Beelieve

In Memory of an Angel on Earth ~*~

"Supporting a future that holds no place for cancer." - Terry Brindle

Terry Brindle, a friend and angel on earth 53 passes away peacefully at her home, Wednesday, September 30, 2009. 

It was a long battle, and she triumphed many times

She taught Sunday school, was also a volunteer with the American Cancer Society and was very active with its Relay for Life. She also was a speaker at Making Strides for Breast Cancer and Zonta's Breast Cancer Awareness Program.

Terry's "Team Brindle" was the Relay for Life team that pushed me into making more art and selling it for a cause when another close friend was diagnosed with breast cancer as well.  Terry made angels by the 1000's and sold them all to support the cause.  I am a better person for knowing her and the fact that she left the day before a month dedicated to raising awareness for a cause has really affected me in ways I can not explain.  If there were to only be one photo of mine to be explored, it would be this one and the importance of angels who help us to shift our focus.  I will not be spending as much time here for a while as I need to shift my focus as well.  I promise to check in on you and will still add photos as well but who I am and what I am doing is not as important as what I do, who I love, and my art.

So to her immediate family, Nanner and  Barb and I would like to share this picture with you...

I love this smile i captured at this past relay for life....she was pushing her granddaughter around the track in the survivor walk...she was physically weak there....but she never showed it!  A true angel on earth!!!

I am sooooooooooo excited about Terry's artistic flare as she worked together with a local leather company to create some luxury handbags called "The Angel Collection" which was already scheduled to be launched this month for Breast Cancer awareness. I hope TL Townsend Leather  updates their website soon because these are gorgeous bags!!!

look at the detail, this is Terry's quote embossed on the inside pocket!

I am also including a link for Terry's Relay for Life team  for anyone who would like to donate.   

If there is anyone who reads this and has any updated links please let me know or include them in the comment section!

Relay for Life 2009~Paper Crane Story

Last night was our local Relay for Life, the fuel that keeps me going.  I am still processing it all.  The energy will keep going for a very long time.

One of the first things I had hoped to see were the paper cranes made by a local middle school.  The story is so heartwarming.

Inspired by  The Sadako story , one sixth grader started folding paper cranes for her wish for a cure to cancer.  It is Japanese legend that if you fold 1000 paper cranes your wish will become true.

We beelieve in wishes coming true.  The cranes were gifts for donations, so as Pajama Girl filled up a bag she listened to the legend.

and sent her wishes along with mine on wings to the heavens to be answered.

I will share more photos soon.

About page

I have been busy with all sorts of things lately, one of which is an "about" page for my friend who is auctioning my "Think Positive" piece.  Here is what I came up with, if you click on it it will take you to Flickr where you will be able to view all sizes. 

I over slept a bit today so my blogging time was cut short....hopefully more on Bee Spotting late tonight!  Have a great day!

Think positive...

...for a cure to cancer!

I have so many words that need to come out for this newest art piece of mine. I think I will have to write about it in a few smaller posts.  My friend Kim in CT asked if in lieu of donating money to her Relay for Life team would I be able to create an art piece that they could purchase for a discount and auction it.  I responded, "NO WAY!....I will create a piece for FREE" (for those who have followed me all along or have been to my about page you know that is was the Relay for Life that gave me the push to make my business official)

My personal challenge was to create a piece that would be bright, have depth and meaning as well as go with a variety of interiors. 

 My message needed to be broad, covering all aspects of life an not just the Relay.  It needed to be positive..."that's it", the light bulb went of.  It needed to be POSITIVE!  What could be more positive than...

"+"

  Exciting  since I am seeing the "first aid" or red cross sign everywhere these days.  I automatically think "help is on the way".  Who is it that helps?  Are we always waiting for "that other person" to step up and help, or are we the first in line to help?  If you have ever witnessed a Relay for Life, you know the answer to that.  Millions of people pulling together to raise awareness and money for a cure.  If you have been there, you have experienced the emotion and yes the positive energy.  If you have walked with a survivor, that energy is 100 times as strong.  Their energy stems from believing in a cure...that cure stems from the money that is raised...which all circles back to us.  The one that helps...the one who steps forward and is first in line. I also invite you to my post from last year, where I shared the best I could, my feelings and motivation for this cause.

I had to...

 

in this piece as I created it.  Then, Victor Hugo came to mind with a quote I kept jotted down for a different idea.

"Be as a bird perched on a frail branch that she feels bending beneath her, still she sings away all the same, knowing she has wings"

I may not have wings, but I do have paint ,brushes and a whole lot of other art materials to work with so I added a bird, a branch and that very positive quote.

Words are "carved" into the background.  They are all words that can be followed by the word "positive".  "believe" "think" and "love" to be exact.    I have even used the word "think" again in a leaf on the branch.  I cut it from one of my favorites, and most popular, Robert Frost poems: "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening".  I used the page as one of the many background layers in this piece and love that you get a glimpse of it on the profile of the canvas. I also have "many miles to go before I sleep". 

It will be hard to part with this piece of me but I hope the person who has the winning bid at auction displays it where they will be reminded to come first to aid those who are in need. That they will "believe, love and think" positive in every aspect of their life.  May they believe in themselves  as playing an important role in coming up with a cure for cancer.

If you would like to support my friend Kim's team in CT you may do so here

If you would like to support my friend and cancer survivor Nancy at our local event you may do so here

Pictures of us at last year's Relay may be found here

In the days ahead I will post about actual art making process of this piece.

Bee Calm and Carry On

I am enjoying the calm I have been sneaking in, only one thing lacking.  I have not had a lot of time for art recently which has made me a bit edgy inside.  I painted this on a piece of wood based on a doodle I am using for my website.  Keep telling myself, one step at a time.  I am also enjoying the "Keep Calm, and Carry On" posters everywhere.  What a message, if you do not know where it originated you might want to check this out.

My name for this little piece is "Bee Calm, Carry Art".  Dedicated to all of those who are trying to make it in the art business.  It is also a little push for me to, keep calm, sit and list some items on Etsy just like it looks in the picture.  The blue bee is moving some art!

Below is a profile view and this will go to Etsy soon.  I will start listing some items on Friday with any luck for a smooth day.  I would also like to mention, and will announce, a portion of the proceeds will got to "Relay for Life".  It is in a cure that so many cancer patient can "remain calm and carry on"!

Value

Value is a word with several meanings and the name of this painting of mine.  It stems from experimenting with paint and paper. I usually use canvas, and usually not such strong "values". Thus said, i apply this definition of "value"

"6 a: relative lightness or darkness of a color : luminosity b: the relation of one part in a picture to another with respect to lightness and darkness"

This photo is not great, taken last night at dusk in the brightest room I could find.  I will get a crisper shot when I can but wanted to get it posted soon after my previous post.  It ties in without explanation.

Blue Fridays

Join me by wearing blue today!

I recently received an interesting email that had some powerful pictures which I chose not to post here.  They were of 2nd Lt. James Cathey's arrival home from a few years ago. They are beautiful pictures but tears will instantly fill your eyes and your hearts.  Along with the pictures came a message from the "silent majority".

"Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing blue every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the 'silent majority' We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We are not organized, boisterous or overbearing.

Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops. Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday -- and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that every red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar, will wear something blue. By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United States on every Friday a sea of blue much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers. If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, coworkers, friends, and family, it will not be long before the USA is covered in BLUE and it will let our troops know the once 'silent' majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on. The first thing a soldier says when asked 'What can we do to make things better for you?' is 'We need your support and your prayers.' Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear something blue every Friday. "

I am pretty silent on many topics here, it is mainly an art blog but life is expressed through art and if there were no feelings, there would be no art...it is that simple.  If there is a chance to take a better picture of a piece I did to go along with this, I will post it soon after.

I will end this post with some brilliant quotes from Abraham Lincoln.

"With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan - to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations."

"To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men."

I will not be silent here today.  Today I will proudly wear blue...today and every Friday.

 

Hugs and the "squeeze"

 

Hugs to all who dedicated themselves to awareness and offered their support for breast cancer awareness during October.  I am proud to say I will be sending in $150 to the American Cancer Society from the proceeds of my sales.  I only kept a small portion for supplies of which will go back to funding future projects.  I can not send you all enough hugs, whether you did it through myself or any other amazing artist during October, you are making history by changing "her"story.

Next a mention about the "squeeze"....I am talking about mammograms.  I went on Monday for mine and encourage you all to get yours if you are overdue.  For those of you under 40 years of age, most insurance allow you at least one for a baseline before you are 40.  I did this and am glad I did.  Monday was my 3rd one in my life at age 41.  Things have change a bit since my first one and Thursday I got the phone call at work and a letter at home.  Here is an excerpt from the letter:

  There is a new "density" to my right breast.  If this was my first mammogram it might not have been realized.  My doctor's office reassured me this is nothing they are overly concerned about but will do another mammogram in 6 months to watch for changes.  They emphasized self exams and calls of any concerns at all.  I am not worried about this at all, "I don't do worry"!  I know where worry gets a person, this week there was a negative energy in the air.  I have opened the windows and let it out.   Since then one of my breast cancer patients strutted in yesterday and proclaimed "her clean bill of health" now that is a bill I applaud!!!

I am not afraid...nor should you be.  Breast cancer research and cures have come a long way and I am keeping faith with our efforts it will only get better.

 

So every time you get a hug, be reminded of the "squeeze".  Schedule that overdue mammogram and do that always forgotten self exam!  These two things might very well keep you around for more hugs in the future.  In fact...I am hugging you now!!!

Ta ta's ,the pricey truth and a unknown hero

I have several things I should be doing right now but it will all have to wait until this post is done.  Many of you know I am a pharmacist, the job that pays the bills...or at least some of them.  Art is my life, my fuel, my soul.  It is how I communicate.  Today I need to correlate it with my career in the health care industry, everything has a reason. 

First I would like to thank Sherry at Epirit*d'Art  for adding me, to a great Treasury named "Save the tAtA's, sellers who are supporting the cause" at Etsy. (This listing will expire on Sunday at 4:44 a.m.)  I was not sure how to save a picture of it so I took a picture of my computer,I apologize for the blur and if anyone out there knows a way to save a picture of an Etsy treasury, let me know ASAP!

Sherry is a very dedicated supporter.  Her blog is full of her dedication to support awareness for breast cancer. I found her post Her2 Neu Who? extra special. It begins with the mention of fame, ridiculous amounts of money for the talent that achieved that fame and the silent heroes.  So often the media skips over the real hero's of the world to bring you, quite frankly, a whole lot of crap we can do without.  What about the hero of her post?  Does anyone even know who  Dr. Dennis Slamon is?  I did not, until today.  He is a hero to women everywhere and they may not even know it.  Why don't we know about these heroes? 

Circle back around to my job in the "cage", the pharmacy.  The place I hear the whines of " those selfish drug companies"  Where is the general public getting their information?  Hmm, the media and the twisted half quotes of how much the "selfish" drug companies are"making"...Hello?  Thank you media, you just got my attention...NOT!  How about the whole truth, how about how much it actually cost to make that drug? 

Please skip over with me to a minute to All Things Paper by Elizabeth Parsons and a post that had no comments until I got there about the price tag of these drugs.  This is the half in fine print or neglected by the media after the bold headline stating how much greedy drug companies gross.  To quote Elizabeth's post:

"The average time it takes for one drug to make it from pre-human testing to market is 12 years. For every one drug that makes it to market, there are 5,000 (yes, 5,000) that failed. The cost for one drug to get to market? A staggering 800 million dollars."

 How about the cost to fund the ideas of genius minds like Dr. Slamon.  He, after saving more than 400,000 lives for his drug Herceptin, finally got some recognition on October 18th, on Lifetime.  I am just sorry the media did not let me know ahead of time that SOMEONE WHO HAS SAVED MORE THAN 400,000 LIVES was going to air.  This would have been nice to know since MY FRIEND AND REASON I DO WHAT I DO HERE WAS 1 OF THOSE 400,000 LIVES SAVED.  Sherry is one of those lives as well.  I know 2 OF THOSE 400,000 LIVES SAVED AND NOT A DARN HINT THEIR HERO EVEN HAD A NAME. 

Loved the above picture from Sherry's post and the Ford Warriors in Pink campaign. We are warriors too and I am thankful for all the artists out their who continue with their efforts and support of any cause.  I know not all artists have deep pockets, but we do have deep hearts.  There was a comment on Sherry's post with a quote "if you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at who he gave it to." So there you have it.  We may not be rich or famous but we can be silent heroes. To quote myself from this post

"Science, like art, is a God given talent too, it just cost a lot more and people forget that aspect"

It does take our efforts and they do make a difference. 

Blue Bee for Boobies

GREAT LINK!  Fresh off the email from my mom.  Here is a great website you can click once a day to give women mammograms who otherwise can not afford them.  So please remember to click once a day and add the badge to your site!

 

Get the code for the badge here.