WOW! What a doll! (or dolls, as the case may be!)

For those of you keeping up with the happenings at Dorcas, we have new members of the "family" - Amy of www.artfulheart.blogspot.com created 4 fabulous Dorcas Dolls and donated them. Aren't they wonderful? Aren't 4 women going to be especially blessed by the gifting of them? Thank you thank you THANK YOU, Amy. And blessings back to you. ~ Mo

Play time

Well, I actually played for a bit in my studio over the holiday weekend. Not long, but it sure felt good! I made a couple of necklaces for my own enjoyment, as I'm tired of wearing the necklace I've worn continuously for the past 3 years. And at church yesterday a woman stopped me and ordered one for herself without even asking a price. Now that's some inspiration! I also managed to work on some charms for a fundraiser/charm exchange hosted by AmberDawn at inventivesoul.blogspot.com. I'll have to post pix of those when I'm completely finished. *sigh* It sure feels good to be doing something again... maybe I'm on a roll???

Meet Baby Dorcas!

Woot! (Techie terminology for Woo Hoo!) As a result of the awesome and generous grant from IBM Corporation (thanks to my wonderful cousin's grant application) I received the new Dell laptop computer for Dorcas today. Meet Baby Dorcas -






I can envision such exciting opportunities for this pink little gem - in-house publication of some of our promotional materials, keeping our web site up-to-date, researching cancer-related resources for women we serve as well as our resource guide, the opportunities are just endless! I am so blown away by IBM's generosity, and somehow it helped validate the reality of Dorcas as a viable organization. Silly, I know, but that's how my mind works sometimes. She has existed in my mind for so long now that I'm not always sure how that translates out in the "real" world.
Anyway, I just thought you might want to see the latest happening. Now I'm busy copying all the documents and graphics to her. Next project - printing labels for the display stands to hold promotional bookmarks, and then distributing into the medical community and public sites. Double woot!

Starting over

OK, it has been so long since I have posted anything I wonder if anyone will even notice... possibly one or two will. And so much has happened! Dorcas is officially "real". Yes, all legalities have been fulfilled (including IRS approval as a Section 501(c)(3) non-profit - which means all donations are tax deductible! woo hoo!). The web site is up and running, complete with resource info (www.dorcasproject.org) and we have even given away our first "Dorcas Doll" to a woman undergoing treatment. And now.... drum roll, please.... we are about to debut officially into the community! The most exciting news lately is that we are definitely set for our first fundraising event, and it promises to be wonderful. Are you ready??? Come one, come all to the 1st Annual Benefit Art Bra Exhibit & Silent Auction!!! It's entitled "ART BRAS: A SHOW OF SUPPORT" and will be held October 24 & 25, 2008, in the glorious new art gallery - EXHIBIT ONE (check out their website - www.xonegallery.com). The silent bidding will culminate on Saturday evening during the wonderful reception planned (catered & wine tasting included), and besides the viewers voting for their "People's Choice" entry (which will receive a special award), we will be photographing the entries for inclusion in a fundraising calendar for 2009. Can you tell I'm pumped??? These 3 women (two sisters and their mother) who own this gallery have made such a wonderful impact on our community by providing an upscale art gallery. I am so humbled and grateful to them for taking on our project, and I look forward to learning a lot from them as they assist me in promoting both Dorcas and the upcoming exhibition. So stay tuned for more info as I get it - including the call for entries which will be open to ARTISTS EVERYWHERE (hint hint!!!!). And if you're having trouble visualizing what the heck I'm talking about with an "art bra" exhibit - check out these great web sites (yes, the idea was NOT original with me, alas...) - www.showusyourbra.com, www.la-art.co.uk/Exhibitions/E122.php, www.wtww.org/exhibition_bras.htm.

I promise - I'm going to try to stay more current with my postings. It won't be everyweek, but I vow to do better. And who knows? Maybe I'll even have some art to post on here again. I did play a week or so ago, painted layers on wonderful paper, which I then tore into smaller sheets and bound together with embellished recycled book covers for my own impromptu art journalling of quotes & scriptures touching me lately. It was a great exercise and I even liked the results. I'll try to post a pic or two sometime soon.

Until then, lovely artists, keep creating and keeping me inspired! Love & hugs to you all!

To the beach!

Well, by the time I finished all my treatments, and finally got to have my thank you celebration, and got through the holidays, I was ready for a total break. So I emailed my buddy Lori (in Texas) and asked if she was up for a road trip. Lori is ALWAYS up for a road trip! So the day after Christmas I loaded my little blue bug and drove to my cousin's near Ft. Worth and spent the night and enjoyed a good visit with her and her daughter, Tanya - and our little side trip to Ikea was fun, too! Then the next morning I drove to Love Field Airport and picked up Lori and we were on our way - destination Port Aransas, Texas, a wonderful seaside town with miles of beaches. We spent three glorious nights and days just wandering the beaches, and laughing and talking, and drinking a tiny bit of wine. It was exactly what the doctor would've ordered. Oh, and while I was there, I also got a tattoo!!! It was my cousin's idea and it turned out beautifully - a pink awareness ribbon, emblazoned just above the body appendage responsible for my incredible journey of the past year. Heck yeah, it hurt! But no worse than some of the other stuff I went through, so it was bearable. And ABBA connected us with some amazing people while we were there. You absolutely cannot go anywhere or talk to anyone that isn't touched somehow, closely, with breast cancer. We got mardi gras beads from 2 shop owners who lost a dear friend to breast cancer; our motel manager is knitting a prayer shawl for me because she was so touched by our attitude and joy, and had friends and family touched by the disease. So it was a trip that fed my mind, and my body, and my soul. I've posted photos below, and hope you enjoy. Just to help you understand them better... the pink stuffed flamingo? That's Pearl. Ya see, I don't really want my picture right now... I'm losing the weight, and I'm getting the hair back, but I'm still not up for lasting memories of this body image. Soooo.... Pearl became my "stand in" girl, and she was a real trouper! She helped to make the trip a hoot! Thank you, Lori, for playing photographer, and accompanying me on this wonderful respite journey, and for helping to heal what I didn't even know was wounded. It's so good to laugh again.... and thank You, ABBA, for the entire journey otherwise known as my life. I love You. Now it's time to birth DORCAS! WOO HOO!!!

Let's partayyyyyyyyyy.....

I am so behind on posting, but there's just too much going on, and not enough time, and I'm still moving slower than I'd like. So if you'll bear with me, I'll update as I can. I know I promised an online party, and that was my sincere intent. Then the weather interfered... and then when I finally had the party in real time, my "real" time evaporated shortly thereafter. We finally had the "Thank You Celebration" on Sunday, December 16th, and I was truly amazed by how many people made an effort during a busy time of year to stop by and let me serve them a tiny bit of my gratitude. And the cakes were an absolute hit! Really yummy and sooooo pretty. So if I can figure out how, I'll post a few pix to share with those of you who couldn't be there in body. Please know that I love you and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your love. I couldn't have made it without you. Onward we go!!!!

Vote for the Cure!

The following is a "reprint" of an email I get from the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Please take a sec to read and follow as your heart dictates? And don't give up on me - I have much to bring up-to-date! Love & hugs!

Hi,Do you know that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime? And that more than 40,000 women and 450 men die of breast cancer each year?
I know you're as troubled by these numbers as I am. That's why I wanted to tell you about a concrete step you can take - right now - to help end breast cancer. Susan G. Komen for the Cure Advocacy Alliance is launching a new campaign called I Vote for the Cure (TM). It gives all of us a chance to challenge the 2008 presidential candidates to make breast cancer a priority in their campaigns.
Our next leader will have the power to make significant advances in treatment, screening, and research - for all Americans. And we have the power to elect that leader. Join me in telling the candidates: American voters want to end breast cancer forever. Take action at IVotefortheCure.org.