Simple Living Toowoomba startup

We had our first Simple Living Toowoomba workshop for the year this morning and obviously the topic of herbs was extremely popular as we had more people there than we have had before except perhaps for the toothbrush rag rug workshop which, by the way, is being repeated in winter all being well.

I think our presenter, Josh was expecting a small crowd but having the larger numbers of interested folk there was a good opportunity for us to experiment with how we set up the venue as the next workshop is likely to be very well attended too as the presenter is ....

Used with permission Textile Beat

... Jane Milburn from Textile Beat and author of Slow Clothing:Finding meaning in what we wear.
I currently have Jane's book on loan from our local library and it is a very interesting read. In the book she mentions making her first History Skirt which is on the cover of her book. She was inspired to make it by Mary Ede of The Skirt in Townsville. She has since made other History Skirts and I noticed on Sew It Again that she has also made a very colourful one for the Olympian Lisa Curry.

Used with permission Textile Beat

Do have a look at Jane's book if you can. She even has a section for those who have never threaded a needle and explains how to sew a button on and do some basic stitches like feather stitch and blanket stitch and also how to mend. My copy will be going back to our local library in the next few days so if there any locals reading this who want to borrow it it might be an idea to reserve it. I did post the workshop information earlier but here it is again if you would like to come along. Everyone is welcome:


A Slow Clothing Conversation

Date: 3 March (please note this is earlier in the month and not our usual 3rd Saturday)
Time: 10-12 noon
Cost: $10
Where: Range Christian Fellowship, 15 Blake St, Wilsonton 

What:  Slow Clothing is the antithesis of fast fashion.

It is a way of thinking about, choosing and wearing clothes so they bring value, meaning and joy to everyday. We consider the substance of clothing as part of an holistic approach to living lightly on Earth.

Join us for a conversation with social entrepreneur Jane Milburn about how to get the best out of existing clothes.

Jane is the author of a new book, Slow Clothing: finding meaning in what we wear.
It was launched by ABC-TV's War on Waste crusader Craig Reucassel late last year.

Bring along a few garments you are holding on to, but not wearing, and we will discuss options to upcycle them (and implement within the timeframe).
Alternatively bring along garments that need mending or minor adjustments to extend their wearable life.

Check out Jane, her book and her work at http://textilebeat.com and watch her TEDxQUT talk at http://tedxqut.com/video/slow-clothing-material-world-jane-milburn

RSVP: 28th February. Email simplelivingtoowoomba@gmail.com or fill out the contact and booking form on Simple Living Toowoomba. 

It should be a great morning. Today at the herb workshop I was talking to a couple of ladies who said they read my blog so here are a few links that I was referring to that they might be interested in:

Moon Calendar Gardening Guide on Anne  Gibson's The Micro Gardener. There is a video on there from a skeptic as well as some interesting comments following the article as well. 

Isabell Shipard's books 

Homemade Comfrey Salve - we were discussing the use of comfrey today. 

On Faye's This Blessed Hearth there are also a number of recipes for salve which use various herbs. 

Rhonda's Calendula Salve.

13 Homemade Herbal Balms + Salves for Everyday Ailments

On The Home Maker's Forum there is a member who is very naughty and gave us the link to a program that just might be a real time waster and changes a photo like this.....

....to this...and so on. There are a number of settings to choose from. It is quite fascinating.

 The weather here has started to cool down after over a week of temperatures in the high thirties. It has been rather a challenge coping with such a prolonged heatwave which seems to have hit the whole of Queensland. It was 43C in Mt.Isa today and probably even hotter around Birdsville. No way you could survive without aircon in those areas I would imagine. A 31C day tomorrow will seem rather cool I think. I hope any readers in the Northern Hemisphere are now seeing signs that spring is just around the corner after going through a cold winter. 

Enjoy the rest of the weekend everyone!