Saturday, May 1, 2010

It's A Small (Handmade) World!


Most of you know, because I've talked about it so many times, that I love the Relay for Life.  I try every year to come up with a new and creative way to raise more money to help fight cancer.
Last year I made my first quilt...ever...and it was auctioned off...
It raised an additional $200.00!
So this year when I started racking my brain what are we going to do to raise money, I decided I'd make another quilt, but this year, with a twist...
I sold the quilt squares, and had people give me the names of people they had lost to cancer, or those who had won their battle against this terrible disease...
I have gotten all 20 of the names stitched, and now I'm in the process of adding embellishments and stitching them to the quilt itself..I can't wait to see the final result.
In doing this, I had raised all but $20.00 of my goal of $200.00, and I posted that on facebook.  Then I left and took my daughter to school, not thinking anything of it.

Imagine my surprise when I returned home to see a comment under my post from a wonderful woman named Gail Ainley, that said: Your goal has been met..
I cried.  My hands shook.  I know maybe it sounds silly to a lot of you, but it means a great deal to me that I get to do this to honor my dad, and to know that I hit that goal, was overwhelming.

So as I sat here crying at my computer, I started thinking about a conversation I'd been having earlier that morning with my new friend Heather.  She'd mentioned doing an auction....then the wheels started turning.  All of these wonderful people I've met on Facebook, through my fan page, are all fantasticly creative people.  What if they could donate items to our big auction on the day of the Relay.  I could make a big basket our of all handmade items and proudly present it to be auctioned off!  
I posted it....wondering........
as of right now I stand at 42 shops that want to donate...42 shops!!!  From everywhere!!!  The U.S, The U.K. and Australia to date.
So as my title says...It is a small handmade world when everyone comes together in this way.  I sit in awe of all of the caring people that want to help.
And those two people that started the wheels turning...are both people I would have never met if not for the handmade community on Facebook, in fact all 42 of the people that are willing to donate, I wouldn't have ever known...
So ONE MORE TIME...I want to say THANK YOU!!  Your wonderful giving hearts have overwhelmed me.
I can not wait to start sharing with all of you the wonderful items that will be going into our baskets!
I do have one more thing to add.....the lovely Alessandra, over at Just Be Happy, gave me a fantastic award!!
The rules of this award are to list 7 things you probably don't know about me and then to pass it to 7 kreativ bloggers.  I'm going to do both of those things in my next post....so if you're into useless Heather knowledge...stay tuned...lol :)
huge, giant hugs!
heather

8 comments:

Michelle said...

That is so awesome! I am excited for you :)

Unknown said...

Just awesome Heather!!! Very exciting...what a great community we are lucky to be involved with! If you are still excepting donations just send me a note on FB would love to help.
http://www.facebook.com/lucysbeadstudiofan

Heather said...

It really is awesome ladies!! Just unbelievable to me!!!! :)

Just Be Happy said...

It's fabulous to see what you are doing, thank you!
Are you gathering all sorts of things from shops? Is there a certain color or something like that?
Let me know, I might be able to send you a little something.

Marsha Knox Art Expression said...

http://www.facebook.com/PandulaartsCreations?ref=ts
Hi there, Pandula here. I don't know if drawings are the usual kind of thing one actions at your functions, but I would still like to donate one. I will even frame it if you like. Remember it is just pencil art and I have left my link above so you can check it out. I have a 5 x 7 I have just finished. It is similar to the one called "Prism of hope" on my Etsy page (http://www.etsy.com/shop/pandulaarts) . e mail me and I will send you a pic...just sprayed it with fixative last night...so it is all but done.

I lost both of my parents to cancer within 4mnths and 11 days of each other, June will be 2 years. Glad to participate.
pandulaarts@yahoo.com

Heather said...

Thank you Alessandra!! Pandula, I'm so sorry to hear about your parents. I lost just my dad, and can't even imagine loosing both so close together. I'd be honored to have both of you help us!! <3

HancoxHomestead said...

Heather, A wonderful blog, love your quilt and think that it is a fabulous and lovely thing you are doing. Glad to be a part of it! Helen

Heather said...

Thank you Helen! I'm so grateful for all of the help I've received. None of this would be possible without all of you!!! :)