Coffee sleeves almost finished
Table at Holiday Bazaar
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Holiday Bazaar
Today is the Tacoma Public Utilities Holiday Bazaar. I've been sewing, sewing, sewing the last few weeks to get all the items ready. The bazaar is today and tomorrow, so if you're in the Tacoma area, please stop by. My table is "The Greener Needle." Proceeds will help fund my trip to Nepal and India in February. The vendor fees also go toward "Adopt-a-Family" in Tacoma. The address is 3628 South 35th Street. Thanks so much!
Coffee sleeves almost finished
Table at Holiday Bazaar
Coffee sleeves almost finished
Table at Holiday Bazaar
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Exciting Changes!
Well, I looked at my last post yesterday and couldn't believe the date was in September. I guess it shows how busy I have been, but it has been exciting the last two months!
I've been working on a career path that has been a dream in the making. When I graduated in June, I had a friend ask me what I wanted in my perfect job. I replied, "Sustainable business, helping women in need, travel, and fiber arts." That seemed like an odd combination until late last summer.
I've been meeting with the director of a new organization that goes to the poorest areas of the globe and trains 10 - 40 people in how to start a business. It's been found that it's better to teach a person a skill than to just give money in order to help them out of poverty.
I will be one of the instructors that teaches the skills of entrepreneurship to these people.
Currently, I am working to raise funds to go on a trip this coming spring to India, Nepal, and possibly Bangladesh. Because I believe in operating as sustainably as possible, I am making organic eye pillows and reusable coffee sleeves for sale to help fund my trip.
If you would like to purchase either or both of these items, please contact me. A donation is also very much appreciated.
In the upcoming weeks, I'll post my progress and also some facts and related pictures about what some of the poorest of the poor are facing in everyday life.
Organic Eye Pillow - made with organic lavender and flax seeds. These pillows induce a peaceful rest and block out the light. I have used one for years and love it!
I've been working on a career path that has been a dream in the making. When I graduated in June, I had a friend ask me what I wanted in my perfect job. I replied, "Sustainable business, helping women in need, travel, and fiber arts." That seemed like an odd combination until late last summer.
I've been meeting with the director of a new organization that goes to the poorest areas of the globe and trains 10 - 40 people in how to start a business. It's been found that it's better to teach a person a skill than to just give money in order to help them out of poverty.
I will be one of the instructors that teaches the skills of entrepreneurship to these people.
Currently, I am working to raise funds to go on a trip this coming spring to India, Nepal, and possibly Bangladesh. Because I believe in operating as sustainably as possible, I am making organic eye pillows and reusable coffee sleeves for sale to help fund my trip.
If you would like to purchase either or both of these items, please contact me. A donation is also very much appreciated.
In the upcoming weeks, I'll post my progress and also some facts and related pictures about what some of the poorest of the poor are facing in everyday life.
Organic Eye Pillow - made with organic lavender and flax seeds. These pillows induce a peaceful rest and block out the light. I have used one for years and love it!
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Needlecrafts for Charity - Sept. 12, 2012
It was so exciting to begin the 2012/2013 Needlecrafts for Charity last Wednesday. We had a total of 7 members (3 new) that attended. It was decided that we would begin again on knitting chemo caps for kids at our local military hospital. I look forward to working with all these enthusiastic students and helping to make a difference in the lives of others'. Follow us as we tackle new projects always with a focus on sustainability.
My husband and I have been quite busy with a "small" remodeling project, or so we thought. We forgot that home projects take twice as much time and cost twice as much as originally planned. The first part of September we decided to replace our tub surround. It seemed like a 4 day project.....NOT! At the end of day 17, we called it finished. Now that the work is over, we're very happy with the results. Especially since it's tiled, the surround should last for many years.
I recently sewed some items for a baby shower gift. It's so much fun to sew for little ones! I'd love to share the project and pictures, but I want it to be a surprise. The shower is Sept. 30, so I'll post pictures after that.
More later.
Needlecrafts for Charity - Sept. 12, 2012
Tub Surround
Before
After
My husband and I have been quite busy with a "small" remodeling project, or so we thought. We forgot that home projects take twice as much time and cost twice as much as originally planned. The first part of September we decided to replace our tub surround. It seemed like a 4 day project.....NOT! At the end of day 17, we called it finished. Now that the work is over, we're very happy with the results. Especially since it's tiled, the surround should last for many years.
I recently sewed some items for a baby shower gift. It's so much fun to sew for little ones! I'd love to share the project and pictures, but I want it to be a surprise. The shower is Sept. 30, so I'll post pictures after that.
More later.
Needlecrafts for Charity - Sept. 12, 2012
Tub Surround
Before
After
Friday, August 3, 2012
My Son's Wedding
A week from tomorrow, my son will marry his sweetheart! She is such an awesome young lady and I look forward to having her as a part of our family. My husband and I will be flying to Houston, Texas next Thursday.
It's been an ordeal finding a dress. I could have made my own, but decided to concentrate on developing my sewing business instead. I found the perfect dress a couple weeks ago and ordered it knowing it would just fit perfectly! Well, of course, it fits great in the waist and hips, but the bodice gaps in the front - not really giving the modest look for mother-of-the-son :) So......I'll be working today on making something work with the bodice. I hope to ease it with some elastic, but if not, it may mean taking some tucks, or......
Lesson learned. I needed to search much earlier for my dress.
Here's the link if you'd like to take a peek a the dress - I really love the style and color!
http://www.dillards.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=301&storeId=301&langId=-1&productId=502909483
It's been an ordeal finding a dress. I could have made my own, but decided to concentrate on developing my sewing business instead. I found the perfect dress a couple weeks ago and ordered it knowing it would just fit perfectly! Well, of course, it fits great in the waist and hips, but the bodice gaps in the front - not really giving the modest look for mother-of-the-son :) So......I'll be working today on making something work with the bodice. I hope to ease it with some elastic, but if not, it may mean taking some tucks, or......
Lesson learned. I needed to search much earlier for my dress.
Here's the link if you'd like to take a peek a the dress - I really love the style and color!
http://www.dillards.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=301&storeId=301&langId=-1&productId=502909483
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Graduated and Moving Forward!
Well, graduation day was nothing but magical! The weather was perfect and the speaker, Rick Steves, gave an inspiring speech. The Evergreen State College knows how to celebrate a commencement; it was like one giant party of pure fun.
Over the past few weeks, I've weeded through stacks of college papers and books. I had such a great educational experience which I relived while sorting.
Now for the future....... have you noticed how doors begin to open when you follow your passion? I have focused on sustainable business, teaching, fiber arts, and helping others during my eduction. Lately I've wondered how in the world I'm going to combine these areas. Today, I met with another lady, Roby, who has similar passions and so we devised a plan. Number one is to find a space to rent for sewing. After that, the ideas for projects/businesses seem endless.
As I reflect on the past four years, I see now that everything happened for a reason; the people I met and concepts I learned were not by coincidence. So I encourage you to follow whatever your dreams may be and not give up!
Commencement June 15, 2012
The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA
Over the past few weeks, I've weeded through stacks of college papers and books. I had such a great educational experience which I relived while sorting.
Now for the future....... have you noticed how doors begin to open when you follow your passion? I have focused on sustainable business, teaching, fiber arts, and helping others during my eduction. Lately I've wondered how in the world I'm going to combine these areas. Today, I met with another lady, Roby, who has similar passions and so we devised a plan. Number one is to find a space to rent for sewing. After that, the ideas for projects/businesses seem endless.
As I reflect on the past four years, I see now that everything happened for a reason; the people I met and concepts I learned were not by coincidence. So I encourage you to follow whatever your dreams may be and not give up!
Commencement June 15, 2012
The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA
Sunday, June 10, 2012
5 Days to Commencement!
It's hard to believe, but the end is almost here. Friday, June 15th at 1:00 P.M., I will graduate. I've spent the past few weeks writing self-evaluations and a summative evaluation (both required at my college), and finishing my last weaving project. See pictures below.
Pierre has had a rough time since Memorial weekend. It seems that he was in a fight with the neighbor cat, and the neighbor cat won. Pierre was bitten on his back right paw, unknown to us. He developed an abscess, was sutured, torn the sutures out, and now is being bandaged by my husband and I every other day. We've become quite an efficient bandaging team! It looks like one more week until it's healed.
Have a great Sunday!
Tapestry Weaving (Final project)
Pierre with Bandage
Pierre has had a rough time since Memorial weekend. It seems that he was in a fight with the neighbor cat, and the neighbor cat won. Pierre was bitten on his back right paw, unknown to us. He developed an abscess, was sutured, torn the sutures out, and now is being bandaged by my husband and I every other day. We've become quite an efficient bandaging team! It looks like one more week until it's healed.
Have a great Sunday!
Tapestry Weaving (Final project)
Pierre with Bandage
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Pierre, the Cat
I realized this morning that I have not introduced our cat, Pierre, to the blogging world. He's been quite interested in my weaving projects and sustainable fashion books (see pictures below).
I used to foster kittens for the Pierce County Humane Society. A little over 4 years ago, I cared for two male kittens - siblings. They looked quite different from one another, and my husband and I fell in love with them. That was the end of my fostering days. Unknown to us, Pierre was mostly a Norwegian Forest cat. He developed tufts of fur between his paws and in his ears as well as growing a long bushy tail, somewhat like a squirrel's. His brother, Whiskers, was a short hair with beautiful markings and a quiet, shy personality. Sadly, at 15 months, Whiskers was diagnosed with cancer and didn't live much longer.
Pierre has been the most affectionate cat I have ever owned. Actually, at times he acts more like a dog. He greets us at the door when we arrive home, flips over, and wants his stomach petted. He frequently takes naps with me; or maybe I do with him. It seems that whenever I am reading one of my required course books, writing a paper, or working on a project such as weaving, he decides it's lap time. Recently he decided that the cubby hole of my desk was a suitable area for viewing my progress. Why the name Pierre when he's Norwegian? As a kitten, he would come running and stick his face in any wine glass that happened to be placed on the coffee table. We thought a French name suited him perfectly!
Pierre viewing table loom
Pierre in the cubby hole
Latest pin weaving progress
I used to foster kittens for the Pierce County Humane Society. A little over 4 years ago, I cared for two male kittens - siblings. They looked quite different from one another, and my husband and I fell in love with them. That was the end of my fostering days. Unknown to us, Pierre was mostly a Norwegian Forest cat. He developed tufts of fur between his paws and in his ears as well as growing a long bushy tail, somewhat like a squirrel's. His brother, Whiskers, was a short hair with beautiful markings and a quiet, shy personality. Sadly, at 15 months, Whiskers was diagnosed with cancer and didn't live much longer.
Pierre has been the most affectionate cat I have ever owned. Actually, at times he acts more like a dog. He greets us at the door when we arrive home, flips over, and wants his stomach petted. He frequently takes naps with me; or maybe I do with him. It seems that whenever I am reading one of my required course books, writing a paper, or working on a project such as weaving, he decides it's lap time. Recently he decided that the cubby hole of my desk was a suitable area for viewing my progress. Why the name Pierre when he's Norwegian? As a kitten, he would come running and stick his face in any wine glass that happened to be placed on the coffee table. We thought a French name suited him perfectly!
Pierre viewing table loom
Pierre in the cubby hole
Latest pin weaving progress
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