The Sewing Machine Project » In the News http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org mending communities, one sewing machine at a time Sat, 07 Jan 2012 22:04:20 +0000 en hourly 1 Threads Magazine! http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/2011/12/26/threads-magazine/ http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/2011/12/26/threads-magazine/#comments Mon, 26 Dec 2011 21:21:09 +0000 Margaret http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/?p=965 Check out the latest issue of Threads Magazine! A lovely article features information on The Sewing Machine Project and our latest initiatives. What an honor!! Thank you, Threads!

]]> http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/2011/12/26/threads-magazine/feed/ 0 Heading to LA http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/2011/08/17/heading-to-la/ http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/2011/08/17/heading-to-la/#comments Wed, 17 Aug 2011 15:32:14 +0000 Margaret http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/?p=939 I am honored and humbled to have been asked to be the keynote speaker for ASG’s national conference in LA this week. I fly out tomorrow. My speech has been done for a few weeks but each day I tweak it. I can’t think of a more receptive audience than a roomful of community minded sewists!

My biggest task has been to build a structure in my mind for how ASG chapters can collaborate with The Sewing Machine Project. I’ve “put it out there” on blog sites and the feeling I get back is that people would most like to volunteer as teachers. So I’m going with that. Little by little, the pieces of this new nationwide initiative are falling into place. I’m looking forward to sharing what I know so far with the audience on Friday. Then, from there, I look forward to conversations, brainstorming and filling in the missing pieces.

I love how this project works. We begin tossing around an idea and then the flow begins. We’re in the flow now and I can’t wait to share this excitement in Los Angeles.

]]> http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/2011/08/17/heading-to-la/feed/ 0 American Sewing Guild National Conference http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/2011/04/27/american-sewing-guild-national-conference/ http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/2011/04/27/american-sewing-guild-national-conference/#comments Wed, 27 Apr 2011 14:17:23 +0000 Margaret http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/?p=905 I am thrilled at having been chosen to be the Keynote Speaker for this year’s American Sewing Guild national conference. The conference will take place August 19-22 in Los Angeles, CA. What an honor!

]]> http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/2011/04/27/american-sewing-guild-national-conference/feed/ 0 Newsletter April 2011 http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/2011/04/05/886/ http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/2011/04/05/886/#comments Tue, 05 Apr 2011 21:51:56 +0000 Margaret http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/?p=886

Welcome, Spring!                  

My goodness, this has felt like a long winter! Here in Wisconsin we’re finally seeing the little plants peeking up and crossing our fingers that the recent flurries were our last.

It sometimes seems as though the Sewing Machine Project is a beautiful plant that we’re being asked to tend. It has certainly taken on a life of its own, with many opportunities, many ways to improve the lives of others in such a creative way. I feel fortunate to be entrusted with guiding this incredible effort, along with an amazing team of Directors. Truly, though, every one of you has helped to tend this Project in some way, whether through donating sewing machines, donating money, or even whispering positive words to encourage new growth. Without you we simply would not be.

I am reminded of a poem that a friend shared with me not so long ago, written by the great Hafiz:

How did the rose
ever open its heart
and give to this world
all its beauty?
It felt the encouragement of Light
against its being,
Otherwise, we all
remain too frightened.

Thank you for all that you bring to The Sewing Machine Project–for your kindness, your generosity and your light.

Read on and happy Spring!

 

New Orleans, March 2011


I recently returned from New Orleans. This was a busy trip! I delivered machines to the Mardi Gras Indian community, received a community service award from the New Orleans City Council, met with groups wishing to start new sewing education programs, and also with groups helping out in the Gulf in the aftermath of the oil spill. I was also fortunate to be there for Indian Sunday, a day when the Mardi Gras Indians have a parade to show their incredible suits.  The Indians work throughout the year on the hand beading and the suits are constructed on Sewing Machine Project machines. Additionally, the Guardians Institute, dedicated to preserving Mardi Gras Indian tradition, is using SMP machines to teach these skills to future generations.

 

SeaHope Partners


Our SeaHope bags have been met with enthusiasm! Not only are they available on our website but they are also now available at Spirals, here in Madison and also at Gestures, an art gallery in Rocky River, Ohio. We hope to also feature the bags in shops in New Orleans.
After careful consideration, we decided to lower the pricepoint a bit. The classic messenger bags are now $89 and the artist bags are $139.
We did have a few kinks to work out in the ecommerce sale process but all is well. If you or someone you know tried to buy a classic messenger bag online and were told we were out of stock please check back! We had a little computer glitch and we do have plenty of bags for sale!
There’ll be some new Artist Bags this spring…just received one from the women’s cooperative in Mexico–beautiful handstitched retablos on hand-dyed fabric–scrumptuous! Keep checking back to see these new unique designs.
A portion of the profits from the sale of these bags will be donated to organizations helping those affected by the oil spill. To date we have raised over $1000.

Enchanted Makeovers

Enchanted Makeovers is one of our newest partners. Based in Taylor, Michigan, Enchanted Makeovers transforms women’s shelters into “places of peace and possibility”. EM’s big project for 2011 will be a shelter in the Detroit area. The Sewing Machine Project will be working on insetting a sewing and creative area into the shelter. We just learned that our local representative for Arrow Sewing Cabinets will be donating 5 new sewing tables for the project! We can’t wait to roll up our sleeves and get started!

American Sewing Guild


I am thrilled and honored to have been asked to be the Keynote Speaker at this year’s American Sewing Guild annual conference in Los Angeles. It will be such a treat to tell everyone about The Sewing Machine Project. If you know of a community group or sewing guild that would be interested in having a presentation about The Sewing Machine Project, please contact me for more information: (margaret@thesewingmachineproject.org).

Please feel free to forward this newsletter along to your friends!

 

 

The Sewing Machine Project is:
Margaret Jankowski-Founder and Executive Director
Lois Bergerson-Board of Directors
Susan Dineen-Board of Directors
Peter McKeever-Board of Directors
Andrea Plassman-Board of Directors
Katie Schultz Stout-Board of Directors
]]> http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/2011/04/05/886/feed/ 2 SeaHope and Sewing With Nancy http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/2011/03/20/seahope-and-sewing-with-nancy/ http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/2011/03/20/seahope-and-sewing-with-nancy/#comments Sun, 20 Mar 2011 14:08:33 +0000 Margaret http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/?p=854 Nancy Zieman has been so generous with her time and attention surrounding The Sewing Machine Project. Recently, while I was in Las Vegas, I had the chance to spend some time with Nancy and catch up. She suggested that we tape a Nancy’s Corner segment about the SeaHope partners project. Just a few weeks later there we were in the studio! The show will be available to PBS in the fall and probably will be circulating on Wisconsin stations towards the end of the year…then it’ll be around for 2 years!

I’ll write more details when I have them…

]]> http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/2011/03/20/seahope-and-sewing-with-nancy/feed/ 1 New Orleans City Council http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/2011/03/17/new-orleans-city-council/ http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/2011/03/17/new-orleans-city-council/#comments Thu, 17 Mar 2011 14:55:17 +0000 Margaret http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/?p=868 The New Orleans City Council issued a proclamation today recognizing the work of The Sewing Machine Project. Cherice Harrison-Nelson went with me to the meeting to receive the award.
I love this city. I love these people. I ache for the hardships they’ve endured. I admire how New Orleans continues on through everything as a jewel in every sense of the word.

I am honored by this award.

]]> http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/2011/03/17/new-orleans-city-council/feed/ 0 Sewing With Nancy http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/2011/02/09/sewing-with-nancy-2/ http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/2011/02/09/sewing-with-nancy-2/#comments Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:40:42 +0000 Margaret http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/?p=833 The Sewing Machine Project  was featured on the Nancy’s Corner segment of Sewing With Nancy in 2010. Better late than never, here’s that clip!

Sewing With Nancy

]]> http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/2011/02/09/sewing-with-nancy-2/feed/ 0 Woman’s World Magazine http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/2010/11/15/womans-world-magazine/ http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/2010/11/15/womans-world-magazine/#comments Mon, 15 Nov 2010 16:40:26 +0000 Margaret http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/?p=795 Be sure to check out the article about The Sewing Machine Project in this week’s Woman’s World magazine!

]]> http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/2010/11/15/womans-world-magazine/feed/ 0 Quilting Arts/Stitch Blog http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/2010/11/01/quilting-artsstitch-blog/ http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/2010/11/01/quilting-artsstitch-blog/#comments Mon, 01 Nov 2010 14:01:13 +0000 Margaret http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/?p=789 From the Quilting Arts website:

http://www.quiltingarts.com/blogs/stitch/archive/2010/10/21/seahope-partners-and-more-news-from-the-sewing-machine-project.aspx

]]> http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/2010/11/01/quilting-artsstitch-blog/feed/ 0 New Orleans Times Picayune June 6 http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/2010/06/07/new-orleans-times-picayune-june-6/ http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/2010/06/07/new-orleans-times-picayune-june-6/#comments Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:03:19 +0000 Margaret http://www.thesewingmachineproject.org/?p=719 Just returned from a trip to New Orleans. Our main work this time was with John Douthat from AllBrands, with the Adams Street Cultural Development Center and with Cherice Harrison-Nelson and the Mardi Gras Indians. John D. has been so kind and generous and I am honored that he has chosen to partner with The Sewing Machine Project.

This article appeared in Sunday’s Times-Picayune out of New Orleans.

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