Bottles of Hope

The theme for the March Challenge of the Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy is "Bottles of Hope". We were challenged to make a small bottle to be given to cancer patients and survivors. Please go to our challenge website to cast your vote. Voting is open to everyone from March 1 through March 7, 2011. Everyone who casts a vote will be entered to win a beautiful prize donated by one of our members.
After the challenge all the bottles will be donated to the St. Mary's Cancer Center in Nevada. Here is a little information about the center.

Saint Mary's Cancer Center

Besides being Nevada's only accredited Breast Cancer Center, here is more general information about St. Mary's Cancer Center:

Saint Mary's Center for Cancer is accredited as a Community Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Program by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer and features the latest technology available in the region's newest, most-comfortable facility. Designed for the comfort and convenience of our patients, the 15,000-square-foot Center for Cancer is located in Saint Mary's Center for Health, immediately adjacent to Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center. http://www.saintmarysreno.org/Medical_Services/STGSS031864.

Services and Resources

•Acute Inpatient Oncology Unit
•Additional Patient Resources
•American Cancer Society Cancer Resource Center
•Brain Tumor Center
•Breast Center
•Cancer Registry
•Chemotherapy Courses
•Imaging
•Lymphedema
•Our Team
•Outpatient Infusion
•Outpatient Nutrition
•Palliative Care
•Patient Education and Support Groups
•Patient Stories/Testimonials
•Preventative Screening
•Radiation Oncology
•Research/Clinical Trials
•Spiritual Care

One of the nurses from St. Mary's was so nice to write up a letter about the Bottles of Hope Program. Here it is:
The Saint Mary’s Center for Cancer is a comprehensive cancer program accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. This program treats over 1,000 cases per year. In the fall of 2010, Saint Mary’s received accreditation for the Breast Center through the American College of Surgeons National Accreditation of Breast Programs (the first accredited breast center in the state). The top five cancer sites diagnosed at Saint Mary’s are Breast, Lung, Prostate, Colon and Bladder cancers.

The Center also provides a Rehabilitation program for women who have complete treatment for their diagnosis of breast cancer. It is offer free to all patients in the community. At the end of the 12 week program, each participant receives a Bottle of Hope, as complimentary gift for their participation in the program. The Bottles are well received by all participants.

The complimentary medicine component of the Cancer Program includes activities to enhance the healing aspects of the patient’s cancer journey. Bottles of Hope is an activity that includes a creative element and promotes healing. Patients and Cancer Center staff decorate used chemotherapy bottles with clay using their own creative ideas. Upon completion of the decorating the bottles are used as a vessel for a message of healing and hope. These bottles are displayed in the Infusion Center and other areas throughout the Center. The finished bottles are given to individuals with cancer as a way of instilling hope and encouragement during their treatment.

Our goal as a Cancer Center is to continue to provide these Bottles of Hope to our patients and community. We look forward to working with you and your company to make this a success.

Thanks again for your continued support.


Martha Aiyuk, RN, BSN, OCN
Manager,
Outpatient Oncology Services.
775-770-7410

This is my entry. I chose to do a colorful floral theme because, what could be more hopeful than a garden brimming with newly bloomed flowers? Signs of bright life bringing hope and joy to whoever sees them. I also covered several other small bottles that I will be sending along with my entry. Please go cast your vote for your favorite entry at www.pcagoechallenge.blogspot.com

I made it to 1000 !!!

Feedback at my Etsy store that is. I want to thank all my loyal customers who have come back to buy from me time and again. I truly appreciate each and everyone of you. Of course thank you also to you one time buyers. Couldn't have made it here without you all.

I am having a Mother's Day sale in my store to celebrate every wonderful Mother out there. From now until May 2nd I will take 15% off your total purchase and every order over $50 gets free shipping.

What Mother doesn't deserve a beautiful handmade gift? I have so much to chose from, anything from a 24kt gold accented pen and keychain setto a pretty purple and blue millefiori floral necklace and earrings set.Or maybe she collects eggs or trinket boxes. I have several of each to chose from. Here are just a couple.

I have all kinds of unique gifts, jewelry and more to chose from. Just for being one of my followers here, I'll give you an extra 5% on top of the 15% off your total order. Just let me know before you check out and I'll adjust your invoice.

Thanks again to all my loyal customers!!

What I've been working on lately.....

I was kind of missing working with my floral canes lately. A few days ago I worked on some millefiori all day. I made the beads for this bracelet, plus some hollow lentils and some buttons. After I got that out of my system, I went back to playing with the mica powders and alcohol inks. This heart is some black clay with gold leaf on it. Then I put one drop at a time of a whole bunch of different colored inks. Letting the ink dry between each color. Lastly I added a very thin layer of premo transparent over the top to seal the colors in.

This pendant started out with pearl clay and then gold leaf. Next I stamped it with a design to kind of crackle the leaf and leave some impressions. Next I brushed some red and copper mica powders on. Then I added some watermelon and salmon colored alcohol ink. After the ink dried I smoothed it out and then added a layer of transparent. Lastly I stamped it with an Asian stamp with the character for "peace".After baking, sanding and buffing, I painted it with black and gold paint to highlight the symbol.This bracelet was made for my sister for her Birthday. It is the scraps left over from the tutorial I worked on a couple weeks ago. I just took the leftovers and marbled them together then made a veneer to cover one of my premaid Ultra-light clay bracelet blanks. It looks really cool in person, the transparent and pearls clays really add a lot of depth. Hopefully she liked it.