Our Vibrant Summer Issue is Bursting With Stories of Creativity and Connection
- Words by Peppermint
Many of us find solace in making, whether music, artwork, garments or a garden. Art has always been therapeutic for Holly Neilson of Paper Hands; losing herself in playful, dreamlike watercolours allows her to process emotions and find peace in moments of stress. “The act of painting gives me space to explore my inner landscape when words sometimes cannot,” she says. “I am lucky that art has always been a safe space for me to be me, without any worry of judgement.
For our cover artist, Jess Bird, making was a means to escape a chaotic home life in childhood. Later, while drowning in depression, it became a way to forge connections and discover if others felt the same. Referring to painting as her “emotional homework,” Jess believes art helps us better understand ourselves and others, which is healing.
The Happy Hookers research paper mentioned in our crochet feature backs up what we already suspected about slow crafts and wellbeing: findings from this international study report that crocheting made respondents feel calmer (89%) and happier (82%). Co-author Dr Pippa Burns notes the hobby’s low cost and portability, which makes it something most people can try. “The potential impact is huge,” she says.
This got me thinking about my own hands-on hobbies, and while they are plentiful – and not always practical – the ones that stick are those I can take anywhere: the pencils and notepad, the embroidery hoop, the colouring book. So, whether or not you have a sewing machine, you can be a maker with very little means. Start with something you can throw in your beach bag – along with your copy of our summer issue, of course, where there’s no shortage of ideas for your next project.
Sam (Peppermint Editor) x
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Take a peek inside the issue!
In the pages of this colourful companion you’ll discover the gorgeous work of our cover artist, Jess Bird (of Bless The Messy), see the dreamy garden studio of Holly Neilson (of Paper Hands), and learn to op-shop like a pro with thrifty tips from circular fashion stylist Jo Gambale.
Our sewing coordinator, Laura, discovers the joys of intergenerational learning and shares a fun and versatile Posy Patch Pocket DIY. We go “behind the seams” with Kip&Co and also explore the stunning work of the Yarrenyty Arltere Artists. Plus, sustainability advocate and entrepreneur Lottie Dalziel from Banish shows us how she turns plastic waste into pretty and practical products.
We all look for the ‘great’ people to rise, when it’s often just everyday individuals that have the courage to stand up and do something.
LOTTIE DALZIEL
We check in with the cool kids of crochet, discover Noosa’s eco cred and delve into the perils of polyester.
And, of course, this also means our gorgeous new pattern has landed – introducing the Peppermint Pasadena Rara Skirt! With three fabulous tiers, this midi-length skirt is all drama. Wear it with a floaty, feminine vibe or an edgy energy – the Pasadena Rara Skirt gives you the freedom to express yourself. This pattern comes free with Issue 62!
This issue is a little ray of hope in an often messy world. Remember to be gentle with yourself and others – we’re all doing the best we can. To get your copy, swing by our online shop or your closest stockist.
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“My piece of advice for makers and designers? Run your own race… make sure your key decisions stay anchored in your brand’s core beliefs.”
- Bec Bligh
Quick show of hands: who’s opened a water bottle expecting a refreshing sip… and instead been greeted by the unmistakable whiff of uh-oh?
Because for something that follows us everywhere (desk, car, hikes, yoga…), the humble drink bottle is strangely prone to becoming a science experiment. Hard-to-clean corners and gaskets. Mystery smells. Bec Bligh and her husband Tim know it well. A six-month sailing trip along the Queensland coast left them with a lifetime of memories and one stubborn annoyance: mouldy water bottles they couldn’t properly clean.
So they did something about it.
Enter @EverVessel. Thoughtfully designed borosilicate glass and stainless steel bottles that keep things beautifully simple: durable materials, wide openings, easy-to-clean parts and none of the techy gimmicks that tend to age badly. Turns out simplicity, done well, is pretty powerful stuff. (Their many design awards agree!)
And lately they’ve added a little extra delight: the Artist Series, where creatives like Paola Castro, Ben Miners and Martin Thompson transform these everyday companions into tiny travelling artworks. There are more colabs in the works, too: hydration, but make it joyful! 🎨💧
We chatted with Bec about the sailing trip that started it all, the philosophy behind Ever Vessel, and why the most sustainable product is often just the one you keep using.
Tap the link in our bio to read the full conversation. 🚰
#EverVessel #ReusableWaterBottle
Pull up a chair… there’s room at this table!
For the first time, Feast for Freedom is bringing people together for a spectacular long-table dinner as part of the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival.
A Longer Table is exactly what it sounds like: one beautiful shared table inside the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (@Asrc1), piled with generous dishes inspired by this year’s hero cooks, Noha and Nige.
From 6 to 9pm on Wednesday, 25 March, this is what you can expect:
🍽 A three-course shared feast
🍷 Matched drinks
🎶 Live entertainment
✨ A room full of good humans
Your ticket doesn’t just buy you a delicious dinner. It supports the ASRC’s vital work and helps create a fairer future for people seeking asylum.
Seats are limited, and long tables have a way of filling up quickly – head to @MelbFoodAndWine’s website to book now: feastforfreedom.org.au/mfwf
#FeastForFreedom #MelbourneFoodAndWineFestival #LongTableDinner #FoodForChange
Sew versatile! 🪡
Another great make from Lisa from @SunnySewsEveryday:
My #PeppermintWaratahWrapDress is finished and I’m so proud of it. It has been designed not to flap open and flash your pants in the wind, so I feel confident it will be a great wheelchair or standing dress in English weather.
#PeppermintPatterns #WrapDress #WrapDressPattern
Frame your face with the Peppermint Bucket Hat!
Stay safe and stylish in the sun with your very own self-sewn and self-drafted wide-brimmed bucket hat. This beginner-friendly sew is perfect for a sunny day. Get out your pencils – this pattern is created using equations and maths!
This DIY project was featured in Issue 53 and now you can access it for the lovely low price of only $5.
Sun-safe chic is always in style. ☀️
Find it via the link in our bio!
Photos: @KelleySheenan
#PeppermintPatterns #PeppermintBucketHat #BucketHat #BucketHatPattern #DIY
✨ INSTANT CLASSIC ✨
The Peppermint Myrtle Shift Dress is a beginner-friendly make with a few special details based on the ever-stylish shift shape – the perfect dress you need in your wardrobe right now!
Myrtle cuts above the knee with options to customise the length. Don’t think she’s reserved for hot weather either: try a heavier-weight fabric to turn your Myrtle into a pinafore-style garment for layering.
For our fabrics we chose two from our lovely sewing partner @Karmme_Apparel – the bold Rottnest Stripes in a lightweight, soft-drape cotton, and the quality linen in the handpainted Mexico Collection.
Get making the Myrtle – the only question is, can you stop at just one?
Link in bio 🪡
Fabric: @Karmme_Apparel
Sewist: @Laura_The_Maker
Photos: @KelleySheenan
Models: @SerahSews and @Pins_And_Tonic
Location: @ShareTheDignityAustralia
#PeppermintMyrtleShiftDress #PeppermintPatterns
It’s time to Feast!
Some recipes travel a long way before they land on your table to delight your taste buds. This year’s Feast for Freedom invites us to gather our friends, cook something delectable and raise funds for the incredible work of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (@Asrc1) while we’re at it.
The 2026 Feast features recipes shared by two remarkable cooks: Noha, who brought the flavours of Palestine with her when she arrived in Australia, and Nige, a Sri-Lankan Tamil cook whose journey with food began in the most unexpected of places.
You can host your own Feast up until 30 April – simply register online and get planning! Host a dinner, organise a workplace lunch, or gather your community… However you do it, the idea is simple: cook, connect and celebrate the cultures and stories that shape Australia.
Want to find out more? Head to the link in bio to meet Noha and Nige, learn more about their stories, and discover a delicious recipe to try.
#FeastForFreedom #PeppermintMagazine #FoodForGood #ASRC
