No visit to Washington state would be complete without stopping by the state capitol of Olympia. From the city, majestic Mount Rainier can be seen on clear days from just about everywhere. That includes Lacey, a suburb that serves as homebase for the Lacey~Oly Crafty Sewers Sew Powerful Chapter. One of many draws of the area is the Tumwater Falls Park near Olympia when between September and October it becomes a hotbed for salmon watching. Even the dedicated members of our Lacey~Oly Crafty Sewers Chapter may put purse making on pause to take in these sites. Who could blame them?

Speaking of local attractions, this this Chapter draws its members predominately from the cities of Olympia and Lacey, but some members drive in from Spanaway, Tacoma, Lakewood, Puyallup and even further out. The membership of this chapter is made of two very talented groups: one groups is dedicated to sewing purses and the other crafts inspirational notecards to go inside the purses. Skillsets aside, the Lacey~Oly Crafty Sewers Chapter is a cohesive group that meets quarterly to socialize, share sewing and crafting tips, and even demonstrate newly learned techniques. Community supporters include the GFWC Capital Woman’s Club and two local churches.

The purses you make will be gifted to schoolgirls in the African country of Zambia. The purses will be filled with reusable feminine hygiene supplies, soap, and underwear so the girl can attend school all month. Sew Powerful hires adults in Zambia living in extreme poverty. They are trained and paid a living wage to make the contents of the purses. The result is a triple benefit:

• Schoolgirls have a chance to excel in their studies and complete their education.
• Adults earn wages to feed, clothe, and house their families, giving them dignity and hope.
• Volunteers use their talents to make purses bringing them immeasurable joy knowing their efforts have changed lives.

Sew Powerful exhibits in many Quilting and Sewing expos throughout the United States and internationally. We would love to meet you in person at one of these events!

Until then, follow the links below to get started right away.

• Get the FREE Sew Powerful Purse Patterns HERE
• Join our Sew Powerful Purse Project Facebook group HERE
• Stay up to date on on-line and in person events HERE.