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Joey goes to Machine Repair School!

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Hi! I'm a quilter and fiber artist (and a full time server and bartender at night)! I've been sewing for myself-- experimenting with upcycled fabrics and batik cottons-- for about five years now. I make lots of things: full size quilts, art quilts, coasters, placemats, bags,  ornaments, and more! My primary objective in taking this class is to learn how to maintain and repair my own machines. Additionally I'm excited about being able to pass on my knowledge and skills to the women who will work with me in the future. This class will also give me a huge leg up in my future as a stitching artist, teacher and small business owner. By helping me achieve my goal, you are helping a woman recieve a machine repair certification in a field traditionally dominated by older men.

I sew full time during the day and get a lot of miles out of my dear machines. Often, when my machines break or need servicing, I have to halt my creative process, wait and pay for someone else to fix them. Many times, I have to drive over an hour to find a qualified expert. Hours away from my machine are hours I'd rather be spending working on and with my machine, making the recycled art I love. 

My longterm plan is to employ women who have obstacles to employment, such as language, previous incarceration, lack of employment history, domestic abuse, disabilites, and members of the LGBTQ community. I want to start an organization that has several missions: to teach job skills and employ women; to utilize upcycled fabrics and materials to reduce our environmental impact;  and to create a safe space for underserved and oppressed women. This machine repair certification will help me achieve these goals that are essential to my philosophy of life. Every single day, as I sew away by myself, I am planning for the day when I will finally have a room full of women sewing with me! 

In the documentary film, "The True Cost," I recently learned that right behind the oil industry, the fashion industry is the second biggest polluter in the world. This is why I do what I do. Everday I take "waste" and transform it into beautiful bags for you to use on this wonderful earth. 

Please help me get to this class! I'll be driving several hours away from Chicago to Indiana by myself and I'll need a hotel and food for a week! It's a 6-day, 9-5pm intensive. May 12-18, 2016.

Thank you SO MUCH for your help! 

Joey Gaines 

The link for the class is: 
http://whitesewingcenter.com/repairclass.php

Link to my shop! 
www.landfallfarm.etsy.com 

***A free tote bag will be sent to anyone who donates over $100, so if you do, be sure to email your mailing address to me at: [email redacted] 





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Donations 

  • Luke Girling
    • $40 
    • 8 yrs
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Organizer

Joey Gaines
Organizer
Evanston, IL

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