Sewing through the pandemic

When it comes to keeping busy while safe at home, Leith Park’s Jolan Bird has it sewn up.

She recently bought a sewing machine and fabric and has been creating her own fashions.

“I haven’t sewn since school but decided to take it up again when I realised I would need to have something to do to while away the time,” Jolan said.

Jolan also renovates old furniture when she is not sewing. She gets great delight in seeing the finished product after hours of work. Her current project is restoring two Captain’s Chairs.

“I really love the Shabby Chic look, and over the past ten years have driven to many places far and wide to get pieces of furniture that I like,” she said.

Jolan moved to Leith Park 16 months ago after working for the past decade in radiology at Epworth Eastern.

“After coming here, I have volunteered at Freemasons Epworth in Day Oncology twice a week which I am having a break from now,” she said

Jolan used to live in the Eltham area and moved to the OCAV village as she wanted to be less reliant on her three sons. For her it has been a good move.