Sewing for a purpose...

Saturday was my third Dress a Girl Around the World SEWFEST at Bayside, and I am hooked - hooked on this ministry, hooked on the people who come to sew, hooked on creating these little dresses for girls everywhere! We learn a little more about this amazing organization each time we come and how it actually benefits young children in some of the worst countries in the world...places where women and little girls are routinely abused.

I hadn't really thought about the notion that when predators see a little girl in torn and dirty clothing, they assume that no one cares about her and thus she is a prime target for potential abuse. I, along with thousands of women around the country who care, want to change that.  And if a new little dress puts a smile on a girl and lifts her self image, then I am ALL IN!

I love the hearts of the ladies who come to the sewfests.  They love to sew, of course, but you can't help but feel like you are part of something special amidst the humming of machines, the laughter, the oohs and ahhs as women show their newest creations. I love is that you don't have to be an expert seamstress to join in...you just have to care.  I love seeing young teenagers show up to help - they iron, assemble, organize and seem to have a ball doing it.

Yesterday, we had several "newbies" at the monthly sewfest. 

It was my pleasure to come alongside Teddy to guide her through the simple pattern.

 

She heard about the Dress a Girl sewfest through a knitting friend and headed right for the store to get a new sewing machine...just for this ministry...you have to love that!
 

 

Teddy's first dress...I hate to sound all schmaltzy, but it gave me more joy just to watch her.

She may be blessing a little girl with her work, but I was so blessed by her joyful spirit .
 

 

My table mate Sue also helped a women who had come for the first time...

she was just learning to sew.

 

 

 

Our Bayside coordinator Sue spends a lot of time cutting,

sorting and generally getting the fabrics ready for the kit assembly.

There are piles and piles of little "soon to be dresses" in all stages of readiness. 

I volunteered to bring home a whole bin of fabrics to serge up the back seams,

before they are put in kits.

 

 

 

My homework...

 

 

I have added to my running total of dresses this month.

When I sew a dress I try to imagine what my own granddaughters might like to wear. 

The creativity that you are allowed in this simple dress pattern is limitless!

 

 

I had to add some red trim to this one...it was starting to look like a

University of Michigan cheerleader outfit with all that bright blue and yellow!! 

 

 

I love making the tiny dresses....

 

 

Details, details...

 

  

Who DOESN'T like Mary Englebright???

 

 

 

 

 

I tell you sincerely, it makes my heart sing!

 

 

Laurel. Dressing Girls Around the World, one little dress at a time:)