Happy New Year to all our regular and non-regular readers!! Cambodia Knits wishes you all the best for 2010.
Our blog contest is still rolling and time is running out. Get your entry in ASAP for a chance to win some lovely, lovely prizes. Don't miss it!
Monday, January 4, 2010
Thursday, December 31, 2009
A Contest!!!
Here it is! Our first ever blog contest and a chance for you to win some awesome CK products... Woo Hoo!!
Even better than a contest, is two contests in one!!
The first is for those of you out there who already own any CK products. This is your mission: take a great photo of you, your kids, your friends, pets with your CK monster, finger puppet, kitty or anything and send it to me. I'll post it here and later on, on our satisfied clients web page. We won't ever use your photos for anything else, any promotional material, without asking you first. I'll assign a number to each photo and on the 6th of January, I'll use an online random number generator to pick the winners (see prizes below).
The second contest is for those of you who don't have any of our products but still want a chance to win (no one left behind!). All you need to do is post a comment here or on any of the previous posts on the blog. Just mention that you are 'contest commenting' and I'll give you a number as well for the random draw.
Deadline for photos or comments is January 6th at 6pm Eastern Standard Time. Maximum three photos or three comments per person. Make sure I can contact you by email through your comment to get your mailing address. If you're sending photos, please send to nowaczyk.monika@gmail.com or monika@cambodiaknits.com.
Have a look at our handsome male models below to see what you can win!
Male models, male modeling: the instruction was to 'look bored'
And, of course, tell all your friends!!
Even better than a contest, is two contests in one!!
The first is for those of you out there who already own any CK products. This is your mission: take a great photo of you, your kids, your friends, pets with your CK monster, finger puppet, kitty or anything and send it to me. I'll post it here and later on, on our satisfied clients web page. We won't ever use your photos for anything else, any promotional material, without asking you first. I'll assign a number to each photo and on the 6th of January, I'll use an online random number generator to pick the winners (see prizes below).
The second contest is for those of you who don't have any of our products but still want a chance to win (no one left behind!). All you need to do is post a comment here or on any of the previous posts on the blog. Just mention that you are 'contest commenting' and I'll give you a number as well for the random draw.
Deadline for photos or comments is January 6th at 6pm Eastern Standard Time. Maximum three photos or three comments per person. Make sure I can contact you by email through your comment to get your mailing address. If you're sending photos, please send to nowaczyk.monika@gmail.com or monika@cambodiaknits.com.
Have a look at our handsome male models below to see what you can win!
Male models, male modeling: the instruction was to 'look bored'
And, of course, tell all your friends!!Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Babies, monsters and photos
We hope everyone had a lovely holiday over Christmas (if that's your thing) or a nice break (if it isn't). We spent the past few days with our in-laws from Ohio who came for a short visit with their little one, Jaxon. Yeng and I had never met our newest nephew, so we were really happy to get to play with him for a few days, as well as catch up with his mom and dad. He is, no arguments thank you, the cutest baby on the planet. He spent a couple days playing with a sample kitty I brought from Cambodia and got a monster all his own under the tree.
It's given me an idea for our first ever CK blog contest. I won't say anything about it until tomorrow, but get your photos ready! We'll be looking for your photos with any CK products. They can be of you, your kids, your pets, random strangers, as long a they include something we've knit, you can enter. Great prizes (all hand knit ;))! Check back tomorrow for more details.
It's given me an idea for our first ever CK blog contest. I won't say anything about it until tomorrow, but get your photos ready! We'll be looking for your photos with any CK products. They can be of you, your kids, your pets, random strangers, as long a they include something we've knit, you can enter. Great prizes (all hand knit ;))! Check back tomorrow for more details.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Merry, Merry Christmas!!
I have been very slack on the blogging front and apologies for that! I'm currently in Canada, home for the holidays and it's been busy, busy since arriving with friends, family and delivering finger puppets for people ordered them for Christmas. I hope all the little ones that got their finger puppets loved them as much as the people who ordered them did! Also the two weeks before leaving Cambodia to come to Canada were absurdly busy and we had almost no time to breathe. Both Yeng and I are enjoying the down time here!
This entry, however, is not to dwell on past busyness, but to wish you all a wonderful holiday season and to thank everyone for their support these past few months since we started Cambodia Knits.
We've gotten much further than we had hoped since hiring our first 5 knitters in July. We trained 18 knitters at Toul Sambo, hired another 2 staff for assembly at our office, sell our products at 3 locations around Phnom Penh and had three great Christmas sales. The future is looking bright as well and we'll need to train more knitters in February and hire another 2 assembly staff to work at our head office. There is a huge outdoor sale in Siem Reap in January and this will give us a chance to find more sales locations in the tourist epicenter of Cambodia. Most excitingly, we'll soon be creating our own designs for children's toys and more!
Here's to a great year!!!
This entry, however, is not to dwell on past busyness, but to wish you all a wonderful holiday season and to thank everyone for their support these past few months since we started Cambodia Knits.
We've gotten much further than we had hoped since hiring our first 5 knitters in July. We trained 18 knitters at Toul Sambo, hired another 2 staff for assembly at our office, sell our products at 3 locations around Phnom Penh and had three great Christmas sales. The future is looking bright as well and we'll need to train more knitters in February and hire another 2 assembly staff to work at our head office. There is a huge outdoor sale in Siem Reap in January and this will give us a chance to find more sales locations in the tourist epicenter of Cambodia. Most excitingly, we'll soon be creating our own designs for children's toys and more!
Here's to a great year!!!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Become a fan on Facebook!
Cambodia Knits has its own fan page on Facebook. I think you can click here and become a fan (if you've got an account). If that link doesn't work, then search for Cambodia Knits on Facebook and become a fan.
Do it! You know you want to!
Do it! You know you want to!
Monday, December 7, 2009
Sale at Java
So, Cambodia Knits jumped on the coat tails of Circle and a clothing sale at Java this past weekend. We had a small selection of finger puppets and monsters which children visiting with their parents very much appreciated. There were many airborne monsters and finger puppet wars, but they all ended well. Laurena and Tanya who organized the sale at Java hope to make it a monthly event so you might very well see us there again in January!
Now, somewhere in Phnom Penh is 50kgs of cotton yarn with my name on it. TNT says the package cleared customs without too much tears and extortion and I hope to have it any moment! I am terribly excited to get my hands on it!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Women's International Group Christmas Sale
Yesterday was the annual Christmas sale at the Intercontinental organized by the Women's International Group. It's an event all small shops and sellers want to get into and unfortunately we didn't hear about the registration until it was too late. Luckily, a friend of a friend was generous enough to give up 1/4 of her table to us. It was a great chance to sell some products and meet with other vendors who are involved in similar social enterprise projects around Cambodia.
Overall, I think we did quite well and had many, many positive comments about the project and, of course, the products. Children loved the monsters and one 2-year was besides herself with delight over her new Greta the Cat.
I also met two knitters (!) who live in PP. I mentioned that CK will likely start a knitting group (S&B) and possibly lessons for newbies at a local cafe in the new year and they were both keen to get in on the action. We will knit the town in red!
Overall, I think we did quite well and had many, many positive comments about the project and, of course, the products. Children loved the monsters and one 2-year was besides herself with delight over her new Greta the Cat.
I also met two knitters (!) who live in PP. I mentioned that CK will likely start a knitting group (S&B) and possibly lessons for newbies at a local cafe in the new year and they were both keen to get in on the action. We will knit the town in red!
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Rambo
Sorry for the lack of updates this past week, but things have been so busy I just haven't had the time. Tomorrow is the annual Women's International Group Christmas Bazaar at the Intercontinental Hotel and we've been frantically trying to prepare enough stock to sell. Two knitters from Toul Sambo, Vireak and Koun, joined us in the workshop for the week to help out. This was great not only because we needed the extra hands, but because it demonstrated to the trainers how far their students had come.
I had been in contact with Hagar for a few weeks, trying to meet with them to and hire a couple of their students. Hagar is another local organization that uses the social enterprise approach to help women from difficult (often devastating) backgrounds get back on their feet. I met with two of their graduate students and hired them on the spot. They both have training in sewing and work experience in this area, but were keen to try working with knitted items instead. They won't be doing any knitting, focusing on assembly instead.
Finally, I have to write about the latest addition to what is a plethora of massage options in Phnom Penh. One of the greatest things about living here is the availability of cheap, amazing massage. The options are almost limitless. You can go to a fancy spa on the riverside and have a 25$ Swedish massage, go to an arty French-run spa for an Indian head massage for 10$ or, one of my favourites, pay only 5$ for an incredible, stress releasing accupressure massage at Seeing Hands (massage by the blind). There are countless foot massage places, upscale spas and everything in between. There are 5000 riel (1.25$) massage places galore, but they only specialize in massaging a certain part of the male body... And then today I saw this:
I don't really know what to say... Rambo, massage by man. The man himself? Obviously not. Another man that is buff like Rambo? Or is the massage so violent and dangerous that it can only be described as Rambo? Is Rambo massage a new style of massage that will slowly become popular with time? People will walk out and show their cuts, bruises and other abrasions and say, 'it hurt, but man do I ever feel refreshed now that he stopped beating me.'
This, uh, spa, is only only meters away from our apartment. Will it become my new favourite? Will I get to know each and every masseuse and choose a favorite? Will I ever actually have the courage to give it a go?
I think I'll send Yeng first.
I had been in contact with Hagar for a few weeks, trying to meet with them to and hire a couple of their students. Hagar is another local organization that uses the social enterprise approach to help women from difficult (often devastating) backgrounds get back on their feet. I met with two of their graduate students and hired them on the spot. They both have training in sewing and work experience in this area, but were keen to try working with knitted items instead. They won't be doing any knitting, focusing on assembly instead.
Finally, I have to write about the latest addition to what is a plethora of massage options in Phnom Penh. One of the greatest things about living here is the availability of cheap, amazing massage. The options are almost limitless. You can go to a fancy spa on the riverside and have a 25$ Swedish massage, go to an arty French-run spa for an Indian head massage for 10$ or, one of my favourites, pay only 5$ for an incredible, stress releasing accupressure massage at Seeing Hands (massage by the blind). There are countless foot massage places, upscale spas and everything in between. There are 5000 riel (1.25$) massage places galore, but they only specialize in massaging a certain part of the male body... And then today I saw this:
I don't really know what to say... Rambo, massage by man. The man himself? Obviously not. Another man that is buff like Rambo? Or is the massage so violent and dangerous that it can only be described as Rambo? Is Rambo massage a new style of massage that will slowly become popular with time? People will walk out and show their cuts, bruises and other abrasions and say, 'it hurt, but man do I ever feel refreshed now that he stopped beating me.'
This, uh, spa, is only only meters away from our apartment. Will it become my new favourite? Will I get to know each and every masseuse and choose a favorite? Will I ever actually have the courage to give it a go?
I think I'll send Yeng first.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Graduation
Yesterday we had a very informal graduation ceremony to give the TS knitters certificates of participation as well as the completion bonuses from sponsors. Mony gave each knitter a grade based on how well they knit, attendance and attitude and this was marked on their certificates. I also finally had a translator with me, so I'll be able to send out more info on your knitter to all sponsors this weekend.
We had planned on having a small party to celebrate the end of the training, but unfortunately, we received terrible news just as we were leaving town: the community where Tyna and Rofi live was ablaze. They quickly returned home to check on their families. We were too worried to stay at Toul Sambo too long and returned as soon as we could in case there was anything we could or needed to do. The blaze, which went on for most of the morning, destroyed over 200 homes, most of them being wooden. Everyone from CK was lucky, though, and their homes were spared. The houses next door to Rony, who now works from home, was burned down, but hers was not. Relief!
We had planned on having a small party to celebrate the end of the training, but unfortunately, we received terrible news just as we were leaving town: the community where Tyna and Rofi live was ablaze. They quickly returned home to check on their families. We were too worried to stay at Toul Sambo too long and returned as soon as we could in case there was anything we could or needed to do. The blaze, which went on for most of the morning, destroyed over 200 homes, most of them being wooden. Everyone from CK was lucky, though, and their homes were spared. The houses next door to Rony, who now works from home, was burned down, but hers was not. Relief!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Welcome, 18 new knitters
Yesterday was our last day of training at Toul Sambo. That's a total of 15 training days spread out over a month and the results are fantastic! Today I went back to the community with Mony to talk to each of the knitters (I finally have a competent translator) and they were all pleased with the training and what they had accomplished. Several of them said they really enjoyed the training because it gave them a chance to sit together in a relaxed atmosphere and talk while learning. Others were, of course, looking forward to earning an income.
The very good news is that Mony accepted over 60 finger puppets that had been knitted during the training. There are more still to be collected but they had not yet been mattress stitched together. Knitters at Toul Sambo will do all the knitting and stitching minus stuffing the head, putting on the eyes and attaching the head to the body. That will be done at the head office for consistency. About 5 of the knitters are still not confident with mattress stitch and Mony, Tyna and Rofi are going back out on Monday for a day of training on this.
On Thursday we'll give each knitter a certificate of completion and have a small party to celebrate the hard work of all the participants.
The very good news is that Mony accepted over 60 finger puppets that had been knitted during the training. There are more still to be collected but they had not yet been mattress stitched together. Knitters at Toul Sambo will do all the knitting and stitching minus stuffing the head, putting on the eyes and attaching the head to the body. That will be done at the head office for consistency. About 5 of the knitters are still not confident with mattress stitch and Mony, Tyna and Rofi are going back out on Monday for a day of training on this.
On Thursday we'll give each knitter a certificate of completion and have a small party to celebrate the hard work of all the participants.
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