sewing love for a lifetime
Jeannine Smith grew up under her mother’s sewing machine in Western Samoa. “My mother was a professional dressmaker,” says Jeannine. “She made dresses to sell, and taught villagers how to sew.”
Years later, with five adult children of her own, Jeannine decided it was her turn. In 2013, she and her husband left Brisbane for Kyogle, a small town of around 3000 people nestled into the base of Fairy Mountain and known as the gateway to the rainforests, to set up Jeannine’s fabric and sewing business, Patches of Kyogle.
Right in the heart of town, Patches is more than a fabric store. “It’s a community hub. A support group. A group of friends,” says Jeannine.
Three times a week, eight ladies gather at Patches for coffee and sewing. Jeannine also runs a weekly dressmaking class, and invites other sewing teachers to run workshops in the shop.
Jeannine’s passion for fabric reaches beyond the walls of her shop, and into the community. The not-for-profit Kyogle Quilt Group, who meet monthly at the local hall, donate quilts for Northern Rivers’ kids who’ve been unwell, or in hospital.
Most quilts take months to make. But Jeannine says you are not counting hours. “Making a quilt is about process,” says Jeannine. “You are literally sewing love into every quilt. .”
“Every quilt is steeped with love, because you are making it for someone in mind”
Patches is a place where sewers share time and passion. Visitors make friends, hone their skills and use their brain. “Sewing helps our older customers stay mentally young,” says Jeannine.
Her younger customers also benefit from the creativity and manual skills Patches of Kyogle inspires. “I’ve noticed lots of younger women making their own clothes again,” says Jeannine. “I can help, and YouTube helps too. I believe this trend of making your own clothes will continue.”
Patches of Kyogle customers aren’t just local. Over 400 people visited Kyogle’s Quilt & Craft Exhibition this year to admire each other’s handiwork, and learn from each other. Like Jeannine, they are drawn to Kyogle’s relaxed, friendly spirit.
“Kyogle’s motto is ‘Come for a day. Stay for a lifetime,’” says Jeannine. “My motto is ‘Come for a day. Sew for a lifetime.’”
Share this story
Read more stories
Three generations of style
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/SCARBOROUGHS.jpg 940 627 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/SCARBOROUGHS.jpgScarboroughs
Running a small clothing shop in a country town is a fine art. It requires balance, delicacy and an open mind to serve the needs of locals, tourists, the area’s workers and more.
love, peace and artisan cheese
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/nimbin-valley-dairy-003.jpg 666 500 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/nimbin-valley-dairy-003.jpgNimbin Valley Dairy
Not every goat in Australia has its own nutritionist and its own vet. But the goats at Nimbin Valley Dairy definitely do. Bill, the nutritionist…
true blue locals making a difference
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/mountain-blue-001-copy-2.jpg 1920 1280 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/mountain-blue-001-copy-2.jpgMountain Blue
Mountain Blue is the definition of a twenty-first century business. Not only have owners Ridley and Mieke Bell expanded their blueberry production…
spirit of the rainforest
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/cape-byron-distellery-002.jpg 960 540 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/cape-byron-distellery-002.jpgCape Byron Distillery
Let’s forget the beaches for a moment, as the true lifeblood of the Northern Rivers landscape is surely its rainforests, some of the most botanically…
A community cornerstone bouncing forward
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Coraki-Post-Office.jpeg 2048 1260 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Coraki-Post-Office.jpegCoraki Post Office
For all that has been thrown at the small town of Coraki in recent times, the owners of the town’s post office are rolling with the punches.
right place, right time, right way
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_1379-08-190.jpg 600 436 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_1379-08-190.jpgWrightway Products
The greatest challenge for Jennifer Joy and John Donnelly, the driving force behind Wrightway Products, was getting the world to see the value of…
Dance call for Kyogle
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Ascent-Dance_group-dancers.jpg 1473 828 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Ascent-Dance_group-dancers.jpgAscent Dance
Starting a dance school just five weeks before the onset of a pandemic might have dampened the spirits of some new business owners, but Haylee Holliday took it as a sign that Ascent Dance Studio had to succeed.
world class creatives
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/meme-productions-featured-image.jpg 1000 750 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/meme-productions-featured-image.jpgMememe Productions
The piece of advice that dirtgirlworld creator, Cate McQuillen, likes to share with other creative entrepreneurs in the region tells much about her story…
Position, people, poached eggs and a president
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Caperberry_James-Allan-scaled.jpg 2560 1920 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Caperberry_James-Allan-scaled.jpgCaperberry and Flinders Rose
What makes an entire family move from three different cities to live together in a quiet coastal town? Great coffee.
In Ventura we trust
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Ventura-Brewing_product-shot.jpg 2500 1667 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Ventura-Brewing_product-shot.jpgVentura Brewing
Ventura is a symbol of luck, chance and good fortune – and while Ventura Brewing’s two founders have had a good dose of all three – it’s mostly been a lot of hard work and focus to launch this craft kombucha brewery amid a global pandemic.
Casino RSM Club
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/RMS-Club.jpeg 1360 906 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/RMS-Club.jpegCasino RSM Club
The 23 of March 2020 was the hardest day of Neale Genge’s career.
Keeping it real in the Tweed
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Tweed-Real-Food_Julia-scaled.jpg 1706 2560 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Tweed-Real-Food_Julia-scaled.jpgTweed Real Food
Tweed Real Food is a business launched in 2018 from a desire to be resilient. Little did founder Julia Foyster know how prescient her plan would turn out to be.
Cool to be kind and cans it
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/The-Kind-Coffee-Co.-Product.jpg 957 1277 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/The-Kind-Coffee-Co.-Product.jpgThe Kind Coffee Co.
The KIND Coffee Co, reflects its name in everything it does.
Spirit of Byron in a bottle
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Cawarra-Cosmetics_Katrina-2-scaled.jpg 2560 1707 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Cawarra-Cosmetics_Katrina-2-scaled.jpgCawarra Cosmetics
Cawarra Cosmetics has been a leading manufacturer of Australian skincare, personal care and cleaning products in the region for more than 40 years.
Nurtured by nature
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GreenX7_Tim-Jack-Adams-scaled.jpg 2560 1723 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GreenX7_Tim-Jack-Adams-scaled.jpgGreenx7
For the past 10 years GreenX7 has been running workshops and retreats internationally and in the Tweed for clients as diverse as McDonald’s, Deloitte, Six Senses, and the Australian Defence Force, to inspire both individuals and teams to tap into the healing power of nature.
Generational innovation
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/ABL-2.jpg 1440 1080 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/ABL-2.jpgAustralian Bay Lobster Producers
Thenus australiensis. Moreton Bay bugs. The Bay Lobster. Whatever nomenclature you want to use, there is no doubt that these crustaceans are a much-loved staple of Australian seafood menus.
From cobblestones to all-terrain cranes
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Wicks-Parker.webp 1200 900 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Wicks-Parker.webpWicks and Parker
Fast approaching 100 years old, the Wicks family business has helped build motorways and carry out emergency bushfire repairs, but it once hammered out steel bands for horse-drawn carriage wheels.
community keeps on carrying on
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/OConnors-carriers-tweed-001-1.jpg 1920 1288 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/OConnors-carriers-tweed-001-1.jpgO’Connors Carrying Service
Friday 30 March 2017 is a day Paul and Sue O’Connor won’t forget. The owners of O’Connors Carrying Service left their depot in Murwillumbah…
overtures of romance and style
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Osteria-Tweed-Coast.jpg 1000 667 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Osteria-Tweed-Coast.jpgOsteria
Mark Wilson, Lia Mason and Lee Middendorf all met when the three of them were working in hospitality jobs at The Sandbar …
Clean green superfood team
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Foods-That-Love-You-Back_Erle.jpg 768 1024 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Foods-That-Love-You-Back_Erle.jpgFoods That Love You Back
Health activist Erle Astrup founded Foods That Love You Back in January 2021, and her business – which has created the world’s first affordable, alkaline shot of concentrated microgreens – is infused with the passion she has for driving it.