4Ever Blue

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4Ever Blue Hand-made bags and homewares using natural fibres and pre-loved & re-purposed fabrics.

Specialising in hand-crafted items such as Pouches, Bags, Totes & Homewares made from natural fibres (up-cycled Jeans, vintage silk, cotton, linen and leather) often embellished with Japanese style slow stitched embroidery (Sashiko) and/or stencil prints. Available for sale from my Studio in Sumner or my Etsy on-line Store: https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/4EverBlueCreations

Workshops - why not join me for a Boro/Sashiko or Introduction to Ikebana Workshop held at my Sumner Studio on a regular basis.

23/10/2026

Have you ever wanted to dye your own embroidery or knitting thread/wool?

I have been curious about this "SO-ME" Marche dying kit by Olympus for a while so I booked myself in for a workshop with Jane from at the Craft & Quilt Fair in Brisbane last week.

We started off with white thread that Jane had prepared for us, spread it into a rectangular shape on cling foil and started dabbing away with what looked like large, wide felt tipped pens. We only used yellow, red and turquoise blue pens which created the most magical colour combinations once they started running into each other, which I helped along enthusiastically....🤭

We wrapped the thread up tightly in the cling wrap and took it home to finish off the process, which entailed a simple rinse and then a bath with a colour fixative, followed by another rinse and then drying in the shade. The longer you wait before washing the thread, the darker/intense the colour will become.

As part of the workshop we received an Olympus Hanafukin (no 58 Flowers in a Field) and I diligently stitched my Sashiko Sampler with my new variegated thread over the last few days, see the result for yourself.

I really loved the colour combination I ended up creating and enjoyed the whole process, albeit I cant promise that I can re-create the same colours again...😂

Different size kits available for purchase from .

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22/10/2026

Studio Ikebana – challenge: using at least three different materials and creating three different styles of arrangements.

I have used Nandina, Flame tree flowers, Xanadu philodendron, and seed pods.

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Its in the detail... I like to interface my bags and pouches with fusible padding, just enough to give them body to hold...
22/10/2026

Its in the detail... I like to interface my bags and pouches with fusible padding, just enough to give them body to hold their shape, in a slouchy kind of way, but not too much that they become stiff and upright.

As for my embroidery threads, I love to use a mixture of threads on the same project to give the Sashiko stitching more texture. From thin to regular Sashiko threads, crocheting cottons to DMC or other types of embroidery threads in various thicknesses. One rule applies though, they have to be natural fibres, usually cotton, linen, sometimes even silk (on silk fabric) maybe a hint of metallic for a bit of sparkle where suitable.

vintage_fabrics # natural_fibres

21/10/2026

Welcome to my happy place ☺️ my studio is where I work on my creations, run occasional workshops and also display my makes, which are for sale.

So if you live in the Brisbane area why not pop in sometime (open by appointment) and come and browse. So much more personal than shopping on line and you will be supporting a small hand-made business ☺️.

I also custom make, so if you see something you like, but want it in another size/shape or color, let’s talk 😊. I have a huge choice of fabrics to choose from ….

I am done!! the last two (for now..) of my Vintage Indigo Zipper pouches are finally finished. Made a standing and a fla...
20/10/2026

I am done!! the last two (for now..) of my Vintage Indigo Zipper pouches are finally finished.

Made a standing and a flat zipper pouch to show off the beautiful Indigo and Kasuri fabric collages. Used Kurashiki Denim on the back of both of them (purchased last year during my trip to Japan) with Sashiko stitching to enhance the fabric patterns in various colours.

Brown zipper tape with antique brass metal zipper and zipper pull. Interfaced for extra body, lined with natural seeded cotton drill.

Available from my Etsy Store 💙 or DM me 😀 for more details.

vintage_fabrics # natural_fibres

Finished off another two of my Vintage Indigo Zipper pouches, two more to go.... 🤭Made a standing and a flat zipper pouc...
20/10/2026

Finished off another two of my Vintage Indigo Zipper pouches, two more to go.... 🤭

Made a standing and a flat zipper pouch to show off the beautiful Indigo and Kasuri fabric collages. Used Kurashiki Denim on the back of both of them (purchased last year during my trip to Japan) with Sashiko stitching to enhance the fabric patterns in various colours.

Gray zipper tape with antique brass metal zipper and blue leather zipper pull. Interfaced for extra body, lined with natural seeded cotton drill.

Available from my Etsy Store 💙 or DM me 😀 for more details.

vintage_fabrics # natural_fibres

Red wall in Southbank, on my way to the Craft & Quilt Fair. Had a fabulous day on Thursday invigorating my creativity wi...
17/10/2026

Red wall in Southbank, on my way to the Craft & Quilt Fair. Had a fabulous day on Thursday invigorating my creativity with colors and textures, not to mention a few delightful purchases… mainly threads and Japanese fabrics & a new tote pattern.

Paper flowers everywhere. Would they work in a giant Ikebana installation I wonder ..😆

Balloons and yummy cake frosting ideas, something new this year.

Hand spun yarns in beautiful colors

Quilts, hundreds of them. I don’t quilt myself but appreciate the hours/months/years that have gone into them

11/10/2026

They call me mellow yellow.... have you ever tried dying fabrics and threads with natural colour?

Have been drinking herbal infusions after dinner for a while now and noticed how much colour there was left in the tea bag (and wondering what it has been doing to my tooth enamel...).

So I started collecting and drying these tea bags, boiled them all up until I had a mustard colour dye bath and added some cream and white cotton threads and white vinegar as my mordant... I was happy with the result I had achieved so I decided to use some fabric scraps, speak pre-washed cotton and silk kimono.

The colour developed differently on the various fabrics, from a light and bright lemon yellow to darker more mustardy shade.

All in all, a successful dying adventure and beautiful fabrics for another collage.

Maybe I should try the Berry Tea next for shades of pink and mauve...

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Leisurely Sunday morning sew in my Studio. Finished off another one of my Vintage Indigo Zipper pouches, only four to g...
11/10/2026

Leisurely Sunday morning sew in my Studio. Finished off another one of my Vintage Indigo Zipper pouches, only four to go.... 🤭

Standing zipper pouch to show off the beautiful Indigo fabrics. Up-cycled beige cotton drill (Jeans) on the back, with lots of Sashiko stitching to enhance the fabric patterns in various colours.

Beige zipper tape with antique brass metal zipper and blue leather zipper pull. Interfaced for extra body, lined with natural seeded cotton drill. Size 24cm wide, 14cm high, 8cm deep base. Available from my Etsy Store 💙

vintage_fabrics # natural_fibres

Studio Ikebana - using both fresh and dry materialOne material only, three giant Strelitza leaves from very dry to fresh...
06/10/2026

Studio Ikebana - using both fresh and dry material

One material only, three giant Strelitza leaves from very dry to fresh

Ikebana_Brisbane #

Address

Sumner, QLD

Telephone

+61402860749

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