More than a mile #12 - 10 pairs from Dress A Girl Australia

On my way home I decided to stop by Coles and noticed my wallet was kind of heavy. Earlier in the day I did notice my bag was also getting heavier (walk from the parking to the station is about 6 mins). Turned out my wallet was full of coins. When I got back to the car I looked into my wallet and a quick scan I thought I had more than 20 bucks in coins. So I decided to go to Kmart which was right next to Coles and see if there was any 'thong' sale going on so I can put my coins into good use. And this is what I got for some of my coins. 10 pairs of thongs for $20. 

Anything for the kids of Wilcannia NSW. These 10 pairs brings my total to 74 as of today.

Donation Acknowledgement FY13/10 #141 - 10 dresses, 4 pairs of shorts and 2 scarves from Vanya

Hehey! Am back to my first love and that is dresses and the first on the list for the month of October and donation number 141 this year is a parcel of 10 dresses, 4 pairs of shorts and 2 head scarves from Vanya Bryant. Here are the items Vanya sent -

To Vanya, thank you so much for these goodies. Thank you for your support, kindness and generosity. It is very much appreciated.

Was I at Dreamers Market yesterday?

This is in reply to an email I received today asking where I was located at the Dreamers Market yesterday as this person didnt see any sign about Dress A Girl Australia. From the main entrance I probably would be one of the first stalls you would have seen as I was there right in the middle. You would not see any sign at all on Dress A Girl Australia as for the past three markets I decided not to carry or display any sign at all relating to Dress A Girl Around the world. I did this early this year but I could hardly sell anything at all because I spent most of my time explaining what Dress A Girl was all about. I only made about $60.00 which was not even enough to pay for the stall. I was lucky I didnt have to pay anything at all. Also I noticed that some of the people were not really that interested as they were there to look around and shop. 

I thought hard about this and ask myself what was really the purpose why I wanted to have a stall at Dreamers Market. Was it to promote Dress A Girl or was it to sell so I could raised enough money to sustain Dress A Girl. If I was there just to promote then I thought one market day to do this was enough especially if you consider the time and effort you have to spend preparing for a market to be successful and the money you have to invest in printing leaflets. So I decided that for the next market I will be there just to promote and sell my handmade items. I could focus on explaining what I was selling so people would buy and if they buy something, that money would go to my postage fund. And my decision contributed to a successful second market day. I was able to raise almost $300 from selling  in one day. And since I made that decision the next two markets (last one yesterday) made me bring home at least $250 at the end of the day. And these financial results has been a very big help in funding Dress A Girl Australia.

So for those who will be going to the next Dreamers Market next year, dont look for a Dress A Girl Australia stall. Look for Soft Treasures, the name I use when I am in my creative mood, the name I bring when I craft to make a difference in this world. Regardless of which name I bring, everything I am doing is for Dress A Girl Australia to become sustainable anyway so the name should not matter. 

If you spent some time looking around at the stalls, you may remember this stall in particular - this was where I was from 9-3:30pm.

I hope I get to see you next time!

100 Days of Quilting is over

Today is the last day of the '100 Days of Quilting' charity drive and as of today I have received 78 quilts and more to come in the next few weeks as donors start to mail them to Sydney. Twenty of these quilts have already been sent to Romania and more to follow. 

The result of this charity drive is more than I expected and I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all the donors who have supported this campaign. My heartfelt thank you as well to Margie Burke for the time and effort she donated in the Quilt-a-long with Margie. I hope everyone had fun and enjoyed the experience of learning how to make quilts especially to the newbies.

For those who still want to learn how to make a quilt, the quilt-a-long with Margie is still available for everyone to access. Just click on the 'Quilt-a-Long with Margie Burke' tab which you will find at the top of this page or click here.

To see images of the quilts received so far, please click here. This album will get updated whenever quilts are received.

Thank you so much.

Quilt #78 from Margie Burke

Quilt Number 78 is from Margie Burke, the gracious lady who donated her time and effort to head a 'Quilt-a-long with Margie Burke'.

To Margie, thank you so much for everything. Thank you for the time and effort you spent on the quilt-a-long. Am sure it was such a great learning experience for everyone. Thank you.

Quilt #77 from Sue-Ellen

In addition to the thongs was this piece of quilt from Sue-Ellen Cox for the children of Romania to keep them warm this winter bringing my total quilts received to 77.  A very impressive result for only 100 days of charity drive.

To Sue-Ellen, thank you so much for your unwavering support of Dress A Girl (Around the World) Australia. Your time and effort, kindness and generosity is very much appreciated. Thank you so much.

More than a mile #11 - 2 pairs from Sue-Ellen

From Sue-Ellen Cox are 2 pairs bringing my total to 64 as of today. Included in the parcel was another quilt which is going to be acknowledged separately.

To Sue-Ellen, thank you so much for your support, kindness and generosity. It is very much appreciated.

If you are wondering why am collecting thongs, this is for the children of Wilcannia NSW. If you can help, it will be very much appreciated. For more details, please feel free to send an email to dressagirlaustralia@gmail.com. Thank you.

Clothing Sponsorship program for South Africa

Last week I wrote about a clothing sponsorship program I am joining to provide 2 sets of clothes for a child in South Africa. One for winter and one for summer. Joan Adams the manager of the Morning Star foundation thought that I was going to sponsor only one child. I said no I am sponsoring a lot. So she sent me these pictures of the few kids who will be benefitting from the clothing sponsorship program starting next year. Arent they cute?

Watch out for more details about this clothing sponsorship program early next year. Instead of sponsoring financially I get to sponsor with dresses and shorts that can be worn during their winter time and summer time. Am on the initial stage of planning on how best to send these clothes twice a year at the lowest postage cost I could get. 

For more information about Dress A Girl(Around the World) Australia, please feel free to send an email to dressagirlaustralia@gmail.com.

Kits for girls

Good Morning everyone! I have been getting a lot of emails lately about the days for girls campaign. This is what I think about it(my own personal view). The campaign is a very good thing but to make the kits effective and productive, the recipients of these kits need to be trained or taught on how to use them otherwise it defeats the purpose. I may have the means to send them to different locations but I do not have the proper resources to provide training to the recipients. 

So for those who really want to help in this area, I would highly recommend to contact or visit the days for girls organization's website and from there you will see the contact people for the Australian chapters. Am sure they would love to help people who want to support their cause. Thanks everyone!

More than a mile #10 - 7 pairs from Gaylene

Seven pairs this time from Gaylene Herrmann who is one of the early supporters of Dress A Girl Australia. Also included in the parcel she sent were dresses that will be acknowledged separately. Here are the 7 pairs that am pretty confident will generate 7 big smiles when received -

To Gaylene, thank you so much for your unwavering support of Dress A Girl (around the world) Australia. Thank you for your kindness and generosity which is helping make this world a better place. It is so much appreciated. Thank you.

More than a mile #8 and #9 - from the dynamic duo Betty Barrett and Betty Paull

Although the parcels came separately, am acknowledging these pairs of thongs together that came from a special pair of ladies who provides support and inspiration to Dress A Girl Australia as a pair of 85-year olds.  Betty Barrett and Betty Paull. If you watched the movie 'Forrest Gump' perhaps you would remember Forrest Gump often saying 'Me and Jenny goes together like peas and carrots'. That is Betty Barrett and Betty Paull, they go together like peas and carrots and this time between the 2 of them are these 9 pairs of thongs. 
These pairs came from Betty Paull -

 and these pairs came from Betty Barrett -

To dear Betty B and Betty P, thank you so much for all the help and support you have provided to Dress A Girl (around the world) Australia. Thank you for all the time and effort you both spend together making this world a better place. You two are such an inspiration to everyone and a great example especially for the younger ones. Thank you so much.

More than a mile #7 - 6 pairs from Mo

6 happy kids with the 6 pairs of thongs from Mo O'Brien and number 7 on the list. In the same parcel were dresses, pairs of shorts and t-shirts to be acknowledged separately. Here are the thongs from Mo -

Such great kindness and generosity, thank you so much Mo for making this world a better place. It is so much appreciated.

More than a mile #6 from Cassandra

Number 6 on 'more than a mile' list is a parcel of 5 pairs of thongs from Cassandra Biadacz. Cassandra is a great supporter of the Dress a girl around the world campaign. Here are the pairs she sent for the drive -

To Cassandra, thank you so much for your support. Through your kindness and generosity, the world is so much a better place. Thank you.

More than a Mile #5 - Another 5 pairs from Agnes

This is the bag that I did not carry with me yesterday because of the heat. Inside the bag were 5 more pairs of thongs from Agnes Kwong. Early this year, Agnes visited Uganda and Kenya and she said that coming back from the trip made her realize how lucky she was and that sometimes she thinks about the children she met on the trip in school and in orphanages and how she can make a difference to some of those kids' life in her own little way. Here are the pairs she donated this time -

To Aggie, thank you so much for your support of this charity drive. Much appreciated.

Connected to a village in Uganda

Dress A Girl Australia is now connected to a village where a well for clean water will be constructed once the funds are available. Here is a profile of the village Kalagi in Uganda -

Village Profile: Kalagi, Uganda

• Parish: Degeya
• Sub-County: Kalagala
• County: Bamunanika
• District: Luwero
• Current water source: Open Pond
• Population: 700 Children; 300 Adults

KALAGI VILLAGE is located in the Luwero Central Region, Luwero District in the subcounty of Kalagala. Following the Uganda-Tanzania War that removed Idi Amin Dada from power in 1979, a period of intense competition and fighting for control between different groups followed. Luwero was the heart of the Liberation War of 1981-1986 when a guerrilla war was waged by the National Resistance Army (NRA) against the then government of Milton Obote and later of Tito Okello. Many civilian lives were lost when Obote’s forces retaliated against the NRA. Although numerous Obote soldiers had previously survived Idi Amin’s terrorist activities, they sadly turned to the same type of actions against the NRA. The area of the Luwera District had many refugee camps that were subject to military control and human rights abuses. Having been at the heart of this war-ravaged area, leaders quickly abandoned the land and moved to Kampala to enjoy their victory. As a result, this area has been ignored by past and current governments so badly that the only significant development has been a paved road that was put in three years ago. Every single person living here continues to suffer greatly from these historic challenges.

The original water source of Kalagi is an open pond located 4.0 kilometers from the village. Because the pond is open, animals also have access to it, tracking in mud and sediment when they drink and often going to the bathroom in or near the pond. When it rains, water runs over the ground collecting pollutants and pours them into the source. The small pool is a dark brown color indicating the enormous amount of mud and silt that get stirred up. Dense foliage around some of the pond can hide snakes and other animals. Water-borne diseases such as typhoid, cholera and dysentery abound in this source and are responsible for many cases of sick villagers. The very young and the elderly usually suffer the most and fragile lives are often lost to the ravages of these diseases. And still they continue to drink this filthy, horrific water because they simply have no way to obtain clean water.

  ** Picture courtesy of Water-4-Kids International **

  ** Picture courtesy of Water-4-Kids International **

  ** Picture courtesy of Water-4-Kids International **

  ** Picture courtesy of Water-4-Kids International **

 ** Picture courtesy of Water-4-Kids International **

** Picture courtesy of Water-4-Kids International **

The situation for life and health are desperate and often hopeless in the village of Kalagi. But the lives of these precious villagers will soon be radically changed for the better with your gift of a borehole. This deep well will provide fresh, pure water for these villagers and their surrounding community. They will simply have to pump a small handle on their new well to receive clear, clean, life-giving water. Health, safety and abundant life will no longer be a dream for the families of this village, they will be a reality. Sparkling, untainted water will be readily available to them year-round. The number of people impacted by your generosity includes 700 children and 300 adults, including the people from five surrounding villages, four schools and five churches. Access to clean water will enhance the growth of every child in this area thereby helping build up a nation and our world at large.

Get ready everyone to help this village for once get clean water through your kindness and generosity. Make it the best Christmas ever for the 700 children and 300 adults including the people from five surrounding villages, four schools and five churches.
For more information, please feel free to send an email to dressagirlaustralia@gmail.com.

More than a mile #4 - From Agnes and friend Candy

Took home another batch of thong takeaway from work with 8 pairs from Agnes and her family friend Candy who bought 2 extra pairs upon knowing what the thongs were for. Agnes will try to bring more but sizes would be bigger she said if it is okay.

Thank you Agnes and Candy! So much appreciated.

If you want to join us in this charity drive of raising 100 pairs of thongs for the children of Wilcannia, please feel free to do so. You can send any pair between the sizes of 5 to 14 (children's sizes if that is ok) to the address below -

Dress A Girl Australia
P.O. Box 240
Casula Mall Casula
NSW 2170

Thank you everyone!

Charity Drives Update

Here is an update on the active charity drives - 

Day 91 - 9 days to go on the "100 Days of Quilting" for the children of Romania - 76 quilts received as of today. This drive is on fire!

Day 7 - 33 days to go on the "More than a mile" with thongs for the children of Wilcannia NSW - 29/100 thongs received as of today. The heat is on!

Thanks a whole lot everyone!

To keep the dream alive

Since I started the Dress A Girl Around the World campaign, the most difficult task (I must admit) I have to  undertake is raise money for postage. Dress A Girl Australia is a self-funded charity work. Contrary to what other people are thinking (for which I dont have the time to listen to them), there are no big sponsors to back me up except my creativity. I've had very generous personal donors who helped me along the way and very thankful and grateful to them but to keep on going...to keep the dream alive I have to be creative all the time and believe me it has been a bold, difficult and daring journey of creativity (especially when you work full-time M to F). Every now and then I have to come up with something to make and sell, something one cannot easily find to make it attractive for anyone to purchase. The possibilities are endless I know but only when you have the time to spare.

Well, this week I came up with something again. I've had this box full of materials with me for quite some time but never had the chance to create something out of it but with my other new big project coming up of providing a well for a village in Uganda I decided it is time to do something. Unlike the dresses which is on-going, the well is a one-time project but still needs money.  This is one of the 3 handmade projects I am thinking of selling to raise money for the well and postage fund. 

Here is a preview of my latest creation and I really hope it would click in the market especially to the younger generation. Proceeds from the sale of this item is to help young children in disadvantaged locations, give hope to a village through clean water and what better way to keep this dream alive...is for younger people to support by making a purchase of this handmade decoupaged pendant. Young people from fortunate locations helping their counterparts in disadvantaged locations, making a difference thus making this world a better place. I hope they would love this decoupaged pendant.

Am still in the process of thinking on how to package it and whether it should come with a chain or not but soon it will be available from my Dress A Girl shop. Since this is totally handmade, there wont be that many as I probably wont have the time to make a lot but will try to meet whenever there is a demand.

So one of the secret is out. :-) If anyone is interested, please feel free to send me an email at dressagirlaustralia@gmail.com.