Chats, Treats, Tunes and Cheers Galore? PepTalks is Back!
- Words by Peppermint
If you’re going to be anywhere near Brisbane on 26 July 2025, we suggest you snag yourself a ticket to our much-loved (and award-winning) PepTalks event. Hosted at Morningside School of Arts, this Peppermint event is going to be big – we’re talking nine brilliant speakers (listed below) and a whole lot of kindred spirits from the me-made community. If you haven’t made it along before, here’s a snippet from last time to get you fired up!
Before we get down to the inspirational talks, we’ll be schmoozing with organic wines from Yalumba, solar-powered beer from Helios Brewery and prebiotic sodas from Remedy while snacking on gluten-free donuts from NoDo. The Me-Made Parade is back with some fun prizes up for grabs and we’ll also have some incredible lucky door prizes – including an original artwork by Lauren Rogers (the clever soul behind our latest cover), a merch pack of socks, pencils, patches from Kylie and The Machine, mending kits from Shayeket Productions, a Luxury Sleep Oil Serum Gift Set from The Sleep Boss and a picnic rug and cooler from The Somewhere Co. Plus, there’s a fabulous prize pack up for grabs from the Australian Makers Directory for one lucky creative: 1 x 12 month membership to the Australian Makers Directory, 1 x 12 month membership to the Make Good Things Happen podcast AND a 45 minute website critique from Angela and Renée at D’Alton Baker Productions, total value of $700!
Plus, your ticket will support not one but two good causes. First up is domestic violence advocacy group Dangerous Females, which receives $5 for every ticket sold. The group’s founder and managing director, Jes Hallagan, is a creative genius and she’ll be joining the lineup to share some insights from the important work that she does.
Our second beneficiary is our gorgeous venue, the Morningside School of Arts. This Art Deco community-owned hall is in need of restoration, and we’re proud to help out by hosting PepTalks there.
And did we mention the goodie bags? They are epic as always! Expect lovely things from our wonderful partners, including Kakadu Plum Co, Luk Beautifood, Weleda, Lauren Rogers, Sew To Grow, Woohoo Body, Love In A Bottle, Grants of Australia, Dr Bronner’s, Pablo & Rusty’s, bellyME, Make Good Things Happen and Australian Makers Directory. Hoorah!
It’s going to be a great night of community, connection and creativity. And we couldn’t pull it off without the support of our event partner, Australian Makers Directory, a free-to-join online directory that gives creatives a place to showcase their wares and connect with mindful shoppers. Founded by Angela D’Alton and Renée Baker, these two well-known legends have deep roots in the maker community and understand the challenges and opportunities faced by artisans. You might have spotted them in the latest issue! Angela and Renée came together with a shared vision: to create an accessible and inclusive platform that celebrates and supports the incredible talent of Australian makers in business. The directory was created as part of a movement away from the inconsistencies of the algorithms of social media. It’s about creatives coming together to make something different.
“Content creators are often prioritised over the creators of gorgeous, tangible things,” explains Renée. “The Australian Makers Directory offers a reliable and relevant place to be found. Makers can showcase their work in a space built just for them, designed to celebrate craftsmanship, foster connections, and attract the right kind of attention. Oh, and it’s free to join!” Huge thanks to Angela and Renée for supporting PepTalks and helping bring the Peppermint community together IRL!
DETAILS
• Morningside School of Arts Hall, 590 Wynnum Rd, Morningside QLD 4170
• 26 July 2025
• 6 – 9.30pm
• $92
And so, the speakers for PepTalks 2025 are… (drum roll)
LAUREN ROGERS
A proud Ngarabul woman and contemporary artist, Lauren celebrates stories of tradition, identity, connection and resilience through her vibrant art. Her unique, vibrant work blends traditional elements with modern techniques, inspired by the beauty of Country, especially native botanicals, and the cultural knowledge passed through generations. Lauren says that creating is how she honours her Ancestors, and share stories that carry meaning, memory and connection.
JES HALLAGAN
Jes is the co-founder and managing director at Dangerous Females and collaborates with artists to create the charity’s much coveted limited-edition tees. She works with charity partners to maximise the impact of fundraising and starts important conversations around domestic violence.
SALLY STEELE
Born in Glasgow, Sally is a creative strategist, advisor, mindset mentor, speaker and author. In February 2022, the world changed irrevocably for Sally and her two teenage daughters, when Jason, her beloved husband of 28 years, died unexpectedly from a brain aneurysm. Since being widowed, Sally speaks and writes of her eternal optimism and genuine appreciation for life in the face of the unimaginable, rediscovering creativity as a healing tool and focusing on living a heart and value-led life of joy, peace, connection, prosperity and purpose.
KATIE ROBERTS
An environmental scientist with a passion for sustainable fashion, Katie is a master of many things: she’s been a research officer, yoga teacher, park ranger and part of the fashion teaching team at UniSC. Katie talks about behavioural economics and how to remove barriers to make personal change.
ME-MADE CHAT
PLUS! We’ll have a special makers chat hosted by Peppermint sewing manager Laura Jackson. No-one gives a pep talk like our Laura (truly, she is the master). She’ll be discussing creative purpose, sustainability, courage and community with a panel of sewists, including…
SUE-CHING LASCELLES
A multidisciplinary artist, predominantly working in textiles and soft sculpture, Sue-Ching is known for her playful sense of style, her passion for sustainability, repurposing and upcycling (and her famous tea towel dress!). Her new book, Making Happy Things, is all about having fun, embracing the making process and creating unique, joyful garments that make you feel happy.
KATIE WEYCHARDT
Katie is the talented and creative sewist behind the account @KatieMakesADress. You may have recently peeped her many versions of the cult-followed Roberts Wood Drafter’s Grid dresses (the first version of which she famously created out of tea towels and almost broke the internet) not to mention her triumphant range of dresses, hand-embroidered boilersuits, shorts, bras and swimwear makes. With a passion for the bright, the patterned, and the bespoke, Katie is more than a little bit inspiring.
ALICE VEIVERS
Alice is the founder of Alice Nightingale, a Brisbane-based label that uses secondhand, vintage and mindfully produced fabrics to create clothing that outlasts the cycles of fast fashion. Alice completed her diploma of fashion design and technology with a goal to create quality clothing in small quantities. Her designs are inspired by vintage trends and local flora and fauna.
JANE MILBURN
Jane established her purpose-driven business, Textile Beat, to promote natural fibres, upcycling and a creative approach to the way we dress. She is a sustainability consultant and the author of Slow Clothing: Finding Meaning in What We Wear.
And of course… our now-famous singalong!
If you came to the last PepTalks event, you’ll know how much of a hit the singalong at the end was. Hillary, the multi-talented founder of Cork And Chroma, is back to round out the night with a tune… nothing beats a good community karaoke to dust off the cobwebs and feel some connection!
PepTalks 2025 is a night made for gathering together – add three or more tickets to your cart and use the code PEPPALS20 for 20% off the total price!
Coming solo? Our events are made for finding your people, so don’t be afraid to grab your ticket now!
Please note this is an 18+ event.
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We wholeheartedly love this post from the brilliant @EmilyOnLife:
“2026: 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.
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Some very wise words from @Damon.Gameau to take us into 2026 🙌🏼
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It’s been a tough year for many of us in small business, so here’s to a better year in 2026. We’re forever grateful for all your support and are jumping for joy to still be here bringing you creativity, kindness and community.
We’re also excited to be leaping into the NY with our special release sewing pattern – the Waratah Wrap Dress!
How great are our fabulous models: @Melt.Stitches, @KatieMakesADress and @Tricky.Pockets - and also our incredible Sewing Manager @Laura_The_Maker! 🙌🏼
Ok 2026: let’s do this. 💪🏼
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Putting together our annual Stitch Up brings on all the feels! We feel humbled that you’ve chosen to sew Peppermint patterns, we feel inspired by the versions you’ve created and we feel proud of you.
Where to begin?! As always, there has been a plethora of Peppermint patterns flooding our feeds this year, and we wish we could showcase more than just a handful of magnificent makes from you, our clever community. We encourage you to flip through the me-made items in your wardrobe or scroll through your grid and remind yourself of the beauty you’ve created with your own two hands (and maybe a seam ripper and some choice words). Congratulations to all of us for our creative achievements this year!
We’ve put together some (but absolutely not all) of our favourites from 2025 over on our website. We hope it inspires your next make!
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Pictured: @FrocksAndFrouFrou @MazzlesMakes @KatieMakesADress @_Marueli_ @IUsedToBeACurtain @Nanalevine.Couture @PiperInFullColour @MadeByMeJessieB @SarahMalkawi @Made.By.Little.Mama
#PeppermintPatterns #SewingPatterns #MeMade #MeMadeEveryday
