Sunday, January 28, 2018

Krile of Final Fantasy XIV

Mommy, she said, "Can you help me with a costume?...
I picked the EASIEST one!"
  
Yeah, right!
I did it half by machine half hand sewn.




 

This was all to watch a symphony!

Which by the way was FANTASTIC!
Orchestra seats!
Performed by The Florida Orchestra
conducted by Arnie Roth.

The special 30th anniversary performance 
was attended by composer Nobou Uematsu!

 I also had the honor of getting a picture with Ben Pila,
Only guitarist ever to be named a Presidential Scholar in the Arts! 
So exciting!

I had a fabulous time with family.

 On the picture below,
The costume on the right was store bought.
The one one on the left is handmade.
How do you think I did?


***

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Thursday, January 11, 2018

Where did the Months go?

It's been a while since I've blogged.
...and alot has happened since.

of 


I was able to facilitate some workshops 
 at the University of Florida and  Florida Community College in Jacksonville 


and also a couple of small private parties.



We even welcomed an earring angel from up north
who sends us completed earrings already packaged up!



and we delivered our earring tree just in time for the holidays.


This coming Thursday, January 18
we will have our first meet and greet
at the Millhopper Branch Library at 6PM!
(click her for more information from our FB page!) 

All are welcome and we would love to see you there!
We need to replenish our tree!
No skill necessary as we will teach you.
Please bring some beads or findings to share
and we'd love to receive any broken, used, old jewelries that can be recycled!

Students can receive volunteer credit for their time!
We are excited!
See you there!


Please follow Young & Young at Heart of Brighter Lipstick, Bigger Earrings Inc.
on our facebook page by clicking here.


Friday, July 14, 2017

Brighter Lipstick, Bigger Earrings

                                                    

I am so excited to announce that I have partnered with UF’s Pre-Dental Society
and will be starting the Gainesville Young and Young at Heart chapter
of the Brighter Lipstick, Bigger Earrings Inc.!   

BLBE is a registered non-profit organization founded by Pam Sawyer 
who was diagnosed with aggressive Stage 3 breast cancer in 2014.  

On the day of her first chemo treatment session, her nurse said to her, 
“Pam, you’ll be just fine as long as you wear brighter lipstick and bigger earrings!” 
-A statement that she would not forget.   
While undergoing chemo treatments,
 she discovered kindness and happiness in many ways.
 Remembering what her nurse said, 
she took on the idea of bringing her learned craft of making earrings 
to give to chemo patients at her infusion center.   
The earrings became a small treat for the patients to brighten up what could be a bleak day. 
 The earrings became such a hit that Pam had to gather the help of friends and sister to make more. 
 Trees were purchased to hold the many earrings that the ladies would create for the patients. 
The patients are then able to choose a pair to have for free- 
just to enjoy having something new and beautiful. 

Since then, earring trees can be found in infusion centers
 throughout central Florida down to Boca Raton and in Pittsburg, PA.   
 2 years ago, UF’s Pre Dental Society started the Gainesville chapter 
with students making and replenishing the earring trees.   
There are currently 4 trees in Gainesville:
 2 at Shands, 1 at the VA and 1 at North Florida Regional Hospital. 


Today, I have been given the fantastic opportunity by Pam 
to start and coordinate the Gainesville Young and Young at Heart
 of the Gainesville chapter of BLBE.

My goal is to not only help the Pre-Dental Society group 
but to strengthen the Brighter Lipstick, Bigger Earrings Program 
while creating an outlet for middle and highschool students to volunteer
and for others to come and engage as well.
                    

I believe that Brighter Lipstick, Bigger Earrings can provide a fantastic venue
for the young and young at heart to engage and work together for a great cause. 
I cannot wait to see the interactions and the friendships formed!

 At this time, I am seeking donations of jewelry tools to be used by the volunteers here in Gainesville
and to purchase findings since the hook and clips that go in/on the ear will need to be NEW.  
 Of course, we also welcome any types of beads either new or old jewelry for us to recycle.





We welcome volunteers of ALL AGES, backgrounds and talents.   
If you have never made an earring in your life, 
do not worry as you will be taught the techniques! 
If you don’t want to make earrings but have marketing and communication skills,
social media advertising and web design, we can also use you! 



  Oh, and did I mention that you can earn volunteer credits for helping?? 


 Lastly, if you have a venue that you are able to provide for our use, please let me know! 
Come and Be an Angel...help us share beauty with cancer warriors!
 


By the way, Pam's story?  You can read about it HERE!
It has a happy ending! ;)


***
You can follow Brighter Lipstick Bigger Earrings
on facebook HERE!

To donate for the Gainesville Young and Young at Heart Program
or to volunteer
please contact Ellen Kostewicz at
evacasile@gmail.com