Donate to Beads of Courage & Win A Cricket Torch!

This is the Cricket Torch!

I am so excited!  It's time to for a little "pay it forward".  I was so lucky that my friends and family supported me in FlameTree Glass' Christmas contest and how fantastic-- I won a torch.  This one!  But on the other hand, I own one almost exactly like it.  (it's purple too!)

So I thought perhaps it's time to give back to all of you, my friends and it's your turn to win it.

I've started a blog with all the details right here.  http://www.GiveBeadsOfCourage.blogspot.com
It has all the details and fine print, but essentially here are the basics.

For every $25 or 25 bead donation to Beads of Courage, you receive a chance to win this GTT Cricket torch pictured above. This promotion is ONLY for the month of February starting on the 1st and ending on the 28th at midnight.  If you donate 200 beads, then you get 4 chances...easy peasy!

Please read the blog and check out the details.  There are some specific, (but easy) things you need to do to be sure you are entered for your donations.  Like send a photo of your donation to me, Marcy Lamberson, to post on that blog.  There are a few more minor points to be sure you can be contacted if you win!

Please join me in supporting kids with cancer and other life threatening illnesses.  Let's make their healing journey a little easier through our art and Beads of Courage.

Reef Collaboration for Shannon Hill

As many of you know, fellow glass artist and all around nice guy, Shannon Hill is very sick with cancer.

I just saw a thread on Lampwork Etc. that an artist collaboration is being organized to benefit his kids in some way.

A team of glass artists are building a reef scene for him and would love you to send in a turtle, seashell, fish, coral or anything related. Items must be in hand by May 10th.

Organizers, (Brent Graber, Mr. Smiley is one of them) want to make it as inclusive as possible and honor him and benefit his kids at the same time.

Any COE is fine.

Send it to:

Shannon Hill
Reef Collab.
716 NW 6th Dr.
Boca Raton, FL 33486

So far, some of the artists who have donated include Robert Mickelsen, Ben Burton, Rashan JOnes, Wil Menzie, Wesley Fleming, Lucid Visions and many others.

I had been thinking about either sending in this mermaid or the starfish, but since have changed my mind. I'm going to make something special for this.

One of the reasons why I love this glass world, is the way folks come together for each other. We are a community of supportive and kind people who love glass. All of our work together will make an outstanding collaborative piece that will honor Shannon and help his kids. Would you please join me on this?

Etsy Seller Lost 5 Year Old Son- Needs Help

Folks, it's time for a little seriousness.  As a Mom, I can't imagine losing a child.  Especially one that is only 5 years old who was killed when crossing a street.  It makes me teary just thinking about little Zach Cruz.

Well that's what has just happened to one of our long time Etsy sellers, Jodie Cruz of PetalsPurses.  Her sister Jennifer, also an Etsy seller posted a thread about it.  You see, Jodie doesn't have enough to bury him.  

Etsy sellers and buyers are banding together to donate via paypal, sell specific items where the proceeds go to his fund, or even to buy the Etsy items to remedy this problem.

I know it's a tough economic for all of us.  But if you need something that is being sold to benefit little Zachary Michael Cruz, or have a spare couple of bucks to donate, or even have a few minutes to post in the thread, or even have an item to donate towards this cause, I'd sure appreciate it.  As a Mom, my heart hurts and as a human, I know this is one small place we can make a difference.