Cancer Sucks Rubber Stamped TattooDreams Box

This handmade cherry box measures 8" wide x 8 3/4" deep x 7 1/4" high (203.2 cm x 222.25 cm x 184.15 cm ). Cancer Sucks- I know first hand. I lost my Mom to breast cancer before mammograms had been developed. I was 15. She was 45. I know the toll it took on her, me, our whole family. I've seen this repeated among too many friends.

Why did I make this? Perhaps to aid in my own healing and help others. In creating this box, my hands found themselves reaching for a wide variety of word stamps in my collection. Everything from "laughter" to "sorrow". Tears mixed with paint and this empty box was transformed. This disease, like so many others, transforms. It brings so many emotions and memories to the surface.
My box may be just the 'right' gift for a friend going through this. Some days you laugh, other days you cry and in the end, you find a healing balance that gets you through whatever fate is planning on handing you. A good place to write down your feelings and tuck them inside. A cathartic worry box that can help.

Finished with a clear spray on the outside and left natural maple on the inside. Lined with black velvet on the bottom. Trimmed in shades of pink.

My boxes are quietly making their way into esteemed collections around the world- let yours be one of them!

••I love making special things for special people!••

More boxes can be found on my etsy site:

Thirty four years ago today..........

Thirty four years ago today I was 15.
Thirty four years ago today my Mom died.
She was 45.
I thought forty five was 'ancient' in kid years.
I'm 49 and know fully well 45 is not old and
15 is way too young.
Some things hurt no matter how long ago they happen to you.
This is one of those hurts.

In the years after my Moms death, there were times I missed her more than other times.
When I was sick -I missed her more then.
When I was feeling lost and alone.
When I lost a cat. I cried for all my losses, old and new.
She was a wonderfully loving Mom who gave great hugs and let my brother and I know we were loved
and accepted no matter what. She encouraged us to be in life what we wanted to be, not what she hoped or
dreamed we'd be.
She let us be ourselves.
Not every parent allows this of their children.
There were no shadows or shoes to fill.
I think the longest walk my brother and I made was away from her grave site.
It felt like a million miles through the wet grass.

Her life was cut short of seeing who my brother and I turned out to be.
My brother became an attorney, is married to a wonderful woman and has a teenage son.
I became an artist. Married the love of my life and make art.
We became who we wanted to be thanks to her love and support.

So here I am today. Missing her.
I have a nasty cold and seem to miss her more today.
Some things never change.
Love you Mom. I think you'd be proud of us!
We became ourselves.

Pat
xo

IWIN Breast Cancer Donation

Featured on my blog today is a donation I've made to the 2009 IWIN Foundation for their annual fundraising event. IWIN is an acronym for Indiana Women in Need. This Pink Pajama Party takes place Feb 27th and 28th. Go here for more information:http://www.iwinfoundation.org/
This TattooDream Box will become part of their silent auction held in conjunction with their Pink Pajama Party event. IWIN helps women who have breast cancer by lending a hand to them in the way of financial help to maintain and make their lives easier. I don't think any such group was around when my Mom was going through her breast cancer treatment 35 years ago. Finding wigs that looked decent and undergarments and falsies was difficult. I remember going with my Mom and being her 'consultant' at the ripe age of 14.

I hope this box will render some revenue to the event and smiles to the new owner.
I wish them every success and look forward to helping them next year. This is a cause near to my heart.
♥
Patricia

♡ Breast Cancer Courage Box ♡

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(¸.*´ (¸.*`¤~ I'm featuring my Breast Cancer Courage Box. This was cathartic to make. Breast cancer is a cause near to my heart since losing my Mom to it when I was 15. This was before mamograms! I'm hoping the future owner of this box will be sharing it with a friend, daughter, mother or sister who has survived!
October is Breast Cancer awareness month.
This box is full of hope!



It measures 13 1/2" wide and 4" deep and 5 1/2" tall, opens by way of a golden clasp on the front. This box has a hinged top that opens easily revealing the contents you decide are the treasures to store inside. It has two-tone pink feet and
co-ordinating fringe. Inside, the bottom is lined with sultry black velvet. Emblazoned with wonderful words and images of hope, courage and awarness.
Grace gives us the abilty to move forward despite what life hands us.

To all who have been cured~
are newly diagnosed
are working towards their recovery
are accepting their diagnosis
are dealing with their prognosis.......
You are being prayed for in a very special way.
Take care of yourselves and your bodies.
They are the temples of the spirit.

༺♥༻
Patricia

On etsy
75.00

♥ I love you Mom! ♥

Thirty three years ago this morning my Mom lost her battle with cancer. It was before mamograms. She was 45. She found her cancer early and it was already a Stage 4. She had two radical mastectomies and yet it spread. She fought the good fight wanting to live long enough to see my brother and I graduate from high school. As it turned out she died one week into my brothers senior year and my sophmore year.
I was 15 and he was 17.
I used to think 45 was ancient. It's not. When I reached the age she was when she died, it was a turning point in my own life. I'm 48 now and celebrate every year I'm alive. I will never be one of those intolerant women who begrude having a birthday since it means they're a year older. To complain about age is a waste of time and energy. It should be a celebration!
They should be so lucky!

So, when this happens you grow up fast and make your own life early on. This is what my brother and I did. I guess we still are. I feel she would be proud of the lives we have made for ourselves and the people we share them with.
I feel her presence and her absence every day.
Does it get easier? I'm not sure. I'll let you know that when I figure it out myself.

Continue your self-exams and be dilligent.
But also, love every day you have, life is shorter than we think.
♥
Patricia