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Monday, November 5, 2012

A Dress for every little girl...

Young volunteer modeling a recent "creation"!
I love how God subtly leads you someplace unexpected, even on the "evil" Internet. While perusing a local church site, I stumbled upon a ministry opportunity that caught my eye: "Dress a Girl Around the World". The opportunity was to gather with other women who like to sew and make dresses for young girls in impoverished countries.  The idea behind the ministry is that every little girl should own at least one dress. Now there's something I can get behind!

This awesome ministry is a division of Hope 4 Women International, a non-profit organization whose goal is to bring dignity to women around the world, and for every girl to know she is loved and respected from childhood. Volunteers around the country get together on a regular basis and create dresses made from something a ubiquitous as a pillowcase.  Using a little elastic, some double fold bias tape, perhaps some lace and embellishments, you can make the cutest little dresses.  It's quick, it's creative, and it's very rewarding, not to mention having fun and fellowship with other volunteers... Imagine a Saturday morning in a big room filled with laughter and chatting, the hum of sewing machines, the laughter of teens at the assembling and ironing stations -  it was almost like being at an old fashion quilting bee. 

The donated materials for each dress are put into zip lock bags.  Volunteers cut the pillow cases, fabrics, elastic and bias tapes. You add the embellishments if you feel extra creative...



The bias tape is sewn around the armholes and form a little strap
that ties the dress at the shoulders with little bows.
I loved this fabric!
Pockets are added to each dress, not only because they are cute,
but because a new pair of panties are slipped into each pocket. How cool is that!
Hard for me to pass up making a "pink" dress!
The dress hems and casings for the elastic are already folded in the kits,
so all you have to do it sew the hem...I used a decorative stitch on my machine for this hem.


How cute is this???


Or this???!!!

one of the many volunteers showing off her creation!
It was fun to see other people's creativity...


The "Sew Fest" lasted for four hours and I was able to finish two dresses. 
 I started a third, but I had to bring it home to finish. 
I grabbed a couple of kits to work on at home until the next month's Sew fest.


I have always had a soft spot in my heart for the children of Africa.  I see the pictures of the little girls and I weep. This ministry is a way for me to actually DO something, rather than just watch their plight on the television. And God knew it was right up my alley!

Check out the Dress a Girl around the World website, and if you're in the Sacramento area, why not join me and the dozens of other women (men are welcome too!!) who want to sew to make a difference in a little girl's life. 

 
The next "sew Fest is scheduled for
Saturday , December 1, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
(THANKS SUE FOR THE CORRECTION!!)
Bayside Church
Room 418
 
or contact Susan Bushnell
Area Coordinator
 

or Sharon Miranda,
Northern California Representative
 
 
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9 comments:

  1. This is such a lovely project and I agree...every girl needs at least one pretty dress (and new panties). This is such a heartwarming post and thank you for doing this wonderful mission. Blessings...

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  2. Hi - I'm Sue Bushell the Area Coordinator .... I just wanted to invite those in the Sacramento area to our next Sew Fest .... SLIGHT CORRECTION is the Time ... it will be 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. in Room 418 (Administrative Complex) Bayside Church - Granite Bay ....

    Around the country in 3 years, ladies just like you have made 124,000 dresses and they have been distributed to 65 countries ...going in people's suitcases to missions, orphanages and schools. Our area have made over 6,000 dresses and distributed to 14 countries!

    "Imagine a world where every little girl owns at least ONE dress ... and you were part of the process!"

    SEW Blessed

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Sue...sorry about that blooper and thanks for posting.!!! Laurel

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  3. What a wonderful way for you to use your talent to share your compassion with those who have so very little.

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  4. I would love to do this - I am going to see if there is something like that here :-)

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  5. I found you over at Creative Mondays. That little dress in your photo looked all too familiar. I'm glad to see others making Little Dresses for Africa. My daughter has been leading up a group that is almost completing 50 dresses.
    See my blog at :
    http://www.thelostapron.com/2012/08/little-dresses-for-africacontd.html

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  6. Oh these are the most adorable little dresses I have ever seen I can see the children loving these special gifts.
    This is such a good cause and you and your parish are to be commended. Great job it is nice to know there are really good people like you out there. Hug B

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  7. We had Sharon come and speak at our MOPS group last year and we made dresses as our "craft" for the day. Such an awesome ministry, would love to get a sewing group like that started at Sunrise!

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Thanks for visiting my blog. I appreciate all those who share and leave their comments very much. Laurel

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