Women, F.A.R.M. and Fun! (2)

Day 2 of the livelihood skills training for Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges (CSPC) instructors was all about Artful Recycling.

Bidibidi lectured on how to make fashion accessories out of discarded buttons and used beads; and how to weave yoyo quilts using recycled fabric.

The ladies immersed themselves in a hands-on training on making button bracelets!

Words of gratitude and pleasure and hope were all over.

"Now, I will have my own button jar at home"

"Our activities are fun-filled, laughter-filled and ideas-filled! We love it!"

"What makes this a special accessory for me, is the memory it will evoke whenever I'd wear it: the fun, the laughter, and the re-kindled friendships."

"There is a special feeling of pride in wearing my own F.A.R.M. bracelet."

"My own button bracelet! Wow! It feels good to create!"

"We feel so good! I never thought I would be wearing a bacelet I made myself! I can't believe it. And a necklace, too!"

"I used to throw all the 'baduy' clothes i have, also those that don't fit me anymore. Now, I have fabrics for my own yoyo quilt."

"In my lifetime, I will make yoyo quilt bed covers for all my six children. They will be heirloom pieces. Even when I am gone, they will know I touched every piece of that and they will remember me."

"I rate the 2-day activity a 10! Perfect! If i can rate it more, I would make it 12!"

Bidibidi says, "There is no more fulfilling deed, than one that makes people enjoy, and one that makes people feel good about themselves. This two-day activity has enriched me more, in terms of joy, of new friendships, and a renewed sense of purpose. F.A.R.M. will live on in the hearts of these rural women."

Women empowerment. This is the part where we feel F.A.R.M. has accomplished its purpose.

Women, F.A.R.M. and Fun!

It was a color-filled day for La Huerta on July 23 as instructors from the Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges (CSPC) emerged on a two-day livelihood skills training conducted by F.A.R.M.'s Bernadette de los Santos.

The teachers aimed to learn livelihood skills, which they could share with members of the communities they serve, as part of the school's extension program.

Bidibidi showed them how to "live an embellished life" through the arts...

The aspiring-to-be-crafty-and-artsy rural women made time to discover their hidden and untapped talents. And to have fun!

They sketched and tried it on the canvas...

And realized that their hands could do art. And art filled their hearts. That day, art was in the air.

"I never thought i could paint! When I go home, I can show my children, I did something beautiful!"

"This is the first time in 52 years, that i have ever held a paintbrush. Didn't know it feels this good! I will do this again."

"Your laughter is infectious! It has been a long time since I last laughed! And today I did, again! Thank you!"

"This is the only activity we've done where we are able to laugh! And it is such a nice feeling to laugh with friends. We only greet each other at the bundy clock area and never have time to chat. This activity made us reconnect to one another."

Let's appreciate the beauty of their art - Fabulously and Absolutely Rural Made!

"You made us create something we can call our own and we can be proud of!"

The teachers looked forward to the second day in art paradise. Let's see what they've got. Watch out!

From threading buttons to weaving quilts

F.A.R.M. is a trademark that recycles and glorifies the vintage. It's the principle that we live up to.

Following the tremendous success of the F.A.R.M. bracelets, F.A.R.M. endeavors for more creative and ingenious merchandise that could utilize the skills of rural women in Baao.

Today, F.A.R.M. engaged the women of Barangay Pugay, Baao on a test project called, "Sew Easy - Decorative Stitches."

The women, who are members of the Department of Agriculture-initiated Rural Improvement Club (RIC), were trained to sew F.A.R.M. cushion covers or yoyo quilts out of recycled fabric.

The activity aims to promote rural livelihood among women. The participants will be paid for sewing the quilts. And the absolutely-fabulous products will be launched at the opening of the Button Hole on August 22!

Just like the F.A.R.M. bracelets, part of the proceeds of the F.A.R.M. cushion covers will go to Buttons to Hope.

There's just no stopping F.A.R.M! We hope you will continue to support F.A.R.M. , its products, its workers, and its future scholars!