Who

Welcome to the 

Ministry of Home Economics

The Minister's in Session

(Left to Right) Minister of Manipulation and Minister of Artistic Licence

Crafters, Artists, Designers, Vintage lovers, Honourables, Ladies and Gentlemen. It is with great pleasure that we warmly welcome

you to the official site for the Ministry of Home Economics.

(MOHE as it shall hereby be referred)

The Ministry suggests at this stage the viewer should read the following information in a slightly high pitched, terribly clipped 1940s English accent...and tongue planted firmly in your cheek (think Celia Johnson in 'Brief Encounter').

MOHE is an innovative group developed by two crafters who were looking for something with that little extra 'je nas sais quoi'. We have taken our best craft experiences from around the world and combined them together to make the craft group of all craft groups! Our constituents are talented individuals who express their creative skills as a hobby in their leisure time or as professionals as a business. One of the common factors that the members of the group share is a passion for everything crafty.

MOHE is Sydney's first craft group that provides monthly workshops teaching new skills and innovative techniques to members that are new to crafting or already established crafters looking for maverick inspirations. One of the great aspects about MOHE is that you need have no previous skill to feel completely comfortable at one of our workshops. It's because we are a Craft group and not a Knitting/Sewing/Crochet club that we can use different materials to create, so being able to thread a needle is certainly not a necessity here at MOHE. Our creative skill building craft group is inspired by vintage, pre-loved and recycling. Developed and presented by two qualified and trained teachers in Art, Textiles, Design and Technology and offering expertise in a range of learning styles to suit all members. We are committed towards creating a friendly, entertaining, supportive and informative environment where members can meet like minded crafters and develop rewarding and creative relationships.


In addition to our workshops, we post regularly on the blog throughout the week. Sharing websites and craft blogs we find that you may like, the latest passion in the Minister's week, recommendations of creative things to do at the weekend, discounts and offers from various shops and what projects we are currently working on. There are always regular photographs being posted on our Facebook page, from workshop creations to the latest gorgeous can't live without products. Select the 'Follow Blog' option on the homepage to make sure you are e-mailed with our regular posts written on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday morning's. Or simply 'LIKE' us on your Facebook account to read the latest craft news and MOHE events lined up.

MOHE's Mission

• To inspire individuals to be creative and innovative
• Create value in recycled products, reusing items destined for the bin
• Share knowledge, skills and techniques in a format that does not isolate individuals
• Educate on ethical purchase considerations as a crafter

Meet the Minister's

Minister of Manipulation 

BA(Hons) Fashion & Textiles, PGCE Art & Design,  MA Education

The Minister of Fabric Manipulation is a tactile and loyal founding member of the Ministry of Home Economics.  She is determined to provide members of MOHE with the required skills needed to develop a portfolio of decorative and rich visual details all with a frill of textural and opulent chatter. She is passionate about incorporating her love of fabric techniques of the past and manipulating new technologies  to produce innovative and creative fabric surfaces. All in aid to help enhance the Fashion, Textiles and Interior domains of the MOHE members. 

Miss Manipulation is your MOHE representative for Health and Education;

NARCOTICS: Health Policy  

If craft is your drug but your schedule means that you just don't always have time to sit and indulge, then Miss Manipulation can help. Get your craft hit with Craft Fix, a quick post where the Minister recommends a fabulous website or blog she has stumbled across.
Catch her post every Tuesday afternoon at 3pm to help you on your way through the working week.

CYBERSPACE: Education Policy

Miss Manipulation will be dipping into her little black book of shopping secrets and bringing you the retail recommendations for the month. Little Black Book will contain tidbits of information which range from the best places to buy vintage ribbons to which shop and where is offering a special discount. 

Constituents may be reassured that the recommendations will not be limited to just craft related information.
Catch her post every Friday afternoon at 3pm, just in time for the weekend when you can pop along a check out her shopping suggestions.

Minister of Manipulation: Q&A

What three craft items would you take to a desert island?

Smocking machine, sewing machine and an overlocker

What three non crafting items would you take to a desert island?

My parasol, Earl Grey Tea and my Roberts wireless

When you become Prime Mistress, what craft will be compulsory?

Freehand machine embroidery

What would you ban?

People wearing white trainers with jeans

Who is your craft icon?

Omega workshop 

I love the fact that they decorated every single surface and item in their interiors

Non Craft Icon?

Oprah

Best crafting Moment?

When I had to customise a period costume jacket for the English actor John Hurt

Worst crafting moment

With the afore mentioned actor,  I had to resew a button onto the jacket and I did not have a pair of scissors so had to use my teeth while he still had the jacket on

Three words to describe you?

The three F's...

Minister of Artistic License 

BA(Hons) Arts Practise & Cultural Politics, 

R.I.C.S. Auctioneer, PGCE Design & Technology 

Currently completing MBA (Governance, Ethics & Sustainability)

The Minister of Artistic License is a colourful and dedicated founding member of the Ministry of Home Economics. She is determined to provide members of MOHE with the required skills for excellent presentation, conversation topics for awkward moments and ethical crafting with focus on the environment and sustainability. She is committed to incorporating her love of vintage, the craftmanship of antiques, passion for re-cycling and the lost skills of traditional crafts into the 21st century crafting world.

Miss Artistic License is your MOHE representative for Social Welfare and the Environment;

SELF-FULFILLMENT: Social Welfare Policy

So many passions and so little time. Miss Artistic License will bring to you some of her passions to try or buy. Little Passions is the spot for all those needing product visual stimulation or just a gentle reminder of the simple pleasures in everyday life. Indulging in her past employment as a personal shopper she will deliver breathtaking beautiful and exquisitely made aspirational must have products for the discerning buyers amongst you. Whilst her ethical side will remind you of where to find the beauty in the most simple of tasks.
Catch her post every Wednesday afternoon at 3pm to get you over that mid-week bump.

FORGERY: Environmental Policy 

Do you drift through gorgeous boutique shops, caressing the beautiful garments and wistfully sigh as you imagine them hanging neat and tidy in your wardrobe? Then as you turn the price tag over you feel the blood rush to your head, the room begin to swim and a little voice in your brain screams "HOW MUCH????". 

This feeling may take place anytime and anywhere and is not necessarily limited to clothing. Whether it's a 1960s wire magazine rack to an 1820's Biedermeier table, that product lust can rear it's head any time. Well Rescue my Reject is the first stop on the Make do and Mend line. Everyone off the train to get your monthly tips on how to give your tired items, council clear out or inheritance hand me-downs a major makeover. 

Catch her post every Sunday afternoon at 3pm, after you have had lunch, read the papers and settled in for a kick back and relax kind of day.

Minister of Artistic License: Q&A

What three craft items would you take to a desert island?

Sewing machine, French Polishing Kit and my well worn Apple Mac Pro

What three non crafting items would you take to a desert island?

My gorgeous puppy Anoushka, the contents of the British Library and Idris Elba (gorgeous, GORGEOUS actor from The Wire and Luther...and i'd even overlook his cockney accent)

When you become Prime Mistress, what craft will be compulsory?

Furniture restoration

What would you ban?

All testing and cruelty to animals, passing your driving test in an automatic car and skinny jeans on men

Who is your craft icon?

Martha Stewart. 

I love the fact she’s Queen of Craft, a White Collar Crook, Official Decorator of the visitors house at her Prison AND still managed to star in her own show with an electronic tag fixed to her ankle. Rock on Stewart!

Non Craft Icon?

Elizabeth Taylor R.I.P

She had drama, weight issues, devoted men, jewellery, health issues, ‘the’ figure (though not in the Kaftan years...but thank heaven for Halston), tragedy, quick wit and a mouth like a navvy! 

The selected colours for this blog are homage to the violet eyed Liz

Best crafting Moment?

When I met a vision in 1970's vintage, knitting at Marrickville station. I gingerly got out my sewing (so as not to look like too much of a wannabe) and we struck up a conversation. She  introduced me to the world of the Australian craft club (aka Brown Owls) where people like me actually hung out and crafted in public

Worst crafting moment

I had spent the best part of a year invisibly mending a Victorian underskirt whenever I had the chance. It was a beautiful garment with layers of handmade lace which I had dyed a delicate blue, but sadly pitted with worn areas. I finally finished it on the return flight back to the UK from Australia. 

A week later I realised that my lovely skirt had been left in the pocket of the seat in front of me

Three words to describe you?

Entertaining, innovative and meticulous