Blog - The Sewing Machine Project

Defining Need

by Margaret | Jun 10, 2015 | General

One of the most important jobs we share as Sewing Machine Project board members is application review. Over the years this process has evolved quite a bit. During the early days...I'm talking 10 years ago...we didn't even have a board. I worked originally with members...

WXPR Radio Interview

by Margaret | May 27, 2015 | General, In the News

I was invited to speak in Eagle River last week at Many Ways of Peace. How lovely to be received by those working for peace! Among the audience members was Emily Bright of WXPR Radio and she did a lovely interview. Here is that link. I hadn't been to that part of...

Mexico

by Margaret | May 19, 2015 | General, International, Recipient Stories

The ladies of Rancho la Joya in Mexico are a resilient bunch. The land that supports and sustains them is rocky and dry with a beating sun that will send you running for shade. I was fortunate to visit in 2012 after my sweet friend, Cherie shined a light on them for...

Thank you, Bernina!

by Margaret | May 13, 2015 | General

We kind of have a "thing" going with Bernina. I guess you could say we're "in a relationship" although I haven't updated our Facebook status. But over the years, Bernina has been incredibly kind to The Sewing Machine Project. Back in 2008, Bernina featured its first...

Let’s figure out shipping

by Margaret | May 12, 2015 | General, Recent Machine Deliveries

The boxes arrive in bundles these days, the bubble wrap in huge rolls that push my porch door ajar. We're shipping machines, folks...lots of them. We always have, really, but the volume is increasing. It's been an evolution as pretty much everything is. In the...

Our Work in May Brava!

by Margaret | May 3, 2015 | General, In the News

The May 2015 issue of Brava magazine is chock-a-block full of great articles. The feature piece is on "Living Local, Thinking Global" and offers brief stories about Madison women who are working on projects that reach beyond our borders. I was so thrilled to be among...

Where they’re headed

by Margaret | May 2, 2015 | General, Recent Machine Deliveries

The Sewing Machine Project board met this past Tuesday. Typically we meet monthly but due to scheduling issues, it had been two. So there was lots to do, lots to catch up on. Most importantly, we needed to review 7 applications for sewing machines. This is truly the...

Connections part II: Ideas

by Margaret | May 1, 2015 | General

I ran into my friend, Lois while biking this morning. Circling back in recognition, we stopped, removed our ear buds and embraced. Catching up, Lois told me about a friend who is connected to a group in Africa dedicated to women's empowerment. They are adding a sewing...

Connection

by Margaret | Apr 30, 2015 | Donors and Donations, General, Stories machines carry

The email arrived like so many others, "I have a sewing machine to donate. I'd like more information." And my reply was like so many others, "here's a link to our website where there is information on collection sites. Thank you so much!" But his reply caught me....

In our own small ways

by Margaret | Apr 24, 2015 | Founder's Musings, General

I'd guess that most of us scan the internet in the morning. I know I do, after coffee and a little inspirational reading, I'm scanning the news, Facebook, my email to open the door and let the world in to my solitude. And so often it's a mix--good news and bad, pithy...