Seven years of sewing
I learned to sew by osmosis. I learned to create, design and problem solve because my childhood education taught me to develop my creative faculties. My inner light was kindled, and my parents allowed me full expression of myself without certain pressures to perform or comply. This left me in a state free to create from within myself. I have applied this freedom and creativity to each important milestone in my life. Since childhood, each item I have made has been purposeful and functional and made with attention to detail. There was always thought of the longevity of the piece. By learning the wonder of creation and experiencing the time and love imbued in each piece, it has made my creative journey a comfort and added a unique richness to my life. I have lived with the idea that if I need something specific that I can make with my hands, I will set out to do just that. Even if it is a new skill, I will set out to learn those skills to complete the task. I always had and still have this sense of creative trust in my endeavours.
When my children were born, I felt this momentous drive to create for them. Since purpose, meaning, love and devotion has always been entwined in my creating, I followed the drive to teach myself to sew, landing again in the place of creative trust. As a child, sewing happened around me, but I was not taught. I reached for these memories, and trusted the way forward into a new creative space. So thus my journey into machine sewing began, where previously I had hand sewn, wove and knitted the pieces I had created.
I was gifted a vintage singer sewing machine, a beautiful black cast iron machine with gold embossing in an oak box. It was slow and simple in function and allowed me to explore the world of sewing for the first time through a place of simplicity. I then progressed to an old second hand school machine for the button hole function, and now have a vintage Bernina which does everything I need. I still sew simply and don’t use an overlocker, and love to use designs where I can incorporate strength and durability into the seams as well as create minimal wastage. My first studio was in the walk in room at the front of the house, that was all the space we had. My first stash of fabrics was kept in a wooden beer crate, and I was very proud of that at the time! A space devoted just for me! It was something I had wished for since becoming conscious of my ability and love to design and create artfully.
My first studio as a young Mum in New Zealand, 2017
My journey into sewing was one full of trial and error, practice and patience. I have sewn with my designs many, many times, thus perfecting the end result through my own discoveries, refinement and striving for the highest quality product. I worked with patterns that had no instructions, or my own designs I had to make up myself. Along the way I found the company “Twig and Tale”, which was a company devoted to many of the values I had as a creator. I can safely say that these patterns were the first I read, followed and trusted, and through using them I learned to overcome an odd fear of patterns!
I now use a blend of the multiple skills, designs and patterns I have used, and my creative journey keeps unfolding each day. I am currently working with Haggie in Oklahoma via an online learning space to discover clothing design and creation with foraged fabrics using historical methods. I am working to create things like stays and petticoats and I am hand stitching pleats and learning how to create boning channels! There is much more to learn, as well as allowing time and space to channel my own lineage of dressmaking in my family lines. As yet I don’t know where my sewing journey is headed specifically, but I can say that I am drawn towards custom design, teaching and co-creation with others.
In this photo blog I am sharing with you “Seven Years of Sewing” Some of my favourite pieces I have made since my daughter was born in 2016. This is a journey through the first hand stitched bonnet made from a merino shirt, to 1950’s sun bonnets in various sizes and designs, to bags, Christening bonnets and Aviator hats. Later came vests, different bonnet variations, scrunchies and eye pillows. The most recent creations are stays and skirts, with promise of more to come as time goes on….
Looking back, I have worked with remnants, vintage fabrics, fine lace doilies, tablecloths and tea towels. I have learned to love chinelle bedspreads and woollen blankets, old Irish damask linens and beautifully patterned flannelettes and corduroys. I have inherited lace, family heirlooms and detachable collars from Italy. I have been gifted vintage zippers that were reused many times, unpicked and gifted to me. I have found vintage sheets in op shops, and worked with doona covers and pillow cases. Each time I look, I find a new weave, pattern, colour or texture that I haven’t met before. The creative journey of working with old fabrics is immensely attractive to me. It is hard to stop collecting, but I have learned to stop obsessively buying fabrics and make do with what I have, buying the bare minimum and trusting that I have enough resources after almost 8 years of collecting!
You will notice I mostly focus on bonnets. They have been my beloved pattern and design since childhood baby sibling days! Since beginning to sell them in a small way in 2017, I have always had orders and sales trickle in which has fuelled my creative mind. Since then I have run custom order slots, markets and an Etsy shop, and ran my creative business under the name “Bags & Bonnets.” I have sold them in small craft shops and had friends, family and locals purchase and design them with me. It has felt special to realise I focus upon a design that is so precious, nostalgic and yet practical. It feels like I am reviving something lost by time, that aught not to be. There is something about how they frame the face so elegantly. How they accentuate the cheeks of a chubby babe, and how they invite imagination to play. I shall never lose my adoration for the designs treasured by my ancestors. It is my hope that lineage be remembered and adored, and that a touch of the past be present today.
So where does this take us? Now we are in February 2024. I now sell my creations through my website Creator Shop with monthly editions entitled “A Month of Makes” which goes live at 8pm on the last day of each month. These are select designs, custom order slots and pieces made to inspire, charm and delight you. By supporting my small business you help to expand my creativity and place my love for design and uniqueness out into the world. You also support my family and my children’s education which mirrors my own creation journey as a child, so thus the circle may turn again. I am so deeply grateful for each and every purchase, and treasure the onward story of my makes as they travel away from my creative space.
My small studio is in my home in The Gap, Brisbane, Australia. Please contact me for private visits, custom orders and collaborations. I am on the look out for a stockist somewhere in Australia for a small range of my items. Please let me know if you can help out or may be interested in this!
Thank you for reading my words, and taking time to treasure my creativity. Below are the photos in chronological order from 2016 till present day.
These photos are taken by myself and many others along the way. I also must thank my dear creative friend and colleague Phoebe Hofsteede for the recent studio photos!
Enjoy!
The very first business image which inspired the title “Bags & Bonnets” Foraged fabrics and hand made buttons made by my husband with a gum branch in NZ ~ 1950’s design.
One of the first Nappy Bags made ~ this bag is still in action today!
My son’s first bonnet ~ he grew out of this too fast!
Learning about flat lays and bonnet photography.
Christening Bonnet made to compliment the heirloom dress.
Helmet bonnets ~ this one was once a corduroy doona cover.
We moved to Australia in 2019 to return after many years away. Pa’s garden is one of our peaceful places in this world and a place to wear our bonnets!
The Wren Bag ~ designed when living close to Fairy Wren birds and made as a little persons bag.
Sun bonnets made big by request ~ it became a thing!
First tries at newborn bonnets, transforming beautiful tablecloths. They are dainty little artworks!
Introducing “Twig and Tale” patterns and learning about zips and different hat designs.
Custom designed baby sun bonnet. It’s all in the cheeks!
Vintage appliqué tea towel and wedding dress silk. My first plays with pleats! My creations are entered in the local show each year.
Custom made Mumma bag with supplied fabrics.
Local shop “The Slab Hut” in Samford Village display with a range of designs.
My bonnets have travelled the world. Pictured in Poland.
A camo loving lass in the USA. This bonnet was made for her as a newborn ~ note the adjustable buttons allowing for head growth.
Pillowcase dress designed and made for my daughter, 2020.
Creek meanderings…a first try at photoshoots!
Night lighting and pretty old designs. I used to sew late into the night ~ I did make a lot of things, but I depleted my energy and sent myself into overwhelm. Since deciding to work during the day, I have found creating much more joyful and nourishing, and my life is in balance again.
Sun bonnets and days with my babes living by the creek.
First plays with wool vest making and sets with “Twig and Tale” patterns…
Beach holidays are never without sunbonnets!
Bags and Bonnets was my original biz name. The original bag design and later bonnet design named “Bethany”
“The Bonney Flyer” was a style we all came to love from winter 2020.
A mother and daughter custom request made with gifted Japanese cotton duck fabric.
Gingham sun bonnet for an Australian babe. Gorgeous!
Bonnets for big kids. This boy chose his fabrics and buttons and enjoyed the process of designing his own hat!
Easter bonnets for my small people. Thanks Twig & Tale for the awesome bonnet pattern with so many variations!
Custom botanically dyed fabric by Liya Mira ~ a series is still in the making with this fabric…
A patchwork Original Bag made for a dear friend, oh so soft and colourful!
Tea towel becomes bonnet ~ an 100% linen adult sun bonnet.
A Western Australian local who got 3 bonnets custom made with supplied fabrics. This design has been amazing time and again at the beach!
Bonney Flyer or Aviator Hat in Central Australia worn by my Mum.
The new “Bethany” Bonnet, a style without ties or neck flap. So comfortable, nostalgic yet somehow modern!
The brimmed Helmet. My guy wore his every day. I love to keep their heads and ears warm as little people.
Sheets became aprons….
Gifted woollen blanket and sheeting made a rabbit bonnet!
A collaboration with Djama Eco Print eco dyed fabrics. I made five of these bonnets which were all so different and beautiful with incredible colouring and patterning!
Croatian lace doily with vintage silk lining. This design was made again in cream for a newborn photoshoot.
Heirloom Tote Bag ~ supplied heirloom pieces supplied by the customer.
Custom made skirts for girls. These were fun, simple and rewarding to make. Please ask if you’d like one!!
Heirloom Helmet lined with cosy corduroy. This bonnet now resides in Tasmania!
A bonnet we named “The Skid Lid” which is reminiscent of the biker helmets made in leather back in the day.
Details and fabric combinations are my absolute favourite thing in sewing.
Pencil case, phone case, purse, clutch, pretty little thing to carry about! This doily was simply cut in half, lined with a cut up chinelle dressing gown and made into a purse. I soak and wash it when it gets dirty. I love the beauty and story in these old pieces.
Bonnets for gardening - this design protects the neck.
Beginning work with Phoebe in my dream location ~ grasses, gum trees and the Australian bush. Pictured with partly machine sewn skirt in raw silk, thrifted top and Beth bonnet made from furnishing linen.
Creating allows me precious time to reflect, integrate and calm my nervous system. I adore that quiet place inside of me that moves and speaks as I create alone in my sewing room. I also enjoy the mystery of wondering where my creations will go and what adventures they will have!
The studio and my vintage sewing machine. It’s a Bernina 831 and a solid workhorse that I love. Simple, no buttons or screens, and all I need to craft my dreams!
Eye pillows designed and made upon request ~ filled with organic linseed & lavender. These are sold in 3 locations: Zen Space, Studio Lomandra & The Treehouse Shop!
Saturday Markets in Samford ~ these are to return later in 2024 ~ stay tuned. I always love setting up my tables and the best part is meeting people in person! I’m looking forward to doing this again soon.
My daughter loves to play and help at the markets. It’s just so sweet and special. She’s wearing her birthday dress I designed and made from gifted fabric.
Up the Clock Tower in Prague, 2023. My bonnet came with me everywhere.
Child size Beth Bonnet for my 7yr old’s travels in Germany.
Another custom for Kate! Displayed on my hand carved head made by my younger brother Joe Kearney.
The wooden head made by my brother & a skid lid made with velvet lining.
Gnome vest making begins. I love working with woollen blankets!
The Gnomes Waistcoat. Perfect for little adventurers who like accompanying hats with their vests. This design is the perfect one for milder winters. Thank you to this sweet gnome who loves her vest!
The Bethany bonnet worn by Phoebe who also got a matching bag in these fabrics. Thank you to a generous local who donated this beautiful furnishing linen!
Bag, bonnet and scrunhie set made from a vintage tablecloth.
Meandering in wheat fields, Germany.
Hand drawn design from the original bonnet photo of my daughter, hand made into a rubber stamp, then stamped with washable ink ~ this is my current label replacing the old “Bags & Bonnets by Lauren Grace” that came before. Thanks to Little Monkey NZ for the wonderful stamp!
Bonnets, landscapes and photography. This was one of my first timed shots with my “real” camera!
In the studio mirror ~ the first Stay and skirt made the year before.
The first “Forager Stay” made with instructions from Haggie This curtain fabric came from Prahatice, Czech Republic, and the inner fabric is from our local The Nest Haberdashery in Strathpine. A truly artful experience ~ I can’t wait to make more!!!
The 2nd Stay made from my grandmother’s remnants and a gifted bedspread. I realised that these are reversible. So many options!
The Forager Stay. These were worn by our European ancestors and the boning was either animal bone or finely whittled willow sticks. I used zip ties. The effect is like a lightweight corset, allowing for movement with the minimal boning. It feels oddly familiar, sexy and feminine all at once. I love how it has opened my eyes to ancestral clothing, artful sewing and expanded my awareness of how much we waste these days. These are designed and made to last forever!!
Stitching the first “Bedsheet Petticoat” using hand stitched pleating. I realised how hand sewing actually isn’t that slow. One can be more controlled in stitching, the natural imperfections display the humaness in the piece, and you can stitch on the go. I finished this waistband at the skate park with my kids. I love the silence of the needle and the peace of my hands working slowly. More of this I say!
The Bedsheet Petticoat ~ pictured February 2024.
So the journey ends here my dears…while I can’t share them all, writing this blog has inspired me to collate more photos, and create more blogs on specific designs, locations and themes.
I used to have social media ~ I began posting in 2017 up until the end of 2023 across Instagram and Facebook. However I came to a personal decision to end my relationship with these spaces due to mental and emotional overwhelm. These platforms showed the progression of my sewing work ~ so I wanted to be able to re-create this here in a blog. Many of you who did follow me will remember the photos pictured here.
I am now working from a space free from the overwhelm of social media, cultivating new ways to create and reach customers, and I am enjoying the process so much. Stay tuned for more writings on sewing, personal growth, circles, recipes and more.
If you are are wanting something specific, please reach out. Custom spots are becoming available in A Month of Makes ~ the series going live February 29th, 2024 at 8pm.
If you know of a stockist around Australia who would love my wares, please let me know. I am keen to foster relationships and create pieces in small batches that are unique and made to be loved and re-loved for years to come.
Contact me HERE for any questions, requests or comments, thank you.
Lastly, I would like to thank the following people who helped make this photos blog possible!
Phoebe Hofsteede for the bush shoot, market photos and studio photos, Emma Wilson for the creekside photos, various friends and customers who provided photos of their loved ones in my creations, and my husband who lovingly followed my directives!
With love,
Lauren Grace x
P.s. I am in the creation process with “The Stays Project” ~ an evolving photo blog which outlines the creative journey of 6 outfits made with historical methods and designs. These items will be available for custom order later this year. I look forward to sharing the journey with you!
