry. Plus, we'll introduce you to 'craftivism' and help you make a small scale embroidered patch, which you can use to cover holes in jeans... stitch to your jacket sleeve... display in public... give a friend... anything you like.  Image Credit: Rebecca Roberts Date: Wednesday 18th April, 2018 Time: Between 1-4pm (come when you can, stay for as long as you like) Place: Otago Pioneer Women's Memorial Building Cost: Free Registration: Recommended, but not essential. We will also be presenting variations on this interactive session in association with Quilters & Patchworkers of Otago; Otago Creative Fibre group; Otago Girls High School Environmental Group; Bayfield High School Enviroschools group. We still have spaces available, and if you are connected with a community group, school or organisation around Dunedin we would love to hear from you and adapt this to suit your group. Please email us for more information. All good things deserve to be revised, refreshed, and given a bit of an update. Stitch Kitchen is a new story of gathering friends together around the table and sharing ideas, skills and resources to achieve more than what we imagine on our own, one stitch at a time. Our old name: Just Atelier, represented our shared core value of seeking Justice (environmental and social), and Atelier being the french term for a studio for professional artists, assistants and students can work together producing pieces of fine art. Over the last few years, our focused has grown to include wider community, not just students and designers. We needed a new name that highlighted the friendly atmosphere and home grown adaptability of textile arts. Our new name for our community projects: Stitch Kitchen, reflects the traditions of friends coming together to swap ingredients and recipes, share techniques, and create nourishing food to share with their families, while supporting and inspiring one another (just in our case; we're swapping textiles and creating awesome clothes). Our studio, still located in the heart of Dunedin's historic warehouse precinct (world famous for our street art), will continue to bring together like-minded crafters, makers, artists of all walks, who share a love of creative design, our environment, and our community. We will also be running more 'pop up' events in communities all around the city. This will make it easier for people outside the central city to access our various sewing bees, and be inspired by each others ideas for creative living. For official purposes, we will still be the Just Atelier Trust. We are a registered not-for-profit, and our bank details and all the official stuff will stay the same. We'll now simply be known by a name everyone can pronounce without a worried look on their face :)  We love the new logo, designed for us by Craig Scott of Self Destruct Studio. |
AuthorNews, updates and things we find inspiring, from Dunedin's Stitch Kitchen Archives
April 2019
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