tt Local Seamstress Sews the Seeds of Kindness Melissa Beedle, Features Editor hen some people think of helping the homeless, they ‘ think of offering food or a place to sleep. But for seamstress Roxsane Tanner, helping has meant providing peo- ple without homes with clothing to keep them warm through the winter months. “I could not ever fathom how it must feel to be homeless,” says Tanner. “To think you don’t have someone to take you in. You and I, we could always go home to our parents, but some people don’t have that option.” Which is one of the reasons Tanner opened Studio Place, a sewing school that makes clothing for the home- less, among other people. Her company’s motto is “One metre to warm four hearts” because it only takes one metre of fabric to make a hat or scarf. Last Christmas, with the help of a local manu- facturing company, the Pro Active Group, and its subsidy Suncruz, Studio Place had enough fabric to sew over 1,600 hats and scarves. “We started out with a goal of sewing 400 pieces. We ended up more than tripling our goal,’ Tanner says with a smile. Once the hats and scarves are sewn, Studio Place gives them to the Union Gospel Mission or the Greater Vancouver Homebuilders’ Association to be distrib- uted to Vancouver’s homeless. Tanner began her business nine years ago, after her husband died of cancer and she sat down with her brother to create a life plan. They looked at the top five things they loved to do and tracked the hours they were spending doing things they enjoyed, as well as the time spent on the things they wished they weren’t doing. “Sewing has always been a passion of mine so I decided to start spending more time at my sewing machine.” Tanner insists that at least 50 percent of your day should be spent doing something you love. “If you’re not, it’s time to readjust your schedule.” “T’m a Wall Covering Technician from 7am—2:30pm every day of the week, and then from 3:30-7:30pm I teach kids sewing. The only day I have off is Sunday.” Despite getting only one day off a week, Tanner says she is rarely tired. All Tanner’s hard work has not gone unnoticed. Her interior decorating com- pany, Greenwood Interiors, has taken off and brought her the opportunity to work on the set of Love It or Lose It,a Home and Garden Network reality show, where she and other interior designers redecorate homes and risk surprising, shocking, and 18 | www.theotherpress.ca We started out with a goal of sewing 400 pieces. We ended up more than tripling our goal sometimes, horrifying home owners. Through the reality show and her appear- ances on the cover of local newspapers, Tanner is gaining local celebrity status. Last month, she was nominated for the Celebrating Women and the Spirit of the Cranes Arts Award by the Burns Bog Conservation Society, where to date she has sewn over 150 gift bags for their annual fundraising event. Tanner recently fufilled another dream of hers when she bought a condo in White Rock, BC. But she insists that just because she’s filled her life with things she loves doesn’t mean life is always good. “The other day, as I was pulling out of my driveway, one of my neighbours stopped me to complain about how awful it is to live in our building. I just couldn’t listen to her. I rolled up my window and drove away. I have no time for people who drain me. Life is too short.” According to Tanner, there are two types of people— takers and givers. “Takers sap energy by feeding on other people’s. But givers, they give to the people around them and almost always have energy to spare. One of the best things you can do is surround yourself with positive people. If you're a giver, hang out with other givers.” For more information, or to take a sewing class, check out Tannet’s website www.studioplace.ca Studio Place is always looking for vol- unteers to help cut fabric. Melissa Beedle Don't let excellence pass you by Excellence abounds at Douglas College. And here’s your chance to acknowledge those exceptional people by nominating them for a Douglas College Educational Excellence Award. “We really hope that people make the effort to recognize the people who make a difference by nominating them for an award,” says Janice Penner, EASL instructor and former Educational Excellence committee member. The four categories for the awards are: Student, Faculty, Staff and Administrative Excellence. Nomination forms outlining the criteria are available in the Library and department offices on both campuses (or contact Debra Flewelling at 604-527-5190 or flewelld@douglas.bc.ca). One nomination form listing three nominators, along with a letter from each nominator addressing the award criteria, must be completed and sent to Debra Flewelling, Library (New Westminster or David Lam). Other supporting documents, such as reference letters, evaluations and other relevant material is also welcome. The deadline for nominations is May 13, 2005. FEBRUARY 23/2005