I love the ability of womankind to transform tragedy into beauty, connectedness, and hope.
This is exactly what the women of The Nozomi Project are accomplishing in the wake of Japan’s devastating 2011 tsunami.
Their aim?
To train women and grandmothers who have suffered myriad effects of the disaster to craft beautiful, one-of-a kind jewelry from ceramic shards found among the rubble.
Photo courtesy of NozomiProject.com
“Nozomi,” which means hope in Japanese, is teaching self-sustaining skills to women while providing them a safe haven where they may gather with others who have shared traumatizing experiences.
“Each of the women working with The Nozomi Project has created a collection of her own to honor a loved one, featuring shards of the stunning pottery that Japan is so famous for,” writes Kimberley Mok. “Meticulously crafted in a setting of collective healing and hope, The Nozomi Project is a wonderful example of long-term aid that takes into account of wounds that may take longer to heal than re-building mere buildings.”
This one’s for the club.
What club?
I’m hailing that group of quietly connected, loosely knit, and elegantly empowered introverts who clamored
(in their own understated way)
about my post last year titled “A wise woman once said … nothing.”
I was surprised and delighted by the response—how incredibly affirming!
So many of us, it seems, feel that our personality characteristics (like the deep need for alone time) are peculiar quirks, unique and, well … rather odd.
Not so.
Not so at all.
Hence my use of the term “club” (no commitment required).
If you piped up about that post, or just silently listened in, I think you will appreciate this video created by the RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce) to illustrate points made by Susan Cain, author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking.
Enjoy!
Stabilized whipped cream is a light and delicate frosting for cakes, cupcakes, and layer cakes, and it can be whipped up ahead of time to top pies, cobblers … really, anything you can think of. Unlike plain whipped cream, stabilized whipped cream keeps its shape over time instead of melting or deflating. When making this recipe, the key is to slowly sprinkle in the ChillOver Powder while whisking to avoid any clumps, and to keep whisking during the 3-minute simmer time.
Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)
Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)
My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Sherrilyn Askew!!!
Sherrilyn Askew (Sherri, #1350) has received a certificate of achievement in Stitching & Crafting for earning an Expert Level Sew Wonderful Merit Badge!
“I made a “BakeOver TakeOver” from the pattern in the Ideabook, and made 4 hot pads using repurposed fabric and embroidery patterns that came from there too.
The bakeover will be travelling to a Girl Scout sleepover tonight for the potluck dinner, and donated to the fearless Troop Leader to take home.
I looked at the purchased purse handles in the picture then looked at all the branches waiting to be chipped in my yard, and decided to make my own handles. I took an apple branch about and 1-1/2″ in diameter, cut it about 9″ long, split it in half with my hatchet, stripped the bark off, and sanded it smooth. I then put holes in either end for ribbons to go through, and rubbed both halves with a little olive oil, followed by beeswax. They turned out beautiful!”
Buy props used in MaryJane’s books and magazine!
5% of profits will benefit www.firstbook.org, a non-profit that provides new books to children from low-income families throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Here’s how:
MaryJane will post a photo and a description of a prop and its cost along with a few details as to its condition here: https://shop.maryjanesfarm.org/MaryJanesCurations. It’s a playful way to be the new owner of a little bit of farm herstory.
