Stitcharooney is all about stitching up the past for the future, repurposing and sustainability... But it wasn't always like that! In the past I've spent a small fortune at craft stores and the Internet building a stash of gorgeous prints, materials and fabrics shipped from across the globe. Now my Greatest source of materials is found scrounging through a jumble of Opshop discards. I love the challenge of discovering a new purpose for something discarded and unloved. It breaks my heart to see so much waste and the ruthless pressure to pump cheap mass produced goods into the country, destroying our local industries while exploiting others in the process. I love to create and love puzzles, to think outside the box. As a mother of 10 children (see, I do love a challenge) I felt I needed to reduce our consumption and footprint on the earth.
I love learning about how things used to be done. Old crafting skills are also fascinating. When I picked up my old Singer treadle at a farm clearing sale I discovered my lack of coordination made the process very frustrating. Being a stubborn soul I simply told myself I was no longer "allowed" to use my electric machines so I would be forced to attain the coordination required. It worked! Not only did I learn to treadle but I discovered I loved to do it.
My eyes were opened to the tonnes or perfectly useable and attractive clothing, books and home decor being discarded every day, so most purchases are now secondhand ( though I recognise the importance of fostering local makers and industry), at the same time I still had a relentless desire to create. Although my main focus is working with textiles, I also work with other traditional artistic mediums such as paper, paint, ceramic, yarn and wood. Anything that inspires me. The pragmatist in me wants the things I create to be useful, earth friendly and beautiful, for the community, for the home, for personal use or for the stage. This is when I turned to repurposing. And this is how the Stitcharooney ethos was born:

"Stitcharooney is all about stitching up the past for the future. Using upcycled and repurposed textiles and materials, we can reduce the impact of our insatiable desire to create and consume new and novel things. In this way we can lessen our impact on the earth.
Most sewn items are made on my 60 year old treadle Singer and others creations are made by hand or with technology powered by the sun in my solar powered studio."