a new chapter

i can't believe it's been a year -- almost to the day -- since i last earned a salary. my last day at the bank was 31 march 2011 and on 2 april 2012, i start a new chapter of my work life at m2north. i'm super stoked to be doing something that i studied -- marketing and communications. whoop whoop!

it's been a great year. i have been humbled, challenged and learnt to be gracious. i've traveled by plane, train, subway, cable car, taxi, bus and by foot -- from the dry grass of texas to the concrete sidewalks of new york to the steep path up to golden gate bridge, san francisco. i've slept on the 19th floor of the new yorker hotel, a bunk bed in virginia and a blow up mattress on the floor of a study in austin. 

GOD has provided in amazing and mysterious ways. i am fully aware of the unique opportunity i've had to take as much time off as i have, and i am grateful. since coming home i've been able to make money in ways i never thought i would -- from taking photos to making scarves to baby sitting and scribing at conferences. daily bread. it's been rad. so rad.

sure, a part of me will miss lazy mornings, midday coffee catch ups, having flexi time and being able to help people who have needed it. i won't miss feeling un-routinised, running out of airtime and putting in petrol in R50 increments :)

stoked for new adventures. thank you LORD.

photographing judith

i have recently been "commissioned" {i guess that's the word?} to take photographs for a non-profit microfinance organisation. i am incredibly inspired by the work they are doing in south africa {and beyond our borders} and feel a huge amount of pressure to adequately represent the calibre of this work. i am really passionate about microfinance -- the reason i traveled to the states in 2011, and have been eager to get involved here in joburg. so you can imagine how excited i was when they asked me to photograph entrepreneurs and, in some cases, write their stories.

i ventured into newtown on thursday morning and met judith. she's a mother and a business woman who runs a sewing company on the third floor above a print house. at that time she was making netball kits for a primary school, work uniforms and roll-up banner bags for the printhouse. she has employed seven people who are fascinating to watch. i've done some rudimentary sewing in my life {buttons and sewing straight lines of infinity scarves} and am amazed at the dexterity of these women -- and men. as a gesture of goodwill, i gave judith one of my scarves, despite feeling like a total novice. she's wearing it in the pics :)

the brief was very specific: capture the process judith follows making a handbag which is to be sold in the usa, take photographs of her business place and some portrait shots. these will be presented at a conference in washington, DC.

i loved being able to see the benefits of microfinance firsthand. how it empowers people, creates jobs and adds value. i chatted with "innocent", one of the seamsters. he told me about his family and the many places he's worked prior to judith's company. his work is impeccable.

here are some of the pics. so honoured to have this opportunity.