Hand & Cloth

I know everyone is dying to know more about developments on the Foreign Service front, and there are things to report, of course. Like the fact that our Language Test is in about a week in a half {keep us in your prayers!}, we finally booked our tickets {departing September 18th!}, my job prospect seems to be materializing quite nicely, and my best friend from high school will just happen to be in Moldova for the entire month of September...what more can a girl ask for?

But instead of boring you all with the details, I want to write about an organization that I love.

When I lived back in IL I spent a lot of my free time volunteering for Hand & Cloth, a non-profit organization that provides employment and support for women who are either survivors of human trafficking or are very much at risk of being trafficked. The main way in which they do this is through the sale of recycled sari throws, stitched together by hand using the traditional kantha stitch.

One of my "volunteer tasks", among other, more crucial ones, was to occasionally model the blankets for our photo shoots, and the following shots were taken in the fall of 2010. They happen to be some of my favorites, not only because they are absolutely stunning {compliments of Brian MacDonald}, but this particular collection had such pleasantly curated colors, creative stitching, and I love the silky/cotton combos. (Little known factoid about this photo shoot: I had just had all my wisdom teeth pulled out the day before!)

Other favorite shoots include one by Meagan Lindsay Shuptar and one by Tony & Amy Hoffer

For more ideas check out their lookbook and of course, you can follow them on facebook!

Romanian Rhapsody

My Romanian language instructors introduced us to a Romanian Rhapsody by the most prestigious Romanian composer of all time: George Enescu. It is beautiful, just like the beautiful land he came from. Can't wait to drive over to the Carpathian Mountains when we're in Moldova!

Shop "Local" Moldova

"But unless we are creators we are not fully alive. What do I mean by creators? Not only artists, whose acts of creation are the obvious ones of working with paint or clay or words. Creativity is a way of living life, no matter our vocation or how we earn our living. Creativity is not limited to the arts, or having some kind of important career."
                                  -Madeleine L'Engle, Walking on Water

This morning I decided to curate my first ever Etsy Treasury List, selecting items I discovered through a "local" search for products made in Moldova, Romania & Ukraine.

In a way, it's kind of like composing a mini work of art. For me, it's not so much about what the products actually are, but rather how beautifully they have been photographed and how they work together to create a visual collection that is pleasing to the eye: the shapes, colors and materials all have to fit together like a puzzle or mosaic. It also provides a way for me to connect to the people from that region: their works of art are an expression of who they are and reflect the environment which surrounds them. 

DC List Update

You might recall an earlier blog entry that listed a handful of things I wanted to do in DC before we moved, and I am pleased to announce that I have actually completed a handful.

Here is the list to refresh your memory:

• Go to the Textile Museum
• Go camping in Shenandoah with Dane & Val (& the pups, this time prepare better so that the bears don't steal all our food again)
• Go to Risika, Cuba Libre & an assortment of other restaurants
• Go up to Philadelphia & possibly New York City, possibly plan a College Roommate get-together {am sorta doing this}
• Go back to Chicago at least once {going in June}
• Go to Costa Rica to visit the parents? {going in August}
• See the big {fat & naked} man sculpture at the Hirshhorn Museum if he is ever on exhibit again...

Traditional Romanian Folk Dancing @ the Romanian Embassy this weekend.

The Textile Museum was right around the corner...

This beautiful garden is a little hidden gem behind then Textile Museum.

Here are a few more things that I have since added:

• Start striking through things on my blog because, according to Val, that's the "in" thing to do with blogs right now...
• Go Kayaking on the Potomac {plan on doing this next weekend when my friend Anna is in town}
• Go Berry-Picking and/or visit Polyface Farm in VA {from The Omnivore's Dilemma)
• Go camping/visit Assateague Island
• Go to Rita's Water Ice on "H" Street