This week on our Home Life Series, we're spending the day with Nina from Sewn by Neens, whose home is filled with handmade treasures, colourful creativity and plenty of imagination. Just in time for the school holidays, Nina is opening the doors to her world of imaginative play, handmade treasures and easy craft ideas that prove the best memories are often made with the simplest materials.
If you're looking for simple ways to keep little hands busy (without spending a fortune), keep reading for Nina's crafty inspiration and joyful ideas the whole family will love.
Hi Nina, we're so excited to step inside your wonderful crafty world in East Ivanhoe. For those just discovering SewnbyNeens, can you tell us a little about yourself and your business?
Hello, my name is Nina and I am the maker behind Sewn by Neens. I create handmade heirloom toys and garments for my children, inspired by the magic of their childhood. What began as a love for creating has evolved into a beautiful online community, where I can share my creative projects, free tutorials and behind-the-scenes moments of my life and motherhood.
Sewn by Neens has built such a joyful community. We’d love to go back to the beginning - where did the idea for Sewn by Neens first come from, and what drew you to working with new and repurposed fabrics?
At a very young age my mother taught me how to sew, and sewing quickly became something I adored and cherished. When I became a mother myself, I fell in love with creating for my own daughters. SewnbyNeens is a space where I can share this love and inspire others to create too.
I am drawn to both new and repurposed fabrics within my sewing projects. Combining the two allows me to create unique pieces that are filled with character and charm. I am constantly amazed at the beautiful embroidered fabrics you can find secondhand.
From cubby houses and crafty afternoons to favourite family recipes, what pieces of your own childhood are you most excited to pass down to your girls? Are there any traditions you're keeping alive, or are you creating entirely new ones that feel uniquely yours?
Some of my favourite childhood memories are the simple ones… days spent outside in nature, imaginative play, baking in the kitchen and playing with my siblings. These are all moments that I hope my daughters will remember too.
My husband and I are passionate about creating a slow, magical childhood for our daughters, filled with creativity, open-ended play and lots of love. Whether it’s drawing, colouring or painting together, celebrating the changing seasons, baking our favourite recipes or creating handmade decorations for special occasions, I love creating rituals that will become long lasting memories. I think the small, everyday moments are the ones that will stay with us forever.
School holidays are almost here! As a mum, maker and creativity champion, we'd love to hear your ultimate guide to keeping kids inspired, entertained and creatively busy at home. What are your favourite easy wins, rainy-day saviours or crafty setups that always seem to work?
I believe that the best activities you can offer children are those that are open-ended. Something as simple as a basket of craft supplies or a box of cardboard and tape can spark a child’s creativity and imagination the most. Giving children your time, a few simple materials and the freedom to play and explore often leads to the most amazing, creative play. I am also a firm believer that children should feel bored, as boredom is what brings about creativity.
I model to my children every day ways in which I am creative, which in turn inspires them to create too. You can also never go wrong with a nature walk to collect treasures, building cubbies and forts in your lounge room, creating and telling your own stories or an afternoon of baking together.
When boredom strikes, what's your go-to activity that captures the girls' attention every time? And are there any low-cost, easy-to-set-up ideas parents can pull together using things they already have at home?
One of our favourite low-cost activities is setting up a ‘making station’ where my girls can decide what to make and create themselves. I often fill small baskets or bowls with items such as recycled materials (boxes/lids/paper rolls) and other fun crafty bits and bobs, such as pom-poms, popsicle sticks and pipe cleaners. I always provide glue and sticky tape and then I let them go for it!
Another great craft activity is watercolour painting. A great tip is to spray the palette before you give it to your children so it’s easier for them to paint with. You can use the finished paintings in a range of different ways.
What’s one DIY project that still sparks a little joy every time you pass it - especially for you or your girls?
Last year I created a sewing pattern for a fairy house, inspired by my eldest daughter's love of fairies. Seeing both of my daughters play with these houses now is so rewarding to me and brings me a lot of joy.
And what creative ideas, home projects or crafty adventures are currently sitting on your 'one day' making list?
The first thing that comes to mind is a new cover for our couch! I’d love to create something that is colourful and fun.
