Bead Table Wednesday: 4 Cool Things To Share Today

Happy Wednesday To You!  Today I've got 4 fun things to share with you!

1.  Happy Birthday to my amazing Mother!

My Mom is such an inspiration to me.  She sets the bar for character and integrity, and has taught me so much about how to be a mom, wife and woman.  This past spring she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and has completely blown me away with the grace and dignity she has shown throughout diagnosis, surgery, treatment, and now as a healthy survivor.   I am so proud of her, and so proud to be her daughter, and wanted to make her something very special for her birthday this year:

I know that pink is the Breast Cancer Awareness color, but when I think of her, I always picture her in cobalt blue for some reason.  I had my friend Julianna Cannon of JulsBeads make up a gorgeous set of cobalt blue beads, including one of my favorite heart focals, and made Mom a set from my heart to hers.  She didn't get the earrings, as somehow,  in the 3 steps from the front porch where I took the pictures to the computer, I temporarily 'misplaced' one of them.  Within 5 minutes of shipping off her gift, I (of course) found the other earring, so she will be getting a surprise post-birthday gift - lol!

2. Maire Dodd is today's Grateful Living contributor!

If you aren't familiar with Maire Dodd's writing and artwork, you are in for a treat.  Her gift for sharing - both visually and in writing - is profound.  Check it out!

And while you are there, take a look at the other contributiors' posts from the past couple of weeks; I guarantee you will have a smile in your heart after reading what these remarkable women are grateful for in their lives!

3.  Deryn Mentock is having a Blog Challenge!

Deryn Mentock of Something Sublime is having a really cool blog challenge that incorporates the beautiful colors and feel from this photograph:

The reveal day is October 19th - you can read more about the challenge details here.

4.  Oh right - it's Bead Table Wednesday!

Here's what is on my bead table today:

Yep - a little cryptic, but I don't want to spoil the surprise of  what I'm making for Deryn's challenge!

You can see what all the other BTW participants are working on this week at the BTW Flickr site.

As always, thank you to our lovely hostess, Heather Powers of Humblebeads for hosting this weekly event.

Have a fantastic rest of your week!

Please ♥ Think Before You Pink ♥

My friend and breast cancer survivor, mixed-media artist Sherry Smyth of BellaRennie, has featured my pink enameled HOPE cross in her "Please Think Before You Pink" treasury.  This treasury features artists who are donating all or part of the proceeds from the sale of these items to support breast cancer awareness charities:

Please visit these shops and do your part to help and, in doing so, to offer HOPE.

"Creating For A Cause" Treasury

What a HOPE-ful treasury from Sherry of BellaRennie:

'Creating For a Cause' by BellaRennie

As a breast cancer survivor I am always pleased and proud when vendors create items to share proceeds with a cause (and there are many vendors and many causes). These items all donate all or part of the proceeds to various cancer organizations and funddraisers. Generosity is a gift.

Pink Whimsy Bracelet - Fire ... CourageForKris... $27	Handmade Earrings Sterling S... maiziedesigns $21
Pink Bird of Hope Breast Can... Middleburg $37	Breast Cancer Awareness Deni... crafts4thecure $35
Hope Bracelet for Breast Can... brightstarjewe... $21	JLO...Circles of LIFE... He... annaaizic $450
Pink Lace Hat for Breast Can... Krezeknits $20	Breast Cancer Awareness Neck... WiredWhimsy $10.5
Wear Pink Art Card BellaRennie $6	Wrist Cuff Wallet - Breast C... MaryZoom $5
SALE Destash - OOAK Breast C... oliviamoon $6.25	THINK PINK Breast Cancer Awa... TutuGirlz $25
Hot In Here Blow Dryer, Brea... mimigalorestor... $25	Breast Cancer Awareness Ster... kymjewelry $20
HOPE, ALL proceeds go to Rel... minxandwinx $20	HOPE - Breast Cancer Awarene... mjalexander386 $15

Generated using Treasury HTML code generator by Whale Shark Websites.

Thanks, Sherry, for including my etched copper crosses in this very special treasury - I am honored.

"Art For A Cause" Treasury

I just found out that beadcandi has included my "HOPE" etched copper crosses in their "Art For A Cause" treasury:

Breast cancer awareness is a cause that is near and dear to my heart, and 100% of the proceeds from the sale of these crosses go directly to my local chapter.  I've also included free shipping on them, so go out and check them out in my store, and give the other generous artists in this great treasury a look as well.

Etched Crosses In HOPE Treasury

Thank you to http://www.makingcents.etsy.com/ for including my etched crosses in this beautiful treasury.  What an honor to be included alongside these talented artists:

 Thank you so much!

Thank You For Giving The Gift Of HOPE

While walking in the park, a child came upon a cocoon that obviously had a butterfly struggling to get out. The child felt sorry for the butterfly, and helped it to break free from the cocoon. As she watched the newly freed butterfly, expecting it to take flight, she noticed that its wings were not strong enough to lift itself off of the branch. You see, the butterfly’s ability to fly comes from the strength that is built during the struggle to free itself from the cocoon.

Just as it is true with the butterfly, it is also true for people: without the struggle, we cannot grow stronger. We cannot always choose the condition of our adversities, but we can choose to engage in the struggle. In doing so, we sustain hope in the knowledge that we will emerge stronger than we were when we began.

HOPE is what gives us the strength to fly.

I wanted to send out a big THANK YOU to everyone who has purchased one of my etched copper crosses in support of Breast Cancer Awareness.  Because of your support, I have sold 15 crosses and was able to send a $225 check to my local Breast Cancer Awareness chapter.

If you would like to support this wonderful cause, the crosses are still available in my Etsy store for $15 each, shipping included.

Again, thank you so very much!

Why Hope?

With the delivery of my mosaic piece, my contact from the Breast Cancer Awareness group asked me if I could send her information on what inspired me to use the design I chose for this piece. After thinking about how to put it into words, I came up with this:

"As soon as I was asked to donate a piece for this event, I instantly knew what the theme for it would be: HOPE. But how to depict the essence of hope when it is an emotion coming from the very core of the human condition?

Hope itself is the sure belief that something better is coming. As simple as that definition sounds, it implies that to have hope, there must be suffering or despair to overcome. It requires the one who is suffering to make a choice between despairing in today’s pain and grief and hoping for the better day that is coming.

I heard a story the other day that inspired the design of this piece:

While walking in the park, a child came upon a cocoon that obviously had a butterfly struggling to get out. The child felt sorry for the butterfly, and helped it to break free from the cocoon. As she watched the newly freed butterfly, expecting it to take flight, she noticed that its wings were not strong enough to lift itself off of the branch. You see, the butterfly’s ability to fly comes from the strength that is built during the struggle to free itself from the cocoon.

Just as it is true with the butterfly, it is also true for people: without the struggle, we cannot grow stronger. We cannot always choose the condition of our adversities, but we can choose to engage in the struggle. In doing so, we sustain hope in the knowledge that we will emerge stronger than we were when we began.

HOPE is what gives us the strength to fly."

Finished Mosaic and Other Stuff...

Well, I have finally finished the mosaic for the Breast Cancer Awareness fundraiser - whew! I am really pleased with how it turned out, and I am excited to get it over to them.

In other news, first I must say thank you to a terrific artist, Catherine Witherell (HappyDayArt!) who gave me the "Brilliant Weblog" award! What a lovely way to start my day! Now I get to pass on the love to 7 other fellow bloggers of my choice, so here they are:

• Beth Bricker (Vintage Sweets) - jewelry artist
• Blenda Tyvoll (Blendastudio) - love her color-saturated paintings
• Carolyn Mallin (Fanciful Expressions) - jewelry and mixed-media artist
• Deborah Truesdell (A Little Art Room In Back) - jewelry and mixed-media artist and teacher
• Diane Cook (Rosa & Josie's) - jewelry, mixed-media and photography artist
• Michelle Legler (Mosaic Cottage) - mosaic artist and gardener extraordinaire
• Beth Quinn (Beth Quinn Designs) - jewelry and mixed-media artist

The Rules:

1. Put the "Brilliant Weblog" logo on your blog
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs
4. Add links to those blogs on yours
5. Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs
   

So there it is - go and check out these very talented artists!