Freedom Strands

IJM Delivers 20,000 Signatures to Obama

2010-05-11T22:43:00.000-07:00

Today, International Justice Mission delivered a letter to President Obama with 20,000 signatures. Support this year almost tripled compared to last year's letter with 7500 signatures.

The letter urged President Obama to help combat child trafficking in Haiti and asked him to invest in governments abroad so that they can better serve and protect women and children.

Please visit http://www.ijm.org/ and join the fight against human trafficking.

cheryl4freedom

World Fair Trade Day

2010-05-08T08:44:00.000-07:00

We viewed a Trade as One presentation last year. Trade as One is an organization that supports the Fair Trade movement by purchasing goods directly from craftsmen and farmers. They then market these products in the US in order to promote sustainable wages abroad. We can have confidence that these craftsmen were treated fairly.

There are several ways to practice FT. One way is to buy products with the Fair Trade symbol. Trader Joes is an excellent resource for FT certified coffee. Peet's Coffee also carries a Fair Trade blend.

Today is World Fair Trade Day. Check in with the Trade As One blog for updates on how to put FT into practice.

"Give a man a fish and you’ll feed him for a day (Aid)
Teach a man to fish and he’ll feed himself (Development)
Buy his fish and he has a sustainable way out of poverty (Fair Trade)"

Human Trafficking in Iraq

2010-05-07T10:21:00.000-07:00

Human Trafficking is a worldwide tragedy. International Justice Mission investigates and prosecutes prostitution rings like this one. They also provide aftercare programs for these girls as they are released from captivity and in this case prison.

CNN World Report May 5, 2010
Sex Slave girls face cruel justice in Iraq

IJM Breaking News

2010-05-06T10:28:00.000-07:00

Breaking News Update
Location: Kolkata, India
Date: Monday, May 3, 2010
Result: Three perpetrators sentenced for trafficking young girls

Stop Paying For Slavery

2010-05-06T08:43:00.000-07:00

Join us at Cornerstone Fellowship in Livermore, CA, on Sunday, May 16 from 6:30 - 8:00 PM for a multimedia presentation featuring David Batstone, President of Not for Sale, an organization dedicated to eradicating global slavery.

This event is a part of the Not For Sale Campaign’s 2010 “Stop Paying for Slavery Tour” and will attempt to educate us on the true value of our dollars and how our spending patterns can affect those held in captivity around the world. We all can make a difference in the eradication of modern-day slavery. For more information, please contact Tannya at tannyar@cornerstoneweb.org.

Tread on Trafficking

2010-05-04T12:24:00.000-07:00

Check out how you can support Love 146 in the months of May and June with their program Tread on Trafficking. Fight against human trafficing while you run, walk or swim.

Love 146: Who is girl # 146?

2010-05-04T12:06:00.000-07:00

Here is a message from Rob the President of Love 146.

"Several years ago, our friends at Brains on Fire asked me a question that took my breath away. Partly because of how unexpected the question was, and partly because of how deep the chord struck, when they asked it.

“If you could say anything today, to the girl known only as 146, what would you say?”
The following is my bumbling attempt to answer that question. Words that give flight to the ache that has been inside of me ever since I first looked through the glass window of the brothel she was enslaved in.

Photo by: Carolyn Cole

Dear 146,

You don’t know me, but I know you. Though I only “met” you once, I have thought about you every day for years. I see you every time I talk about you. And I talk about you often. Sometimes your face is the last thing I see at night before I fall asleep.

Though we never exchanged a word, I will never forget the night I first “met” you. It was the night, as my friend Desirea likes to say; “that I woke up.” For you, it was another horrific night spent in a brothel.

You didn’t know it, but on that particular night, on the other side of the glass window, scattered throughout the usual group of “customers,” were others who were not there to buy. They were not like the men you were used to seeing there. They were people not motivated by lust and greed, but by justice and compassion. And they didn’t fully realize then, how their lives would never be the same because of you.

Everything in me as a father, as a man, as a human being, wanted to get you out of there that night, but we were unable to. I am so, so sorry. The thought of you or any child having to endure and survive another night in a place like that shreds me to this day.

My hope and prayer is that maybe, soon after I saw you, someone, somehow got you out of that dreadful place. Maybe you made it back home to a Mother and Father who loved you and ached for your return. Maybe you are all grown up now. Maybe you are still out there somewhere.

I often wonder about your story. Where did you come from? Did you have brothers and sisters? How did you spend your days before the nightmare began? Did you play with friends in the dusty streets of your village, or plant vegetables with your Mom? How did you end up in that horrendous place?

What I wanted to say, shout, scream to you then, I say to you now. You are more than a number. You are precious. You are not a commodity. Please don’t give up. Don’t stop fighting. We will never forget.

Your stare still haunts us. That fierce look of strength, fight, resilience and distant hope…became our mandate.

There are children who are being protected and defended because of you. Children who will never have to know the same nightmare. And there are children, having survived the same atrocities that you experienced, who are now in a safe place, recovering their lives and childhoods.

We haven’t forgotten. There are thousands now who know your story and tell it with the hope and passion that one day, the insanity and injustice of modern day slavery will come to an end. And when it does, you will be a part of why it did."

-Rob
President
Love146

International Justice Mission

2010-04-27T15:45:00.000-07:00

International Justice Mission

Freedom Tote $55

2010-04-27T15:21:00.000-07:00

Enjoy this market bag. It has a single long (over-the-chest strap) and it is knit with 100% wool and designer yarns. It is lined with quality fabric and a single roomy pocket. Check out the vintage button with rhinestones!

Trade Show April 25, Walnut Creek, CA

2010-04-13T09:20:00.001-07:00

Join us at our booth on April 25th at 11 am. Come see our new spring designs and support IJM.
Shadelands Art Center 111 N. Wiget Ln. Walnut Creek,CA

Riding on Paper Planes

2010-02-10T13:02:00.000-08:00

Sharon, one of our contributors, just sent us the link to her daughter's blog. Thank you Jen for capturing the heart of Freedom Strands in your recent post. Please visit Jen's post: Riding on Paper Planes.

The Missy Tote $45

2009-12-18T15:09:00.000-08:00

Knit with 100% brown wool and designer yarn

Small tote lined with two pockets and button closure.

Embellished with crystals

The Tiffany Bubble $62

2009-12-18T15:06:00.000-08:00

Knit with 100% black wool and designer yarn.

Lined with two pockets, button closure.

The Suzie Tote $105

2009-12-18T14:24:00.000-08:00

Knit with 100% wool and designer yarn.

This large tote is black with green accents and embelished with green crystals.
Lined with two pockets. Available for special order.

The Market Bag $40

2009-12-17T13:25:00.000-08:00

This bag is knit with 100% eco wool (non dyed) and accented with Noro wool.

The market bag is perfect for shopping. Single long handle.

Lined with one pocket and button closure.

Sterling silver charm, "faith".

Our Handbags

2009-12-14T20:55:00.000-08:00

Our Handbags are knit by hand in California using wool, with added designer yarns. The wool is felted by a process of washing and stretching with hot water. This treatment strengthens the bags. They are then lined with quality fabrics and accessorized with buttons and closures.

If you are interested in purchasing any of these handbags, please contact us at freedomstrands@gmail.com

Our Designs

About Connie

2009-12-13T00:50:00.000-08:00

I have been married to my dear husband, Walter, for almost 20 years and have 5 beautiful children (Ellie, 13; Laura, 10; Rachel, 9; Alex, 7, and Neil, 5). A graduate of Westmont College (Philosophy) and U.C. Hastings (S.F.) Law School, I practiced corporate law for 8 years before deciding to home educate our children. Thus, we have loads of time together as a family, and we love to laugh, learn, and enjoy life together.

In addition to knitting and making jewelry, I love spending quiet moments scrapbooking, reading (favorite fiction: Peace Like a River; favorite non-fiction: Enjoying God’s Presence), cooking, and studying/memorizing/meditating on Scripture.

We are very involved with Valley Bible Church, our second family. Our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His work around the world, especially to eradicate global slavery and injustice, are vital to us. Knitting and beading are two practical and enjoyable ways for me to participate in this crucial movement.

About Us

2009-12-13T00:25:00.001-08:00

Cheryl
Connie

Sharon

Anna

The Eliza Bag $62

2009-12-12T23:43:00.000-08:00

This bubble is knit with 100% wool and designer yarn.

Lined with two pockets. Button closurer.

Available for special order.

The Julia Bag $62

2009-12-12T23:31:00.000-08:00

This small bubble is knit with 100% wool and designer yarn. It is perfect for a night out!

Lined with two pockets. Button closure.
Available for special order.

The Suzie Bag $62

2009-12-12T23:23:00.000-08:00

This classic bubble is 100% wool and accented with designer yarn in various shades of pink.

Lined with two pockets, button closure.

Available for special order.

The Jenni Bag $62

2009-12-12T23:20:00.000-08:00

This classic bubble bag is 100% wool and accented with designer yarn.
Lined with two pockets.

Available for special order.

The Rachel Tote $62

2009-12-12T23:16:00.000-08:00

This is a medium 100% wool tote accented with designer yarn.

Button accented with sterling silver charms.
Lined with two deep pockets.

The Fiona Tote $105

2009-12-12T23:07:00.000-08:00

This Large tote is knit with 100% natural wool (non dyed) and accented with Llama wool.

Lined with two deep pockets

Available for special order.

The Eliza Bag $78

2009-12-12T22:50:00.000-08:00

A bubble bag using 100% wool and designer yarn.

Outer flap with button and lined with two pockets