The Shop of Little Shops

Love to sew, crochet or knit? Or want to learn while helping make items for charity? Our main focus will be making Boomerang Bags which are reusable shopping bags made from post-consumer waste textiles (such as sheets, doona covers, pillowcases, etc), but you are welcome to bring along other projects you are working on for charities (such as baby beanies for NICU, blankets for the homeless, scrunchies for foster kids, etc), or we will have some ideas available on the day. All experience levels welcome, there are tasks that don't require any sewing, knitting or crochet knowledge, such as ironing, cutting, counting & packaging. You might just pick up some new skills along the way and learn how to sew, knit or crochet! If you have your own sewing machine that you can bring along until we get some of our own machines for the workshop space, that will make things easier. We accept donations of sewing machines, overlockers, wool, sheets, doonas, pillowcases, etc for the purpose of these Charity Crafting days. This is a FREE activity with tools & craft supplies provided. You are welcome to bring in food & drink for yourself from home or nearby cafes, or a plate to share. Tickets are not required, but registering gives us an idea of turnout and allows us to plan ahead.

Craft Club is your chance to try a new, fun and creative activity each month in the company of friends and other crafty types. This month, we are trying out the Japanese art form of Kinusaiga, a traditional technique that uses fabric scraps to create patchwork-like pictures with no paint or sewing. You can pick from several designs for your artwork, or draw your own. The design is then cut into a foam board (20 cm x 20 cm) with a layer of adhesive over the top. Pieces of fabric are laid over each adhesive section, and the fabric edges are gently tucked into the grooves with a sewing tool, creating a smooth, mosaic-like image. No experience needed & all materials are provided. If you have some special fabric scraps that you want to include, please feel free to bring them along. You can choose to finish your artwork with a deep box frame, or take it home as is - please see ticket options. This night session is only for those aged 16+, participants ages 16-18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian/adult. Our afternoon sessions are suitable for ages 12+.

Craft Club is your chance to try a new, fun and creative activity each month in the company of friends and other crafty types. This month, we are trying out the Japanese art form of Kinusaiga, a traditional technique that uses fabric scraps to create patchwork-like pictures with no paint or sewing. You can pick from several designs for your artwork, or draw your own. The design is then cut into a foam board (20 cm x 20 cm) with a layer of adhesive over the top. Pieces of fabric are laid over each adhesive section, and the fabric edges are gently tucked into the grooves with a sewing tool, creating a smooth, mosaic-like image. No experience needed & all materials are provided. If you have some special fabric scraps that you want to include, please feel free to bring them along. You can choose to finish your artwork with a deep box frame, or take it home as is - please see ticket options. This afternoon session is suitable for ages 12+, however participants aged 12-18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian/adult. Our Craft Club night sessions are only for those aged 16+.

Craft Club is your chance to try a new, fun and creative activity each month in the company of friends and other crafty types. This month, we are trying out the Japanese art form of Kinusaiga, a traditional technique that uses fabric scraps to create patchwork-like pictures with no paint or sewing. You can pick from several designs for your artwork, or draw your own. The design is then cut into a foam board (20 cm x 20 cm) with a layer of adhesive over the top. Pieces of fabric are laid over each adhesive section, and the fabric edges are gently tucked into the grooves with a sewing tool, creating a smooth, mosaic-like image. No experience needed & all materials are provided. If you have some special fabric scraps that you want to include, please feel free to bring them along. You can choose to finish your artwork with a deep box frame, or take it home as is - please see ticket options. This afternoon session is suitable for ages 12+, however participants aged 12-18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian/adult. Our Craft Club night sessions are only for those aged 16+.

(PLEASE NOTE - this class has been changed from octopus keychains to flower bookmarks due to demand) In this class I will aim to teach you a few of the most used crochet stitches– We will practise each stitch and talk about technique and tension, and then if we have time, we will have a go at making a flower bookmark! You will receive the pattern and yarn for the Flower Bookmark to take home with you if you don’t have time to complete it. Recommended for anyone aged 10+ (Adults welcome too!) What you’ll get: Instruction sheet with diagrams of most commonly used crochet stitches. 1 crochet hook. pattern for flower bookmark enough yarn to complete flower bookmark What to bring: Just yourself! About me: Hi I’m Aleisha! I am a mum of 2 and I have been crocheting for about 10 years! My favourite thing to make is little toys, sometimes called ‘amigurumi’ because I love being able to complete an item in one sitting! I have done many crafts over the years but crochet is one I have always come back to as I love being able to take a ball of yarn and turn it into a 3D object, it’s such a great skill. This is my first time teaching crochet, so I hope you’ll at least learn the basics and it will encourage your curiosity about this great craft!

(PLEASE NOTE: This class has been changed from tote bags to scrunchies due to more interest in scrunchies) Learn to sew scrunchies these school holidays! We will go through the basics of how to use a sewing machine, choose and cut your favourite fabrics and then create 5 scrunchies to take home using the burrito method! This is a 60-90 minute workshop for beginners with no experience necessary. We recommend it for kids 10 years+ (adults also welcome!). The price includes all facilitation and materials. We have limited sewing machines in our workshop space, so please bring your own (or borrow from a family member or friend) if possible so that more of you can be sewing at the same time. Any extra scrunchies made on the day will be donated to Backpacks4VICKids for their care bags for children living in foster or emergency care. What you’ll get: Materials to create 5 scrunchies on the day (including fabric, elastic & thread) Instruction sheet with measurements to make more scrunchies at home What to bring: Sewing machine, if possible (no toy machines please). We do have a couple for shared use during the class if you don't have your own Please make sure you wear closed-toe shoes About me: Hi, I'm Tara! Owner of The Shop of Little Shops and sewing enthusiast. I've been sewing for as far back as I can remember, learning patchwork from my Aunty as a child and doing sewing craft electives in high school. I started my business Little Field Handmade sewing baby and children's clothing when I had my first baby who is turning 11 this year! I am passionate about creativity, colour and self-expression and love helping the next generation find their creative spark.

If you know a young entrepreneur who wants to start their own business, this is the course to help them to get their business off the ground! They will learn business basics and get expert advice and tips along the way as well as the chance to get their business showcased in The Shop of Little Shops. This course runs over 4 consecutive Sunday afternoons, with the first two in the school holidays. Each class is 60 minutes, with no business experience necessary, just an entrepreneurial spirit and a thirst to learn about small business. We recommend it for kids & teens 10 years+, but we are open to younger enthusiastic business brains as well. It helps to have a general business idea in mind, but we will be brainstorming ideas in the first class, so an exact business idea isn’t necessary to get started. Topics covered: Week 1 - What business suits you? Brainstorming business ideas. Identifying your skills, strengths & interests. What makes a good business? Week 2 - How will you get the word out about your business? Brainstorming business names & logo ideas. Who is likely to buy your products and how will you get them to see them? Week 3 - How much will you charge for your products/services? Calculating start-up costs. Figuring out product costs, pricing and profit. What will you do with profits? Week 4 - Preparing to launch at The Shop of Little Shops. How will you display your items? How will you stand out? What to bring: Your creativity and entrepreneurial spirit! Your brainstorming brain and listening ears A parent - depending on age and confidence, parents can attend with their children or stay nearby browsing in the shop or grabbing a coffee or something to eat at Daisy’s Donuts. What you’ll get: Printed worksheets for each week's topic A scrapbook to keep your worksheets and business information in one place Expert guidance and tips to help get your first business up and running After the course: Space at The Shop of Little Shops for one month after completing the sessions Posts sharing your business on our social media accounts A spot at our first Young Entrepreneur market (Date TBC) About me: Hi, I'm Tara! Owner of The Shop of Little Shops and small business enthusiast. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial streak and creative flair, even in primary school I wanted to put together craft kits to sell. My first business was in early high school, when I started making tote bags & cushions out of coloured teddy bear fur. I ran out of stock at the school fete and was sewing orders for weeks after! I’ve been running some sort of business ever since. I started my current sewing business, Little Field Handmade, over 10 years ago and opened The Shop of Little Shops in May 2024, where I get to support over 120 different small businesses at any time. I am passionate about small business, creativity, colour and self-expression and love helping the next generation find their creative spark. Please note: This is our first time running this course. The price is likely to increase for future rounds as we refine the structure.

In this class I will aim to teach you a few of the most used crochet stitches– We will practise each stitch and talk about technique and tension, and then if we have time, we will have a go at making a flower bookmark! You will receive the pattern and yarn for the Flower Bookmark to take home with you if you don’t have time to complete it. Recommended for anyone aged 10+ (Adults welcome too!) What you’ll get: Instruction sheet with diagrams of most commonly used crochet stitches. 1 crochet hook. pattern for flower bookmark enough yarn to complete flower bookmark What to bring: Just yourself! About me: Hi I’m Aleisha! I am a mum of 2 and I have been crocheting for about 10 years! My favourite thing to make is little toys, sometimes called ‘amigurumi’ because I love being able to complete an item in one sitting! I have done many crafts over the years but crochet is one I have always come back to as I love being able to take a ball of yarn and turn it into a 3D object, it’s such a great skill. This is my first time teaching crochet, so I hope you’ll at least learn the basics and it will encourage your curiosity about this great craft!

Learn to sew scrunchies these school holidays! We will go through the basics of how to use a sewing machine, choose and cut your favourite fabrics and then create 5 scrunchies to take home using the burrito method! This is a 60 minute workshop for beginners with no experience necessary. We recommend it for kids 10 years+. The price includes all facilitation and materials. We have limited sewing machines in our workshop space, so please bring your own (or borrow from a family member or friend) if possible so that more of you can be sewing at the same time. What you’ll get: Materials to create 5 scrunchies (including fabric, elastic & thread) Instruction sheet with measurements to make more scrunchies at home What to bring: Sewing machine, if possible (no toy machines please) Fabric scissors, if you have them Fabric, if you would prefer to use your own Please make sure you wear closed-toe shoes About me: Hi, I'm Tara! Owner of The Shop of Little Shops and sewing enthusiast. I've been sewing for as far back as I can remember, learning patchwork from my Aunty as a child and doing sewing craft electives in high school. I started my business Little Field Handmade sewing baby and children's clothing when I had my first baby who is turning 11 this year! I am passionate about creativity, colour and self-expression and love helping the next generation find their creative spark.

Join us for our second session of our monthly Friday Night Crafters. This is a laid back evening - your chance to get creative with friends, or make some new ones! We will be doing mosaics this time around and you can choose from a photo frame or 2x round coasters to decorate. All materials are included, but feel free to bring along any broken crockery or special objects that you would like to use. You will be taken through the process of gluing, grouting and polishing step by step, so you don't have to have mosaic experience to take part! This session is for adults, participants 10+ allowed with a paying adult only. BYO Snacks & drinks. There will be a chance for after hours shopping as well. We will be running these sessions monthly with a different craft each month. Hope to see you there! Please note: Image is an example only, our supplies are still on their way so there will be different colours and styles of tiles available on the night.

Join us for the launch of our monthly Friday Night Crafters sessions. This is a laid back evening - your chance to get creative with friends, or make some new ones! We will be making a 15cm diameter bubble vase terrarium with low maintenance succulents, decorative rocks and your choice of figurine. All materials are included. You will be taken through the process and different layers step by step, so you don't have to be a green thumb to take part! This session is for adults, participants 13+ allowed with a paying adult only. BYO Snacks & drinks. There will be a chance for after hours shopping as well. We will be running these sessions monthly with a different craft each month. Hope to see you there! Please note: Image is an example only, our supplies are still on their way so there will be more figurine designs available on the night. Each crafter will get one figurine and 3 small succulents to decorate their terrarium as well as the potting materials required.

Come along for an afternoon of crafting this school holidays at The Shop of Little Shops. Each Crafternoon will be a little different with at least 3 crafting activities on offer. Activities MAY include: Painting Wand making Mask making Pom pom making Coloring sheets Bracelet making Paper collage Fabric decoupage Finger knitting Weaving Potato stamping And more! Recommended for ages 5+. There will be a range of activities for different skill levels so there will always be something for younger siblings to do as well. Please note that all children must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times. Activities are self led and designed to get kids creativity flowing, but some require reading written instructions. Parents are welcome to create alongside children at no extra cost.

Come along for some plaster painting school holiday fun in our workshop space at The Shop of Little Shops. Price is per child and includes: 1x small plaster shape 1x medium plaster shape 1x large plaster shape Use of paint, glitter & paintbrushes Extra plaster shapes available to purchase at additional cost. Recommended for ages 3+ Please note that parents/guardians are responsible for supervising their own children throughout this activity.