Back to School
- Words by Peppermint
There’s no shame in being a jack of all trades but a master of just some β especially when it comes to the practical life skills we once relied on for survival and creativity. If ‘learn a new skill’ is a promise that’s stillΒ floating around your New Years’ resolutions list, check out the curriculumΒ offered by Laneway Learning, an informal urban education program designed to introduce people from all walks to new or forgottenΒ skills. With a year-round programΒ of evening classes already established in most Australian capital cities (and in Singapore), Laneway Learning have tapped the knowledge of local professionals to develop a fantastically varied program, delivered by specialised guest teachers from your community. Upcycling old furniture and scrap materials to make practical household items is just one of the lessons to be learned β you can also take a class inΒ cooking with superfoods from aΒ qualified naturopath, learn the basics of urban beekeeping, or get introduced to meditation. From working with polymer clay and flower arranging to practicingΒ the art of self compassion, making mozzarella to propagating native plants, there is aΒ hands-on, DIY-focused class to suit everyone. Laneway Learning happens on weeknights in cafes and barsΒ around the country, and with low admission prices and small class sizes, it’sΒ a perfect opportunity to getΒ back to school.
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Itβs all a lot, isnβt it?
We werenβt designed to carry this much emotional grief and world-wide trauma on an ongoing basis. Just know youβre not alone. Itβs ok to not be ok. π«Άπ»
Image from @PeopleIveLoved: βI am not sure my tiny brain was meant to understand this enormous grief.β
βWe love that we can bring a hint of imagination and whimsy into everyday life by making ordinary objects fun. Weβve learned to appreciate the little wins and to take a moment for each step we achieve.ββ
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Disillusioned by the realities of fast fashion, design grads Emily May and Sidonie Moore ditched clothing for a business that finds fun in the everyday. Enter @TheNonsenseMaker: a collection of unique homewares, fun wall art, greeting cards and more that breathe life into Emilyβs illustrations: βI love the idea of taking real-world objects and changing your perspective in a way that brings magic and whimsy into everyday life!ββ
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In issue 64βs feature βIt all makes senseβ, we chat to the Naarm/Melbourne-based duo about their sustainability philosophy, TV re-runs and their commitment to local makers. At stockists now!β
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Photos: @MeAndMyGirlβ
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#PeppermintMagazine #TheNonsenseMaker #LocalMakers #SustainableCraft
Any New Yearβs resolutions on your list? We love this from @OtterBeeStitching - βbe brave enough to suck at something newβ.
Thereβs no points for perfection, but youβll get a trophy for trying. If nothing else this year, take the leap and try something new.
#OtterBeeStitching #Embroidery #BeBrave #TrySomethingNew #EmbroideryArt
Sunday serving suggestion βοΈ
Gorgeous photos from @JolieFemmeStore - who make sweet garments from vintage bedsheets.
#PeppermintMagazine #SlowSunday #SwitchOff #Unplug #ReadAMagazine
A toast to the old you π₯
We wholeheartedly love this post from the brilliant @EmilyOnLife:
β2026: Reinvent, burn it down, let it go (whatever it is). Year of the Snake it up. Exercise your boundaries, exercise your body, take one teeny step every day towards a life that feels better to be in.
But donβt you dare shit on your old self while you do it.
Hold yourself with reverence and tenderness and respect, because you got you this far. You did your very best with the information and tools you had at the time. You scraped yourself together, you made it work, you survived what felt impossible to survive: again and again and again.
You are perpetually in the process of becoming, whether you can feel it or not, whether or not you add it to your 2026 to-do list.β
Some very wise words from @Damon.Gameau to take us into 2026 ππΌ
