“ I was born and grew up in Mullumbimby so class myself as a local. My background is 30 years plus in administration in various roles, I did a Bachelor of Nursing and worked as a registered nurse for a short time. I worked in Alice Springs for a year then came back here and worked at Lismore Base for a little while. I quit nursing and opened my previous shop, Magella Rose. Due to health reasons I closed last July and after a while I was back on track and now I’m here. I just love fabrics and I enjoy sewing so I’m looking forward to getting more creative with the shop. I have a love of vintage so I’m selling some of my vintage gollywogs, restoring furniture and making cushions. I used to sell Jen’s dresses in my other shop so that’s how we met.
I’m enjoying being back here seeing familiar faces. You strike up a lot of friendships in this town. Jen and I still run our own businesses but share this space so I’m still Magella Rose and Jen is still Miss Mildred.”
Jennifer – “I’m retired from my previous life of work. I was in education and my birthday came up, I was the right age and they said ‘you can go if you want to!’ so I said, ok! It was time for me to move aside and let someone younger and more vibrant do what I was doing.I’ve always worn dresses and as I got closer to retirement I started making more clothes. Mostly because I couldn’t find anything I wanted to wear. People were always asking where I get my dresses from so my husband said ‘Why don’t you make them to sell.’ I didn’t think anyone would buy them. I thought if there’s any shop I could approach it would be Bev’s. So Bev was really supportive. I’ve had nothing to do with retail, I’m still learning and I get all my pointers off Bev. We get along really well.
I was really sad when Bev had to sell Magella Rose but we kept in touch. One day we were walking down the arcade and this shop just felt right. I sew all the dresses. All the fabrics I either had or are fabrics I found locally. I don’t buy or sell online. They are all either linen or cotton, no synthetics, very influenced by the 50’s and a bit quirky and I’m starting to make all cotton voile sleepware, graceful and beautiful. I feel like I’ve really connected with the Lismore community.