Fallon Cottage is the genesis of The Nest Community. Located in Fallon Park behind the Everton
Library, Roz and
rented the space from Rotary. Every Saturday the house was filled with nearly 20 excited young girls aged from 8-12 years old, beginning their handmade journey.
It never surprises me when people ask about The Nest Haberdashery - “Is all this stock new?”
It’s understandable We take huge pride in how our donated resources are presented It’s hard to imagine the hours, days and weeks of love and passion that our volunteers give unconditionally to make this possible
In this month’s edition you’ll meet another remarkable woman, Kerry Currey, who’s volunteered with us for seven years. During that time our notions section has grown from two bookcases in our ‘home’ in Everton Park, to the enormous wall of lace, binding, buckles and cottons we have in our new store.
Our machines are another feature Each week we find new homes for at least two sewing machines, each thoroughly reviewed and tested by our expert staff and volunteers. You can read about how one of our customers has become something of a sewing machine restoration expert and why new is not always best.
Everything we’ve achieved has been thanks to remarkable collective action.
Our social enterprise The Nest Haberdashery has been essential to our success because it funds our everyday expenses that grants don’t.
It allows us to offer the community a viable recycling alternative through our Textile Recovery Centre and it provides a home for our Heritage Collection, Learn 2 Classes and Exchange Project, our free skill sharing program.
We’ve grown due to public demand and Brendale is our third ‘home’ It may be a more commercial space, but the essence and sense of purpose of who we are still remains
As our 10th anniversary draws near, I can’t help but reflect on our roots and The Craft Nest Project in Fallon Cottage. Those little girls in their Mary Jane aprons taught me the joy of giving and I’m forever grateful that they started this whole journey for me.
From running the puppet studio Spitting Images in London and working as a Game Design Manager for Hasbro UK to being the Creative Coordinator for the animation studio Toonders in Amsterdam, our Australian founder Roz Holt has enjoyed international success However, returning home and raising a family gave her the opportunity to see the true power of craft in action.
Her daughter, Edde Rose, had recently been diagnosed with ASD and was struggling to socialise at school Running her own leather-based arts practice,
Roz had a studio that included, among other things, a sewing machine In an effort to help Edde, a friend was invited to come over and make something in the studio. Pretty soon, word got out that ‘Edde’s mum has a cool space’ and could sew Other mothers approached Roz about running craft workshops for girls.
The workshops eventually moved out of Roz’s studio and into Fallon Cottage, a small space behind the Everton Park library. In 2012, The Craft Nest Project was launched in collaboration with her friend, artist, and maker Jodie Behn, who
shared Roz‘s love of children and belief in the holistic benefits of craft.
Roz credits Jodie as being a huge influence on how sustainability became central to The Nest’s development
Roz says, “Jodie was thrifty by nature and when I met her she’d already been shunning plastics, remaking and recycling for 20 years - way before sustainability was even talked about. She was really a pioneer.”
The Craft Nest Project was sustainable by thriftiness, using low-cost reclaimed materials to make classes affordable.
“We used to heat the old-style plastic bags to then weave them into a pencil case. For Mother’s Day, each girl had to bring in an old dress of their mum’s, which we would cut into strips. Girls would swap pieces and make an upcycled beach bag”.
Although the workshops were run as a business, Roz’s social conscience was awakened and many times spots were given to girls that needed some additional support and a place to belong
Demand grew and at times Roz and Jodie were trying to teach hand making skills to groups of 20 girls. Borrowing concepts from Brownie’s, Roz divided the girls by age into two groups, Bluebirds and Red Robins, and gave each girl their own apron to develop a sense of belonging.
With this new system in place, teaching became easier because the older girls were empowered to start teaching the younger ones With this intergenerational connection girls flourished and none more so than Roz’s own daughter, Edde Rose
“She just blossomed! It got to the point that Edde was assisting us to teach. We couldn’t have done it without her”.
School Holiday Program, “Dream Catchers” workshop, Fallon Cottage, Everton Park, 2012.
Interestingly, Edde Rose’s interest in community and charity work developed in parallel with The Nest Community’s evolution Even as a high school student, she used her creativity and passion for videography and photography to tell the organisation’s stories and connect hearts and minds to its cause
The confidence and social skills that Edde Rose acquired have translated to other areas of her life. Not only has she commenced a degree in Social Work, she currently works as the Marketing and Fundraising Coordinator for Autism Queensland
We are very proud of Edde Rose’s achievements and this year she was invited to join The Nest’s Board as a Junior Observer We believe she will provide invaluable insights to our strategic growth in years to come
But the story of The Craft Nest Project didn’t end in 2014. In the tradition of all good sustainable practice, the idea simply evolved In the midst of the COVID pandemic, The Nest launched Exchange Project, a skill sharing program based on the original Craft Nest concepts.
The program equips young women with valuable skills that not only ignite their creativity but also instil a sense of accomplishment and self-worth. Since its launch over 200 young women have been through the program through partnerships with several local high schools.
And yes, we still use sewing machines to launch the girls into the world of crafting!
MID CENTURY VINTAGE SEWING BOX
ARTOGRAPH EZ TRACER PROJECTOR
CRAFT STALL HAMPER
LEARN 2 VOUCHER
HABERDASHERY VOUCHER
ENTER TO WIN
M E E T K E R R Y C U R R E Y
What started as an impulse to just “tidy up”, Kerry (and her family) have become something of a tour de force processing donated trims and notions
“It started seven years ago when I volunteered in Everton Park rolling fabric. I saw a trolley that was a mess of lace and trims I decided to take it home to sort and it just sort of evolved because no one else put their hand up to do it ”
When the old house was built-in underneath, The Nest Haberdashery suddenly had more room to display stock. As donations increased, taming trims needed a system to best showcase these beautiful items
“I have a kit at home with scissors, tape measure, bags and cardboard cut ready for laces and trims. A corner of the lounge is taken up by The Nest ”
Kerry usually spends a couple of hours each night sorting and says it “keeps my hands busy.” But she’s not alone and usually involves her husband or even the grandchildren.
“Last night he sorted buckles and put them into bags, or put dots on the bags. We sit at opposite ends of the table and untwist tangled elastic, ribbon, etc.”
About a year ago Kerry went on holiday and Robyn, another volunteer, started
helping out with the home sorting They now share the responsibility.
Robyn’s husband has even added his own innovation and now makes the wooden display panels that Kerry says are superior to the cardboard they were using previously
As an experienced sewer Kerry applies her own standard of “what would I pay” as she sorts and categorises donations. At times, she even washes the trims before repackaging them.
“I don’t keep anything that’s basic Under 1 metre generally gets used for ties, but then elastic under 1 metre can be used for a waistband - so I have to use my knowledge to make an assessment ”
During a shift in the Textile Recovery Centre, Kerry has come across some unusual items
If I don’t know what it is, I look it up on eBay, Google, etc. If I can’t find anything I take it to the “brains trust”the other Nest volunteers
Generally someone will know what it is Once, there was a pointed medallion on a neck chain that I didn’t recognise When I looked it up, I found it was a thread cutter.
The very next day a customer came in looking for one because she couldn’t take scissors on planes and wanted a pendant thread cutter to take on her travels
I was very happy to have found it and that it got a good home.”
Story by Barbara Landels, Nest Volunteer Grant Writer and Team Leader
The Industrial Revolution (late 18th to early 19th century) marked the transition from an agrarian, handicraft economy to one of industry and machinery It was during this time that sewing became mechanised by the invention of the now famous Singer sewing machine.
Not without controversy, the Singer made a bittersweet impact on women’s sewing British author, banner-maker, community textile artist and textile curator, Clare Hunter talks about the social, political and emotional significance of sewing in her book, Threads of Life
“Until the invention of the sewing machine, sewing had been companionable. Whether grouped with other women or sitting with the family, a woman could sew and still converse.
The advent of the sewing machine changed how and where sewing was done. It became a solitary occupation at home, the silent chore of home workers or the toil of factory workers sewing in places where, amid the clang and clatter of machinery, conversation was impossible.”
On the other hand, the Singer also liberated women because it offered them “independence and financial freedom” to develop their own industry and earn income from home as a seamstress.
But how has the humble sewing machine fared in the modern world where simple mechanisation is being replaced with artificial intelligence and electronics?
Above: 1956 Singer model 319K recently purchased from The Nest Haberdashery. Below: Kat’s collections includes (L to R) Singer 411G (a fancy zigzag machine from the 1960s), a 1970s JUKI Baby Lock, and a yet to be renovated Pfaff 30/31
Recently, a beautiful 1956 Singer model 319K machine was donated through our Textile Recovery Centre. It was in working condition, complete with sewing table and accessories Due to its size, we needed a quick sale and it was snapped up the same day we posted a photo in our Haberdashery Facebook group.
Intrigued to find out how it was going to be used, we contacted Kat, the purchaser.
Turns out, she is something of a vintage machine enthusiast. So we asked her what she found so interesting about them.
“I’ve had a modern sewing machine for the last 20 years and it never even occurred to me to consider vintage machines. But, my daughter found a 1940 Singer 66 in an op shop and asked if we could try to restore it for her birthday. I was a bit apprehensive, but found some information online, so I decided to give it a go.
I found that these machines were simply built, sturdy and everything is metal. I managed to get the old girl sewing, but in the process started getting more machines - first for parts but then because they were beautiful and I wanted to make them sing again”.
Robyn, one of our Program Coordinators, used to sell sewing machines and she is equally smitten with the older models because they were built to last.
“Unlike newer models, older machines are usually all made of metal not plastic, making the mechanisms more durable. This allows for better needle penetration and the ability to sew through a variety of different fabrics. Older machines tend to have a standardised technology among brands, which makes machine parts much easier to obtain.”
Kat agrees
“What I love about these machines is how well they were made and built with the view that they should be able to be maintained at home. Modern machines have plastic parts that wear out and break, and are designed with built-in obsolescence that condemns them to the rubbish tip once they reach a certain age.”
So, buying an older machine is not only a more sustainable choice, but it can also be an heirloom investment that you can pass on to future generations When you buy a preloved sewing machine from The Nest Haberdashery, rest assured it has been inspected, tagged and tested by our volunteers so you may not even need to renovate
And a final word from Kat
“Old machines are not just functional, they’re also beautiful and with maintenance, they can even outlive us!”
Start crafting for less and pick up a fabulous sewing machine for as little as $60.
Although they are bargain-priced, you can be sure they still have a lot of life left in them.
Not only do our expert staff and volunteers put them through their paces, they are also tagged and tested by an electrician for electrical safety.
We release stock of machines only when we have accumulated enough to review them in a batch - so this doesn’t happen every week.
If you don’t want to miss the opportunity to claim your own piece of sewing history, make sure you join The Nest Haberdashery Facebook group to know the moment they hit the shop floor
Be ready, because they don’t last long and as you can see, there are some beauties waiting in the wings - ready for their next sewing adventure
Did you own a Knitting Nancy when you were a child? Before the internet, or even television, this simple spool knitting device was childhood entertainment. But it wasn’t all play
Loom or spool knitting dates back some 400 years and was traditionally used to make horse reins.
During World War 1 it was used as a rehabilitative activity for wounded soldiers in hospital
Spear’s Games launched the Knitting Nancy toy in 1926 and this is when the spools started being painted with colourful cartoonish characteristics.
Spool knitting is a simple activity that teaches children the fundamentals of knitting and is simple enough for them to easily complete projects themselves.
Steiner schools teach knitting because it aids childhood development like small motor skills, eye tracking, hand-eye
coordination, crossing the midline, bilateral hand movement and spatial oriented thinking.
Knit one, purl one, knitting is based on counting and is also said to build mathematical acuity A beanie is made with 3 needles that initially form a triangular shape, but once removed, the flexible yarn takes on a circular shapea perfect example of rubber sheet geometry
But knitting can also provide a sense of connection, comfort and purpose. During World War 1, knitting socks was a homefront response across the British Empire.
In Australia, the push to knit for the war effort was coordinated by the Red Cross, the Australian Comforts Fund and other groups including the Soldiers’ Sock Fund
Knitting patterns and cheap wool were distributed and it’s estimated that Australian women knitted over 1.3 million pairs By knitting together women were able to share their
concerns and provide practical comforting relief to soldiers facing extreme conditions on the front.
The act of dedicating time to knitting for somebody else has a reciprocal effect, benefiting both the knitter and recipient that continues to be relevant today.
An Experience Coordinator at Canberra University noticed that many new interstate students struggled to adapt to the colder climate. Applying an interesting twist to yarn bombing they started a project where existing students learnt to knit a scarf or beanie as an anonymous gift for newly arrived students.
New students felt welcomed and the makers learnt a new off-screen skill and a sense of kindness for others.
So, far from just a play time diversion, knitting has a rich history that continues to resonate Oh, and you can still buy spool knitting kits online which proves that some things just never grow old.
Hosted in our Gladys Mary Studio, with our Heritage Collection as a back drop, our Learn 2 classes offer a unique class-to-shop experience
Limited to just four participants each, we want to ensure we cater for all learning styles.
Monika, our Program Manager has been creating additional support media to show skills step-by-step
A skilled knitter and crocheter, Gwen, our Administration Manager, was happy to be part of the filming and show how the basics are done
During classes, these digital instructions can be viewed on a big screen for reference ensuring no one is left behind in the learning process.
New class dates have been released, so if you’ve always wanted to knit, sew or crochet, we’ve got you.
BOOK NOW
Customer @sewcially.overwhelmed fell in love with a Bernadette Antwerp dress that was $1500. She replicated the look with fabric from The Nest Haberdashery that only cost her $24.
Nest volunteer Glenys, complimented a customer on her unlined linen jacket. Turns out that the customer hadn’t been able to find something ready-to-wear that was just right. She pulled out her sewing machine, bought the fabric from The Nest Haberdashery for just $13 and is getting compliments wherever she goes.
Thank you for shopping with us!
We are more than just a shop! Some of our community feel right at home because they‘ve been coming since they were born. Tag us in your special moments.
0433 805 987
info@nestcommunity org au
www.nestcommunity.org.au
In sewing, zig zag is used when a straight stitch won’t suffice. It reinforces edges and joins two working pieces together Being able to step sideways and still move ahead is symbolic of how our organisation has evolved. We’ve side stepped challenges but continued to do the things we love.
The zig zag pattern is symbolic of new potential and growth and we’ve always drawn on collective wisdom to create ideas to avoid repeating mistakes, firm in the knowledge that eventually we will be in the right place at the right time to make a positive difference to society
2/264 South Pine Road
Brendale 4500
