Meet the hearts behind the stitches
Discover the incredible women of Mending Hearts Sewing Project, their journeys, and the beautiful handmade gifts they create. Each stitch tells a story of courage, resilience, and hope.
More than just a sewing class
Today, we are not just celebrating a sewing class; we are celebrating courage, strength, and vision. On behalf of the first group of this program, we would like to sincerely thank our amazing teachers. Thank you for your patience, for your dedication, and for guiding us step by step through this journey. You have taught us that sewing is not just about fabric and thread—it is about resilience, focus, and confidence.
from left to right
Denise Konor, Sewing Instructor, Grants Pass, OR. Kathy Marshall, Sewing Instructor, Grant Pass, OR. Sandra Weiler, Sewing Instructor, Medford, OR. Herlinda Martinez, program participant, Valley of Peace, BZ. Julie Beugli, founder of Mending Hearts Sewing Project, Central Point, OR.
Turning pain into purpose
We want to give special recognition to the one who started this program. Ms Julie, Your story is one of strength. You turned personal pain into purpose. Instead of allowing your past experiences to define you, you chose to build something that uplifts others—especially women and single mothers who may be struggling, just as you once did. That takes courage.
Thank you Herlinda for your thougtful insites and tribute to the Mending Hearts Sewing Project.
Herlinda was one of our first sewing participants in Belize. Herlinda and her 3 children live in Valley of Peace.
January 2026
Meet our Artisans
Adelina
Adelina and her husband have a 5 yr old. They sell vegi's at the Saturday market in Belize. She hopes to have a sewing and bakery business some day. She has a big heart and wants to help others anyway she can. Adelina will be hand crafting our journal covers and sewing origami bags.
Ana
Ana is a new grandma and a mother to 3 children, ages 3, 12, & 19. She only had the opportunity of an 8th grade education and would love to go back to school and get her high school diploma. She hopes to provide more opportunities for her children by selling pillows and bags to her family and friends in her village, Young Bank.
Berta
Berta is single and hopes to some day sew modest Christian dresses for her community. She'd also like to help others with school uniforms and costumes. With Berta's excellent eye for detail, she will be hand crafting our journal covers.
Brenda
Brenda's passion is creating and repairing clothes. She's going to join our team in June and will be designing Aprons & Hot Pads.
Candelaria
Candelaria is a recent widow and is struggling to make ends meet. She desires a business opportunity just so she can support herself and not have to rely on her adult children. She likes the idea of being able to sew school uniforms for her grandchildren. Candelaria walked 2 miles to get to her sewing class. She is currently sewing our cozies and some scrunchies.
Cindy
Cindy is our artist. She mastered her sewing skills but her heart is in painting. She's the one hand painting the beautiful notebooks. She's currently single and loves our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ.
Herlinda
Herlinda has a heart of gold. Some day she hopes to establish a feeding program that serves hot meals to children and the elderly in her village. She's currently a caregiver for seniors and hopes to use her new sewing skills to mend their clothes.
Herlinda is a volunteer community health worker in her community and doesn't own a car. She walked 3+ miles to get to her sewing class. Recently, Herlinda's husband left her and their two children, ages 4 & 11. She's hand crafting some of our pot holders and sewing sarongs.
Irenala
Irenala and her husband have 2 children, ages 4 & 7. She currently provides childcare for 3 other children. She desires to have her own home based business selling baked goods and sewed items. She also desires to show the younger generation how to have their own business. Irenala also teaches Sunday school at her church and is sewing scrunchies and the Marie Sharps hot sauce gift bags.
"You saw a need, and instead of ignoring it, you created an opportunity. This sewing program is more than a class. It is a safe space. It is a place where women can learn, grow, support one another, and gain skills."
Herlinda Martinez
a Mending Hearts Sewing Participant
Iris
Iris is currently a preschool teacher. Her dream is to become a nurse someday and help others with low income. She has mastered her sewing skills and is making our gorgeous Batik table runners.
Jandy
Jandy loves sewing and desires to create and sell handmade items. She has 3 littles, ages 2, 4, & 6. And is currently sewing our Origami Beach Bags.
Juana
Juana is the mother of 8 children and a growing number of grandchildren. She has really enjoyed her sewing experience and her and her daughter, Delmy, are hand crafting our Travel Notebooks.
Juana R
Juana is a single mother of 2 children, Ages 2 & 9. Juana never had the opportunity to go to school and struggles to read and write. She hopes this business opportunity brings more opportunities to her and her family. She is currently creating some Tote Bags and Bible Book Bags.
Judith
Judith and her husband own a farm and sell their vegetables at the local markets. They have 3 children, ages 10,12,& 16. Judith wanted to learn how to sew so she could sell items to those that can afford so she can provide for those that can't. She is currently sewing cozies and our Marie Sharps hot sauce gift bags.
Milagro
Milagro never had the opportunity to go to school. Her & her husband live in Valley of Peace and they have 5 grown children. She looks forward to this business opportunity for her mental health. She is currently sewing some of our cozies and designing some aprons.
Maritza
Maritza won the award as our professional seam ripper. Our hopes is that she joins the rest of our Artisans soon in creating beautiful handcrafted gifts. In the meantime she will be practicing her sewing skills. Maritza and her husband are farmers in Valley of Peace and have 4 children.
Neomi
Noemi is married and a mother to 2 daughters, ages 16 & 19. She desires to become a professional seamstress and sew beautiful dresses for special occasions. She would also like to teach her daughters how to sew. Noemi brings a skillful eye and incredible talent to the table. She'll be creating some beautiful sling bags, Bible book bags and will be hand crafting our placemats.
Marta
Marta is married and has 3 children, ages 5,17,&19. She would like nothing more than to have a professional sewing business. She has mastered her sewing skills and will be hand crafting our journal covers and making our gorgeous Batik table runners.
Nexi
Nexi loves being a wife and mother. Her and her husband have 3 children, ages 3,7,&14. She would love to use her new sewing skills to help herself and her friends make beautiful things for their homes. Nexi it making some scrunchies and sarongs to help raise money for her daughters surgery.
Manuela & Monice
These two came in as a team and went out as a team. Grandma & granddaughter were inseparable. Manuela is a widow, she has 8 children, 8 grandchildren and struggles to make ends meet. She's very grateful for this business opportunity to become more self sufficient. Monica would love the opportunity to go to college to become a teacher. Between the 2 of them they're sewing Aprons, hot pads, & scrunchies.
Reina
Reina and her husband are farmers in Valley of Peace. They sell their produce at Saturday market in Belize. They have 5 children ranging in ages from 5 to 22. Reina someday hopes to have a business selling clothes. In the meantime she's sewing cozies and beautifully hand crafted pot holders.
Reyna
Reyna joined our sewing program by being her mother's interpreter. We were so impressed in witnessing her dedication in seeing her mother succeed, thanks to our many donors, we were able to gift Reyna with a sewing machine. She accepted her gift with tears of joy and is beyond grateful. She'll be handcrafting our hair scrunchies and our Marie Sharps gift bags.
Rosa
Rosa and her husband own a farm in Valley of Peace. They have 10 sons and 1 daughter. Rosa never had an opportunity to go to school and does not know how to read or write. She loves sewing and will be designing some aprons.
Sivia
Silvia and her husband live in Valley of Peace and have 3 children, ages 2, 6, & 8. Silvia has always dreamed of sewing and having her own home based sewing business. She has mastered her sewing skills and will be hand crafting our journal covers and placemats.
And then there was Stanley
Stanley was already a skilled seamstress when he joined Mending Hearts Sewing Project. Having had no formal education, Stanley is interested in this business opportunity to help provide for his household. With his perfect attention to detail, Stanley will be creating our gorgeous Batik fabric table runners.