I've been reading the book I blogged two posts ago, In Her Hands. The pages filled with colorful photos and stories of craftswomen around the world inspires me, and truthfully, it saddens me also. I simply cannot imagine the hardships that women in developing countries face every day of their lives.
For the last few years I have grown increasingly interested in the native crafts of women as a vehicle for social transformation. When women are supported in their creative efforts, their families, villages, and ultimately the world benefits. In large part, women who can support or help support themselves through traditional crafting handiwork, or by learning new crafting handiwork, use their money to feed, clothe, and send their children to school. They are also less likely to be abused by their spouses.
My creative blogging journey has truly been leading me along these past two years... (I am so grateful for this brave new world of bloggers :)) This blog has functioned as a journal for me to see where I've been, and maybe, where I'm heading... It's been two years of wandering in the forest here for me, trying to find my way back to creative (paid) work after ten years off to raise our four children. I haven't known where I'm going at all, but deep inside I've known there's a business I want to build and my husband wants to help build with me-- we've both felt this for along time, but the time and the business has never been clear till now. I've figured out in the last few months too, that it's a business about and for children and women. And we've figured out that it's about helping others in developing countries, and employing fair trade practices.
So with all that being said, we're learning and studying, and really, just putting one foot in front of the other right now as we make our way along a path that isn't charted, but at least for now, shows us a destination on the horizon.
And in the meantime, while we're learning, I thought I'd share a giveaway here on Fridays...
Fair Trade Friday sounds like a good name-- and every last Friday of the month, we'll do a giveaway from a Fair Trade company. Cool stuff made by equally cool women, who really need a break.
So girlfriends, here's your chance to win a new purse courtesy of Global Girlfriend. It's just one of loads of wonderful items there for sale-- go look, you'll see!
I'll leave this post up till next Tuesday, March 30th at 6:00 pm. MST, and I'll announce the winner later that evening. Oh, and I'll leave it up to you on the color. So leave a comment and tell me what color of the purses at the top of the post you would like if you win, and then I'll order that color for the winner!
This is going to be fun, grab your purses-- we're going on a journey! And tell your girlfriends there's a swell giveaway over here, girlfriend ;) Love, Kelly
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P.S. Here's a good definition of Fair Trade I just found:
Simply put.... fair trade is a system that empowers disadvantaged producers by creating economies and new markets in otherwise poor developing countries. Fair trade occurs with payment of a fair price, technical assistance, social programming, environmental protection, while respecting the traditional customs of the artisans.
