ZIGZAG ZIGZAG
The Exchange Project The Exchange Project combines the power of craft and combines the power of craft and intergenerational connection to intergenerational connection to offer students the opportunity to offer students the opportunity to share, learn and grow. share, learn and grow.
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
-
Nelson Mandela
WELCOME
Do you remember doing Home Economics at school? In today’s digital world, learning to cook, set the table and sew may seem ‘out of date’. No longer mandatory, we believe it’s a terrible loss of skill sharing
TAFE Fashion pioneer Maggie, a sewist in her 90s says:
“For many women my age, Home Economics was where they were first introduced to sewing”.
Expressing her thoughts on its benefits, she goes on to say:
“Well, it's mentally so healthy and creative. And unless we develop our creative side of our brain, we never fully reach our potential”
We share Maggie’s passion for teaching and we ’ ve witnessed first hand how it has helped people develop confidence and a sense of independence. Skill sharing and offering people a creative outlet has been part of The Nest’s journey over the past 10 years Supporting Education started when we launched the Exchange Project, a mentoring program for vulnerable high school girls in 2021 In this issue of ZIGZAG we pay homage to Mitchelton High School teacher Jo Smith, who has been part of the program since 2022.
In recent years we ’ ve been able to extend our support to tertiary education, working closely with the Fashion department at QUT, donating resource vouchers to students and collaborating on industry-led design projects
The objective of our Stitch Together program, which we launched in November 2024 with a $50,000 grant from Community Bank Samford, is to engage the broader community in textile reuse. Education is one of the central themes to this program and we are thrilled to be launching our latest initiative, Secondary School Vouchers School-based fashion programs are expensive to run, not just in terms of machinery and maintenance required, but also in resourcing materials. The aim of this initiative is to get our high quality reclaimed sewing supplies to the schools that need them most
We hope you are inspired by this Education-themed issue and that it sparks a memory of someone who taught you something that made a difference in your life
The Dressmaker Who Shaped Fashion Studies in Queensland
Long time Nest volunteer and board member Barbara has worked tirelessly behind the scenes, helping to write grant applications in addition to working regular shifts in The Nest Haberdashery With a keen nose for a story, she proposed the idea of doing a feature article on her friend Maggie Low, ‘who set up Fashion for TAFE Queensland’. Fascinated by Maggie’s credentials, wanting to learn more about Fashion education and commemorate her contribution, Barbara and The Nest’s Program Manager, Monika Holgar, invited Maggie in for an interview.
Accompanied by her friend Pam, we meet a stunningly dressed, vibrant lady in her 90s Over a cup of tea in the Gladys Mary Studio with the Heritage Collection as a backdrop, she regaled us with stories One in particular stood out
Once, when Maggie was Head of the TAFE fashion course, a guy who ran a big Public Service Department in Brisbane came to her office and said:
“I was wondering if you could help me make a pattern for women ’ s underwear I’ve got to wear women ’ s underwear”.
Unfazed, she drafted something with him, which enabled him to make his own
“He used to yarn to me because we sewed He had a wife and children and a beautiful home and I asked if his wife minded. He said she accepted it. He wore the most beautiful women ’ s underwear to work everyday”
So much of Maggie’s story has parallels to the wonderful book series by Rosalie Ham. The second novel in the series was of course made into the movie, The Dressmaker But it’s the third book in the series, The Dressmaker's Secret that matches a similar timeline to Maggie’s.
The public servant friend Maggie talked about bears a remarkable resemblance to the cross dressing Sergeant Farrat character in the book And like the main character, Tilly Dunnage, Maggie brought the Haute Couture ethos to Brisbane, at a time when we still copied European dress models and sold it as the latest fashion
From making dolls dresses as a five year old, Maggie studied Home Economics in Pomona, eventually becoming the Fashion Subject Mistress of the Home Economics Department at MacGregor State High School It was there that the Home Economics Inspectors approached her and she was asked to set up Fashion for TAFE in Queensland.
Barbara and Maggie admiring our gorgeous selection of vintage fabrics for The Nest’s Vintage Stall
The development of Technical Education in Australia followed the British model, establishing Mechanics Institutes and Schools of Arts Unlike independent tertiary institutions like Universities, TAFE has always been Government controlled, with a primary purpose of supplying skilled labour. In the era where Maggie became a part of it, it was very male dominated and did little to cater for women
“In the late 50s when they approached me, there were no dressmaking or pattern making courses for women wanting to learn how to sew So I thought what are the needs? What do women want? I went all around Brisbane and asked people in the industry what sort of people they
wanted to employ? Because there were no people to employ.
They wanted industrial machinists, pattern makers, fine finishers They wanted people who could put in zips and just do general sewing. Then they also wanted to cater for people who wanted to make their own clothes to a high standard of haute couture
So then I went overseas, to Rome, London and Scotland and visited a lot of fashion colleges to see what they were providing. When I came back with all these notes, I wrote the program Because this was the first in Queensland, I had a battle to get it through TAFE because I was a woman ”
In the late 50s when In the late 50s they approached me, they approached me, there were no there were no dressmaking or pattern dressmaking or pattern making courses for making courses women wanting to learn women wanting to learn how to sew how to sew
Once the course was approved, Maggie was given space in Queen Alexandra House, Coorparoo, with only a few old Singer treadle machines. After getting newer industrial machines, cutting tables and dress models, they were ready to launch
“We delivered a certificate course in fashion which offered basic sewing, pattern making, fine finishing techniques, grading, menswear, children's wear and all these sorts of courses including millinery. Now, women were lining up at 5 o'clock in the morning to get into these courses. I was ringing around every person I knew to get teachers who could teach these courses at night
It was overwhelming, the need that was out there for women to learn, and they just loved it In the end, we had something like 3,000 students passing through the fashion house a year But it was a constant fight against the men in TAFE for us to have a voice that there was a need for women ” .
Gradually the diploma course was being offered during the day, at night and full time. Maggie recalls how there was always great camaraderie with the students, but the work was always to a high standard
“It was also therapeutic for women because in those days, not a lot of women worked. So they could forget the nappies and the babies and the housework, come to TAFE and do something creative When they got home they sewed in their spare moments. I'm a great believer in the therapeutic contribution that sewing makes to women and men
I had some students - they didn't put the
baby in the playpen They put their machine in the playpen and then did their sewing”
From humble beginnings the fashion program grew thanks to the flexibility of the TAFE course structures, Maggie was instrumental in developing courses for wedding dresses and even swimwear
“I'm a perfectionist and I will aim for that perfection at any cost. I got on very well with my staff, but unfortunately, probably for them, a garment had to be right We used to have these fantastic fashion parades at Queen Alexandra House with vintage cars to carry the models up to the stage That was the standard we set”
I’m a great believer in the therapeutic contribution that sewing makes to women and men
In the next few years Maggie’s TAFE course and students won numerous awards and local fashion was exploding with events like the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week emerging. After more than 10 years developing the fashion program, Maggie had reached a point of being ‘ on automatic’ With her husband in poor health, he retired young [at 52] and they moved to the Sunshine Coast. As the saying goes, you can’t keep a good woman down, and Maggie was honoured to be once again asked to set up a Fashion course, this time for Nambour TAFE
“When TAFE asked me to set up the course after Alan retired, a couple years before he died, I said I'll only set it up and get it going Then he went into hospital, so I used to spend time with him at night and I felt that rather than setting up other people to teach, I needed to do it myself
The Sunshine Coast has got a tremendous amount of talent. When I advertised for staff, I had one who was a brilliant swimwear manufacturer Another woman was head designer of Q Designs in Sydney.
The funny thing about the Sunshine Coast is that there are people who come up to escape to the country or the bush. There are remarkable engineers, remarkable artists up there”.
Throughout the telling of her story, Maggie often touched on the benefits of the well fitting garment. It's about understanding construction and fabric, how to
Maggie’s shirtmaker dress is her original design with hand sewn symbols
cut and adorn a garment to highlight a person's features and make them the best version of themselves
Anyone who’s seen The Dressmaker, may relate to this That memorable scene when frumpy shopkeeper’s daughter Gertrude Pratt is transformed into the Belle of the Ball by Tilly Dunnage’s couture sewing skills.
During our interview, Maggie’s wearing a striking shirtmaker dress that looks like a coveted Alemais piece We find that it’s her original design Made from gorgeous linen, she has appliqued various Egyptian inspired motifs, chosen to ‘keep her safe’. All hand stitched by her
Maggie finished off her interview with a shop in The Nest Haberdashery for her next project
Despite her years, Maggie still actively sews for herself and others
“I’ve lived to 92. Sewing has been my life and I'm still sewing Last year I made this wedding outfit It was embroidered tulle but it wasn't embroidered enough The sleeves are just sheer tulle and we cut out motifs and hand stitched them in places and put pearls in between them. On the wedding, a lady who owns an upmarket shop in the Valley, went up to the bride and she said the only place you'd get a dress like that was a Couture House”.
Indefatigable is a word that would best describe Maggie The wedding project was six months of work and she not only made the Bride’s dress, but also outfits for the flower girls, Mother of the Bride and herself. She even let out her brother’s suit and helped make church decorations
Thanks to pioneers like Maggie working in the TAFE system, the Australian Fashion Industry has been able to flourish.
In 2019 TAFE Mt Gravatt established a Fashion Centre of Excellence, a testament to all the groundwork that Maggie did to establish the program.
A number of times during our conversation with Maggie, she lamented how Home Economics is no longer part of the Primary or Secondary School system. As she says, we ’ ve all got to eat and we ’ ve all got to dress, so it makes sense to go into either of those industries Learning to sew is not just about learning a trade skill, it’s empowering because you can alter a dress to fit, sew on a button, fix a zip or just hem a pair of pants - not just for yourself, but also for others
Maggie with Barbara and Monika
“I love it I do an awful lot of work in the complex where I live. I will alter clothes for people and I never charge them of course. Just the other day I had to put a zip in a jacket for a guy I'm always sewing There are very few days where I don’t touch my machine ”
Maggie is a larger than life character with an energy that is fuelled by her creativity and connection to community The Nest’s charitable mission is to ‘connect women purposefully through craft’ and Maggie’s life seems to be an exemplar of that philosophy We are so honoured to have spent time with her and to be able to acknowledge her contribution.
How to sum it up? As always Maggie says it best “I think sewing enables you Because I think you get to give back”
Helena
her
and
beloved dolly, gifted by her Helena and beloved dolly, gifted by mother. The dolly’s dress was hand sewn by mother. dolly’s dress was hand sewn by her mother, with a matching pair of red crochet with a of red crochet underwear later crafted by Helena herself. underwear by Helena herself.
Knit and Nurture: The Power of Yarn in Building Community
MEET HELENA AHRENS
When Helena first arrived in Australia in 1972, she had just turned 20 She came from the Netherlands with one suitcase, no English, and no money - but she carried something much more powerful: a lifetime of creative skill and quiet determination
Growing up in a large family, Helena had learned to knit at a very young age. With four younger brothers, there was always someone in need of a warm jumper or a pair of socks By the age of seven, Helena had already knitted underwear for her special dolly, and her mother had sewn the doll’s dress. That doll would travel across the world with her, packed carefully in a container with the family’s few belongings She picked up crochet at school in Grade 3 when her teacher, impressed by her knitting skills, suggested she learn something new.
Life took on adult responsibilities early for Helena She left school at 14 and became a maid on a houseboat It was her first experience working outside the home, and it taught her independence and resilience. Soon after, she began working in an aged care facility, a job that sparked a lifelong passion That initial role led Helena to a fulfilling career in psychiatric and aged care nursing, where she spent decades caring for others with compassion and grace.
Starting over in a new country was not easy With no knowledge of English, Helena couldn’t read local crochet patterns. But one day, she came across a magazine featuring a baby dress pattern with Dutch translations
“That was it,” she smiles.
“I made the dress for a friend’s baby, and from there, I just kept going I even rocked a crochet bikini in the 70's! It was beautifully made, but it wasn’t the most practical thing in the water!”.
Helena sporting her iconic green crochet bikini - the perfect 70s time capsule
Helena first visited The Nest as a customer, in the early days before Helena first visited The Nest in the early days before
The Nest Haberdashery was set up as a shop under the house in Everton Park.
The Nest Haberdashery shop under the house in Everton Park.
On a later visit with a friend, she spotted a small sign on the counter
On later with friend, she spotted small the looking for volunteers. for volunteers. Helena sorting buttons in the Textile Recovery Centre
Helena crochets many pieces for The Nest’s Craft Stall events, with one of her chickens residing in the volunteer lunchroom, affectionately called the ‘Emotional Support Chicken’
By now, Helena was living alone and thought it sounded like a good way to meet people. She joined the team and hasn’t looked back since.
Today, Helena is a much-loved volunteer contributing to our resource recovery efforts, always surrounded by yarn, laughter and good company.
“I really look forward to coming in each week,” she says “It’s the company The ladies here are wonderful”.
Helena’s friendships often begin with a ball of yarn She’s an active member of three other crafting groups, where
conversations wind as freely as the wool on their needles. “We’ve solved a lot of the world’s problems over a yarn, ” she jokes.
We’ve solved a lot of the world’s problems over a yarn
Helena specialises in crafting dresses for miniature dolls
Volunteering is a great way to meet people and try something new
Brass curtain rings transformed into mini-bouquets
Beyond doing volunteer shifts in the Textile Recovery Centre and The Nest Haberdashery, Helena has also been involved in a number of other Nest programs, including the Exchange Project and Craft Stall. She encourages others to get involved too.
“Volunteering is a great way to meet people and try something new, ” she says “You never know where it might lead.”
From knitting socks for her brothers to creating community connections at The Nest, Helena’s story is stitched with care, creativity, and an open heart. And just like the pieces she makes, her presence adds warmth wherever she goes
Helena working closely with Helena closely students in the Exchange Project students in the Exchange Project back in Everton Park (2022) back in Everton Park (2022)
Going Above Going Above and Beyond and Beyond
HOW ONE TEACHER MADE A DIFFERENCE
“Our involvement in the Exchange Project at The Nest over the past four years has allowed students to build confidence, develop practical skills, and connect with the wider community in ways that are both empowering and enduring”
Celebrating 4 years of the Exchange Project with Mitchelton High School
While seeking work experience placements for students she case managed, teacher Jo Smith contacted The Nest in Everton Park, on the advice of a friend who volunteered In speaking to The Nest CEO and Founder, Roz Holt, about the Exchange Project, Jo stumbled upon a golden opportunity
“Roz’s passion for the program really stood out, and I was immediately intrigued. Within days, I visited The Nest and it quickly became clear that this was a space where our students could feel welcomed, valued, and inspired It wasn’t long before I had a group of enthusiastic Mitchie students eagerly participating”
Volunteer Jen assisting long-time Exchange Project student with crochet techniques
In an article in our October 2024 issue of ZIGZAG, we retraced the history of how the Exchange Project mentoring program was inspired by The Craft Nest Project, a business run by Roz prior to founding The Nest Community It was this experience where Roz realised the social impact that craft, intergenerational connection and skill sharing could have on women It inspired the foundation of The Nest in 2014 and eventually the foundation of the Exchange Project in 2021.
The objective of the program is to give the opportunity to vulnerable teenage girls to be mentored by skilled craftswomen to learn how to make by hand. Since 2021, more than 40 volunteers from our community have shared their skills with over 250 vulnerable girls
Sadly, after 23 years at Mitchelton High School, Jo Smith is moving on to a new career and this month we ’ ve had to say goodbye to her and the wonderful Mitchelton participants We launched an Expression of Interest for a new partner this year and received several enthusiastic applications. The challenge can be how to accommodate an alternative program within a large, structured organisation like a high school where there are multiple demands on resources - human and otherwise.
In the end it comes down to how much individuals like Jo Smith advocate for the needs of students.
The buzz of sewing machines and soft chatter can be heard from The Gladys Mary Studio when the program is in session
“My teaching philosophy is grounded in the belief that education should be inclusive, flexible, and responsive to the diverse needs of all learners. Over the past 23 years at Mitchelton State High School, I have taught across mainstream, learning support, and special education settings, always striving to create meaningful learning experiences that go beyond the traditional classroom. While I value the importance of structured lessons and foundational skills, I firmly believe that students gain a richer, more valuable education when they are offered a variety of programs and real-world opportunities”.
While The Nest’s old location in Everton Park offered a homestyle experience, complete with veggie patch and chickens, Jo says the new Brendale location and working in the Gladys Mary Studio, gives the ‘ wow ’ factor
Education should be inclusive, flexible, and responsive to the diverse needs of all learners
“The Gladys Mary Studio is modern, spacious, and purpose-built. The Nest Haberdashery next door is impressive and gives Spotlight a run for its money The open layout allows all the girls to work together in one large, shared space, which adds to the sense of community and collaboration”.
“Yes, I’ve witnessed many strong connections form between Mentors and participants over the years, particularly when a Mentor and student have worked closely together on a shared project Some of these projects have spanned several weeks or even an entire term, allowing time for trust, collaboration, and mutual respect to truly grow.
These one-on-one experiences often give students a strong sense of purpose and pride in their work. As a result, the impact has been clearly visible back at school Teachers have reported that students were eager to showcase their creations to peers and staff, often bringing in items they’d made to share and celebrate. There has also been a noticeable improvement in engagement.
Beyond confidence and social development, students have built an impressive range of practical and personal skills during their time at The Nest. These include fine motor skills through hands-on craft work, enhanced communication through regular interaction and teamwork, and improved problem-solving as they plan, adapt, and complete their projects. They’ve learned to follow multi-step instructions, manage their time, and take initiative skills that are invaluable both in and out of the classroom. The creative and supportive environment also fosters independence, responsibility, and perseverance. Many students have grown in their ability to receive and apply feedback, and these gains have translated into improved behaviour, participation, and a greater sense of self-worth at school”.
Over the last four years, there have been many highlights to the projects students have Over the last four there have been highlights the projects students have undertaken. From Indigo dying on the verandah in Everton Park to upcycling garments undertaken. From Indigo dying the verandah in Everton Park upcycling like their old ‘Mitchie’ school uniform. One student even threw themselves into making like their old ‘Mitchie’ school uniform. One student even threw themselves into a Halloween costume, showing incredible creativity and flair. a Halloween costume, showing incredible creativity and flair.
As of Term 3 2025 we will be welcoming Craigslea State High School as our new School partner and as a farewell from Mitchelton State High School, Jo posted this on social media:
“Thank you to Roz, Monika and the wonderful mentors for your support and belief in our students The lessons they have learnt and the relationships they have built through the Exchange Project will stay with them for a lifetime. We wish the next school who participates in this inspiring program all the best may your students gain as much joy, growth, and connection as ours have”
We have mutual admiration for the contribution Jo has made to the success of our program When Roz was asked to reflect on her time getting to know Jo, she commented:
“It’s very sad to say goodbye to Jo and the girls from Mitchelton but we’ll be forever grateful that she took the leap of faith to join the Exchange Project in its infancy. The girls’ enthusiasm to be involved came from Jo. She embodied kindness and through small actions she added immense value to the program She wasn’t just there to supervise, she came as an active participant, mirroring how the girls should behave. Her care even extended to numerous homebaked treats each week, showing the heart she poured into the program We wish Jo all the best in her new role and are proud to have been part of her teaching journey”.
The lessons they have learnt and the relationships they have built through the Exchange Project will stay with them for a lifetime
The gift of giving, like Jo has, is that you also receive. When asked if there was a special memory that she would take with her, Jo said:
“One standout of the program was watching a student spend months designing and sewing her own formal dress with the guidance of a skilled mentor. It was an ambitious project that took patience, skill, and perseverance Seeing her walk into her formal wearing something she had made with her own hands was an unforgettable moment”.
Jo embodied kindness... she wasn’t just there to supervise, she came as an active participant
Turning Self-sufficiency into a Lifelong Passion for Textile Crafts
Peter and Betty Harvey
Over the last 10 years, The Nest has supported many grieving families with the process of dealing with deceased estates Our volunteers take the time to listen to their stories and we learn a great deal about the significance of each donation
Right before our Vintage Stall in April this year, we received an incredible donation of spinning wheels, yarn and finished woven pieces It represented a lifetime of dedication to the craft by Peter and Betty Harvey and we are honoured to be able to share their story
Peter and Betty’s son Warren lives in Casino with his wife Cheryl, who both learnt about The Nest through their daughter, a Nest volunteer They made the journey to Brisbane to make the donation because they felt aligned to our ethos and that we would appreciate the significance of the work behind it
In addition to the various spinning wheels and accessories, we also unpacked numerous finished pieces, beautiful hand spun, woven rugs and bags Remarkable that they were all handmade by a couple who were largely self-taught, but also that Peter was in fact colour blind It’s incredible to think he could never see the works of art in their true colours
Their son was kind enough to share a brief reflection of his parent’s love of everything creative and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did
Amongst the Har was a carding m several books on dyeing techniques
WORDS FROM PET AND BETTY HARVE
Mum and Dad were b the post-depression, p when money was tigh few and far between lifelong attitudes of th making do with what wasting nothing.
Both my parents were Mum at her tallest bei 5’ 3” Mum was a primary school teacher, teaching special education students for nearly forty years and Dad was a civil engineer. They lived at Glen Innes for some forty-five years
at least six looms of various dimensions filling what little space was left in the house. The solution was putting a second floor on the garage to house the spinning wheels, looms, carding machines and bags upon bags of fleeces
To the best of my recollection Mum enrolled in a spinning course at the local TAFE college in the late 60s, early 70s.
A myriad of colours and A myriad of and textures can be admired can be admired in the Harvey’s collection of in Harvey’s of hand-spun woven blankets hand-spun woven blankets
In their heyday spinning involved everything from the raw fleece, carding, dyeing (natural dyes including onion skins, eucalyptus leaves, cotoneaster berries etc), knitting and or weaving As time passed there was more reliance upon purchased carded wool which allowed Mum to continue spinning for over fifty years
Both Mum and Dad enjoyed being self-sufficient as far as possible Their large vegetable garden was always bursting with edibles. Mum knitted and sewed her whole life, sewing most of the family’s clothes, plus knitted jumpers, vests, socks and cardigans Weaving added another dimension to their repertoire with ponchos and jackets for grandchildren, as well as knitting bags, throw rugs, cushion covers, all being made from their own woven material
Mum loved any craft and tried numerous in her life, including basket making with vines and other natural fibres, hat making using raffia, felt and leather, candle making, flower drying, paper making for Christmas and birthday cards, patchwork, crocheting, tatting, decoupage, pyrography, plus more. All very tactile pursuits.
Unfortunately, Dad lost his battle with brain cancer in 2013, however, whilst together they complemented each other and were able to enjoy their crafts for a relatively long time. I’m sure they are both content in the knowledge that some of their crafting possessions have gone to ‘The Nest’ to be looked after by similar minded people. I hope their new owners get the same enjoyment Mum and Dad did as that would be a win for everyone.
The Nest is ALIVE
Earlier this year The Nest participated in another real-world learning unit at QUT, a Design Project Unit where students address a design industry challenge. Our brief? Create a compelling written and/or visual communication project that promotes The Nest’s core values of community, sustainability and conservation, particularly to younger audiences.
A passionate and talented group of Fashion Design and Communications students blew us away with heartfelt, engaging ideas which we look forward to sharing more of in editions to come.
We hope you enjoy this first story as much as we did
The Life of a Button
BY PARIS DOVE
I’m a third-year Communications student majoring in Digital Media, graduating this November I loved bringing The Nest to life through storytelling, and I hope to build a career in the fashion industry with brands that share strong, value-driven foundations like The Nest My goal is to apply storytelling through a marketing lens to help fashion brands connect with their audiences in meaningful and creative ways.
I was the top button Not just any button, a fine vintage lady Antique brass, framing a deep amber centre Warm as honey. Born sometime in the 1950s, though, truth be told, I don’t remember it. Buttons don’t remember their birth We just come into the world stitched into purpose I belonged on a coat dress, forest green, cinched with a belt that snapped at the waist just so.
Classic Elegant I had the best seat in the house, right at Mabel’s collarbone I saw everything Every smile, every Sunday at the markets, every whiff of fresh flowers and crusty bread. I wasn’t some plastic knock-off, I was glass But then the thing that all buttons fear the most started to happen to me My thread it started to loosen.
“I’m fine!” I chirped, perking up whenever Mabel glanced my way. I tried to lean back a little, just casually adjusting, pretending everything was normal But deep down? I knew The slow unravelling had begun The laundry spins, the Sunday outings, it had worn me down. Each dryer cycle was like a rollercoaster ride I hadn’t signed up for One day, Mabel noticed She sighed, lovingly unpicked me, and said, “I’ll save you for later.” I clinked into a jar with a dozen others, metal toggles, coat snaps, an old brooch. Time passed. A lot of time Eventually, the conversations turned dark What happens to us now?
The brooch would lower his voice and rasp, “I had a mate once... fine brass chap Thought he was headed for a museum Ended up buried under a pile of broken toys in a landfill, never to shine again.” We gasped. “And thrift shops!” hissed a coat snap. “Not the nice ones, ” added a belt buckle. “The scary kind. Fluorescent lights buzzing, sticky floors, racks so overloaded you can barely breathe” “Thrown into a fifty-cent bin!” a toggle cried. “Manhandled! Tossed about! Hot-glued to a Halloween costume only to be worn once ” “Only worn once ” I whispered The words sent a chill through my glass Mabel’s house grew quiet. No more market days. No more Mabel.
Then, one afternoon, someone came. They opened the jar, stared at us, then scribbled: “The NestDonate”on a box with a squeaky Sharpie We were tumbled in with fabric remnants and hauled off We arrived at a place called The Nest Haberdashery. The Nest hummed with laughter, music, the clatter of scissors and mugs of cinnamon tea Sunlight spilled across old buttons and odd bits, and people spoke to fabric like it might speak back. Here, forgotten things weren’t thrown out. They were treasured. A kind-eyed lady found me. Wiped me clean Made me shine She pressed me onto a recycled card and wrote, “Vintage Collection” I stood proud again.
Then she walked in, a girl with paint under nails and a needle in her hand She wore an oversized denim jacket that she had thrifted. She held me up and whispered, “Perfect”. I dance again - not at garden parties or Sunday services, but at roof top bars with booming speakers We sing too loud at concerts, scream lyrics into the night sky We hug her friends tight and stain the jacket with lipstick. I hold her jacket closed against the cool night air as she stumbles home, still laughing I have been given a new life Loved not once But twice
Winter arrived in Brisbane with a bang this season It was perfect weather to launch our cheeky Is it HOT in here? social media campaign, promoting a fabulous deadstock donation from legendary Australian brand, Driza-Bone Their generous donation included wool jersey, corduroy, felted wool, Gortex and oil cloth.
Needless to say, the stock flew out the door
We are so thankful for all of our donors, big and small The lengths people go to and distance travelled to donate to us is truly humbling
Winter is also the perfect time to snuggle up with yarn. Of course we have bulk yarn, but there’s always a variety of novelty and scrap yarn suitable for creative projects
Remember, if you get stuck, you can always come in-store to see if one of our skilled volunteers can help troubleshoot with you
With stock changing daily, it’s hard to keep up, join The Nest Haberdashery Facebook group where we post unusual finds daily
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Doilies are lovingly repurposed into gorgeous coat hangers for any craft lover’s home
How We Fund Our Programs Beyond The Nest Haberdashery
While our social enterprise, The Nest Haberdashery, funds the majority of our operations, as a selffunded charity we still rely on fundraising through raffles and specialist stalls
Since our earliest beginnings, Nest volunteers and customers alike have made items for us to sell and raise funds for our cause Today, we have a Craft Stall program that continues this tradition of honouring and celebrating the act of handmade giving.
Coordinated by the Red Robins, a group of experienced makers from our volunteer team, The Nest Craft Stall is stocked with everything from boho-chic doyley clad coat hangers to old-time crocheted hand towels Everything is made with love using our own reclaimed resources from The Nest Haberdashery
The Nest Craft Stall not only provides for us, but we also donate excess stock to local aged care facilities or local charities
The Nest Craft Stall The Nest Craft Stall (July 2025) (July 2025)
A couple of times a year we also host a Vintage Stall As our volunteers process textile donations through our Textile Recovery Centre, they set aside historical or retro pieces We go to great lengths to conserve vintage sewing memorabilia and our volunteers often go above and beyond merely sorting Doilies are cleaned and ironed, paper patterns are checked or given a protective plastic sleeve It can be a real treasure trove of items from Australiana linen tea towels to hand made spinning wheels
Make sure you save the date for the next Vintage Stallthey’re not to be missed.
The Nest Vintage Stall Gladys Mary Studio 24-27 September 2025
Nest Volunteers sorting retro tablecloths for The Nest’s Vintage Stall
NESTFABRIC $9
#NESTMADE #NESTMADE
With sustainable practice at With sustainable at the core of her fashion philosophy, the core of her fashion philosophy, QUT Fashion Design Student, Fashion Student, Ruby Cowan (@rhubstar) Ruby Cowan (@rhubstar) transformed two remnant rolls transformed two remnant rolls into a stunning two-piece set. into a set.
The Nest’s The Nest’s ever-changing variety ever-changing constantly sparks constantly sparks inspiration... I always inspiration... I always leave with a basket leave with a basket full of beautiful materials and a head full of new and a head full of new sewing projects sewing projects
0433 805 987
info@nestcommunity org au
www.nestcommunity.org.au
2A/264 South Pine Road, Brendale, 4500
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.
