Last spring, Kay emailed me to ask if she could teach my wrap it up bag to the "tailors" at Musana Children's Home in Uganda, "so that they could make these bags and sell them to benefit the orphanage."
After I answered her back, I didn't think anything more of it, until I received her email a month or so ago giving me an update.
Not only did Kay update me in written form, she also sent along these photos. The first one is of her and Irene. It appears Kay is getting a lesson from Irene on using a treadle machine before Kay teaches Irene the ins and outs of the wrap it up bag.
And here is Irene with a wrap it up bag!
Kay says, "not only are the bags selling here stateside, they are also selling them in Uganda where no one has ever thought of using a reusable bag!
It was sheer joy to teach Irene how to make your bag. She and the other ladies work on really lousy treadle machines with the worst thread tension you can imagine! They use a stick inserted in the bobbin to wind their bobbins! It took me forever to get the hang of those machines. But what fun! And as an a muzungu (white person) telling her, "i sew just like you in america" it gave her such affirmation and value."
Kay, I just want to say how much your email has touched my heart! I so appreciate the time and energy you have/will invest in the women and children at Musana. Thank you for caring enough to involve yourself in others lives by teaching others "how to fish"! And thank you for allowing me to be a small part of it all!
So what do you say? Would you like to get involved too? Check out Musana's website here! Want to make a donation? You can do that online here!
And here's one last gratuitous shot of "Solomon", one of the children at the Children's home.
Happy, happy Wednesday to you all!!
~Penny
Penny, I can't think of many things as heart warming as this! This is so special. Thanks for sharing with all of us :)
Posted by: Erin | 01 February 2012 at 06:13 AM
Isn't that just wonderful!
Posted by: Amy | 01 February 2012 at 06:26 AM
How wonderful Penny! I learned how to sew on a treadle, not that I ever produced anything as usable as these wrap it up bags. Amazing!
Posted by: Leila | 01 February 2012 at 06:35 AM
Congrats, Penny, that your bag is making such a difference! Go you!
Posted by: Safieh | 01 February 2012 at 06:35 AM
I have been giving alot of thought to how I can be of service and this is such inspiration!
Posted by: Tara | 01 February 2012 at 06:37 AM
Oh my goodness what an inspiration - you must be so pleased!!!!
Posted by: Allie | 01 February 2012 at 06:41 AM
Wow -- what a wonderful post Penny. Thanks for sharing -- definitely a day-brightener!
Posted by: Thimbleanna | 01 February 2012 at 06:50 AM
Your post warms my heart. God Bless you.
Posted by: Betty Lou | 01 February 2012 at 07:01 AM
this is really amazing penny, seriously brought a tear to my eye.
Posted by: anna | 01 February 2012 at 07:34 AM
awesome, penny! how wonderful that your tutorial is helping these lovely women to make a living. and i love that photo of solomon!
Posted by: randi | 01 February 2012 at 07:52 AM
"coming out" to smile at this story. Makes my day.
Posted by: Jean | 01 February 2012 at 08:04 AM
I enjoyed this post so much! How wonderful for you to share a part of their lives, and then share it with us! Thanks.
Posted by: Lynne | 01 February 2012 at 08:20 AM
Thank you so much for sharing with them and us! Such a happy start to my day reading their story.
Posted by: Angela | 01 February 2012 at 08:32 AM
I absolutely love this story. I bet you never thought your bag could make such a huge impact on a community, did you? This is so awesome! Thanks for sharing. :)
Posted by: Kisha | 01 February 2012 at 08:36 AM
Wow! A blessing!! God is good!
Posted by: Karin | 01 February 2012 at 09:14 AM
Awesome! Little things like that go a long way.
I've been involved in knitting baby sweaters to ethiopia, you can find more info here: https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=406666957386&v=wall
they have both a knitted version, and a sewn one too!
Posted by: suvi | 01 February 2012 at 09:30 AM
What a special effort to be involved in! Their smiles say so much and the bags look fantastic. It's no surprise that they are selling well!
Posted by: krista - Poppyprint | 01 February 2012 at 10:34 AM
How utterly, utterly fabulous! I'm just thrilled to see this here, Penny. Thanks so much for sharing. What a wonderful thing.
Posted by: Rachel at Stitched in Color | 01 February 2012 at 11:03 AM
I'm so touched by this, i'm choking up! How wonderful that a small contribution by you makes a huge difference in someone's life! So heartwarming!
Posted by: cinzia allocca | 01 February 2012 at 11:08 AM
How wonderful to be part of something that makes such a difference!
Posted by: Carmen | 01 February 2012 at 11:18 AM
With the internet, no matter how far apart we are, we can all touch each other's lives. This was really special!
Posted by: Suzanne | 01 February 2012 at 12:21 PM
What a thrill this must be Penny! Wonderful
Posted by: Kerry | 01 February 2012 at 12:33 PM
What a great story Penny. I just love the photos.
Posted by: Mama Urchin | 01 February 2012 at 01:17 PM
Awesome, just AWESOME!!!
Posted by: Arlene | 01 February 2012 at 03:52 PM
What a wonderful story, Penny; I bet you never expected anything like that when you started blogging!
Posted by: Lynne | 01 February 2012 at 09:01 PM
very very cool!
Posted by: Debbie | 01 February 2012 at 09:45 PM
oh, wow, penny. that is so. very. awesome.
Posted by: amandajean | 03 February 2012 at 06:52 AM
This is so cool! Wonderful post!! :)
Posted by: Brenda | 03 February 2012 at 02:31 PM
very heartwarming (:
Posted by: jody deschenes | 08 February 2012 at 12:41 PM
Wow! I'm impressed with everyone involved!
Posted by: Tabitha | 10 February 2012 at 11:37 AM
This is just a great post - love the help going out! And beautiful bags they're making!
Posted by: nanann | 23 February 2012 at 10:47 AM
this is the coolest, Penny. thank you for sharing your pattern with them and sharing the photos with us.
Posted by: quirkygranolagirl | 23 February 2012 at 05:39 PM