It's happened

7.30am Saturday morning and everyone was eagerly waiting to get into our first fashion shoot.

Our first fashion shoot was a success, thanks to all involved. This shoot will help us to launch the first component of the range, yet to be named. This includes two components - one for young women and the second interiors.

Here Linda encourages all of the girls through the first part of the day. Not having done this before everyone was feeling nervous but as the day went along courage grew. Well done girls.

Behind the scenes at the fashion shoot the healthy catering kept coming. Everyone was excited to see what was coming out next.

By the time we arrived at the beach everyone was feeling more confident there was a lot more jumping around and even a bit of yoga.

Every shot was supervised by the day's creative directors Aunty Ruth and Deb. Sandra recorded some behind the scenes shots.

One more sleep

One more sleep until the anticipated photo shoot. The clothes are ironed, the photographer is booked in, the locations are set, the models are ready & the excitement is building. Bring on tomorrow.

Today also posted off our first lot of samples to a potential distributor - the cushion cover & bags in the new range.

Our new design teacher, Nellie also started on Thursday. Aunty Ruth & Aunty Florence had a really challenging but rewarding day learning to draw the brolga and learning about 'negative space'.

Nellie joins Deb to guide the ladies in making the textile business a happening thing.

Fine day at the markets

The Producers market was held yesterday on High Street. This time we tried an earlier start and also at the opposite end of High Street.

The crowd was a bit smaller this time - probably school holiday evacuation. ? In any case was a great afternoon with lots of community networking and discussion about making Bowraville a better place. We look forward to making the market bigger and better for May with our Innovation Week showcase.

If you haven't visited the market yet make sure you do in the near future... We're always on the lookout for entertainers, local producers and artisans. Contact Kerry on 6564 8855 for more info.

Producer's market

MiiMi established the Bowraville Producers Market with the assistance of several community members and support of Bowraville Chamber of Commerce and Bowraville Lions Club. The first market was held in November 2009.

The market got off to a great start with lots of support from local producers and some visitors who travel from as far as the Central Coast to sell their produce.

The markets are central to MiiMi's community development and social enterprise work in Bowraville. Not only do they support local producers, they also act as a tool for promoting tourism to the township.

The markets also play a role in promoting community health and wellbeing by distributing information, inviting service providers and conducting workshops. One of our first community partners was LIFE EDUCATION who conducted a great family activity at our November 2009 market.

In coming months we look forward to selling more local products particularly those made through our textile social enterprise.

The market is held on the 3rd Friday of each month from lunchtime in the main street of Bowraville (High Street).

getting ready...

Aunty Ruth & Deb stayed back on Wednesday to get the new range ready for the publicity shoot on Saturday. All is ready now and we're counting down the days to Saturday. Planning the locations to visit.

Workshops for tourism develop

Today was a very exciting day for the ladies - our first workshop for tourists. In partnership with the Nambucca Valley Visitors Information Centre three of their wonderful volunteers came out to Bowraville to sample a screenprinting workshop.

Aunty Ruth expertly guided Lyn, Kaye and Ilene through sceenprinting techniques, then our visitors completed the projects with sewing machines.

SO ! we now have a new teacher in our midst.

Introduction

MiiMi has supported a textile group over the past four years. Through this time many different women from the community of Bowraville have been involved. Aunty Ruth Walker and her sister Florence have been mainstays through the project and now proudly take it to the next stage.

With TAFE teacher Deb Hatley the ladies have been joined by daughters and other community members to develop an exciting new textile production space.

A product range has been developed which includes clothing and furnishings.

This blog will document the journey of this social project as it turns into a business enterprise.

BACKGROUND
MiiMi is a not for profit Aboriginal Corporation which is based in Bowraville, NSW. MiiMi offers a range of community services to meet community need from MIIMI HOUSE which is based in the main township of Bowraville.