Talented Toowoomba teen Talitha Facer flooded with inquiries for handmade masks

Talitha Facer has proven herself handy with a sewing machine, but the Toowoomba teenager was shocked by the response for her beautiful handmade masks.

When Talitha Facer posted on social media to let people know she was making and selling face masks, she had no idea how big the response was going to be.

The talented Toowoomba teenager has been busy responding to more than 50 orders for handmade masks, as Queensland’s mask mandate ramps up in response to new COVID-19 cases.

Her mother Tanya Davey said the 14-year-old had been making heat packs for years using a sewing machine, but decided to give clothe face masks a crack after hearing the news.

“The first time she did them was this morning — she had a practice go last night, and then we thought we’d start making them and they’ve gone crazy since then,” she said.

“I didn’t expect it to go crazy, but Talitha has done well with her heat packs, she’s made about 300 of them.”

Talitha, who was home from school due to optional attendance because of the current COVID-19 situation, admitted the amount of orders had been almost overwhelming.

The process to make the masks actually only took about 10 minutes.

“Once it’s cut, and it’s got to be cut into four pieces, then it’s just about sewing the elastic on,” Talitha said.

“It’s just a two-layered mask — they’re just pure fabric.”

The masks are selling for just $5 and are available by contacting Ms Davey through various buy-swap-sell groups.