How an embroidery store is helping children at risk.
The Mirabel Foundation was established in 1998 to assist children whose parents have drug addictions and who, therefore, find themselves orphaned or abandoned and living with extended family. Every second year the Victorian embroidery Mecca, Bustle and Bows (in Surrey Hills), chooses a charitable organisation to raise funds for. This year they’ve chosen Mirabel.

Rachel Sparke and her mother Shirley Sinclair are the joint driving forces behind Bustle and Bows though Rachel stresses that it’s her Mum’s energy and vision that got the store to the point where it is today. Jam-packed with all kind of embroidery delights, the cosy store is like a candy shop for the thread obsessed. An artist friend has painted the walls with freehand baskets of flowers and pretty birds’ nests. “We try and fill every spot where your eye can go. You can get lost here. It’s the antithesis of many cool, modern, hospital type store interiors,” says Rachel.

Shirley, who has loved to embroider since she was a Semco award winner at the age of nine, was a customer of the shop before she purchased it 17 years ago. Rachel was working and living overseas at the time and, while it was in the middle of a recession, she says her Mum “just knew she was doing the right thing”.

Rachel says she and Shirley are more like best friends than mother and daughter. “People walk in the door and immediately feel relaxed. The walls are covered with finished pieces... For us it’s all about helping people create something beautiful. It’s almost not like work.”

Of course it is work. Mother and daughter staff the shop on their own, filling the long retail hours and allowing their prized roster of tutors to run classes day and night throughout the week. “Even when the store is closed on a Sunday, there is still a class going on inside so someone has to be here,” says Rachel. “This year we’ve decided to go easy on ourselves and close on Mondays though.” Customers come from interstate, busloads come from Bendigo or similar regional cities and the store enjoys a stellar reputation.

A recent enhancement of this reputation stems from the decision to hold exhibitions to raise funds for charitable causes. ‘A gorgeous sense of embroidery’ will take place this month on Sunday 10 August from 10am to 5pm at Surrey Hills Neighbourhood Centre at 157 Union Road, Surrey Hills.

Bustle and Bows runs an extensive array of courses in everything from smocking to ribbon embroidery and felting. Students are constantly producing exquisite work and an exhibition gives them a chance to share it. The first exhibition was held in 2006 and raised funds for ‘The
Compassionate Friends’.

“We chose Mirabel this year because, firstly, one of our customers has been in need of their services and also because, when we met with them, they were just so lovely... and seemed so delighted that we wanted to help,” says Rachel.

Part of Mirabel’s logo entails the wording - a gorgeous sense of hope - and so, the name of the 2008 embroidery exhibition was born. Mirabel currently supports over 650 children aged 17 and under. Its aim is to do whatever is needed to help these youngsters, whether that be through counselling, education and holiday camps to reunite siblings or just through simple things like a new toy for Christmas. It is a registered children’s charity and all donations over $2 are tax deductible.

The exhibition will fill the beautifully renovated Victorian house that is the Surrey Hills Neighbourhood Centre as well as its modern extension. “The house perfectly suits the displays, on table and walls, of the work and the modern part is great for the teachers who do demonstrations and the tables where supplies can be bought,” says Rachel. “Tutor, Jan Kerton, will be on hand to demonstrate stumpwork, felting and smocking and our students all pitch in too.

“It’s so great to be able to do something so creative that can also benefit others,” she adds.

Like to know more?

The Mirabel Foundation Inc
www.mirabelfoundation.org.au [mirabelfoundation.org.au]
PO Box 1320, St Kilda South,
Victoria 3182
Tel: (03) 9527 9422

Email:
mirabel@mirabelfoundation.org.au

Bustle and Bows
www.bustleandbows.com.au [bustleandbows.com.au]
164 Union Rd, Surrey Hills,
Victoria, 3127.
Tel:  (03) 9888 5018
Email:
info@bustleandbows.com.au

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