Cowslip Workshops, located in Launceston Cornwall, is a dream destination for those of us who love fabric, sewing and sewing machines!! It's also a fabulous place to stop off for lunch, indulge in tea and cake and take in the wonderful views from the farm. Jo Colwill has worked extremely hard to create a 'sanctuary' for those of us for whom textiles is a passion. I visit twice a year to exhibit at their successful Summer and Christmas Fair and it was here that I met Di Wells, a fellow Cornish Textile Artist and teacher. Di visited the stall and bought some of our printed fabric pieces for a textiles project she had in mind. We didn't get much chance to chat at the Fair as it was a very busy day, but Di later emailed me and told me exactly what she intended to do with the pieces she had bought. She explained that she works very closely with International Community Assist (ICA) a charity who, amongst other things, work to provide sewing machines and teach sewing skills to desperately poor women in Albania in order to help them out of poverty by creating jobs within the textile industry. in fact, the charity has to date, taught 265 women to sew of which 145 are now in full time employment and 68 are self employed. Di visited us in the studio and we felt we wanted to help in some way, so donated a number of our linen fabric off cuts and printed pieces. With the printed pieces she has created bags that she then sold at a fund raiser. The other linen off cuts being sent out to Albania for the women to use in their sewing projects.
If you'd like to find out more about ICA and the amazing work that Di and her husband do to support the charity, take a look at this article Sewing For Life from 'Creative With Workbox Magazine' which contains some lovely stories and case studies about the women who the charity has helped, with positive life changing consequences. We will be at Cowslip Summer Fair 23-24th July 2016....visit our events page for further details. Once again, and exclusively to Cowslip events, we will be bringing a lovely selection of our hand printed linen panels and selected bags of colourful linen off cuts just perfect for sewing projects and quilting ideas. We look forward to seeing you there. Don't forget to book your table for lunch!