Unfortunately, not everyone survives colon cancer. Kim Hanson, the daughter of a friend, did not survive. Kim was diagnosed with stage IV colorectal cancer in August of 2008. She was 37 years old and known for her ever-present smile and signature “live sassy” slogan. Kim lost her courageous battle on December 31, 2009. While fighting her cancer, Kim spent each chemotherapy session at Fort Bragg’s Womack Army Medical Center with a cozy blanket. It was her wish that every cancer patient who is “in the fight for their lives” should have some comfort during it. With that, Comfy for Chemo was born and is dedicated to providing blankets for every active duty military, retiree or dependent receiving chemotherapy.

According to the National Cancer Institute, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer in the United States. The number of new colorectal cancer cases and the number of deaths from colorectal cancer are decreasing slightly each year. But in adults younger than 50, the number of new colorectal cancer cases has slowly increased since 1998. A look at some of the stories on the Get Your Rear in Gear website will attest to this. I was surprised to see how many young adults in their twenties have colorectal cancer.

Colon cancer is an equal opportunity disease. It strikes both young and old, men and women. I encourage you to get screened if you are over 50, or sooner if you have risk factors. Because of hereditary factors I have already had three screenings. And while its not the most fun way to spend a day, it could very well save your life. (I will tell you that if I could dedicate my donation money it would be to find a better prep method… just saying.) Obviously, this is very personal to me. I would like to invite you to help provide comfort, to educate and to fight this disease.  Here are some ways you can join in this fight:

• Visit the Comfy for Chemo website and provide a blanket for a chemotherapy patient.

• If you live in the Kingwood or Atascocita area, Comfy for Chemo will be the Guest Charity on Friday, February 17th at the free Keller Williams Concert at the Harbor. Raffle tickets will be sold from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. There will be some great raffle items including one of my custom fused glass plates. For more information visit the Keller Williams website.

• Also, in honor of my mom and in memory of Kim, my husband Mark and I will be doing our second Get Your Rear in Gear walk. If you would like to support us by contributing to this cause, you can visit my personal page by clicking on this link: Get Your Rear in Gear My Page. Whatever you can give will help – it all adds up!

Comfy for Chemo Raffle Item

I seem to have a fascination with those zippered plastic bags that bedding comes in. I collect them thinking they ought to be good for something. It seems like such a waste to throw them out. After all, they have a nice zipper on them and a handle too! I got rid of all but one which is holding extra pillows. And I wonder where my son gets it from… he can’t bear to throw out boxes.

But the hardest thing to let go this year is my 1976 prom dress. My prom date was a handsome young man that four years later became my husband.  The dress was one-of-a-kind made by my mom. She did a great job! There is a definitely a lot of sentimental value in that dress. Oh oh! I had better stop now because I am feeling the urge to put it back in the closet!

Oh and check out those platform shoes my hubby is wearing! I am pretty sure that was my doing.

I do most of my Christmas shopping online these days, but when it comes to clothes, I do like to see it, touch it, and feel it before I buy it. So, earlier this week I got in the car, turned on the Christmas tunes, and ventured out to the mall. Let me just say that shopping with the masses can really test one’s holiday spirit.

Coupon in hand, I stopped at Macy’s. Either the economy is rebounding or there are a lot of people going deep into debt! Macy’s was packed with shoppers and a bit overwhelming. The checkout lines were 4 and 5 people deep. I found one item I was looking for, but my coupon required me to spend a certain amount. (Pretty smart those marketers.) I spent the next half hour searching for something else to purchase. When I finally had my two items I was lucky enough to find a checkout with only two people on line.

As I stood on line, I heard the first woman standing at the counter grumble, “What, I can’t use this coupon! Well never mind!” I’m guessing she was in her 70’s. She stomped off leaving behind all of her items. Her husband who had been sitting on a display cube waiting for her followed dutifully behind her knowing that now was not the time to ask what happened. The next woman on line didn’t have much luck either. She was younger and way more vocal. “Really! Are you kidding me! You are telling me I have to come back tomorrow to use this coupon! I hate Macy’s!”

Then it was my turn. I was already preparing for the worst reminding myself… It’s the most wonderful time of the year… Sure enough my coupon didn’t work either. It was only good on sale items and one of mine was not on sale. Smile I told myself… good cheer to men… peace on earth… “Okay, I’ll just take the one item then.” I said smiling kindly at the cashier. I made the mistake of paying with cash. For some reason the cash drawer would not open. Several attempts later and finally with some help from an assistant, the appropriate buttons were pushed and I got my change. And still I am talking to myself… Tis’ the season to be jolly… Unfortunately the machine that removes the security tag wasn’t working either. So I found myself strolling to another checkout with the cashier. Tag removed, I could now say… I’ll be home for Christmas…

I was quite proud that I managed to keep smiling. Truth be told, I am not the most patient person in the world. I don’t even think it looked like one of those fake plastered on smiles. You know the one I’m talking about. I’m smiling but really I’m going to explode any minute.

Next year no one gets clothes!

As I was looking through my large sheets of glass, the piece of glass in this picture came falling out crashing on the floor just inches from my toes. Fortunately, I always stand to the side of the glass while I am looking through it, and I always wear closed toe shoes. Sometimes sheets of glass can have a small crack that isn’t noticeable. It’s not until you try to move it or there is some pressure on it that splits it right off. As a child in my father’s shop I remember passing the glass rack once just as a piece came falling out. My first reaction was actually to catch what was falling. My mother’s scream, however, made me jump out of the way. Thanks mom!

Always handle with care and respect!

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday of the year. It’s all about family, food, and giving thanks for all the blessings I have. This Thanksgiving will be the first that our daughter will not be able to come home. I am trying hard not to think about how much I will miss her and our annual Thanksgiving weekend tradition where our family snuggles on the couch to watch Muppets Christmas Carol. Instead I will focus on our son who will be here and he will just have to deal with the extra hugs he’ll be getting. And may I just say… I am thankful for Skype!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I also know that a lot of beginner stained glass and fused glass hobbyists search the internet for ideas and inspiration. It is part of the learning process. The internet is a great source of inspiration and there are a lot of tutorials available. I am flattered when someone likes my designs enough to be inspired by them and make them their own. But when someone takes more than inspiration and copies a design and posts it on the internet, it would be nice if they would at least give credit where credit is due. Below is a piece that I designed and posted on my blog in May of 2010. Two months later an identical design using different colored glass was posted on another blog.

Part of the reason I write this blog is to share what I am learning and working on. I appreciate all the people who have shared their knowledge with me and helped me along the way. So if you see something you like here that you copy for yourself  and post it on the internet, please just include a line that says something like, “This is a design by Margot visit her blog at www.glassartbymargot.com/Blog”

My plan this year is to simplify. Instead of taking my entire fused glass and stained glass inventory with me, I am going to focus on just a few items. This could be a risky move. Or maybe less will be more. I will take my recycled glass items (cheese boards, spoon rests, and soap dishes), coasters, and a few dishes and maybe some clearance pendants. That’s it!

Well that was it until last week when I got a sales flyer from one of my suppliers. I bought some glass nail files that I can add glass embellishments to and bobby pin blanks that I can make glass hair pins with. These two new items will make great Christmas stocking stuffers and round out my offerings with items at a lower price point.

With less than three weeks before the show, I am still experimenting to get the look I want with these new items. I did some more testing today and I think I may be there. We will see when I open the kiln tomorrow. My inventory of green soap dishes is low so I will need to make some more of those. I’ll be busy in the next few weeks! Hmmm… maybe I should make a few night lights too…. Uh! Oh! I am doing it again.

As I sat there reading and chuckling, I had a startling revelation. Well, actually it was more depressing than startling.

When I was young and dating my husband, I always looked for the comic Love Is… to cut out and give to him. After we were married and had children we would read Family Circus and Baby Blues and say, “Isn’t that the truth.” When our children turned to teens we read Zits and laughed/cried as we wondered if the writer of Zits was lurking in our house somewhere observing our teenage son.

Our children are out on their own now. And being just on the other side of fifty I still consider myself young. But today when the biggest chuckle came as I read Crankshaft I stopped reading and cried, “Oh no! It just can’t be!” The realization that I could relate to Crankshaft really ruined my day.

I think I need to go to the studio and break some glass!

It made me ask myself, “What is it about certain art that speaks to me.” In the case of my bird painting, I think it is partly because of the bright apple green color of the bird. It’s a color I have long loved. In fact over 30 years ago I asked my husband to paint our first apartment kitchen in this color. As he painted the walls, he was sure I’d come home and say it had to be repainted. But he was wrong. It was bright, cheery, and full of energy. I loved it instantly. Just like my new wall art.