Sharing their love with the less fortunate children around the world

They say to 'Love life and it will return the favor'. And here is a great example of Ladies loving life and sharing their love with the less fortunate children around the world. From a Group of staff from Dromana Secondary College, Victoria in their first sewing bee. 

Picture sent by Barbara Kerby. Thank heaps, ladies!

Donation Acknowledgement FY13/06 #79 - From a special group of artists and crafters of Jabiru

This parcel of 8 dresses and number 79 on the list is from a special group of artists and crafters in Jabiru, about 3 hours out of Darwin in the national park and the project was organized by Penny Hart. The parcel was sent by Ann O'Dea who is one of the group members. The group took up this project and dyed some white sheets donated by a 4 star hotel which were still in excellent condition. Some of the fabrics used to make the dresses also came from their cupboards. They created some lino blocks to add prints to the materials. Some of the group members are great sewers, some are new but everyone did a great job making the dresses from start to finish which can be seen from the images below. The group hopes that the girls who will be receiving them will enjoy wearing the dresses the same way they enjoyed making them.

To Ann and the rest of the crew, I am sure that each girl who will be lucky enough to receive and wear the dresses will have a great time wearing it. Who knows it could be the very first dress they will ever own. Thank you for the time and effort you all spent dying and adding prints to the dresses which makes it more special. Thank you for your kindness and generosity. Much appreciated.

Photo of the Day

This is today's photo of the Day. The Ladies of Kapunda in their third sewing bee of the year.

Well done Ladies!

Sewing Bees

My most frequently received emails (FRE's for short :-)) are enquiries on Sewing Bees. I would love to organize a sewing bee. This is the number #1 wish I have on my bucket list and still does not have a tick mark after 24 months. Due to circumstances beyond my control(i.e. work, family, coordinating,organizing,raising fund tasks for Dress A Girl including sewing at least one dress a day which I don't want to give up but I have been missing a lot of days now) sewing bee is still a dream for me which I hope to achieve in the near future... BUT.... there is a group called BobKin Sewciety by Vanessa Gowans. I believe the current members are in the process of organizing sewing bees and they come from different locations around Australia, please join the group and join in their discussions on organizing sewing bees. And if you live in Kapunda S.A. or in any suburb near Kapunda, there is a group called Dress A Girl Around the World-Kapunda Ladies sewing group, you may want to join in this group too for sewing bee schedules being organized by Deborah Parish. 

Here are the links to the facebook group -
1) for the Bobkin Society -
                           https://www.facebook.com/groups/BobkinSewciety/?fref=ts
2) the Kapunda Ladies sewing group -
                           https://www.facebook.com/groups/433445666746866/

Join any of these groups whichever is more convenient for anyone and have fun making dresses! Thanks!

Ladies of Kapunda Sewing Bee #2 for the year

Here are some of the Ladies of Kapunda who joined the scheduled Sewing Bee for the month of March. They completed 120 dresses and pairs of shorts. Isnt that an incredible job!

The dresses and shorts they have made this month and for the next couple of months are in preparation for their 'Buy A Dress-Send A Dress' promotion of Dress A Girl Around the World upcoming May event in collaboration with the Kapunda Quilters' Quilt Exhibition. The money they raised will be used to sponsor women in the business programs of Hope-4-Women Intl by the ladies of Kapunda S.A.

Another Sewing Bee schedule for the ladies of Kapunda S.A.

Yes, Ladies of Kapunda S.A. and from the nearby suburbs, there is another Dress A Girl Around the World sewing bee scheduled for this Saturday, 9th of March 2013 from 10:00am - 4:00pm at the Lutheran Church Hall, South Tce., Kapunda S.A.

Craft and Hope in collaboration with Dress A Girl Around the World where everyone meets and sew, quilts, knits, crochets for your favourite charity.Everyone is welcome.

For those who plan to join in this event, please contact Kathy Pfeiffer (85662189) and/or Deborah Parish(85663628)  and/or if you want more details on this event. Please help spread the word! Thank you everyone!

Sharing pictures from yesterday's sewing bee in South Australia

What is a sewing bee? According to wiki it is a social event centered around sewing. Participants either work on a project together (such as a large quilt, or blocks of knitting for a blanket) or individual projects. Refreshments are traditionally served and the atmosphere is party-like, similar to an afternoon tea.

And these ladies live up to the definition. These ladies from Kapunda, South Australia had their first sewing bee of the year 2013 yesterday, the 2nd of Feb. These ladies are sewing for a great cause. They are helping make a difference in the lives of disadvantaged girls around the world by sewing a dress for every girl deserves to own at least one.

Way to go Ladies! Thank you!

Ladies of Kapunda S.A. activities in 2013

Am starting to hear the sound of the trumpet...three more days....and it will be 2013. A new year, perhaps a new start for some of us who will dare to be different. A year of living making a difference, the theme of Dress A Girl (Around the World) Australia's activities for next year. While some people will have a year of living dangerously, we will be living a year making a difference. And the Ladies of Kapunda of South Australia will be doing just that with a busy schedule ahead of them in making a difference in the lives of the less fortunate.

First of their event is their joint project with Craft and Hope which they started this year. It will continue next year where the participants will sew, knit, crochet or quilt for their favourite charity. This will be held at the address below -

Kapunda Lutheran Church Hall

South Terrace Kapunda

First session for 2013 will be on the 2nd of Feb and Charity Bees are every second Saturday in the month from March 2013 from 9:30-4pm. Bring your own sewing and craft supplies. Patterns and fabric are available for “Dress a Girl around the World”.

Second of their event is their collaboration with the Kapunda Quilters. They are thinking of holding a 'Buy a dress, Send a dress' type of promotion for Dress A Girl to raise some funds for postage and maybe donate to the home site in the US. This promotion will be a joint effort with the Kapunda Quilters who are also holding a Quilt Exhibition. This will be held on the weekend of the 18th and 19th of May from 10am-4pm at the address below -

C.W.A Hall, Main Street Kapunda

Entry gold coin donation to Fred Hollows Foundation.
Hand made items for sale, children’s clothing, Sausage sizzle, Quilt Raffle, craft and fabric stalls  and viewers award for best quilt.

For both events and for more information, best to contact Deborah Parish at 85663628 or send her an email by clicking here. Save these dates on your diary.

Sewing Bee event in South Australia

The ladies of Kapunda, South Australia have done it again. Today they had their final sewing bee event for the year 2012.

Great job ladies and lots of thanks for the unwavering support you have provided! Watch them make a return in 2013 with more passion and fun making dresses for the less fortunate children around the world. 

Donation Acknowledgements FY2012 #117 - From the Ladies of Kapunda S.A. Sewing Bee #5

Yes, another big batch of dresses from the Ladies of Kapunda, South Australia on their fifth sewing bee. A collection of  26 dresses and 5 skirts. Dresses on this batch are actually very cute. The 5 skirts were made by Loretta Vodic (and who by the way, did all the labelling on the dresses. Thanks!) and the dresses were sewn by Deborah Parish(4x), Shirley Bell(2x), Chris Redden(7x), Loris Pullen(11x) and Margaret Adair(2x).
Here are the dresses and the skirts from the collection -

As always, Ladies, thank you so much for your dedication in this campaign. Thank you for your unwavering support of making sure that every girl gets to own at least one dress for each of them deserves to own one. Thank you all for your kindness and generosity. Much appreciated.

A record 64 garments in one day

"64 garments in one day" by the Kapunda Ladies in their third Sewing Bee yesterday, the 26th of Sept. in South Australia.

Amazing work done by - from bottom left; Deborah Parish, Chris Redden, Delilah Balmer, Nelda Hossack (top row from right), Margaret Adair, Cassie Ashley, Loris Pullen, Reet Perry, Valda Ridley , Sally Giles (not in the picture) and Betty Bosley(not in the picture) came and donated HEAPS of bias binding and fabric. 

What an great accomplishment ladies. You are all a star!! You make me feel so proud of what Dress A Girl Around the World - Dress A Girl Australia has accomplished so far with your unwavering support. The looks and big smiles on your faces says it all!

Special thanks to Deborah for organizing these sewing bees. I also would like to thank Deborah's husband Brian(again) for helping these ladies in the manly tasks of lifting their sewing tools and arranging of the area making sure that these ladies are comfortable enough to enjoy their day and many thanks as well to Pastor Paul Smith for allowing these ladies to use his One Light Church. 

Thank you so much everyone. Everything you did is very much appreciated. Thank you!

Donation Acknowledgements FY2012 #75 - 35 Dresses from the Ladies of Kapundah Sewing Bee #3

Yes, 35 dresses from the Ladies of Kapundah and nearby suburbs/towns of Tonunda, Adelaide, Eudenda, Rhynie of South Australia for Donation #75. These dresses were sewn during their Sewing Bee #3 last June 30 and donated to Dress A Girl Australia for the less fortunate children around the world. These 35 dresses are in addition to the 7 dresses from Cassie Ashley(Donation #74) and 14 pairs of shorts from Loris Pullen(Donation #73).

Here are the dresses from Parcel #1 which had 20 dresses from Loris Pullen(9x), Margaret Adair(10x) and Deborah Parish(1x) - 

and the dresses from Parcel #2 which had 15 dresses from Margaret Doecke(2x) Veronica Martin(1x) Delilah Balmer(2x) and Deborah Parish(10x). 

A total of  42 dresses and 14 pairs of shorts in one sewing bee. Great job ladies!

Thank you to Deborah Parish for organizing these sewing bees. This time parcels to send the dresses to me in Sydney were donated by Margaret Adair and Loris Pullen. Thank you ladies.

This sewing bee wouldnt have been made possible without the location so again our special thanks to Pastor Paul Smith for allowing these ladies to use his One light Church.

Last but not the least a big, big thank you to Brian Parish, Deborah's husband for all the hard work in making sure that these ladies have a successful sewing bee, for being there to help these ladies lift and carry their sewing tools from the car to the sewing room and back to the car when they have all completed their tasks and for unpacking and packing the furnitures. Thank you for supporting these wonderful ladies! Much appreciated. And once again, thank you ladies for your unwavering support of Dress A Girl Around the World. Thanks a whole lot!

Please make contact

If there is anyone from Launceston, Tasmania who would like to meet up with other ladies around the area for a sewing bee, please make contact or send me an email at dressagirlaustralia@gmail.com so I can connect you with other interested sewers. Thank you.

Sneak Preview of an upcoming Sewing Activity in the Phils

Here is a sneak preview of an upcoming sewing activity in the Philippines using the pillowcase dress kits sent to ECPAT Phils. This workshop is intended to help some of the girls in their early teens and under their care and guidance to learn extra vocational skills such as sewing to help them find a better way to earn a living and perhaps a stepping stone to a better life.

More photos will be made available as soon as the workshop is completed.

** ECPAT Philippines' mission is to end child prostitution, child pornography and trafficking of children for sexual purposes. It is a global organization after the welfare of children. Philippines is one of the countries who is very actively involved in this mission. To know more about ECPAT Philippines, click on the link below -

                              http://www.ecpatphilippines.com/index.php/en/

Donation Acknowledgements FY2012 #55 - Second Batch of Dresses from the Ladies of Kapundah South Australia

The second sewing bee event organized by Deborah Parish last 12th of May has produced 21 dresses. The event was attended by ladies not only from Kapundah, South Australia but this time from the nearby towns of Tonunda, Eudonda, Hewitt and Freeling. Here are the dresses sewn and donated by them -

Chris Redden

Sally Giles

Loris Pullen

Veronica Martin

Deborah Parish

                                  Liz D'Giacomo      Valda Ridley        Delilah Balmer


To all the ladies, thank you so much for your unwavering support of the cause and special thanks to Deborah for organizing the event. The time, materials and effort you all spent in making the 21 dresses is very much appreciated.

I'd like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Pastor Paul Smith for allowing these ladies to use the Light Church in Kapunda, S.A. for their sewing bee events not only once but twice and I hope for all the future sewing bee events that would be organised to make dresses for disadvantaged children around the world. Thank you!

Second Sewing Bee by the Ladies of Kapunda South Australia

It happened once again!  Last Saturday was the second sewing bee event organized by Deborah Parish in Kapunda, South Australia. Here are some of the ladies who joined in sewing 21 dresses during the day for the disadvantaged girls around the world.

Many of the ladies bought fabrics especially for the sewing bee event. Deborah's feedback about the day was that all attendees were more relaxed compared to the first event they had for every one knew what to do this time and so everyone enjoyed the lovely atmosphere. Everyone is looking forward to the third sewing bee event scheduled at the end of June. 

To Deborah, thank you for organizing the sewing bee and special thanks to Veronica from the Dookery ( a sewing and alteration shop) and Margaret Doecke from Eudunda ("Country Fabrics N Things ") for donating heaps of fabrics for the ladies to sew. All the time, materials and effort everyone spent in making sure that the sewing bee event was a success by all the ladies of Kapunda, South Australia who attended the event is very much appreciated. 

Thank you and thank you all for your unwavering support of the cause of Dress A Girl Australia! 

Donation Acknowledgements FY2012 #37 - Dresses from the Ladies of Kapundah

From the ladies of Kapundah who did their first sewing bee last Mar 31st organized by Deborah Parish are the 17 dresses below in different sizes.

I hope I did not mix this up with another donor's dress but am pretty sure I received 17 dresses from the following ladies : (1) Deborah Parish (2) Jade Balmer (3) Cassie Ashley (4) Veronica Martin (5) Johanna Sawyer and (6) Margaret Doeke.

Two more sewing bee events have been scheduled on May 12 and June 30 in Kapunda. Click here for more details.

To Deborah and the rest of the ladies of Kapundah, South Australia, thank you so much for these dresses. Thank you for your support and in helping make a difference in this world especially to the disadvantaged children around the world....one dress at a time. Thank you.

Sewing Bee Invite for all ladies in Kapunda

To all the ladies in Kapunda, South Australia and nearby suburbs. If you have nothing planned to do on the 12th of May  and 30th of June, please mark your calendars for another sewing bee day in Kapunda being organized by Deborah Parish. Please see below the invite to the sewing bee and the contact details.

Hope you all join Deborah on these days and have fun making dresses for disadvantaged children around the world! Don't miss the fun!

Meet the ladies of Kapunda, South Australia

I would like to share a photo of the ladies of Kapunda, South Australia on their first ever sewing bee for Dress A Girl Around the world especially for those readers out there who does not have a facebook account or do not want to add 'facebooking' in their daily activities.

This event happened last Saturday, 31st of March and was organized by Deborah Parish. I had this photo posted in my facebook page with the caption of -

'I have to post this as I feel so proud and happy. Meet the ladies of Kapunda South Australia on their first sewing bee. So full of energy, happy and proud with what they have accomplished. Well done, Deborah'

Here is more good news! More sewing bees have been organized. Deborah has them scheduled on the 12th of May and 30th of June 2012. Location will be provided once I have confirmed the details.

So ladies in Kapunda or anywhere near the area, if you have nothing planned on these dates, tick your calendars now for another fun day of sewing to make dresses for the less fortunate girls around the world.

For those who want to organize their own sewing bees and need more information, please send an email to dressagirlaustralia@gmail.com.

Sewing Bee in Kapunda South Australia

There is going to be a sewing session tomorrow, Saturday, 31st of March from 12:30-4pm. Location is corner of Brown St and Main St (Light Church) organized by Deborah Parish. Calling all ladies who have no plans tomorrow afternoon, how about joining the other ladies in their first sewing bee. If you know of anyone who might be interested in this kind of activity, please help spread the word around.

If you miss this session, dont worry as Deborah plans to hold more sewing bees. The tentative schedule for the next session will be on the 5th of May. More details will be posted on this site when available.