Sew Love Tea Do Is on the Move

Come October 22, sewing lounge Sew Love Tea Do will part ways with the St Kevin's Arcade spot it has called home for over a year, as owner and self-described "eco warrior" Sarah Lancaster takes her much loved sewing workshops on the road."There are a lot of big changes happening around St Kevin's Arcade, and it prompted a lot of reflection on my business and personal goals. I could be sad and worry about the future, or I could own it, think creatively, and take this change as an opportunity. So I've taken the nudge to reach on to the next big dream and that's sharing Sew Love with wider NZ," Lancaster explains.Her plan? Raise $20,000 through crowdfunding website Pledge Me to purchase a 'Sew Lovely' vehicle, deck it out with sewing machines and take the workshop on the road starting beachside in the Coromandel in summer."At previous pop ups and workshops around Auckland community centres and events I have always loved seeing how grateful people are to have a go on a sewing machine, or to just sit down to take an opportunity to be creative and to re-think 'waste products'. So I thought how do I take this feeling, this opportunity to more people around NZ?! Get us some wheels! Also, my beloved Rolly that I have driven since I was 15 is on her last legs and I doubt she would make it around the country with me and all the machines," says Lancaster. "The aim is to have pop up workshops and roadside tote bag making in as many towns that we can across the country. Let's reduce textile waste in landfill and empower kiwis to be creative and resourceful. I also wanted to document the journey to tell a NZ story from a new perspective. There are so many inspiring kiwis fulfilling their creative, handmade, eco-warrior passions."Regular updates from Sew Love Tea Do's tour of the towns will be shared via Facebook and Instagram (@sewloveteado), as well as a new soon-to-be-launched website featuring all of local makers, op shop workers and good green businesses that Lancaster meets around the country.

• Help Sew Love Tea Do reach their goal by pledging here.