Women Entrepreneurs/Women’s Empowerment

Hosted by Friends of Seychelles USA, founder and Consul General Dame Anne Lise Church, and the US Consular Corp, we will be conducting a multi-day training workshop for women and girls in the Seychelles during the October 2016 Seychelles Consuls Conference.

The training is focused on encouraging women to start their own businesses in order to provide for their families and potentially grow the workforce in the Seychelles. The training will enhance the women’s life skills development, economic development training and self worth.

Stay tuned for more information about our project! .

Athentikos did a great job preparing us. We had some Google Chat calls in the months before the trip so all of the participants could “meet” virtually and ask questions about how the art camp would work. What’s that game show where famous people are in boxes on the TV screen? Anyway, that’s what it felt like.

The best thing Athentikos was they set up a virtual call with an art therapist to explain what we might see in the art or the behavior of the girls, and what to do if we did. It was super helpful to me since all of my other training trips have been with economically disadvantaged women and girls and likely some abused but not the majority.

As the trip approached, we were asked to write our curriculum and follow a strict format.  I found out at the camp that I was one of the few to actually write anything down!  They asked us all to do something that made me uncomfortable: have the girls make something beautiful, then ruin it and later make it into something else and talk about how that made them feel. Wow, I didn’t want to see anyone cry!  But, I found a way to do it (you can read  more about that in a prior blog post).  I put a part of my workshop curriculum below in case you want to take a look.

Here were some books recommended to us for the trip: Geography of Grace; The Poor Will Be Glad;  When Helping Hurts; and The Hole In Our Gospel.

I met the co- authors of Geography of Grace…one of them even lives in Tacoma where I hang my hat about half of the year these days. The other is a pastor living in Guatemala, a mentor to Athentikos, and he happened to be coming to Tacoma before the trip so I went to meet both of them.  And, they gave me their book.  I asked them to sign it but they said I should read it first and see if I still wanted them to…that’s how fun they both were.  And lucky me, when I arrived in Guatemala I got to stay with the pastor’s family the first night since I arrived later than the others.  The first few pictures (here’s the link to the trip photos) are of their house/guest houses.

I also read The Hole In Our Gospel partly because it was written by the CEO of World Vision which is headquartered in Federal Way. I have a great respect for their work and have visited their campus and followed their projects around the world.

So, the trip!  The girls.  Well, these girls are amazing.  They soaked in everything and seemed so happy you couldn’t believe the terrible things they’d been through. But they had and in “large group” (singing, games, scripture) they were encouraged to tell us about it.  I didn’t realize this until the third day because I don’t speak Spanish!

Two girls told me their stories of abuse by family members for many years and how thankful they are for Oasis (run by ministry, truly lives up to its name — such a beautiful property) to have a safe place to live.  One of the girls is 16 years old.  I asked her what would happen to her when she turns 18.  She said she hopes to open a shop and make jewelry now that she knows how.

The art! The art was amazing.  We painted, we wrote and we shared thoughts on hopes and dreams.  We wire wrapped and incorporated beautiful fused glass pieces saved by upcycling (thanks again to Kim Merriman!).  I could write a whole blog post on how touched the girls were that an artist in the U.S. would create and send little glass jewels for them to incorporate into their pieces!  And jewelry, they made lots of jewelry! By the end of the week you could see new earrings on most everyone.  The “wishing windows” turned out so beautiful and the group ones they made were donated.

There’s so much more I could say but I’ll let the photos and my curriculum tell the rest.  It was a great trip. I think what Athentikos is doing with the I Am Art camps is very beneficial.  They have four trips planned this year.  They’d like to expand to other countries.  Is this better than the work of other nonprofits? Maybe or maybe not but it is a way regular people can have a huge impact on these young lives.

One of the “regulars” helping at the art camps is a guy named Rolando.  Rolando works for Orphan Relief, International in Guatemala and he drove all of us out to Oasis.  He also works for a coffee company and who knows what else he does. Anyway, Rolando introduced me to the Workforce Development Director for Oasis and hopes I will come back and work with the girls to learn how to start their own businesses. I would love to do that!  I also talked to Rolando about possibly raising funds for a community garden at Oasis (their home is on such beautiful land) that the girls could tend to and harvest.  I have been researching funders who might support that.

I would definitely  encourage others to do a trip with Athentikos! It was so impactful.  And the people were terrific. The founders of Athentikos are the nicest people and everyone on the trip is a new friend.

In addition to describing the art we made, below also you will find a couple of Haiku poems the girls wrote. That was one of my warm ups and even though the poems didn’t translate from Spanish to English with the right number of syllables it was really special to see what the girls wrote.  Another warm up they did was write a short story.  None of them had done that before.  I encouraged them to get published, start businesses, volunteer in their community and dream big.

The girls chose what “track” they’d do including: music, drama, sculpture, knitting, mural painting and much more. At the end of the week we  held an art reception/performances for the community.  Wow, standing room only!  The girls were so proud of what they’d achieved in the week.

Thanks for letting me share some of what I experienced!

Workshop Title: Wire Sculpture/Jewelry Making.

Art Form – Painting/multimedia, paper bead making and wired objects with fused glass. Jewelry making.

Overview

Creating wishing windows with paper beads made from painted self stories. Also incorporated in the wishing windows will be fused glass, glass beads and wire sculptures they will make. We will also make jewelry.  Students will share their personal story using painting and other words and images to describe
their lives and feelings, and the paintings will be incorporated into something beautiful and inspiring using various art techniques. Discussion will focus around challenges, hope, opportunity, and god’s
purpose.

Objectives

Students will:

1.         Explore color palettes

2.         Use pictures and symbolism for their life story

3.         Make beads from geometric shapes of paper.

4.         Learn wire wrapping.

5.         Combine different media into a single art piece (beads, wired objects, fused glass)

6.         Exhibit their work and experience and participate in critiques and discussions of their work and the work of others

Background Information

Students will paint their life story on Day One possibly using words from a dictionary page or incorporating words and/or stamped or other images into their paintings); Day Two wire wrap a symbolic item and
adorn it with beads; Day 3 cut up their paintings (also use magazine pages if desired) to make paper beads; Day 4 they will make wishing windows and/or jewelry with fused glass and the paper beads they made;
Day 5 they’ll make group (larger pieces of fused glass) wishing windows.

Creating the paintings will allow students to think about their lives and challenges, and add elements (mixed media) for hopes and dreams. Day two we will talk about the opportunities to make something beautiful from (seemingly) nothing of any value. On day three we will discuss the effects of unhealthy choices and sin and shown with the destruction of the paintings. On day four we will recreate something beautiful with their ruined art and talk about our response to God. On day 5 will we create group projects using and talking about our
different gifts and strengths and how mutually dependent/teamwork often far outweighs our efforts individually.

Biblical Concepts:

We are each a unique creation of God
Sin’s effect on us and others around us
Encouraging each other and loving ourselves and others

Overflow Activities (Things for students once they complete their primary assignment – this can be the project from the secondary workshop.)

1.         Write Haiku poems
2.         Make adjustable necklaces or bracelets, some with found objects
3.         Write a short story
4.         Make earrings, including forming the ear wires

Afternoon workshops 1.5 hours/30 students daily: Make pendant jewelry or small wishing windows with fused glass and glass beads.  Also make earrings. (This was done so all of the girls could try out the other art mediums)

Haikus from Guatemala translated

Oasis (title): I share with many girls I have many friends I am happy
being in oasis (Roseta)

Untitled: The flowers are so beautiful like yellow because they give birth to
life as God (Patricia)

Sometimes you need a change of scenery…and words from a fortune telling machine!

The building my Tacoma art studio and the Jet Artist Cooperative are in is awesome but the conference room is boring. I mean, really boring. seo information . So boring I won’t even post a photo. From time to time I take my classes and workshops to more interesting locations.

I’d heard Angela, owner of Crescent Moon Gifts, was interested in attending my workshop on Going to the Tucson Gem Show but the start time was right when her shop closes so I thought why not just move it to her location? Her former shop was super interesting and I hadn’t yet been to her new (much larger!) space so we did it!

a store, it’s an experiential journey!” width=”150″ height=”150″ /> The shop is described as a magical oasis away from the stress of busy everyday life. That’s for sure…much more than a store, it’s an experiential journey!

I always have fun doing workshops about the gem show. But this one was especially inspiring being at an independent shop where the owner beams so much passion and her business is growing possibly even faster than she can keep up.

Her store has 11,000 items, new employees, readings and other events, a tea shop…and Zoltar greets every customer. It was so cool I thought I’d share a little about my visit.

Here’s a link to more of my pictures from the shop: https://goo.gl/photos/ZQzjXc1yttY1YqqW7  Sometimes we learn things when we didn’t expect to…and getting out into the community a little more often, and out of our usual routine, presents these opportunities.

Make some magic this week!  If there are other Zoltar machines in Tacoma let me know.

One highlight is seeing a “lightbulb” moment, and for this trip it was when I taught everyone how to make clasps and earring findings with simple jewelry wire.  Seeing the looks on their faces when working with the wire, to be able to make their own low-cost jewelry components, was rewarding.  Really rewarding!  Worth every hot, humid day and all of the mosquito bites (malaria risk area)…even worth the two hour ride from Coca with the bus almost getting stuck along the washed out road due to torrential rains.

I’m so glad we made it!  We made earrings, rings, necklaces and bracelets and the women displayed them all proudly on the last day when they received their training certificates and shared some of their cultural  celebration rituals.

see more photos by clicking here!

It was a great trip and I was lucky to spend a few extra days afterward seeing the sights in Quito. And, I couldn’t resist a visit to the Middle of the World Monument to have my picture taken while straddling the equator! The complex was built to commemorate the site where a French explorer calculated the world’s equatorial line.

PS Now I have one continent left to visit: Antarctica!

Jewelry Making in the Amazon: Art-Preneur Empowerment Sessions with Tacoma Artists/Business Owners Linda Danforth and Sue Pivetta

Local jewelry designer, Linda Danforth, has been invited to work with 80 native Waorani, Quichua and Mestizo women from the Amazonian Region of Ecuador. She was invited by Dr. Rocio Alarcόn, a committed scientist to sustaining cultural and natural diversity with extensive experience in scientific research, particularly in the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest. Dr. Alarcόn is the president of Iamoe Center (located in the Amazon region) where she organizes courses on shamanic practice; field taxonomy of plants (amazon forest); and ethnopharmacology and ethnobotany research. Rocio presently chairs an international consortium of scientists specializing in medicinal plants, natural products and phytocosmetics. The jewelry designs will be using local seeds the women collect.

Originally the group was expected to have 20 participants and when Linda heard 80 would be joining in the training she invited Tacoma artist and entrepreneur, Sue Pivetta, to come along to help with the sessions.

Linda and Sue will be paying her own way to Ecuador for this 4-day (plus travel days) volunteer opportunity. They are seeking donations for tools and supplies and especially would like to take cordless drills for use by the women to aid in their jewelry production. The Iamoe Center will be hosting Linda and Sue’s visit and paying for in-country travel and accommodations.

More about Linda Danforth:

Linda is the founder of several art collectives including the Jet Artist Cooperative, 253 Collective, and Catwalk in Tacoma, Washington (USA). Linda is also a partner in a contracting & consulting business, Agility, LLC and has her own business designing jewelry.

She has worked for all levels of government and is active with volunteer pursuits splitting her time between Tacoma, Washington and Phoenix, Arizona. The challenge of global poverty alleviation is a personal interest and Linda traveled to Honduras with Global Partnerships to learn about the fight against poverty around the world through microlending and model programs that offer sustainable solutions. She also participated in a trip to Mali, West Africa, focusing on microententerprise where she taught jewelry making to young women interested in starting their own businesses.

She has worked for all levels of government and is active with volunteer pursuits splitting her time between Tacoma, Washington and Phoenix, Arizona.  She is a board member of the World Affairs Council of Tacoma and a member of the Arizona Council of International Visitors. www.LindaDanforth.com is her website for her entrepreneurial endeavors.

More about Sue Pivetta:

Sue is a business owner, author, speaker and adult educator who has a passion for artists and art. For many years she organized an artist event called The 100th Monkey. This event allowed artists from all venues to come together on a regular basis for community building. Sue is CEO of a business that works in the US and internationally with 9-1-1 to improve training and operations for Emergency Communications Public Safety. Sue lives in Tacoma, Washington.

More about Dr. Rocio Alarcόn:

Rocio Alarcόn is a committed scientist to sustaining cultural and natural diversity and has extensive experience of some 30 years, in scientific research, particularly in the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest conducting studies of ethnobotany into ethnic groups such as Huaroanes, Quichua, Achuar, and Kofan; and in the Pacific region with Chachi and Afroesmeraldenios and in the Basque Country (Spain). She works with people and plants, on topics related with health, food and the link with myths and rituals.

She completed her undergraduate degree in Biology at the Universidad Catolica in Ecuador, her dissertation was about Ethnobotany of the Quichuas of the Napo River (Ecuadorian Amazon) and was the very first Ethnobotany publication in Ecuador. Rocio completed her Ph. D. Degree at the University of London, Centre of Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy. She also received a diploma in Holistic Therapies in England and continues to travel, teach and inspire.

Dr Alarcόn is a deeply compassionate healer and spiritual teacher. She received her teachings from her mother, grandmother and shamans of the Amazonian Rainforest and Andes of Ecuador. She is the president of Iamoe Center located in Amazon region where she organizes courses on shamanic practice; field taxonomy of plants (amazon forest); and ethnopharmacology and ethnobotany research. Rocio presently chairs an international consortium of scientist specializing in medicinal plants, natural products and phytocosmetics.

More about the Iamoe Center:

http://www.iamoecenter.com/Page_Activities.php…

Our Mission is to inspire, promote and support the well-being and respect for all beings in the area surrounding the Iamoe Center. Our goal is to actively pursue fostering and creating the most feasible practices in maintaining the forest, sustaining diversity in culture and ecosystem, and to service the needs of people and the rest of species. Our Strategy is to build diverse scientific and cultural activities by inviting scholars, researchers and investors to create a productive sustainable business modality. . The hundred hectares of Iamoe Center is a private land, that is located in the North-eastern Ecuadorian Amazon region and it is also a part of the buffer zone for Yasuni National Park. Airlines provide service from Mariscal Sucre International Airport to Coca city

The above map shows where Ecuador is located within South America and the second map shows where Iamoe Center is located (This is shown by the blue dot on the map).
http://www.iamoecenter.com/Page_Background.php…

More about some of the seeds:

Native Amazonians throughout the Amazon basin have long used the seeds and nuts of a variety of trees and plants to make jewelery, such as these seeds of the Huayruro Hembra plant, all of which are bright red. They are female seeds in contrast to the male red and black Huayruro Macho seeds.

The native Huayruro plant seeds are found in pods in the tall trees of the rainforest. The red and black seeds are said to bring good fortune and abundance, while warding off negative energy. The mixture of black and red on the seeds is also said to bring balance. Locals collect the seeds that fall to the jungle floor, and many keep them n jars in their houses to promote health and bring them luck. They also make Huayruro seed bracelets for children to keep them safe from harm.

We also may work with some Spondylus shell fossils which are found off the coast of Ecuador, and have long been important to Andean peoples. Spondylus shells are much sought after by collectors, and there is a commercial market for them.

***

In April of 2016 Linda is planning a similar project in the Seychelles.

Since I’ve lived on both the east and west coasts, with one cross country road trip under my belt, I just needed to step up my domestic travel and visit at least a few new states each year. Researching the routes and picking the highlights in each state was really fun.

While working on a project recently in Washington, D.C., my friend Bill told me about the summer driving vacation he had planned with his wife. Around Lake Michigan! Wow, that sounded like a great drive and quite a coincidence that it would take them through the last two states I had left to visit — Michigan and Wisconsin. So, I invited myself on their vacation!

Luckily both Bill AND his wife, Vicky, liked the idea! I’ve made color coordinated Swarovski crystal jewelry for many of the colleges and universities Vicky has led so I made a few custom pieces to bring along to sweeten the deal (in other words, secure my place in the back seat of their SUV).

I flew in to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where they live and the next day we took off. I have a lot in common with my travel partners so it was easy to have a short list of what we thought was important: gourmet food, great wine, interesting art and beautiful scenery.

Our first stop was Habitat Galleries in Royal Oak, Michigan.  They focus on contemporary glass works by artists from all over the world. I wanted just about everything! After that stop we went to Detroit. I’ve been curious how the city is doing after reading so much about its significant decline in population and being the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history.

Driving through the neighborhoods was about what I expected with some nicely kept homes mingling with many boarded-up homes and empty lots with waist-high weeds where homes recently stood. I was glad to see Detroit’s waterfront is beautiful and people were out enjoying themselves.

From Detroit, we drove up to Petoskey on the shore of the Little Traverse Bay of Lake Michigan.  Gorgeous!  One notable stop on the way was at Mackinaw Trail Winery where we met Dustin who runs the family business. Dustin gave us a tour and told us about the production and their awards. After tasting quite a few delicious wines he gave us a great dining recommendation.

The next day we drove through Mackinaw City and across the Mackinac Bridge to ferry to historic Mackinac Island. Did you catch all of that? It took me all day to figure out they’re all pronounced MAK-in-aw!  Mackinac Bridge is the world’s fifth-longest in total suspension and the longest suspension bridge between anchorages in the Western hemisphere. It is the dividing point for Lakes Michigan and Huron.

Mackinac Island is a popular tourist attraction; the entire island is listed as a National Historic Landmark. We had lunch in the Cupola Bar at the famous Grand Hotel. Amazing!  The Grand Hotel was the location for the movie Somewhere in Time.  Vicky wandered in to the Grand Hotel & Co., Fine Jewelry shop and the clerk mentioned how much she liked her jewelry. Vicky told her the designer was in the hotel somewhere. I think I was in the ladies room! Perhaps I will follow up with the shop about a possible partnership.  It would be great to have a reason to visit the island again someday.

We seemed to eat our weight in fudge as we wandered around the island and then we ferried back and headed to UP which I learned is short for Upper Penninsula. We had a nice drive from there to Escanaba, making many stops along Lake Michigan to take in the views. Did I mention yet Lake Michigan is HUGE?!

The next morning we crossed into my 50th state — Wisconsin!!  We stopped in at Lambeau Field, stadium for the Green Bay Packers, and also at Nala’s Fromagerie to get some famous Wisconsin Cheese. Not just any cheese!  I bought fenugreek gouda made by the 2013 Grand Champion of the U.S. Championship Cheese Contest!

We celebrated my geography achievement with champagne and a picnic lunch at Lake Winnebago, the largest lake entirely in Wisconsin.

After lunch we decided since we were in the dairyland state we should next search out the best ice cream. Google was very helpful on this trip when asked: best winery, best ice cream etc. Soon we found ourselves headed to Fond du Lac for a stop at Kelly’s Country Creamery. Creamiest ice cream ever!  And, we met the cows that supplied the milk. We snickered on the way in at everyone sitting in the lineup of rocking chairs on their porch but we ended up there ourselves.

We kept making our way toward Milwaukee.where we had dinner plans. All I knew about Milwaukee was what I saw on the 70s/80s tv Show Laverne & Shirley (and I couldn’t get the jingle, schlemeel, schlemazel, hasenfeffer incorporated, out of my head for several days after the trip).

I always love knowing someone when I go to a new place so it was especially great to have former Tacoma resident (and TNT Publisher), Betsy Brenner, invite us over to her lovely downtown condo and take us to a wonderful restaurant in a newly trendy part of the city. The restaurant, Odd Duck, is not to be missed if you ever find yourself in Milwaukee.  I had the grilled grass-fed sirloin, white corn polenta cake, sweet potato chips, chimmi churri and carrot slaw.  Every dish was at least this interesting and delicious.

Did I mention Lake Michigan is huge and we ate and drank our way around it?

Before we lost sight of Lake Michigan we stopped at Wind Point Lighthouse, the largest lighthouse on the lake, for one last view. And, before leaving Wisconsin, we knew we had to find some kringle pastries. I mean, just last year Wisconsin finally named the kringle the state pastry!  We found some in Racine and they did not disappoint!

It was a wonderful trip and I’m happy to cross the 50-state achievement off of my bucket list so I can travel around the world now without guilt!  But, oh dear, I just learned about the 50 state marathon club!

Thanks for following my travels and other adventures!

How I was not aware of this place, Chalet in the Woods, is sort of a surprise (since I grew up nearby!)and yet obvious at the same time. Why?  Well, the Chalet is situated on 12 lovely acres of gardens, woodlands, and pasture for a flock of Oxford sheep and lambs. What?!  Yes, it is hidden behind Sehmel Homestead Park (wow, what an amazing gift to the community!) and you really need to be purposeful to find it.  It isn’t one of those fancy boutiques on the waterfront of downtown Gig Harbor near one of my favorite places, the Tides Tavern.

But, they are still fancy! And, they sell the amazing products from Europe (95% of their products are European imports) including a full line of Norwegian-made Oleana clothing, sweaters, accessories, blankets. coats and silk. They also sell Saint James, made in Normandy, France and they have wonderful clothing for men, women and children. Their gift selection includes Iittala of Finland, Kosta Boda of Sweden and other new and interesting artists.

It was really the Oleana sweater selection that sealed the deal for my jewelry. Oleana uses only natural fibers like wool, silk, alpaca and cashmere. They believe they should produce fewer, yet more beautiful clothes. Seychelles . Oleana is one of the last knitters in Norway to knit and sew all their products at their own factory just outside Bergen. The sweaters are gorgeous!

Lots of people ask me why I don’t hire others to help make my jewelry or do more (mass) production.  Like the Oleana philosophy, I like making custom and limited-edition jewelry and to design and create it all myself.  I was drawn to the buttons on the Oleana sweaters (which I learned their button source is proprietary information!) and I make earrings with (Austrian) Swarovksi crystals that I felt really would complement the sweaters…and a partnership was born.

Stay tuned because later this year I’ll be doing some classes and possibly a trunk show at the Chalet.  They have many special events at the Chalet throughout the year  and I hope many of you will go out for a visit someday.  Meantime, check out their new video.

Over the last several years I lowered my expenses (turns out that’s not too hard when you stop buying fancy shoes!) and made some investments and now I’m focusing on my own business and taking on new, interesting projects that do not tie me  to one location.

Why am I in Australia for 7 weeks? Why not! I took an international house sit gig through House Carers (who knew that was a thing??) in the first place that would have me from my short list of five countries I’d been wanting to visit but didn’t want to limit the stay to a two-week vacation. From here, I work every day just like most everyone else and I am meeting some great new friends.

I’ll be writing more soon about galleries/exhibits, people I’m meeting and tidbits and tips about  traveling (or living!) abroad…and whatever is in store next!

What else am I doing?  While I’m in Bathurst, Australia (NSW), in addition to working on making new contacts for the artists I represent and designing some new jewelry, I’ll also be volunteering for the Bathurst 1000 car race.  It is billed as “The Great Race” and is a huge deal in Australia!  And, it happens right here every year where I happened to land for housesitting so why not take part in it?!

By the way, it is rather nice that as Autumn rolls into the Pacific Northwest we are just starting Spring here in Australia!

What’s next?  After Australia, it’ll be time for my hometown’s Art at Work 2013 event featuring a month-long collection of classes, lectures, studio tours, and other arts programming in Tacoma (WA).  It happens the whole month of November.

For Art at Work, I’ll be teaching some jewelry classes — feel free to sign up before the city’s marketing of all of the events kicks off.

Some of the new jewelry I’m working on is pictured below.

You might wonder how I’ve come to learn this little fact.  I’ve started representing Artist Larry Earl Lamb, who hails from Miami, Oklahoma.  Maybe my travels will take me there someday.  As with most artists, Larry has many varied experiences under his belt and a great life story. This painting of the historic Coleman Theatre is one of my favorites: http://1-larry-lamb.artistwebsites.com/featured/coleman-theatre-miami-ok-larry-lamb.html

Here’s a little about Larry’s work:

I have been drawing for as long as I can remember. I began painting 5yrs ago. I paint in all mediums,but mostly in acrylic. My subjects are any that move or inspire me. I love horses, the west, native American, old cars and trucks, cowboys and cowgirls, and god’s most beautiful creatures of all, women. I was raised on a farm. I have been a dairy worker,  worked at an Arabian horse ranch,as a welder, and as maintenance man at a mushroom farm. I have never married,but I have a 17 yr old daughter and I’m of native American descent. I’m also a recovering alcoholic. . I began painting after I stopped drinking 5yrs ago – it just happened – now it is like breathing. I have to do it. And, I love it.

I hope you’ll follow along Larry’s artistic journey with me, and let me know if you’ve ever been to Miami (Oklahoma!).