As many of you may know, I have been raising funds for Macmillan Cancer Support for the past few years, since I was diagnosed with womb cancer in Dec 2009.
I love beads - especially handmade glass beads and have been making and selling pieces of handmade jewellery and accessories to help raise funds through my FB pages, buteartism and Angels of Hope and also here on the island.
Thanks to some lovely people who have bought items and also donated items to some of my online auctions, since 2010 I have raised over £1,200 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Over the past few years I have also been raising funds for a womb cancer research project Fundraising for womb cancer research and last year I started raising funds for AMMF - which is the UK's only cholangiocarcinoma (or bile duct cancer) charity. This is the cancer that my Mom died from in Dec. 2013.
Since FB started messing around with post reach it has become increasingly difficult for posts to be seen and therefore I have been unable to sell as many items in 2014. I have almost 700 likers on the main buteartism page and yet some posts only reach 20 or 30 people!!
So I've made the decision to close down the Angels for Hope page and also to take down my items that are for sale on the buteartism page, although I will still continue to hold online auctions there occasionally.
The first will be in March and will be for AMMF. Then in September there will be another auction to help raise funds for a womb cancer project.
In between, there will be small flash sales for various good causes and I will continue to donate items to other auctions being run to help various other good causes.
I hope you will check out the pages and maybe even think about joining in the various auctions.
I know I've said before that I would try and keep the blog updated regularly and I will try, I promise. :-)
About Me
- Kaz
- Isle of Bute, West Coast of Scotland, United Kingdom
- Too old to be a rock chick, so I am the hippy hen! Environmentally and socially conscious, eco aware vegetarian goddess. Human and animal rights activist Against discrimination in all its forms. LGBT Ally. Lover of music, chocolate and crochet.. Womb cancer survivor.
Saturday, 27 December 2014
Sunday, 23 March 2014
In memory of Mom
As some of you may be aware I lost my Mom just before Xmas 2013. She died of cancer, a rare and aggressive liver cancer that affects the bile ducts called cholangiocarcinoma.
She had been diagnosed 5 weeks previously and told that she had 4-6 months. So you can image that it can as even more of a shock when she died just 5 weeks after getting her diagnosis.
The last few months have been very hard for myself and my family; trying to come to terms with Moms illness and diagnosis and then her death.
Having had cancer myself, I knew that Mom would not be able to cope with the chemotherapy that was the only option that was open to her, even though we were told it may only prolong her life by a couple of months, if that.
As it was, Mom decided that she didn't want any treatment. She eventually went into a hospice and died there 2 days later.
Living so far away from her, and with my own health being not good, meant that I didn't see her before she died. I had seen her 4 weeks previously when we went down to visit her when she was diagnosed and had intended to go again once she was settled in the hospice, but sadly she passed away before I could get there.
Since her death I have found it increasingly difficult to cope. The feeling of helplessness has been overwhelming. I was able to fight for myself through my own cancer diagnosis and treatment but I couldn't do it for my Mom. I wanted to wrap her in cotton wool and protect her from the awful things that were happening to her body. I felt totally helpless being so far away, knowing there was nothing I could do.
21st March would have been her Birthday. I knew it would be a difficult time, not just for me but for the whole family. I wanted to do something in her memory. My own ill health prevented me from running a marathon, or climbing any mountains or jumping out of a aeroplane!!!
So I decided to do what I do best, run a fundraising auction in her memory. I decided to raise funds for AMMF - the only cholangiocarcinoma charity in UK.
The auction can be found here Mom's Auction and runs until 6pm Sun 23rd March. There are lots of lovely handmade items to bid on and I'm hoping that I can raise at least £250 for AMMF.
I've decided to do one for them every year in memory of Mom - they need money to help fund research as well and it also helps raise awareness of them and the cancer that kills around 1,800 people each year in the UK. It will also help me cope each year as her Birthday comes round.
Please check out the AMMF website for more information.
Thank you.
She had been diagnosed 5 weeks previously and told that she had 4-6 months. So you can image that it can as even more of a shock when she died just 5 weeks after getting her diagnosis.
The last few months have been very hard for myself and my family; trying to come to terms with Moms illness and diagnosis and then her death.
Having had cancer myself, I knew that Mom would not be able to cope with the chemotherapy that was the only option that was open to her, even though we were told it may only prolong her life by a couple of months, if that.
As it was, Mom decided that she didn't want any treatment. She eventually went into a hospice and died there 2 days later.
Living so far away from her, and with my own health being not good, meant that I didn't see her before she died. I had seen her 4 weeks previously when we went down to visit her when she was diagnosed and had intended to go again once she was settled in the hospice, but sadly she passed away before I could get there.
Since her death I have found it increasingly difficult to cope. The feeling of helplessness has been overwhelming. I was able to fight for myself through my own cancer diagnosis and treatment but I couldn't do it for my Mom. I wanted to wrap her in cotton wool and protect her from the awful things that were happening to her body. I felt totally helpless being so far away, knowing there was nothing I could do.
21st March would have been her Birthday. I knew it would be a difficult time, not just for me but for the whole family. I wanted to do something in her memory. My own ill health prevented me from running a marathon, or climbing any mountains or jumping out of a aeroplane!!!
So I decided to do what I do best, run a fundraising auction in her memory. I decided to raise funds for AMMF - the only cholangiocarcinoma charity in UK.
The auction can be found here Mom's Auction and runs until 6pm Sun 23rd March. There are lots of lovely handmade items to bid on and I'm hoping that I can raise at least £250 for AMMF.
I've decided to do one for them every year in memory of Mom - they need money to help fund research as well and it also helps raise awareness of them and the cancer that kills around 1,800 people each year in the UK. It will also help me cope each year as her Birthday comes round.
Please check out the AMMF website for more information.
Thank you.
Saturday, 15 June 2013
The Big 5 - 0 approaches!!
Hello, me again!
In a few weeks time, just over 4 actually, I will hit the BIG 5-0 - yep, I'm 50! Quite looking forward to it actually. WHY? Well, there have been times over recent years when I didn't think I'd get here.
As some of you may know, I was diagnosed with womb cancer at the end of 2009 but I survived surgery, chemo and radiotherapy and I'm still here. Allbeit, in not great health, but at least I am still alive.
So reaching 50 is going to be an emotional day for me. I'm not planning any big party or anything like that. It will just be a quiet day of reflection and contemplation of the future.
One thing I am doing though that I want to shout about from the rooftops is continuing with the fund raising for Macmillan Cancer Support that I have been doing ever since I started this cancer journey.
I am still making and selling jewellery to raise funds but I have also decided to do something a little different as well.
Instead of giving me cards and gifts for my Birthday, I am asking family and friends to donate to Macmillan through my Justgiving page http://www.justgiving.com/Kaz-Molloy# It doesn't have to be a huge amount, (although that would be lovely) just the price of a card will do as every penny counts.
The target I have set is £150 - £50 for each year multiplied by 3 which is the number of years since I finished my treatment (which will be 5 days before my Birthday) so you can see that I will have lots to celebrate.
I hope that you will consider digging deep and adding a few pennies - it would mean a lot to me if you could.
Thank you. xxx
In a few weeks time, just over 4 actually, I will hit the BIG 5-0 - yep, I'm 50! Quite looking forward to it actually. WHY? Well, there have been times over recent years when I didn't think I'd get here.
As some of you may know, I was diagnosed with womb cancer at the end of 2009 but I survived surgery, chemo and radiotherapy and I'm still here. Allbeit, in not great health, but at least I am still alive.
So reaching 50 is going to be an emotional day for me. I'm not planning any big party or anything like that. It will just be a quiet day of reflection and contemplation of the future.
One thing I am doing though that I want to shout about from the rooftops is continuing with the fund raising for Macmillan Cancer Support that I have been doing ever since I started this cancer journey.
I am still making and selling jewellery to raise funds but I have also decided to do something a little different as well.
Instead of giving me cards and gifts for my Birthday, I am asking family and friends to donate to Macmillan through my Justgiving page http://www.justgiving.com/Kaz-Molloy# It doesn't have to be a huge amount, (although that would be lovely) just the price of a card will do as every penny counts.
The target I have set is £150 - £50 for each year multiplied by 3 which is the number of years since I finished my treatment (which will be 5 days before my Birthday) so you can see that I will have lots to celebrate.
I hope that you will consider digging deep and adding a few pennies - it would mean a lot to me if you could.
Thank you. xxx
Monday, 21 January 2013
It's snow joke!!!
Well, as I sit here today, the wind is howling outside but thankfully we don't have any snow, unlike the majority of the UK it would seem, judging by all the news reports and Facebook pics from my friends across the land!
It's been a while since I posted here. I am sorry!
I have been so busy with my work with Womb Cancer Support UK, the online support group I setup for women, like myself, who have/had a womb cancer diagnosis.
Its 3 years today since I went into hospital for my hysterectomy - had to go in a few days early due to severe anaemia which resulted in 6 blood transfusions before the operation!!!
I would like to say that I'm fully recovered and back to normal, but sadly that's not the case. I have been left with long term health problems from the chemotherapy and radiotherapy but there you go, swings and roundabouts!!
Needless to say, I still have my lovely Macmillan nurse Morag, come to visit me so I am still raising funds for the charity.
As well as the jewellery that I make and sell via my buteartism page https://www.facebook.com/buteartism?fref=ts I now also sell mobile phone charms that I call "Angels of Hope" https://www.facebook.com/pages/Angels-of-Hope/490513110981929?fref=ts We have just passed the £200 mark through sales of those so in total I am very pleased to say that I have raised £800 so far for Macmillan in just under 3 years.
Thus wouldn't have been possible without the support of lots of lovely people, including of course the ones who have purchased bits of jewellery and the angels.
As some of you may be aware, I also help to raise funds for a vital womb cancer research project http://www.justgiving.com/Debra-Parry0 through the sale of selected pieces of my jewellery.
So, as you can see, I have been busy!!!
It's been a while since I posted here. I am sorry!
I have been so busy with my work with Womb Cancer Support UK, the online support group I setup for women, like myself, who have/had a womb cancer diagnosis.
Its 3 years today since I went into hospital for my hysterectomy - had to go in a few days early due to severe anaemia which resulted in 6 blood transfusions before the operation!!!
I would like to say that I'm fully recovered and back to normal, but sadly that's not the case. I have been left with long term health problems from the chemotherapy and radiotherapy but there you go, swings and roundabouts!!
Needless to say, I still have my lovely Macmillan nurse Morag, come to visit me so I am still raising funds for the charity.
As well as the jewellery that I make and sell via my buteartism page https://www.facebook.com/buteartism?fref=ts I now also sell mobile phone charms that I call "Angels of Hope" https://www.facebook.com/pages/Angels-of-Hope/490513110981929?fref=ts We have just passed the £200 mark through sales of those so in total I am very pleased to say that I have raised £800 so far for Macmillan in just under 3 years.
Thus wouldn't have been possible without the support of lots of lovely people, including of course the ones who have purchased bits of jewellery and the angels.
As some of you may be aware, I also help to raise funds for a vital womb cancer research project http://www.justgiving.com/Debra-Parry0 through the sale of selected pieces of my jewellery.
So, as you can see, I have been busy!!!
Saturday, 7 July 2012
Still here!!!
Well, its been a while since I've posted and I make no apology other than I've been so busy just living my life and trying to get back to normal!!
My fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support is still going strong and I now split my fundraising efforts between Macmillan and a womb cancer research project.
So far I have raised almost £6oo for Macmillan and I want to thank again everyone who has helped in the past by donating beads etc or buying items.
The lovely folk over at Folksy were a huge help in the early days when I started fundrasing just over 2 years ago when I was having my treatment for womb cancer.
As well as raising funds for Macmillan, I also now help to raise funds for a womb cancer project http://www.justgiving.com/Debra-Parry0 that is being funded entirely by donations.
Items for sale specifically for the womb cancer research project can be found here http://www.etsy.com/shop/buteartism and my other items can be found here https://www.facebook.com/buteartism where proceeds are split 50/50 between the two good causes!
If you or anyone you know, needs any help or support you can find it here http://wombcancersupportuk.wix.com/home
I promise I'll try and not leave it so long before I post again! xx
My fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support is still going strong and I now split my fundraising efforts between Macmillan and a womb cancer research project.
So far I have raised almost £6oo for Macmillan and I want to thank again everyone who has helped in the past by donating beads etc or buying items.
The lovely folk over at Folksy were a huge help in the early days when I started fundrasing just over 2 years ago when I was having my treatment for womb cancer.
As well as raising funds for Macmillan, I also now help to raise funds for a womb cancer project http://www.justgiving.com/Debra-Parry0 that is being funded entirely by donations.
Items for sale specifically for the womb cancer research project can be found here http://www.etsy.com/shop/buteartism and my other items can be found here https://www.facebook.com/buteartism where proceeds are split 50/50 between the two good causes!
If you or anyone you know, needs any help or support you can find it here http://wombcancersupportuk.wix.com/home
I promise I'll try and not leave it so long before I post again! xx
Thursday, 6 October 2011
Bute Art
Some of you might know that I live on an island off the west coast of Scotland called Bute. Its a lovely place. We moved here just over 9 years ago and have made lots of friends - quite a few of them are very talented artists and creatives.
So today I thought I'd let you know about some of the wonderfully talented people that there are on Bute.
One of the first "arty" people I became friends with is the lovely Gill, who moved to the island just after we did. She is a potter; well actually she's lots of things!! Gill is an extremly creative person. Not only does she make wonderfull ceramics, but she makes stunning textile wall hangings! She is also musical and sings aswell!
Check out some of her work on her website http://www.beautifulbaboon.com/
Another arty friend is Nicola Jones. When we first met Nicola, she had a small art shop on the island selling craft supplies and also prints of her artwork of scenes around the island. Now a mother of 2, she is still selling her work, this time via other outlets on the island and also at http://www.zazzle.co.uk/nicolajonesartist
A man who paints some beautiful paintings is Brian Large. He's well know for his paintings of puffers; but also paints some stunning landscapes from around the island.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brian-Large-Artist/208620999170754
A lady who creates some stunning jewellery is Shirley K Lloyd. Her Isle of Bute shaped pendants, earrings and cufflinks are a wonderful way of promoting not only her skills but also the island itself. https://www.facebook.com/ShirleyKLloydJewellery?sk=wall
Living in such a beautiful place is a photographers dream, and Bute has its fair share of talent in that area aswell. Four that I know of personally are John Lawson, John Williams, Zak Harrison and Dave Murty. All have a great eye for spotting a photo opportunity!
Aswell as all the talented artists and craftspeople around, we are lucky to have some fantastic outlets for these people to sell their items.
We have the Castle Gallery, http://www.thecastlegallery.com/ situated across the road from Rothesay Castle; Picture Bute, http://www.picturebute.com/ which is stuffed full of artwork, jewellery, handmade cards, aswell as t-shirts, mugs, coasters etc all printed with various images from around the island.
Then we have Brandish Bute. This was set up as a social enterprise to bring together some of the talented people on the island and give them a platform to market themselves and their products and also the island itself. It has a small shop but also an online presence http://brandishbute.com/ and has been busy visiting trade and craft fairs over recent months to take the "Bute" brand to a wider audience.
Its a small island and it seems like you are never far away from a creative person! Whether it be a painter, a potter, a photographer or a jeweller.
Why not come and visit our little island and see for yourself! Visit http://www.isle-of-bute.com/ and find all the details you need!
So today I thought I'd let you know about some of the wonderfully talented people that there are on Bute.
One of the first "arty" people I became friends with is the lovely Gill, who moved to the island just after we did. She is a potter; well actually she's lots of things!! Gill is an extremly creative person. Not only does she make wonderfull ceramics, but she makes stunning textile wall hangings! She is also musical and sings aswell!
Check out some of her work on her website http://www.beautifulbaboon.com/
Another arty friend is Nicola Jones. When we first met Nicola, she had a small art shop on the island selling craft supplies and also prints of her artwork of scenes around the island. Now a mother of 2, she is still selling her work, this time via other outlets on the island and also at http://www.zazzle.co.uk/nicolajonesartist
A man who paints some beautiful paintings is Brian Large. He's well know for his paintings of puffers; but also paints some stunning landscapes from around the island.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brian-Large-Artist/208620999170754
A lady who creates some stunning jewellery is Shirley K Lloyd. Her Isle of Bute shaped pendants, earrings and cufflinks are a wonderful way of promoting not only her skills but also the island itself. https://www.facebook.com/ShirleyKLloydJewellery?sk=wall
Living in such a beautiful place is a photographers dream, and Bute has its fair share of talent in that area aswell. Four that I know of personally are John Lawson, John Williams, Zak Harrison and Dave Murty. All have a great eye for spotting a photo opportunity!
Aswell as all the talented artists and craftspeople around, we are lucky to have some fantastic outlets for these people to sell their items.
We have the Castle Gallery, http://www.thecastlegallery.com/ situated across the road from Rothesay Castle; Picture Bute, http://www.picturebute.com/ which is stuffed full of artwork, jewellery, handmade cards, aswell as t-shirts, mugs, coasters etc all printed with various images from around the island.
Then we have Brandish Bute. This was set up as a social enterprise to bring together some of the talented people on the island and give them a platform to market themselves and their products and also the island itself. It has a small shop but also an online presence http://brandishbute.com/ and has been busy visiting trade and craft fairs over recent months to take the "Bute" brand to a wider audience.
Its a small island and it seems like you are never far away from a creative person! Whether it be a painter, a potter, a photographer or a jeweller.
Why not come and visit our little island and see for yourself! Visit http://www.isle-of-bute.com/ and find all the details you need!
Thursday, 29 September 2011
Auction full of goodies!!!
My activities as "buteartism" have taken a bit of a back seat lately, not just because of the goings on over at Folksy either!
I'm not going to bore you with all the details as no doubt you already know, and besides, because I've been busy doing other things, I don't really know the full story myself.
However, I know enough to have decided to close down my shop on Folksy and just continue to sell via the Facebook page.
The fact that Folksy intended to charge us more because of VAT was one of the factors behind me leaving as more money for them meant less money for Macmillan Cancer Support - which is where the money I make from selling my items goes.
Anyhow, on top of raising money for Macmillan, I am also fundraising for womb cancer research via Womb Cancer Support UK http://www.wix.com/wombcancersupportuk/home the online support group that I set up earlier this year.
We have our own blog; twitter and Facebook so we are reaching out to the many women with womb cancer who want and need support.
As part of raising awareness of womb cancer we designated September "Womb Cancer Awareness " month and held various events to do just that, raise awareness.
Members of the support group distributed awareness leaflets; held coffee mornings; - real and virtual ones!!! - and I have also been selling some of my jewellery to raise funds for womb cancer research.
Our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/#!/WCSUKFundraising has details of some of the wonderful items that have been donated to the auction which runs until 6pm Friday 30th Sept. We have about £250 of bids so far, so thats a great way to finish our 1st Womb Cancer Awareness month.
We are also runing a petition calling for a dedicated womb cancer charity - as there isn't one at present. Please will you add your signature? http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/wombcancercharity
With over 7,500 women each year being diagnosed, you never know when you or a friend or relative might need some help and support so please share the link with as many people as possible!
Kaz xx
I'm not going to bore you with all the details as no doubt you already know, and besides, because I've been busy doing other things, I don't really know the full story myself.
However, I know enough to have decided to close down my shop on Folksy and just continue to sell via the Facebook page.
The fact that Folksy intended to charge us more because of VAT was one of the factors behind me leaving as more money for them meant less money for Macmillan Cancer Support - which is where the money I make from selling my items goes.
Anyhow, on top of raising money for Macmillan, I am also fundraising for womb cancer research via Womb Cancer Support UK http://www.wix.com/wombcancersupportuk/home the online support group that I set up earlier this year.
We have our own blog; twitter and Facebook so we are reaching out to the many women with womb cancer who want and need support.
As part of raising awareness of womb cancer we designated September "Womb Cancer Awareness " month and held various events to do just that, raise awareness.
Members of the support group distributed awareness leaflets; held coffee mornings; - real and virtual ones!!! - and I have also been selling some of my jewellery to raise funds for womb cancer research.
Our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/#!/WCSUKFundraising has details of some of the wonderful items that have been donated to the auction which runs until 6pm Friday 30th Sept. We have about £250 of bids so far, so thats a great way to finish our 1st Womb Cancer Awareness month.
We are also runing a petition calling for a dedicated womb cancer charity - as there isn't one at present. Please will you add your signature? http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/wombcancercharity
With over 7,500 women each year being diagnosed, you never know when you or a friend or relative might need some help and support so please share the link with as many people as possible!
Kaz xx
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