Wednesday, August 6, 2008

"Courage"


A special bag today; one that I would really like to see go to someone involved in Africa- whether through adoption, past or present work experience, or any old way. I've received such lovely e-mails from people who tell me that these bags have special meaning to them because of their multiple connections to the people of Africa.
This bag really is special. The centre piece of the flap comes from my sister Mary who used to work in an international school in Ethiopia. It is a napkin and depicts a "tukel" (sp?) which is a round home common in Africa? The straps are from South Africa, also a donated piece; given to me by our local Doc, who has worked and lived in Africa as well. There is a piece of green batik that you can see just peeking out at the top of the flap. This was donated by Sheila, who purchased the recent bird bag. She donated the green piece, which originally came from Barundi. Unrelated, but contributing to the sense of community that this bag depicts; the brown on the strap is from a gargantuin donation through a couple in Winnipeg who managed to gift our project with some silk woven in Thailand; among other pieces which you will hear more about in future bags. The floral bit bordering the inside pockets is a wonderful piece sent by a blogger friend in London, England. Honestly, how come so many people are so generous and thoughtful?! Whatever happened to good, old-fashioned grinchiness and greed?!


Courage. Sometimes life will chuck something at you that requires stuff you weren't sure you had. That's when you're glad that you're not alone.
Encourage. What happens when you stick up for each other. Share your bread. Lend a hand. An ear. Whatever.


This also happens to be the bag that I was working on last Tuesday when citi tv came to do a little spotlight on the Darfur project for breakfast tv in Winnipeg, which airs today, August 6.
So, let's just theorize that your donation hits the mark and this bag lands up on your shoulder.

That makes you a freaking celebrity!!
And you're going to need some Courage.

Just remember that once you find your courage, slice it up and pass it around. Sometimes the guy beside you has just run out, and a bit of yours might just be the encouragement the Dr ordered.

34 comments:

Anonymous said...

Courage...what an appropriate title. All someone needs is the courage to help out in any way they can. This is an outlet I can trust will help people who so badly need it.

I bid $60

CarlaG :) !

gloria said...

its beautiful joyce

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful bag! You are the
most amazing woman - it takes courage to make and then give that bag away.

Anonymous said...

$65... for all those people who need it and a wonderful woman who is making so much happen for so many people!

Nancy

mmichele said...

I'd like to bid $70 so I can buy it for my niece who is going to Africa in September.

Ariel Gordon said...

$75. Beaut of a bag, Joyce.

Anonymous said...

Absolutely gorgeous! I'm in for $80

Anonymous said...

I wept as I read about your comments about this bag this morning...I may not have been lucky enough to go all the way to Africa but seeing this bag ALMOST made me feel like I was there...


I bid $100

CarlaG

shaunak said...

I need this for a diaper bag for my two Ethiopian boys...
$105

Anonymous said...

Would make a great diaper bag but I love it too!

Got a 5 month of my own and she is quickly growing out of the space we had in the free diaper bag we were given..

I bid $115

CarlaG :)

Anonymous said...

I think that the idea is amazing ... a great fund raiser and the bags ar beautiful, practical and I hope one day to own one. I am wondering...do you have new bag EVERY day or what???? I have fabric to donate, let me know how or where i can pass it on to you.
Aynsley

Anonymous said...

I have decided to retract my bid of $115, hoping that ShaunaK and her two boys win this Afican themed bag, I can always wait to bid on another. So good luck ShaunaK and I hope you and your boys are the winning bidders!

CarlaG :)

Anonymous said...

Oops"African" not" Afican"!
My keyboard couldn't keep up to me! I'm sure you all knew what I meant to say anyway. I'm just really anal about my spelling!
Ha! Ha!

CarlaG

shaunak said...

Thanks CarlaG,
I will match your $115 bid.
I have to say that my boys are the picture of courage. They lost everything they had while in Ethiopia - yet they joined our family with such a joyful, enthusiastic, loving spirit! I am in awe of them and so lucky to have them in my life.

Anonymous said...

Even though I do not know you and cannot imagine what those boys have gone through in their lifetime, I can be sure that thay are very lucky to have joined your loving family and escaped the terrible life they had to endure in Ethiopia. You sound like an amazing giving and caring woman! I reall,really,want you to win this bag! You deserve it!

CarlaG :)

Anonymous said...

HI, I love this bag, I have two Foster children who are immigrants from Ethiopia. Next week we are going to visit their sister in Ontario. They have not seen her for nearly 5 years. I was trying to think of a unique gift for them to give her and I think this would be perfect. I would like to bid $120. Valerie C.

shaunak said...

121

Anonymous said...

Valerie C. $125

shaunak said...

128

Anonymous said...

Valerie C. 130

shaunak said...

137

Anonymous said...

Valerie C 133

shaunak said...

145

shaunak said...

Sorry, Valerie. i wouldn't have bid so fiercely for my third bag if it weren't for the Ethiopian theme. I have been waiting a month for another Ethiopian bag!

Anonymous said...

Way to go ShaunaK!

I think you got it!


CarlaG :)

Anonymous said...

This is bag is just amazing. So beautiful on it's own - but the stories and the spirit of it make it priceless.

Anonymous said...

Congrats Shaunak. The bag is beautiful. I hope you enjoy it, I will keep looking for another.
Valerie C.

joyce said...

Valerie C and shauna K; I must say that I wanted to split that bag in two like King Solomon in the old Testament.... So you would each get a piece. Suffice to say, Valerie C., that more African fabrics do live about the place. They are kind of special for me to work with, and I put a lot of care into it. (not to suggest that a lot of care doesn't go into the other bags!) Only to suggest that if you are patient, and diligent, you will be able to try for another African themed bag.

Thank you.

joyce said...

GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGEEEEEEEEEEEZZZZZZ

Blogger was down. Oh. The agony.

Anonymous said...

Wow, beautiful bag. You sure have a touch my first-cousin-once-removed-in-law. :) I wish talent like that could be brought upon me through marriage.

Anonymous said...

I just checked in... What a great bag -- and yes, that is a tukul, common in Ethiopia. For the 2 years I taught there, I had my lunch in one of those (at school). Mary

joyce said...

Thank you so much for your visit and comments; lorbana and aynsley.
In answer to your question- I attempt to post a bag a day; Monday through Friday; subject to change at any given moment. A typical day runs 6 am to 6 pm. Daily bidding is our current method.

joyce said...

plucky- you've got some pretty nifty talents of your own! Living without food for a time.... something rare and talented indeed. Plus, some of your own tv experience shows some rare and mysterious talents as well!!

Aynsley- you can send me an e-mail at re-joyce@mts.net about the fabric. I am a shameless fabric whore. I wait impatiently.

esther said...

darn it...
we've been gone all week, till tonight, but i'm happy :) that shauna got it!!
till next time...