Please watch Dr. Pausch's plea to congress.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iP7xr6ig-s&NR=1

This is such a powerful and truthful plea about why cancer needs everyone's attention. More research and funds are needed to help save our children, as well as our loved ones, and ourselves.

Another good video to watch for getting informed about current ideas of new ways to fight cancer are on a taping of the Charlie Rose show - Google his science series sponsored by Pfizer. Number four is on cancer. 

http://www.pfizer.com/think/episode_4.jsp

www.Handmadehelp.etsy.com is taking off to the northlands for a bit. We have a hurricane coming, so it is a good time to leave.

Check out the new items listed. We'll be ready to ship anything out when we return on Sept. 17.

Hope to be able to check in while we're away.

Thanks for the Super Support

Special thank you acknowledgements going out today:

Tennekka at Tennekka.etsy.com featured Handmade Help on her great blog: http://etsynewbie.blogspot.com and that might account for the new "hearts" the shop got today. Thanks SO much.

Annie at anngardesigns.etsy.com is donating one of her bracelets from her shop of HOPE and support for all those who need to hold on to hope: justplainhope.etsy.com She says the bracelet she's donating is the style that first sold in her shop, so we're HOPE-ing it will bring us luck.

Barbara Sengelmann, who continually resists my persistent badgering to open a shop on etsy for her fabulous photographs, has donated several beautiful scenes from her travels. The one we chose was a close up of flowers which look lovely on a note card. They're in the works and will be listed soon.

Thanks to all of you who have been so generous with your kind words and actions. A special thank you to Erik at erikendres.etsy.com for helping with a revision on our banner at handmadehelp.etsy.com . Big hearts, each and every one of you. Many many thanks.

Write to the government!

I'm bouyed by having received a comment from yesterday's post.
Today, here's your chance to write even a quick note to your legislator in Washington urging support for the Cancer Trust Fund bill. It's #HR6791.
Here's the link which will take you to a site where you can find out who is your representative and send them a note. It came through my ovarian alert mail, but it's for all cancers: http://capwiz.com/ovarian/issues/bills/?bill=11771076&size=full
Here's what the legislation says:
One of the last bills to be introduced before the Congressional recess was the Cancer Trust Fund bill, a piece of legislation that aims to fully fund cancer initiatives through the federal government. By raising the tax on cigarettes, Congress and cancer advocacy groups hope to accelerate the War on Cancer, declared in 1971. Since then the relative five year survival rate for ovarian cancer has increased from 38 percent to 45 percent, indicating that ovarian cancer needs more research, early detection and treatment. These issues, and others, are addressed in the Cancer Trust Fund bill.

Handmade help seems a pitiful effort in the face of all the suffering and all the funds needed. However, I'm just one person and it's all I can do, and I do all I can. All profits from sales go to four-star rated cancer research organizations. If you link to www.handmadehelp.etsy.com and go to policy section it tells you all about the contribution process.

All ideas are welcomed. Write if you have a light bulb going off. Or just write!

Cancer Research News

OK, lets get right to what Handmade Help is all about. Cancer research. Funds have been reduced to university researchers. This is where real objective research can be done.
Here's a news article about Pediatric Treatment research going on at the University of Florida at Gainsville: http://news.ufl.edu/2000/08/31/peds-onco/
Kids die of cancer too. There's still a stigma about the word "cancer" but there is also an association of it happening to the old and infirm "one foot in the grave" folk as well.
A cure for cancer, or more effective treatments will improve the lives of SO many people, children, mothers, sisters, brothers, fathers, grandparents. All of them.
Please support the cancer charity of your choice.

It seems as if www.HandmadeHelp.etsy.com is beginning to be noticed. This image, a detail of a larger original charcoal drawing, is featured in this treasury: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=251

Thanks SO much. There are some new items listed at Handmade Help today. Take a look

This painting might make a sale as a print. Any suggestions? It costs about 30 dollars to make a print and HandmadeHelp sells all original donated artwork, so this would be a departure.

Is it just me, or is this an all round good looking image?

Note cards maybe. We can hand craft them.

Two's Day

Did you ever have one thing in mind for your day then something else came up? Now there are TWO things trying to be in one Tues-day.

Here's the little image of "resting" I tried to upload yesterday without luck. I guess today the blogging wizards are all working and not resting. If you like it, there are more charcoal sketches, well one more, on www.handmadehelp.etsy.com.

Today is a wonder. Both of it.

Monday, Monday

Well, there's a lot of new items on http://www.handmadehelp.etsy.com/ check it out. I tried and tried to upload an image as a preview, but couldn't make it work. Last night's post, with image included, went SO smoothly I'd gotten confident.
We may be getting some new artists joining the collective. Stay tuned....

I owe so much to so many people for being able to get this whole enterprise of raising funds for cancer research - it's hard to know where to start. So, I'll start at the beginning. This painting is one by Luke, my step-son. He inspired me to begin painting. He has an etsy shop too. It is www.demianart.etsy.com Stop by to see some wonderful paintings.

Thank you Luke, with all my heart, for this inspiration, and so many others.

SATurday

Think the name of the day refers to what I did on SATurday?
Still buzzing about what to do and how to do it to make the new shop www.handmadehelp.etsy.com become a significant benefit for raising runds for cancer research.
So, I've put up a painting reminding me of what it feels like with my "thinking cap" on.
Don't forget to come see me at www.paintingwell.etsy.com

Oh 8 Oh 1 Oh 8

An auspicious date. Not for me, but maybe for someone?
The new shop (www.handmadehelp.etsy.com) is getting views. Yay.
My friend is going to MDAnderson to see if they have magic bullets for his recurrence, so this month's funds raised from www.Paintingwell.etsy.com will be going to MDAnderson for their efforts in research.
It's a beautiful day to be looking at the sky.