5 clicks to Help our charity: Miracles in Action

Dear Friend of Miracles in Action,

Chase is giving away millions of dollars and Miracles in Action is competing for a piece of the action. The top 200 organizations (who get the most votes) will all receive $20,000 or more. This would allow us to rebuild the destroyed school in San Antonio Polopo at Lake Atitlan in Guatemala. The school was destroyed just recently by tropical storm Agatha. The voting takes place on Facebook. Here is how you can vote...

This takes about 1 minute -- just 5 clicks:

1. Click here and log-in to Facebook if you aren't already signed in:

http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/731728299-miracles-in-action-inc

2. Click on: Get Started to Vote

3. Request for Permission to Access Basic information – click on Allow (this isn't a real big deal. It allows them access to your public info on your profile page)

4. Pop up window asks you to Like Chase Community Giving – click on Like (they send out occasional reminders about their program -- you can "unlike" them after July 15 when the contest is over if you want -- but don't do it until then or they will take your vote away!)

5. Verify you are still on the Chase Community Giving Miracles in Action page and click on VOTE (if you lost the Miracles in Action page, come back to this link and click it again to shoot straight there).

PLEASE be sure to also post this on your Facebook wall to help us get enough votes! Without the referral effect we may not win! Click for a cause!! It is free and fun sharing Miracles in Action with your friends!

Miracles In Action Inc. is an all-volunteer charity. 100% of the prize money will go to fund the school building project. To learn more about us, visit www.MiraclesInAction.org

Even if you are not a Facebook user, you can view the Miracles in Action new video on YouTube. It is just a few minutes....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvJNQho78H4

Thank you for your vote, and spreading the word.

Penny Rambacher
Founder/President

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Guatemala Disaster Relief Needed

Regarding the recent volcano eruption and flooding in Guatemala - where the school is located that I support through my website, I've received this update and appeal for assistance. I will be sending some funds, and I pray you will join me as well..:


Hi Londa,
We are raising funds for disaster relief, if people want to contribute to this need. We have gotten so many requests for help, and the stories are heartbreaking.
When I found out that a family of six people can buy the seeds to grow food for their family for one year for just $25, I was so surprised. Of course there is labor involved, but all the families pitch in and cultivate their own corn and beans. Many have to rent the land to plant, and fertilize, but for the most part, it is impressive that they can eat for a year on $25 worth of seeds. And, I can barely get 2 days worth of food at Publix for me and Dad for the same $25. Quite amazing.

The vocational school was our largest and most expensive project. They have had mud slides around the lake, but our school sits solid on the cliff overlooking the lake - glad we bought lots of rebar to hold it in place. It pays to not skimp on iron in an unstable zone. We had American engineers review the plans before we got started. I have not heard a report of the number of homes lost in Santa Cruz, but in nearby towns, there are many homeless people. They are living in the churches.

Must run,
Penny

Penny Rambacher, R.D.
Founder/PresidentMiracles In Action, a 501(c)(3) non-profitwww.MiraclesInAction.org

Miracles In Action Update

This will make you just weep, gals! Our efforts to support the vocational school in Guatemala where people learn to help themselves is awesome! Every time you place an order with me at www.londas-sewing.com you support this charity!
Here is what my contact - Penny just wrote:

"I have attached a poster that you can put on your website - the funds you sent us helped to buy those sewing machines. Miracles in Action gave Amigos de Santa Cruz $6,000 to buy them, the loom, and other supplies (thread, etc.) Pat asked me what type sewing machines to buy. I suggested treadle type, and to ask the sewing instructor at the other smaller project we support. She "went to town", and got the machines, and getting them to this village is no small task - it is located on the side walls of a crater lake, and only reachable by boat. You will see this from the photo. You can probably learn more from their website, and they have a newsletter online.

Thank you for your help in this. You have made a difference. Maybe someday, you would like to go see it for yourself.

Penny"
And this - from a person more personally involved with this project...

"Good Morning, Londa, Im Pat, Director of Amigos de Santa Cruz, Penny's partner organization in Santa Cruz. I wanted to thank you personally for your donation for our new sewing and weaving center. The CECAP center was inaugurated on April 26th and classes have already begun. Students in 5th through 9th grade are learning basic sewing skills. This is the first time ever that young people have had the opportunity to learn hands-0n skills as part of their school program. Adults will begin classes in June. We plan to teach basic sewing to begin with and develop a few different products that the women can sell locally including aprons and bags. As adults complete a full course, they will have the option to apply for a micro loan to purchase their own sewing machine and start their own mini-business. We are also having two looms built for weaving, another skill the people have expressed a strong interest in learning. Your donation is helping to make this all possible. The impact will be long term. Our goal is to give people the opportunity to learn hands on skills that will lead to jobs and a stronger economy for the villagers and the community. Please visit our website at amigosdesantacruz.org to read more about our visions for CECAP and learn more about what we do in Santa Cruz. Be sure to download our most currently newsletter. Feel free to ask any questions. Patricia Torpie Director, Amigos de Santa Cruz Foundation Santa Cruz la Laguna, Solola, Guatemala P.O. Box 148, Lopez Island, WA 98261 www.amigosdesantacruz.org "

Miracles In Action News & Thank You Note

What a great feeling it is to share! I recently received this nice thank you note from Penny Rambacher, Founder & President of the charity I focus on: Miracles in Action in Guatamela.

Penny writes that the donation I was able to make because of your support of my Creative Sweatshirt Jacket patterns will go a long way to set up the sewing training area of the new Vocational Center they are building in Santa Cruz. I've scanned the inside of that brochure so that you can read more about it. Their goal is to raise $150,000 to complete the construction of this 5000 sq foot building.



I'm proud to be a part of this effort - and, again, thank YOU for your support! Smile with me on what we are contributing...together!

DVD Production SAGA

Ahhh - my basement corner is filled with DVD's - LOTS each of my newest:
Londa's Refined Embellishments for Creative Clothing a 2 hour 40 minute dvd of everything I know and do in creative garments. in a DVD case - all DVD - no text files - though an outline for taking notes can be found HERE. Sheesh - it is even shrink-wrapped!

Creative Sweatshirt Jackets - Ultimate Edition - Version 2
This is a new version that will work in any computer (regardless of age) to easily access the pdf files of the Gallery and the 'Book'. Print them out and you'll have 2full notebooks! In addition - the hour of me 'talking and moving' in your DVD player - TV or computer. Well - there's a story behind this one, a mistake in the original master led to our receipt of 1000 shrink-wrapped discs that I found out were missing the pdf files! So - we promptly ordered new discs - and will have the fun of opening all of them and inserting the new, correct discs! Sew...no shrink wrap - not a big deal. Lessons learned - lessons learned.
We're just thankful that these were only sold at one show - Cincinnati Creative Festival, and anyone who bought one there just needs to email me at londa@londas-sewing.com with their mailing address and the COUPON CODE from inside the DVD to verify their purchase.

Sew...instead of throwing them away - we've decided to sell them for just $10 each. Find these HERE. Half of the money made on selling these will go to my current charity project: Miracles in Action - www.miraclesinaction.org where they sell sewing machines to women and teach them to sew to improve their lives.

Journey to Creativity - or something like that - will (hopefully) be taped yet in August for fall production and distribution. The design and execution (sewing) of at least one jacket - perhaps 2 - will be the topic of this one. Black velvet is still hanging here in my basement 'filming studio'. Workaholic here thought I could do this after return from Cincinnati with my super helper Cyndi, but God put a stop to that with a little house accident. Whewww - what it takes to get my attention and slow me down!

Our donation - Thanks from Penny and Me

Thanks everyone for your support of my patterns and book for Creative Sweatshirt Jackets. Look what-together-we have done...donated $608 since Sept. 9 to Miracles in Action. Wow! As the note says - we are helping poor families to help themselves. I am blessed in the giving, and you should be as well. Thanks again!

Creative Sweatshirt Jackets - Londa's Way : now available

My new BOOK - a printed book - is now available for purchase. Color cover and step-by-step instructions inside for the 5 great jackets you see photo'd on the front and back covers, including the few patterns needed - all for just $18.95. If you've wanted to try one of my jackets, but were a bit intimidated, I wrote this book for YOU! All self-contained, but I also did construct a webpage with a video on fitting - just as an 'add-on' to 'train' you to the neat concept of utilizing the web to transfer even MORE info - as this is the way my patterns work...linking to webPAGES for all the photos.

There's a story behind this one - and I thank helper/friend Cyndi from the Novi show for her awesome listening to both my customers, and then my 'composing' it on the road on the way home. Once home from the American Sewing Expo, and convinced I should do a PRINTED book (in addition to my 'book' on DVD), I locked myself up for 2 days and just DID IT! With the stupendous help of my wonderful local printer, Upclose Printing, in Champaign, IL, I was able to 'debut' it at the Houston Quilt Market and Festival.

Just as with my pattern sales, I've promised to tithe on the sales of this book to my current charity: Miracles In Action - www.miraclesinaction.org

So far - the book is being very well accepted - I've even already had 2 nice orders from Nancy's Notions. Comment here about your experiences with my book.

New idea: another DVD - ALL video, and on the basics of fitting and embellishment. No PDF portion - so lower cost than my Ultimate DVD.

Not sure when that will 'happen' as I have wedding sewing in my future - as daughter is getting married in late May. It will be FUN to sew on silk and satin - rather than sweatshirt fleece for a change!

Donation Given to Help Guatemalen Women

September 5, 2008

Dear Penny,
Enclosed is my donation for your wonderful work in Guatemala. It would honor my customers and myself if you would use it to buy 2 sewing machines, and the rest put towards teacher training.
I look forward to a prosperous fall season of retail sewing shows and even a wholesale market in Houston the end of October with my Creative Sweatshirt Jacket patterns. Just last night, I was working on editing my patterns so that they cite Miracles in Action as the charity I support with a tithe of my pattern sales, so that the information about this will be accurate as they are reprinted.
Please continue to send update information. If you could both email it to me and post it as a Comment at my Blog to which I am posting this letter – http://www.londascreativesewingchatter.blogspot.com/ – that would be a wonderful way to keep my customers informed.
Your wonderful humanitarian efforts are a supreme example of how we should all live. I look forward to the day when I ‘retire’ and can follow in your footsteps. For now, please accept my contribution on behalf of my sewing customers and myself in the name of Jesus.

In Him,
Londa Rohlfing
Londa’s Creative Threads

Customers - read more and see pictures about Penny's great work at this link: http://miraclesinaction.org/pb/wp_30f3a390/wp_30f3a390.html

After learning to sew at a Miracles in Action and Mayan Families Workshop, this graduate carries home her sewing machine. She can now earn an income from the home while caring for her children.