The Sewing Machine Project

Margaret’s blog

Posted by Margaret on March 9, 2013 — 2 Comments

I’ve started a personal blog which includes some “spiritual musings” as a friend so aptly labeled them. I just needed a forum to talk about some of the more personal aspects of life along with the discoveries along the way.

The Sewing Machine Project has affected my spirituality but I want to be clear that this is a personal thing. I, in no way, wish to align the SMP with any religious leaning. I simply wish to share how the building of this organization has changed me.

It’s a vulnerable thing to release a blog. To tell you the truth, I’ve been adding to it for awhile just in private…which kind of defeats the purpose of a blog! I don’t pretend to corner the market on insight or spirituality or anything else. I just know that the building of this organization and all of the richness and beauty surrounding it have profoundly changed my life.

So I send you this link along with my humble request for patience and consideration.

Posted in General

Angels

Posted by Margaret on February 28, 2013 — 2 Comments

There are so many people who step forward to help The Sewing Machine Project. I feel I live in this world of constant gratitude…it’s a pretty nice place to be. I am humbled and thrilled by how this idea is received and by all the ways people connect with it.

There are our donors–people who share their wonderful machines, notions, thread, fabric and the very important funding that keeps us afloat. Often machines donations arrive with notes about how a machine was used, the memories attached. Checks arrive with letters encouraging us to continue the work we do, and so often they include a memory of a beloved sewer. Every single donation causes me to pause and quietly say thank you.

There are our board members–an amazing and active group, creative and wise, who listen, counsel, and work so hard to keep us going and growing. They allow me to envision new plans for the SMP and dare to dream along with me. I feel new energy after each board meeting.

There are our volunteers–and that list is growing. We have incredible and talented volunteers who give entire days to this organization–helping work on machines, helping to sew, stepping in to help whenever needed. Our volunteers work so hard and, at the same time, enjoy the connection with one another. A total win win!

But there is a group that I feel needs a label…and today I realized they’re angels. These are the people who keep me going…the care and feeding of a director. Yesterday some of these angels appeared–dear friends who propped me up when I was feeling really stuck. They quietly and gracefully stepped in and helped me with a reorganization project…staying til it was completely done. Chatting and listening to music, sipping tea and working, I hope they didn’t get to tired of me thanking them again and again.

Angels. People who step in just as you need them. People who listen and dream right along with you. People who ask “how can I help?” and mean it. People who quietly circle around you and are there to catch you when you start to fall. We all have angels in our lives. I’m so grateful for the ones in mine.

Posted in General

Sewing Volunteer Day

Posted by Margaret on February 20, 2013 — 2 Comments

Margaret and Michelle keep the market bags coming

We’ve been offered the chance to do a fundraiser at Covance, a drug testing company here in Madison. Hmmmm, what to do for a fundraiser?? Sell handmade goods, of course! My dream would be to sell goods made by those who receive our machines….the fair trade sale…and someday, that’s going to happen. But this fundraiser is next month–yikes! So we need to get sewing. I sent out a notice to our volunteer email list and got a great response.

This past Saturday, 18 people came to the church and we began to sew. We worked on 3 different bag designs:

A little zip pouch:

A Dopp kit:

And a Market Bag:

We have so much beautiful fabric, left to us by a wonderful sewer who left this world too soon. We hope she was smiling as sewers met each other and worked side by side to create these products.

Bird’s smile alone makes me smile.

I love these volunteer days. People who’ve never met are instant friends and talking and laughter fills the room. I was thrilled to see Michelle Bartels and her two friends arrive all the way from Iowa. Even Michelle’s husband, Louie helped out, smiling as he assisted with the set up and take down.

Katie and Dellavie figure out the machines.

These days are like magic to me. I looked around the room several times and got all teary, just seeing and feeling the community. These days are about a lot more than sewing and getting things done. They’re about building community and I realize more and more that that is a big part of what we’re about…not only in the machines we distribute but also in the opportunities we present to grow and learn with one another.

If you or anyone you know is interested in volunteering, just send me a quick email through this website and I’ll add you to the list. Our volunteer opportunities are a “no pressure” deal. If you can’t make it we understand. But to make it is special…you’ll see.

Eileen, Marion and Debbie keep the bags coming

Diann and Liz keep the market bags coming

Becky gets our beautiful SMP labels on just right

Deb subtly suggests that maybe her ironing board is too high

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Passing along a sweet blog post about the SMP

Posted by Margaret on February 13, 2013 — Leave a Comment

http://www.quiltviews.com/helping-hands

Posted in General

India!

Posted by Margaret on January 31, 2013 — Leave a Comment

We are so excited to learn that the 15 sewing machines and 2 sergers that we sent to India have reached their final destination! For a few months they were hung up in customs. It was amazing how many people came to our aid. Everyone was working together but from different angles to help this shipment complete its journey.

And now the machines have reached Apne Aap–this beautiful organization which helps young women develop marketable skills. The alternative is gritty….so many young women are led into the sex trades whether through coercion or through desperation. It is such a noble endeavor that Apne Aap assumes….to give women options through education.

We are proud to help this organization do their important work and we can’t wait to see what these young women create!

Posted in General, In the News

The Quilt Life-February 2013

Posted by Margaret on January 6, 2013 — 1 Comment

We are so honored to be featured in the “helping hands” segment of the February 2013 issue of The Quilt Life. Check it out!

Posted in General, In the News

Apne Aap, India-The Journey

Posted by Margaret on December 14, 2012 — 3 Comments

Our shipment of 15 sewing machines and 2 sergers reached New Delhi a little over a month ago. We were so excited to learn that they’d arrived.

The machines are going to be used by the Apne Aap women’s organization in New Delhi. Apne Aap (“on my own”) was formed to educate young women with useful skills to keep them out of the growing sex trades. We were honored when we were asked to outfit their sewing classroom. Ever since learning about the journey these brave young women face, I find that I’ve reframed my own idea of what a hurdle is.

This has been quite a journey for the machines and for The Sewing Machine Project. The machines have been moving slowly through Indian Customs. There have been many moments when I’ve sat here with my head in my hands wondering if they’d ever finally make it. But as it seems to happen with the SMP, the right people have stepped forward, the right documents have been produced, and little by little, the machines have continued their journey. SMP Board members, Bernina representatives, Indian importers, and the US government have all helped in some way and I am so grateful.

I am guardedly optimistic today, hoping that the sewing machines are on their final leg and that they’ll soon be in Apne Aap’s sewing classroom. I am grateful for all of the friends, old and new, who have stepped in to provide a piece of this puzzle, and I look forward to sharing the good news when the machines are final set up and being used by the Apne Aap women.

Posted in General

Paying it Forward in Local Sewing Classes

Posted by Margaret on November 20, 2012 — 2 Comments

Concha works on hats to Pay it Forward

Our first round of local classes came to an end yesterday. There were two 6-week classes, one on Mondays and one on Fridays. Local teacher, Rebecca Sites did a masterful job of leading the classes–I have to say, I knew she’d be perfect and I was right. Rebecca has mastered the art of going with the flow of a class, conveying what needs to be taught while still allowing plenty of time and space for students to personally craft their education. Rebecca teaches students to rely on themselves and as a result, they leave the class empowered and excited and ready to sew some more. It’s beautiful, really.

The students were radiant. They would share what they’d learned, learn from each other, develop new ideas…

Participants didn’t know when they signed up, that they would leave with a sewing machine. Rebecca waited until about the 3rd week to tell them this important bit. When she did, students wept. They couldn’t believe that it was true.

Rebecca and Maria with Maria’s new machine.

On the last class day we asked the women to Pay it Forward by making fleece hats to donate to the CMC, where the classes were taught. The CMC offers services to many homeless individuals and families who need the extra warmth in the cold Wisconsin winter. The ladies gladly made lots and lots of hats.

I listened to the women talking, sharing, helping one another and the sense of community in the room was palpable. I find myself saying “thank you” over and over again. Can’t wait for another round of classes to start.

Rebecca and Mariuxe try on hats

Posted in General

Volunteer Day-Let the pictures tell the story…

Posted by Margaret on November 19, 2012 — 2 Comments

We had a huge, wonderful Volunteer Day this past Saturday…30 volunteers, 135 machines, a 16 foot truck, 4 giant pizzas and more smiles and love than one can convey on a page. We’ve received so many machines in recent months that we’ve had a hard time keeping up so I contacted those who’d shown an interest and asked if they’d be available. Can you come and help “sew in” machines??

The response was overwhelming. The church graciously offered a larger workspace and we were off and running. There were people working on machines, packing a shipment, packing the truck for the warehouse, inventorying, you name it. We had two gracious hostesses, welcoming volunteers as they arrived and helping them get settled.

I handed my camera to various people throughout the day and this morning I went through those pictures for the first time. There are so many I can’t even include them all in one posting. What I love is that they convey the mood of the day. People helping people, meeting and laughing together, puzzling over unusual machines, working to help one cause.

The spirit was palpable on Saturday. Throughout the day I would take moments to look around and listen to the voices, the laughter, and see Spirit at work. It was amazing.

Take a look.

Posted in General, In the News

Big smiles, open hearts!

Posted by Margaret on November 9, 2012 — 3 Comments

I talked to Rebecca yesterday. She’s teaching our newest local programs at the Catholic Multicultural Center here in Madison. These classes are kind of a pilot thing that began with the classes for Bhutanese refugees in the spring. Rebecca’s expanded that program for Hispanic members of the community, teaching basic sewing machine use and simple, fun projects. I asked Rebecca to be the Lead on this project for many reasons…first of all, she’ so flexible. She adapts her teaching to the student’s interests and skill levels and does it so effectively. She’s warm and kind and most of all, she dives right in. We were promised a translator for these classes which need to be in Spanish and sometimes the translator is there, sometimes not. Does this stop Rebecca? Not for a moment! She dives in with her growing Spanish vocabulary and keeps things moving!

So I gave her a call yesterday to see how it all was going. She’s pleased with the progress, and I could hear the smile in her voice when she described how the students are teaching her Spanish while she teaches them sewing.

We’d decided that students who completed all six sessions, and the Pay it Forward component (making something for a charitable cause) would be able to take home their machine at the end of the class. She shared this information with the women just the other day and she couldn’t find the words to describe the joy that filled the room. “Some of the ladies were in tears,” she said. A new tool, a new skill, and new hope!

I am headed over to the Center this afternoon to help her with today’s class. I can’t wait.

Posted in General, In the News