New PUNJAMMIES!!

So, is it my imagination, or are IPP's PUNJAMMIES just getting better & better??!!

Every time I decide I have enough, they release a few new designs and I need to buy another pair (or two)!

I realize that some of my affection for them is a result of our time spent at IPP's sewing center in Andrah Pradesh, India. I will forever treasure my memories of the precious women who sew them, our afternoon of henna tattoos, the girl's beautiful smiles, the flowers in their long, black hair & their lovely saris...

Yes, I would probably still love my PUNJAMMIES even if they weren't as wonderful as they are, simply because of the amazing story behind them. And my desire to be a part of the story of change & HOPE that is being written by the International Princess Project! But the reality is, they are THE most beautiful & comfortable pants I have ever owned & I get compliments on them wherever I go. (oh, did I forget to mention that I do NOT where mine as pajamas?? ;-)

We have lots of styles & colors, in every size. So let me know if you want to become part of the story too! :)

Introducing Bead for Life!

I am so excited to tell you about our newest partner, Bead for Life.

Bead for Life is a non-profit based out of Colorado, working to change the lives of hundreds of women in Northern Uganda. And from what we can tell, they are doing an amazing job at it!

The women make gorgeous, handcrafted paper beads from recycled paper and then turn them into necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Because the women use recycled colorful paper, what was once trash becomes beauty, money, food, and HOPE!

Creating businesses and jobs through entrepreneurial development is a more sustainable approach to poverty eradication than simply providing aid. Rather than becoming dependent on handouts from abroad, the women build their skills and long-term capacities through meaningful, creative work.

In addition to providing a fair trade price which allows the beaders to meet their daily economic needs, Bead for Life also sponsors projects in health, vocational training for impoverished youth, affordable housing, and business development.

Investing 100% of their net profits in community development projects, Bead for Life is part of an international grassroots movement to overcome extreme poverty!

You can learn more about them at their website, www.beadforlife.org.

Our inventory is constantly changing, but we intend to always have an assortment of these beautiful, colorful pieces available. Feel free to contact me if you want to see what is currently available!

Thistle Farms

So, it has been WAY too long since I posted on here. Our trip to India has come and gone, with not a single word about it. And we have added what seems like a zillion new products that you need to hear about. There is so much to write that it seems overwhelming, but "the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step" right? So...

I will begin by telling you about Thistle Farms, an amazing social enterprise near Nashville for women who have survived lives of violence, prostitution and addiction. By hand the women create natural bath and body care products, which smell and feel absolutely fabulous!

We look forward to displaying everything at our upcoming events and are absolutely CERTAIN you will love these products as much as we do. And I am already planning on giving several things to women on my Christmas list this year.

Every purchase directly benefits the women of Thistle Farms and we are so proud to have partnered with them!

And like Thistle Farms, "we believe that love is the most powerful force for change in the world."

Introducing Himalayan Foothills Journals

The newest addition to our growing group of products is a collection of absolutely gorgeous journals, memory books, notepads & stationary sets. Not only are these the perfect place to store your favorite photos or write your thoughts & prayers... they will be making a wonderful Christmas gift for more than one person on my list!

These stationary products are handmade by artisans living in the foothills of the Himalayas in Northern India, from 100% recycled cotton paper. They are produced in a community where women are not allowed to work outside they home, which makes life extremely difficult for families without a male presence. Making these products is dignifying work which the women are able to do at home.

Your purchase of these products provides the women with HOPE in a place where people would otherwise only make a dollar a day.

The best part about these handmade journals are the hands that made them.

Making a Difference in Mumbai

I am so excited to be able to introduce you to iSanctuary & share a little bit about the exciting work they are doing in India.

iSanctuary's vision is expressed by the acronym H.O.P.E.

H - Healing

O - Opportunity

P - Purchase with Purpose

E - Empowerment

Healing: International Sanctuary works to ensure that the girls it serves have access to proper mental, emotional, and spiritual counseling as well as medical treatment.

Opportunity: International Sanctuary exists to provide opportunities for girls to grow, gain restoration, and eventually sustain themselves by earning an income as they reintegrate into society. Opportunity is created through education: literacy, numeracy, and the development of life and vocational skills.

Purchase with Purpose: International Sanctuary offers the world an opportunity to purchase with purpose, to buy unique, progressively-styled handcrafted products, and in so doing help trafficked survivors earn an income with which they can sustain themselves. By creating and selling handmade items, survivors are able to earn a life-giving income.

Empowerment: International Sanctuarys goal is to see trafficked survivors fully restored and reintegrated into society. For this to happen, survivors must be empowered with belief in themselves. Belief that they can truly succeed. The foundation for rehabilitation and reintegration lies in the empowerment that results from self-confidence, self-reliance, and hope for a future filled with possibility.

The jewelry the girls create is lovely. The story behind it even more beautiful!

To learn more about iSanctuary you may visit their website. And feel free to contact me to find out what pieces we currently have available.

In closing, I would like to share a story from their website, to give you a peek into the world of prostitution in India. And to give you HOPE, knowing that organizations like iSanctuary are truly making a difference. *All names are changed to keep anonymity.

In the darkness of Bangladesh a girl slept on the dirt floor of a shack. Poverty is commonplace in developing countries but this is not a story of poverty, its a story about how poverty can lead to some of the most inhumane treatment of people.

As Saheli* slept one night, a neighbor crept into the house and kidnapped her. Rendered unconscious, Saheli awoke in Mumbai, far from her village and her home. As a 12 year old village girl, she was very confused and afraid which led her to trust the one person she knew, her neighbor. He lied and told her that a job had been arranged for her in a restaurant in the city. But Saheli never made it to that restaurant. Instead, she spent the first week in Mumbai being beaten, starved, and raped. Once her spirit was broken, she spent every day and night for the remaining four years as a sex slave for a brothel owner.

Fortunately, Sahelis story doesnt end in a brothel. She was rescued.

Saheli has been in iSanctuarys program for over a year. Though she was hesitant to get involved in the beginning, she has now risen to the top and excelled, proving herself to be a skilled jewelry designer. She has designed several one of a kind, exclusive pieces that are a favorite of many women. Saheli continues to attend school and will hopefully join iSanctuary on a full-time basis when she graduates. She is a young woman with much tenacity. Her bold enthusiasm has made her a natural leader. iSanctuary will be grateful to have her as a leader in the program.

International Princess™ Project

I am so excited to share that we are in the process of partnering with this incredible project!

In February of 2005, International Princess™ Project founder Shannon Keith went on a trip to India that opened her eyes to the devastation of lives happening on the streets and in the brothels. After visiting a red-light district, she could not forget what she saw - young girls sold by their families, orphans picked up off the street by pimps, even young mothers just trying to feed their children. Many were held against their will. Others were trapped by economics. Those who escaped the brothels often returned just to survive. 


Compelled by the magnitude of this reality, Shannon and her team of volunteers founded International Princess™ Project to advocate for these women, to give them opportunities to restore their broken lives and empower them to live in freedom. The traditional Indian Sari, worn in even the darkest places in India, became the inspiration for International Princess™ Project. The sari's bright colors and beautiful designs are fit for princesses.

Women who leave the brothels need occupational training and job opportunities to help them find dignity, self-worth and hope for a future outside of the red light districts. When women become a part of an International Princess Project sewing center, they take the first step toward supporting themselves in a dignified way. 


PUNJAMMIES™, pajamas made from these beautiful fabrics of India, by women employed at the sewing centers, are exported to the U.S and sold as a premium-brand of sleepwear. Proceeds from the sale of Punjammies help to pay wages, provide living expenses, create savings accounts and provide holistic support and restoration for the ladies in the PUNJAMMIE™ program. International Princess™ Project is committed to creating self-sustaining enterprises in India that provide opportunities for women formally enslaved in prostitution a place to heal from the past and find hope for the future.

I feel so blessed to be able to support this project & to become part of the Punjammie Story!

Introducing Cambodia Knits

If you are searching for that perfect gift for your little ones, the search may be over! I gave a set of these to my Grandkids for Christmas & they were quite a hit! Knit in Cambodia, these finger puppets are the cutest things I have seen :). And the story behind them makes them even better...

Cambodia Knits is a social enterprise working with marginalized communities near Phnom Penh. Their goal is to produce beautiful, high quality and unique hand knit products while providing fair and flexible employment opportunities. And they are putting their profits back into the communities because they believe that putting people ahead of profit results in a great product!

Currently we are only carrying their finger puppets, but it won't be long before we add the cutest assortment of "monsters" you have ever seen!

You can visit their website to view photos of all their products & to learn more about Cambodia Knits & the difference they are making in Cambodia. We are proud to partner with them & to be able to support the work they are doing :)