Noonday Train!

It's no secret that I am passionate about Purchasing with Purpose (link here)  Noonday helps me do JUST that.  not only sell jewelry and accessories (and home goods!) but TELL STORIES.  stories that change the way we think about shopping fair trade.  stories that change  US! 

{you too can be a voice for the oppressed!}

One thing that has been pretty major in my gloriously ruined life, is Noonday.  The very first adoption conference we went to (the one Stephen said YES to adoption!) I was instantly drawn to the Noonday display table.  You see, I love accessories.  When I go into a store, that's the first thing I go for.  and my eyes were beginning to be opened to purchasing with purpose.  I was so drawn to the beautiful pieces and more than that the stories (imagine that!).  I remember meeting Jessica (the founder) and just wanting to know more!  Once we officially started the adoption process, I contacted her about hosting a trunk show to raise money for our adoption (that is still one of my favorite things about Noonday!)  There wasn't an ambassador where I was, so she sent me a box.  and let me tell you, it took off like WILDFIRE.  Everyone loved it.  They loved getting beautiful pieces, knowing that they were making a difference in the lives of these artisans around the world, and helping me bring my baby (at the time, just 1!) home.  

precious friends who hosted my first party! 

well, from there it was all God.  I was asked to be a part of the brand new ambassador program and the rest is history.  One of the coolest parts of my Noonday experience is getting to go with the founder, Jessica, to meet and work with our artisans in Uganda + Rwanda last fall.  

Jessica is like an older sister to me, and so Noonday has meant that much more.  She is a strong role model, mentor and example in my life.  In fact, most of what I thought of when God put the ANYBODY campaign in my lap were stories SHE told me of her friends (and her!) living missionally right where they were.  

back to africa.  I traveled with her first to Uganda and we got to stay with the lead artisans there, Jalia & Daniel who run African Style.  I wrote a pretty raw post right when I got home here.  a little about them: 

They believe in miracles. They believe in healing & deliverance. They are God fearing. They love the name of Jesus more than their own name. Their lives are dedicated to serving others. They understand others because they’ve been there. They’ve been so poor they had to sell their only bible to buy food. They know what it’s like to be content: to be in want & to have plenty. They, like Paul, are content.

They set their minds on things above.

I also met Bukenya & Caleb.  and boy do they have a story.  I wrote about it here.  

they are making a huge difference to the kingdom of god, all through making the beautiful necklaces and bracelets we wear around town every day.

KINGDOM impact.  

I really could go on.  to the women I met in Rwanda that started a sewing school to make things for Noonday. and my girl Grace that we sponsor to get through school so she can make a good living. 

I sat in Jennifer's (in yellow) living room in Kigali and listened as Jessica poured her heart out to these women.  as she told them they THEY represent Jack (her adopted from Rwanda son) birth mother. 

I heard their stories, I saw their passion and excitement for learning and now I see them succeeding because of YOU! 

Grace. 

I just casually mentioned it, but on this trip I also got to go with Jessica + Joe to meet their Jack. 

Jack is the reason Noonday Collection is around really.  What started by a simple fundraiser to bring him home, has turned into a socially based company who empowers women (and men!) all over the world and creates a pathway out of poverty! 

the name Noonday came from Isaiah 51:10 "when you satisfy the needs of the oppressed your night will become like the Noonday!" 

then, this summer while I was living in Ethiopia I got the chance to meet and visit with our artisans in Ethiopia.  

I got to visit their homes on entoto mountain, have coffee with them and their families and hear their stories.  I got to hear + see first hand how their job making jewelry was changing their lives.  it was providing them indeed a pathway out of poverty.  it was helping their pay their bills, get medical care + prenatal care, not have to work night shifts, spend time with their families, education for the children and an all around accomplishment to know a skill & be able to provide for your family.  

(coffee ceremonies are a big deal in ethiopia!) 

read Embembet story & others on my facebook page here. 

so. you kinna get it now? 

I just want people to know they they can SUPPORT artisans all over the world & look fabulous while doing it.  "fair trade" isn't what what you always thought it was.  it's beautiful fabulous pieces that you would wear if you saw them at a high end boutique & had no idea of the story.

but the STORY is what makes it beautiful.

being able to speak on their behalf when you are at the grocery store or a football game.

you are WEARING their stories + advocating on their behalf just by purchasing their items. 

SO....you wanna shop?  You can always visit my Noonday site here.  (also linked on the sidebar)

but I thought I'd do a little giveaway to get your blood pumping!

You can WIN this fabulous bone carved polygon necklace (made in India) by entering the give away!  you have until Friday the 11th!  

worn here by Chloe Jordan.

visit my Noonday Collection site to look around!  and if you are in the Midland area, contact me to book a trunk show this spring. 

ps I'm totally tagging along when Jess goes to India!  jess, please! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


continue the noonday blog giveaway train tomorrow with Katie Getz here.  


***ps- in case you missed it yesterday, check out the launch of our ANYBODY campaign here.

shop responsibly.

I am a passionate person & if there is something I like (read:love!) I will tell you about it.  

especially if by buying it you can both look cute AND help create a sustainable living for vulnerable men & women all over the world.  

Obviously, you have heard me talk about my involvement with Noonday Collection.  

it's been a BLAST to be an ambassador, to get people involved and educated about how you can shop responsibly, fundraise for our adoption, meet our artisans from Rwanda+Uganda+Ethiopia, connect with people from all over, and look pretty dang cute doing it all.  

I got to meet with the artisans in Ethiopia & have told the stories through a facebook album -- you can check it out here.  I'll leave you with one quick story to leave you hanging....

"Embemebet is 26 years old and has been working for Entoto making jewelry for 6 years. She came to the mountain 9 years ago when she discovered she had the virus. Unlike most women who come to the mountain from far away, Embemebet grew up in the capital city of Addis Ababa. Her journey
wasn’t very far to the mountain, but it was still a painful journey.

Her previous husband didn’t tell her he was HIV+ and she didn’t find out until he passed.

Her current husband came to the mountain for the
same reason as her & they met at church on the mountain. He is a labor worker and works wherever work is avaliable. They have been
married 5 years and they have a miracle baby together, Yabsera - who is 7 months old. They suffered the loss of two babies before him, and
I have no doubt that God has blessed this couple for their love & devotion to him."

This is a REAL woman, yall!  with a family.  and she is precious and beautiful, and she makes items like this one....

go on over to my Noonday site & check out this beautiful pair of earrings ( ancient ways earrings, $38) and the other beautiful items we sell made my artisans like Embemebet! 

(and check out the Fall look book....you might see a familiar face on page 37)

SOOOOOOO  besides being in love with ALL things Noonday.....here are some other awesome things I've purchased lately :)  ENJOY.....

My new Warby Parker "Beckett" glasses!

when you buy a pair, you give a pair!

"Warby Parker works with experienced non-profit partners to ensure that each sale of our frames will give someone in need access to affordable glasses."

get your own Warbys here. 

These fabulous shoes were handmade by artisans in Panama.  

from the website,

"When you purchase a pair, you are empowering women artisans to continue living their traditional lifestyle and protecting the heritage of this art form."

Check out my Kuna Kicks by Teysha, here.  

now go on, shop responsibly.  

and add your favorite finds on my pinterest page here

sewing out of poverty.

Matlida Jane & Noonday Collection work together to help Rwandan women sew their way out of poverty ;)

It was so fun to be a part of this project & get to meet them women before they started sewing school!

and always fun to see my images working to tell beautiful stories of women all over the world!

Noonday Collection & Matlida Jane gals are traveling to Rwanda May 7th-14th!

follow the Noonday Collection blog here.'

and as always, you can shop my noonday site & help us raise money to bring our two precious ones home!

http://www.wynneelder.noondaycollection.com/

AND there are a few Noonday pieces (along with other amazing items & photo sessions) in an online auction until May 15th that benefit my friend Kaya's friend Brittany in her fight againt Lyme disease.  go check it out here.  

alison + noonday + pink tumbleweed = friday!

hi friends!

I'm baaaaacccckkkkkk

seriously, thank you so much for respecting my "be present" wishes!  

it was an amazing trip that I can't wait to tell you about!

but!  I'm getting ready for an exciting day Friday you won't want to miss!

You all know my good friend Alison!

She's moving to Rwanda in 17 days!!

and me & her bff Allison have teamed up to do a rocking Noonday show/Alion's prints/molly's painting party Friday at Pink Tumbleweed!!!

So, if you are a local Midlander - come by Pink Tumbleweed Friday from noon-6 pm and shop a little Noonday & see other ways you can be a part of Alison's team!  

She'll be selling prints that she sells here too!

{etsy store}

So come out & be a part of the fun!!! 

Pink Tumbleweed

Friday 12-6 pm

4410 North Midkiff Road

{across from the mall - corner of Midkiff & Loop 250!}

spring is here & so is NOONDAY!!!

oh hi ;)

have you missed me?

My mom was here this week and I can't wait to show you what we were working on!

I'll take pics today & show you :)

but more importantly.....

the new NOONDAY COLLECTION spring line is here!

I am SO EXCITED about these new pieces and can't wait to get my new samples in

{hopefully beginning of next week!}

CHECK OUT THE LOOK BOOK HERE!!! 

In the mean time, I am booking SPRING TRUNK SHOWS for Midland!

So if you, or someone you know, might be interested in HOSTING tell them to email me

{wynne.elder@gmail.com}

Or if you want to come to a party, email me too & I'll make sure you get some info on a few shows.

I'm really looking forward to partnering with Pink Tumbleweed (a local boutique) to have a little show to benefit our good friend Alison, who's moving to Rwanda in May.  All my commission from that day will go towards her trip!  

then just booking spring shows!

I LOVE educating you on how you can be a smart shopper!

how you can IMPACT the lives of women all over the world simply by purchasing one of their hand made items.  Trunk shows really are a good time to hear their stories, ask questions, and learn more about who we are & what we do!

See you at a trunk show soon! 

Noonday in Uganda (and a giveaway!)

I loved having the opportunity to guest post on my sweet friend Molly's blog this week.  She let me tell some of my favorite stories of my time in Uganda with some Noonday artisans and we are doing a give away (open until Monday here!)! If you haven't ever, please visit Mollys blog.  She is a beautiful person inside & out - she's an artist and one of the most creative people I know.  She truly uses her gifts & talents to serve our God and help people! She's creating beautiful canvases (her idea!) to help our good friend Alison with her move to Rwanda (check that out here) and her blog posts are always inspirational.  Her etsy shop features cutsom paintings & my favorite headbands and cute flower clips! I seriously feel like her marketing team - I'm always telling people about my clips!  Please go check her out!!!! and because I want to have a record of all these stories on my blog...my noonday post below ;)
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Noonday has meant something totally different for me since getting back from Uganda. I “knew” what shopping and selling Noonday products meant for these women (and men) all over the globe but just like anything else – when you actually meet them, the story gets a lot more personal.

I know I have talked about Jalia & Daniel in previous blog post (here) and touched on what they do & how there are making their mark on this world. But I wanted to tell you more about the women & men who work with them.

A typical day of work for the women of African Style:

1 hour walk to Jalia & Daniels house

Sit in the outdoor area of their home and start making jewelry

Talk, talk, talk

Jalia serves them all a hot meal (this is a big deal!)

Work while they chat!

Before they go home every day they get PAID!

This is HUGE. They get paid for the work they do every. Single. Day.

Most women who make items & sell in the market in Uganda would have to wait until their item sold to make money, but these women get it each day.

We heard so many testimonies to what the $ they make helps them do!

Rosette says that her 5 kids (ages 3-17!) go to school with the money she makes.

Bukenya & Coral were able to pay for proper prenatal care during their pregnancy.

Ida, Jalia’s sister, who is a trained nurse started helping during her 1 month off from the hospital, and has decided that “making beads makes me happy” and instead of going back to the death filled hospital, she’s going to continue to work for Noonday! The $ she makes is better with Noonday & it helps her provide for her 2 small children!

My favorite story is of Bukenya (24) and his brother, Caleb (17). I got to chatting with these two young brothers as they speak very good English. I loved hearing their stories, their hearts, and their big god given plans. Having different biological dads, Bukenya spent 7 years of his youth growing up in an orphanage. It was there he learned about Jesus, and now him, his brother Caleb & his wife Coral are all Christ followers. Not only are they Christ followers trying to make it in their world, they want to help others “who really need it”. By my standards & those of the world – these young men are the ones who need the help – but their heart goes out to children living on the street. They work tirelessly making jewelry every day so they can save enough money to start an orphanage. Their goal is in 6-8 years to have their doors open to provide a place to sleep, food, and Christian discipleship for the street children of Kampala. 

These boys don’t waver in their dreams & goals. 

They aren’t afraid to tell you what the Lord has stirred up in their hearts. 

I have no doubt these two, with the Lords help; will make a huge difference in the kingdom.

And the money that will help them get there……they money they get from making the Jalia, Zoe, Kampala with love, ETC necklaces. So when you purchase a necklace from Noonday Collection, made in Uganda, you know where your money is going...

To pay for precious children’s school fees, food on the table, to help babies be born healthy and to eventually get street children into a safe and loving environment.

The Zoe Necklace, named after Jalia & Daniels daughter..... in Coral or Turquoise

this is Caleb making the beads for the necklace!

It doesn’t get much better than that.

Happy Shopping!

gifts that give back.

I'm a little obsessed with Pinterest.

I used it this year to pin some really great Christmas gifts

that not only are beautiful, nice gifts

but gifts that GIVE BACK

they help women, vulnerable children, and communities all over the world

so...so ahead and check it out!

ps- did you know you can make a WISHLIST on my Noonday site?

yes, ladies. this is a great idea ;)

http://www.wynneelder.noondaycollection.com/

Noonday in Uganda= life changing

I know it’s been a few weeks since I returned from Uganda & Rwanda but if you haven’t picked up on it yet – I am a processor. It takes me a while to really process what I experienced and put it into words. I have to be in the “mood” or “zone” to really write about things and this past week at the beach proved to be an amazing week to write!

I know I blogged a bit while I was in Uganda about what I was experiencing. But I wanted to talk a little more about it.

Noonday has meant something totally different for me since getting back from Uganda.

I “knew” what shopping and selling Noonday products meant for these women (and men) all over the globe but just like anything else – when you actually meet them, the story gets a lot more personal. Jalia & Daniel changed my perspective. Uganda changed my perspective.

I told Jessica that I felt like all we did in Uganda was talk about Jesus, pray, and ask people if they knew Jesus. It was amazing. The atmosphere in Uganda just calls for it. You can’t help but speak of what He’s done in your life & want to hear what He’s done in others.Every time we got in a car, someone prayed for our journey. How legit is that? I always said Uganda was hard-core, but now I really know. It’s hard-core!

Jalia & Daniel.

A little backgound: Jalia grew up Muslim. She converted to Christianity late high school & was basically thrown out of her home. Once daddy’s princess, she now was living with a pastor’s family who send her to school, discipled her, and loved her. She met her husband, Daniel (a believer), in bible college. They want to be missionaries. They want to witness to the Muslim world.

{this is what I wrote in my journal after our 1^st day with them}

They believe in miracles.

They believe in healing & deliverance.

They are God fearing.

They love the name of Jesus more than their own name.

Their lives are dedicated to serving others.

They understand others because they’ve been there.

They’ve been so poor they had to sell their only bible to buy food.

They know what it’s like to be content: to be in want & to have plenty

They, like Paul, are content.

They set their minds on things above.

One night when we were visiting with Jalia, she asked us if we would pray that her children aren’t orphaned.

Really?

For all you moms out there – is that high on your prayer request list?

their daughter, Zoie.

son, Zack.

Uganda & its people have challenges that we will never face.

They live knowing that their children might be orphaned.

That fear they won’t be able to provide.

But they believe in the power of our God.

They pray. They believe that God will hear them. They ask him for big things.

They believe. They know that there is power in the name of Jesus.

I want to be more like Jalia & Daniel.

Giving my life to those around me. So they will know Jesus.

Inviting people into my home so they can see the way we live.

So they can know Jesus.

Giving and giving and giving – even when by the standards of the world, they are the ones in need.

I want to have that kind of heart.

Thank you Jesus for what you are doing through Jalia & Daniel and through Noonday Collection. I pray that you continue to empower my sweet friends to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Winning souls for you one person at a time!

my friend, Grace.

{I hate when I write posts and then forget about it!  but only appropriate, as so much has happened with this story since I originally wrote about it!}

only appropriate that in my learning about grace.....

While I was in Rwanda with Jessica & Joe, I got the opportunity to go with Jessica to meet with a group of women who are about to start sewing school!

Jennifer, Jessica's friend & advocate for their adoption of Jack, has formed relationships with women in her neighborhood and has put together this whole endeavor. God is good & in the details and so when Jennifer & Jessica started working on Jack's (too many J's, huh?) adoption - they talked about the opportunities for these women.

As with anything, it costs money to go to school. Jennifer did all of the leg work and found somewhere for the ladies to go to sewing school. Each woman has a sponsor (or two!) to help pay for their schooling (transportation to & from, sewing machines, tables, chairs, teaching).

Jessica & I got to join these ladies for tea at Jennifer's house one Sunday afternoon in Kigali. It was beautiful. We had a translator so we got the opportunity to hear a bit of each one's story. There were supposed to be 10 women go to school but that day, one of them brought a friend named Grace.

As Jennifer was explaining that there are only 10 sewing machines, I felt a little nudge from the spirit. I told Jennifer that day that I would be honored to sponsor Grace.

Well since getting home, my good friend Jenn and I have sponsored Grace!

We got an email from Jennifer a few weeks ago saying that she "introduced" us to Grace. I love that my family photo is one that Jenn took :) My other friend, Beth, did a spot on the women on her blog - Give 1 Save 1 - and they have sponsored a woman too!

While Jenn was in Rwanda, she got the chance to meet Grace too!  Check out pics on her blog here! 

They are in sewing school now, learning away -- will you pray for them?

By sending them to school, they will learn to sew and then eventually make beautiful items for Noonday Collection! We got to meet with Grace (another Grace!) at Amani, where they will be doing school, and Jessica got to show her samples of what we would like.  Now they are getting the amazing opportunity to work with Matilda Jane!  You can read more about this amazing story on the Noonday blog here.

Jessica said it best on the blog, "Jennifer had a dream for the women in her neighborhood to work, the women in her neighborhood had a dream for a better life, I had a dream to partner with the women where Jack was born, Denise had a dream to get her team to Africa, and the MJC girls’ dream of getting to Africa is around the corner! Want to dream with us?"  

There will be a team going to Rwanda in May :)  Sure wish I could go...

The Noonday Collection facebook page had a contest that also sent a woman to school! If you haven't go become a fan!