Cleaning For a Reason

My friend Vivian sent me this info, which sounds almost too good to be true. I am so impressed with this concept and am thankful that there are organizations like this. Please pass it on.

(oh and this cute photo is from here. A site that has just about everything!)

Cleaning for a Reason

If you know any woman currently undergoing chemotherapy, please pass the word to her that there is a cleaning service that provides FREE housecleaning - once per month for 4 months while she is in treatment. All she has to do is sign up and have her doctor fax a note confirming the treatment. Cleaning for a Reason will have a participating maid service in her zip code area arrange for the service. This organization serves the entire USA and currently has 547 partners to help these women. It's our job to pass the word and let them know that there are people out there that care. Be a blessing to someone and pass this information along.

http://www.cleaningforareason.org/

Beads of Courage Party-

I'm one of those people who tend to avoid most medical situations if possible. Whether I know the person or not, I feel a strong empathy and continue to worry long after meeting someone. Especially when it comes to children.

So attending Bead of Courage's First Annual Party was a bit of a concern. Would I be able to hold it together in front of the kids and their families. Heck yes! These kids are the

ones giving everyone else courage. How amazing! Dr. Jean Baruch the BoC founder and leader is pictured above left with Nancy Campbell, our local contact. Together and with the rest of the team, they've formed a brilliant network and program to support these kids.

Pictured below is Aidan- a little toddler who signs to communicate. He loves to keep moving in his special walker which is connected to all kinds of equipment. Aidan has been through a lot already as his 4 lbs of beads signify. (they're the crown on the AFL
AC stuffed duck). His delightful Mom told me about his upcoming trip to Disney with Make a Wish prior to his big, very serious surgery in November.

Aidan loves his beads so much, that they are used in his occupational therapy. Apparently he enjoys the tactile quality of them and practices stringing them after running his hands through them.

I'll post another time about the Dream Bead program. But I just wanted to say how lucky I am to be associated with this non-profit. We beadmakers are a small, but important and very appreciated cog in the big picture. Anyone can get involved. Please click here.

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1.02.28

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?

Lampworker Shannon Hill Needs Our Help

If you've been on some of the lampwork forums, you might already be aware that fellow lampwork glass artist, Shannon Hill is quite sick. He was recently diagnosed with Lung Cancer, and according to reports, "it's bad". But worse, Shannon doesn't have medical insurance.

So needless to say, the lampwork community has banded together and found multiple ways that you can help, if you can.

1. Buy some raffle tickets that benefit Shannon here. Great selection and watch for additional items being added. Tickets are only $5 and it's paypal. You can also donate items for the raffles here too. I'm giving you fair notice, I'd really love to win that Poppy Vetrofond glass. But if you get it, I'll still be your friend.

2. Visit Shannon's website and order some of his gorgeous beads. He has some beauties. And as an old married woman I'm allowed to say this...enjoy his bio photo while you're there.

3. Not in the mood for beads or raffle tickets? What about his great instructional dvd or video?

4. You can donate directly to his paypal account by logging into paypal and using his paypal address (which is found at the bottom of this page) to send money. Just be sure to write a note and tell him who you are and what it is for, please.

I do not know Shannon personally, but have always heard such nice things about him. I am hoping that those who are able to, will try to help in some very small way. Send him healing thoughts, prayers and well wishes and know that this is one of the real spirits of the season.

See you tomorrow with some tips I recently picked up and don't forget, I just added a 25% or More SALE section to my etsy shop...
Marcy

It's a Beads of Courage (BOC) weekend, here in Atlanta, Georgia.  Our Southern Flames glass chapter is having a beadathon at Beads by Design in Marietta.  Locally, two hospitals have over 600 patients in the BOC program who are children with cancer or a life threatening illness.  Geesh, that's way too many sick kids!

Carl Edwards, NASCAR race car driver and all around cool guy has become a hero to a lot of people in the program. Back in October, Carl visited the Aflac Cancer Center in Atlanta.  He met 5-year-old BOC patient, Dalton Kammer who gave Edwards his bead necklace to wear in his upcoming NASCAR race.  The necklace consisted of Dalton's name as well as special beads that he received for specific medical procedures.  It shows his medical journey through cancer treatment.  Edwards won that race and continued to wear it through the end of the season.  He won his last race and placed second overall for the season.  Each time, he pulled out the necklace from his fire suit and mentioned the Beads of Courage program and Dalton.  How can you not love this guy?

So hats off to the Beads of Courage Program, (donations happily accepted), the volunteers who donate beads and time, the young patients, their families and the wonderful medical providers who administer the program and treat the kids.

If you are a beadmaker and would like some tutorials for a few of the needed beads, visit our Southern Flames pages here.

And if you're in the Atlanta area, stop by and visit us this weekend, as we make beads for our program.  Directions are here.