A Helping Hand

The great thing about craft is that it lets you use your skills for good.

I've blogged about Maybelle's wish to get to the Ellen Show previously. The great news is that the fundraising target is right on track, and it looks like the entire family will be able to make the journey, and that any surplus funds will be donated to two of Maybelle's chosen cancer charities.

This week there is a fundraising auction running on Facebook.

Amongst the lovely goodies that are up for grabs, is this fabric pack.

There's another charity auction that is also running this week on Facebook for Team Ruby. I couldn't resist helping out when Selina mentioned it.

There are lots more lovely items to bid on including this necklace and earrings set.

So why note start your christmas shopping early and give a little helping hand while you're at it!

Flight of the Ducks - the big reveal

Now that the exhibition has oficially opened, I can reveal my finished masterpiece (ahem)!

I wanted the ducks to look as if they were flying off the canvas.

Sitting at the machine stitching those millions and trillions of stitches was actually quite therapeutic....

The exhibition opening was fabulous. I love group exhibitions because you get to see such an amazing array of talent (and who doesn't love an entire wall of pegboard)?

The way the different people interpret the same theme is always fascinating.

If you pop on over to this post at Gleaners Inc, there's a full list of the artists.

Also, just a reminder, the charity auction finishes at 8PM tonight, so please check it out and make a bid. It's a lovely pressie for Christmas!

A Very Special Collaboration for Charity

Anna from Shiny Happy Art and myself have been working behind the scenes on something very special...

We wanted to do something to support our favourite charities this Christmas, and decided to combine our arty/crafty talents for this completely unique Shiny Happy Art / CurlyPops handbag.

The handbag will be auctioned and the highest bidder will be the winner. 100% of the proceeds will be split evenly and donated to our two chosen charities.


Charity 1.

I've chosen to donate to the Margaret Pratt Foundation Heart Lung Transplant Trust.

This one is quite obviously quite close to my heart, as I'm waiting for a double lung transplant.

After my transplant, the major problem which I'll face is organ rejection. The foundation provides funds for research grants via the Alfred Hospital to improve the outcomes for heart and lung transplant recipients.

I'm hoping that the more the scientists can research the causes of rejection, the more likely they can provide treatments so that my new lungs will last as long as possible!

Charity 2.


In Anna's words....

I've chosen to donate to Scarlett Kisses Project.

This project gifts small photo frames to mothers in hospital who have just lost their baby to stillbirth or neonatal death. The frame is wrapped with a SANDS brochure and tied with a sweet tag. My second baby, Caitlin, was stillborn so it's a cause close to my heart.

My friend Jen, who I met through SANDS, thought up and started the project herself, saving up and buying frames when they were on sale, in memory of her stillborn baby, Scarlett.

It's just a little project now, but I'd love to support it and help it grow. When your baby dies it's a very lonely grief. The hospital staff will usually take photos for you, and maybe hand and foot prints ... whatever they can. This frame gives the mother somewhere special to put that first photo, honouring that little soul.

I have a Scarlett Kisses page on my website about it,  and I recently started a Scarlett Kisses Facebook page.

The hankies that I sell all support the project.

About the Flying Hearts Painting

In Anna's words...

The painting is my favourite from my "Flying Hearts" series.  The original is a mixed media piece, using screenprinting, acrylic painting, collage and shiny shiny varnish on canvas. This artwork is also available on a cushion, in my current range.

About the Handbag

The front features Anna's gorgeous Flying Hearts panel. I used a plain black cotton drill for the rear and the straps as I really wanted the Flying Heart to 'sing'.

The handbag is a large size - approximately 36 cms wide x 36 cms tall.

The interior features a double pocket and a magnetic snap closure.

There are two straps measuring approximately 70cm long each.

Auction Details (ie the fine print...)

1. Bidding begins right now at $40 - just leave your bid in the comments (please ensure you have a valid User ID or leave your email address for contact).
2. Bidding ends at 8PM AEDST Saturday 17th December
3. Highest bidder wins
4. Paypal payment is preferred so that the handbag can be express posted to the winner on Monday 19th December  (in time for Christmas)
5. Please start bidding!

PS - here's the code if you would like to pop a little button on the side of your blog....

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