Penny Pickles

Welcome back – I’ve been on vacation – in a number of senses. I’m back though, life has a way of slapping you back to reality after a week long retreat of family time and no deadlines.

I’ve got lots to share, lots going on, but a couple of things I’d like to get on the calendar.

First up – my Mavuno Market trunk show. I’m hosting on Sunday, April 22 from 1-2:30 pm. It’s open house still so show up when ever and stay for however long. Totally relaxed, no pressure. I’m excited because I’m starting my Christmas shopping (yes you may hang your head and shake it with disgust) early – people that I wouldn’t think would be interested in these handmade goods have shown interest and I’ve always got my ear tuned to potential and unexpected gifts. I’ll also have some goodies and maybe it will even be nice enough to hang on the deck and visit in the sun. Let me know if you are going to come, and if you’ve specifically requested items I should be getting my trunk some time this week. I will message you if I’ve gotten your item(s). I hope to see at least some of you here supporting this amazing cause. We have such a privilege in this country to do what we want and while the economy stinks and jobs aren’t the easiest to come by, getting by is possible. For so many women in this world getting a job at Walmart or cleaning houses to make a ends meet isn’t an option. There are no Walmart’s, there are no houses to clean. Can you imagine living in a one room shack or hut with your children and no means to support them? I can not and I know I am incredibly blessed.  I like this verse:

1 John 3:17-18 “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” (NIV)

It kind of sums it up for me. I will get off my guilt box now.

This week I start my residential mural and I am incredibly excited. I am also working on a couple of paintings as well as my umbrella for the Nickel Plates Arts District. All the while subbing and editing the hundreds of photos we took on vacation and last but not least finally showing my entry reveal. Finally.

So hang in there, see you soon and as always – Thanks!

I follow a blog call The Anderson Crew, they’re a fun bunch and Emily, mom and blogger is a riot, adorable and real. I really enjoy her blog entries. She also has an amazing, adorable and exhausting family of six. She’s 30, hello! I feel like a slacker with my three at thirty-five, but in any event she’s one of those bigger bloggers that has actual sponsors and such. This month’s featured sponsor is Mavuno Market. It’s a wonderful site that sells items that are handmade products from Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Ghana, India, and Haiti. They  are committed to giving 100% of all profits back to artisans and organizations that will help further our vision of fighting poverty. I strongly suggest you check out their site, they have some amazing products. That brings me to my point – the also allow individuals to host trunks shows. Holla!

So I’m hosting a trunk show. My trunk will be shipped the week of April 9th. I will have a variety of items available for sale – I get no benefit for hosting this show, I try to sell as much as I can and what I can’t I send back with the balance of what I sold. So here’s the fun part – since they won’t be packing up my trunk until they get back from a trip to Africa you have time to puruse their site and see if there is anything you are interested in- I can make requests for those items. Here are few of the goodies I just recently purchased:

The thicker bracelet in the natural color, it comes in a ton of beautiful colors though, including the black and white zig zag pattern you see.

The smaller yellow disc earrings, if you know me, I’m a earring addict. I may or may not need an intervention.  I needed some yellow earrings and these looked perfect. (See I might have a problem)

I got the smaller 7″ diameter bowl and I plan on hanging it up on the wall in my entry. I just thought the pattern was beautiful and the colors were perfect for our newly transformed space (pics coming soon). I may have to get another, larger bowl for my living room. A daily reminder for my blessings.

So please, please take a look, their items are beyond reasonable AND they help empower and aid women in other countries who wouldn’t dream of independence, or selling their skill for any kind of money to support their family. I will be hosting my party in  mid – April – so far I haven’t pinned down a date, but I’m thinking either Sunday, April 15 or Sunday, April 22nd. You don’t have to attend to purchase, I can set aside items for you and we can connect during the week.

I can not explain, but in the last year I have had something weighing in my heart, I’ve been addressing it by sponsoring a child in Rwanda, whom we adore, we have begun to pray on whether adoption from Africa is something that our family should consider and proceed with, the issues and lives of the people that live a world away make me take greater stock in what I have before me, my life, my family, my home, my freedom. They least I can do is host a party and gather some of my best girls, feed them some yummy snacks, and tempt them to purchase some beautiful items that are handmade by women, just like them, who live in very, very different circumstances.

Please let me know if you are interested in attending. Please let me know if you are interested in anything specific. You can contact Mavuno Market directly if you, yourself would like to host a trunk show to help these women make a better life for themselves and for their family.

As always thanks!