Just "Bee"-cause

 

It is rally for the Relay for Life time of year once again.  This is a cause so near and dear to my heart on so many levels.  Working as a pharmacist throughout the years I have witnessed first hand patients' battle with cancer.  There are so many survivors these days it gives me hope.  I have also been there to hear of family's heartbreak, which I take a little bit with me each time.  It wasn't until a few years ago I witnessed an amazing person conquer what cancer threw up on her plate.  I was there to know what it was like for the family to get the news, the next diagnostic steps, the treatment, the hair loss and wig fitting and the radiation.  This may come out wrong but it is something everyone should witness but hopefully never will witness.  It is real and it happens to those we love and care about, those our age, older and even infants.  I have also recently heard of a friend who went through her battle without me knowing and my own mother had to deal with some of the less aggressive, yet still uncomfortable treatments.

Now I am giving to the cause what I can.  Why?  Bee-cause.  A few years ago I wanted to do anything I could to continue the hope for a cure.  I was so moved by how my friend gracefully fought her battle without skipping a beat that I offered what I could for an art fund raiser.  I have been living my art life every moment I was not in the "cage".  (for all you non-pharmacy employees that is where they keep the pharmacist, in a cage.  We are not allowed to leave and even have to eat while on public display.   I have always wondered why we do it that way, like some freaky zoo animal.  Actually could do a whole post on this tangent but will end now)

Anyway I offered to make several hand painted hair clips and was literally amazed by the money they raised for the rally.  This was the push, this was it.  How odd it was that a battle and fight for the cure of cancer pushed me to focus on my God given talents. Something I have wanted to do for years but never had that push until that night.  I soon after registered my business name, "Blue Bee Designs".  This is a name I have used for years to make myself look like a pro and play it up with my friends.

So the Relay for Life will always be my just "Bee"-cause.  This year there is no art sale fund raiser but a mystery dinner night, with dessert sale and raffle of locally donated goods and services.  On Saturday I created my donation.

All I needed was a blank canvas and the idea just flowed so easily.  Where are we now in cancer research and cures?  We are so much better off than just a few years ago but still in need of cures.  Science, like art, is a God given talent too, it just cost a lot more and people forget that aspect. They let "someone else" worry about it.  I hate that so many things in life get in our way of being able to help.  One of my "philosophies" behind Blue Bee Designs is based on the quote from Audrey Hepburn's theory on having two hands, one for helping ourselves and one for helping others.  Isn't it ironic that once I started helping others more, I found out that I was helping myself in areas that were trapped inside me for years?  Or maybe it isn't ironic at all, maybe it is just the way life is suppose to "bee".

This piece of art started with some wonderful blues as I laid down the sky. I will tell you more about that later. From there the grass became wild as the cause began to grow.   The stem strong and beautiful, it is fabric, which is a weave of all the support this flower needs to stand proud and tall.

Look close at the flower; they are all ribbons for the cause.  I have used several pages of an old book on flowering plants and painted them vibrant pinks, reds, oranges, purples.  From there I punched many, many ribbons for the cause and my flower just kept getting bigger. 

The centers of the ribbons punched out were everywhere.  I thought they made great little seeds, an abundance of them.  Hmmm, for every ribbon, there is a "seed", now that is interesting...

...Such an abundance that the flower sheds it seeds, it has to.  Why?  "Bee"-cause!  For every new member added to the cause there is a seed.  A seed of hope.  That beautiful petal will lure in family and friends and somehow magically there is more awareness. That really did not cost anything, did it?  It just sort of happens.

The artwork continues to develop rapidly.  The strong awareness flower is so large it can not help attracting spectators.   Who is this?  Hopefully it is anyone who reads this, anyone who sees this and even the winner of the raffle who was just going out for a fun night.  This was me at one point.  I witnessed what a small community could do to support the Relay, I began to "Bee"-lieve.

Do I even need to start mentioning bee facts?  Like supposedly their wings are structurally too small to even be aerodynamic, yet amazingly they are pretty good at the flying thing.

Well in any case this bee is witnessing first hand what is going on and genuinely "bee"-lieves...

  He/she "bee"-lieves we need to...

....sow the seeds of hope....

"Bee"-cause...

...something has taken root!

Now look close at the background.  Flowers of the past are still with us, remember them and honor them.  It was their seeds that have brought us closer to the cure.

Comments

[BARBARA VALOVIC]

Karen, I am speechless! This is so awesome and Nan is so lucky to have a friend like you. I can't wait to see the reaction this is going to get at our fundraiser. I will forward this to the American Cancer Society because I think it should be shared by many.A million thanks. You are the best for sharing this with us.......Barb

[Terry Brindle]

Karen,
Your talents are many and we are so grateful that you are willing to share them with us. I love the message that your beautiful piece of art sends. Your gift is very special, just as you!
God Bless,
Terry

[Karen]

Thank You Barb and Terry for your wonderful comments. They are also the very first comments on my blog, a great surprise I will always remember. Karen

[Cheryl Gilliam]

Hi Karen,
Just ran across your blog today, love your art and your heart for giving.. I acutally love anything creative and do Interior Redesign & Decorating among other things..

Keep sowing the seeds !!
God Bless, Cheryl Gilliam
http://www.JustHeavenlyDecor.com
http://JustHeavenlyDecor.blogspot.com
Interior Redesign, Home Staging & Decorating

"Smoky Mountain Travel Tips Heavenly Cabins"
http://smokymountaintraveltips.blogspot.com/

[april]

Beautiful, eloquent, inspiring! I love the way you shared the process along with the artwork. The way you have layered things along with your colors and, of course, the story are awesome. Thanks for sharing. My father has been in the hospital for 3 weeks with problems with COPD/emphyesema. Reading your words of hope are very encouraging.

[Jenna]

This post is so beautiful. I read through it as 'somewhere over the rainbow' was playing and it definitely made me very emotional. Thank you for sharing.

[Bee]

This is such a beautiful piece of art and such a wonderful story. Thank you for sharing.

[Deb G]

Wonderful...in every way.

[alex]

that is so amazing! glad you participated!

[alex]

that is so amazing! glad you participated!

[m. heart]

wonderful post. my mom has been battling cancer for the past 15 years, so it is a topic close to my heart.

[m. heart]

wonderful post. my mom has been battling cancer for the past 15 years, so it is a topic close to my heart.