Tag Archives: ARLF

Sew 266 – Adding sparkle to black

The future is not a destination, it is a journey made up of small steps. We need courage to design our future with purpose and deliberation, to be the change we want to see.

I’m in Canberra and reflecting on these words articulated by Federal Member for Indi Cathy McGowan in a Charters Towers speech last week at the QRRRWN conference. Cathy referred to visionary garden designer Capability Brown who created landscape legacies in the United Kingdom with instructions for 200 years into the future. Cathy challenged us to project ourselves into the future, to get involved, put up our hands for leadership and influence outcomes. Continue reading →

Sew 188 – ARLF farewell honours

It was an honour to be commissioned to create a unique, relevant farewell gift for Dr Lesley Fitzpatrick who led the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation as CEO for seven years.

The ARLF’s flagship program is the Australian Rural Leadership Program which provides a rare opportunity to enrich, enlighten and empower selected individuals – and I was fortunate to be sponsored through the program in 2009 thanks to the Fairfax Agricultural Media scholarship.

One of Lesley’s achievements as CEO was securing Graduate Certificate status for ARLP through James Cook University. I found the Grad Cert transformative because It led me on a creative journey into eco-leadership, reusing natural fibres to reduce waste and help shift the way we think about fashion and clothing. Continue reading →

Sew 66 – Old shorts to skirt

Upcycling male ambassador Phil sent his too-big old shorts my way and I recreated them as a shabby-chic skirt.

Reinventing old stuff for a new life and engaging others in creatively discovering ways to reuse existing clothing is my purpose this year with the Sew it Again campaign.

This campaign brings together all that I know and believe in from my upbringing living simply on a sheep farm in New Zealand, through agricultural science study, work as a rural reporter and advocate, then postgraduate study in eco-leadership and wellbeing.

It was wonderful to share stories and a meal with gorgeous Julia Shapley when she visited the studio yesterday. Julia’s on her way to becoming a ‘glamorous hippy’ as she follows her heart on a creative journey that involves many new and exciting projects – at least one of which involves design, fabric and sewing. It feels good to connect with friends who share similar values and also believe that anything is possible when you engage with universal intelligence.

In this photo, Julia is wearing a dress of her own making – simple yet glamorous – and reading a favourite book of mine, The Sustainable Fashion Handbook by Sandy Black. Continue reading →

Sew 1 – adding value to cast-offs

A new day, a new year and a new creative, sustainable and unique way of dressing in upcycled natural fibre garments.

You are what you repeatedly do. During 2014 I’m following my heart on a creative journey through this values-based Sew it Again project which has evolved from study with the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation.

The project is inspiring upcycling of natural fibres through daily posting of repurposed garments, such as this History Skirt, right, created for bright university student Belinda in my Textile Beat studio from pieces of discarded cotton dresses and shirts. Continue reading →