A Flood Of Kindness
- Words by Kelley Sheenan
It’s not often that simple tasks like shopping or baking let you help out your fellow man (and woman, and four-legged, fanged or feathered friends), but then again it’s not often that nearly an entire state disappears under water. It’s not for us to give you the statistics on the tragic natural disaster that has affected most of Queensland (including Brisbane, home of Peppermint), but instead to let you know the range of ways you can help get affected communities back on their feet.
In future weeks we’ll be doing our bit too, but for now we urge you all to donate whatever you can directly to the Queensland Premier’s Flood Relief effort, and read on to find out more about those in our community already generously (and creatively) offering support.
Baked Relief: an initiative to provide food to flood victims, volunteers and emergency services: those helping clean up and just anyone who is out there doing what they can. Bake up a storm and hand out as needed! Alternately donate to their appeal to help raise funds to buy food. Also running Adopt-A-Family where individuals can ‘sponsor’ a family with food ongoing.
Brisstyle Handmade Ark Appeal: Simply purchase a handmade item from a participating BrisStyle members Etsy shop and the funds will be donated directly to the Flood Appeal.
That Vintage: Sophie from That Vintage is running an auction of her beautiful handmade timber accessories with all proceeds going to the Flood Appeal.
Art 4 Heart: An initiative by illustrators Kelly Smith and Beth Emily, Art 4 Heart is a collaborative art auction starting from the 18th – 27th of January to raise funds for the Flood Appeal. Every item has been kindly donated by its creator (including Peppermint faves Bec Winnel, Lauren Carney and Courtney Brims) and there is a wonderful assortment of illustrations, prints, jewellery and much more to auction away.
Alice Euphemia: Melbourne designer boutique organising a garage sale for January 29 with the proceeds going towards the Queensland RSPCA and the Flood Appeal. Drop in and grab yourself a bargain, or go the extra mile and donate clothing, jewellery, accessories and shoes that you no longer need (all items must be received by January 22).
So Ethic: Guilt-free green shopping is already a given at this not-for-profit online store, but it is also currently donating profits from purchases to the Flood Appeal.
Polli: Throughout January Polli is giving 20% from all its online orders of jewellery, decorations and homewares to the Flood Appeal.
Queensland Flood Appeal Auctions: An ever-growing list of handmade artists and crafters and bloggers participating in auctions where 100% of proceeds are donated.
Dig deep and shop to your heart’s desire!
(Please note: this is just a small list of the amazing things being rallied around the country – please feel free to add any initiatives in the comments below. To all involved, we thank you from the bottoms of our hearts for your generous and selfless support).
UPDATE: Rest assured we haven’t forgotten about our Victorian friends! With rural flooding in the state worsening, you can also donate direct to the Red Cross Victorian Floods Appeal online.
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Look, I don’t want to make anyone panic but IT’S DECEMBER!!! If you’re planning to give homemade gifts, you’re going to have to act fast. …
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Calling all sewists! 📞
Have you made the Peppermint Waratah Wrap Dress yet? Call *1800 I NEED THIS NOW to get making!
This gorgeous green number was modelled (and made) by the fabulous Lisa of @Tricky.Pockets 🙌🏼
If you need a nudge, @ePrintOnline are offering Peppermint sewists a huge 🌟 30% off ALL A0 printing 🌟 when you purchase the Special Release Waratah Wrap Dress pattern – how generous is that?!
Head to the link in bio now 📞
*Not a real number in case that wasn`t clear 😂
#PeppermintWaratahWrapDress #PeppermintPatterns #SewingPattern #WrapDress #WrapDressPattern
8 Things to Know About January 26 - from @ClothingTheGaps:
Before you celebrate, take the time to learn the truth. January 26 is not a day of unity it’s a Day of Mourning and Survival for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
It marks the beginning of invasion, dispossession, and ongoing colonial violence. It’s time for truth-telling, not whitewashed history.
Stand in solidarity. Learn. Reflect. Act.
✊🏽 Blog written by Yorta Yorta woman Taneshia Atkinson.
🔗 Link in bio of @ClothingTheGaps to read the full blog
#ChangeTheDate #InvasionDay #SurvivalDay #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe #ClothingTheGaps
As the world careens towards AI seeping into our feeds, finds and even friend-zones, it`s becoming increasingly hard to ignore.
We just wanted to say that here at Peppermint, we are choosing to not print or publish AI-generated art, photos, words, videos or content.
Merriam-Webster’s human editors chose `slop` as the 2025 Word of the Year – they define it as “digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence.” The problem is, as AI increases in quality, it`s becoming more and more difficult to ascertain what`s real and what`s not.
Let`s be clear here, AI absolutely has its place in science, in climate modelling, in medical breakthroughs, in many places... but not in replacing the work of artists, writers and creatives.
Can we guarantee that everything we publish is AI-free? Honestly, not really. We know we are not using it to create content, but we are also relying on the artists, makers and contributors we work with, as well as our advertisers, to supply imagery, artwork or words created by humans. AI features are also creeping into programs and apps too, making it difficult to navigate. But we will do our best to avoid it and make a stand for the artists and creatives who have had their work stolen and used to train AI machines, and those who are now losing work as they are replaced by this energy-sapping, environment-destroying magic wand.
Could using it help our productivity and bottom line? Sure. And as a small business in a difficult landscape, that`s a hard one to turn down. We know other publishers who use AI to write stories, create recipes, produce photo shoots... but this one is important to us.
`Touch grass` was also a Merriam-Webster Word of the Year. We`ll happily stick with that as a theme, thanks very much. 🌿
If your fingers are twitching for some crafting, take a peep at this massive list of marvellous makes that can be whipped up in a flash, put together by our Sewing Manager Laura. Ok yes, it was originally a roundup we created for easy Christmas gifts, but now it can be your blueprint for easy craft wins to go on your 2026 making must-do list!
If money and time are slim for you right now – as they are for many of us – these 22 projects will help you avoid the chaos and consumerism of the malls, scratch that creative itch and produce a fun me-made make that won’t break the bank.
Link in bio! 🪡🎨✂️
#PeppermintMagazine #MeMadeGifts #DIYs #EasyWins
"I, like so many of my fellow sewists, live a life of endless lists of ‘to-sew’ patterns, fabrics and garments. My stitchy to-do list is longer than my arm and it ain’t getting any shorter. There are just so many wonderful surface pattern designers, indie pattern-makers and small businesses who I want to support, that I am simply never short of inspiration for garments I’d like to sew. But you know what just does not seem to make its way to the top of the list? Pyjamas. Jimmy-jams, PJs, jarmies. They just don’t rate highly enough for me to commit time and fabric to them. I mean, barely anyone even gets to see them. The ratio of bang vs buck is low on the ‘thanks-I-made-it-ometer’."
You’ve probably heard it from your Nan: always wear nice undies, because you never know what might happen! (And who might catch a glimpse.) But just in case the unexpected happens while you’re slumming it at home in your washed out tracky dacks, Peppermint sewing manager Laura Jackson’s adding pretty PJs to her list of preferred ‘ghost outfits’… Because shuffling off this mortal coil can be perfectly stylish, too.
Read more of `Haunt Couture: Why Laura Jackson Decided To Up Her Pyjama Game` at the link in our bio!
Words and photos: @Laura_The_Maker 💤
#PJPatterns #MeMadePJs #Pyjamas #GhostOutfit
STAY SOFT ☁️
We love when some of our friends collide! And this collab between @SueChingLascelles and the legends at @DangerousFemales is a goodie.
From Sue-Ching:
New year, new mantra babes, because we tried being tough and it was exhausting. So now we’re going to lead with kindness and compassion and see what happens. We have nothing to lose! So let’s stay soft this year. Love ourselves and each other.
New limited edition tee designed by me for @DangerousFemales. 100% of the profits go to supporting DV services. Available NOW and did I mention limited edition? Such a cutie reminder for the year we’re going to have. The year we deserve to have.
BIG LOVE ya big SOFTIES 🤍
Sue-Ching x
Photos by @AMRPhotographer_
#DangerousFemales #DVAwareness #StaySoft
