Uganda Update

I am starting to get very excited about the upcoming Uganda project. I just got off the phone with John, our facilitator, and am getting full of ideas.

We will be spending most of our time at the villages of Busanna and Kasana. We will be staying at a small "hotel" in a nearby town. We will bring the ladies to the hotel in the mornings to do sewing since there is electricity at the hotel (we will need for lights and irons and any electric machines we use) as well as covering in case it rains. It rains a lot in Uganda this time of year.
In the afternoons we will be going back out the the villages to meet with the women again and do "workshops" on Christian living.

Life is so difficult for these women. When I was there last year, I saw the women working all day long. Most (not all) of the men sat in the middle of the village and played games, gambled, and drank. The women take care of the children, prepare the food, do all the cleaning and washing, help other families, and put up with abuse. There seems to be a lot of domestic violence in the villages, and some of them even have thier own peace-keepers (kind of like police.)

We want to give these women as much encouragement as possible, and tools for dealing with whatever kinds of situations they have to live with. Most of all, we want to share the love of Jesus and give them hope.

Uganda Bound - Again

I am so excited that I have the opportunity to go to Uganda again! For those of you who are new to my blog, last year I went to Uganda to teach women how to sew. It was awesome. Right now we are in the planning phase of another trip. We are planning on going March 27 to April 10.









Another woman from my church is going with me this year and we should be meeting two other women from back east (not sure where yet) who will be assisting us.
This is Karen and me.









Last year we went to Kampala, Busanna and Kasana, and I'm assuming we'll be going to the same areas this year. This year we will be teaching women how to sew skirts. Although there is electricity in the city of Kampala, it is very unpredictable. The villages do not have electricity, unless a generator is used for a special purpose - amazingly, all church services have loud PA systems! I think this year we will be using all treadle machines since they are more widely available there and certainly more practical. Last year we were unable to do the sewing in some of the villages due to unforseen events, and the women were disappointed. I am so glad that we will be able to go back this year and bring this opportunity to them! Many of the people (especially children) in these villages do not have any clothes at all. Last year I was the only one working with the sewing, so I am very thankful to have others with me this year.

Sewing is such a valuable skill. If you are reading my blog, chances are that you love sewing! It is so wonderful to be able to share a skill that not only do I love, but it is a skill that these women can use to provide clothing for their families and even produce income.

Time is short and I know the trip will be here before I know it. I still need to go get my shots, make up some sample skirts, and get my own things in order before we go. We will probably buy all the fabric there since they do have a "garment district" in the city of Kampala with some beautiful fabrics. The trip is going to end up costing around $4000.00, so we are in the fundraising stage right now.

If you are interested in helping the women of Uganda by supporting this ministry, I would really appreciate your support. Donations can be sent either directly to me or to International Messengers. If you mail your donation to International Messengers, please enclose a note stating that it is to support me (Nancy Winningham) so that the money will go to our mission trip. The address is:
International Messengers
PO Box 618
Clear Lake, IA 50428

If you prefer to send a check to me, please email me for my street address. My email is nwinning at gmail dot com.

I would also appreciate prayers for our ministry, that lots of women would come and that we would be able to work with them and share the love of Christ, that I would stay healthy in preparation and while on the trip, and for our safety while there.


There is still a lot of unrest in Uganda, and everywhere you go, you encounter corruption. The poverty is so extreme that I feel so insignificant while I'm there, but amazingly, the people are so grateful that we are even there.

I am so looking forward to doing this again and working with the women of Uganda. I thank you so much for all the prayers and support you can offer. For those of you who supported me last year, I can't begin to tell you what an impact you made, not only on these women, but on me as well. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

AS of late...

I have been a bad blogger. Things have been crazy-busy since we returned from Hawaii and school is sucking up all of my time. I'm hoping to get some sewing done this weekend. I did complete the first item for my swap: a black and white striped Tshirt with FOE at the neck and arms. Unfortunately, gremlins have absconded with my camera, so I have no pix.

I didn't make any New Years Resolutions this year, but I do have some goals. I am making great effort to change my diet to one of mostly Vegan fair. I've been doing pretty well with only one slip up of pizza and the other downfall has been staff meetings. They over-stress us with test score data and then throw chocolate candy at us.

I'm starting to make plans for another trip to Uganda, and will be giving more information in another post. I'm so excited to make this next trip as I have another friend who will be going with me to share in the sewing ministry.

On another note, my health has been really good this last year and my RA has been in remission most of the year. A couple of months ago it started biting back. Also, I may have ruptured another disk in my neck and am going in today for an MRI. I'm just praying that I don't have to have neck surgery again.

Kitties, Dobbo, and family are all well and we've been enjoying beautiful weather (that translates into little fog) Andy day that you can see the sky, cloudy or not, is a good day :-)

Well, that's my little update for now, although I hope to give a better post and show some sewing later this week. I'll have to borrow a camera though, I don't think I'm going to find mine :-(

Aprons

I'm so glad I finally got some sewing done! Actually, I had to take today off work so that I could go to the doctor, so I used some time this afternoon to finish up these aprons. They really are belated Christmas presents for my brother and his girlfriend. First I made the black apron for my brother. He is a big Beatles fan, so when I found this fabric several months ago, I bought some thinking I would make a pillow or something. Then I got the idea for an apron for Christmas.








I had a hard time finding something that I thought Margie would like, but when I was at the fabric store I found this fabric and remembered that she is a "horse person" so thought it would be perfect.

I made both of the aprons this afternoon, so I have not given them to them yet. I hope they will like them.











The pattern is an old OOP Simplicity pattern, but I really like it because it has a variety of apron styles in it. Now I want to make one for myself. But first, I really want to get started sewing for my SWAP.

2009 in review

Sewing Resolutions

Well, it is time to look back at my goals from last year and see how I did. These were my goals - lets see how I did:

* 1. Make things that I love - I think I did make more things that I love. Some of my favorites are the gold blouse from BWOF:














The Loes Hinse Oxford pants. I’m wearing these all the time now, so I need to make a few more pair!





















The NewLook 6802 dress. This dress is very flattering and I love wearing it.


















* 2. Pants!
I made 7 pairs of pants this year, but only 3 of them are favorites. The LH Oxford pants are real favorites, and I also really like the Simplicity Amazing fit pants.
* 3. The great white shirt
The gold blouse that I made from BWOF will make the perfect long sleeved white shirt. I did, however, make 4 white shirts - all of which I do like and wear.
* 4. More out than in (fabric)
Well, I have no idea. Somehow I lost the book I was keeping track in, but I probably did not hit this goal.
* 5. BWOF - 7+
Wow! I barely made this goal. I made exactly 7 BWOFs this year.








* 6. make & use TNTs
Not only have I found some new TNTs this year, but 10 of the things I made this year were from patterns I had used at least once before.










































* 7. Make a vintage pattern - I did not meet this goal, although I did make an apron from a “retro” pattern. I hope I can get to some of those vintage patterns this year!



All in all, I think I did pretty well on my goals last year. In total, I made 37 things this year: 9 pants/shorts; 15 tops, 4 skirts, 3 dresses, 2 jacket/toppers, 1 vest, 3 accessories/lingerie.

Sashiko

One of the things I want to incorporate into my SWAP is a little Sashiko. Sashiko is kind of like embroidery done with only running stitches. You can see a tutorial here. I first got interested in Sashiko when I read the book Sashiko Inspirations. I decided to get a kit while I was in Hawaii to help me get a better idea of stitch size and the feeling of the thread and needle.


My original idea was to incorporate this panel into one of the sections of the skirt I am making for the swap, but I think I may go back to one of the more traditional sashiko designs. I have not found sashiko thread in my area, but you can also use embroidery floss or pearl cotton. Sashiko thread has a duller sheen than the other two. I lost my needle at our resort, but found one in a pack of needles I had at home that was almost exactly the same. Any needle with a large enough eye and a sharp point will due. I did preshrink the thread because it is 100% cotton and I'm sure it would shrink. The preprinted design is great because it is water soluble ink and it flakes off with your fingernail, so you can "erase" it as you go. I'm almost done with this design now and am already thinking about what design I will now use on the skirt. I will probably use something similar to one of the designs shown below.

image from www.patchpieces.com

Home Again

It may have been a rough start, but we had a wonderful, relaxing time in Maui. I'm such a sun lover that it was hard to come back to the valley fog. We have had some nice days lately, though and I love it when it is clear and bright.

I'm attempting to do the SWAP at stitcher's guild this year but am having a hard time getting started. I've been having some serious pain in my neck and shoulder all week and have spent most of my time trying to find ways to relieve it. I'm hoping to get motivated to start again tomorrow.
Here's DD & DS on Christmas eve:

Traveling Woes

From Maui 2009

Well, we finally made it to Hawaii.  It seems like the first couple of days were spent trouble shooting, and unfortunately, we lost 2 days of our vacation.

Day 1:  Get up at 3 am in order to get ready and to the airport on time.  Everything goes smoothly, but when we got there, our flight was delayed.  We weren’t worried because we had a 3 hour lay over in Salt Lake City (which By The Way, is NOT on the way to Hawaii from California!)  They kept pushing back the time of our flight, and after waiting in the airport for 4 hours, they sent us home to try again the next day.  Not good.  And  yes, we still had to pay for our parking that day.

 

We went home and slept.  When we got up, we decided to go back to Fresno and spend the night in case there was early morning fog.  Also, we could leave our car at the hotel for a park and fly instead of at the airport.

 

Day 2:  We get a call from our son who is already at the airport and he has forgotten his ID.  Now I’m not happy because we have to drive him back to his house about 15-20 minutes from the airport to get the ID.  As it turns out, the guy at the ticket counter tells him not to worry about it, that he can make it through on his expired drivers licence and a few questions.  We’re all set – until we get to the ticket counter and I realize that I don’t have my ID.  I can’t believe this, and all I can think is that I left it in the jacket I had on the first day, but left it at home.  I am now prepared to send my family off to Hawaii and drive back to Visalia yet again, but I get through security and we figure all is well.

 

Now, I’m worried about not having my drivers licence because not only do I not have any ID with me, I cannot get the rental car nor cash any of the travelers checks, which are all in my name.  We figure we will have the person who is watching our house overnight the ID to us at the resort.  Somewhat inconvenient, but doable.

 

Right before we get on the plane, we find out that my driver’s license is not at home, so I figure maybe it got tossed in my carry on.  We land in Salt Lake City (again, WHY did we have to go to Utah before Hawaii??) and it is 4 degrees.  FOUR!  I’m from California – I have NEVER seen 4 degrees.  Not only that, this airplane lets us off outside and we have to walk on the icy ground to the air terminal.  I would never make it in that weather.

 

We land in Kahului and take a shuttle over to the car rental.  They tell us there is nothing they can do for us.  They are willing to rent to my son (for a higher price, of course), but then we discover that his license is expired.  Oh brother!  We take a shuttle back to the airport and our shuttle driver tells us that we can make a police report and that should be able to work for us to rent a car.  So, after speaking to a couple of different airport police, someone finally gives me the number to the Maui police and they say they will send someone out to make a report and that I should wait curbside.  After standing in the wind for 45 minutes, I call back the police department, and they tell me that the officer is on an emergency and they don’t know how long it will be.  I tell them I will call again after I get to my hotel.

From Maui 2009

 

We end up taking a shuttle to our resort, and finally get here after dark.  I still have no ID, no car, and can’t even cash any travelers checks because they are all in my name.  After we check in, I call the Maui police again, and a nice officer calls me back within ½ hour and takes the report over the phone.  He faxes the report to me at the resort.

 

Day 3:  We get up, have breakfast and go out to the pool.  I start calling rental places, and most of them tell me no, they will not rent a car to me.  Finally, a very nice man at Budget tells me he can get me a car, but not until later that afternoon.  He calls me back later and tells me he can still get the car, but that the place on this side of the island will be closed for a few days, so I will need to get back to the airport – which is on the other side of the island.

 

So, the family decides we will take the buses over to the airport.  The first bus takes us to Whaler’s village, which is a great place to shop and eat.  The next bus takes us to a couple of different stops in  Lahaina where you can go grocery shopping, go to the warf, and do just about anything you would want to do in Maui.  The third bus takes us over to Kahului where there is the DMV, the airport, and the mall.  By this time, we are thinking, “Do we need a car?”  Yes, the shuttle to and from the airport is $70, but a car rental is between $120 and 150 a day.  Bus rides are a dollar.  We decide we will not need a car this trip.  We have just saved ourselves hundreds of dollars.  The buses run until 8 at night, and even if we have to take a taxi home, it is still cheaper than renting a car and you don’t have to worry about parking anywhere. 

 

OK, so we’re glad that we don’t have to rent the car, but I still can’t cash my travelers’ checks!  AND, I’m hoping my police report will serve as adequate ID to get me back on the plane to go home!

From Maui 2009

Another SWAP

Stitchers Guild is doing another SWAP this year (Sewing With a Plan/Purpose) I've kind of laid off of contests for a while, but I do have a purpose for this one. Many of you know that I went to Uganda last year to teach women to sew. Well, we are putting our plans in the works for another venture this year. I am so excited to get to do this again, and another woman from my church is going to be going with me. In fact, she is sort of the reason I got back into sewing again - long story for another post. Anyway, here is what I'm planning for the swap

2 dresses:

• One long dress made from fabric I got in Uganda last year.
• One shorter sheath style dress from a musical print shades of gold cotton

6 tops

• one white button up shirt from embroidered cotton
• a black and green African Print rayon crinkle pull over top (LH Marseille pattern)
• 4 tanks/Ts - a red and black sports wicking fabric, green cotton interlock, black and white stripe knit, black and white print knit similar to ITY jersey

2 bottoms

• LH Swing pattern skirt in black linen
• Marcy Tilton sectioned skirt in green linen

1 extra item

• LH capri or Garbo jacket in green linen

One item must be either embroidered or beaded. I'm thinking of either embroidering sections of the green skirt, or the neckline of the green top.
One item must feature buttons or an unusual closure. Well, the shirt and the jacket both have buttons, but I haven't thought of anything that "featurable" for them. I may do bound buttonholes on the jacket. My other thought was to use a distinctive exposed zipper on the back of the dress, but that wouldn't really be appropriate for my trip. I am thinking though of using a Riri zipper and changing the front of the jacket to a zip closure.

Athena II finished

I'm feeling proud of myself for finally making an "outfit". Yes, I made a shirt to go with a pair of pants. Why is this a "new" concept for me?? Actually, it's not, but I usually end up making things that go with other things I already have. I really want to start making more "go together" pieces so I don't have the "nothing to wear" syndrome.

Now for the Athena 2. This top has interesting lines, but those interesting lines make for some concentration and careful pinning to make sure everything goes together right. Also, since I had never made this top before, it ended up being way to big in the back. I ended up taking in both of the vertical darts in the back, plus taking in the side seams quite a bit. I didn't think I'd ever want to make it again, but after wearing it this afternoon, I'm very pleased with how comfortable it is. Also, most tops with this type of styling (front hem detail that requires being untucked) are usually too short. This one is not. I like the length, and next time, I will let it out just a smidge at the hips, but take in the upper back more.

The pattern instructions tell you how to adjust for a full bust, which is good since the pattern pieces are unusually shaped and I really wasn't sure how to go about doing a FBA. I decided to add some top-stitching detail to emphasize the design lines and then that led me to use black buttons. I like the overall look. I'm not sure if I need to reshape the side seams a little bit. There seems to be a little poofiness above the hip that is unflattering, but that may be because it was pulled up a little bit in the back in the pictures.

What makes this shirt different than any regular shirt?

• square sleeve insertion
• square neck/collar seam
• vest-like front hem
• collar is cut on the bodice and attaches behind the neck (I had a Marfy overshirt like this once)
• Buttons on the short sleeves
• Order of construction - flat construction (sleeves are sewn in before side seams)
• Fusible interfacing is sewn on to facing and then turned and under-stitched
• back hem is finished before side seams are sewn.

So, as you can see, there are definitely some design differences in this pattern. It's nice to have something that's different, but still very wearable. I may make it again since it is so comfortable and easy to wear.




close up of top-stitching






The pants are another pair of the LH Oxford pants. I need to scoop out the crotch a bit in the back on my pattern pieces to match the changes I made on this pair. This is a great RPL that I got from Gorgeous Fabrics and it has the perfect drape for these pants.

I want to make another outfit, but I think I need to make a Christmas dress. The family is going on vacation over Christmas, so I need a new dress!

I have more pictures here.

Athena 2 in the making

What am I working on now? Well, I have another pair of Oxford pants hanging and waiting to be hemmed. To go with them, I am trying the La Fred Athena 2 pattern. I have had this pattern for a couple of years and have never made it. I'm using a nice white cotton and I think I'm going with black buttons. There are interesting lines to the shirt, but that also makes for a bit of a time consuming project as well. All of those corners! The neckline is also sewn in corners, which looks nice, but is hard to get right. Mine is not exactly right. I'm making the short sleeved version. I think I'm a little more than half way finished on this one.

The Oxford Pant

Lately I have been having a facination with Loes Hinse patterns. I've made a few things like the Capri Jacket, Bergman Blouse, Marseilles shirt, New York Dress, and a couple of others. These were all made a couple of years ago, so it's been awhile since I've made a LH pattern.






I've been wanting some elastic waist pants that do not look like pajama bottoms. My rheumatoid arthritis has been acting up lately, and when it does, snaps and buttons are almost impossible to deal with.

I've been looking at the Loes Hinse patterns lately (including Textile Studio patterns). These are the Oxford Pant. I still wasn't sure that I would like these pants, but decided to give them a try anyway. When I finally put them on I fell in love with them. I had tried on a pair of pants at Cold Water Creek a couple of years ago that had this same cut. I loved those pants, but they didn't have them in the color I wanted in my size. I've looked for a pattern with this same cut - and now I've found it. At first, I was a little apprehensive, thinking that these might look dated or just plain unflattering. I'm so glad I tried them, because these are my new favorite pants. I have another pair in black on the cutting table right now!





One of the things I like about these pants are the pockets. Also, the sides are top stitched, and that looks nice. There are darts in the back, which help alleviate the "baggy butt" look.
All in all, I'm really pleased with these pants and think you'll be seeing a lot more of these! I also got the Cruise Pant pattern, and will be trying that soon.