Feb
8th
Is there such a thing as too many scarves? I certainly don’t think so. I use mine as a replacement for those nasty airplane blankets. These scarves were made by a woman named Natalia, part of our micro-business program. She’s being taught how to start and run her own business, including designing clothing, producing, advertising and teaching. She’s also a recipient of a micro-loan that was successfully repaid within the loan terms.
Nicaraguan “Pashminas”
Feb
7th
I’ll be publishing sneak peeks of our boutique products this week, which should be ready to launch in the next week or two. This is part of a collection of pottery that is thrown, fired and painted by hand. It’s made in a small town close to Esteli, Nicaragua by a collective of women.
Nicaraguan Pottery
Feb
3rd
My 30 Day goal for January was to develop my business, Honeysuckle Life. My initial goal was to spend an hour every day on the business, but it turned out that some days were completely void of progress. While others were spent entirely on the business. My biggest success was buying and creating several products for the upcoming boutique. I still haven’t decided what to do with the blog, but I know what I want for the boutique. Expect new listings of Nicaraguan products. Skirts, blouses, scarves, dolls, hand-carved wooden bowls and pillowcases. All with a socially conscious theme. I’ll launch the boutique in the next two weeks. Que fantastico!
Jan
27th
I weave between rocks and puddles on the dirt roads, trying to find the correct street. Instead of the third left, I take the first and second. Wandering through barrios, my basket filled with items for my meeting. It’s a lasagna made of my cell phone, a couple mandarins, a water bottle and camera bag. I smile at the people I pass, trying to look like I know where I am going. I call Natalia twice, explaining where I am. ”There’s a big blue fence and I can see the lake.”
I feel like I can ride for miles, cooled by the strong wind that blows from the lake. I am strong on my bike, almost invincible. I hear the horns honk, vehicles warning me of their approach. I don’t realize how hot I am until I stop. I promise myself, while panting, to slow down on the return trip. By the time I leave, I’ve completely forgotten this promise. I pedal fast towards home.
Scarves waiting to be completed, January 26, 2010
Jan
25th
A few of the products made each Thursday by the Vida Joven Granada kids. They’re all made from a fruit called Jicaro, and this fruit has taken over our team leader’s life. I’ve started singing “Jicaro Jicaro Jicaro” instead of “Figaro”, and we have had conversations where we can relate anything back to Jicaro, instead of Kevin Bacon.
Location: Granada, Nicaragua
Taken: January 20, 2010
Jan
17th
Location: Opportunity International, Granada, Nicaragua
Taken: January 15, 2010
