Pssst...can you keep a secret?

After much trial and tribulation (mostly due to my back issues which are finally, thankfully, starting to resolve), I gleefully mailed my Bead Soup to my partner, Christine S.. She and I have been chatting back & forth via email, so I've kept her updated. Christine has been very understanding, but still - what a relief to get it OUTTA here! She posted mine to me on the same date, so now all I have to do is stalk my mail carrier.

Hope she likes what I sent!

Bead Soup Blog Party #7 - I'm in!

Between kids, home, and developing new designs for my lampwork beads, I haven't been making much jewelry lately - yeah, there hasn't been a lot of time for jewelry making, but even more - there hasn't been much motivation, oomph, or even inspired spark. I think I really just needed a break.

I knew that the next Bead Soup Blog Party was fast approaching, and was really on the fence about participating, given my lack of creative mojo. (I first participated in the September 2011 Bead Soup Blog Party and had a blast! I made a few new friends, not least of whom was my partner, Ambra Gostoli - annnd, I got booted waaay out of my comfort zone and came up with some exciting new (for me!) designs.)

Then I learned that Lori Anderson, creative mastermind behind the increasingly popular Bead Soup Blog Parties, is hosting just one of these massive events per year now. (Really, I'm not at all surprised - coordinating this online festivity is an insane amount of work and stress - Lori is truly gifted and amazing to be able to pull this off, time & again. She inspires me, that girl does.)

Suddenly the inner child in me stood up on the chair and loudly declared that she did NOT want to be left out.

So...I signed up this past weekend.

Now I'm trying to figure out what kind of bead soup to send my partner - I sent Ambra one of my tulip beads and some coordinating spacers last time, and I've got some great calla lily beads happening now...but...gosh, maybe something other than a floral theme? Hmmm. Sounds like a GREAT excuse to head out to the torch!

In any event, break time is over and I'm hoping my creative muse gets the memo.

Pay It Forward Giveaway Winners!

lampwork sunflower bead by c. hansen

On September 19, I posted this giveaway, for the first three commenters...then on the 21st, I posted an additional opportunity for three more commenters to win, to be randomly selected...but only five more people commented, and I just CANNOT have six people winners and two people not, especially with everyone committing to paying it forward!

This means...yes...you got it right...you're ALL winners!

I will be in touch soon to get clues as to what sorts of goodies you might like to see in the mail. And remember - you don't know exactly WHEN the prize will arrive - but it will arrive sometime during the next 365 days!

Be well and have a super day all!

xoxo, c

Pay It Forward Fun: Giveaway!

white tulips on lavender focal by c. hansen

It's been AGES since I did a giveaway on my blog, and when I heard of Jenn's fun giveaway, I knew I had to get in on the fun! (Jenn is the creative powerhouse behind Soul's Fire Designs - she creates exquisite jewelry that you MUST go check out when you get a chance.)

Paying it forward means doing something nice for someone else, with no expectation of return - one person does something nice for someone else, who does something nice for someone else, who does something nice for someone else, and so on...(you didn't *really* want me to continue that, did you?)

So here's the deal:
The first three commenters on this post will receive a surprise gift from me within the next 365 days...it'll be handmade by me, so you know it's going to be cool, right? It'll be extra cool, because you won't know exactly what it is, or exactly when it'll arrive.

For the first three commenters, I will contact you in the near future (next week, most likely), and request your mailing addy and some ideas of what colors/themes/styles you like.

How to get in on the action:
Leave a comment WITH your email address AND post a Pay It Forward giveaway on YOUR blog too. Easy peasey!

Pay It Forward giveaway rules: Handmade item giveaway for first three commenters, surprise goodies to be sent/received at a surprise time within the next 365 days.

Oh, this is going to be such fun!

May all be blessed: how one mom fights back

May all be blessed: etched metal art charm, lampwork bead, & recycled sari silk pendant by C. Hansen

Twice a day, I was reminded.

Every time I looked at the clock and it read 9:11, I remembered the horror of that day, the fear, the anger, the desperation, the unthinkable loss and devastation…and how the whole world changed, for all of us, forever.

At first, every time I saw that time appear on the clock, it made me ill, not only for me, but for everyone else too, knowing that they were experiencing the same negative feelings I was.

I quickly realized that this wasn’t how I wanted to live the rest of my life, in dread of seeing the time on the clock.

I decided to fight back, in my own way.

I decided to take that time back and turn it around, and turn it into something positive instead.

I decided to say a little prayer for everyone on the planet, figuring if each person is touched by grace, then just maybe, healing can begin.

The prayer had to be really short and easy to remember.

The prayer also had to bless everyone and everything, with no exceptions.

And the prayer had to be a prayer that anyone could use, because I wanted everyone on the planet to join me in saying it.

Now, twice a day, I am reminded to say, “May all be blessed.”

I invite you to join me in fighting back, by taking back these moments each day, either with “may all be blessed,” or with a prayer of your own.

Perhaps if each of us is blessed, even in some small way, we can make the world a better place.

Happy International Charm Day 2012!!!

Giveaway prize no. 1 - domino charm by C. Hansen

I love Art Charms...partly because there is such a wonderful potential in each one, like a tiny present, from the Art Charm artist to the ultimate recipient/owner. Art Charms are a fun and unique way to make, trade, and enjoy original works of art. While methods and materials for creating Art Charms are unlimited, one rule defines an Art Charm: Art Charms are made by hand, one at a time. True Art Charms are never mass-produced in a factory (but an artist might use mass-production techniques). This is something that can only be created by an artist’s hands, therefore it is precious and unique. Art Charms are a completely inclusive art form – anyone can make an Art Charm!

Giveaway prize no. 2 - spring flowers charm by C. Hansen

Top Ten Reasons Why Chris Loves Art Charms (in no particular order):
1. Making Art Charms helps me to practice and refine my skills.
2. Art Charms are individually handcrafted, never made by a factory.
3. When I collect Art Charms, I’m collecting original mixed media art and supporting other artists.
4. The small size and format of Art Charms makes them easy to display and collect.
5. Art Charms have a variety of end-uses above and beyond the basic charm bracelet.
6. Art Charms hold great potential for fundraisers or benefits – just have everyone participating in the swap make and send in an extra charm for a bracelet or necklace.
7. Swapping Art Charms builds connections between people, creates community, and invites the interest of non-swappers.
8. I LOVE the design challenge of creating an original Art Charm while honoring the swap theme.
9. I love getting my swaps back and seeing how the other artists interpreted the swap theme!
10. Making Art Charms is an easy, affordable, and portable hobby. Many materials for Art Charms can be gleaned from discarded items, available as near as the local thrift shop or garage sale...or even in the junk drawer!

Giveaway prize no. 3 - ruler charm by C. Hansen

In celebration of International Charm Day 2012, I have five of my own mixed media art charms to share with my readers. They’re the eye candy for this post. Just leave a comment on this post before midnight Saturday May 5, 2012, with your email addy or some reliable manner in which to contact you, and Sunday morning I will use a random number generator to select the five winners. I’ll post the winners here, and will contact you to get your mailing address.

Outside the US? Leave a comment anyway - I'm happy to ship internationally.

***If you do not leave your email addy or some reliable contact method, I won't be able to get your prize to you - so please, please PLEASE leave some sort of contact information!***

Giveaway prize no. 4 - steampunk charm by C. Hansen

Want more chances to win awesome stuff? Head on over to my friend Amber Dawn’s International Charm Day blog – she’s got more giveaways and interviews on her blog, as well as some tasty eye candy and links to other blogs celebrating International Charm Day.

Giveaway prize no. 5 - washi paper on Scrabble tile charm by C. Hansen

Can't get enough of Art Charms? Please consider joining our Art Charms Yahoo group - we're doing swaps, challenges, contests, and weekly online chats.

Here's hoping your International Charm Day is filled with art and charms,
Chris

Movie Review: The Secret

If there is only one movie you watch this year, see The Secret. We watched it as a family, and everyone was fascinated, including my 9 y.o. son.

This powerful life-affirming movie by Rhonda Byrne offers a different perspective of how and why things in our lives happen as they do. Not only that, The Secret offers suggestions and encouragement for viewers wishing to enhance their lives using the principles introduced.

Before I saw The Secret, occasionally (and without realizing what I was doing), I used some of the strategies suggested in the movie...and they worked...almost as if by magic! I know now it wasn't really "magic," but something better: something far more accessible, and something far more reliable.

By the way - the stuff I unwittingly used the strategies on was not at all piddly. It's the big stuff in life: my perfect-for-me mate, our wonderful home, and my incredible health.

I'm thrilled to have discovered The Secret, and I enjoy using it regularly now to deliberately and consciously change my life for the better.

We found The Secret at our local public library - too, our family has enjoyed listening to the audio version of the book, The Secret, which we also found at our library.

December Love Drop: Diomi & Nallee

 

Help give a Love Drop this season!

This Christmas the team's coming together for Diomi and her son Nallee, who are going into the cold Milwaukee winter with very little food, clothes, and other necessities. Diomi has been through so much, including the loss of her father, the loss of her job, and clinical depression. But even through the pain you can see all the love she has for Nallee, who has one of the most beautiful personalities you'll find. :)

We want to make this month special for them! We're working with their pastor to help get things they really need including school uniforms for Nallee, interview clothes for Diomi as she looks for a job, and food to help them through the winter months.

If you can find it in your hearts to give one extra gift this year, whether it be money or a helpful item they can use, please send it in - our goal is to reach $3,000 worth of necessities.

 

Want to join us in helping Diomi and Nallee? Here are 3 ways:

1. Give $1.00 - This money will be put towards basic necessities and care.  Maybe even a Christmas present or two (They're currently spending it alone, w/out anything at all).
2. Give a gift card - Gift cards are extremely helpful, especially to places that are national.
3. Donate personal products -These two need anything you can think of in the personal product department: bathroom/kitchen/bedroom stuff, etc.

Thanks guys! You can reach the Love Drop team anytime over at: team (at) love drop (dot) us, or by checking them out at LoveDrop.us. Thanks everyone! We'll let you know how it goes!

The Triplets (Love Drop: October 2011)

 

Hey guys!  The Love Drop team is at it again! They just came back from the Boston area where they dropped $5,000 worth of appliances and gifts to a woman who recently got hit by a car and is recovering in a wheelchair, and THIS month they're trying to round up the love for precious newborn triplets!

 

We want to help Jeff and Becca (the parents) prepare to bring them home from the hospital, as all three were born very underweight and are currently in the Neonatal ICU (they're doing great, and will be coming home soon). With four children already, adding a surprise batch of triplets is going to put considerable financial strain on the family, and that's where we come in!
 

Let's help give them everything they need to welcome the triplets home, including diapers, food, furniture, gift cards - any cool baby stuff you can think of. We're shooting for at least $3,000 in cash, plus gifts.

 

Want to help?  Here are three ways you can participate:

1. Give $1.00 - This money will help go to their family, and every dollar counts!
2. Give a gift card - Gift cards are extremely helpful. Places like Target, Wal-mart, restaurants, etc would be incredible.
3. Donate baby stuff! - Specifically diapers, formula and clothes. Gift cards here are awesome too. (Or maybe you have contacts in the baby world?)
   

You can reach the Love Drop team anytime with questions: team (at) love drop (dot) us., or by checking them out at LoveDrop.us. Thanks everyone! We'll let you know how it goes!

Let the Festivities Begin!

To learn about the Bead Soup Blog Party (BSBP) click here.

To see what my partner Ambra Gostoli made with the Bead Soup I sent her, click here.

To visit the other 362 BSBP participants (I know, right?!!), click here.

First, tusen tak (a thousand thanks) to Lori Anderson, the hostess of the Bead Soup Blog Party, for her inspiration, creativity, organization, and encouragement. Thank you so much for inviting me to your wonderful party! I had a terrific time Lori, and am already looking forward to the next one.

My second tusen tak goes to my delightful swap partner, Ambra Gostoli. Ambra, I am so glad you were my partner! I may have banged my head on my bead table a time or two, or seventeen, trying to figure out what to do with that incredible focal, but I love, love LOVE all of these beads, and the way in which the beads pushed me to design and think in a different way. I really appreciate this gift, which is so much more than just the beads themselves. Thank you.

And now, for the unveil…

I completed two necklaces, and have stuff pulled for 1-2 pairs of earrings, as well as for that bracelet I mentioned. Pictured are the finished necklaces, as well as the Bead Soups for the other projects. I will be working on these pieces in the coming weeks, and will be posting pics here, so do check back!

The first necklace is swingy and slinky, and VERY different from my other work…and I like it VERY much!

Ambra’s oval jasper beads play very nicely with my lemongrass green beads, don’t you think?

I used Swarovskis in chrysolite satin to pick up the greens in the jasper beads and add some sparkle, especially at the back of the necklace, where the sparkles draw attention to Ambra’s lovely handmade clasp.

I also used the chain and the two copper filigree pieces Ambra sent, as well as some square copper spacer beads.

If you look closely, you’ll also notice that I used sterling silver wire crimps (because that was all I had). Is it just me, or do they “fool the eye” a little, and make it seem as if the beaded sections are kind of floating between the filigree?

The second necklace is MUCH more substantial in visual AND physical weight. As you can see, I re-did the focal, using the dark purpley-blue beads. I included a faceted freshwater pearl, a nugget of blue goldstone, an iolite rondell, purple velvet Swarovskis, and the afore-mentioned purpley-blue metallic beads.

I decided for a focal this big and gorgeous, the rest of the piece needed to big and gorgeous too, so I made sections of 2x2 chain (good thing I had a stash of copper jump rings, no?).

I took Ambra’s bowenite beads, and wrapped them with both copper and annealed steel wire, and accented with purpley-blue metallic beads and more purple velvet Swarovskis.

I needed another element to tie it all together, and pulled a few of my favorite books off the shelf for some ideas, and found these coolio wire orbs in A Charming Exchange, by Kelly Snelling & Ruth Rae. I used annealed steel wire and copper wire to make the orbs, and decorated them with some wood grain stone beads (that seriously could be twins of the bamboo agate), more faceted freshwater pearls, and more Swarovskis.

OK, that works, but what about the clasp? It needed to be as substantial as the rest of the necklace. Sharilyn Miller’s book, Bead on a Wire, came to the rescue – I made two of her big spiral hooks, and shaped them so they would hook together and lay nicely against the back of the neck.

Next up is the Bead Soup for the earrings. I think I have enough stuff to make two pairs.

And finally, here’s where I’m at with the bracelet.

Yikes! I forgot to take a pic of the headpins I made to go with this bracelet. I made about eighty copper wire headpins the other day, and now I’m thinking maybe I should go make more. But not right now. First, I have a show to get through, and then I have a whole lotta eye candy to go look at and comment on!

Love Drop for June: helping the Aubin family

The Love Drop team is at it again! Last month we gave over $9,200 worth of cash, goods and services to the Stalnaker family, who had been going through a financially hard time due to the effects of the BP oil spill on the Louisiana economy. The family was in need of a car and the Love Drop team was able to surprise them with one, making it one of the most exciting Love Drops ever. You can watch how it all went down here.

This month we rally behind the Aubins - a Michigan mother and her three children who are mourning the death of Keith, husband and father, after his lengthy battle with multiple health problems. Our goal is to raise at least $3,600 to pay the family's rent for three months, which will allow them to focus on what they need to during this time, without fear of losing their home. Additionally, since Keith was an organ donor, he leaves a powerful legacy and the Love Drop team hopes to raise awareness of organ donation this month to honor Keith's memory. Help us make this month special for the Aubins!

Want to help? Here are three ways you can participate:
Give $25 towards rent - Click this link to contribute $25 towards their rent for the next three months - it will relieve so much stress for them.
Give a gift card or service - Gift cards are always helpful. Places like Target, Wal-mart, restaurants, etc. would definitely help them out. Services too - especially those you can offer yourselves, or from your company.
Organ donation - We're giving the Aubins the gift of knowing that the people on our team are organ donors. If you are one now, or pledge to be soon, please tell us so, and we'll relay the total number as a gift at the Drop.,

Love Drop #3 - Katie

Last month the Love Drop Team raised over $13,000 (and 3 iPads!) to help two little boys with autism receive a service dog. They were beyond touched, and we did this in only 1 month - that's it. Everyone came together and gave a few bucks each to impact one family's life. If you were a part of it, THANK YOU! You can check out the final video of us showing up to their house here - it's pretty cool.

This month we start all over again and rally behind Katie, a single mom out in Dallas battling not only two brain tumors so far (she's knocked out one, and currently working on the other), but who's also dealing with hydrocephalus. We're teaming up with folks at Blissdom this month to not only bring the community her way, but to make a huge dent in her medical bills.

Wanna help? Here are 3 ways you can make a difference:

1. Give $1.00 - This is the best way to help out and join our team at the same time.
2. Join our blogger network - Blog about our Love Drops each month like I am :) It's easy, it's rewarding, and it REALLY helps spread the word (which in turn helps our families). Love Drop will give you all the content you need.
3. Give a gift or provide a service - Gift cards are always helpful. Places like Target, Safeway, gas stations, etc would definitely help them out.

Thanks for reading! Here's to love, baby.

We did it!!!

I don't know about you, but the constant barrage of bad news lately is wearing my normally optimistic spirit down...so when something positive rolls along, I hang on to it like a greyhound with a new bacon-flavored squeaky toy.

My "something positive" is Love Drop.

The folks over at Love Drop have decided to do something good - in fact, something life-changing - every month for a family in need...and I'm in on it! (doing a happy dance)

Love Drop is based on micro-giving - the idea that if enough people donate $1 or $5, then all of that money put together can accomplish something really incredible.

And we DID accomplish something really incredible in February - Love Drop raised $13,000 (!!!) in order to get an urgently-needed service dog for Ethan & Alex - brothers who are both battling autism. (Click the link for details on their story.)

I'll be posting the details of March's Love Drop Mission in the next day or so -  I encourage you to check it out, and consider whether you might like to participate in Love Drop too!

One World One Heart 2011

EDIT: 2.21.11 - WINNERS:

Comment No. 158, Cat & Cricket won the vintage text pendant

Comment No. 26, Jacque4u2c won the Asian charm

Comment No. 86, Antonella won the lampwork heart pendant

Comment No. 8, Donna won the green fractal swirl bead

Comment No. 143, Stephanie won the peony Scrabble tile

To everyone: Thank you so much for participating, and for leaving such fantastic comments. I really REALLY appreciate them all - you've ALL given me greater confidence in my work and designs. I know that when I'm feeling stuck and bummed out, I will return to these wonderful comments again and again, so THANK YOU!!!

Lisa's got another project cooked up for 2012, which I WILL be participating in (barring disaster, LOL). Here are the details.


EDIT: 2.17.11: THANK YOU to everyone who has visited my blog and left a comment! You are the BEST!!! This OWOH thing has been a blast - I've really enjoyed cruising the Net for fun new blogs to stalk follow, and I'll be checking the OWOH list to find all of the blogs I didn't get a chance to visit during OWOH. Huge thanks and a giant pitcher of virtual margaritas to Lisa Swifka for putting this event together AND for planning something new for 2012 - count me in for sure!!!

SO WHO WON??? I just arrived home from the Hungry for the Arts show - had a great time, and I think/hope/pray they raised a few bucks for the GRUB program (An Olympia grassroots non-profit organization dedicated to nourishing a strong community by empowering people and growing good food.) - went to Random Number Generator Thingie (http://www.random.org/sequences) and got five numbers...now I have to figure out which posts those numbers correlate with, since Blogger doesn't have a comment numbering system (that I can figure out at this point). The numbers generated are 158, 26, 86, 8, and 143 - tomorrow morning, when I have more sleep and caffeine in my body, I will figure out whose comments these numbers go with, and will contact the lucky winners tomorrow.



EDIT: 2.4.11 - This OWOH thing is turning out to be so much fun that I've decided to give away a total of FIVE door prizes, instead of just one! Scroll to the bottom to see the additional prizes.

Greetings and welcome to my blog! I am Christine Hansen, and I'm a hot glass and mixed media artist. My work is centered around my torch-worked glass beads and mixed media art charms, which I combine in my mixed media art jewelry. I'm also a writer - my first book is Making Mixed Media Art Charms & Jewelry, which I co-wrote with my dear friend Peg Krzyzewski.

I live in Washington state, on the south end of Puget Sound, and I share my home with my sweet husband Jerry, our two kids Emily & Archer, and our small pack of retired racing greyhounds, Ivy, Sam, & Rufus.

Color and texture define my work, a bright and cheerful counterpoint to the dreary skies of winter in the Pacific Northwest. I delight in combining unusual elements for unexpected results, and am constantly dreaming up new ways to play with color and form.

As part of the One World One Heart blog-hop, I am offering one of my mixed media art charm pendants as a door prize, open to all active bloggers, worldwide. EDIT: I'm offering a total of FIVE door prizes. All you need to do is leave a comment responding to this post - do be sure to include your blog addy so I can check out YOUR blog, and contact you, should you be one of the five lucky winners. The winners will be selected on February 17, 2011.

This mixed media art charm pendant features vintage French text collaged onto a long narrow wooden bicone bead, and coated with a thick layer of two-part resin. I then wrapped the bead with annealed black steel wire (my new FAVORITE wire!) and added one of my small lampwork beads as a dangle. The completed art charm pendant measures just about 2-1/4" long.

EDIT: Here are pics of the additional four door prizes - enjoy, don't forget to post your comment, and good luck!

One of my newest mixed media art charms.

One of my lampwork lacy heart pendants.

One of my Fractal Swirl beads in my MOST FAVORITEST COLOR EVER, Vetrofond's ODD (e.g. rare, will probably never be on this planet again) Lemongrass Green.

One of my Scrabble tile art charms - this one has one of my photos on the front, and a swirl (no letter) on the back, both sides under two-part resin.

Love Drop (recap of #1, and details on #2)

The first Love Drop is now complete, and Jill & her family are getting settled in their new home. The Love Drop Team raised over $2,500 and boxes after boxes of goods and items to help Jill and her family get through a hard time in their lives (homelessness & financial worries). We did this in one month. More than 400 people came together and gave a few bucks each to impact one family's life. If you participated in this, THANK YOU!

Nate & J$ put together a great video of the Love Drop, so we can all enjoy watching this incredible event! Jill & kids - sending oodles of love & light your way, to help smooth the path ahead. Wanna get to know Jill a little more? Check her blog out here.

 

This month we start all over again and circle around 2 beautiful kids with severe autism -- Ethan & Alex. Our goal is to raise $13,000 so we can get them a highly trained service dog. And if possible, two iPads so they can speak again (they can't even say "I love you" to their mom -- these iPads allow them to get their voice back).

 

Here are 3 ways you can help:

1. Join the team - This is the best way to help out, and all it takes is $1.00.
2. Join our blogger network - Blog about our Love Drops each month like I am :) It's easy, it's rewarding, and it REALLY helps spread the word (which in turn helps our families). Love Drop will give you all the content you need.
3. Give a gift or provide a service - Gift cards (iTunes would be great!), two iPads (so we can help the boys speak again!), and anything else you think could help out.

Bello Modo means Beautiful Way

One of my favorite sources of jewelry and art charm supplies is Bello Modo. Not just because Bello Modo is located in my home town, but because Bello Modo offers wonderful products, outstanding service, and free shipping with no minimums!

They carry a wide variety of great products including my ever-favorite Swarovski crystals (I'm partial to the bicones), European and Japanese seed beads (Miyuki, Toho, and Matsuno), GORGEOUS silk and satin cords, and their impressive line-up of findings and components (TierraCast, Vintaj Natural Brass, Patera Bezels & Findings, SLK Bezels, and many more).

Bello Modo also carries the Tim Holtz lineup, paper crafting must-haves (including my other ever-favorite washi paper), mixed media tools and elements (including shrink plastic, rubber stamps, paper punches, painting supplies, and Copic markers), and even kumihimo supplies! Bello Modo carries books as well - including my own!
 
Bello Modo is an online store as well as a popular vendor at many events, which makes browsing their wares a delight. I encourage you to spend a few minutes checking out Bello Modo's incredible offerings online or at a show near you!

What Seth has to say

One of my most favorite bloggers is Seth Godin, author, blogger, speaker, and founder of Squidoo.

Seth's daily posts are typically short & sweet, timely AND amazingly thought-provoking.

I encourage you to check his work out and see if you might appreciate subscribing to his blog as well.

The main link to Seth's blog.


Today's post outlines eight things we can learn from the iconic and recently deceased Jack LaLanne, may he enjoy a blissful rest!

Love Drop...what a wonderful project! Please join me!

The Love Drop project is all about coming up with creative and fun ways to make a difference for someone. Jill is the first Love Drop recipient of 2011 - here's a link to the video of her story:

Here's what you can do to make our first Love Drop special for Jill and her family:

• Join the team - Become a member by paying whatever you want. Even $1.00.
• Join our blogger network - Blog about our Love Drops once a month! It's easy, it's rewarding, and it REALLY helps spread the word (which in turn helps the families!). Love Drop will give you all the content you need.
• Give a gift or provide a service - Gift cards, household goods, football cards/jerseys for the boys, web design services, pampering gifts for Jill, etc. (email all ideas/questions to team (at) lovedrop.us, and we'll make it happen)
  
  January 13th, 2011 Love Drop update - Bridge Communities helped find Jill & her kids a townhouse and they just moved in! For those asking what kind of goods Jill and her family still needs, the list has now been updated. Here’s a few of the things we’re now working on (if you’d like to  help, shoot us an email: team (at) lovedrop.us):
  For Jill & the home: Sheets (queen), towels, dresser. Any gift cards to places like Bed Bath & Beyond would be killer.
  For the boys: Dressers, sheets (twin), Spring/Summer clothes, anything sports related (posters, jerseys, etc)
  For her daughter: Dresser, sheets (full), Spring/Summer clothes, photo albums, anything to do with painting or drawing (paints, brushes, canvases, an easel?)
  

What Love Drop is

------------------------

Love Drop is a micro-giving network of people who unite as a community to help one person or family a month. By subscribing to the team for as low as $1, they make it easy for their members to change lives in a fun and tangible way. Each month Love Drop delivers a unique combination of unexpected financial gifts, personal encouragement and the support of local and online communities.

Every month the Love Drop community comes together to raise as much support and awareness as we possibly can. It starts on the website - LoveDrop.us, gets spread across our entire network of blogs, continues through the forums where all our members are brainstorming, and finally lands on the front steps of our recipients. Literally.

At the end of every month, Nate and J$ show up in the town the people live in to deliver this pile of goodness. The money, the gifts, the services, everything! It's all on film, and it all ends with an amazing outpouring of love. And then it starts all over again the next month. Help them, and their flagship partner, Kona Grill, make this drop in Chicago amazing!

A New Adventure

Evidently November is Art Every Day Month...my co-author Peg has adjusted the theme of the month to "Create Every Day." Peg wrote about her commitment issues in today's blog post, and here's my knee-jerk response:

Peg...I have commitment issues too, LOL...but somehow, partnering up with a friend to write a book made the whole thing less daunting, and more of an adventure.

I'm inspired by the concept of "Create Every Day" - and would like to join you on this adventure.

Like you, I don't know if I'll actually manage to do a blog post every day on top of creating every day, but then again, it's "Create Every Day" not "Write A Blog Post About What You Created Every Day."

Let's see where this path takes us, shall we? And who else would like to join us on this adventure?

Drop a bomb on someone...a Love Bomb!

A few weeks ago, one of my writer friends, the lovely, extremely talented, and compassionate Ms. Amy Lynn Smith shared a link on FaceBook, to Let's Drop a Love Bomb.

What, pray tell, is a Love Bomb?

A Love Bomb is an encouraging comment left on a deserving soul's blog.

It's free. It's fast. It's fun. And it changes lives.

Love Bomb Missions are carried out on Thursdays, and last Thursday's target was Rachel, nearly 18, who just lost her dad and suffers from eating disorders.

426 people (me included!) left loving comments for Rachel last Thursday - which she found, after enduring a very rough day. Her response brought tears to my eyes, and reminded me just how powerful and transformative kindness really is.

Wanna learn more? Check it out here: http://dropalovebomb.com/