SUNDAY 31 August 2025 11AM – 3PM, 19 HARDING STREET, COBURG, VICTORIA
The “Remaki Dad” collection will be debuting at the Merri Community Shed‘s maker’s market. Why is it so hard to make things specifically for men? There seems to be a really narrow aesthetic pathway to travel to fit generally acceptable Dad Vibes. I was inspired by a lovely bit of printed vinyl that’s a little bit JAZZ HANDS to widen the path a tiny bit to include the geometric masculine-leaning types not afraid of a flash of metallic leather. I combined it with a whole lot of leather samples diverted from landfill to make:
bookmarks with tassels
card carrying key chains
magnet bookmarks
“Flash Dad” keyrings.
The card carrying key chains are the idea of the Resident Dad in my house, who wanted something he can put his Myki card, work building pass and credit card in, with house key attached. That way he’s got everything he needs in one neat package that fits in his pocket. The other pocket has the phone and he’s ready to go. Yup, Man Life is outrageously simple. I guess the narrow aesthetic pathway is the price many men pay to achieve the kind of simplicity I would need to get special training for.
Fits three cards, no falling out!Flash Dad key ring
On Friday 16 May come and say hi at the Thanks Neighbour event – a Free community market at Keon Park Children’s Hub, 1-7 Dole Avenue, Reservoir. The event runs from 4-6:30pm and you can pick up FREE Clothes, Toys, Books and Kitchenware, all of which have been kindly donated by your local neighbours.
I’ll be running an upcycling craft activity for kids – we are going to make thank you cards for our neighbours with repurposed materials. It is AS CUTE AS IT SOUNDS!
May the Fourth is not just Star Wars Day this year (“may the fourth be with you”); it is also Merri Community Shed Market Day. A great place to shop local for those in the Northern suburbs of Melbourne, and pick up a gift for Mother’s Day (which is the following Sunday 11 May) that supports local small businesses, makers and artists. (You know, like me :-))
An April encounter with the new strain of flu has left me shorter on time than I had planned, so I’ve been panic-crafting this week to make all the things I had in my head for this market.
But I did have a few things already mostly done, which is why this collection is called “Mother’s Day In the Bag”. A little while ago, my wonderful friend, Jo P, gifted me an amazing upholstery fabric sample book, that included a few coated versions of thick, gorgeous cotton prints. I went on a ‘bathroom bag binge’ using an elaboration on this pattern to making some zip up bags suitable for toiletries, and for setting down in wet places. The outside of the bags is made from the cotton upholstery samples, with the bottom quarter using the coated fabric, so a wet bench won’t ruin your bag.
I also lined the inside with advertising banner material which is water resistant, so nothing is getting in or out. (exploded toothpaste will not get on your clothes if you travel with this bag)
And because I can’t help myself, I added a little matching zip pull tassel handmade from some leather samples. These bags take time and care to make, but I think they look great, and they work great too.
The other thing I got inspired by was a lovely scarf gifted to me by the incredible sister who visited with her family over Easter.
I wanted to wear it more, so I turned it into an upcycled throw-on layer, similar in process to the tablecloth-to-top and scarf-to-top upcycles I have made in the past, but more suited to the cooler weather, which suits the darker colours and print.
Then I challenged myself to see if I could wear it all year round. Yes! I’m keeping it.
So what other textiles could be upcycled into winter throw-ons for an extra layer? Well, it turns out, a mohair lap blanket and a sofa throw sourced from the Sacred Heart Op Shop in Preston:
I’m going to try and make a few more to sell before this Sunday’s market.
But I got distracted by my order of candle refills from Kanuka Candles arriving. You just microwave the pack they send you, the wax melts and your pour it into whatever you want. If you’ve ever made candles you know it can be a messy business, and this made it a lot cleaner. I refilled my empty candle container then remembered the time I made tea cup candles for my kids’ school Mother’s Day Stall. So back to my second home (Vinnies Coburg) with an excuse to buy some of the super cute tea cup sets.
I superglued the cup and saucer together (because I don’t want anyone accidentally drinking out of this tea cup once the candle is burned!) and made a cute little matchy matches box. So I used up my whole candle refill order but if the teacup candles don’t sell, I’ll still have candles, and if they do sell, I can buy more refills. I also have a bunch of candles that have gotten a but dusty that I might melt down and re-pour. I don’t know if that’s a thing, but surely worth a try. Have you tried this?
And I put some info on the tags about refilling the teacup candles, so they can be used and loved into the future.
I’ll also have a few other bags and earrings and things for sale, so hopefully I will see you at 19 Harding Street Coburg, this Sunday 4 May, 2025 for the Merri Community Market.
Check out this great tutorial from Kim’s Sewing which has sent me into a frenzy of bathroom bag making using outdoor advertising banners and fabric sample books. The advertising banners provide a good stiffness and are water-resistant, so great for lining and the outer. Or just the lining with a bit of fancy gorgeous upholstery fabric for the outer. So many possibilities!
I’m looking forward to sharing this technique during a workshop about upcycling with some students next week!
advertising banner with leather sample tasselupholstery sample book fabric becomes bag
Sunday 16 February 2025 11am – 3pm, 19 HARDING STREET, COBURG, VICTORIA
The “Remaki Raided the Linen Cupboard” collection will be debuting at the Merri Community Shed‘s community event . Apart from having a Remaki stall, there will be lots of cheap plants for sale. And a sausage sizzle. Literally nothing happens in this country that doesn’t require a sausage sizzle. I will be selling (hopefully) my latest obsessive making efforts sparked by finding a vintage hand-embroidered tablecloth in an op shop in New Zealand. If you don’t want to make own table cloth top then you should definitely come and give me money for one I’ve made. Or other linen-cupboard related makes including:
Woot toot! Excited to share that I will be running four workshops for Darebin City Council to help people Get crafty this festive season! Join me at Darebin’s libraries for a fun-filled “Make Your Own Gift Bag” workshop!
What to expect
Learn how to create unique and eco-friendly gift bags using recycled materials into stunning gift bags. It’s easy and creative – a perfect way to spread joy and reduce waste this festive season.
time commitment
You can drop in for as long as you want while the workshop is on – you definitely do not need to commit 3 hours. Stay for 10 minutes or stay the whole time! It depends on how elaborate you want to make your bag/s.
Who can do it
Almost anyone. Kids of all ages are welcome, with a supervising adult. Scissors and glue are involved!
cost and materials
The workshop is FREE, all materials are supplied. This is also a chance to use up some materials you may not know what to do with. For example, you can bring along the following to use:
Get on down to Wingrove St and Railway Place in Fairfield this holiday season to check out their absolutely amazing Christmas street decorations, wreaths made by me! Be sure to compliment the local business people on their excellent taste and environmentally responsible approach to the celebrating 🙂 Special thanks to the amazing force that is Village Greening and the Fairfield Trader’s Association. You can totally make you own.
remaki 