It's been raining for a week now. I wake up to grey skies again. As I sit up in bed and look out over the ocean, the sun rise casts an orange glow dimly on the horizon behind the bands of clouds passing by. The sea is a whirly mess from an overnight north easterly blow. There is definitely nothing out there to entice me to enter the sea this morning. I decide to bury myself further into the doona, encapsulating the warmth around my body. As I drift off into my thoughts of summer sunshine and point break waves I wonder what I am going to do today. Day 4 of no surf and day 8 of rain. 

What do other surfers do when it rains incessantly for days on end? I guess they go to their 9-5 job, come home, cook dinner, watch tv and go to bed, ready to do the same all over again the next day. 

Me? I'm different to that. The ocean is my life. 

I live, breathe and, if I could, I would drink the ocean. The sea is my lifeline. Her salty breath kisses my skin everytime I enter the water or stand by the edge. The ocean dictates what I am going to do day to day. The first thing I do when I wake up every morning wherever I am is either look out at the ocean, walk by the ocean, sit by the ocean, swim in the ocean, surf in the ocean or look at pictures of the ocean.

Ocean ocean ocean ocean.

But today it is a little bit different. I want to do something creative centered around the ocean.

The rain starts pelting heavily against the window pane and I decide to jump up out of bed and greet the day with my morning coffee. The weather forecast online predicts rain all week. And from what it looks like outside I agree with that statement. As I walk back to the kitchen for more coffee it stares me in the face. 

My new sewing machine! 

On a whim 2 days ago I decided to purchase this little baby. Until earlier this year I'd never sewn anything in my life. When my new 9'6 traditional log arrived back in February I decided I needed a board cover. Sure I had a padded travel cover in the garage at my parents place gathering dust, but I wanted something special for this board, something that represented to me the same thing that my board represented - Elegance, style, grace and a little bit of fun, as well of course as being functional and protecting the board from the summer sun. So, with an idea planted firmly in my heart and mind, I borrowed my auntys sewing machine, brought a bunch of fabric and spent an evening designing, creating and completing my very own fabric board cover. I was so stoked with the result that I promised myself I would buy my own sewing machine and get creating so I could make board covers for other people to enjoy and turn a passion into a little hobby.

Fast forward 6 months of sunshine, travel, friends and waves and you guessed it – I hadn't purchased the sewing machine nor created any more board bags. So on a rainy winters morning with no surf on the horizon and more clouds draping the sky, I headed into the shops on a mission. I found the perfect little sewing machine. Next mission – fabrics. I have decided to source most of my fabrics from op-shops. I am a greenie at heart and believe that up-cycling and recycling is definitely the way of the future. Not only can I source funky and unique prints but I can also be rest assured knowing that I am not contributing to more landfill. Sourcing fabrics like this also ensures that my products are individual and interesting. I am going to be creating and sewing from wherever I am on the road or housesitting, so you never know – your board bag could be created overlooking the ocean or in a funky little apartment in the middle of the city. The beauty of this lifestyle on the road as a sea gypsy is going to add warmth and heart to each item I create and sew. I can create a warm little home for your 9'6 log, your 5'9 fish, your 5'2 shortboard, your bodyboard and even your SUP. I will collaborate with you on colours, style and design and make sure you are stoked with the end result. 

I have a Facebook site up and running where you can see all my creations at www.facebook.com/seaandsew or you can email me at eeeles@hotmail.com

I am so looking forward to meeting inspiring and beautiful people and getting my creativeness on for this new and creative branch of my sea journey.

Mahalo!