Final Dahlia Tally

Negative Space (Positive Post)

1-14-10 Photo Shoot, originally uploaded by Laura Bee Seattle.

This fabric is reversible, so I used both sides of it on this zipper coin purse. I like how the simple pattern uses the negative space. Which is the pattern, and which is the background?

I haven't been posting much because we are in the home stretch of our Dahlias for Haiti fundraiser. My latest tabulation shows that we've sold 630 flowers, for more than $6000 raised.

We're continuing to take orders through this Sunday, February 14th and we have a fresh batch for sale in the Seattle shop too. Is it crazy to think we might make it to 700?

Dahlias for Haiti Update - One Flower at a Time

As of today - February 3rd, we've sold 531 Dahlias to benefit Mercy Corps' Haiti relief efforts. We've sold about 220 in the store, and the rest online.

This volume has exceeded my wildest dreams! I thought our original goal of 200 would be a push. I want to thank all of those people who have helped with this project! I've hand sewn the flowers. However, much of the prep work cutting each petal (about 50 per flower) has been done on a volunteer basis by Debbie, Ashley, and my husband Jeff.


My sister in Boston has used her excellent PR skills to promote the project. She even landed this newspaper shout out! My mom in Rochester has sourced vintage buttons and been a cheerleader every day.

Thanks to each of you who have bought a dahlia. It's just amazing to see how $10 increments add up so quickly. We've raised $5300 so far, one flower at a time!

Click on each picture to see a larger, detailed version.

Here's a pile of about 150 dahlias that I made over the weekend. In that stack of fuzzy goodness, you can see $1500 for those in need in Haiti if you look really hard. Here are some videos from Mercy Corps that will remind you what this project is all about.

The Dahlias for Haiti project goes through February 14th, so there's still time to buy flowers for yourself or your friends. Visit our website to order, or stop by our shop. Thanks again!

Dahlias for Haiti Update

Stacks of this felt have taken over our shop and my home studio. It's such a soft, cozy material. Can you believe that it's made in the USA from 100% recycled PET soda and water bottles? Look at those juicy colors, from left to right, Fuchsia, Turquoise, Charcoal Gray, and Orange.

I'm moved and amazed that this little flower project has taken off so quickly. I first posted the flowers on my website last Friday night, and thought that selling 200 might be a stretch. I thought it was important to have a goal to reach for, and $2000 raised for Mercy Corps seemed like a lofty one.
Now just a few days into the month-long project, we're well over 150 flowers sold and counting. We've sold the majority of flowers online, but the store has been bustling too with Seattle locals stopping in to select flowers in person.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who has publicized and purchased! The heartbreak in Haiti continues and it remains clear that every dollar donated is desperately needed.

Here's a terrific blog entry on one Mercy Corps Haiti programs called Comfort for Children. Did you know that approximately half of Haiti's population is under 18 years old?

Haiti Fundraiser: Our Soda Pop Dahlias

I've been making these felt flower pins for a couple of weeks using some sweet little vintage buttons in my collection. The felt is made from 100% recycled soda bottles. Today I had a lightning bolt idea - why not sell them as a fundraiser to help those desperately in need in Haiti?

I shot off an email to the wonderful folks at Mercy Corps, a Portland relief non-profit. Can we partner up on this little project Yes, they wrote back, go for it.


So here we go! We are now offering these handmade Dahlias on our website for $12 each. We'll donate $10 for each flower sold to Mercy Corps' efforts in Haiti. We'll use the $2 left to ship the flowers to any US address, and to cover the credit card fees we incur.

I hoping you folks can help us reach our lofty goal of 200 flowers sold, made, and shipped by February 14th. That would be $2000 raised!

Order here.

PS - I'm making a big batch at home that I'll have in our Ballard store on Sunday. Otherwise, order online right away.