Why a Purple Bag?

        This story is personal as it began a while ago. In 2000, we moved to Texas from the upper northeast. My husband had just been hired for an amazing new job. We had conversations about what I would want to do now that he had his new job. It felt strange that, now, I was in a position where I didn’t have to work. We discussed an idea for working with a charitable organization, where I could carve out a new niche for myself. (I was a certified teacher in New York State. So, he saw how much dedication it took to be a teacher and was hoping to relieve me of the burdens of lesson plans, grading papers, being a department chair, etc.) However, six months later we were faced with his being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. We could barely breathe. We knew the outcome wasn’t promising. The doctors boldly, yet caringly, told us to take this time to get our ‘affairs’ in order. I often describe the next 13 months as the best year and the worst year. He held strong and fought much longer than the doctor’s original 6-month estimate. Sadly though, it was never going to be long enough for us both. In 2002, my husband lost his fight.

        Now that my life was taking a significant turn, into uncharted territory, I returned to work as a certified Texas teacher. I felt grounded with a much-needed sense of familiarity. When faced with a traumatic life event, everyone’s healing process may be different. Mine was gravitating back to a place of dependability, where I could bring value to educating others again, while also finding a new sense of purpose amongst like-minded educators, who valued and supported each other.

        Now, we fast forward twenty+ years, as a newly retired Doctoral Professor with over 40 years of teaching experience. Now, what do I want to do?

        I’ve never been the type of person to just sit around. My mother, who we always referred to as Mimi, never let her age dictate her passions in life. Into her late 80’s, she found happiness playing in her vegetable and flower gardens and loved being outside in the sunshine, listening to birds sing. I’ve always been in education but a huge passion of mine, since I was a young girl, has always been sewing. Why not try merging these two loves of mine (teaching and sewing) into a place where I can help others, while providing an enjoyable, friendly, and creative space for fellow textile crafters to hangout.

        In early 2023, after forming my business and diving into website development for Sew Much Class, I was asked to choose a color pallet that resonated with my business name. Our web designer chose a very neutral champagne color. That just didn’t work for me. I had no idea why I chose purple other than I knew that purple is often associated with wisdom, creativity, imagination, ambition, peace, courage, independence, and royalty.

        Fast forward again in time to September/October 2023 when we were ordering items for our bus trip to the International Quilt Festival-Houston on November 3rd. The color purple was chosen for our gift bags and pens. Everything was now well coordinated. Just one thing was missing. There was something about the color purple that kept pulling at me.

        I went to my computer to find out what month was dedicated to pancreatic cancer. I looked up at my son, with tears beginning to form, and said to him, “Did you know that November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month?” We both sat staring at each other for several moments until we both realized what had just happened.

        On November 3rd, we announced our Purple Bag initiative to provide direct financial assistance and support to those impacted by pancreatic cancer. By purchasing one of our purple bags, which includes a specially modified logo with a purple ribbon draped over the sewing machine, you too will help support our very personal and meaningful initiative. For this, we sincerely thank you.

        As a way for us to express our gratitude for your support with purchasing one of our purple bags, we would also like to show our appreciation by providing our purple bag customers with a 20% discount for an entire year. You read that correctly! For a total of 365 days from the date of your purple bag purchase, Sew Much Class will extend a special 20% discount on all qualifying purchases that you make on our website. Classes and PHDs are excluded, but many products and a variety of special events are included. We are adding lots of new products, daily, to the supplies section on our website. However, if there is something you are looking for and don’t see, contact us by phone or email. We would love to help locate specific products for you to purchase through Sew Much Class. Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.