Catching Up!

So at long last, my Divine Definitions swap arrived. It was worth the wait-my beautiful tin was chock full of artsy inspiration. There was everything from a wand, to tiny vials of wonder, to a real Ukranian Easter egg, tags, mini books, boxes, an atc, an art doll and so on! One thing I forgot to add in the group photo was Kathy Strittmater's gorgeous soldered vignette. It's a door hanger and I do indeed have it hanging on a door-the door on my computer desk so I can marvel at it all day long! Thank you to all the ladies of CU for such a great collection. It's amazing! (Oh and for those of you wondering, I chose the word "Paradigm" for my definition.)

This afternoon, I am off to Vancouver to teach the first of a 5 part series on ATCs to kids. I am really looking forward to it-kids are always so excited and fearless about making art and I know we will all have a good time!

And if you haven't already, please send me a virtual Valentine (see the post below with the big heart on it) so you can be entered in my prize draw. Tomorrow when the Valentine generator lets me see who sent greetings, I will draw from those names for a very nice package of goodies! Hurry, this is your last chance!!

Also, we have one more day and three gifts left to be revealed over at the Be My Valentine blog. The goodies have all been so much fun to open-everyone did such a great job at coming up with lovely gifts. Thanks Ladies!

All right, off to pack my supplies for this afternoon!

Tag, You're It!

Last year at Artfest, Bee was handing out special Artfest dog tags as her trade. She asked that anyone who received one alter it and then bring it to Artfest 2007 to show. Up until yesterday, I had mine safely tucked away in a safe spot. (I am sure you are all familiar with that "safe spot"-it's that place you stash something important and then do mental gymnastics trying to remember where it is.)

Anyway, I remembered where it was (tucked in amongst my handmade book in a basket) and got to work altering it. I had so much fun coming up with this funky pendant and after I was done, I wished I had more dogtags to play with!

So...if any of you reading this have one of Bee's dog tags, please take some time to work on it and bring it with you to Artfest! She is hoping there will be lots to share-I believe she gave out over 100! Bee has set up a yahoo group for thos who are participating. You will find it here.

Warm Fuzzies

They say a picture is worth a thousand words and if this photo of Joanna with her gifts is any indication, I would say that her first day of chemo was made so much easier by the love and friendship everyone who participated the Breast Friends collaborative showered her with.

In case you missed it, Joanna posted her thanks in the comments section of my previous post, as well as on her own blog.
Here's what she said:

"Dear Lelainia and all my Breast Friends,

I am still in awe of what my heart captured today through these wonderful amazing gifts. Yes, I wish each and every one of you could have been there to share those special moments. I cried, I made little noises of astonishment as my eyes gazed upon each page. What a precious time indeed. Then when I opened up the bracelet I just couldn't beleive it. Each charm is amazing and YES, i feel so loved and cared for. You all made my day a very special one indeed.

I actually had a blast at chemo today, I really did. I even have to wear it home for a few days and I'm feeling really good thus far. Tired but okay. I can't believe how fun it was and what a relief that this first day is past me. My friends so enjoyed the book and bracelet too. It was so fun to share and now they all want to make one. So maybe I can start some art fun with them all during chemo. See how it all works. Your giving to me inspires so many others.

Not last nor least, oh my Dear Lelainia, what a blessing you are to me to organized such a treasure. You have really touched the depths of my soul. The way you presented it to me just came fit for a princess. thank you honey so very much. You have a gift to do this and I so am honored to be the receiver of such joy. I feel I can't say enough but please do know you and every made this a very special day for me. May God bless you and all who gave of themselves. I will cherish these forever and wear my bracelet proudly.

With much love and gratitude, humbled yet uplifted in a way it gives me wings to keep moving forward...and I'm hoping to fly.
oxoxoxox
joanna"

***********************************

I just want to reiterate my thinks to everyone who sent in charms and pages for your heartfelt contributions and also to everyone who has commented and emailed me privately, saying sweet, sweet things. It was my pleasure to be able to facilitate this project. It gladdens my heart to be reminded once again that the mixed media community is filled with such kind and generous folks.

In other news, just a quick reminder that if you send me a virtual Valentine, I will enter your name in a prize draw! You have till Feb. 14th to do it. Click here to send one. Don't be shy!

I have been working on some new art, but everything is drying at the moment, so I can't scan it yet. In the meantime, if you need a dose of eyecandy, why not pop over to the Be My Valentine gift exchange blog? There's lots of wonderful things to look at there. A new gift is added each day up to and including Feb. 14th, so check back often!

Breast Friends

Dear friends, I have something wonderful to share with you this morning. I have been sitting on a rather large surprise for the last couple of months, but now that February 6th has arrived, I am finally able to share it with you.

As many of you know, Joanna Pierotti was diagnosed with breast cancer in the late fall. It's the kind of diagnosis every woman hopes she will never get and when it does happen, it changes your life forever. As soon as I heard, I knew that Joanna would need all the love and support she could get. There's nothing worse than facing a crisis and feeling like you are all alone and I knew there were lots of people who would want to do something, anything to let her know they cared. To that end, I decided to take on hosting a collaborative book project to create a book of hope and inspiration for Joanna. Shari Schneider later suggested we all make charms to be included, which was a brilliant idea. (Thanks Shari!)

The response for the Breast Friends project was overwhelming. I received art for Joanna from:

Amy Huff, Angie Platten, Claudia Roulier, Danielle Muller, Heather Simpson Bluhm, Joan Craft, Joan Ellis, Joan Locicero, Judy Keefe, Judy Scott, Kelly Snelling, Kristen Robinson, LaRinda Chapin, Lia Kent, Liz SMith, Marie Ostreich, Peggi Graminski, Penelope Harris, Shari Beaubien, Shari Schneider, Stacie Rife, Suz Longley, Tanya Peacock, Teresa Atkinson, Tina Shoaga and Zorana Stanjkovic.

In December, I scanned each page in the book, as well as each charm (a huge job, but one I was so happy to do!) before putting them together. I also thought it would be a good idea to create a smaller book featuring a picture of each charm with the creator's name underneath so Joanna would know who made each one hanging on her bracelet. You can see the entire book and all the charms by clicking here. (Best viewed as a slideshow to get the full effect.)

I could have just sent the package off and she would have opened it when it arrived, but I decided to do something different. I emailed Joanna a couple weeks ago and told her the package was coming her way. I asked her to save it until she went to her first day of chemo and once she was settled and having her treatment, she could open it. Joanna had said several times she was feeling anxious and fearful about having chemo and I thought it would be wonderful if this gift could soften the blow by giving her something happy and beautiful to look foreward to. Joanna emailed back and said how excited she was and that she and another friend who is undergoing chemo were going to have a "Chemo Party" today. So...right now, Joanna is at her appointment, opening her gift from everyone and probably crying lots of happy tears. I am sure she feels our love and friendship surrounding her and lifting her up. Doesn't that just make you feel *so* good?!

There's a quote I love that says: "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." To all of you who did just that, who were so generous with your time and talents, for caring about Joanna and wanting to make a difference, THANK YOU! You have made a difference in someone's life today. Thank you for being Joanna's Breast Friends!

*All artwork appearing in the Breast Friends Collaborative remains copyrighted to the individual artists.

Welcome! Welcome!

My friend Tara Findley has joined Blogger land! I met Tara online and then in person last year at Artfest. I was lucky enough to spend an entire day in her company while we took Linda & Opie's Tintastics class. What I like best about Tara is her smile-she just lights up a room and she is very friendly. If you would like to check out her art and say hello, you can find her here. Tell her I sent ya!

P.S. Just a reminder that there is still time to send me a virtual Valentine and get your name into the draw for some goodies! (See post below with the big red heart.) Please don't be shy!

I Love Pretty Things

Do you know what this is? It's sheer happiness! This lovely charm was a thank you gift from Kathy Strittmater for hosting the Be My Valentine gift exchange. In addition to the gorgeous pendant Kathy made for each of us, (see the Valentine blog!) she included this special charm for me. I can't tell you how darling it is and how excited I was when I saw it. What I noticed after scanning it so I could share it, is the etching in the heart. I don't know if it was on purpose or not, but the etching forms the symbol for ARIES which just happens to be my sign!

Anyone who knows me knows I ADORE buttons so this gift has a special place in my heart. I am continually humbled and blessed by my friends, both artsy and otherwise. THANK YOU Kathy! Your work is fantastic!

Just For Fun!

Get your own valentinr

I thought this was fun. It's for friends to send you a free virtual Valentine! The programs saves each one and waits until February 14th before it will let you see all your wishes. How fun is that? And seeing as I am in a generous mood, everyone who sends me a virtual Valentine, will have their name go into a draw for a special surprise! What is it? Well, if I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise now, would it? It will be something fun and I will draw for it on Valentine's Day. Be sure and put your REAL name on your virtual greeting so I know who you are. I will post the winner's name here on Feb. 14th and then the winner can email me their mailing addy so I can send them their surprise.

So all you lurkers out there, that I know read my blog faithfully, but are too shy to comment, come out of the woodwork and say hello!

*One entry per person please! :)