Kempenfest will take place over three days, Saturday, July 31 to Monday, August 2, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.

We'll be selling our jewellery only as this is a juried artisan show. We'll have lots of selection from high-end signature collections, pieces by local artist Melissa Wakefield, as well as fun gifts like bracelets, earrings and keychains at great price points - a souvenir of Kempenfest and a piece of Africa. Hope to see you there!

(If you're looking to purchase a basket or other Ghana goods, our 2nd Anniversary Open House is just two weeks away... or you can always shop online!).

The store is a beautiful one, located in downtown Orillia, on Mississaga street (right by the Mariposa Market by the way!). They have a wonderful selection of earth-friendly products.

We love their commitment to be selective and purchase only products that fit under these categories: recycled, recyclable, reclaimed, reused, reusable, organic, biodegradable, sustainable, and locally made. Our jewellery featuring recycled glass and our baskets made from the indigenous grass of Ghana, West Africa fit well into these categories.

We're excited that we get to connect with customers through Eco-centric who appreciate the effort that goes into these wonderful products. We also hope some of our customers will get the chance to experience Eco-centric and its lovely owner, Kara Sears, who brings a positive vision to the community.

For more information about Eco-Centric, please visit the website, www.ecocentricstore.ca.

The Gibson Centre boasts an art gallery, theatre, cafe, in-house artists, banquet hall and art programs, among many other opportunities to participate and enjoy the arts.

It is our pleasure to be selling some of our signature pieces in their gallery store. We are also booking opportunities for beading workshops in the new year and will keep you posted on any news and upcoming events.

To find out more about The Gibson Centre at www.gibsoncentre.com. See you there!

Although fairly new to the area, Magpie Beads was previously operating for 6 years in Orillia. They have since closed their Orillia store and are concentrating their efforts on the Barrie location. We are happy to partner with Magpie Beads as they have a commitment to being a part of the arts and culture in our downtown neighbourhood.

We are hosting a Beading Basics Workshop at Magpie this Wednesday, October 13 at 7 p.m. At the workshop, you will have the chance to create unique jewellery as we show you ways to string the beads and create your one-of-a-kind pieces.

As seating is limited, we ask that if you'd like to attend, you would RSVP either Karen at Magpie Beads (726-6601 or magpiebeadco@gmail.com) or Loreli at Big Village (331-9553 or loreli@bigvillage.ca).

Hope to see you there!

Friday, November 5 - 12p.m.-8p.m. (if you have a choice, this is the best time to shop, and it isn't as crowded during the day)

Saturday, November 6 - 9a.m.-5p.m.

Sunday, November 7 - 10a.m.-4p.m.

Adult admission is $6 ea.

We'll be selling jewellery made from recycled glass cultural beads from Ghana, West Africa, as well as a few samples of products made from our gorgeous batik fabric (i.e. napkins, aprons). We're excited about some of our new pieces we'll be bringing to the show, including a few made with our new "lost wax brass" pendants.

This will be our third year at this event. One of our favourite things about this show, other than sharing the floor with other great vendors and starting some of our own Christmas shopping, is that we get to see so many people we know at this event. We sure hope to see you there too!

Here, we'll show you!

Win #1 - Jewellery is made to your own specifications

You know what size, colour, style you like, so why not create a piece that is best suited to you.

Win #2 - Save money by making it yourself

You can save 20%-40% off the retail price simply by putting in some time to make a piece yourself. It's time well spent not only because of the job satisfaction at the end of it, but you've spent it with friends (see win #3).

Win # 3 - Do something different with your pals

Tired of just doing "coffee" or the same old thing with your pals? Try an event where you leave with a special piece and a great memory of your time spent together. Beading workshops promote conversation and good times as you help each other create your pieces. Not only great for old friends, but meeting new people too!

Win #4 - Practicing creativity is always a good thing

At Big Village, we feel that creativity is like a muscle that needs to be exercised! Some of us forget to exercise that muscle because of the grind of daily life or the administrative nature of our jobs. When we work at being creative, we may just surprise ourselves with the outcome. Plus, we always have samples to inspire you and offer helpful hints, so you never have to work too hard to produce a beautiful piece.

Win #5 - Support a fair-trade business while you do it!

All our beads are purchased from a fair-trade business in Ghana, West Africa which has a positive influence in their neighbourhood, creating job opportunities and standing against child and slave labour. Simply by using our beads in your jewellery, you help your local fair-trade business thrive and provide opportunities in Ghana. Thank you! Read more about our Fair Trade Practices.

Here's another win, it's extra special to make your loved one a hand-made gift for Christmas! We're offering a Beading Basics Workshop at Magpie Beads, in Barrie, on Thursday, December 2nd at 7 p.m. RSVP as seats are limited!

One needs permission to visit Ghana. The government will not give you entry unless you have been formally invited by a citizen of Ghana. I have, in the past, combined my business with missions on these trips, and have always asked our church in Ghana to provide me with a letter of invitation. This time, I thought I would impose upon our bead and basket suppliers for the letter. I didn't realize how touched I would be by the actual invitation.

I received the letter today - scanned and e-mailed, no less, for those who might not think Ghana technologically advanced.

The letter from our suppliers, in good Ghanaian hospitality, also included an invitation to stay with them for the duration of my stay and visit the women who make the baskets:

"During the period of your visit, we will take you to the various weaver groups at their respective centres. We also intend to make household visits to some of the weavers to see where they live, what they eat and the challenges they go through."

It has occurred to me that when we get an invitation to witness someone's challenges, we have gained one of the highest privileges. There are not too many in this world who want to be so vulnerable, especially to a stranger.

The letter goes on:

"It is our hope that the visit will afford you the opportunity to interact with the weavers at their weaving centres, learn what it takes to make the baskets and the way of life of the weavers in their communities. We think that a better understanding of the cultural milieu of the weaver will foster a stronger bond of relationships between you and all of us for our mutual benefit."

This letter has reinforced Big Village's initial vision, that by building relationships and awareness, we gain a better appreciation and understanding of each other for our mutual benefit. Our job, as fair-trade vendor, is to be a conduit for this appreciation and understanding.

And it goes both ways. I will be asking lots of questions and taking lots of pictures of all our suppliers to pass along to you. I also believe it is important to let them know how well their products are received. What would you like them to know about you? How do enjoy/use their baskets? Do you have a picture of their basket(s) in your space? What has inspired you about what you've learned about their livelihood, their culture, or their product?

Feel free to e-mail me at loreli@bigvillage.ca. I'd love to hear from you... and so would they!

Absolutely everything will be discounted. We will be selling our batik, baskets, beads and “glocally-made” jewellery at 20%-40% off. You can pick up a Gift Certificates or bead mixes for Do-It-Yourselfers on your list. We will also have clearance items, including jewellery displays/storage!

There will be door prizes and refreshments. For more details see our invitation below. You won’t want to miss it and we don’t want to miss you!

Loreli will start the year off right when she travels back to Ghana from January 5-20, where she will be meeting with our fair-trade partners.

Besides reuniting with old friends, what she is most looking forward to is travelling to the upper region of Ghana, the village of Bolgatanga, to the Women's Co-operative where our beautiful baskets come from. She will get to meet with some of the ladies who work there and hear their stories.

She will also spend time with our bead and batik producers and meet with potential new artisans to consider future partnerships.

We'd love it if you participated in the adventure. Check out our Big Village Facebook page as Loreli plans to give daily updates (as the Ghana Internet allows). She will also re-open her blog site - which she wrote while living in Ghana. Do you have any particular questions you'd like to ask of our suppliers? Loreli would love to bring home answers for you, as well as beautiful handicrafts! E-mail loreli@bigvillage.ca.

Special thanks go to all of you who sent in pictures of yourself in your Big Village jewellery. We have compiled over 50 of your photos in an album to give as a gift to our bead suppliers. What a beautiful demonstration of how their recycled glass cultural beads are being enjoyed here by all of us!

We'll keep you posted on our upcoming events throughout the year once Loreli has returned from Ghana. In the meantime, we wish you and your family all the best for 2011!

So the bishop is sharing with the politician a little bit about how he came into his position. He says he was educated quite by accident. You have certain responsibilities based on your birth order in a traditional Ghanaian family and as the youngest son, he was required to care for his elderly grandfather. He had two older brothers who received an education as was their privilege. They were a fair bit older than the bishop. One was getting ready to leave for Belgium on scholarship after finishing his secondary school education. He was paying a final visit to the family in the village before he left. The elder son was shocked to see his youngest brother, at the age of 8, doing nothing but household chores and caring for his elderly grandfather. He spoke directly to the men in the family, “although it wasn’t an acceptable practice at that time to speak as an equal,” and insisted they find someone else to care for the grandfather and to send the bishop to school. Because his wishes were selfless, they decided to hear him out and gave the bishop his education. The bishop considered it Providence that he should be given the opportunity to attend and worked diligently to achieve high marks.

Now, he shares with the politician, he finds himself in a position to be speaking up on behalf of the educated just as his brother did for him. His priority while in office has been to set up JSS (junior secondary) boarding schools for girls. He decided to educate girls because they are at the same disadvantage he was as a young boy. Because of culture, they are not the priority to be educated.

In Ghana, it is acceptable to "sack" (expel/suspend) children from school when they have not paid fees. But as for him, this is his weak spot, he says. If someone cannot pay their fees, I cannot sack them, rather I ask them to do their best to pay the fees and continue to work hard. By keeping the girls in school, they achieve such high marks, the proof is in the pudding so to speak. In fact, 10 of the girls have ranked at the top of the national exams. He laughs when he says how ashamed the young men must be.

The politician agrees with the bishop, that people are finally realizing the potential of education. It is the educated who must advocate for education. But even so, people are not satisfied when they are left behind. They see what makes the difference in the people and in the country. If you work with, assist and organize those changes, you will channel it for the greatest benefit to the country. If you do not, you will see a rebellion.

There is no punch line. Assist positive change.

This is now the Official Theme of my trip. And perhaps a new motto for the business, as I see better my place in the midst of what's happening here and the response in Canada.

The women I met with yesterday, work together outside under the shade of trees. The strong, dry winds of the Harmattan blow hard this time of year. Their lips and skin are cracking because of it. They use bowls of water to keep the straw wet while they weave. The wind blows one woman’s basket away when she wasn’t looking - she runs after it. The winds will only last a month or so. The women live in mud huts with no windows, near to the large tree where they meet. These dwellings keep them cool when temperatures become unbearably high in the next couple of months. They farm for their food and also care for the family, cooking meals and making clothes. There is no such thing as leisure time. In fact, when I asked how long it takes for one basket to be completed, they could not give a definitive answer, because they never make a basket without interruption. They estimate 3-5 days.

When the woman are asked about their struggles, they don’t complain, in fact they say they are satisfied in most ways. They only wish for consistent, sustainable employment. If they have that, they can easily meet their needs. They wonder if Canada can help them with that. I hope you don’t mind. I said that we could.