Introducing Sandra from Milo and Ted. Where every item is handmade!! From her home in Port Stephens, New South Wales, she creates unique handmade pet clothing and accessories.
Find out why Sandra started creating and why she is so passionate about the value of handmade.
Tell us about your creations and your handmade process.
Every piece I create for Milo and Ted begins with a simple idea. My designs are inspired by the pets who wear them. Their quirks, their energy, and the joy they bring into our lives. I love creating pieces that feel playful yet practical, with fabrics that are soft, durable, and thoughtfully chosen. I cut each pattern by hand, sew every seam myself, and make small adjustments along the way to ensure the fit is just right.
I pay close attention to the details. The stitching, the finish, the way the fabric sits, because those little touches are what make handmade pieces truly special.
Nothing is rushed. Each item is made one at a time, with care and purpose, so it feels personal rather than mass produced.
Every piece carries a bit of heart, a bit of craftsmanship, and a whole lot of love for the furry friends who inspire it all.
Tell us a bit about your journey to becoming a handmade artist.
My journey into handmade pet clothing began long before Milo and Ted ever curled up at my feet. Creativity has always been part of who I am, and some of my earliest memories are of sitting beside my mother as she sewed. I'd watch her turn simple pieces of fabric into something beautiful and useful, and without even realising it, I was learning the magic of making things by hand. Those moments planted the seed for everything I do today. Years later, when Milo and Ted came into my life, that early love for creating found its purpose. I started sewing little pieces for them. Seeing how much joy it brought (to me and to them) sparked something bigger.
Friends and family began asking for custom pieces, and slowly, what began as a hobby grew into a passion I couldn't ignore. Becoming a handmade artist has been a natural, heartfelt evolution. It's a blend of the skills I absorbed from my mother, my love for animals, and the satisfaction of crafting something meaningful from scratch. Every piece I make for Milo and Ted is stitched with that history a mix of nostalgia, creativity, and the simple joy of making pets feel a little extra loved.
What is your inspiration or where do you find inspiration?
My inspiration is my love for creating, but mostly by Milo and Ted my dachshunds. Their personalities, their quirks, and the way they light up when they are with me. They fuel my desire to make pieces that feel just as joyful and full of character as they are. But more than anything, I'm inspired by the connection people have with their pets.
Knowing that something I've made becomes part of those special moments is such a joy and a privilege. It is what keeps me creating. It's a reminder that handmade pieces carry a little bit of heart in every stitch.
Where did you learn your craft?
I learned my craft in the most natural and meaningful way by growing up at my mother's side as she sewed. I spent countless hours watching her turn fabric into something full of purpose and care, and without realising it, I was absorbing the foundations of everything I do today. Those early memories taught me patience, creativity, and the value of making things with intention.
Over time, I built on those lessons through practice, experimentation, and a lot of trial and error. Every piece I create now is a blend of what my mother passed down to me and the skills I've developed on my own. It's a craft shaped by family, love, and the joy of learning through doing and it continues to grow with every new design I make for Milo and Ted.
Why is handmade artistry so important to you?
Handmade artistry matters to me because it represents intention, care, and a kind of connection you can't create any other way. When something is made by hand, it carries a little piece of the person behind it, their time, their patience, their love for the craft. Growing up watching my mother sew taught me early on that handmade pieces are more than just items; they're expressions of heart and skill. That understanding shaped the way I create today.
Every stitch, every fabric choice, every tiny detail is done with purpose. What makes handmade work especially important to me now is the bond people share with their pets. Knowing that something I've created becomes part of those everyday moments, the walks, the cuddles, the celebrations. It is incredibly special. It's a reminder that handmade pieces don't just look good; they help create memories. And being able to contribute to that through Milo and Ted is something I truly cherish.
Sandra 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 Milo and Ted make sure you join our FB Group and say hi !
