Craft Hope

When I found out about Craft Hope, I just had to share! See this link below to see their recent doll making project for orphans in Nicaragua. You can get more information about Craft Hope at www.crafthope.com .

Craft Hope: Final Count

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The Lazy Days of Summer...

Here's Stephen and I at the end of our week long retreat at Marywood Center in Jacksonville, Florida. We took a course in icon painting with Peter Pearson; Steve's first and my second. We really enjoyed it as it gave us a chance to relax and re-center our lives. Of course, everyone asked us what we were going to do with two identical icons--one is going to my parents for their anniversary present (hopefully they don't read my blog!--smile...)

Here's hoping each of you is entering into the lazy days of summer. Reading, journaling, painting maybe, or off on a vacation, near or far, with family or friends. Summer slips by quickly, and while here in Florida, summer can often be so hot and humid that staying indoors curled up with a good book is the best alternative on any given afternoon, I know many of my friends up north are probably enjoying those gorgeous, sunny days summer is known for... Don't let them slip away!

Icon Painting with Peter Pearson

Stephen and I are heading up to the Marywood Retreat Center in Jacksonville, Florida next week for an icon painting retreat with Peter Pearson. I'll be in touch when we get back.

It's Time to Make Dollies...

It's that time of year again--consider joining us for our 2nd annual "Dollies without Borders" doll making weekend retreat at the Franciscan Retreat Center in Tampa, Florida. The founder of "Dollies without Borders" Madeline Austin will be on hand to lead participants in making a simple, yet beautiful and unique doll to be given to a child in an impoverished country. You don't have to have any sewing skills or even any creative talent to join us (which is kind of a lie, because, frankly, I believe everyone has creative talent, so come find yours with us this weekend!) Not only will you make a doll you'll be proud of, but you'll have the chance to relax on the porch rocking chairs, walk the labyrinth, do morning yoga, attend our ice cream sundae social, and, for an additional fee, experience the ultimate massage with Svetlana. This year's retreat is Friday evening, August 7th until Sunday noon, August 9th. For more information call (813) 229-2695.

Connecting with Creative Women in Vietnam...

While I was in Vietnam, I was welcomed by the Maryknoll community in Hanoi, which consisted of four missionaries--Vu Anh, Tawny and her husband, Hiep, and Fr. Tom. Tawny (in the middle, green shirt) is particularly interested in developing crafts for production working with various populations in Hanoi, among them, autistic children whom her husband Hiep works with at Hanoi's only school for special children, and HIV+ women in both Hanoi and the rural provinces. 

The HIV+ women are Tawny's real love and concern--they become nearly untouchables once they are diagnosed. Tawny is working with a young and very energetic Dominican sister, Duyen, who you can see in the picture with her to the left, and who is very familiar with the urgent needs of several rural and impoverished  communities consisting of HIV+ women.  (Vu Anh is the young woman with the glasses on the right--a veritable whirlwind of energy, although she's looking pretty subdued there by Vietnam's late afternoon heat! We all went for a sugar cane drink pretty soon after this shot was taken!)

Tawny is very crafty herself, having developed the cute little dolls shown above, made out of crepe paper. She and the others have also worked with the disadvantaged, developing beautiful religious art out of mother of pearl inlay, as you can also see above. They are looking for markets for these and other projects, including some floating candles made by autistic children. The woman running the school for the autistic and Down's syndrome children is also looking for marketable craft ideas for the older children to produce...that being a whole other day's work...

I worked a little bit with Tawny on the idea of developing silk night gowns for export, since Tawny had run a shop in Los Angeles making silk night gowns years ago. We travelled to a silk producing village and looked at many samples of silk, as well as some prototypes for nightgowns. It's all pretty exciting, and I hope to be able to put her in touch with some vendors here in the States who want to sell high quality, fairly made and fairly traded goods from Vietnam. So, I will keep you posted as we move ahead into a new and exciting future together. Wish us luck, and if you have any ideas for vendors for these products, please don't hesitate to contact me!