Little Dresses for Africa

I've come across a charity that's a good place to spend your time, extra fabric and help yourself feel warm and fuzzy inside.

http://www.littledressesforafrica.org/

This is an inter-denominational effort to provide simple, pretty dresses for children in Africa.  They provide the patterns, all information on shipping and have answers for any questions you might have.  They've also gotten the support of Sewing with Nancy.

The dresses are simple and easy to decorate, and can make a big difference to the children there. 

They're also a good thing to do with children who want to learn to sew.  They can learn some basic skills and know they're making clothes for children who might not otherwise have anything.

Things I Learned From Project Runway

Things I've learned from 8 seasons of Project Runway:

• Don't be afraid of color
• Don't be afraid to stand up for who you are
• Don't be afraid to take risks
• The person you are inside is just as important as what you present to the public
• Sometimes you have to make an enemy to be true to yourself
• Don't be boring
• Just because someone else is doing it, doesn't mean you should too
• There's no harm in finishing early so long as you've done your best
• Don't be afraid to help others
• Sometimes being told you suck is a good thing and can make you go in a new direction you might not have previously considered
• Be open to suggestions
• Don't be afraid to push yourself
• Not all criticism is bad
• Know when to speak up and know when to shut up

Each season the designers are forced to push themselves through exhaustion and in new directions.  They have to work outside their comfort zones and create things in areas they might not have ever blinked at twice before.  Sometimes the judges are harsh, sometimes they're mocking, sometimes they're condescending.  But sometimes they give them encouragement when they didn't expect it, sometimes they see benefit in what they've done that they missed, and sometimes they believe in them more than they do themselves.
But overall, there are things that each season has been built on that apply to everyone, no matter what field they work in.  Simple principles that can apply to anyone.

Try it, you might be surprised.

And above all, remember the Ultimate Number One Cardinal Rule of Project Runway:

Don't bore Nina!