I believe that every small action matters. But let’s be real—none of us are perfect when it comes to sustainability. And that’s okay. I don’t know about you, but I can sometimes feel guilty when I’m not being my best self, and there are days when I just love sharing a Macca’s drive-through as a treat with my daughter. And yes, even though I saw the movie and McDonald’s is EVIL, I still do it! The journey toward a more sustainable world isn’t about getting everything right; it’s about making progress, learning, and showing up in our own imperfect ways. And supporting others along the way.
A Maker’s Dilemma: Creating in a World of Excess
As a jeweller and object artist, I’ve wrestled with a difficult question: How do I justify making more ‘stuff’ in a world already overflowing with things? For a long time, this question sat heavily with me. But then I realized—making is essential to who I am. It’s not something I can simply stop doing. Instead, I needed to shift how and why I create.
That’s what led me to embrace the circular economy and rethink my role as a maker. Rather than just producing, I began focusing on remaking, repairing, and repurposing. Jewellery is deeply personal—people form strong emotional attachments to it. I started working with heirloom pieces, giving them new life while preserving their history. I also began offering jewellery repairs for things that traditional jewellers would reject, not just as a service, but as a way to foster deeper connections between people and their possessions.
Stepping Into the Circular Economy
My commitment to sustainability didn’t stop at jewellery. Over time, I became involved in broader initiatives that promote reuse and reduce waste such as The Repair Cafe Sydney North, where volunteers help fix household items for free, keeping them out of landfill. I also instigated and co-founded The Sydney Library of Things, a community resource that allows people to borrow tools and other useful items instead of buying them. It now has multiple branches across Sydney. And I helped start The Sydney Edible Garden Trail, a grassroots initiative that encourages urban food growing and sustainable living.
Each of these projects is an extension of the same core idea: we don’t need to own everything, and we don’t need to throw things away so easily. By sharing, repairing, and reusing, we can reduce waste and build stronger, more connected communities.
The Beauty of Imperfection
Sustainability isn’t about being perfect—it’s about trying, failing, and trying again. The environmental movement doesn’t need a handful of people doing everything perfectly; it needs millions of people doing what they can.
For me, this means continuing to create but doing so with intention. It means making choices that align with my values—whether that’s using recycled materials, embracing slow making, or teaching others how to repair and repurpose. It’s about collaboration over competition, sharing knowledge, and supporting each other in this journey. And not giving up when I slip and fall.
Looking Forward
We live in challenging times, but we also have incredible opportunities to make a difference. We can choose to design, create, and live in ways that respect our planet. And we can do it together.
I feel privileged to have craft skills that allow me to contribute to a changing world. But what keeps me going is the opportunity to share those skills—not just with my hands, but with my heart. We don’t have to be perfect environmentalists. We just have to start somewhere, imperfectly, but with purpose.
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