Introducing Ann from Dig the Flow Reusables. Where every item is handmade!! From her home in the leafy suburbs of North Brisbane, she creates beautiful cloth pads and accessories, with her products born out of a love for self-care.
Find out why Ann started creating and why she is so passionate about the value of handmade.
Tell us about your creations and your handmade process.
I sell one-of-a-kind reusable cloth pads and wet bags that celebrate individuality and connection to yourself. My creations are all made to honour your period as an essential part of your being. They are made in a variety of prints, textures and shapes to suit your aesthetic, and in a variety of lengths and absorbencies for your menstrual needs. Every single item in my Madeit store is a limited-edition piece, that was made just for you with the intention to embrace your period, and "dig the flow".
Making beautiful cloth pads is a methodical process which I really enjoy. There are multiple stages of cutting, pressing, sewing and turning which becomes very meditative for me. My favourite part of the pad making process is the choice of prints I'll use - they can tell a story, invoke a vibe, create an emotion. I also love photographing my pads afterwards so that my creations can be captured in a way that reflects how I feel about them - magical and full of meaning and connection.
Tell us a bit about your journey to becoming a handmade artist.
Long before the idea of Dig the Flow dropped in, I was in a very heavy place. I was struggling massively with post-natal depression and anxiety - I was disconnected, burnout from academic work and completely sleep deprived. But as a parent I felt the strong pull towards environmentalism and sustainability, because when you bring a life into the world it's no longer just about you - it's about them.
Leaning into the zero-waste movement became my anchor and after a while of mastering cloth nappies for my kids I then went on to discovering the world of cloth pads. I quickly became utterly obsessed with cloth pads and how they completely changed the way I felt about my body, and ultimately about myself.
Cloth pads made periods...exciting.
With cloth pads I found myself looking forward to the next bleed because I got to use my beautiful cloth pads, and that shift in mindset was absolutely mind blowing. Every single pad that I bought became a gift of self-love because for the first time in my life, I listened to my body - I acknowledged and accepted all of it, and I prioritised how I felt within it. Through cloth pads I had the realisation that I inherently deserved self-compassion and kindness; and through embracing and honouring the shared human experience of periods, there is deep profound connection.
After some time of being right in the middle of the cloth pad space as a "paddict", I began to look outside of the Australian handmade circle for more inspiration. Worldwide there were makers who had a particular way of making pads - there were horror pads, fluffy pads with silly eyes embroidered onto them, pads with stunning tie dye, pads shaped like a bat. So many kinds of pads that all suited different types of people and their interests, and these makers had a certain vision about them.
I absolutely loved the idea that cloth pads could be creative, but there was no-one in Australia that really leaned into this aspect about them. Then the maker idea dropped in - I can do this too; I can make incredibly special pads and pay forward this vessel of love.
What is your inspiration or where do you find inspiration?
I am inspired by colour, the incredible intelligence of nature and its diversity. The cyclicity of mother earth and the intimate connections that exists between us and the universe. I am so inspired by the creativity and talent of people, and the power of sacred space and ritual. I am inspired by the incredible shift that happens when we actively seek and acknowledge the beauty in the mundane. I am inspired by the weird, the magical, the whimsical, the odd. I love all of it, down to the molecular and energetic level.
Where did you learn your craft?
As a self-taught sewist, most of my craft was learnt through research and lots of practice. I deep dived into absolutely anything I could find about cloth pads - the best materials to use and their function, different ways of making them, creative ways of making pads. I quickly found that I was most drawn to exposed core pads - where the pad is made as two separate components and then sewn together at the end. Exposed cores allowed more creative control through the choice of two topper fabrics.
I fell in love with the potential to play with colour and prints, which would give rise to the variety and a signature style in the pads that I could create. Over time I began sourcing and collecting fabrics that I loved or could find a way to work with. I bought patterns, bought a machine to experiment and teach myself how to sew. After a few months of practice, I put out the call for testers in a zero-waste group. After almost a year of feedback and honing my sewing skills, I finally opened my Madeit store in 2020 and launched Dig the Flow Reusables.
Why is handmade artistry so important to you?
It is our human birthright to create - whether that's through the creation of life, artifacts, sound, text, ritual and sacred spaces. Our emotions, intention and thoughts can be expressed through our handcraft, and we all possess an inherent drive to share it with each other. Items made with unconditional love have far more value than mass made product. They have soul and carry meaning.
Ann is a much loved member of the MadeIt Collective, posting regularly in our Facebook Group ~ MadeIt: Handmade not Massmade Australia ~ and sharing their new creations as they are released. If you haven't connected with Dig the Flow Reusables make sure you join our FB Group and say hi !
