Fabric-a-brac has been supporting Hospice since 2009 - the longest-continuously-running community supporter of Hospice in New Zealand.
In 2003, Josie Brennan's father, suffering from motor neurone disease, was in Hospice for a period of time. She was so impressed with the level of care, that when she started a new fabric and sewing market - Fabric-a-brac - she decided to give all the proceeds to Hospice.
Fabric-a-brac itself came out of Josie's mother’s story. When her mother was admitted to a rest home, Josie inherited all her mother’s fabric and sewing accessories - far too much to ever be able to use. She thought, if she was in that situation, others would be too - and the Fabric-a-brac market was born. With core values of sustainability and creating community, the event brings together stallholders who have fabric or sewing items they need to move on, with others that are looking for unusual vintage or modern fabrics, or bargains to help them create cost-effective projects. Stallholder fees and all proceeds from a pop-up cafe and tables of fabric that have been donated go to Hospice. In a ‘full circle’ moment - many of the past stallholders have an association with Hospice, through relatives having spent time there.
The event is 100% volunteer-run by a group of wonderfully passionate sewists, who love that the event is non-profit and donates all proceeds to Hospice. It is now held in locations all over New Zealand.
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Wellington Fabric-a-brac crew in support of Mary Potter Hospice
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A Fabric-a-brac treasure hunt |
 A range of fabrics available at a fabric-a-brac event |
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The Fabric-a-brac volunteers from Mercy Hospice in Auckland