Celebrating 20 years in 2025!
We arrived in Kosovo yesterday. By “we” I mean myself, Gani Ahmetaj (a Kosovo citizen, residing in the U.S.), Al Anding, who funds this project, and John Kappelman, a dairyman who is interested in helping develop the dairy industry here in Kosovo. Low mountains and foothills surround Pristina, the largest
We are so pleased to add In Stitches in Johnson City, Tennessee to our list of collection sites! Their address is: In Stitches 305 W Oakland Ave Suite 170 Johnson City, TN (423) 283-0456 This all came about because one of their employees asked if they could become a collection
It seems that everywhere I see or hear mention of “rewards”. We earn rewards for spending a certain amount at countless shops. We earn rewards for banking with certain banks. Airlines reward us with miles and points as we choose them for flights. Even in church one hears that there’s
In April, 16 machines, generously donated by Bernina were sent to Skenderaj, Kosovo and have safely arrived. In June I will be traveling to Kosovo with Gani Ahmetaj and Al Anding to work on setting up a sewing area and meeting with the local women to plan out a cooperative
In 2008, the Sewing Machine Project won the echievement award from etown radio. Etown is a national radio program designed to “educate, entertain and inspire a diverse community through music and conversation, to create a socially responsible and environmentally sustainable world.” The program originally aired last spring but is being
Please take a moment to read the wonderful article that was recently published in the online and print versions of Madison’s Capital Times! There is so much going on with The Sewing Machine Project right now! We have affected hundreds of lives in such a creative way. During these tough
M&R Sewing, on Madison’s West side, recently became a collection site for The Sewing Machine Project! M&R is Madison’s Bernina and Babylock dealer. Their address is: 6005 Odana Road in Madison. Be sure to pay them a visit when you’re in town! Thank you, M&R!!
In the Hmong language, “kajsiab” means the relief of stress from worrying about the safety of loved ones. Yesterday, I visited Kajsiab House, here in Madison. This is a place of sanctuary for Hmong elders–people who experienced things I can’t begin to fathom during the Vietnam War. I became aware
I had the privilege of meeting Miss Antoinette on my very first trip to New Orleans. At that time, the Mother in Law lounge was gutted, awaiting work after Hurricane Katrina. Antoinette graciously invited us in and showed us around. I was instantly impressed with her strength and kindness. Since
The UPS man arrived at the house the other day with 4 heavy boxes–a donation of fabric, shipped all the way from Idaho. As I sorted through the neatly folded pieces I began to think about what our fabric says, how it speaks. Pastel remnants, gentle prints, humming a lullabye
I received a huge box yesterday! In it was an old machines, well-used, and beautifully kept. It touched me that someone would part with this machine and donate it to someone who needed it but what touched me even more was the note that accompanied the machine: Dear new owner
On our last trip to New Orleans we arranged to have a machine delivered to Marilyn…a most inspirational woman. Marilyn lost her sewing machine in Hurricane Katrina and had missed sewing so much. What really struck me, though, was the story of her history. Marilyn grew up in a family
