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Belize Update + New Bag!

I can't believe it's already been a year since my trip to Belize to teach sewing at Hopewell Orphanage! The girls have continued to utilize their sewing, making more clothing for themselves. A few of the older girls are in the process of being adopted by a Belizean family, which is huge considering they would have been aging out of the orphanage & on their own if not. Please keep the kids in your thoughts and prayers, those who are yet to be placed in a forever home.

Inspired by those who choose to serve, I hope you enjoy this new bag! *A portion of proceeds of all Belize Bags go back to Hopewell Belize. To find out more, visit www.HopewellBelize.org.

Last Day + Lasting

Every day the girls and I enter into this sewing bubble, where you emerge & it’s 7 hours later (I’ve also had time to teach some of the more curious boys how to sew). But I don’t feel drained. I don’t even want to stop. No one does. Today I showed the girls how to make skirts from t-shirts ~ they’ve been most excited to make clothing. In the evening one of the girls organized a fashion show so they could showcase everything they’ve made this week. It was great! The adults judged—of course everyone got all 10’s :). Tonight’s my last night. I want to stay here. I’ve enjoyed watching the girls grow in their ability just in the few days I’ve been here. I’ve enjoyed evening conversations with Nathalie & her husband and Cokes from glass bottles. I also miss my family & can’t wait to tell everyone about my time here. 

Organize, fine tune, reiterate. These are some of my goals for my last day at Hopewell. I want to provide some sort of ongoing organizational system. They have a good basis now. I’ve been mentioning key things to them all week now it’s up to them to keep it up. And I trust that they will. 

They’ve lived an adult amount of pain; you can see it in their eyes. But they remain full of hope & impetus; you can see it in their eyes. My life from this point on won't be the same. I’m aware that these kids don’t need “stuff—while “stuff” can be helpful—what they really need are people… Honest relationships with people who are willing to take time to show that they care: to teach them about life & other things and to continue sharing their life with them. That is what’s truly empowering & impactful. Isn’t that what we all want?

Family

The girls were so eager to start making things that all throughout the week they would hurry & grab their fabric at the start of a new project & just start cutting stuff. I stressed the importance of proper planning & sketching out their ideas first. I showed them the style bag we would start with and explained how to operate the sewing machine. I stood next to each girl as it came to her turn on the machine and repeated step by step instructions on what to do. The days were long, but went by fast. One day feels like 3 and you do a lot, but feel like you're beginning again each moment. We weren't able to locate the power cord for their Kenmore, so we were down to just the Brother & Janome. With 13 girls to 2 machines, it was a true test of their patience! A few of the girls wanted to do my hair. We got to talking about family & they asked to see pictures of my kids, then of my mom. Then of my kids again. They said they wished they were my sisters or my daughters. When they were done they said I could pass for a Belizean. I realized tonight as I head to bed that all of them are searching for a mom.

Expect the Unexpected

Sorry to keep you all "in the dark" on updates the past few days. There was a hurricane in Belize a couple weeks before my trip that took out a nearby line, hence no wi-fi. Nonetheless after 8hrs of travel, my travel companion Katie & I made it safely to Belize with all the supplies. One thing I noticed flying into Belize airport was the abundance of trees & greenery. My friend Nathalie, one of the house parents at Hopewell, greeted us at the airport & we squeezed all 8 pieces of luggage into her mini van :). She pointed out all the excess standing water from the hurricane a few weeks prior. When we got to Hopewell twenty-something kids greeted us at the van with lots of hellos and even more questions. While myriads of mosquitos also greeted us, we toured Hopewell: the boys' & girls' quarters, where  we would sleep, the garden, pig pen & the school room where we'd be sewing. I'm overwhelmed - with joy, excitement, gratitude, love, with the uncanny calm of feeling like I'm right where I should be... So many emotions. I've cried twice already. It will be a miracle if I don't lose it every day.

Texstyle in Belize

I am heading to Belize this week to teach girls  on an orphanage how to sew and I am so excited for this wonderful opportunity! THANK YOU all who've helped along the way!

Texstyle on Good Morning Memphis!

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Texstyle's Etsy Shop!

Here's a little snippet of some of the new coffee cozies I've been working on – take a look at Texstyle's Etsy shop to see the others! Happy Tuesday.

Dedicated to an Old Craft...

Last weekend I was in Memphis' newspaper, the Commercial Appeal, in an article about three Memphis designers making a career out of sewing. Go here to read the full article.

Texstyle Mini Bag Giveaway!

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Start the new year off in style! Enter to win this beautiful mini bag for all your small paraphernalia.

New Wool Products!

I am pleased to announce a few new Italian wool products in the store - just in time for all your Holiday parties: skinny ties & clutches! So check them out! {Enter coupon code WOOLY15 at checkout for an extra 15% off} And for you Memphians, stop by the Holiday Artist Market at 1501 Union for these goodies & much more now until Dec. 24th. Also, come to the market's Winter Solstice Party Dec. 21st at 7pm!

One Last Show

Okay, okay. I get it. You've been busy and haven't had a chance to make it out to any of my other shows this season. So that's why I decided to do this one last show just for you. Just so you wouldn't miss out on the perfect handmade gift for that special someone in your life. Now, this show is up for a month so that means plenty of shopping flexibility to fit your busy schedule. You're welcome.

IDEO: One of the coolest companies on Earth.

I may be the last to know, but just recently discovered the awesomeness that is IDEO. Aaaannd I just got off the phone with one of my best friends from high school who will start working there next month! "What do you do when you're working your dream job?" he asks. "Live the dream!" I say. Live that dream.

Happy Friday everyone.

:}

Broad Avenue Night Market

I'm so excited to be a part of this new event! Memphis's first ever night market will be going down in history Thursday August 22, 2013 from 6:00 to 10:00 pm on Broad Ave. Come out to support Texstyle & other local businesses on this awesome night!

FETCH - Bringing IKEA to Memphis!

Fetch from Fetch on Vimeo.

I could not be more excited about this new company that will bring your IKEA stuff to your door! (If your door is located in Memphis). Fetch just launched today and I am making my IKEA list now. So check them out already! :}

Website             www.wecanfetch.it
Facebook           www.facebook.com/wecanfetchit
Twitter               @wecanfetchit

Bikesploitation3 This Weekend!

In case you didn't already know Bikesploitation3 is going on this weekend! What is it, you ask? Only a super cool festival with music, poster art, films and so much more all centered around bikes. So valet your bike and get a pedal-powered smoothie on the bicycle blender at Bikesploitation; you won't want to miss it! (Festivities end Sunday at 5.)

Hello, World

I'm back from a long break after having our baby girl, Constance. She is such a joy & necessary addition to our little family. A whole new world has opened up for me since having her, not to mention all the fun things I can make for her now – like this coat! I made this for our trip to Chicago a couple weeks ago when I couldn't find her a newborn coat in the store. Welcome, Constance :}

'Tis the Season

So this is the last event I'll be doing for the year, however, my online store will stay open. I expect to give birth to baby no.2 some day soon and Ben, Liam & I are very excited to welcome yet another bundle of joy into our fam. I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's!

MEMFIX Cleveland St

495 N. Watkins Street, Memphis, TN 38104

Gearing up for our next event! You won't want to miss MEMFIX Cleveland Street this coming Saturday, Nov 10th 2012 from 10am - 10 pm. Come for the food & the music, catch a free movie and shop the awesome artist market for some great holiday gifts!

Texstyle at the Cooper-Young Festival

I've been hard at work the past few months and can't wait to showcase a lot of my new items at this year's Cooper-Young Festival coming up this Saturday! You definitely won't want to miss it – hope to see you there!