Nicole Bastanchury, a senior at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School and a member of local Troop 50173, has earned her Gold Award, the highest achievement in Girl Scouting.

For her Gold Award project, Nicole created a multi-tiered sewing project called “Back to the Basics,” to introduce the “lost art” of sewing to both girls and boys while paying tribute to her grandmother, who is a member of a sewing circle.

The aim was to create beautiful dresses that were then donated to local homeless shelters, as well as internationally for those in need.

Nicole started by collecting new and gently used pillowcases for a workshop she hosted last summer at The Creation Station in Buellton. The workshop was intended to teach both girls and boys basic sewing skills. Community volunteers taught the students how to hand-sew buttons and use a basic stitch on a sewing machine to create dresses from the pillowcases collected.

“I had a lot of support from my family, my friends, and my two other sister troops,” Nicole said.

The goal was to make 150 dresses to be donated. In all, 159 dresses were donated to the Little Dresses for Africa Organization (LDFAO), Transition House in Santa Barbara, and victims of Hurricane Harvey in Texas. Sending the dresses to Texas was not part of the original plan, but she said she was extremely happy to know she could play a small part in helping those affected by the natural disaster.

“My Gold Award project was aimed to help those less fortunate than myself,” Nicole said.  “I wanted young girls to have an item of clothing that can define their personalities and improve their confidence. I hope that each time the girls wear their dress, it puts a smile on their faces.

“Not only did my project help these girls, but we were also able to reuse pillowcases that would be thrown away, and instead create beautiful dresses from them,” she added. “I also wanted to bring back the lost trade of sewing, by hand and machine. Being able to teach young girls and boys sewing is something they can take with them in the future.”

The Girl Scout Gold Award is a national award with high standards to elevate a girl’s leadership skills, creativity, and efforts to make the world a better place. Earning the Gold Award requires spending at least 80 hours planning and implementing a challenging, large-scale project that is innovative, engages others, and has a lasting impact on its targeted community.

The prestigious award recognizes Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts — girls in ninth through 12th grades — for outstanding accomplishments in leadership, community service, career planning and personal development.

“This entire process has been so rewarding,” Nicole added.

Nationwide, only 6 percent of all eligible Girl Scouts achieve the Gold Award. Approximately one million Girl Scouts have earned their Gold Award or its equivalent since 1916. Girls who earn their Girl Scout Gold Award automatically enter the military one rank higher and qualify for college scholarships and additional national service awards.

For more information on Girl Scouts, visit www.girlscoutsccc.org.

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By Victoria Martinez

Anyone interested can attend a clinic on July 22 to learn how to hand-sew buttons and use a basic stitch on a sewing machine, and then sew dresses from pillowcases to support a worthy cause.

Nicole Bastanchury, an incoming senior at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, will host the “Back to the Basics” sewing clinic at The Creation Station in Buellton from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, July 22, for her Girl Scout Gold Award project.

Nicole collected the pillowcases during her Pillowcase Drive at the beginning of June.

The goal at the clinic will be to make 150 dresses and donate them to local homeless shelters and to the Little Dresses for Africa organization.

She created “Back to the Basics” after reflecting on an experience she had making the pillowcase dresses at a Bethania Lutheran Church community event. She wanted to both create something for those in need and also teach a skill she believes is lacking in today’s youth.

“I think sewing is kind of a lost trade, and I wanted to bring it back,” Nicole said.

Snacks and supplies will be provided at the clinic, but those attending are welcome to bring their own sewing machines.

For more information, send email to backtothebasics2017@gmail.com.

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Bouquet from Santa Ynez Valley Florist

Valley has plenty of Mother’s Day options

Staff report

If you need a place for hosting and thanking your mom on Mother’s Day (on Sunday, May 14 this year), the Santa Ynez Valley has plenty of options. You can find others, but here are a few ideas.

– Mother’s Day Breakfast at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School – This popular event features eggs, a breakfast meat and pancakes from 8 a.m. to noon on May 14. The proceeds  support Santa Ynez Valley Youth Recreation, which has provided recreational facilities and opportunities for local youth since 1955.

– Mother’s Day Brown Bag Sewing Retreat – The Creation Station in Buellton is hosting a Mother’s Day Quilting Retreat May 12-14. Work on whatever project you like in this open sewing session. Cost is $100 per person; call 693-0174 to RSVP.

– Mother’s Day Weekend Paint in the Vineyard – Gyspy Studios Art will be at Brander Vineyard on Saturday, May 13, to so you can indulge your creative spirit while sipping delicious wine. Cost is $65 per person. Call 688-2455 or log onto www.gypsystudiosart.com.

– Mother Hubbard’s Breakfast – Mother Hubbard’s at 373 Avenue of Flags in Buellton is offering a special Mother’s Day breakfast with free mimosas for moms. They use all fresh, local, organic ingredients. Call 688-3912 for more information.

– Root 246 Brunch – Root 246 in Solvang will be offering a Mother’s Day brunch buffet with a carving station, omelet bar, fresh pastries and more. Prices are $39 for adults and $19 for children under 12. Call 686-8681 to book a reservation.

– Santa Ynez Valley Marriott – The whole family will enjoy a hot buffet, chilled buffet, and desserts, while mom will also relish the champagne and Starbucks coffee. The first seating begins at 10 a.m. and the last one at 2 p.m. Call 688-1000 to make reservations.

– Succulent Cafe – A Mother’s Day menu of bourbon vanilla French toast, succulent biscuit benedict, short rib hash, Cobb salad, grilled vegetable sandwich, pastrami sandwich and dessert of lemon bars. Costs are $32 for adults and $15 for kids. From 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1555 Mission Drive in Solvang. Reservations are highly recommended; call 691-9444, ext. 104, or book online at www.succulentcafe.com.

n Alisal Guest Ranch  – Offering a delicious brunch buffet complete with omelet station and enjoy views of the golf course and Santa Ynez Mountains. The cost is $65; two seatings, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Call Steve Cowdrey at 686-7644 to reserve a seat.

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