Here’s the lovely and productive Bev in the History Skirt she made at our Biloela REfashion workshop which is still delivering dividends, including #upcycle number 177 of 365 in the Sew it Again year.

Although I have a few more days left to enjoy in Kuala Lumpur, I’m already planning for my next workshop Creative Chop and Change on July 12 which is being hosted by the Queensland branch of the Australian Textile Artists and Surface Designers Association – you can book here if you are interested in being mindfully creative with rejects from your wardrobe.

It was great to be wearing my favourite fibre linen – Sew 29 – when out and about in KL today because linen is so comfortable to wear in hot steamy weather when you don’t want to retreat to the air-conditioning. Hemp is a close relative of linen, and it would be wonderful if Australia could become a world leader in producing and processing this fabulous natural fibre, a close relative of linen. I was excited to see this recent ABC Rural item about the potential of hemp in Australia. All we need now is entrepreneurial farmers interested in sustainable fibre production to make it happen.

These photos below are of me in Sew 29 and the contrasts of mother-of-pearl shells used to create a sensational planter, and the amazing temple to consumption Petronas Towers.

Back to Sew 177, which Bev created from a collage of panels cut out of about five black and grey garments she no longer wore and including one of her husband’s old ties. These panels were embellished with various features then sewn together in a circle, an elastic band created at the top with elastic inserted to fit Bev’s waistline measurement. The finishing touches were a border hem created from leftover strips (about four metres needed) and a few pockets made from sleeves.