UPDATE ON MARCH 15, 2018: Our match has been met and we have sponsored 1 serger and 2 industrial sewing machines! Thank you to everyone who supported this one time gift, and met this immediate need. We are now going for a 2nd serger if someone still feels compelled to give. It will be used for great things! --- When I was 18, I was given a sewing machine. Well, what really happened is I took my mom's sewing machine to college with me, so she replaced it. Either way, it was a part of my story and it's going to be a part of this story too. Last year, a sewing center began in the Philippines. It is an...
Stress. She's a fierce opponent. I try to find ways to avoid her when I can, but she's like this very overwhelming and overbearing coworker; sometimes you just have to deal with her. We had a nasty get together last spring, and she got the best of me. After that, I asked myself and a lot of other people what really helps them when they are feeling stressed. This treat yoself society says to indulge in some chocolate and wine and she'll go away, but the stress is still there (and now my face is breaking out). I wanted some real, healthy ways to deal with her; and I found some and wrote them down for when she comes around. ...
I talk to my kids about the principles behind Fair+Simple. My oldest can even do a mean elevator pitch for the company. He told me the other day that he was really glad I was teaching them to be careful with how they shop, and it lit a fire in my heart to write this post. Here are some ideas for talking to young children about social responsibility. 1. Explore their favorite brand's website When the subject of responsible purchasing was first broached, the poor guy's palms must have started sweating when he considered his favorite toy in the whole world: Legos. So, we did some research. It was a great chance to show him where to look for his...
I created a simple shift dress pattern to raise money and awareness for Dressember. Women wear dresses for the month of December and people sponsor them. The money raised goes to fight human trafficking. Since the garment industry is such a huge contributor to the exploitation of women and children, this fits really well. A person is behind every seam of the clothes we wear, and it's usually a woman. Our care in purchasing clothes responsibly is a way to show that we value that person. It's bigger than a dress.
My 30's lurk around the corner like an unfamiliar room. I continue to carve out the life I want to lead, yet it still has not taken form in my hands. What lessons have I learned in my 20's that shape me? What lessons have I evaded? My grandmother, Rosemary Eleanor, is 92 years old and the mother of 14 children. She is active in her church, volunteers at a local hospital, and plays boardgames with her great grand children on the floor. Recently finding herself without the garage door opener, she hit the button, ran, and jumped over the alarm so the door didn't go back up. My dad, the best of storytellers, made the most of this one. Over lunch the other day, I was...
