20 May 2010

Mon Espace Créateur - { My Creative Space }


{ If you are popping in for my giveaway, please scroll down}

Hubby and I have sponsored a child from Sudan through World Vision for quite a few years now. Ousmane was a little wee boy of three when he first came into our lives and is now eight and attending school. Although he is halfway around the world, we feel connected to him through our letters, his lovely drawings and photos and he has grown to be a wonderful part of our little family. We eagerly anticipate introducing him to poppet when she is a bit older.



I'll be completely honest, at times it has been a bit of a financial burden and we have on occasion considered handing his care over to someone else. The words of Phil Collins' brilliant song "Another Day in Paradise" always seem to see us straight. So what if we have one less takeaway, buy one less coffee,...this darling little man didn't have shoes until we started sponsoring him. Supplying him with new coloured pencils for school is like reaching up and handing him the silvery moon!


When I discovered Gypsy's lovely blog, Dance for Cheese my heart was warmed by an initiative that she is part of. A wonderful woman is coordinating the making and distributing of pinafores for the Dago Dela Hera Orphanage in Kenya. When she visited the country she was heartbroken to discover that most of the little girls at the orphanage didn't have clothes to wear. In my creative space this week I made a simple reversible pinnie (the only requirement...so that the little lovely gets two dresses to wear....so thoughtful!!) using "Strawberry Field" fabric by Alice Kennedy for Timeless Treasures. I even had a whirl at a little free motion sewing...please don't laugh...I tried really hard!!



It was a quick and easy project yet one that saddened me and gave me hope at the same time. When every newspaper and television station seems determined to convince us that the world is becoming rancid with each passing day one would be forgiven for giving up hope , claiming , "What can I do?". But here is one woman...and her beautiful dream...changing the world! No matter your circumstance, your budget, your busy schedule, this week I ask you to find some way (no matter how small) to contribute to this wonderful community of human beings we call our world. Let's pour buckets of hope over all those pessimists!

Remember, "Think twice, It's just another day for you and me in paradise."

For more creative nooks please pop into Kirsty's delightful blog and have a sticky beak!

30 comments:

  1. Thanks for shouting about the pinnie project for the orphanage. What a great idea! I've been over to look and will have a rummage through my patterns to see what I can do.
    Your free motion sewing is terrific!! Well done!

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  2. How true - I love donating things to others it is a great feeling. This year I am donating knitted beanies to ACT Cancer Ward and also have a nice little pile of newborn beanies that I will bundle up and donate to the hospital later on in the year.
    What lovely colours to brighten up a little girl. And I love that little model of yours.

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  3. adorable! I think I can spare some time to make one, I hear they need bigger sizes so I'll make sure I do a keira size!
    you're a good person!
    corrie;)

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  4. this is such a beautiful idea and you've done such a great job...one little girl is going to be truly blessed!

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  5. Oh wow, that is gorgeous!! The lucky Kenyan girl who gets given that pinnie is going to cry tears of joy! I don't know ANYTHING about free motion sewing, but that looks pretty awesome to me!

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  6. Beautiful dress Steph. Some little girl is going to be so happy to receive it.
    We sponsor a little girl in El Salvador who doesn't even get to attend school. Quite a wake up call for my children.
    Cathy

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  7. Oh wow it's beautiful Steph.... one little girl is going to be extremely happy indeed.

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  8. so true, so true! and what a wonderful pinnie! it's just perfect and the little girl who gets to wear this will feel like a princess!
    ps - about the Material Obsession book you asked me about a while back - it is great and was an impulse buy (i only bought it coz it was $12) but see if your library has a copy! that way you can photo copy what you like and spend the money on fabric! Hope you have a lovely day and fab weekend!

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  9. That is a lovely dress and any little girl would be delighted to receive it. I have been trying to find out if anyone in Australia does the 'Afghans for Angels' which is a small blanket donated to the parents of a preemie or pre term birth baby. I'm not having much luck maybe someone else reading will have some ideas? There are some charity's for babies but this is specifically for still borns so that the parents have a keepsake to take away with them. I think it is important to reach out and give back to our community. I love your mannequin as well :-)

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  10. Great post, and what a beautiful pinnie you have made! clever you. I loved hearing about Ousmane, hopefully your story will inspire others to help someone who is in need xo

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  11. What a great cause and your pinafore is beautiful Steph. It's going to make a little girl very very happy. What size do they need do you know? (and your freeform sewing is stunning)

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  12. A lovely little dress and what a beautiful idea.

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  13. Gorgeous Steph!
    The world will be a better place because of you! xo

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  14. So great, i'm in too, love doing charity work, just warms your heart & you know it's appreciated. Love Posie

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  15. That is one gorgeous little dress (or two). Mine's cut out and will hopefully be sewn up tomorrow. Yay for crafters, together we can make a difference.

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  16. I love it - the free motion flower is delightful, and the fact that it's for a little girl who you don't know who just really needs it makes it even more special - you're right about needing to put our struggles and sacrifices in perspective, and find ways to do what we can.
    PS: thank you for your lovely comment - gave me such a lift this morning!

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  17. Wow i made one the other day, but yours is stunning! great cause.

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  18. i love your pinafore its absolutely beautiful! and thanks for posting about this fabulous cause i'm going to try and make 1 up to, you've inspired me, thank you!! : )

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  19. Oh Steph, thank you so much for making such a beautiful pinafore, and for your wonderfully inspiring post. Beautiful people like you restore my faith in humankind. And what a truly gorgeous pinafore, that will certainly put a smile on a little girl's face :) Gypsy xx

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  20. This is such a fabulous project. I am about to pass it on to all my friends in hopes of many little dresses being sent there way. Thank you!

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  21. What a sweet pinafore! We just received our annual update letter yesterday from our foster child of 5 years in Equador - she is really growing up, it is great to see (and she has shoes, now too!). For the first time she wrote the letter herself (usually her older sister does the writing). This was so exciting for us considering our schools are not even teaching children cursive writing anymore...

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  22. lovely post! and the flower is gorgeous!

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  23. Steph I've borrowed one of your pics and posted about your pinny on my blog, I would have emailed you but you have no email address that I can see!!!

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  24. Steph, it's really beautiful- some little one is going to feel very loved and special in that, I hope. I am going to make some shorts for the boys this weekend.

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  25. Every little bit does help!! It's the small things that make the biggest impact!! Your story warmed my heart and I know I too am doing what I can...

    xo Steph

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  26. Beautiful, Steph! What pattern did you use? "Buckets of hope..."

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  27. Hi Steph , Your pinny is beautiful , Im sure it will make a little girl very happy. Your free motion stitching looks great, good on you for having a go. Im going to try and find some time and make some shorts,(in between painting!)

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  28. A beautiful creative space for you this week Steph! What a wonderful thing to do, and it looks gorgeous. Well done you, and I love your free sewing! Isn't it one of the funnest, freeing sort of thing to do on a sewing machine? One of my favs to do.
    I shall be taking a trip over to Gypsy's blog. Thank you for pointing the direction. x

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  29. Ah a lovely, inspiring post! We have a WV sponsor child and one with Compassion too! I am already teaching miss 2.5yrs about not wasting her food and how our sponsor kids live! Off to check out Gypsy's blog now! oh and your free motion is GREAT!!

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  30. There's going to be a big fight at the orphanage over who gets to wear that gorgeous dress. I love your free motion stitching.

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Your words brighten my day! Thank-you so much for joining me on my adventure. x