Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Our First “franchise” effort…

I just realised I haven't shared this exciting story with you all yet…
DSCF3028Mateus is a young Timorese man we have been assisting a little.  He has been developing a children's education centre in a village called Liquidoe.  He employs 6 people to run an extra curriculum program after school a few times a week.  They also provide a very nutritious meal to the children.  He has been wanting to give his employees extra work, and asked Bellekria if we could train 2 of the young women to sew.
So two very shy women arrived to soak in as much as they could over 3 days.
Sweet Sinta was very excited to host them, and Novi and Anna all pitched in to help them develop “soft feet” as they call it.  Getting the rhythm of the treadle machine.   They worked hard at it, and by the last afternoon were able to create a shoulder bag and a small purse each to take home.  Sinta asked me to print out a certificate, which i did (on pink cardboard of course!)DSCF2997    DSCF3036 DSCF3038 We had a small semi formal presentation of the certificates (Level 1) with Sinta and Mateus officiating. :)
They left very excited and thankful, and Sinta was stoked that our sewing room was spreading out into the mountain areas.  Which is part of both our dreams.
They may come back some time for another 3 days. 

Sunday, October 9, 2011

random shots

I thought a few random pics of goings on in the sewing room may be fun…..
Here’s Israel hand winding some thread back onto a bobbin after he dropped it!DSCF2869 Serenity is posing with a lovely display stand I whipped up.  I used a cardboard long life milk carton and cut and bent and paper mached and painted. (Pink of course! Bellekria is a womens sewing group).  Its designed to hold our two different brochures in two languages (English and Tetun). 
DSCF2858 DSCF2859
This is Novi and Anna working hard on some applique for some more books.DSCF2862 DSCF2864 DSCF2866 DSCF2867
Here is our very attractive bamboo clothes rack!  Isn't it lovely?  We take it to market each week and also use it in the sewing room to display clothing.  DSCF2902 100_0962And here i am cutting out some new patterns for nappy covers….A pretty nice work environment hey? (Yes that is a sand dune and the ocean beyond the fence.  Israel is dripping wet, fresh from a swim…