I'm trying to play a serious game of catch up with life at the moment. I have a super busy summer coming up, and a ton of work to do between now and June. Everything from upcoming fashion shoots to attending the majority of 11 weddings of my friends this summer to trying to cram an hour a day into enjoying the beautiful spring weather Bend has been blessed with the past few days.
A couple of things for you to check out:
The World Relief NEXT team is in Africa, check out their blog, and the blog of Benjamin Edwards for stories and photos that will inspire you.
A new blog I'm starting up about my journey to Africa later this year is up and going. Right, because I need just one more thing on my to-do list. However, it'll be fun and interactive for you. :)
Keep your eyes peeled, I'm going to have some shots of my work for the fashion shoot sometime in June, and I'll try to get some pictures as I begin the creative process. I hope you'll enjoy following that as much as I'm going to love being creative in my own right this time around!
Friday, April 17, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Family Photos for Change
Lately I have been coordinating a fund raiser for World Relief NEXT. Below are all of the details pertaining to the event. We still have plenty of sessions available, simply call me to book! 541.633.6435
We also wouldn't mind if you emailed, called, and pounded on the front doors of friends, neighbors, co-workers and family to share this awesome opportunity!
FAMILY PORTRAITS FOR CHANGE :: WITH BENJAMIN EDWARDS
Session Dates and Times at Antioch Church Offices in the Old Mill:
- Saturday, March 21 - 8:30AM-6:00PM
- Sunday, March 22 - 1:00PM-6:00PM
Packages available:
- Family Portraits: $125
- Family Portraits and Child Photos: $200
All proceeds support the World Relief NEXT Project trip to the Great Lakes Region of Africa. Funds will cover costs for media development, project education, needs assessment, and on the ground expenses.
Learn more about World Relief NEXT. Sessions will be held with debit or credit card numbers; the fees are 100% tax deductible and non-refundable.
We also wouldn't mind if you emailed, called, and pounded on the front doors of friends, neighbors, co-workers and family to share this awesome opportunity!
FAMILY PORTRAITS FOR CHANGE :: WITH BENJAMIN EDWARDS
Session Dates and Times at Antioch Church Offices in the Old Mill:
- Saturday, March 21 - 8:30AM-6:00PM
- Sunday, March 22 - 1:00PM-6:00PM
Packages available:
- Family Portraits: $125
- Family Portraits and Child Photos: $200
All proceeds support the World Relief NEXT Project trip to the Great Lakes Region of Africa. Funds will cover costs for media development, project education, needs assessment, and on the ground expenses.
Learn more about World Relief NEXT. Sessions will be held with debit or credit card numbers; the fees are 100% tax deductible and non-refundable.
Friday, March 6, 2009
News or no news...hm.
Well, I don't really have the shocking news I was expecting. We will leave it at that. For now, I am going to cruise through this crazy year and continue to allow you all to catch a glimpse through this blog. I'll continue marketing my company as much as a can with a full time summer job (girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do in this economy). I'll continue trying to figure out God's vision for Ania. And I'll be doing a ton of prep work for Africa. Because I am, in fact, going. (Yay! *jumps for joy*)
Here's a couple of things to keep in mind:
I'll be offering sewing classes in the very near future (6 week courses) in order to raise funds. If you don't have mad button sewing-on skills, then hit me up. It'll be a plus when you realize you can fix that shirt yourself, as well as helping fund a fab cause. I'll also be selling Cauzal Coffee, which the product in and of itself is a very good thing, but it will also help fund my trip. Read more at their site. :)
Thanks for staying tuned, friends! It'll be fun to continue sharing the adventure with you all through 2009.
Here's a couple of things to keep in mind:
I'll be offering sewing classes in the very near future (6 week courses) in order to raise funds. If you don't have mad button sewing-on skills, then hit me up. It'll be a plus when you realize you can fix that shirt yourself, as well as helping fund a fab cause. I'll also be selling Cauzal Coffee, which the product in and of itself is a very good thing, but it will also help fund my trip. Read more at their site. :)
Thanks for staying tuned, friends! It'll be fun to continue sharing the adventure with you all through 2009.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
News to come
I haven't been neglecting my blog, I promise. However, I've been absolutely burdened with what exactly it is I am supposed to be doing. Having no idea how to communicate to you (my wonderful few readers) I have said as little as possible, waiting for discernment.
Let me give penning this current moment in my life a quick go: The life of somebody that loves God is not always predictable when it comes to what God asks of them. He (if you happen to believe in Him) asks things that often times do not make any lot of sense until a much later date. And even then, that understanding typically comes solely to the person of which God has asked that task.
Do you copy Ghost Rider? Sweet. Because that's exactly where I am at right now. I am sitting still and listening. And in the next 24 hours, I will be moving, whether in the same general direction as I was at the beginning of the year, or in a different direction that I had never imagined. It will be an interesting and shocking post, I am sure, when I begin to write it. Until then, friends, stand by.
Let me give penning this current moment in my life a quick go: The life of somebody that loves God is not always predictable when it comes to what God asks of them. He (if you happen to believe in Him) asks things that often times do not make any lot of sense until a much later date. And even then, that understanding typically comes solely to the person of which God has asked that task.
Do you copy Ghost Rider? Sweet. Because that's exactly where I am at right now. I am sitting still and listening. And in the next 24 hours, I will be moving, whether in the same general direction as I was at the beginning of the year, or in a different direction that I had never imagined. It will be an interesting and shocking post, I am sure, when I begin to write it. Until then, friends, stand by.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Ohh 2009
Well, it's February 20, 2009. We aren't even past a full 2 months in this year and it has been absolutely nuts. This little company is my baby. If you're self-employed, you know what I mean. My work hours span anywhere from 6am-3am, depending on the day. Constant streams of meetings at local coffee shops. Endless hours of behind-the-scenes structural work for the company. Dates with coffee and my sketch pad every morning. Countless meetings with an incredibly talented Couturiere. Sewing. Patterning. All of the above.
And 6 weeks into all of that, I find that things are not going the way I hoped. Of course, after a few days of reflection and prayer, I find that it is a wonderful turn of events. If you have even glanced at my posts over the last year, you'll know that even though I've thrown my heart and soul into this company, I have a passion beyond words for the afflicted and oppressed in this world. Specifically (but not limited to) Africa.
It looks like my dream of going to Africa is beginning to come true. Things are starting to come together, and I may actually be spending a couple of months in Burundi at the end of this year. I can't wait to start doing an update each month on what is going on in preparation for the trip, and then when it finally happens, updating you from there. I get chills thinking about it.
Now, this doesn't mean I'm abandoning all that I've put into this company. In fact, long term, I see this passion for Africa weaving quite harmoniously with my passion to make beautiful custom wedding gowns. But, until that starts to become more clear, I'll keep my giddy little ideas to myself. I have this silly habit of getting two steps ahead of myself, and this is too precious for me to do that.
In the mean time, we'll be making wedding gowns and accepting clients in 2009, but the latest wedding date we can probably accept is through mid-September at this point. Ask about an exception to the rule before canning your hopes, it may work out anyway. :)
As my year has already proven full of blessings, I hope that for you as well.
And 6 weeks into all of that, I find that things are not going the way I hoped. Of course, after a few days of reflection and prayer, I find that it is a wonderful turn of events. If you have even glanced at my posts over the last year, you'll know that even though I've thrown my heart and soul into this company, I have a passion beyond words for the afflicted and oppressed in this world. Specifically (but not limited to) Africa.
It looks like my dream of going to Africa is beginning to come true. Things are starting to come together, and I may actually be spending a couple of months in Burundi at the end of this year. I can't wait to start doing an update each month on what is going on in preparation for the trip, and then when it finally happens, updating you from there. I get chills thinking about it.
Now, this doesn't mean I'm abandoning all that I've put into this company. In fact, long term, I see this passion for Africa weaving quite harmoniously with my passion to make beautiful custom wedding gowns. But, until that starts to become more clear, I'll keep my giddy little ideas to myself. I have this silly habit of getting two steps ahead of myself, and this is too precious for me to do that.
In the mean time, we'll be making wedding gowns and accepting clients in 2009, but the latest wedding date we can probably accept is through mid-September at this point. Ask about an exception to the rule before canning your hopes, it may work out anyway. :)
As my year has already proven full of blessings, I hope that for you as well.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Dimaano Photography
I want to introduce you all to a friend of mine who is an awesome photographer in the Bay Area. He lived in Bend for 4 years, and to my dismay moved back to Cali just a month after I met him. Home is where the heart is, I suppose. :)
Anthony Dimaano captures people, life, and events all around him with the edge of a photojournalist. He tells a pretty sweet story with his art, which I find incredibly rad.
Escape from your day and enjoy some time on his website.
Anthony Dimaano captures people, life, and events all around him with the edge of a photojournalist. He tells a pretty sweet story with his art, which I find incredibly rad.
Escape from your day and enjoy some time on his website.
Friday, February 6, 2009
International Day for Zero Tolerance of FGM
I know this is a super long post, but it's so important! That, and it is my birthday and I'll post what I feel like. :)
If you don't know what Female Genital Mutilation is, I recommend that you Wikipedia it and find out more. My heart breaks over this practice, and this is why today is so important. Read the press release below. Spread the word.
__________________________________
Dear World Relief Next Advocate,
The following is a letter from the Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children. Please consider this in prayer today as millions of lives are impacted by the atrocity of FGM.
Whatever we can do to spread awareness, it begins with thoughtful prayer and consideration (LOVE). Go further and dig into the facts and figures surrounding FGM (LEARN). Bring it up in conversation today with a friend; you never know whom you might touch and the effect it will have on the precious life of one (ENGAGE).
Save One Girl from the Knife.
Gratefully,
World Relief NEXT
COMITE INTER-AFRICAIN (CI-AF) SUR LES PRATIQUES TRADIONNELLES
ayant effet sur la santé des femmes et des enfants
Ref: IAC/February 6. /01.09
Date: January 28, 2009
Press Release for Friday February 6, 2009
From: The Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children (IAC)
Headquarters: ECA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
To observe February 6, 2009 as the International day on Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), the Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices (IAC) with her Affiliates and Partners across the world calls on Governments, Parliamentarians, UN Agencies, NGOs, donor community, Religious leaders, Community leaders, Youth, communities and members of the Press to make a greater commitment to ensure the elimination of FGM.
The theme for this year's observation is “Political will at the Center of Achieving
Zero Tolerance to FGM".
The objective of observing February 6 is to draw the attention, at the international and national levels to efforts that need to be exerted to free women and girls from female genital mutilation and to accelerate action towards its elimination by the set target date of 2010 according to the Common Agenda for Action or by 2015 being the target of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).
Why focus on FGM?
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is Violence against Women. It is a violation of the human rights' principles, as stipulated in Article 24.3 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), other International and Regional instruments and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People's Rights Relating to the Rights of Women, (Article 5). The Millennium Development Goals advocate for the promotion of Gender Equality and Empowerment of women, reduction of child mortality and improvement of maternal health.
Female Genital Mutilation refers to any practice that involves the partial or total removal or alteration of the external female genital organs for non-medical reasons.
By a conservative estimate, about 2 million women and girls are subjected to FGM worldwide with devastating consequences. Studies have shown a correlation between FGM and the high infant and maternal mortality and morbidity in African countries where FGM is prevalent. There is also clinical evidence that FGM presents a serious risk in the transmission of HIV/AIDS, especially among societies who practice it as an initiation rite using the same instruments on many girls at the same time.
February 6 was unanimously adopted at the International Conference on Zero Tolerance to FGM organized by IAC from February 4 to 6 2003 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Representatives at the Conference came from 49 countries including 4 First Ladies (from Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Guinea Conakry and Mali), Ministers, and Parliamentarians. Others included Religious, Community and Youth leaders.
IAC National Committees in 28 African countries, its Affiliates and Partners in Austria, Belgium, Canada, England, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands and USA will mark February 6, 2009.
Some of the activities being organized by IAC include press conference, press interview, theatre show and songs by a school club in Addis Ababa Headquarters of IAC, panel discussions in Addis Ababa and in Geneva Liaison office highlighting FGM as a tradition that should be eliminated being a violation of the human rights of women and girls.
Specifically, the panelist will address the following areas among others:
-Building national frameworks to end FGM
-Enforcing change: the role of governments, political leaders in the campaign against FGM
-Implementation of international and national legal instruments relating to FGM
IAC success stories abound in communities in many African countries where its National Committees carry out interventions. There are cases where whole villages, denounce and ban FGM following community mobilization strategy. Egypt, Ethiopia and Ghana are a few examples.
By the events outlined around the world, for February 6, 2009, IAC and her partners are drawing global, national and community attention to the provisions in the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People's Rights on the Rights of women (Maputo Protocol Article 5) and other UN Conventions which support the promotion of the Human Rights of women and children and the elimination of FGM.
February 6 as the international day on Zero Tolerance to FGM has come to stay and it would be a reminder to governments for their commitments towards accelerating actions to eliminate the menace.
Berhane Ras-Work
Executive Director, IAC
INTER-AFRICAN COMMITTEE
COMITE INTER-AFRICAIN
If you don't know what Female Genital Mutilation is, I recommend that you Wikipedia it and find out more. My heart breaks over this practice, and this is why today is so important. Read the press release below. Spread the word.
__________________________________
Dear World Relief Next Advocate,
The following is a letter from the Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children. Please consider this in prayer today as millions of lives are impacted by the atrocity of FGM.
Whatever we can do to spread awareness, it begins with thoughtful prayer and consideration (LOVE). Go further and dig into the facts and figures surrounding FGM (LEARN). Bring it up in conversation today with a friend; you never know whom you might touch and the effect it will have on the precious life of one (ENGAGE).
Save One Girl from the Knife.
Gratefully,
World Relief NEXT
COMITE INTER-AFRICAIN (CI-AF) SUR LES PRATIQUES TRADIONNELLES
ayant effet sur la santé des femmes et des enfants
Ref: IAC/February 6. /01.09
Date: January 28, 2009
Press Release for Friday February 6, 2009
From: The Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children (IAC)
Headquarters: ECA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
To observe February 6, 2009 as the International day on Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), the Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices (IAC) with her Affiliates and Partners across the world calls on Governments, Parliamentarians, UN Agencies, NGOs, donor community, Religious leaders, Community leaders, Youth, communities and members of the Press to make a greater commitment to ensure the elimination of FGM.
The theme for this year's observation is “Political will at the Center of Achieving
Zero Tolerance to FGM".
The objective of observing February 6 is to draw the attention, at the international and national levels to efforts that need to be exerted to free women and girls from female genital mutilation and to accelerate action towards its elimination by the set target date of 2010 according to the Common Agenda for Action or by 2015 being the target of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).
Why focus on FGM?
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is Violence against Women. It is a violation of the human rights' principles, as stipulated in Article 24.3 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), other International and Regional instruments and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People's Rights Relating to the Rights of Women, (Article 5). The Millennium Development Goals advocate for the promotion of Gender Equality and Empowerment of women, reduction of child mortality and improvement of maternal health.
Female Genital Mutilation refers to any practice that involves the partial or total removal or alteration of the external female genital organs for non-medical reasons.
By a conservative estimate, about 2 million women and girls are subjected to FGM worldwide with devastating consequences. Studies have shown a correlation between FGM and the high infant and maternal mortality and morbidity in African countries where FGM is prevalent. There is also clinical evidence that FGM presents a serious risk in the transmission of HIV/AIDS, especially among societies who practice it as an initiation rite using the same instruments on many girls at the same time.
February 6 was unanimously adopted at the International Conference on Zero Tolerance to FGM organized by IAC from February 4 to 6 2003 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Representatives at the Conference came from 49 countries including 4 First Ladies (from Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Guinea Conakry and Mali), Ministers, and Parliamentarians. Others included Religious, Community and Youth leaders.
IAC National Committees in 28 African countries, its Affiliates and Partners in Austria, Belgium, Canada, England, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands and USA will mark February 6, 2009.
Some of the activities being organized by IAC include press conference, press interview, theatre show and songs by a school club in Addis Ababa Headquarters of IAC, panel discussions in Addis Ababa and in Geneva Liaison office highlighting FGM as a tradition that should be eliminated being a violation of the human rights of women and girls.
Specifically, the panelist will address the following areas among others:
-Building national frameworks to end FGM
-Enforcing change: the role of governments, political leaders in the campaign against FGM
-Implementation of international and national legal instruments relating to FGM
IAC success stories abound in communities in many African countries where its National Committees carry out interventions. There are cases where whole villages, denounce and ban FGM following community mobilization strategy. Egypt, Ethiopia and Ghana are a few examples.
By the events outlined around the world, for February 6, 2009, IAC and her partners are drawing global, national and community attention to the provisions in the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People's Rights on the Rights of women (Maputo Protocol Article 5) and other UN Conventions which support the promotion of the Human Rights of women and children and the elimination of FGM.
February 6 as the international day on Zero Tolerance to FGM has come to stay and it would be a reminder to governments for their commitments towards accelerating actions to eliminate the menace.
Berhane Ras-Work
Executive Director, IAC
INTER-AFRICAN COMMITTEE
COMITE INTER-AFRICAIN
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