THE CLOTH AND THE MUD #35

FALL, 2008

NEWS FROM FABULOUS AFRICAN FABRICS

a 501(c) (3) organization

727-946-5322 and This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Our mission: to support agencies working with AIDS widows and orphans in Africa, and to educate others about the AIDS crisis in Africa.

FAF has designated October and November as Donation Days for Used Cell Phones. Donate in Michigan during October and Floirda in November. Contact 727-946-5322 to make a donation. Proceeds from this collection will go to buy insecticide impregnated mosquito nets for the Good Samaritan Home.

Don't miss Artists' Attic at the First United Methodist Church, Dunedin, FL on October 18, 2008. FAF will have a booth with many new items. The banners made by the Good Samaritan Home children in cooperation with girls and boys from St Petersburg, FL under Sarah Butz' artistic eye, will be on display.

NEWS FROM AFRICA

Francis, Manager of The Good Samaritan Home, wrote on August 28, We are doing well here in Kenya. All is well with the children. It is encouraging to know that your director [President Christine Coggins] will be coming to Kenya and that she will visit our centre. She is most welcome to spend as much time as she wishes with the children and staff in Good Samaritan Home. On the mosquito netting, I wish to tell you that the nets are very much needed to keep the children out of mosquitoes. Thank you very much and long live FAF.

Once again, Rotary is opening doors for Fabulous African Fabrics. Laura met FAF's friend, Dr. Dennis Hoekstra at Rotary last week. He volunteered to help FAF acquire the mosquito nets for the Good Samaritan Home. Denny was at Rotary to hear Tom Musli talk about Computers for Schools in Kenya.

Tom Musli is a Rotary member of the Nairobi North club and runs the NGO Computers for Schools in Kenya. This group collects out-of-date computers from several countries, including the USA. To date, Computers for Schools has refurbished 20,000 computers and provided computer skills to 750,000 children. The organization provides technical skills for college and university graduates and school administrators. When FAF mentioned acquiring computers for the Good Samaritan Home to Mercy Thuo of the home, she wrote: On computer to schools we have already set a room for the training. I would need to meet Tom to discuss on this now the government is keen on introducing computer to schools. We require some basic furniture including desks as we already have electricity. We are lucky that we have just received a donation of slar and accessories [solar energy] from a friend in US which would be useful in lighting and in powering the computers.

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

FAF member Dian Zahner will again have a FAF booth at Jubilee Internation Market in Spokane, WA in November. Check local listing for the date.

See Artists' Attic notification above. Sally Banwart would like help with selling. Contact her at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it . You and your friends will not be disappointed with the new FAF items, including the silk scarves Laura made this summer.

Shop for on the Etsy website, http://mymagicgarden.etsy.com. This site only features Laura's work, but we hope to soon develop new Etsy sites for Lucy Ramshaw and Gina May's pieces. The sales from all of these sites go to Fabulous African Fabrics.

FAF items are also on sale at the Pampered Goddess in Cedar Springs, MI and the Dunedin Arts Center, Dunedin, FL.

And Merry Christmas shopping to all.

THE CLOTH

Vlisco Veritable Hollandais, a Dutch company which is called the most prestigious Wax Print Company in Africa, donated 175 outdated sample pieces to Fabulous African Fabrics. The seven inch squares are brilliant , beautiful, and startling. What wonders will we create? Suggestions appreciated. Company representative Ronald Dijckmans found FAF on our website, proving again that the web works.

Treasurere Constance Jones and Laura Salazar took a Safari to Chicago, through flood in Indiana and dismantled buildings in the Loop. Finally arriving at Chicago Fabrics, they found Buddy Miller across from the Sears Tower surrounded by thousands of rolls and bolts of cloth. Lucy Ramshaw is sewing items from the purchased pieces as you read this.

ORGANIZATIONAL NEWS

FALL BOARD MEETING WILL BE HELD ON OCTOBER 19, AT

1158 KENSINGTON ST NW, GRAND RAPIDS, MI AT 2:00 P.M.

BRING A SNACK TO HELP US THROUGH THE AGENDA

ALL MEMBERS, OFFICERS AND FRIENDS ARE WELCOME

We will discuss the mosquito net drive and the collection of computers for the

Good Samaritan Home, as well as other items of business.

We have sent no money to Kenya this summer, but have collected $1000 for President Coggins' study trip to Nairobi in 2009, and close to $1000 for the mosquito nets for the Good Samaritan Home.

MANY THANKS

For Financial Help to

Jill Hamilton, Tamara Glenn, Betsy Kenas, Walter Petersen, William and Mary Seeger,

Wendy Wenner

For Summer Sales Help to

Margaret Carlson, Christine Coggins, Roger, Rose and Josh Ellis, Connie Jones, Kiri

Salazar

For in-kind help to

The Good Samaritan Home for 100 plus necklaces

Sue Hallack, Char Marculis, Prayers and Squares and United Methodist Women for work on

Crafty Bargains and to the congregation of Faith United Methodist Church who donated

their hall for the sale.

Everyone who donated items to the Summer Garage Sale and Crafty Bargains.

Vlisco Varitable Hollandais for textiles

Lucy Ramshaw who turns out FAF items at the drop of a hat, critter, blouse or apron.

Many thanks to Merrie Pieri-Clark and Lisa Radek who manage the Fulton Street Artisans Market. They have been very helpful to FAF, making sure that our not-for-profit has a high profile at the market, helping us make many connections with the Grand Rapids art scene. These two amazing women are planning a FAF money raiser in spring of 2009. Keep tuned.

We can't do it without you.

MEMBERSHIP

Membership is always important to us. You are important to the children and widows of Kenya. The support of our members keeps up organizational morale and morale at the Good Samaritan Home and Women Fighting AIDS in Africe. Membership pays for office supplies, event fees, state sales taxes in Florida, printing, web fees, and sweing supplies. Your small check allows us to send 100% of our sales proceeds and personal donations to the Kenyan agencies we support. If you are not already a member, please join FAF today. We need your friends and relatives as FAF members. Pass the word.

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP: INDIVIDUAL $20.00 FAMILY $30.00

Send this form and your check to

Fabulous African Fabrics, 1158 Kensington St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49534.

Questions? Call 727-946-5322

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