FUNDRAISER: Eat & Dine! A benefit for alz.org in Memory of Jill A. Holmes

Come dine at Denny's and bring your family and friends!

WHEN:  Friday - Sept. 26, 2014    5:00 - 8:00 PM

WHERE: Rome Denny's - 200 S. James St., Rome NY 13440

The owners  0f Denny's (Rome, Utica, Oneida and Herkimer) are generously donating a percentage of the total sales to alz.org in memory of my sister, Jill A. Holmes (former employee). 

There will also be jewelry on sale in the back dining room - ALL pieces created and donated by members of Jilly's Bead Posse (JBP). JBP is made up of over 90 jewelry designers and beady women, from ALL OVER THE WORLD,who formed a group on Facebook. You can get an idea of the jewelry that will be available by checking out our Pinterest board - CLICK HERE!

This event is a fundraiser for Jill's Doughboys & Girls, our walk team in the WALK TO END ALZHEIMER's (Central NY Chapter).  For more info visit our Walk Team Fundraiser Page

HELP WANTED: Calling all Purple People!

We all have someone in our lives who has been affected by disease; some suffer years, some are taken from us way too soon.  Many of these diseases have fundraising walks, runs and special events. There are awareness ribbons, shirts and other items used to get the word out.

I admit it, at times I have thought its too much. BUT then I was affected. NOW I get it!  I see why the walks and ribbons are important. These events serve several purposes:

1.  raise awareness of the disease, and educate people.
2.  raise funds to fight the disease through research of the cause and possible cure, and programs to help families who are dealing with the devastating effects of the disease.
3. give family members and friends something to DO, to help them deal with their pain!



No, I didnt get a tattoo, my daughter Alycia did!

Many of you know I just lost my sister to Alzheimer's disease. It has rocked our world. I am sad. I am upset. Hell, I am pissed!  I have to do something to fight back. So I do what I do.

Last year I found out about the Walk to End Alzheimer's which was happening along the boardwalk on Virginia Beach, just six blocks from my place! Problem was I found out about it way too late to raise any real funds. With only a few days left I came up with the idea to make jewelry to hand out to the walkers to thank them for their fundraising efforts. You can read all about it CLICK here.


Well the 2013 Walk is in October and THIS time I want to be prepared. I have set a goal of creating atleast 100 pairs of earrings and keychains to pass out to walkers. To get this started I put the word out that I would love to swap for PURPLE beads. WELL! Let me just tell you - I have received an avalanche of purple beads!

First I received wonderful swap packages from Facebook friends and Bead Swap-USA pals * 

* Lennis Carrier, Sondra Jackson, Nancy Rocknich, Lindsay Starr, Sherri Stokey, Jennifer Reno , Nicole Weltch and Lisa Lodge.

AND then last week I received a HUMONGOUS box packed with all kinds of really cool purple beads and metal findings from lovely friends Bead Faeries ** from PROJECT BEAD, a Facebook group founded by Sandra McGriff of Creative Chaos. Read all about this sneak attack of the purply kind - CLICK HERE 

 ** Bead Faeries: Heidi Kingman, Robin Reed, Jana Perez Stribel, Kristen Stevens, Sandra Wollberg, Alicia Marinache, Christine Smith, Ali McCarthy, Chief Faerie Sandra McGriff and her winged helpers Rita Aviles and Marlene Cupo (aka Sis).

Now with all this purple goodness in the house I have plenty enough to surpass my goal of 100 BUT I have to get busy creating. TIME IS TICKING AWAY...

I think I need some help! Are you INTERESTED? I was thinking I could send out a small mix of beads and findings, enough for one pair of earrings. When I get them back I'd show them off on my blog and facebook page. To make sure you get credit for your design I'd ask you to include your biz card or other contact info when you send the jewelry back to me.

Let me know if you're game, leave a comment below and email your address to me at torisophia@gmail.com


If you'd like to make a monetary donation to support me in my walk please visit Shelley's WALK TO END ALZHEIMER's page . Right now I am #5 in the TOP Fundraisers! (well things are just getting started but its still encouraging!)


Other plans and happenings...

1. I have been purchasing purple themed pieces from my artists friends to include in a future auction. If you have any you'd like to show me, please send me a link.
2. I reached out to a local group I found on Facebook, YAAA! Hampton Roads - Young Adults Alheimer's Awareness. They are part of the Alzheimer's Association's  Southeastern Virginia Chapter. I was honored to be able to donate a few of my TORI SOPHIA Designs to a silent auction they are holding this weekend, at their 3rd Annual Black Tie Bowling fundraiser. 
3. Hoping to work with them in holding a one big ole jewelry-making event!

So stay tuned. If you would like to be kept up-to-date on my fundraising projects please add your address in the box on my sidebar titled "Follow me by E-mail".

~  Shelley

2012 WALK TO END ALZHEIMER'S!

Today is the 2012 Walk to End Alzheimer's on Virginia Beach. An annual event  sponsored by the Alzheimer's Association to raise money and awareness in the fight against Alzheimer's disease *.  

I only just found out about the walk this past Friday. Being as it was too late to drum up sponsors for my participation in the walk I decided to support those that were signed up!  Thought to myself 'what can YOU do?' ... Well I can make jewelry of course! 

So the plan I came up with was to make a bunch of earrings and together with my grandson Quadir, I would go down to the Walk and hand them out as a thank you. See we wanted to take part, even if only to cheer the walkers on. We wanted to do it for my sister Jill (I call her Jilly) who has Alzheimer's.
  

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

First I raided my stash for all my purple beads...some but not enough! Dragged my hubby to Michael's to pick up more purple beads and some silver findings. Hmmm, seems to be a shortage of earring sized beads - grabbed the couple I found!


Friday night I sat down and put all my beads in a one basket (well, they say not to do that with eggs, they never said a word about beads!:P) Had my pile of findings and other accents, and I just started digging in.





 


It was very freeing to be able to just open a box of beads, charms and things and just get to designing! It turned out to be a fun night -











Saturday morning I worked on the packaging! Added a thank you note to the back of my card, attached a pair of earrings, dropped them in a bag and then tied a purple ribbon on each one! All in all, ended up with close to 30 pairs plus a few keychains for the fellas!

Quadir worked on a special shirt he could wear to honor his Aunt Jill.

This morning I threw all the jewelry in a bag, along with my camera and a pack of tissues - knew I might need them - and off we went!

My hubby dropped us off at 10:30 on 17th Street & Atlantic. Within seconds of reaching the boardwalk we spotted our first walkers - a whole family of walkers - Leslye Forrest and her family!

Next we came upon a three FOUR-some made up of Lynda, Betty, Caroline & Posh! As Quadir handed out the goodies I began to explain why we were giving away jewelry. I didn't get far into my little speech. I got so choked up with emotion I couldn't even get the words out. I just started to cry, that's when the women hugged me. I pulled myself together as best I could.

After that encounter I had to go sit on a bench to pull myself together. I wasn't the only one here with a loved one effected by this terrible disease so I can't be falling apart every time we approach someone! I gave my niece Crystal a call back in NY. It was nice to be able to talk with someone who was going through this too, and understood my motives. This isn't about the "nice thing" I am doing... its just something I NEED to do to help me cope. THIS isn't about me, its about my sister and her family. They are going through this every hour of every day. I feel sad, but more than anything I feel guilty. Guilty that I am not there to help them, there to be my sisters' friend and reassure her. I can't even express the pain I feel.

 I love my sister so much. She is such a sweet person. She has always been there for me - always! She is the ONE person who I knew loved me as I was growing up, she is my older sister but she was always like a mother to me. She was with me when one of my daughters was born AND she was in the room when that daughter had her son, Quadir. How fitting that Quadir should be the one to take part in this day with me!

OKAY...back to the WALK to END Alzheimer's....

Next we came upon these very of caring people -















And then there was Arnold, Alisha and Michele ...

 And then there was Angie and Kia...

Carrie, Teresa and Greg...

          Betty & Sharon.... 

                          THE DurdyGirlz Social Club Hampton Roads!... 

 




     Ilene and Susan...

  and Nicole and her family, walking in memory of their Grandpa and Great Grampa - Robert L. Adams!


Quadir and I finally ended up at the starting line on 31st Street. He was tired, poor kid! BUT never too tired for a another photo!

AND to top it off, his promised reward - ICE CREAM!!

All in all it was a beautiful day- one I will definitely repeat next year - BUT next time I will be ready!

*** A special thank you to my artist friends from Creative Bead Chat, Artisan Whimsy and BeadSwap-USA who made very generous donations to the ALZHEIMER's ASSOCIATION in honor of my sister! You ladies are just THE BEST!!

It's NEVER to late to make a donation...CLICK HERE!

 BE sure to check out my other blog for all things jewelry!www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com


* Alzheimer's is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior.

Here are a few facts -

• 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease.
• One in eight older Americans has Alzheimer's disease.
• Alzheimer's disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States and the only cause of death among the top 10 in the United States that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed.
• More than 15 million Americans provide unpaid care valued at $210 billion for persons with Alzheimer's and other dementias.
• Payments for care are estimated to be $200 billion in the United States in 2012.

Alzheimer's Facts and Figures Fact Sheet

2012 Walk to End ALZHEIMER's

 

Please come back at 5:30PM EST to see the update on the

2012 Walk to End Alzheimer's

 Virginia Beach VA