a month of giving // an embroidery machine

Imagine that you're a woman who is creative, who wants to care for her family, who embroiders, and who has an entrepreneurial spirit. That probably wasn't too hard to imagine, was it? Now imagine that you sell your embroidery, and the amount you sell determines your ability to survive. Could you stitch enough?

But what if you could create that same embroidery with a machine and produce far more income? I gotta say, I'm not always a huge fan of machine embroidery, mainly because I just love handwork. But when you're talking about survival, there comes a time when you just need to make more things to sell. But when you're barely making it, how do you buy new equipment?

Gospel for Asia is an organization that works to bring the good news of Jesus to the people of Asia, and one of the many ways they do that is by helping those who are in need. Like many ministries of this kind, they have a Christmas gift catalog, and when I was looking through it, I saw that one of the things you can give is an embroidery machine. You can find it on their website, about 1/3 down the page.

Here's what they have to say:

Asian clothing is often enhanced with intricate designs. For centuries, the needlework was painstakingly completed by hand. But with your gift, this process can be greatly improved. This machine allows a seamstress or tailor to craft remarkably beautiful items to sell, helping to improve their standard of living.

When I looked at the computerized embroidery machines that sell at JoAnn.com, the average price was probably around $400. An embroidery machine given through Gospel for Asia is just $155. Are you as amazed as I was?

So here's what I'd like to do. I'd like to give a woman an embroidery machine, and I'd like you to help.

For the next 24 hours, 100% of all sales from my shop will go towards an embroidery machine. Not just profits...all of the sale (which means, I'm picking up all of the fees that come along with selling), from now until November 14, 2013 at 6am CST. And I've actually got two goals:

1. $155 in sales by 6am on Thursday = 1 embroidery machine
2. $310 in sales by 6am on Thursday = 2 embroidery machines PLUS I'll personally buy a 3rd machine.

UPDATE: We're so close...so I'm extending the deadline until 10AM!

Can you imagine? Let's change someone's life today. Let's change three someones' lives today!

Will you help spread the word? Pin this image, tweet about it, share it on Instagram...let people know what we can do together!