Giving
Green Up Your Gown.
When I dropped my wedding gown for donation at The Brides Project, it was bittersweet. That, and thinking – wow, I really fit into that dress? But that’s another story.
I DO(nate)
Walking into the cozy shop, you’ll be taken in by beautiful wedding gowns that hang on hand painted hangars with mission statements with like:
I will help children cope with cancer
I will build community
I will promote healthy lifestyles
I will improve quality of life
I will strengthen families
Knowing that 100% of the proceeds from the sale of these dresses donated from around the country goes to Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor (and surrounding communities) which helps people with cancer or families that are touched by it, you’ll be taken in even more. And BTW, who hasn’t been touched with someone with cancer?
If that doesn’t pull at your heartstrings and you’re all about the bargain, where else can you find a Vera Wang couture gown for 1/2 off?
At any given time the shop is host to around 400 dresses. You can even find brand new ones tucked into the rows and rows of silk and taffeta which have been donated by bridal salons clearing out last season’s inventory. Again, all of which are available at 1/2 off.
Already have a dress? Some gowns become flower bouquets, headbands, ring-bearer pillows or flower girl dresses. See what can be created at BeautifulAgainBridal
The Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor is all about living with cancer. It offers support groups, education, workshops, nutrition, and a special place for kids, too. Barb Hiltz, Executive Director “wants to make it a good experience for friends & family.” Hiltz goes on to say “It offers hope. It’s a home away from home.” A place where people can meet in the living room or belly up to the kitchen counter and bond over meals.
The Brides Project is completely run by volunteers, even the storefront is donated. When you donate your tax deductible dress, be sure to include a special note written for the new bride.
Don’t have a dress to donate? There are other ways to help. Your time and talents are welcomed. Things you may have around the house, like hangers, rugs, shelves and storage are items for the showroom are needed, too.
Who knew that one dress could do so much. For an appointment or to donate, get in touch with the Center and see your gown dance another day.
Info on donating: http://www.thebridesproject.org/donate
Info on purchasing a gown: http://www.thebridesproject.org/buy/make-an-appointment/
Volunteer info: http://www.thebridesproject.org/support/volunteer.
See more of what “Just Bea” and gang have got going on at www.facebook.com JustBeaCartoon
The Fortitude of Fruitcake
Fruitcake. It’s one of those things. Either you love it or hate it. No in-between as far as I can tell. Me? I’d rather up-cycle that brick of fruit.
The Gift That Keeps On Giving.
Don’t have a fruitcake on hand to re-gift and are in a pinch for a last minute present? No worries, there’s still time to get that special someone something without without having to battle shoppers at the mall. Perhaps a membership to a favorite Museum or a Zoo for year long enjoyment?
Maybe a membership to a local harvest in which fresh food and goodies are enjoyed throughout the year http://www.localharvest.org.
Or, how about help wash down that fruitcake with a Monthly Wine Club Subscription http://www.theorganicwinecompany.com/owc/pages/shop_wineclub.shtml. Then just pop a note in a card telling the giftee what awesome gift they can look forward to. Done and done.
So, cheers everyone, and have yourselves a very merry Christmas!
See more of what “Just Bea” and gang have got going on at www.facebook.com/JustBeaCartoon and www.justbeacartoon.com
Zombie Apocalypse
Speck’s guest caption by Lisa Revard via Pure Michigan/Facebook.
Zombies. Pale faces. Blood. Ghostly eyes. Screaming. Running. More blood. My significant other loves the “Walking Dead”, but a bit much too much gore for me.
Zombies bite.
But, if you’ve got Zombie in your blood, all ages are welcome to participate in attempting to set a Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of Zombies. Guinness requires certain attire – pale faces, darker eyes and some sort of red coloring. The record to beat is held by a gathering in New Jersey with 4,093 zombies. So, get your Zombie on!
Part of the mission of this free event is to feed the hungry. Osha Kelley, master Zombie and creator of the festival, is also collecting food for Loaves and Fishes and hopes to fill 2 crates with non-perishables. Kelly says for the food drive “think of what they would eat for a last meal during a Zombie apocalypse.” Or just bring the kidney beans that have been tucked away in the back of your pantry. Kidney beans. Brains. I don’t think Zombies are that particular these days.
Want to know what type of blood runs in your veins? Stop in at the Red Cross Zombie station and find out. And oh! Be sure to get your zombie photo taken, too.
C ‘mon Zombie lovers, get yourself to the Zombie Festival in Kalamazoo this Saturday, October 20th and break a record and help feed the hungry. The living that is – not the Zombies!
Find out more at
http://www.zombierecord.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/ZombieFestival?fref=ts
See more of what “Just Bea” and gang have got going on at
www.facebook.com/JustBeaCartoon.
Birgit’s “See and Sign” at Barnes & Noble
Wow. “Just Bea” made it into a pretty cool book that really makes a difference.
100 artists pay tribute to creator of “Cul de Sac” Richard Thompson, who has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, by creating original comic and illustrative art to help raise awareness of the disease. I am honored that my cartoon, “Just Bea” is included in this book and it is placed on the pages next to the likes of Cul de Sac, Calvin and Hobbes, Beetle Bailey, Garfield, Fox Trot, Momma, Rhymes With Orange, Cathy, Hi and Lois.
I’m extending a personal invitation to join me at a book-signing at Barnes & Noble in Royal Oak Thursday July 12 from 6:30 -8:30. I’ll be signing “Cartoonist’s Draw the Line at Parkinson’s – Team Cul de Sac” and will say a little sumpin’ sumpin’ to kick it off.
“Richard Thompson is lucky to have a friend like Chris Sparks. With this amazing collection, Chris is raising significant dollars and awareness for Parkinson’s —while proving comedy can help speed a cure. We’re grateful to have both Chris and Richard on our team.”
– Michael J. Fox
“Team Cul De Sac is a coffee-table book first and foremost, filled with terrific art, but it’s also a tribute to Thompson from his many admirers, who have noticed how in just a few short years, Cul De Sac has already become a classic, with a universe rich enough that 100 different artists can approach it and find something uniquely wonderful to highlight.”
– Graphic novels & art-comics—June 2012
Publisher Andrews McMeel will donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each book to the Michael J. Fox Foundation which is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease.
If you’d like to donate and help The Michael J. Fox Foundation find a cure, a donation box will also be on hand. Checks can be made out to The Michael J Fox Foundation.
If you are within shoutin’ distance come on by, I can’t wait to see you!
Cartoonists Draw the Line at Parkinson’s
Sitting at the picnic table as a kid during summer vacations as my mom taught me to draw, never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that my art be published along with many renowned cartoonists and artists. Nor would I have imagined that my mother end up with Parkinson’s disease.
When a friend of mine sent me a link to a call for entries for cartoonists across the country to submit art to raise awareness for Parkinson’s research, I thought to myself “how cool.” Cartoonists and artists were asked to donate original artwork that included characters from the “Cul de Sac” cartoon. You see, Richard Thompson (creator of the cartoon) has Parkinson’s and his friend Chris Sparks came up with the idea to raise funds as tribute. Boy, what an idea it turned out to be.
So, I sat down to create a cartoon, but was blocked. Totally. What did I really know about the disease? How to incorporate the concept and other characters into my cartoon? Not until I saw Mort Walker’s “Beetle Bailey” submission did it finally click. I was inspired. And I got to work.
When drawing my cartoon, I kept my mother in mind all the while. Parkinson’s. It starts out with hardly a notice. With something like the gradual loss of smell. Slowing down of motor skills. Noticing that things aren’t quite right. As time went on, and after spending much time in the doctor’s offices, it turns out that my mom did indeed have Parkinson’s.
Since she doesn’t drive anymore (neither does my father who suffers from Alzheimer’s) my sister and I are trying to do the best we can to keep them comfy in their own home. You know. Take them to doctor’s appointments, hair cuts, the grocery, or get their terrier out from under the sofa. Always needing to help make decisions and be re-assuring. And most importantly, fix that remote just one more time.
Sometimes it’s a bit of a challenge, but it works out nicely that I get to live behind the house I grew up in where my parents still live. The biggest benefit is the comfort of just being there for them and being able to help out with day to day activities and household chores. It also gives my mom a sense of peace having me near by “just in case.” Besides, borrowing a cup of sugar is always convenient.
After turning in my “Just Bea” Cartoon submission I had no idea that I would be included in a publication with so many of the “who’s who” in the cartooning world. Inside you’ll find amazing illustrations and cartoons from the likes of Gary Trudeau (Doonesbury), Bill Amend (Fox Trot), R. Skoryak (comic book artist), Stephan Pastis (Pearls Before Swine), Patrick McDonnell (Mutts), Sergio Aragones (cartoonist/writer), Jim Borgman (Puliter prize winning cartoonist), and Bill Watterson (Calvin & Hobbes)! And then there’s me. I’m absolutely humbled and honored.
You can purchase “Team Cul de Sac: Cartoonists Draw the Line at Parkinson’s” (Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2012. edited by Chris Sparks) at local booksellers or online.
A portion of the proceeds of the book go to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research.
And, from now until June 10
you can bid on original art by your favorite cartoonists!
100% of those proceeds go to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research.
And here’s a link to the auction
http://comics.ha.com/common/auction/catalog.php?SaleNo=510
…or you can bid on mine
http://comics.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=510&lotNo=69
Or if you’d just like to donate
http://www2.michaeljfox.org/site/TR/TeamFox/TeamFox?pg=team&fr_id=1053&team_id=1149
See more “Just Bea” cartoons at www.facebook.com/JustBeaCartoon and www.justbeacartoon.com
The Bees Are All A’buzz – thanks Lynne Bartley!
Thanks for your donation towards the “Help Save the Honeybees” book and animated cartoons!
http://www.greenunite.com/projects/1-help-save-the-honeybees
The Honeybees thank you Michael Wettlaufer!
Thanks for being the first seeder to Just Bea’s “Save the Honeybees” project!
http://www.greenunite.com/projects/1-help-save-the-honeybees
The Magical Fruit
I don’t know if beans will help the reindeer fly any more efficiently but do know we could send our canned goods where they will make a difference.
The magical fruit.
It doesn’t take much. Whether it be an anonymous basket to a neighbor or hosting a family with your church or synagogue, I’m sure these days many families would gladly accept a little help.
Or, maybe there’s a food bank near you that would love some boxes of macaroni and cheese. Not sure where to find a local food bank? Just click here and you’ll have a bunch to choose from: http://feedingamerica.org/foodbank-results.aspx
Check this out – Kraft Foods is doing this cool thing to help fight hunger. By playing the “2-Minute Trivia Drill” on https://www.facebook.com/KraftFightHunger, you’ve got the opportunity to donate meals to families in America. Kraft’s previous “Hunger Bowl Game” provided nearly 21 million meals by people like you. The goal for the current game 25 million meals!
So, however you choose to give, maybe the magic isn’t in the beans but rather in our hearts this holiday season.
