Wedding Inspiration(s)!

We were so excited last month when we were asked by the Wedding Expo Team to create the little inspirational gifts for the launch of their Wedding Inspirations Magazine (to hit South African shelves this season). The ladies did a fantastic job and created 250 fuchsia pink & white key rings with the word ‘Inspirations’ embroidered on the back.

Not only were we proud to see our work at the launch but we are genuinely excited about this fabby new handbag-sized magazine – a must have for every soon-to-be bride and just what the industry needs. Finally - a wedding magazine that inspires (where were you a year ago when I needed you?!).

Also keep an eye out for a write up about our ethical wedding favours (and we promise this isn’t the reason we love this magazine). If you’re getting married or know of any newly engaged couples then point them in this little magazines direction. Jam packed with inspiration and all things hip-and-happening. The Editorial Director is Jacquie Myburgh (editor-in-chief for ELLE South Africa) need we say more.

Also on the subject of weddings - can you tell that we love them? - we’ve recently teamed up with Fuchsia Wedding Stationery Design to inspire brides to send a little heartfelt message with every bespoke invitation.

Well, think that’s just about enough inspiration for one day. Happy planning lovely ladies and don’t forget that ‘loving someone and having someone love you, is like feeling the sun shine from both sides’. Ahhhhhh . . .

A Flyby Visit

Well it’s been a really crazy few months here at Heartfelt with lots going on and as the weeks fly bye, so do our visitors. We recently had Andy & Tiffany Jones come out to the project to visit us (they live in Arkansas in the USA), and it was a great day getting to chat and catch up on everything that’s been going on. Tiffany & Andy have been very supportive of the project since day one and started ordering back when we used to make the Bushfelt animals in ‘whacky colours’- hence the nickname ‘Mrs Wacky Colours’ the ladies gave to Tiffany.

We had tea and cake on Martha’s stoop (patio) and watched the local children wave bye (it’s the wave walk they do whenever they see a car at the workshop on their way home from school – very cute). They asked about all the local issues we have going on in Makapanstad, the HIV situation (which is pretty bad) and the lack of water supplies. It totally shocked them and not surprising too – I mean after all these years and still no running water or proper health clinics (ok, don’t get me started).

Tiffany spent some time with the ladies in the workshop watching them make their little hearts, that she sells back home, while chatting away and before we all knew it it was time to head home. We really appreciated them taking a whole day out of their busy trip to come all the way out to Heartfelt to meet us. Who knows, maybe one day we'll repay the favour by visiting them state side? Hey, you’ve got to dream big - that's why Sinah (the lady holding up the heart at the back) has already planned her trip ;).

Sew Sew Exciting!

We’ve had the most exciting gift delivered to Pinky Place – our very own Die-Cutting Machine! Martha nearly fainted on the spot and I couldn’t help bursting into tears (I’ve been doing that a lot lately). Have you ever seen how a Die-Cutter works? It’s the most incredible machine and had us all mesmerised when demonstrating to the ladies. We were all in total silence until Mina (the lady in the gloves with the scissors) let out a shriek of delight. We all started to laugh. We can now even cut out our heart shapes in triplicate. Do you know what this means? It means quicker cutting, faster production and more job creation. It means that we can help more ladies and change more lives. It means that now we can create a 100 more little designs and become the felting queens of the world! Yippee.

We are so thankful for our gift. Die-Cutting machines don’t just land in your lap and we owe this little miracle to Lara Cousins a very special friend of Heartfelt’s and someone who has supported us from day one. A crafter & scrapbooker herself she hatched this little plan on her first trip out to the project about two years ago and specially arranged for the machine and the heartfelt die-cuts to come all the way from America. Thank you, thank you, thank you. We love it, we love it, we love it. You have given us the most special gift of all. HOPE.

You'll Be A Maized

One of our suppliers - Arshaad from Ruby's Haberdashery in Brooklyn - donated 2 x 10 kilogram bags of mielie meal (maize) to the heartfelt ladies on friday. Which meant so much. When I took it out there the ladies decided that they'd keep one of the bags and give the other bag to Moshilo (Edward - our dictionary boy). Apparently according to the ladies he is really struggling and doesn't have much food. It made me realise again how many children are out there fighting for survival (often orphans to parents with HIV/AIDS). I do believe that we can make a small difference here in Makapanstad - even if we can help just one child at a time. I took this picture in a local school taxi last week - there were 32 kids inside it and it was no bigger than a small people carrier. These are the children we can help.So don't forget to send us those dictionaries - and let's help to change these beautiful kids lives. (food and clothes are also very welcome).

Our Dictionary Drive

I arrived at Martha's two weeks ago to find this really special boy 'Edward' at her house. He seemed to be very worried about her (it was when she was very ill) and he sat with me on the couch while having a cup of tea. There was something very special about him and we chatted about school and life in Makapanstad. He told me that he often came to keep Martha company at night and showed me his house which was very dilapidated - just behind hers. He told me that his Mother and two sisters had died a few years ago and that he lived with his Father who was a drunk and hardly ever around. To make money for food he herds goats for a local man in the area, earning R200 a month (£20). He told me that he loves school (he's 16 years old) and that one day he wants to be a 'Marketing Manager'. I asked him if there was anything I could do to help him and he said yes - what he'd really love more than anything in the world was a dictionary.

Wow, a simple dictionary. I mean - how many do we all have lying around? I felt so moved by his request and so sad at the same time. We take the small things so for granted sometimes and the fact that a simple dictionary could actually change this boy's life is mind boggling. Often in small communities like Makapanstad the children only have school to look forward to - so to him studying and being at school is what he lives for (because there isn't much else).

So it got me thinking. There are probably hundreds of children like him in the area that need dictionaries and books to read and write. And we probably all have a few lying around the house that we never use? So why don't we help the kids at the local school by donating a few (or ever exercise books and pens) so that they can really see a future in their education.

If you would like to help then please post your dictionary to: Martha Letsoalo, The Heartfelt Project, P O Box 642, Makapanstad, 0404, North West Province, South Africa - and we'll make sure that they get them as soon as possible. Alternatively you could make a donation (there is a link on the left hand side) and we'll go and buy them for you.

Ps. please pass this message on, so that together we can help change these special children’s lives

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