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years ago, Denise Hurley of Glass Addicts Stained Glass Creations
published a book entitled "Flowers of Hope," dedicated
to increasing breast cancer awareness. She was hoping that stained glass
crafters across
America would get together and make the designs in the book to support local
breast cancer awareness efforts. The designs could be made individually or
put together into larger "quilt" panels ~ with the results
either given to survivors or auctioned off or whatever. As she put it
in our phone conversations,
she couldn't run the relays and didn't have a lot of money to donate,
but she could make a panel. And if all the glass people in America made
a panel, we could affect a LOT of people.
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2007
Flowers of Hope Update
Well, we've got good news and semi-interesting
news:
Good news first:
We still plan to open the exhibit of completed panels on October 1,
and panels will remain on view at the Library through October 12.
Plans for the artists' and survivors' reception, to be held at the Library
of Hattiesburg (329 Hardy Street) on Thursday, October 11 from 4-6 PM
are going well: Genentech BioOncology is once again sponsoring the food
for the reception, BCAT & Seraphim are putting together a few happies
for our participating artists, ATATU & Southland Florists are donating
floral arrangements, and the Library is donating the gallery space, as
well as the postage for the invitations (to go out in the next week),
coffee, and pink lemonade!
Now for the interesting news:
Just before the BCAT meeting on Thursday, Hattiesburg
Clinic reported that there were 9 patients from their office who would
be celebrating their 1st anniversary of survivorship this October. Added
to the patient load from Forrest General, that took us to a total of
36 panels needed ~ which would be exactly the number of panels we will
have if everyone who has said they were going to make a panel actually
makes one!
And then, about 3 hours after the BCAT meeting, we received word that
another clinic wants to participate in our project, and they have 3 patients
who will be celebrating their first anniversary this October.
We have one panel left over from last year, so we are still in pretty
good shape, since a couple of people are planning on making extra panels.
BUT, I need to know now if you are not going to be able to make your
panel, so that I can arrange to make a replacement in the next couple
of weeks!!!
So, if you have not already turned in your panels (or otherwise let
me know that they are completed), please respond to this email and let
me know if we can count on your panel for this year's project!
Thanks so much for participating in this event . . . I spoke with one
of the nurses who distributed last year's panels, and she couldn't stop
talking about how excited the patients were to receive the panels. I
know this is last minute, but I still think we can do it . . . and won't
it make for a great display???
Looking forward to hearing from you soon
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2007
Flowers of Hope
As you know, we have coordinated the
Flowers of Hope project since 2003 to
provide stained glass panels for breast cancer patients in our area. To
date, this project has distributed 60 panels to patients in 2004,
2005 and 2006.
In past years, we have needed about
20 panels to supply patients celebrating survivorship in October. This
year, we have been told that the numbers will be significantly higher: In
fact, Forrest General Hospital alone has identified 26 potential recipients
and we are waiting on the number of patients from Wesley Medical Center
and various individual clinics. Our best guess is that we may
need as many as 45 panels to be available for distribution in October.
If you can help for this year's project
by making an 8" square panel from the Flowers
of Hope pattern book
(I have copies of all the designs available at the studio for your
use – or if you would like to design your own panel, that will be
fine as long as the panel is 8" square and a flower of some kind),
please contact me. All panels should be delivered ready to hang,
accompanied by your name and the reason you are making the panel ("just
because" or "in memory/honor of someone").
Completed panels will be displaced
at the Library of Hattriesburg, Petal and Forrest County from October
1-12, 2007 and we will hold an artists' reception for the Exhibit on
Thursday, october 11, 2007 from 4 pm to 6 pm.
My thanks to all who make this project
a success.
And special thanks to my wonderful
niece, Robin. Please click here to
see her contribution to our effort this year. I love you
Robin! Thank you so much!
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2006
Flowers of Hope
Once again, we are asking for help
in providing panels to breast cancer patients from the Greater Pine
Belt area (Hattiesburg and its surrounding communities), who will be
celebrating their first year of survivorship in October 2006. We need
area craftspersons to make the panels to be given away. If you haven't
participated in this project before, please think about doing so this
year; if you have joined us in this project for the past couple of
years, please consider doing so again. We have received 2 panels already,
and it looks like we will need about 18 more . . . so please let me
know ASAP if you plan to participate with us! We are planning our reception
for October this year, so we have a little more time to get panels
ready, but I would like to know how many panels to count on! Keep in
mind that the Paul Wismach company provided some glass to be used in
this project ~ you can select your glass when you come to the studio
to pick out your pattern. And Canfield has provided solder for your
use, as well.
Thanks again for helping to make this project a success again this
year ~ hope to see you in the studio soon!
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2005
Flowers of Hope December Update
Despite Katrina’s visit, the
artists’ reception was held at the Library on September 29, and
everyone seemed to have a great time. We were able to obtain gifts
for each artist* from the various glass and tool manufacturers, and
Forrest General Hospital’s Spirit of Women hosted a lovely event
for us. The panels then were displayed at the Library through October
7. Panels were distributed to patients celebrating their first year
of survivorship during October 2005. Panels that were not picked up
during October and November were provided to breast cancer patients
completing radiation therapy during select months.
So, Let’s do it again, everyone!
The Breast Cancer Awareness Team (BCAT) estimates that 20-25 panels
will be needed for distribution if we want to continue October anniversary
presentations, and completed panels would be needed by mid-September.
Or, we can see about providing the panels as “door prizes” to
survivors attending the Breast Cancer Survivors Luncheon in October
2006. A program in Nebraska (that started as a result of ours) makes
distributions throughout the year to patients as they complete radiation
therapy, which seems to work really well for them. Does anyone have
any other suggestions?
*If you didn’t pick your goody
bag at the reception, please come by the studio and get it after the
New Year.
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2005
Flowers of Hope September Update
On September 29, 2005, the Hattiesburg
area Breast Cancer Awareness Team (BCAT), Forrest General Hospital’s
Spirit of Women, Seraphim Studios, and the Library of Hattiesburg,
Petal and Forrest County will host an opening reception at the Hattiesburg
Library Galleries, 329 Hardy Street, 5:30 - 7:30 PM, for the 2005 Flowers
of Hope Exhibition in honor of breast cancer survivors. The twenty-four
stained glass panels that make up the exhibition were created by Pine
Belt area stained glass artists, plus friends and relatives from other
areas, to be given away to breast cancer patients who will be celebrating
their 1st anniversary of survivorship in October 2005. The panels will
remain on display at the Library through October 7, when they will
be removed for distribution.
We are still hoping that Denise and Virgil Hurley, the authors of
the Flowers of Hope stained glass pattern book that initiated our project,
will be able to join us at this year’s reception. We all had
such a great time visiting with them last year! However, weather related
problems may prevent their attendance at this year’s event.
This is the second year that this project has been conducted by Pine
Belt area stained glass artisans, and some of the panels in this year’s
exhibit may look familiar, as they actually were created for distribution
last year. Due to the overwhelming outpouring of talent for this project
in its initial year, there were more panels than could be distributed,
which allowed for a more relaxed panel drive in 2005. However, we have
stepped up our public relations efforts, posting signs in area mammography
centers and hospitals, and have modified our distribution procedure,
and we expect response from the affected patients to increase as a
result.
We have asked several stained glass product manufacturers for assistance
in making this project even more rewarding to the artisans who participate,
and donations of materials and products have begun arriving at the
studio (despite a short delay due to Katrina!!). This year’s
artisans can expect to receive goodies from Bullseye
Glass Company, Spectrum Stained Glass, and Diamond
Tech International, while next
year’s artisans will be able to select glass for their project
from a supply provided by the Paul Wissmach Glass
Company. Canfield
Technologies also has expressed an interest in supporting this project,
and we are still hearing from other manufacturers. It really does keep
getting better and better, doesn’t it??? Thank you to all these
companies for their support of our efforts!
And a very hearty “THANK YOU ” to
each and every one of the artisans who donate their time, talent, and
energy to create panels for the Flowers of Hope project ~ your efforts
truly touch the lives of those who need hope on a daily basis! We’re
looking forward to seeing you at YOUR exhibition on September 29!
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Flowers of Hope 2005 Update
We received wonderful feedback from the recipients of
last year’s panels. Now it’s time to begin making panels
for this year’s distribution. Once again, The Breast Cancer Awareness
Team (BCAT) estimates that 20-25 panels will be needed for distribution.
Thirty-two (32) area glass artisans signed up for this project last year,
and we had a great turnout, and garnered some fantastic national publicity
on this project. Let’s do it again, everyone! If you would like
to participate, but haven’t signed up yet ~ please do so as soon
as possible. We will need the completed panels by September 30th for
distribution to those patients celebrating their first anniversary of
survivorship in October 2005
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Flowers of Hope 2005
The 2005 Flowers of Hope is
about to crank up again. We have 15 panels in our inventory (excess
from last year!) so we are halfway there. BCAT is working on the
numbers and we are going to display the currently available panels at
the two hospitals and one of the clinics ... and maybe the Cancer Center
if they can find a secure location for them. Will keep you
posted.
If you are interested in participating in this worthwhile
probject, please contact me. The recipients of the panels
last year were overwhelmed by our support.
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September/October
2004
I cannot begin to tell you how rewarding it was to see
all the Flowers of Hope panels on display at the Library! Everyone
did such a wonderful job on each panel and, together, the panels made
a statement of support
for our community. Virgil and Denise Hurley, the authors
of Flowers
of Hope pattern book, were able to attend the
event and they were very impressed withour efforts ~ both in terms of
the quality of
the workmanship and the level of participation.
And the recipients have been just thrilled to pick up
their panels ~ which has really made it all worthwhile for me. I
just wish everyone who made a panel could be in the studio as the patients
celebrating their
first anniversary of survivorship come in! Talk about a humbling
experience.
Thank you so much to all of those that make a contribution
to this wonderful project. It looks like we will try to repeat
the project next year so let me know if you are interested in participating
~ either again
or for the first time. To everyone who created a panel - you really
did make someone's day!
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Dee Tatum
601•550•4137
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