I've been working hard to perfect my sewing skills so I can start selling these bags I've been working on, and I'm finally to the place where I feel comfortable asking for money for them!!
Right now I have about 7 T-bags, and 1 T-tote. I asking $5.00 each for the T-bags, or 3 for $10.00, and $8.00 for the T-totes, since a lot more work goes into them.
I can't open an Etsy store until I have a bank account, and I can't get a bank account without a business license, but I'm not ready to get a business license until I know this is going actually go somewhere, so I have to find other ways of marketing and selling the bags. Right now all I can do is use Facebook and good old fashioned word-of-mouth.
I've also thought about recruiting some kids from my church to sit in front of Albertsons or City Market to sell them.
I've come up with a very productive and efficient way of making the bags, I'm just waiting to get more shirts. Once I have enough, I'll be able to be more proactive in selling, but to start off with, I'm having to grasp at straws.
I know that if this is His will, then God will provide the means to sell the bags, but I have to do my part, too.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
day 1: mission success
Today was my first day of deliveries.
I've had some major struggles the last couple of weeks, and I had times of wondering if maybe I was biting off more than I can chew, but God is good and He has provided not just resources of materials and money, but in courage and strength.
I was very nervous walking up to the first house. I still hadn't fully decided what to say, but I just let God do the talking, and Laura made me realize that it doesn't matter how I feel or what I'm struggling with, because this was for her. She put me at ease with her smile and her love. After hugs, tears, thank you's and love you's, I looked at my husband and said, "This is why I needed to do this."
I delivered food to a total of 9 homes, giving each 3-4 food items, basically enough for a cohesive meal. I originally was going to give each home 2 food items, but Dominick thought maybe I should start smaller and get a feel for it, get my feet wet as it were.
After all of it, I have a renewed enthusiasm and motivation. This is Gods work, and man was He working today!! I am grateful for Him giving me the courage to follow through, and honored to allow Him to show Himself to others through me.
If you are reading this and are one of the people that received food today, Thank you. Thank you for your smiles and your love and your openness. You made my day, really.
I hope you saw a glimpse of God and His grace today, because I sure did!
I've had some major struggles the last couple of weeks, and I had times of wondering if maybe I was biting off more than I can chew, but God is good and He has provided not just resources of materials and money, but in courage and strength.
I was very nervous walking up to the first house. I still hadn't fully decided what to say, but I just let God do the talking, and Laura made me realize that it doesn't matter how I feel or what I'm struggling with, because this was for her. She put me at ease with her smile and her love. After hugs, tears, thank you's and love you's, I looked at my husband and said, "This is why I needed to do this."
I delivered food to a total of 9 homes, giving each 3-4 food items, basically enough for a cohesive meal. I originally was going to give each home 2 food items, but Dominick thought maybe I should start smaller and get a feel for it, get my feet wet as it were.
After all of it, I have a renewed enthusiasm and motivation. This is Gods work, and man was He working today!! I am grateful for Him giving me the courage to follow through, and honored to allow Him to show Himself to others through me.
If you are reading this and are one of the people that received food today, Thank you. Thank you for your smiles and your love and your openness. You made my day, really.
I hope you saw a glimpse of God and His grace today, because I sure did!
Friday, January 28, 2011
The Lord provides
I was a little discouraged this past week when only one person came forward and made donations after all my imploring, but after some prayer I got my heart back in the right place, and boy did God ever go above and beyond!!
All in one day we got a $50.00 donation, an extra food box, and fabrics donated!!
I am so happy! I have been working on a custom Amazon Kindle sleeve this week, and it came out so much better than I expected. I will be making one more for stock to sell, then taking them as requests. I'm also in line to get some more shirts this week so I'll be making more T-bags, and possibly some Jeans-bags as well. I'm hoping to start selling by the end of next week, is all goes well.
I can't open an Etsy store online without a bank account, but I want to have a business account for PF. So this coming week my mission is to apply for my DBA, so I can get a business license to open an account with. Then I'll have one place for everything.
If we continue to grow, I'd like to get an official website with a "donate" link, and a link to both this blog and our online store.
One step at a time though. {but it's so hard not to get excited}
Thank you everyone, for your support and your help and your prayers.
All in one day we got a $50.00 donation, an extra food box, and fabrics donated!!
I am so happy! I have been working on a custom Amazon Kindle sleeve this week, and it came out so much better than I expected. I will be making one more for stock to sell, then taking them as requests. I'm also in line to get some more shirts this week so I'll be making more T-bags, and possibly some Jeans-bags as well. I'm hoping to start selling by the end of next week, is all goes well.
I can't open an Etsy store online without a bank account, but I want to have a business account for PF. So this coming week my mission is to apply for my DBA, so I can get a business license to open an account with. Then I'll have one place for everything.
If we continue to grow, I'd like to get an official website with a "donate" link, and a link to both this blog and our online store.
One step at a time though. {but it's so hard not to get excited}
Thank you everyone, for your support and your help and your prayers.
Monday, January 24, 2011
The More the Merrier!!
I've made two more bags! These two were not made from shirts, though. One was from fleece and one from old jeans.
I'm am learning that my sewing skills need much improving, and that I have a lot to learn about using a sewing machine, but I am determined, and when I am determined NOTHING gets in my way...ask my husband.
On another note, I made an announcement at church on Sunday inviting the rest of the congregation to join in on my mission, and one of the ladies is so very excited! She is going to be donating T-shirts, jeans, and money!! I can't wait!! I'm spending a bit of time finding new patterns and ideas on how to make these nags, and I may even try a hat or two {gasp}.
All in due time, though. Right now I am just trying to get enough raised so I can place a bigger order next month.
Here's to hoping!!
I'm am learning that my sewing skills need much improving, and that I have a lot to learn about using a sewing machine, but I am determined, and when I am determined NOTHING gets in my way...ask my husband.
On another note, I made an announcement at church on Sunday inviting the rest of the congregation to join in on my mission, and one of the ladies is so very excited! She is going to be donating T-shirts, jeans, and money!! I can't wait!! I'm spending a bit of time finding new patterns and ideas on how to make these nags, and I may even try a hat or two {gasp}.
All in due time, though. Right now I am just trying to get enough raised so I can place a bigger order next month.
Here's to hoping!!
Friday, January 21, 2011
To the "celebrities"
I just sent out a dozen requests via Twitter to "celebrities" asking them to donate Tees for PF.
This post is addressed to them.
Project Fellowship is about people giving what they have to people who need it. I make Tees into bags and sell them, and ALL the proceeds go to buying food to put on the tables of EVERYONE in La Plata County, Colorado.
I'm not aiming for the sob stories, although they are included. I'm aiming for the "everyone else" category. The middle. The people that aren't getting their houses repossessed, but are still struggling to make ends meet. The families that are generally overlooked.
All I'm asking for is ONE T-shirt. ONE. How much time, energy and money does it take to get a shirt, sign it, and mail it? I understand your lives are busy and schedules are full, but there are a LOT of families who are struggling, and SO MANY can benefit from the funds made by selling your shirts.
Let me give you an example.
for $31.00 I can give food to 9 families. NINE. That's pretty significant. I'm asking you for your help.
Fellowship is people helping people....will you help me help others??
The address and any further information you would need is on the page labeled "PF info" above....please consider helping.
Your respectful friend,
Rebecca
This post is addressed to them.
Project Fellowship is about people giving what they have to people who need it. I make Tees into bags and sell them, and ALL the proceeds go to buying food to put on the tables of EVERYONE in La Plata County, Colorado.
I'm not aiming for the sob stories, although they are included. I'm aiming for the "everyone else" category. The middle. The people that aren't getting their houses repossessed, but are still struggling to make ends meet. The families that are generally overlooked.
All I'm asking for is ONE T-shirt. ONE. How much time, energy and money does it take to get a shirt, sign it, and mail it? I understand your lives are busy and schedules are full, but there are a LOT of families who are struggling, and SO MANY can benefit from the funds made by selling your shirts.
Let me give you an example.
for $31.00 I can give food to 9 families. NINE. That's pretty significant. I'm asking you for your help.
Fellowship is people helping people....will you help me help others??
The address and any further information you would need is on the page labeled "PF info" above....please consider helping.
Your respectful friend,
Rebecca
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
A HUGE contribution
Today I was chatting with my dear friend David, who happens to be a very successful actor on a very popular TV show, and he has agreed to see if he can donate some shirts {possibly with signatures} for me to turn into bags to sell for PF!!
I am so grateful for the fact that God has brought David into my life, he's been such a dear friend and steadfast supporter of my dreams, if he is able to pull this off, I will be ever in debt to him.
I am so grateful for the fact that God has brought David into my life, he's been such a dear friend and steadfast supporter of my dreams, if he is able to pull this off, I will be ever in debt to him.
A little time, a little $$
I was originally planning on making the T-shirt shopping bags to hand the food out in, but after I posted a photo of one of the bags on Facebook last night, I got an amazing number of inquiries about how much a I charge, so I got to thinking.....
What if I make these shirt bags and sell them instead, then all the proceeds would go towards being able to buy MORE food for PF.
What do you think?
I think it's brilliant, and I think it could be rather lucrative.
There are a few friends who are going to try to send me a box of shirts from California, that would help a bunch, then I can rummage through the thrift shops here and get some more for fairly cheap, as well.
Over all I think this could work.
What if I make these shirt bags and sell them instead, then all the proceeds would go towards being able to buy MORE food for PF.
What do you think?
I think it's brilliant, and I think it could be rather lucrative.
There are a few friends who are going to try to send me a box of shirts from California, that would help a bunch, then I can rummage through the thrift shops here and get some more for fairly cheap, as well.
Over all I think this could work.
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