peppermint magazine - style, sustainability, sewing, substance

Winter Issue 61

Our first Peppermint Pattern is here! Meet the Tansey Top • Embroidery joy from our cover artist Fleur Woods • The curious power of the compliment • Plastic-free beauty round-up • Colourful threads from Ellie Whittaker • Speaking out on mental health • Bangarra Dance Theatre • Building better communities • A fun thrift flip • 'Behind the seams' with Nancybird • Accessible art with Studio A • Visible mending • Using textile waste to forge connections

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Bring Your Own Bedding With These Clever Blanket Upcycles

Doona days are great but not every day can be a doona day. A blanket, however, is different: thrift yourself...

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8 Easy Eco Wins: Eyeshadow Upcycle, Seed Stashing And Snack Hacking

We get it! You want to save the world, but you’re a busy person with a job to do and...

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There Are More Plastics In Our Clothes Than Ever Before – And It Needs To Change

This Plastic Free July, you might need to consider more than your coffee cup and take a look inside your...

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How’s The Serenity At This Handcrafted Tiny House In Victoria

If you fancy sinking into a warm outdoor bath (in a recycled cast-iron tub, no less) whilst taking in sweeping...

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The Finders Keepers Market Is Coming To Melbourne And We Want All The Things

Do you happen to fancy any (or all) of the following: caffeine, cookies, crafts, cocktails? And how do you feel...

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Homegrown Labels We Can’t Wait to See on the Country to Couture Runway

Call us biased but we reckon the Country to Couture runway shows are one of the best bits of Darwin...

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Shop That Stash: Tablecloth Upcycles Your Nanna Would Approve Of

If you’re an op-shopper, you know that vintage tablecloths are hotter than a just-filled hot-water bottle. It seems we’re all...

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The Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Belongs On Your Bucket List

Fancy a chance to thaw those frigid digits while mingling with the big guns of Australian Indigenous art? If a...

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National Indigenous Art Fair: Here’s An Event Sydneysiders Won’t Want To Miss

If you’re a Sydneysider with a wall in need of a glow-up (or a fabric stash in need of something...

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This Inspiring Project Finishes Handmade Pieces Left Behind By Loved Ones

Whether it’s a lovingly half-finished quilt or a treasured needlepoint midway to completion, this worldwide charity aims to ease grief...

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Crafternoon Delights! 6 Easy-Peasy, Beginner-Friendly DIY Kits

If you happen to have a little time on your hands, we have just the thing to fill it with:...

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Thrifting And Trains: Travelling Europe The Slow (And Sustainable) Way

Picture this: you’ve been gifted a two-week Eurail Pass, you have a suitcase to fill with op-shop treasures and you’ve...

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Stick to your guns about the things that really matter. You should never compromise on the right thing to do just because it's easier.

BRIANNE WEST, ISSUE 61

How incredible are these handmade quilts by @therealkateceberano? ❤️⁠
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"My quilts are on tour!!!!! It makes total sense to the “storyteller” in me to be going from town to town, my art on tour! With or without me these art pieces are singing and creating emotion. I love my “other life” as a visual artist. Making things with my hands, singing my songs on canvas, quilts and glass. I am free!"⁠
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📷 by @tpp1970 @kathleen.halloran.music @ceberano⁠
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#Handmade #Quilts #Embroidery #HandCrafted #MeMade #SlowMakers

NAIDOC WEEK⁠
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We at Peppermint acknowledge the Turrbal and Yuggera people as the traditional owners of the (unceded) land on which we live and work. We pay our respects to their elders past, present and emerging, recognising that these lands have always been places of storytelling.⁠
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This year’s NAIDOC theme is Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud. 🔥⁠
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The theme honours the enduring strength and vitality of First Nations culture – with fire a symbol of connection to Country, to each other, and to the rich tapestry of traditions that define Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.⁠
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Share the land that you live and work from, with this slide from @Sar.ra__⁠
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"Who’s Country are you celebrating and living on this NAIDOC Week? Swipe and share the second slide with where you are. Remember everywhere is Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander land." ❤️‍🔥 ⁠
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#BlakLoudProud #Naidoc #NaidocWeek #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe

Reminder for #DisabilityPrideMonth, reposted from @feminist & @liberaljane 💜⁠
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'People with invisible disabilities or illnesses are not 'lying' or 'looking for attention.' It’s time to end the stigma around invisible illness. 🎨 and 💬 by @liberaljane⁠
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ID: Digital illustration with a strong 70s aesthetic. It’s a bedroom scene, with a woman sitting on the bed with long brown hair, purple flower earrings, a purple mini dress with white flowers and sheer sleeves along with a pair of fringe go-go boots. On the nightstand is a prescription bottle, water bottle, eye patch and pain reliever. There’s a speech bubble that reads, ‘not all disabilities are visible.’⁠
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#PeppermintMagazine #DisabilityPride #DisabilityPrideMonth #InvisibleDisability #DisabilityArt #DisabilityJustice

Emily from @TheNonsenseMaker is on a mission “to bring a little more nonsense to the world” – one whimsical tea towel/art print/greeting card at a time. Her old-world illustrations celebrate domestic delights, like pots of tea, pavlovas and lady-led literature. The ever-expanding range is ethically produced in Melbourne by Emily and her business partner Sidonie, using local suppliers and sustainable materials. ⁠
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Champion mindful businesses like The Nonsense Maker with our curation of wonderful Finders Keepers Marketplace sellers from the latest issue! @Finders_Keepers brings makers and communities together to celebrate all things mindfully made and thoughtfully bought. Head to the link in our bio, enjoy the scroll and snap up something special!⁠
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And in case you missed it, The Finders Keepers Market is returning to the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne on the 12th - 14th of July! Shop from over 250 makers and designers, including handcrafted ceramics, gorgeous jewellery, slow fashion, art prints & illustrations, tasty eats and a bar. Woo! 🥳⁠
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📷️ @TheNonsenseMaker⁠
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#PeppermintMagazine #PeppermintPartners #TheFindersKeepers #BetterTogether #DesignMarket #ShopSmall #ShopLocal #MindfulMaker

8 Easy Eco Wins 🏆️⁠
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We get it! You want to save the world, but you’re a busy person with a job to do and a new season of The Bear to get through. Rest easy, dear friend, because we’ve gathered eight low-effort, footprint-lowering things you can eat/buy/do in a jiffy – no superhero cape required. ⁠
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Head to the link in our bio for eyeshadow upcycling, seed stashing and snack hacking.⁠
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Share any quick tips you might have – we all love an easy win!⁠
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📷️ Laura's @Wondery_Skin_Food tins being reused for seeds 🌱⁠
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#PeppermintMagazine #PlasticFree #Upcycled #NoNewClothes #SustainableFashion #HandStitch #MendAndMakeDo

Looking for a quick make? A beginner sewing DIY? The ultimate, go-to top pattern? Well, friends, if you haven't already, then say hey to the Peppermint Tansey Top! ✨️⁠
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She's our very first ‘Peppermint Pattern’ and we enlisted the meticulous Thuy Nguyen of @Fashion360AU to draft our design. It's a make you'll come back to again and again – and is the best base for a multitude of hack ideas! ⁠
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Head to the link in bio and get your stitch on.🪡🧵⁠
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Photos: @KelleyTakesPhotos⁠
Model: @EllaVictor.ia ⁠
Fabric: @AmberGibbsDesigns print on @Spoonflower Cotton Poplin⁠
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#PeppermintMagazine #SewersOfInstagram #MeMade #Sewcialists #Spoonflower #SlowFashion #SewingLove #MakeItYourself #SewingPatterns #PeppermintTanseyTop

PLASTIC FREE JULY 🌏️⁠
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"It’s not surprising that plastic use in fashion and textiles has become so widespread, with an estimated 62% of textiles sold in Australia made from synthetics. Plastic textiles are made from non-renewable fossil fuels and they often cannot be recycled into new textiles or broken down. When plastics are blended with natural fibres (like you might find in a polyester/wool jumper), they are difficult to reprocess.⁠
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While we don’t yet know the lifespan of plastic from clothing in landfill, it is likely to be thousands of years. Add to that, some contain ‘forever chemicals’ which pose major risks to human health and the environment over time. Microplastics in synthetic textiles contribute to environmental pollution through microfibre shedding, via washing machine liquid waste."⁠
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This @PlasticFreeJuly, you might need to consider more than your coffee cup and take a look inside your wardrobe. With plastic textiles used in everything from ultra-fast fashion garments to designer clothing, @RMITUniversity expert Dr Tamzin Rollason from the School of Fashion and Textiles explains the role of plastics like polyester in fashion and textiles, what consumers should know, and how we can address this large-scale issue.⁠
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Head to the link in our bio to read more...⁠
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#PpepermintMagazine #SustainableFashion #PlasticFreeJuly #PlasticFashion #Polyester #PlasticFreeFashion

Hi, Laura here! 👋🏻

Remember how I scored a bounty of vintage fabrics from my mother-in-law and her friends a few weeks ago? You do? Great. Well, I’m super jazzed to show you the first make and it’s from my favourite fabric in the stash: a soft, brushed lightweight corduroy with the colour combo I didn’t know I needed – vivid orange, olive green and neon pink.

I managed to just squeeze the pattern pieces for a Peppermint Wide-Strap Maxi Dress onto the fabric, which was 93cm x 180cm. I couldn’t manage pockets in the main fabric, so I cut them from some black linen scrap I had in my stash.

This dress is simply marvellous! Created as a collab with the wonderful Lauren from @Elbe_Textiles, I can’t gush enough about the beauty of this pattern, which leaves you with a dress that looks as good on the inside as it does on the outside, thanks to the French seams and neat stitching. Lauren, you’re an inspiration and a stunning pattern maker.

Stay tuned for the next make!

#PeppermintMagazine #PeppermintPatterns #SewistsOfInstagram #MakeItYourself #MeMade #PeppermintPinPals

How's the serenity? 🌾⁠
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If you fancy sinking into a warm outdoor bath (in a recycled cast-iron tub, no less) whilst taking in sweeping views of Gariwerd/Grampians National Park, or cooking up a hearty breakfast from a hamper of locally baked and brined goodies, might we suggest you take a peek inside @nook_on_the_hill? ⁠
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Built almost entirely from repurposed materials, this cosy tiny house embraces eco-friendly principles to reduce its impact while offering a snug sanctuary for those seeking to immerse themselves in nature.⁠
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Read more at the link in our bio!⁠
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📷 @_aswewander⁠
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#PeppermintMagazine #TinyHouse #TinyHome #HandCrafted #SustainableLiving #SustainableTravel #SlowLiving #SlowTravel⁠

Call us biased but we reckon the Country to Couture runway shows are one of the best bits of @DarwinArtFair. Not only do you get all the big names in Indigenous fashion, you also get 21 collections packed into two incredible shows. It’s a vibrant, exciting and unpretentious design showcase fuelled by stories of the world’s oldest living culture and creative techniques that have been honed over tens of thousands of years. ⁠
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Peppermint is not only a very enthusiastic sponsor of the event (ahem, a Premium Media Partner), we're also super proud to be a founding member of @IndigenousFashionProjects, the organisation that runs Country to Couture and helps emerging designers get a start in the industry. ⁠
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Head to our website where we introduce you to just a few of the First Nations labels whose collections we’ll be eagerly awaiting from our front-row Country to Couture seats… ❤️💛🖤⁠
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Images: @GamminThreads @Delvene_Cockatoo_Collins_Art @NagulaJarndu @MagpieGoose.Au @Datlarwa_Designs⁠
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#PeppermintMagazine #DAAF #CountryToCouture #IFPRunway IndigenousFashion #IndigenousArt #DAAF2024 #DarwinArtFair

🌈🌈🌈⁠
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“I love going to Pride and I love creating at least one piece of my Pride outfit because to me, one really beautiful and important aspect of Pride is the fact that we in the LGBTQ+ community have a place where we can truly be ourselves, and show up as our authentic selves. I think it’s really important to live in your truth and be able to express yourself the way that you want and I truly feel Pride allows us to do that. ⁠
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One way that I’m able to show up authentically as myself is in the clothing that I design and wear because being able to sew and wear pieces that I make lets me express myself, because for so long I wasn’t able to live in my truth and I wasn’t able to be myself. But now, being able to sit in front of my Bernette sewing machine and create the outfits of my dreams, it helps me express my style, my happiness and my pride for being who I am. I love the endless creative possibilities that learning how to sew has opened up for me and I love that it has helped me define myself and my identity and I can truly curate clothing and styles that represent me.”⁠
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Huge rainbow hearts for @TerranceWilliams_ – sewist, designer and small business owner and his gorgeous, handmade, sustainable, genderless and size-inclusive clothing and accessories. 🫶🏾⁠
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Let’s not forget that Pride month started as a commemoration of the Stonewall Riots, 28 June 1969, led largely by Black and brown queer activists. On the last day of Pride month, let’s also remember that it’s #PrideEveryDay 🏳️‍🌈⁠
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Other Black Queer accounts to follow (share others you know in the comments!):⁠
@DylanMooney__ @BlackQueerMagic ATribeCalledQueer @BobbiLockyer @BlackRainbowAus @StuzoClothing @GrumpyEnoki @PlantKween @NicoleZiziStudio @Alejandro_Lauren_ @ShowTellOakland 🌈⁠
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#PeppermintMagazine #PrideMonth #QueerSewing #BlackSewing #BlackQueer #SustainableFashion #BlackArtists #Pride

“I hope to continue the sacred tradition of storytelling through art and to inspire people to connect and learn about First Nations’ culture, history, stories and language.”⁠
Aimee / Luruk-In⁠
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Do you happen to fancy any (or all) of the following: caffeine, cookies, crafts, cocktails? And how do you feel about sitting for a super-cute three-minute portrait by @EleonoraArosio? Keen? Then you’d better get yourself to the @Finders_Keepers Autumn Winter Markets, which will be bringing all of life’s pleasures to the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton, Melbourne, from July 12 to 14. ⁠
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There are activities for little makers, too, including sensory play with Mikaela Egan, maker of @OchreDough, non-toxic playdough infused with sweet-smelling lemon myrtle, quandong powder and strawberry gum. Mikaela is the recipient of the Melbourne Design Market Indigenous Program, and as a proud Muthi Muthi/Gunditjmara woman, she’s part of a growing mix of First Nations makers who are selling their wares at The Finders Keepers.⁠
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Head to our website to read about three more women-owned Indigenous brands – Aimee from @Luruk.In, Ailsa from @WulkurakaDesigns and @Kenita.Lee – all who will be joining the extensive market roundup in Melbourne. ❤️💛🖤⁠
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#PeppermintMagazine #TheFindersKeepers #ShopLocal #IndigenousArt #SupportSmallBusiness #IndigenousBusiness #WomenInBusiness

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