{weekly Gussy shop update — Limited Edition Africa fabric}

Back in May, Zack + I traveled to Tanzania, Africa with Compassion International. I remember so many vivid moments from our trip, just like it was yesterday instead of exactly three months ago. Whenever I smell charcoal burning, or hear a group of children singing, or think about eating pineapple, rice or chicken, I think of our Tanzanian friends. Climbing the hillside to visit the homes of sponsored children, walking past women carrying colored plastic buckets atop their head. Breathtaking landscapes all around us. But there’s something else…

I also think about how I have been selfishly hoarding African fabric for three months, too.

Did you know that?

Some yards I bought, others were gifted to our group. One local woman actually sent her grandchild home to bring back a cut of fabric, just for me. And not only that, but the whole sewing/fabric aspect of our trip was unreal. EVERYWHERE we went we saw something sewing-related: the markets, a local church, while walking to a home visit. Nearly every day I was comforted by this timeless element. Some eight thousand miles from home and still I found comfort in Africa through sewing.

So yes, I have been selfishly hoarding fabric for three months. At first I wanted some time to process our trip before cutting into it. I was soothed by this and didn’t feel like I needed to rush into it, but after about a month passed I felt like it was time. But still, my heart wasn’t ready.

If I cut into the fabric and sewed up a couple dozen zipped pouches, then sold them, what would I have left?

Selfish. So very selfish.

Then I changed my perspective:

What if I cut into the fabric and sewed up a couple dozen zipped pouches, then sold them and with a portion of the profits we were able to sponsor a child through Compassion International? Now that is an idea!

So that is our goal. Gussy Sews has never done anything like this and honestly, it’s time to change that. Many of you have shared you’re eager to help but you’re not able to travel with Compassion or your family isn’t able to sponsor a child. And it’s wise to be able to recognize if now isn’t the time. But even so, you have said you’d be able to purchase a pouch and help out that way. So let’s sponsor a child together, yes?

I already feel like many of you journeyed with me to Tanzania. I felt your prayers + your comments/emails lifted me up daily. Let’s take this to the next level.

The pouches are selling for $31 and are named after four Tanzanian children that nestled themselves into our hearts: Ruth, Mary, Topiwo and Winner. You can read about each child in the product descriptions. As the pouches sell we’ll be collecting a portion of the profits to sponsor a child. Will you help us make this happen?

My goal is to sell all of the Limited Edition pouches listed in the shop so we can sponsor a child together.

So again I ask, will you help us make this happen?

We choose the medium zip for this Limited Edition launch so we could get the most number of pouches from the available fabric. These pouches are made from beautiful, local Tanzanian fabric and while I was told they are made from 100% cotton I’m not completely sure. My hope is that these pouches would become a keepsake of us joining together to do something wonderful as a team, on behalf of Gussy Sews.

You can click here to see the full collection — and would you please help us spread the word by clicking the links below to share on Facebook + Twitter?

xoxo

*Are you ready to sponsor a child as an individual or a family? You can find more information here :)