Nothing quite like warm weather and breathing space to help us set good intentions, and seek inspiration to help us pull these 'feel goods' into the rest of our year.

I'll thrilled to see my instagram feed filling up with friends and family who are finding ways to reduce their waste, and have fun with DIY alternatives to everything from shopping bags to laundry detergent.  It seems the 'DIY in our DNA' is not limited to building decks and retaining walls :). We are waking up to the idea that the more we can know how to DO for ourselves, the less we need to BUY, which in turn frees up more of the time we so value for doing the things we love.

I'm feeling quite chuffed with myself for having spent the last few weeks of last year planning and preparing for classes and studio sessions, complete with learning about a new way to make things easier for booking sewing classes!

One of my goals this year was to improve my admin systems (rarely a favourite way to spend my work hours), and I'm grateful that now with Eventbrite, all the class information is consistent and I don't have to worry about missing registrations or accidentally over-booking classes! (Plus it gives people the option to pay online, saving the usual scramble to the ATM on the first night.)

Evidently, I'm not the only one getting proactive about reaching goals this new year; my classes for learning to sew are booking out right through to May!  The longer classes for helping people schedule regular sewing time each week are also filling quickly.

Last year I helped with many tote bags, produce bags, cutlery totes, and peg bags. I'm excited to see what new sewing projects will be popular this year!

A short time ago, Fi and I spoke with Lynn Freeman about fashion, waste, and the revival of sewing and mending.

Our conversation was aired on 3rd January 2019, and you can listen again via the Radio NZ podcast.

We have the great privilege in Dunedin to meet and work with many amazing artists and textile practitioners.  We met Kirsten Kosh, graduate of the Dunedin School of Art, leading up to our UNSTITCHED pop up in 2017. She has wonderful skills with wire work and jewellery, and lead a fantastic workshop of weaving wire pendants in a workshop that was completely booked out.

Recently she has been studying eco dyeing, using traditional techniques for printing fabrics with flowers, herbs and other found items, including rusty nails!

Kirsten has agreed to share her knowledge in workshop for us. Kirsten will bring in examples of her eco-dyed garments to help participants understand the technique and see the possibilities for their pieces.

"We will assess the dye properties of different fibres and weaves, and work in pairs using dye materials, mordants and ways of folding and binding our fabric to produce different effects."

We held our first official AGM  on Monday 20th August, 2018. A fantastic opportunity to review the highlights of the last 3 years since we were established as a not-for-profit trust.

Our Chair, Fi Clements, shared about our UNSTITCHED events, in association with Fashion Revolution; our community fashion shows held as part of the Vogel Street Party; our Bags For Good project; the many community workshops we have and continue to run; and the Swap Shop for minimising textile waste.

We had many people to thank, including Alison Milne (my mum), Marion and Alister Maxwell, for all their work helping to get various donations of fabric scraps and pieces into order for the Swap Shop ; and the many helpers  who have helped to sew bags and make the Bags For Good project possible.

You can read the full Chair's Report here, and the full Minutes of the AGM here.

Thank you to everyone who has been involved as we've grown over the past 3 years!! 

125 years ago, women of New Zealand used all their available resources - their time, energy, voice, feet, and embroidery skills, to win a major victory towards equality; the right under the law of our land to vote.

This was not a victory to end all battles on social, economic, racial, and gender inequality, but it was a momentous beginning.

Today the skills used by our inspiring predecessors are still alive and well, and provide inspiration for many to find their own way to express their views and add their voice to the cry for justice in our world.

Both, really, and why not?  :)

Our creative pennant making workshop, kindly hosted by Dunedin Public Library, will give us the opportunity to meet other like-minded crafty people and share skills and ideas around how we can make life in our community... city... country... world that much better.

We hop you will be able to join us:

Monday 1st October 2018, 1-4pm in the Dunningham Suite on the top floor of Dunedin Public Library.

Koha of $5 covers materials and tuition.

Email us for more information. For bookings, email the library.