Christmas is coming and we’re Into the final straight of the year for this 365-day Sew it Again project, demonstrating creative ways of reuse for thrift, well-being and ecological health.

Community, connection and care are the fabulous aspects of this time of year and I have always struggled with the push to consume more and more. Australians are tipped to spend $18 billion over the holiday season – that’s up to $800 for every woman, man and child in the nation.

My Christmas thing has always been hand-made decorations because they are useful, pretty and non-fattening offerings. I enjoyed being able to give one of these Christmas dragonflies, right, to my hairdresser yesterday and my friend Wendy Agar when she popped in for lunch today. 

As Sew 337, these Christmas dragonflies are made from a repurposed a string of Christmas lights that haven’t worked for years – but I never threw out because the individual wire dragonflies are just so pretty. Lightbulb moment (in the storm-induced studio cleanup) came when I realised they would make lovely Christmas decorations. I snipped them up, leaving each with enough cable for a hanging tie, then used silk scraps (including some silk tulle from my wedding dress). Funny how everything is coming full circle, and nothing we ever do or have needs to be wasted, Great to chat Wendy, exciting times ahead.