"I believe clothes are made to be worn and worn out," she says.
She's carried that idea with her and is now the founder and organiser of the biggest fabric market sale in the Bay of Plenty, FASH (fabric, abandoned stitchery and haberdashery).
It always surprises Beth just how much interest is shown in the fair - which has been held every year for more than a decade - and the amount of fabric stashes that are still out there.
Many people inherit their mother's stash and there are always gems galore to be found.
"I can't believe it, every year I think we must run out of stashes, each year I wonder if I am seeing the same fabric but no! It's not the case at all, there's always something new and special.
"As women, some of us have more fabric in their lives that we know what to do with, they may be downsizing or moving and no longer have room for their stash, sometimes people have inherited fabric.. so this is where they can come to barter, buy, sell or browse."
Beth feels humbled to be asked to take ownership of fabric stashes of women who have passed away - which happens a lot.
Beth describes a recent encounter where she was asked to take a delivery of fabric of a woman who had died. It turned out it was a stash within a stash - of the woman's mother's as well - and Beth found an Edwardian embroidered silk lace neck piece to decorate a blouse.
"It was tangled up in it, but it was just exquisite. Every now and then you find an absolute treasure."
Beth says fabric can be "poignant, and powerfully so" to the individual.
"That's part of the fun of the FASH, that people do tell their stories."
The event is for charity, with proceeds going to the Te Puna Quarry Summer Trust. Beth runs a donation table at FASH, displaying all the fabric treasures she has inherited.
Beth says the idea for FASH came about from her friend, the late Debs Willett.
"She gave me a piece of grey flannel wool and said I could make it into a pencil skirt, so now I'm on a promise to make that skirt."
People buying up fabric has not hindered by time or the availability of cheap clothing, Beth says.
"It's part of a new trend of upcycling and recycling and valuing what you have instead of throwing it away ... make it go another round."
She'd like to encourage young people, and those into cosplay or steampunk to come to the market.
"You can pick up fabric for not much money as well as pick up retro patterns, explore new shapes and designs and very often they can talk to the experts behind the tables, they know their stuff."
There are still display tables available. Call Beth on 07 552 5707 to book.
On the day, the Purple Hat Ladies offer "tea and tiny cakes", and Beth would like to acknowledge the support of Kathryn Vickers, who organises the front-of-house workers on the day, and the help of the Bethlehem/Te Puna Lions.
