Skip to main content

Ujamaa Grandmas Sale




The last time I was part of a lineup like this I think it must have been for a concert years and years ago.  I am not one to line up for Boxing Day or Black Friday sales but the Ujamaa Grandma Sale is worth lining up for!  When my friend and I arrived, this is how many people were in front of us in lineup - and we were almost an hour early.
By the time the doors opened the lineup behind us went down to the street and then along the sidewalk for quite a way.  They let in a limited amount of people, due to fire regulations, and then people stood in line to be let in as someone left. It was worth it!

So, what is Ujamaa Grandma?  They are an organization set up to raise funds and awareness for Steven Lewis Foundation Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign.  The funds they raise provide help for the grandmothers who are raising their grandchildren, orphaned due to the AIDs epidemic in Africa.    You can read more about Ujamaa Grandmas do this on their website or on their blog

This year's Annual Fabric & Yarn Sale that I attended in Calgary raised .$31,000.00 in the two day sale of stash - unused fabric, yarn, notions, embellishments, patterns and books.


It is not possible to sell every piece of fabric, ball of yarn or notion so they have partnered with a variety of agencies and charities in Calgary that provide and give to many both locally and abroad; Mennonite Central Committee, Bibles for Missions, Dolls for Malawi, Victoria's Quilts in High River, Goodwill,Women in Need, high school fashion programs, small local programs with sewing projects.  These recipients of the leftovers continue the circle of caring and community


The goal of Ujamaa Grandmas of recycling to be green and not let anything go to waste is supported by another busiiness that even takes away their coffee grounds!
Much like a stone thrown in a pond, the ripples each out beyond the sale to benefit their African grandmothers and their orphaned children.  As they work in solidarity within their own community, they reach others both near and far.

"Each year, as we prepare for the sale, we wonder:  Could there possibly be any more fabric and yarn out there for this year;s sale?"  And magically it appears."





So, why did I go?  Besides supporting a great cause, think of hardcover needlework books 2/$1.00, fabric for a dollar a yard, patterns, notions, and so much more!  I spent $32 and it took me two trips to get it all out to the truck!  My favourite find from the sale?
This adorable little wooden sewing box!  I love putting pieces of stitching in little boxes I come across like this so will be replacing the green fabric on top with some crazy quilting likely.  For $2 how could I lose?!

Mark your calendar for next year's sale - you don't want to miss it!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Giveaway Day! (CLOSED)

I am very happy to be joining in the Giveaway Day through Sew, Momma, Sew .  I have chosen to share one of my finds from a shopping trip, or treasure hunts as I think of them.  This is an antique sewing box -  I could not resist it when I saw it for sale!  Were you able to guess the item from the sneak peek earlier in the week? The box itself is fairly small, 8 inchs X 6 inchs and 4 inches high (20 cm X 15 cm and 10 cm high).  From my research it is of Asian origin. Inside the sewing box is lined with hand-painted silk.  The inside of the lid features a neat little needlebook. In the bottom of the sewing box there are more beautiful hand-painted blossoms and an attached pincushion.  I hope you are as charmed by this little box as I was when I found it and that you will enter my giveaway.  I will be pleased to mail internationally so everyone is invited to enter. To enter, visit my Etsy shop and then come back and leave me a...
119 comments
Read more

BAS - Week 79 - Feather Stitch Variations

I have about the next twenty BAS stitches scheduled and by happy coincidence this week's BAS is a series of Feather Stitch variations which coincide with this week's TAST stitch if you are following.  So, we can hit two birds with one stone!  These hardly look like feather stitch but they are.  They are created by making the "v"'s of the feather stitch vertical on the inside.  Very simple to do but a different look to an old stitch.  The second variation is created by doing two feather stitches at a time on each side, again making sure the inside of your "v"s are vertical and line up as much as possible. Same thing again in this one except they are in series of three.  To me these have the look of stitching on old crazy quilts so they are nice to add to your stable of stitch variations.  Hope you  enjoy them and have fun!
3 comments
Read more

Friday Giveaway - Last Week's Winner & a New Giveaway!

The winner of last week's Friday Giveaway of the current issue of Spin Off magazine is Marilyn!  lol - an easy win for Marilyn since she was the only one who left a comment.  Marilyn didn't leave an email so I would ask her please to contact me - just leave a comment with your email and I will email you right back to get your mailing information. (I will not publish the comment with your email)  If I don't hear back from you by next Friday I will include the magazine in with the prize for next week.  Last week I asked for comments suggesting what would make a good giveaway item in the future.  Since Marilyn's suggestion was the only one, I will take it!  So, this week I will be giving away some specialty threads as Marilyn suggested, along with a package of these great clock charms I just received in the mail. Aren't these great charms?  When I found them I bought all that there were in stock, five packages, so I have enough to shar...
42 comments
Read more