Izumi Montgomery

Izumi Montgomery is a Japanese artist and sustainable craft facilitator based in Sydney Australia. Izumi holds a Masters in Sculpture from Tokyo University of the Arts and she has also studies fashion at TAFE New South Wales. This is where she developed a strong interest in ethical and uncycled design. She combines traditional Japanese techniques such as Tsumami Zaiku (folded fabric flowers) with reclaimed materials to create thoughtful workshops. Alongside teaching, Izumi regularly facilitates sessions at Reverse Garbage and other community spaces where participants are invited to slow down and reconnect through handcraft. Her final class at Reverse Garbage for 2025 is on Saturday 29th November. More workshops available in 2026 and beyond. You'll find Izumi's workshops on the Reverse Garbage website under Public Workshops. Sew Organised Style features people who freely support the sewing community. You're welcome to be a podcast guest by contacting us via DM on Instagram. If you are able, consider supporting this podcast through our patreon account. There are 3 new tiers to choose from to support SewOver50's only podcast. Every podcast is free and the archive is gradually being uploaded on to the podcast YouTube channel. Sound with permission by Kaneef on YouTube.  

Alexis Bailey has come through a period of not designing and rebranded to become WearWereGoing. A listener suggested I interview Alexis and in this episode, you'll hear how Alexis has been supported by some of her Patreon community to create zero waste patterns. She's now turned this corner of her life and Alexis is a positive person to speak to. Sew Organised Style features people who freely support the sewing community. You're welcome to be a podcast guest by contacting us via DM on Instagram. Alexis was suggested to me to be on the podcast by one of our instagram followers. If you are able, consider supporting this podcast through our patreon account. There are 3 new tiers to choose from to support SewOver50's only podcast. Every podcast is free and the archive is gradually being uploaded on to the podcast YouTube channel. Sound with permission by Kaneef on YouTube.  

Mental wellness advocate and author Olivia Dieterich has released an uplifting book, Random Acts of Crochet Kindness (published by Search Press), that has one purpose: to create something special and then leave it out in the world for someone else to find.  Olivia creates 25 beginner friendly designs to label with kindness and place in your local community, ready to brighten someone else's day. These tiny acts of kindness have captivated fans worldwide with the #RandomActsOfCrochetKindness Facebook page which has 357.8K followers where people spread love to strangers.  Patterns, which you can create in under an hour, include flowers, rainbows, stars, hearts, smiley faces, a sunshine, and more. The book also shares a guide to making labels with templates to copy and ideas of where to place you 'acts of kindness'. Thank you Search Press and Midas Campaigns for your ongoing support. If you are able, consider supporting this podcast through our patreon account. There are 3 new tiers to choose from to support SewOver50's only podcast. Every podcast is free and the archive is gradually being uploaded on to the podcast YouTube channel. Sound with permission by Kaneef on YouTube. SewOver50 intersects with all communities. SewOver50 where we are so over ageism.  Our focus is the sewing talent each person shares on social media and providing recognition of their willingness to share their skills whether a beginner or experienced sewist. Make sure you listen to your SewOver50 friends in our SewOver50 podcast archive.

Her Heart Australia was able to provide Ronda Hazell with a cardiologist for her current heart diagnosis. Maria Theoharous and Dr. Radhika Arunkumar discuss prioritising health, specifically women's health and focusing on key questions about heart attack. They share a checklist reviewed by health professionals and highlight differences in symptoms of a heart attack between women and men. Her Heart Australia resources can be found at https://herheart.org/ Listen to the podcast for more healthy heart tips. Post script: Ronda did more of her own research about her heart condition and she is now getting assistance from John Ritter Aortic Foundation. https://johnritterfoundation.org/support/ The John Ritter Aortic Foundation offers free support available to anyone affected through appointment prep meetings with their registered nurses to peer support by trained volunteers. These are open to anyone worldwide. If you are able, consider supporting this podcast through our patreon account. There are 3 new tiers to choose from to support SewOver50's only podcast. Every podcast is free and the archive is gradually being uploaded on to the podcast YouTube channel. Sound with permission by Kaneef on YouTube. SewOver50 intersects with all communities. SewOver50 where we are so over ageism.  Our focus is the sewing talent each person shares on social media and providing recognition of their willingness to share their skills whether a beginner or experienced sewist. Make sure you listen to your SewOver50 friends in our SewOver50 podcast archive.

Yasmin Andrews, Community Programs Manager develops and runs the community programs at Reverse Garbage. Reverse Garbage is celebrating 50 years of operations and Yaz discusses the breadth of programs provided to the community. Did you know there are 7 types of plastic? There's so much Yaz discusses that you'll want to get involved with the community programs. At Reverse Garbage, they offer a fantastic range of Creative Reuse and Sustainability Programs and Workshops tailored to inspire and engage community members of all ages. From Early Learning to Tertiary Education, and including primary and secondary school workshops, OOSH and vacation care, professional development sessions, and whole school programs, their creative workshops are designed to ignite curiosity, nurture creativity, and community connection. https://reversegarbage.org.au/education-and-workshops/ Yasmin Andrews, Community Programs Manager discusses how they offer tailored creative workshops for large festivals and events for councils, schools, museums and more. If you are able, consider supporting this podcast through our patreon account. There are 3 new tiers to choose from to support SewOver50's only podcast. Every podcast is free and the archive is gradually being uploaded on to the podcast YouTube channel. Sound with permission by Kaneef on YouTube.  

Kirsten Junor, CEO of Reverse Garbage in Marrickville is making sure everyone celebrates 50 years of operating to give a second life to industrial and home 'waste'. Reverse Garbage rescues between 4 to 6 tonnes of material each month. Reducing landfill, providing a safe space for social impact, giving people low cost items, providing education. These are just some of the ways Reverse Garbage has been contributing to the community. They are not for profit and all money raised from sales goes back into keeping Reverse Garbage operating. Next week's episode is about how their education provides so much more to the community.  If you are able, consider supporting this podcast through our patreon account. There are 3 new tiers to choose from to support SewOver50's only podcast. Every podcast is free and the archive is gradually being uploaded on to the podcast YouTube channel. Sound with permission by Kaneef on YouTube.  

Jeanna Wigger and Mary V Morton are the authors of Stitch it, Don't Ditch It. Mary direct messaged Jeanna when Mary heard Jeanna on Check Your Thread podcast. They teamed up and wrote this really helpful book about mending via hand sewing. As a sewist, you would assume mending clothes is the focus of this book.  What Mary and Jeanna have created is a resource for anyone to mend not just clothing but any textile or object they want to give a second or third life to. Stitch It provides all basic hand sewing skills and mending techniques to repair garments by hand. Skills are presented with instructions for both left- and right-handed menders, with accessible line drawings accompanying each skill. The book includes indispensable explanations of fabric types and construction, to guide readers in learning about their clothes, and how those factors influence each repair. If you are able, consider supporting this podcast through our patreon account. There are 3 new tiers to choose from to support SewOver50's only podcast. Every podcast is free and the archive is gradually being uploaded on to the podcast YouTube channel. Sound with permission by Kaneef on YouTube. SewOver50 intersects with all communities. SewOver50 where we are so over ageism.  Our focus is the sewing talent each person shares on social media and providing recognition of their willingness to share their skills whether a beginner or experienced sewist. Make sure you listen to your SewOver50 friends in our SewOver50 podcast archive.  

Ronda Hazell's story started in June 2024 when an echocardiogram showed she had a dilated ascending aorta (a dilation is a bulge where the diameter of the aorta gets bigger when it is more than 1.5 times normal size it is called an aneurysm). This is a life-threatening medical condition because larger aneurysms can rupture or dissect. Aortic disease is linked to problems with the aortic valve of the heart. Ronda has regular check-ups with a cardiologist to monitor her heart and aneurysm size. Finding good medical help was difficult but it is there.  Having the issues she's been facing discussed will help more of women find good medical diagnosis and help.  Heart disease for women is different. SewDoItForHeart25 is a way to showcase people in the sewing community who integrate hearts into their projects to raise awareness that heart disease for women exists and is different. If you are able, consider supporting this podcast through our patreon account. There are 3 new tiers to choose from to support SewOver50's only podcast. Every podcast is free and the archive is gradually being uploaded on to the podcast YouTube channel. Sound with permission by Kaneef on YouTube.   SewOver50 intersects with all communities. SewOver50 where we are so over ageism.  Our focus is the sewing talent each person shares on social media and providing recognition of their willingness to share their skills whether a beginner or experienced sewist. Make sure you listen to your SewOver50 friends in our SewOver50 podcast archive.        

Christine is Sewing and the City. Her current life in Valencia Spain allows Christine to reuse existing linens with great embroidery for making garments. She was introduced to SewOver50 by Suzy because of their connection in Spain. This year Christine is using her fashion training to run Fit Clinics and she constantly creates new sewing patterns when she's not getting inspiration from others in the sewing and fashion community. Christine is found via her website, on Instagram and on YouTube. If you are able, consider supporting this podcast through our patreon account. There are 3 new tiers to choose from to support SewOver50's only podcast. Every podcast is free and the archive is gradually being uploaded on to the podcast YouTube channel. Sound with permission by Kaneef on YouTube.   SewOver50 intersects with all communities. SewOver50 where we are so over ageism.  Our focus is the sewing talent each person shares on social media and providing recognition of their willingness to share their skills whether a beginner or experienced sewist. Make sure you listen to your SewOver50 friends in our SewOver50 podcast archive.  

Lou and Lynn organise Coastal Sewcial. They met through a local sewcial called Sew-Toon. Tamlyn who runs Sew-Toon helped Lou and Lynn borrow some equipment when they first started Coastal Sewcial. Coastal Sewcial is run onsite at a charity and the bonus for the sewists is there is an onsite cafe there as well. The location is by the sea hence the 'coastal' part of their group's name. If you're thinking about setting up a sewing sewcial in your area, you can listen or watch Lou and Lynn as they discuss what they're done to create this group. Shout out to Judy Williment-Ross. If you are able, consider supporting this podcast through our patreon account. There are 3 new tiers to choose from to support SewOver50's only podcast. Every podcast is free and the archive is gradually being uploaded on to the podcast YouTube channel. Sound with permission by Kaneef on YouTube. SewOver50 intersects with all communities. SewOver50 where we are so over ageism.  Our focus is the sewing talent each person shares on social media and providing recognition of their willingness to share their skills whether a beginner or experienced sewist. Make sure you listen to your SewOver50 friends in our SewOver50 podcast archive.