We had the good fortune of connecting with Ardis Strieby and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ardis, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I am part of the Evergreen Friendship Circle, a volunteer group of women in our 60s and 70s who support impoverished women in Guatemala through the nonprofit organization, Friendship Bridge. We decided, 10 years ago, to start sewing Swittens and selling them to raise funds to help support our clients in Guatemala. Swittens are mittens made from used wool sweaters that we cut apart and sew together to make the mittens. We have branched out to make other items from the wool scraps that have been left. Some of the other items are: Christmas Stockings, (Swockings), fingerless gloves, head bands, hats, pins, coin purses, etc. The best part of this project, besides raising money, is getting together with friends and laying out the patterns to design the Swittens. After we cut out the pieces we take home the kits to sew them together. We sell each pair for $35 at markets or $40 online and in some stores.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
For more than 10 years, members of the Evergreen Circle have created about 200 pairs of Swittens per year. Our biggest challenge right now is our age. We are all growing older and need new members to carry on our work. We would love to pass on our knowledge and expertise to a new group that could carry on the Switten tradition, while supporting women in Guatemala through Friendship Bridge. Anyone interested in forming their own Friendship Circle with this goal in mind can contact us through www.friendshipbridge.org.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would show them around my community in Evergreen, and take them to eat at Campfire Evergreen—they have great wood-fired pizza, outdoor dining, and you can bring your dog. I’d reserve tickets for the Georgetown Loop Railroad in Clear Creek County, for beautiful scenery while aboard a narrow-gauge train. Then I’d take them to shop in the Handmade by Friendship Bridge showroom in Lakewood so they can purchase handmade products made by the Guatemalan artisan women that we support.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are many volunteers in the Evergreen Friendship Circle who work on our Swittens project. One who comes to mind is Sandie Godsman of Evergreen. She has been a member of the Evergreen Circle for 20 years. Sandie is in charge of washing all the secondhand sweaters before Switten creation begins. Then, we all get together and assemble Switten kits that contain all the pieces needed to sew the Swittens, cut to the proper size.

In addition, Sandie is currently hiking through Europe as a fundraising effort for Friendship Bridge’s Health For Life Program, which provides free preventative health screenings for Guatemalan women. She also coordinates an annual Llama Lunch and hike for the Friendship Circle, in which proceeds benefit Friendship Bridge.

Website: https://www.handmadebyfriendshipbridge.org/

Instagram: @handmadefriendshipbridge

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/friendship-bridge

Twitter: @Friend_Bridge

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handmadebyfriendshipbridge/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/FriendshipBridgeCO

Other: www.friendshipbridge.org

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