A tumor related update.

We all sing with the same voice , the same song, the same voice. We all sing with the same voice , and we sing in harmony! 

*cough* er . . . um . . .

Sorry, what was I saying? Oh yeah, tumors.   

So, I'm long over due to give you and update on the run, and the Jen.

So, you all remember the Spring Sprint I was going to be running in honor of my friend Jen?  I ran it!  And in 32.33 minutes! 

Now it was a bit shorter than it was supposed to be when I went back and checked my mapmyfitness app. 

I used to to record my time.  But when I checked it came to only 4.74k.  But that's ok.  I did the math and it would have only taken me about another 2 minutes to finish that last .26k.  

Team Running For Love!

My two team members gave their best though they walked as I ran. But that's ok! We all show our support in our own way.  
 





        Even Puppet What What came to give her support! 

 

Complete with cute little running shoes! Though, she's not to bright, (being made of socks and all) and was caught running with scissors. . .

 In all it was a really fun run and event all in a beautiful park.  It was a fun run so it was open to anyone and everyone. Definitely family friendly.

A little something that made me go awwwwww.

And I even tied a ribbon for Jen. . .

 

In total,  with Carla's help, I ended up raising a total of $420 for the Brain Tumor Foundation of Canada!   Thank you everyone who donated!!!!
 
So after the run is was time for more Jen time. She had gotten scary news about where the tumor was located. And they were suddenly rushing around trying to book her ASAP.  So I said we need to have a party! Cause you know, things like this require parties, right?  

Before the party  I went to her house to attempt to cut her hair. She said she liked it though I think I should stick with A-line bobs as those are the only thing I've have success cutting.  :P

She said she wanted to cut her hair short before the surgery so there would be less shock when they shaved it all off.
Well with the help of a few of our friends I tried to plan a surprise party for her. It didn't quite go as planned and ended up just the 5 of us hanging out at a park with some food while our little ones played. 

But it was time well spent and she was touched.  :)


The red head in the picture is Steph. She makes cakes for a living so when I ended up short on time and full of germs she grabbed a spare and make an awesome butter cream frosting for it!

And remember that amazing giveaway Carla was doing to help me raise funds for my run?  The winner of the tote bag not only made the biggest donation when entering but then decided to pass her prize onto Jen!  Such a big-hearted lady! Turns out her life had also been touched by brain tumors in friends and family and so she wanted to give her something to brighten her day.   Jen loved it!

So that's where things are and I will leave you now with a personal message from Jen herself;

"Thank you all so much for your kind words and support! I have been overwhelmed by the love of complete strangers! The lady who won the bag graciously asked that it be given to me, and I absolutely love it! To follow up a bit further, my surgery date has been set for the 30th, and unless some further testing shows something urgent, that'll be the day of my craniotomy. If there is one thing I can't stress enough to everyone, it's that if you think something is seriously wrong, or if you're having some scary symptom or another, do not wait to bring it to your doctor. You never know what you might find!"


Till next time, keep crafty!

BIRDS!

Yes!  They are here! They are finally here!  Finished and made and real and. . . ok many have been made for a while now.   And now with the 2 craft shows done and gone that I was working double time for I finally have pictures all taken and cleaned up to share!   So without further ado  I present. . .

I'm pretty pleased with my label design too.  And I've so fallen in love with that font.  I find I'm using it a lot lately. 

So yes, A Bird For Every Reason!  And that is my aim.  So far I have birds for . . .

                                     

 Luck                           and for                              Love

                  For            Christmas                        and for                           Christening . . .

                                                                             (Or First communion, or Confirmation)

For Mom . . .

For Fun . . . 

  

For any old reason you can think of!

There are big birds . . .

                     

                                                                                                         And small birds . . .

                                                                                                            (4 sizes to be specific)

(Mini bird group shot!)

The printed label in there is 1.5" x 1.5"  for if you want size reference.

I even have an Awareness Edition!

Above you see the Brain Tumor Foundation of Canada bird, the Breast Cancer bird, and the Autism Speaks Canada bird.  Any time one of these little guys sell, 25% of their sale goes to the Cause or Foundation they represent.

In the planning are birth date birds (I've made a sample with my Badger's date on it but it's not wired or beaded yet), and a Nana and or Grandma bird. A Daddy bird, and "tweet" bird. A blue jay, a robin, and a red winged black bird.  And many many more.  I will also be accepting custom orders! (as far as colors, words, and size. ) 

Keep your eye on the "That Thing I Made" Esty Shop as most of the birds I have in stock so far will be in there before the week is up.

And to help bring these little lovely to the public I'm joining in on Sew Mama Sew's

and offering up one for grabs!

This one to be specific!

                

                        

                              Pay no attention to the crappy makeshift price tag that won't be included . . .

  He's a lovely light teal with a light brushing of copper on some of his edges. A little brass key and a turquoise colored bead in a brass spiral.

And here is where you enter to win him!


a Rafflecopter giveaway


So there you go!  Birds!  A Giveaway!  And as I said before keep an eye n the shop as they will slowly be added in throughout the week. Thanks for tuning in! 

Till next time, keep crafty!




 

Restoring Faith

A few emails to a few trusted bloggers and friends and the most amazing thing happens.

An amazing display of support, generosity, and compassion came flooding in. 

I was so touched by all of this kindness and support shown for my friend, someone whom none of them know personally, that I cried as I read their posts.

First was Susan from Food Allergy Chronicles. My neighbor and just all around kind and sweet and giving person. She made mention of Jen and linked to my post in her own blog post today. (A post that contains a recipe for some really really yummy looking muffins!!!)

Then Carla from My Half Dozen Daily (who I met thanks to Susan!), this amazing lady, not only blogged about it but offered up one of her tote bag in a giveaway to help encourage people to donate and sponsor my run!  And not JUST one of her gorgeous tote bags, but filled with stuff as well?! I was floored by her generosity.   Her only rules to entering is a minimum $10.00 donation to the Brain Tumor Foundation of Canada on my sponsor page to help me reach my goal. If you made the donation, leave a comment on her post you'll be entered for a chance to win.

*UPDATE: Sneak peek at the front panel of the tote bag! http://halfdozendaily.typepad.com/my-half-dozen-daily/2013/04/thank-you-a-sneak-peek.html 


One last little lady who hasn't posted yet but confirmed with me that she would. (She's at work right now teaching kids!) Sew Tara, who I mentioned was having a giveaway right now (separate from this thing), said she'd gladly help spread the word.  She's a sweetheart. Go give her a hug!

These 3 ladies are shining example of what it means to be human. To care, to love, to give to a complete stranger without anything in return. Thank you all so much and thank you to all who have donated. I may just reach my goal yet!

It's not a tumah . . . Oh wait, it is.

Sure it's a classic movie line that everybody knows. But when it happens to someone you know, it really loses its comedic value.

A few months ago I got news that a friend of mine had a brain tumor.

Large enough that operation might be the best course of action. A surgery that she could come out of blind. . . or. . . not come out of at all. 

She has a very sweet daughter who is 10 that has autism and sensory processing disorder. 

And a baby boy who will be turning 1 next month.

 

There is a good chance she will miss his birthday as the tumor is growing fast enough to worry the doctors. Fast enough that they may not honor her requests to hold off until after his birthday. And since most of the first months of recovery are spent in a hazy stupor. . .

And there is also the not being able to lift her child for almost a year. . .

She is scared.  She is struggling.

And I felt helpless in being able to do anything for her. So when I found out that the Brain Tumor Foundation of Canada had a 5k coming up I jumped on the chance. I register as running in her honor. My very first full 5k since I started running back January.  So at least I feel like I'm doing something. I'm hoping that running for her will help bring her a little moral support. To show her she's not alone. And any donations I can raise as sponsors to my running will go to help out others down the road with research and support.
 
And it turns out they are more common than most realize. As a friend of mine knew two other people who's lives had been changed by a brain tumor, she decided to join me and we created the team "Running for Love".  A friend of her's joined us as well.

So, if you have ever known anyone, friend or family or even yourself, who has had their lives turned upside down by a brain tumor and would like to sponsor our run you can donate on my page here:   Joanna Running for Jen

or to the whole team here: Team Running For Love

The 5k takes place in Toronto on April 27th. 


If you feel up to it feel free to share your story in the comments. Or any prayers or thoughts that I can share with Jen to let her know she's not alone.