Merry Christmas + Free Art Download

Merry Christmas!! I love this time of year--the Christmas music, festive decorations, parties, holiday movies, and all the memories of Christmas past. Plus, let's be honest, exchanging gifts is really fun! I love seeing the look on people's faces when they open a gift they really like and weren't expecting.

I've also been having fun creating new art pieces this season, both for myself and in connection with Dressember. I love recreating the feelings, quotes, and lyrics of the season in handmade artwork. I'm also looking forward to bringing some new styles and designs to my Etsy shop next year!

Until then, I'm sharing a little piece of Christmas art with all of you as a gift and way to wish you a merry Christmas! Thank you for being one of my readers this year! This free downloadable PDF was hand-lettered by me in black gouache (I have a thing for black and white). It prints out nicely on an 8.5 x 11" piece of paper, white or colored, perfect for making your space festive or sharing with friends! Enjoy!

Download "Merry Christmas" PDF

Dressember: Clarisa's Story

Her Innocence Made Her an Easy Target

Clarisa* was rescued from sexual exploitation in one of IJM’s first-ever cases in the Dominican Republic. The team first met her in October 2014, and she shared how she had been assaulted by one man despite her resistance—and then how he sold her to another man, who assaulted her again. Both suspects threatened to hurt Clarisa or her family if she dared to tell anyone.

Clarisa is one of nine siblings, raised in a poor and very dangerous neighborhood in Santo Domingo, the capital city. So many girls are left vulnerable to abuse here, but Clarisa even more so. She’s 14 but, due to a developmental disability, Clarisa experiences the world much like a 6-year-old does.

Clarisa’s innocence made her easy prey for a man who targeted children in this slum. This man cornered her and assaulted her—perhaps many times over the course of a year—and then allegedly sold her to a friend. IJM later learned he has a reputation for pimping young girls, and we have no idea what other plans he was making to profit from Clarisa’s abuse.

Her mother, Alma,* was deeply hurt and confused as she watched her sweet, helpful daughter become angry and aloof. Clarisa would disappear for days at a time out of fear, and Alma had no idea why. When she discovered the horrifying reason, Alma ran to authorities, desperate for help.

IJM partnered with local anti-trafficking police to arrest these abusers just days later. This is certainly a victory—but the case is not over yet.

The days immediately following a rescue can be some of the most dangerous for a girl like Clarisa. If released on bail, these dangerous men could have easily found Clarisa’s family and exacted revenge. IJM worked with police for 48 hectic hours to gather the evidence needed to keep them in custody, where they remain today. (Read more about the arrest here.)

A New Beginning

For the first time in her life, Clarisa is going to school and getting the medical care she needs. She celebrated her birthday this summer surrounded by the staff at an aftercare home as well as her mother and an IJM social worker.

“Not only was Clarisa rescued, but her mother is now at peace,” explains IJM’s casework director Jessica, “Though it is painful for her to say goodbye at the center, she encourages her daughter that it is in her best interest that she is there healing. When Clarisa shared with us what she is learning and doing, her mother was smiling proudly.”

The story will continue, but each visit with Clarisa brings hope.

Jessica says of a recent visit, “When we visited Clarisa this week, she still tells us spontaneous
stories, but now these stories are about how she is doing in school. She showed us her notebook and the homework she has done, all with a beautiful smile on her face.”
*Survivors' names are changed for their protection.

Visit my Dressember page

The content of this blog post was provided by the Dressember Foundation.

Dressember: Week Three Recap

I can't believe there is a little over one week of Dressember left! The countdown is on with only 10 days remaining! So far we've rallied together to raise $1,165 for my campaign and over $520,000 collectively for the Dressember Foundation (as of publication)!! For both my campaign and the campaign at large, we are a little over half-way to the goal.

I feel like this is crunch time. With only $835 left to raise, I would love to finish as strong as we started. To hopefully make this final stretch a great one, I'm hosting some final incentives! Here's the deal:

For each person who donates to my campaign December 21-31, $1 will be donated to the campaign, up to $50. So by donating, you will help raise even more money! Also, to each of those donors who provide their address, a surprise gift will be sent! Plus it's not too late to sponsor a dress with your $20+ gift!

Thank you for your consideration, your support, and keeping up with this cause. I look forward to seeing what we can do together!

Day Fifteen

Dress sponsor: Katie
 About the look: The Dressember Dress is back! (It's also available as an option in the catalog if you sponsor a dress!) This time I paired it with my folklore sweater, black tights, and booties.
Fundraising Stats: Total raised on day 15, $25. Grand total, $1,140.

Day Sixteen

Dress Worn in Honor of: My Mom, Sue Ann
About the look: Dec. 16 is my mom's birthday, so I decided to wear the day's dress in her honor. I chose one of the dresses from the catalog that I hadn't worn yet, option K. I paired it with a boyfriend cardigan, ponte pants, wool socks (not pictured), and boots. I had to leave my anorak coat on because it got pretty cold today!
Fundraising Stats: Total raised, $1,140.

Day Seventeen

Dress Worn in Honor of: Families who have lost loved ones to human trafficking
About the look: This is dress E from the catalog layered under a wool sweater with leggings, knee-high socks and boots.
Fundraising Stats: Total raised, $1,140.

Day Eighteen


Dress Worn in Honor & Memory of: My Grandpas
About the look: This is dress H from the catalog, the last dress to be warn! (Although dress J hasn't been featured yet, I wore it for a Christmas party last week). This is a comfy t-shirt dress, so I added a boyfriend cardigan and giant wool scarf on top and ponte pants, wool socks and boots on the bottom.
Fundraising Stats: Total raised on day 18, $15. Grand total, $1,155.

Day Nineteen

About the look: This is dress D from the catalog, layered with an open cardigan, printed scarf, grey tights and boots.
Fundraising Stats: Total raised, $1,155.

Day Twenty

Dress sponsors: My Parents, Tom and Sue Ann
 About the look: This dress was selected from the catalog (option G) by my parents! I paired it with a cardigan, grey sweater tights, and taupe booties.
Fundraising Stats: Total raised on day 20, $10. Grand total, $1,165.

Day Twenty-One

 About the look: It's been getting strangely warmer out so I brought back this maxi dress, pairing it with a burgundy cardigan and booties.
Fundraising Stats: As of hitting publish part-way through day 21, the current total is $1,165. But it's not too late to donate today!

Dressember: Anna's Story

Throughout her childhood, Anna had seen a great deal of poverty and sickness in Eastern Europe.

The future was never certain, but instead of allowing the constant struggle to numb her from a young age, the pain she saw actually inspired her to the point where she dreamed of becoming a nurse. As a result of her formative years, she wanted nothing more than to grow up and be able to soothe the pain of others.

And so, one day, when her cousin came to visit, Anna sat down and shared this vision to make a difference and help those in need.  After listening to Anna’s aspirations, her beloved older cousin encouraged her to pursue her dreams and suggested that she should move to Greece to study. She convinced Anna that there were a lot more career opportunities in Greece, compared to her home country.

Anna wasn't aware of it, but her father and uncle were in the next room listening to the plans for the future take place. They eventually interrupted the conversation and wholeheartedly encouraged her to go as well.

Surprised, but also overjoyed at their support, Anna, accompanied by her cousin, prepared to travel to Greece for study. She had no way of knowing she was walking into a trap set up by people she thought she could trust.

Upon arriving in Greece, her cousin told her that she owed her €6,000 for the travel arrangements and that Anna was to be put to work as a sex slave to pay off her debt. Feeling betrayed and confused, Anna refused and fought as hard as she could to escape. As a number of dark shadows approached her, she kicked and screamed but no one heard her cries.

The dream she had of helping people and alleviating their pain was quickly being replaced by an inconceivable nightmare. She was beaten, chained to a bed and raped. It quickly became clear to her that the life she came to Greece for was far from the reality she had just stepped into.  

There was no escape from the 40-50 clients she was forced to serve each day. Emptied of the fight within her, Anna gave in to the horror of her new life and was held as a slave for two years. 

However, on a day like any other, she was rescued in a police raid and brought to the A21 shelter. She was immediately given access to medical care, but the workers at the shelter knew that the psychological trauma was going to take a lot longer to heal.  

Three years later, after receiving help and support in the A21 safe house and transition home, Anna’s passion to make a difference in the world was reignited. With assistance, she applied and was accepted into nursing school in her home country. She just finished up her third semester, and is finally living out her dream! 

We are so proud of Anna! Together, we are seeing tragedy turned to triumph.

Donate now

The content of this blog post was provided by the Dressember Foundation.