In the Community
Originally posted on wildflowerenterprises.net Feb 19, 2019
We have a lot to be thankful for! Some ladies in our peer mentorship group spoke to the wonderful students of Williamsport Middle School's Positivity Club about taking time to help others and listen to their stories. Together the Positivity Club and Wildflower Enterprises is making a difference in the school, community and world. While Wildflower Enterprises works at the intersections and with many individuals we are always willing to be a source of support for survivors of violence.
The best part of our new relationship with the Positivity Club is that it all started with Samantha who designed and wrote the story for the survivor stool! The Positivity Club purchased the stool and now has it on display at the school.
We are so proud of Samantha! She has asked us to share her story behind this design. She made the survivor stool to show light coming from darkness. Today she was able to live out her calling and educate the Positivity Club about domestic violence and sexual assault. She is a survivor! We can all learn so much from her. While we lift this message we also want to remind you there wonderful services that help survivors like hotlines, emergency shelters and legal advocacy. It is okay to ask for help!
The national hotline number Is: 1-800-799-SAFE.
POWER OF BOLD-UNITED METHODIST WOMEN5/20/2018
Well, we couldn't do Wildflower alone. This weekend Kacie had the opportunity to attend The United Methodist Women Assembly 2018. The daily themes were Power of Bold, The Cost of Bold, and Bold Action. After networking with amazing mothers and sisters in Christ we have truly seen God's vision for Wildflower. Thank you to all United Methodist Women! We learned from many inspirational bold women this weekend including Michelle Alexander who discussed how mass criminalization is a women's issue, Leymah Gbowee who has worked passionately for the women's peace movement in Nigeria, and many more. This was truly a life changing experience for us, and life changing for the future of Wildflower. We are committed to continue letting Wildflower help raise up the voice of the voiceless, be bold, and let women lead!
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COLLABORATION1/30/2020
SURVIVORS SPEAK AND ADVOCATE11/11/2019
We are proud of survivors who are part of our team for sharing their survivor stories for Domestic Violence Awareness Month! Thanks to Star who is part of our support board and Samantha who is a leader in our local PA support group! Remember if you need help please contact your local domestic violence and rape crisis center. Find your local PA Center The 24 hour National Hotline is: 1-800-799- SAFE If you need immediate help call 911 IN THE COMMUNITY: MEETING THE POSITIVITY CLUB2/11/2019
THANKFULWe have a lot to be thankful for! Some ladies in our peer mentorship group spoke to the wonderful students of Williamsport Middle School's Positivity Club about taking time to help others and listen to their stories. Together the Positivity Club and Wildflower Enterprises is making a difference in the school, community and world. While Wildflower Enterprises works at the intersections and with many individuals we are always willing to be a source of support for survivors of violence. The best part of our new relationship with the Positivity Club is that it all started with Samantha who designed and wrote the story for the survivor stool! The Positivity Club purchased the stool and now has it on display at the school. We are so proud of Samantha! She has asked us to share her story behind this design. She made the survivor stool to show light coming from darkness. Today she was able to live out her calling and educate the Positivity Club about domestic violence and sexual assault. She is a survivor! We can all learn so much from her. While we lift this message we also want to remind you there wonderful services that help survivors like hotlines, emergency shelters and legal advocacy. It is okay to ask for help! The national hotline number Is: 1-800-799-SAFE.
WILDFLOWER IN THE BAHAMAS: INTRODUCING DESIGNER SHARMAINE KNOWLES12/18/2018
Have you ever realized you can have a lot in common with someone living in a completely different culture than you? That’s what I (Kacie) have realized while finding artists for Wildflower Enterprises. This is also why I have connected with the Bahamas. I am really excited to introduce you to another Wildflower Bahamian artist Sharmaine Knowles! I first met Sharmaine in June at New Hope Methodist Church in Freeport, Grand Bahama. Wildflower Enterprises’ will be working with Sharmaine build clientele for her designs. We are highlighting a few of her designs on our site! What we have in common is that Sharmaine’s designs are one of a kind and all tell a story. She tells stories through graphic design work. Now I’ll let Sharmaine tell her story! Take notice of some of her inspirational quotes! This woman is good with words! PROUD ACCOMPLISHMENTS12/10/2018
In our Empowerment group participants have the opportunity to learn how to upcycle furniture. The process we teach is painting. Did you know that painting helps with healing? Also, painting is a spiritual practice and painting and praying can go naturally together. This is a creative practice, and Wildflower Enterprises offers the space for individuals to practice this. Pictured here is Samantha. We are so proud of all she has accomplished with her first upcycled project. She has designed this stool, and told a beautiful story. She is a survivor of violence, and as she was painting the stool she discussed how she wants to help other women who have experienced violence like she has. The colors she chose for this stool is a message she wrote for other survivors. PEER MENTORSHIP$0.00 Connection, Art, Healing, Empowerment We are a diverse group of women from all backgrounds and ages. We find a place for anyone in our support groups and recognize that everyone brings unique perspective and designs. Our enterprise intentionally opens our doors to women in rural PA who are overcoming different traumas. We use the craft of upcycling to inspire women! Browse through our completed projects! Check out our stories to read about some of our community partners! Thanks to Avis United Methodist Church and the General Board of Global Ministries of the UMC for making it possible for us to host our groups!
UPCYCLED CANDLE STICKS$45.00 Sold out Designed by a leader in our group, Trista. She's an amazing artist and teaching us lots of new skills from graphic design to detailed painting. She tells us these colors represent God's creation. The blue is for water and the gold is for sunshine. Support this artist today by purchasing these candlesticks. Price listed includes shipping and taxes
UPCYCLED PAINT SPLATTER TABLE$25.00 Sold out Remember Samantha, the designer of the survivor stool? Well she has completed her second project in our peer mentor group! Samantha's passion and commitment to helping us build Wildflower Enterprises peer mentor group has been an asset! Support her work today by purchasing this beautiful table. Price listed is before shipping costs. Pick up is free. We will consult with you on shipping price once first payment is made. MADE FOR CONVERSATION8/23/2018
You can help Wildflower Enterprises tell inspirational stories by purchasing one of our picnic blankets! These upcycled designs promote sustainability in multiple ways. Created for conversations these blankets are made to empower you to do justly, walk humbly and love mercy. They are all different sizes, textures and use different colored threads. Some are made from clothing, vintage fabrics and other fabrics that were meant to go in the trash. The imperfections tell a story. We hope you tell many stories on your picnic blanket, make lifelong memories and make the world a better place! -These are handcrafted in Pennsylvania. (Notice the fan in the picture above. This is handmade by Emily Strachan, Bahamian artist) (Closure is made from vintage lace) POWER OF BOLD-UNITED METHODIST WOMEN5/20/2018
Well, we couldn't do Wildflower alone. This weekend Kacie had the opportunity to attend The United Methodist Women Assembly 2018. The daily themes were Power of Bold, The Cost of Bold, and Bold Action. After networking with amazing mothers and sisters in Christ we have truly seen God's vision for Wildflower. Thank you to all United Methodist Women! We learned from many inspirational bold women this weekend including Michelle Alexander who discussed how mass criminalization is a women's issue, Leymah Gbowee who has worked passionately for the women's peace movement in Nigeria, and many more. This was truly a life changing experience for us, and life changing for the future of Wildflower. We are committed to continue letting Wildflower help raise up the voice of the voiceless, be bold, and let women lead!
WILDFLOWER'S BOLD MOVES5/20/2018
This summer is an exciting time for Wildflower. We are taking Wildflower to places we never imagined we would years ago. Kacie will be traveling to the Bahamas to meet with women to explore possibilities of sustainable community partnerships. As you know we are passionate about giving survivors of violence a place to heal. Therefore, we are traveling to research many intersections to violence against women. This summer our blog will be full of updates and stories about these bold moves. THE VISION UNFOLDS11/25/2017
By: Kaitlyn M. A new journey has begun. Wildflower Closet has been in the books for around 10 years. However, the vision has been a dream with a shield hiding two lost future entrepreneurs. Here’s the story: Wildflower Closet started as K and K Closet back when we, Kaitlyn and Kacie, were around 16 or 17 years old. What we were doing, we had no idea. Our love for creativity and fabric led us to look at the fabrics of the clothing in our own closets. We had too much clothing like many American teenagers. We also needed extra money to save for college, and we wanted to help our mom. We began selling some of our used clothing on Facebook and to friends. Many of our mom’s teacher friends and their daughters can be thanked for our love of selling clothing. We grew up buying used clothes from the daughters of the teachers in our small town. We then passed our clothing on to other teacher’s daughters. What a fun “tradition” this was for the Portland, TN teachers! However, through family crises and college downfalls we struggled financially to make ends meet. We needed to do more than sell used clothing. We needed to start a business. We began making dresses and skirts. We sold just a few, and not enough to make any profit. We separated in 2011. This was very hard on us. Kacie was in Chicagoland, Kaitlyn in Nashville. Our Wildflower dream did not end. The Facebook page stayed open. Friends still asked for us to make custom dresses or alter clothing. Designs were used during a fashion show for, Women at Risk International, an awesome organization that has been part of shaping the official Wildflower dreams. Designs were still being drawn. Kaitlyn was making coffee cozies, bracelets, curtains, skirts. Kacie was getting lost in Chicago while interning for some twin designers. There have been times of success, and our vision continued to change as we gained more life experiences. Kaitlyn has gained some business experience. Kacie has learned about women’s rights, and fair trade. Through many heart aches, downfalls, and constant learning we have held strong. There are currently heartaches in our lives, but at this time we have decided our new Wildflower vision will carry on, but even stronger than ever before. Although there are heartaches we are at a better understanding for a purpose of this. We are still learning every day. This time we decided to take the chance to build Wildflower while learning about social entrepreneurship. Plans have been drawn, and we are excited to venture on this journey and learn from all of you! This is more than a clothing business. This will be an artwork of empowerment, healing, and design. We want to help women who have experienced similar disappointments as us and other women in our lives. We want this to be a story of how women around the world can come together to empower one another. Clothing will be sold, speeches will be made, and empowerment will be given to every woman young or old around the world. Our vision is big, we have no funding, but we have a plan and it will carry on. Stay tuned as the vision unfolds! STITCHED TOGETHER PRESENTATIONS6/13/2017
Kacie had the opportunity to talk her home church in Portland, Tennessee about justice for garment workers. This presentation discussed how the church can use its connections to help garment workers around the world. This is a heavy topic and much discussion is needed to understand the many issues that garment workers experience. This is now offered as a traveling presentation to churches around the U.S. Kacie is based in the Susquehanna Conference of the United Methodist Church but is willing to travel to you. Contact us for more information about this presentation coming to you! This presentation corresponds with the article Stitched Together published in the United Methodist Women Response magazine.
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