Very Festive Fe-line Gift Guide Christmas 2013 | Page 20

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Maria Skyoles started her business Make, Do,
Mend in January 2012 after taking voluntary
redundancy from her full time teaching job.

Maria has just started to use her Facebook
page as a means of auctioning off her unique
pieces. If you’d like to bid for the featured black
Make, Do, Mend offers ethical fashion solutions via jacquard weave bag with red trim then like her
an alteration service, sewing classes and through
page and get bidding!
Maria’s own fashion label, I’ve Seen Action. Maria
wants to encourage people to be less wasteful
and use the things they already have to create
something new.
Maria says: “ I like the ethos of being
environmentally friendly and not having any waste.
I am from a family of make, do and menders. I can
remember my Grandma unpicking several jumpers
and making another one out of it and my mum
making me dresses out of old scraps.

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“Well the first thing that I noticed and loved about my
new I’ve Seen Action bag is the strap: it’s made out of
an old seat belt! How cool is that? Maria is so clever to
recycle old parts that would otherwise be thrown out.
What you can’t make out in this picture is the quality
of the bag. This is something that is going to last a
lifetime, not just one season.
I am not doing much cycling at the moment, for obvious
reasons, but when I am back on my bike, I can’t wait to
get this on the back. Maria has informed me that it also
hangs perfectly from a pushchair. Maria’s bags would
make the perfect gift for any cycling enthusiast in your
life!”

I like to make things from items that have ceased
to be useful and that is how I came up with the
name Make, Do Mend. MAKE: I make recycled
fashion bags under the brand I’ve Seen Action!
DO: I like to share my skills and teach others how
to sew and make. MEND: I offer an alterations
and mending service, available to the local Oxford
community.

Make.Do.Mend.With.Maria

Fe-line Review

For Christmas treat your loved ones to:

www.make-do-mend.com

«Maria’s custom made I’ve Seen Action bags
«A sewing workshop
«Or get that Christmas party dressed fixed

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