Quick Note

I am currently out of town for the weekend, though I do have limited access to the internet. I will try to at least check emails, etc. Otherwise, I'll "see" you in September! Have a great weekend!

5th Annual OROC 5K Walk/Run

It was a perfect day. The sun was shining, there was a wonderful cool breeze coming off the lake and everyone was ready to go! There were over 2,400 participants and over 80 survivors along with their families, friends and caregivers. There was an 81-year-old survivor and a 13-year-old survivor, showing that ovarian cancer affects all women. There was even a 70-year-old survivor who ran in the 5K!

It wasn't just the walk/run, there was music and face painting, giveaways and raffles, dancing and playing and generally just having a good time. The theme: "OROC celebrates life...a journey of HOPE". You could tell who the survivors were...they were the ones dancing, laughing and enjoying the day even more than anyone else.This is my daughter and her friend who just happens to be Miss Ohio Teen, having fun dancing after the walk/run.

There was a tribute banner that was held at the finish line where those who are survivors and those who have lost mothers, sisters, aunts, friends could leave a message for those they love. I definitely teared up as I wrote a note to my mom and mother-in-law, but I was OK. It was a hopeful day, even when I saw the oncology nurse who had taken care of not only my mom, but my mother-in-law as well. There were definitely tears then.

I can only hope that from events like these, an early detection test and better treatments can be found so that my daughters will have a better chance of avoiding this silent killer.

I've Been Memed!

Kathy of Brazoscowgirl has tagged me with this interesting meme. I've seen many with favorite things and 7 of this or 5 of that, but this one is a bit different.

Here are the rules:

1. Link the person who tagged you.
2. Mention the rules
3. Tell six unspectacular quirks of yours.
4. Tag six bloggers by linking.
5. Leave a comment for each blogger.

OK, here goes...

1. When I butter toast I have to make sure it covers the entire piece of bread, right to the edges! I want butter or jam or whatever it is in every bite! I think this is a family quirk because I'm pretty sure my brother does it, too.

2. I'm ambidextrous when it comes to putting on makeup. I use my right hand to apply makeup to my right eye and left hand for my left eye.

3. I have to read before bed or I can't sleep...no matter how late it is!

4. I'm a night owl. I'm more creative in the later hours.

5. I can strike up a conversation with someone in line at the grocery store or library, but social situations make me anxious.

6. I go through food phases. I'll eat a particular food for lunch or snack for days on end and then I won't eat it again for months. Definitely something I picked up from my mom!

Now I have to pass this meme along to other bloggers and I choose:

1. Three Fates Designs

2. Mama Flo's Place

3. Beader Jojo

4. Inspire Emotion

5. Waterrose

6. Juliana's Lair

Sorry if I've tagged someone who can't stand these things, but I thought this one was very interesting!

OROC

This coming Saturday is the annual walk/run for OROC. (OutRun Ovarian Cancer) My daughter and I are going to participate with another mom and daughter. We are doing this in memory of the two most important women in our lives...my mom and my mother-in-law (Nana and Grandma), both of whom died from this awful disease.

OROC's goal is to raise awareness about this disease and to hopefully, one day help researchers find an early detection test. At this point, there is no reliable detection test, so many women find out that they have the disease when it's already metastasized.

If you'd like to learn more about how you can help, please visit the OROC.org website.

There is also a fellow beadweaver, Kerrie Slade, who has designed and created beaded awareness ribbon pins to benefit The Wellness Community and the American Institute for Cancer Research. To learn more about her endeavors, please visit her blog Kerrie Slade. If you would like to purchase an awareness bracelet and have the proceeds benefit OROC, please check out the "Charitable Items" section of my Etsy shop.

And The Winner Is....

Julie of Gems by Jules, for her piece "Searchlight Art Deco Bracelet". It really looked the period and was very intricate in design! Beautiful! Congratulations to Julie and all the entrants! Now, what will she pick for her theme?

What's Your Personality Type?

Here's another of those fun little quizzes, but apparently this one is based on the Myers-Briggs personality tests. The terminology:
E=Extraversion I=Introversion
S=Sensing N=iNtuision
T=Thinking F=Feeling
J=Judging P=Perceiving

You Are An ISFJ

The Nurturer You have a strong need to belong, and you're very loyal. A good listener, you excel at helping others in practical ways. In your spare time, you enjoy engaging your senses through art, cooking, and music. You find it easy to be devoted to one person, who you do special things for. In love, you express your emotions through actions. Taking care of someone is how you love them. And you do it well! At work, you do well in a structured environment. You complete tasks well and on time. You would make a good interior designer, chef, or child psychologist. How you see yourself: Competent, dependable, and detail oriented. When other people don't get you, they see you as: Boring, dominant, and stuck in a rut.

What's Your Personality Type?

Nostalgia

They say that the sense of smell triggers the most memories. I would have to agree, though taste runs a close second, especially when you associate it with family recipes. My older daughter and her friend decided to "be domestic" and make some desserts. One of them was a family recipe for "The Best Chocolate Cake Ever". It's a lusciously rich chocolate cake with a touch of cinnamon! We used to have this cake when I was growing up and it was a favorite to take with us on our weekend boat trips when we lived in the Seattle area.

Anyway, I came home and the house smelled delicious and then I had a piece of cake and the wonderful chocolaty/cinnamon flavors just melted on my tongue and make me think of some of the happiest times in my life. Ahhh, childhood! Made me miss my mom, too. She taught me how to make that cake...

BAO Items of the Week

I'm a little late posting this, but here are the gorgeous pieces that are Items of the Week for the Bead Art Originals Street Team. There are specials or free shipping or an extra from each of the participants.

Did You Vote Yet?

If you haven't voted for your favorite beadwoven piece in this month's challenge, go to the Etsy Beadweavers Blog and vote! My entry is #25...in case you were wondering! :)You have until midnight (EST) of August 15th to cast your vote, so don't miss your opportunity!

For Fun: What Olympic Sport Are You?

You Are Softball

While you do like competing, you like cooperating even more. You find working with a group to be much more invigorating than going solo. You are a true team player. You like contributing to the win!

What Olympic Sport Are You?

The Jade Dog

Darcy of The Jade Dog is celebrating her second "Etsy-versary" and I wanted to help her celebrate by featuring her work and sites! Her pieces are absolutely stunning and have been featured in, among other places, the Bead & Button "Bead Dreams Competition 2007".
Check out her shop:

Her destash bead shop:

And her blog: The Jade Dog
I am so honored to be a member of the Bead Art Originals Street Team with her!

Yes, I Changed My Template

I decided that the last one was too restrictive, so I opted for a new "stretch" template. I like it so far, though I couldn't use my banner because it was too small. I might try to make up a new one, but then again, maybe I'll leave it as is for now. Let me know what you think!

The Voting Has Started!

Please go to the Etsy Beadweavers blog to vote for your favorite piece in the August Challenge "Art Deco"! Voting starts today and ends at midnight (EST) August 15th.

Go here, vote now!

EBWC "Art Deco"

Here are the entries...aren't they gorgeous? The voting starts the 9th, so don't forget to check out each entry and vote for your favorite! Voting can be done at the Etsy Beadweavers Blog!

Items of Note

Don't forget to look up all the beautiful pieces that have been entered in the Etsy Beadweaver August Challenge "Art Deco". Just enter "EBWC" in the tags and titles search on Etsy to see them all! You can also see them on the EBW blog. Voting will start on August 9th, so please vote for your favorite!

Check out the new group I was invited to join! Bead Art Originals is a select group of creators of bead art and beadweaving. There are some amazing artists in this group and I am truly honored to be a part of it!

EntreCard has brought a LOT of traffic to my blog and in the process I have found some great new blogs that I really enjoy reading. I am hoping that through Entrecard and the two Etsy teams, I will be able to get my name and art out there for more people to see. I love creating my beadweaving pieces and hope that I can share that love with others.

Yeah!

OK, I'm bypassing the upload thing and going straight from Flickr! Here is my piece for the Etsy Beadweaver August Challenge "Art Deco". I've called it "Stars of the Sea". Let me know what you think!

BAO Items of the Week

The BAO blog will be running a post each Monday which will include items members have chosen to feature for the week. There may be discounts or added gifts or free shipping. Check out the "BAO Features of the Week" to see beautiful art works by the BAO members!

Argh!

Well, I wanted to put photos up of my "Art Deco" Challenge entry, but Blogger is apparently having issues because it won't let me upload any photos! Grrr! I will try again tomorrow when I go to list it.