Graduate Scarves

I have written about making graduation scarves (Scarves of Pride ) for the graduates of Women's Empowerment ("WE") 8 week job readiness training.  WE holds about 4 to 5 sessions a year, and I've been making their scarves for maybe two years. It's just another way to use my sewing talents for good.

This March graduating class will the the first class to hold their ceremony in the B Street Theater in downtown Sacramento.  It's a great venue for such an auspicious occasion, so I thought I might make something special this time.  The graduates always choose their colors, and this class chose Gold and Burgundy. I immediately thought of the USC Trojans and decided perhaps a touch of femininity might be in order, lest we look like football fans.

Serging the edges of this Poly charmeuse is the easy part...I used a beautiful shiny gold thread and set my Imagine on a narrow rolled hem setting.

The fabric is not as drapey as a silk (way too expensive), so I thought I might pleat it, so that it would lay flat around the neck. A hand made flower in burgundy fabrics will be attached.

I've made "silk" flowers before and they are not that hard, just time consuming.  All you need is several sized squares and a candle. Using Polyester fabric is important as it melts. Silk would catch fire and burn.

Watch your fingers!!

I chose gold beads (6) to hold the layers (4) together.

They are sewn on to the pleated scarf, about 18 inched from the bottom of one side.

Finished!

I hope the graduates feel special. It's always a pleasure to attend the ceremony, even if it is a three-hankie event.  Their stories are incredible and their accomplishment is profound. 

I love being a part of this awesome organization. 

Read all about it on the web at http://www.womens-empowerment.org/

Laurel.  Giving Back.

Scarves of Pride

A graduation sash/stole has a important role played in a graduation ceremony. The sashes, stoles and scarves are meant to depict various forms of meanings such as being a member of a specific organization in school, to honor accomplishments or to show gratitude. They are considered to be a way for the graduating students to reveal their gratitude and appreciation of the ones who have assisted with their needs during their educational life: " Thanks for helping me make it through. Thanks for making it possible for me to succeed. I didn't do this alone."


Each graduating class of Women's Empowerment chooses a  signature color for the scarves they are to wear during the ceremony. The scarves are passed on from sister to sister as they enter the stage. I have been privileged to make two sessions' scarves.  It's another way for me to give back to this wonderful organization for homeless women who are striving to better themselves technically, emotionally and spiritually.

Here's the "How-to"...

This session my dear friend and collaborator Suzan, aka Fabriclady from Stonemoutain and Daughter Fabrics donated a lovely stretch lace fabric in "Magenta", the chosen color for Session 59 grads. There was about 8 or 9 yards on the bolt, so I hoped there would be enough for the 24 scarves.

I used my entryway floor tiles as a way to size and cut the fabric...

 I used purple thread to serge the edges - purple is Women's Empowerment's logo color.

Once the scarves were cut and serged, I embellished one side with jewels to add some sparkle. Some jewels needed adhesive and other were supposed to be self adhesive.  (I use the term loosely as I saw several ladies with little jewels stuck on their cheeks...must have fallen off during the ceremony) So use the glue!

The embellishments were only added to one side of the scarf, to give meaning to the notion that the ladies change during the 8 week program...

And here's the story..

 
Graduation ceremonies at Women's Empowerment are a three hankie morning. Listening to the personal stories of overcoming adversity and fighting through struggles is a sort of "rising out of the ashes" triumph for many of these women. They emerge from the intense 8 week program with a new hope for the future, literally "empowered" to change their destiny. In the words of one graduate, "I am no longer defined by my past".

 

The success of Women's Empowerment is well established in the community, and they take notice of the accomplishments of these women in the public media, noting that many of them find housing and jobs as well as reestablish broken relationships with their children and families.

I often wonder what separates me from many of these women when I hear their stories.  Why did their lives take such a hard turn from the dreams that they must have had as children? We "can't know", as my daughter would say...we can only smile at the way they determined to take a new path toward a self-worth they never had, an inner strength they found and a budding confidence that developed in just a short eight weeks.

And the scarves? It's just a small thing for me, but I am honored to have served this awesome organization. And thanks, FabricLady, for being a part of something that's special to me.

Laurel. Because I can...

Celebrating women...

Most of my friends are probably getting tired of my raves about Women's Empowerment, the organization that takes up much of my free time. I'm not sure I've ever been so wrapped up in seeing the success of so many women, so it's difficult NOT to share it to anyone who will listen.

Those who have known me for a long time know that I struggled in my younger years, just like many of the women who work to make a better life for themselves through Women's Empowerment. I was never homeless, but I wasn't a very successful husband picker (before my sweet Dave) and I surely wasn't particularly smart in other life choices. In truth, I'm not sure what separates me from these women, why I was spared from a downward spiral of my own creation. Perhaps because I had a strong family support system, something many of these women lack. It wasn't luck or karma, I'm sure, but most likely a merciful God who watched out for me before I ever knew Him.

Regardless of how I got here, it gave me a heart for these women.  From my reception desk, I see them walk into WE in the midst of their own personal storm and walk out months later with a new self-confidence and renewed hope.  We are their support system, their cheerleaders, their teachers, their mentors. They learn to smile all over again, and I am moved.

Last night we celebrated their successes and achievements at WE's annual gala. If I could have captured a photo of all 100 of them I would have.

What a night! 

What special women! 

MAGIC!!!

 

 

I am humbled that they call me friend.

Laurel

"Say Yes to the Dress!"

May 14, 2015 - You still have time to buy tickets:)

Every year since its inception, Women's Empowerment graduates are the special guests at the organization’s annual Gala. This event is the largest source of fund raising for the non-profit, with almost 100 graduates in attendance along with corporate sponsors and community donors.

For some women, it is a chance to be part of a festive evening that they might not otherwise experience. But more importantly, it is an evening to highlight their achievements and victories, both large and small, as they strive to make a better life for themselves and their children.

The preparation leading up to the Gala begins early in the year, as staff and volunteers begin collecting gowns and evening apparel from the community.  The huge storage area bustles with excitement as the event draws near, as each woman arrives at her appointed time to find the dress of her dreams.  To help her along the way, each woman has her own “personal shopper”, a volunteer from the community who helps her navigate the racks of gowns, hundreds of shoes, purses and pieces of jewelry.

All she has to do is “Say YES to the Dress”.

Not sure who had more fum...the ladies trying on the dresses, or the volunteers helping them...

 

The perfect shoes for the perfect dress???

So many purses, so little time...

When I showed her how beautiful the back was, she said "YES"!

The right necklace makes you feel special.

And the right earrings...

We loved how a dress was tried by multiple women before it found the right home...

She rockin' this dress!! It's a definite YES!

Mother and daughter and baby on the way!

You can't go to a Gala without showing off your "Bling"!

And just in case the women couldn't find the perfect bracelet or earrings, I held a two day "Bling Class" for the grads attending the Gala.  I brought all my beads from home and helped the ladies make their own jewelry for the event.  Many of them had never made any jewelry, but were thrilled with their results. As an added bonus, it gave us all a chance to visit, laugh and share while creating a memento of sorts from their evening at the Gala.

 

Couldn't have done better myself! I can't wait to see them all at the gala!

Laurel. 
Support Women's Empowerment with a donation 
on the May 5th Big Day of Giving!