The Tres Islas Orphanage Fund, now in its 24^th year, is solely dedicated to helping children in orphanages in old Mexico. It is registered with the U.S. IRS as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, charitable organization.

I have the opportunity in the winter of 2011 to work with FloreSer and the Tres Islas Orphanage Fund (www.orphanagefunds.org) in helping develop a sewing center at the FloreSer orphanage in Mazatlan, MX. No, it has not been just this year or last - but a vision that was started years ago by the founder of FloreSer, Christina Pena Miranda; embraced by Donelle Manton  Founder of the Tres Islas Orphanage Fund with the loving support of Tom Manton her husband and myself, Laura M, founder of Laura M Designs all of us having similar dreams; dreams spanning across two neighboring countries; not knowing we would end up in one beautiful Mexican city – Mazatlan-  working together.

I arrived in Mazatlan January 15, 2011.

Thanks to an exceptionally benevolent12-year old boy named Cole Philipp from the Northwest Territory of Canada who raised over $13,000.00 for the Tres Islas Orphanage Fund to be divided equally among the five orphanages, the electrical and plumbing work for FloreSer’s about-to-be sewing center and psychological room was about to be completed. (Please visit Cole’s website at web.me.com/cole.philipp ). Soon after, more donations that Cole raised would purchase the shelving units and clear, plastic bins which would store the sewing machines, material, notions, patterns, etc., when not in use.

I arrived in Mazatlan January 15, 2011.

Within a week after I arrived the sewing center and psychological room had been finished and then Voila! -  our wonderful contractor Jose Luis Lizarraga Zuniga gave us a bid to tear down the walls that were dividing the sewing center and finish the extra work needed before the painting could be done.

Tres Islas donors from Saratoga, WY, Ft. Collins, CO and surrounding areas purchased the sewing/cutting tables, chairs and will buy sewing supplies for each girl to have their own sewing kit. Giving the sewing center its first coat of paint – after patching the walls – came from Tres Islas donations made by Friends of Tres Islas Saratoga Group. Much more is needed and I will update you on what is being purchased from as it’s needed.

Our  first sewing project: new table place mats and runners for the dining room complete with cushions for the chairs. We’ve also made pillows for the living room chairs in soft peach-colored tones. As the girls advance in their sewing ability, they’ll create new cushions and pillows to go with their new living room and mural that Tres Islas donors are also sponsoring.

The girls will be making quilts for their beds as well as curtains all picking a theme color for the three bedrooms. Teaching the girls the importance of color and texture coordination – blending and matching to make a pleasing home décor throughout the house is one of the many skills we’re incorporating into their sewing classes.

The girls are so excited about all the achievements they are making – not only learning how to sew – but that they are accomplishing personal goals for themselves – and for many, this is the first time in their lives they’ve had an opportunity such as this.

A wonderful group of Canadian woman teach sewing on Thursday afternoons. They are teaching the girls to hand-sew brightly colored rugs and wine coasters. One of the Canadian donated five sewing machines, and I might add, very nice Elna and Brother models, Rose (her beautiful name fits her beautiful spirit and attitude) donated a serger we’ll be using. The girls enjoy making their items and Rose has begun selling the items to people she knows on behalf of the girls who are making money for themselves. A program is also being developed to help teach them business ethics.

We’ve only just begun with this adventure and our motto is "I CAN DO IT!" To help these wonderful girls and this worthwhile project, please make a donation by following this link: Tres Islas Orphanage Fund Donation Form complete the form, and send it, along with your donation, to the address at the bottom of the form.

I have the opportunity in the winter of 2011 to work with FloreSer and the Tres Islas Orphanage Fund (www.orphanagefunds.org) in helping develop a sewing center at the FloreSer orphanage in Mazatlan, MX. No, it has not been just this year or last - but a vision that was started years ago by the founder of FloreSer, Christina Pena Miranda; embraced by Donelle Manton and Tom Manton, Founders of the Tres Islas Orphanage Fund and myself, Laura M, founder of Laura M Designs . All of us having similar dreams; dreams spanning across two neighboring countries; not knowing we would end up in one beautiful Mexican city – Mazatlan- working together.

I arrived in Mazatlan January 15, 2011.

Thanks to an exceptionally benevolent12-year old boy named Cole Philipp from the Northwest Territory of Canada who raised over $13,000.00 for the Tres Islas Orphanage Fund to be divided equally among the five orphanages, the electrical and plumbing work for FloreSer’s about-to-be sewing center and psychological room was about to be completed. (Please visit Cole’s website at web.me.com/cole.philipp ). Soon after, more donations that Cole raised would purchase the shelving units and clear, plastic bins which would store the sewing machines, material, notions, patterns, etc., when not in use.

Within a week after I arrived the sewing center and psychological room had been finished and then Voila! -  our wonderful contractor Jose Luis Lizarraga Zuniga gave us a bid to tear down the walls that were dividing the sewing center and finish the extra work needed before the painting could be done.

Tres Islas donors from Saratoga, WY, Ft. Collins, CO and surrounding areas purchased the sewing/cutting tables, chairs and will buy sewing supplies for each girl to have their own sewing kit. Giving the sewing center its first coat of paint – after patching the walls – came from Tres Islas donations made by Friends of Tres Islas Saratoga Group. Much more is needed and I will update you on what is being purchased from as it’s needed.

My first sewing project with the girls was to make new table place mats and runners for the dining room complete with cushions for the chairs. We’ve also made pillows for the living room chairs in soft peach-colored tones. As the girls advance in their sewing ability, they’ll create new cushions and pillows to go with their new living room and mural that Tres Islas donors are also sponsoring.

The girls will be making quilts for their beds as well as curtains all picking a theme color for the three bedrooms. Teaching the girls the importance of color and texture coordination – blending and matching to make a pleasing home décor throughout the house is one of the many skills we’re incorporating into their sewing classes.

The girls are so excited about all the achievements they are making – not only learning how to sew – but that they are accomplishing personal goals for themselves – and for many, this is the first time in their lives they’ve had an opportunity such as this.

A wonderful group of Canadian woman teach sewing on Thursday afternoons. They are teaching the girls to hand-sew brightly colored rugs and wine coasters. One of the Canadian donated five sewing machines, and I might add, very nice Elna and Brother models, Rose (her beautiful name fits her beautiful spirit and attitude) donated a serger we’ll be using. The girls enjoy making their items and Rose has begun selling the items to people she knows on behalf of the girls who are making money for themselves. A program is also being developed to help teach them business ethics.

We’ve only just begun with this adventure and our motto is "I CAN DO IT!" To help these wonderful girls and this worthwhile project, please make a donation by following this link: Tres Islas Orphanage Fund Donation Form complete the form, and send it, along with your donation, to the address at the bottom of the form.