A BIT OF BACKGROUND

I am a mom and grandmother (Oma) and a semi-retired graphic designer, editor and writer. Sewing and, more recently, amateur photography keep me busy when I'm not working. Cooking for family and friends and helping my kids out with backup childcare rounds out a wonderful life.

When Covid-19 turned our world upside down I needed something useful to do. I started baking, sharing the proceeds with my grown kids and their families (a great way to have a physically distant visit -- at least I got to see them!), but my husband and I were also enjoying the goodies way too much so I had to slow that down.  

It was becoming apparent that facemasks were going to become a necessary reality, at least for the near future so I decided to sew some for family and friends. I researched patterns, did a bit of tweaking, and came up with one I felt worked well. I started out using leftover fabric I had from previous sewing projects. But I soon ran out, and had more and more people asking if they could get one, too. Finding the supplies was a bit of a challenge, but thanks to Textile Traditions in Almonte for their help and no-contact sales of fabric, thread and elastic, and some other Canadian online fabric retailers, especially Ottawa Valley Fabrics in Greely, I was able to keep going. 

I went on to make and give away over 300 masks to friends and family, asking that people make a donation to a charity as "payment." Home Hospice North Lanark, Almonte General Hospital Foundation, the ALS Society, Covenant House and various local food banks have been some of the recipients. I don't know how much or where each person has donated, but the donations I do know about amounted to about $2,000.

I've pretty much covered all of my family and friends (pun intended) but find that I want to keep sewing...so I've decided to launch this website to expand my reach. 

Fifty percent of net proceeds will be donated to local charities. So far I have made almost $6,000 in donations.