Weekend Activities

 

 FUN!

 

 

This weekend was a busy one. It started with the Science with a Mission Quilt show and Craft Fair on Saturday. It was a great day! Saw many friends and made some new ones. The other vendors near by were friendly and I made some new "connections"

 

 

I now need to make a trip to Two Guys Fossils to purchase some more gemstones. ;-)

 

 

On Sunday, I went to Auntie Zaza's Fiber Works here in North Easton. Leslie Wind, expert silversmith, was there and demonstrated how to make her shawl pins and other items such as tea stirrers, hair pins and cable necklaces (A necklace that has a decorative cable needle you can't loose while knitting).

 

 

 

 

Leslie took one person at a time and made or helped them make a piece chosen from the many examples she had there. Here is the one she made for me as I watched and asked questions.

 

 

 

 

 

It can be used as a book mark or as a scarf "pin" as shown here. It is made from copper wire, shaped, hammered then polished if you like the shiny look.

 

 

 

 

This is polished but doesn't show in the picture. I'm sure I will find other uses too. You can see more on Leslie's website.

 

 

 

A busy but fun weekend. Now to get back to the regular routine.

 

 

Until next time,

 

Bev

Science with a Mission

Science with a Mission

Quilt Show

 

 

 

 

One of my first Fundraiser projects was for Science with a Mission, a non-profit organization started by my friend, Alynne MacLean. Half of the sell price for this bracelet went to Science with a Mission.

 

I've listened to Alynne talk about how this all started and her journey to start SMI many times. It never gets old.

 

SMI recently reached the point where they have sent over 200,000 test kits to the needy in over 62 countries all over the world.

 

But the best way to know Alynne is to listen to this video that was on a local TV station recently.

 

 

 

 

Please take time to listen to this video

 

 

Alynne is a member of our local church, Covenant Congregational Church of North Easton. The church and many of the members, even me, come up with various ways to help Alynne and SMI raise money. We have a Live auction in May and now, this Saturday, March 24, we have a Quilt Show. This is the 7th year for the Quilt Show and it is amazing to see over 50 quilts spread out over all the pews in the church. For the 7 years, none of the quilts have been repeated.

 

In one of Alynne's recent newsletters she shows how anyone, of any age, can help. Alynne patiently teaches anyone who wants to learn, how to help make the tests for SMI

 

 

This year Ring by Ring Designs will be donating several of our pieces to the Quilt Show and the Auction being held Saturday, May 5 at 6:30 PM at the Covenant Congregational Church of North Easton.

 

This is a picture of some of the many quilts desplayed last year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you have any questions about SMI, you can go to their website www.sciencewithamission.org or ask me. I'll find out if I don't  know.

 

 

 

Until this Friday's special and next week,

 

Bev

 

website:http://ringbyringdesigns.com

 

Email:info@ringbyringdesigns.com

or       bevcarlson@comcast.net

 

Also find Ring by Ring Designs on Facebook http://facebook.com/ringbyring

and Twitter http://twitter.com/#!ringbyring

Science with a Mission

My friend, Alynne MacLean, reached a milestone recently in her non-profit organization, Science with a Mission.

I have posted about Alynne before but in case you don't recall, she left her biochem job to form Science with a Mission in 2001. SMI makes test kits for many diseases including malaria, HIV, typhoid and hepatitis. Because no electricity is needed for the diagnostics, they are effective in remote areas of the world and have been used in 49 countries.

The recent milestone was delivering the 100,000th unit. See the picture above. Quite an accomplishment considering that she and a few volunteers do most all the work.

You can read more information in a new article about SMI plus other links here.

The website for Science with a Mission can be reached here.

Enjoy the reading and let me know what you think.


B

www.bevsjewelry.com and www.bevsjewelry.1000markets.com

Science with a Mission

Just a quick report about the live Science with a Mission Auction held last Saturday evening. They were able to raise over $6,500 with items in the silent and live auctions as well as 3 tables of raffled items. Everyone had lots of fun and it was obvious that they like to eat. One $25 certificate to a local restaurant took in over $150. I'll have to check out that restaurant! Babysitters were also very popular.

Oh, yes while I'm in an update mode, taxes are going well. A word of advice. Be sure to keep good records especially on any Mutual Fund/stock purchases and sales. Gathering the necessary supporting information can be done, it is tedious to say the least. Hopefully, by tomorrow I can be back on my preferred list of things to do. Jewelry designing.

Also, remember not to wait so long!

Aren't I just full of helpful advice ?

B

Science with a Mission Auction

This Saturday, April 4, 2009 there is an Live Auction for Science with a Mission. The Auctions are always a lot of fun. (It is at the Covenant Congregational Church of North Easton MA at 6:30 PM) If you live near, stop by. They are having some wonderful items to auction.

One of the items in the auction is the above necklace. I have always liked the Kazuri beads and like to support a Fair Trade Business. The beads are hand made by women in Kenya. They are payed a fair wage and are often the sole support of their family. They are members of the Fair Trade Federation. One of those win-win situations. I've always tried to quiz vendors about their sources and support (buy from) those that have good working conditions.

I feel the Fair Trade Federation members seem to be a fit with the philosophy of Science with a Mission.

This necklace is made with 3 Kazuri Beads, jet Swarovski crystals with Bali Silver spacers and silver plate curved tubes. It is 18 inches long, finished with a lobster claw clasp and has a 2 inch extender.




I hope it will raise lots of money to support Science with a Mission. Check out their web site too.
You may also read more on my post last December here.


B

Jewelry Tips Part 3

Tips today have to do with fundraisers or production type of jewelry designing.

I've been asked 4 times to design a bracelet for fund raisers. The first one, I readily admit, I didn't know what I was doing. Well, making the bracelet, yes but the fund raiser part, no.

The first one didn't sell many pieces. In fact, I've never heard from them again. They purchased about 25 bracelets and I really don't know if they sold or not. To be fair to both sides, I did not have good contact with them. So,

Tip #1. Get to know the person you are working with fairly well. Know what they expect and talk a lot about what is involved in making a bracelet for a fund raiser. In my first experience, they wanted a bracelet that, now I realize, was too expensive. Which leads me to

Tip #2. Watch your supply expenses carefully. Don't go "cheap" but don't go overboard either. Determine, before you really get into the design, what price point you need. The $25 sell price seems to work well. As a designer you have room to get good supplies and still give a decent amount to the charity.

Tip #3. Make sure that the materials you choose are readily available. Preferably from more than one source. The lovely Millefiore oval beads in the above SMI bracelet are hard to find at reasonable prices. That also brings me to

Tip#4. Make sure the quality is consistent and good. The Millefiore beads are not consistent in quality. I have a whole string of "rejects" . I've also had a few returned with broken beads. That lesson was used in the Lexie bracelet when I chose the Swarovski beads. Available almost anywhere and excellent, consistent quality.

Tip #5. In order to fit more people, add an extender. I've made both smaller and larger sizes on request but for the majority the extender works.

Tip #6. Be prepared to make a lot of bracelets. (At least hopefully) That means getting efficient in making your bracelets. Make a production line. Have enough stock on hand. Have packaging ready. I put each bracelet in a 3 x 3 inch zip lock bag with a label giving information on the bracelet, website info and of course a Thank you for supporting XXX.

I'm sure there are other tips and experiences. I'd love to hear about them. Especially since I'm now preparing to start my fourth fundraiser.

B

Pictures above, Left Science with a Mission, Right Lexie bracelet for Cancer Research all available at http://www.bevsjewelry.com

Science with a Mission

It has been awhile since I posted about Science with a Mission. SMI, for short, is a non-profit organization founded by Alynne MacLean.

In developing countries, many people never see the inside of a hospital or clinic. As a result, people often die from preventable diseases due to not being diagnosed. Currently, the majority of tests to diagnosis diseases require expensive equipment, electricity, trained technicians, etc. all of which are often unavailable in many parts of developing countries. SMI's tests do not require electricity or expensive equipment so they can be used in remote areas. They can also be used in mass screenings.

Alynne is one of many Christians who live out their faith. She has a Doctorate in Chemistry and in the year 2000 quit her job as a chemist at Biogen, Inc. to start Science with a Mission. The local lore (which I believe) has Alynne living on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches until she was able to take a small salary to cover her expenses. I could go on about her many accomplishments but you can read some at her web site at http://sciencewithamission.org/.

And my personal favorite entitled "Be A Pencil". You can read it here http://tinyurl.com/6etobj.

Anyhow, as a means of helping Alynne and Science with a Mission, I have designed a bracelet that I sell for a $25 donation. (50% goes to SMI) See picture above

You can purchase the bracelet on my web site http://www.bevsjewelry.com/b915smi.html

Suggestion: they make great Christmas gifts. (Win - Win)

B

SMI Sailing ship Fundraiser

I'm sure you all know that my favorite (small non-profit) charity is Science with a Mission or SMI for short. (If not you can read more on my August 12 post. ) Yesterday, they had a fundraising Tall Ship sail on Boston Harbor on the Poincare. It was an absolutely beautiful day. Blue skies with some nice white puffy clouds and temperature in the low 80's with a nice breeze. There were about 40 people and it was just a great afternoon. We drove in on the Southeast Express way, found a parking garage to park our car and off we went. To get our sea legs started there was about an 80 yard walk on floating docks to the boat. Then a floating gang plank to the boat, then a rocking ship to our seat. They say the ship was rocking because it was at the dock and the harbor swells made it a bit "unstable". I found a seat and did not walk around much. There really wasn't much room to walk around but the aformentioned harbor swells kept me pretty still. Once out in the harbor it was much smoother. I was able to get some nice pictures. Boston Harbor is very nice place for pictures from the Charleston Navy Yard, Old Ironsides, the new Zachem Bridge, Bunker Hill Monument, Old North Church, Logan Airport, and of course lots of boats of all sizes. It was fun to watch them put up the sails and take the them down.

There was only a three person crew. The captain and two others responsible for the sails and some sight-seeing announcements. We were back at the dock in about 2 hours and the 80 yard floating dock.

Oh, yes, the little house is a house for ducks. Kind of hard to see them but they are really enjoying their house. All in all it was a great fun day.

B

Science with a Mission Bracelet

I've mentioned before about the Science with a Mission bracelet I've made to help support my friend, Alynne MacLean's non profit organization.

In developing countries, many people never see the inside of a hospital or clinic. As a result, people often die from preventable diseases due to not being diagnosed. Currently, the majority of tests to diagnosis diseases require expensive equipment, electricity, trained technicians, etc. all of which are often unavailable in many parts of developing countries. SMI's tests do not require electricity or expensive equipment so they can be used in remote areas. They can also be used in mass screenings.

You can read more about SMI at http://www.sciencewithamission.org/ or purchase a bracelet at http://www.bevsjewelry.com/

B