Designs by Jayne handbags has been in business since 2006 and we are strongly considering a name change.  We would love your input!  Take a few minutes and answer our quick survey and let us know what you think.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=2inrSBHuFnG3HlbIoyjelg_3d_3d

The first 100 survey respondents will recieve a $45 gift certificate to be used towards the Designs by Jayne handbag of your choice!!  Thanks for your help.  We really appreciate it!

“I am only one, but I am one.  I cannot do everything, but I can do something.  And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.”  ~Edward Everett Hale

Yes it’s true one person can make a difference. I will be profiling individuals who are making a difference in our world. The first person I chose to profile is my wonderful niece, Lauren Weiss.  She continues to amaze me at the young age of 18 by reaching out and helping others in a tremendous way.  She has a loving and generous spirit and there’s no challenge that’s too big for her “can do” attitude.  You go girl!!  Lauren is making a difference in this world and here’s how:

What did you do to help others?

For the past 4 years, I have been actively involved in the S.A.V.I.N.G Fashion Show (Saving All Victims In Need Globally) at my high school. It is a fundraiser fashion show that benefits different causes globally and raises awareness.   Over the past three years, the show was focused on the victims and refugees of the genocide occurring in Darfur, Africa, and for those who have been struck by hunger and homelessness. This year, the show was focused on raising funds and awareness for the Pediatric Cancer and Research Foundation, and Mattel’s Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles.  Approximately 500 people attended this year’s show which is our largest turnout yet.

What was your role in this event?

In the past, I have modeled and volunteered for the show. This year, I took on the role of  event coordinator, spending almost 6 months preparing for it with the help of three other girls.

So many steps are involved from managing every aspect of the show to lighting, securing food, vendors and hair stylists and makeup artists…it’s truly is a lot. I had to market the cause and event  to gain the interest and support of different vendors and companies so they would donate product for the auction, and let us use their apparel for the show itself. I had many roles to coordinate to really execute an outstanding event–one that not only people would enjoy, but would also serve to educate them.

The event took place through the Merage JCC of Orange County, in Irvine.

Why did you decide on donating funds to Pediatric Cancer Research?

As we sat to decide on a cause this year, and discussed certain options, a few really hit close to home. The one that truly stuck was the Pediatric Cancer and Research Foundation (PCRF). One of my partners, who has also been involved with the show, agreed with me. Her cousin,  Jared, within the same month we started planning, had just been diagnosed with Lymphoma.

It was something that hit rather close to home as  my cousin, Max, was diagnosed with Leukemia as well. The PCRF was a great way to not only raise money to support research cures for those like Max and Jared, but also a wonderful way to educate people of all ages about childhood cancers and diseases.

How much money did you raise?

We raised over $7000.

If there was one message that you could pass along to others about doing this type of work what would it be?

There is always a way to help–for any victim of any case. It is never too late to start SAVING.

Who had the biggest influence on you growing up/like your hero?

My Aunt Lisa, definitely. She always has taught me to be the best person I can be. To be involved with everyone and everything.

What three words best describe you?

Driven. Motivated. Spirited

This past June 4, 2009 Max would have turned 16 years old.  Hard to believe that he would be driving and giving me plenty more gray hairs.  As the day approached, I was a bit hesitant about spending it alone, something I hadn’t done since he passed away.  My husband had been traveling, my oldest son still back east at college and my youngest son was in school. 

We had a goal to launch our newly updated website for our non-profit, The Blue Butterfly Campaign, on Max’s birthday.  My worries were soon replaced with feelings of warmth and gratitude as I spent the day on the phone with our wonderful friend and marketing person, Cindy Aggson, working on the website.  I watched out the window as we went from a beautiful day filled with sunshine to a major thunderstorm which seemed to come in from nowhere.  Our lights flickered and we temporarily lost internet coverage–I thought we were done with our work for the day.   But low and behold everything restored itself and we continued to work away.  Or should I say Cindy worked while I  reviewed changes and gave her moral support.  After we finished the site later that night, I realized that I couldn’t have spent the day in a more perfect way honoring Max and having the comfort of someone dear to me on the other end of the phone. I felt truely blessed.   Thank you Cindy and Max.  It was a great day!  To read more about the Blue Butterfly Campaign go to:    www.bluebutterflycampaign.org

I was thrilled to pieces when I received an email from More.com saying they wanted to publish my story on their new, updated website.  More.com is the on-line version to the wonderful magazine, More.  For those ladies in our forties (some later 40’s than others) you are probably quite familiar with this magazine which is geared towards our age group.

More.com was looking for women in their late forties who had reinvented themselves and I certainly fell into that category.  Here’s the story they published, “From Healing Comes Handbags”   http://www.more.com/2009/4690

Thanks again More magazine for this amazing opportunity and for featuring my story of Reinventing Yourself on your front page!!

Well as surprises have it, I just found out that the Designs by Jayne black wool embroidered bucket bag will appear once again on an upcoming episode of Ugly Betty.  She sure is popular over there!  This time the bag is carried by Ugly Betty’s sister and it will air on Thursday, May 14 @ 8 p.m. (PST) on ABC.  According to inside sources, the bag gets a close up shot.  I’d like to trade places with her.  Here’s another glimpse of the bag:

 Last night I attended the Dougy Center’s first movie night featuring Motherland, a film by Jennifer Steinman.  As expected, I was moved to tears throughout the entire movie.  I can’t believe I went without kleenex.  I should have known better!  It is an inspiring documentary about 6 mothers who come together on a journey to a village in South Africa to help at a daycare center where many of the children are orphans.

The one thing these Moms have in common is that they have all lost a child.  Strangers before the trip, they become close friends sharing some of their most intimate thoughts and feelings about losing a child.  They each have their own story to tell.

But what left a strong impression were the children of this South African community.  Despite their impovershed living conditions, they seemed to have so much joy and happiness. Many of these children only had one meal a day and that was received at the daycare center.   These kids didn’t fight with each other.  In fact, they were helping each other out, singing songs and dancing together, and giving lots of hugs and love.  Many of these children had suffered the loss of a loved one as well.   As I sat their watching them, I realized how much I could learn from their amazing attitudes and simplicity of life.

As the movie points out, the difference in this South African village vs. the United States is that their whole community has experienced many losses.  It is a way of life for them.  They all join together and support one another.  They sing, dance, pray and laugh together.  As shared by the bereaved moms, in our country people don’t know how to deal with death, especially the loss of a child.  So in turn, a bereaved person may feel isolated, alone and not well supported.  Many withdraw from their community as way of coping.   

These 6 bereaved moms were forever changed again from their experience in South Africa.  Motherland is a truely moving and inspirational story of strength and survival.  Thank you Jennifer Steinman for creating such a beautiful piece and for taking us inside the world, if  just for a brief time, of these courageous moms.

As you may know… clothing and accessories designers plan their Fall lines at the beginning of the year or earlier.  Spring and Summer pieces are being designed and created in Fall.  It took me awhile to get on this upside down cycle.  At  least upside down in my mind.  How can I be thinking about Fall colors and heavier materials when all I want to do is wear my bright, lightweight spring clothes and sandals?  And when I’m putting on my Fall sweaters and boots in October, I need to think about Spring and Summer handbags?? 

So with that in mind, I am working on my Fall ‘09 handbag line due to be released in the beginning of May.  I look at the Pantone color report as well as other trend forecasts  for ideas and inspiration.  I love color, texture and the way nature is so brillant in putting things together. 

Here is a peak at some of my recent inspirations:

vibrant, energetic, artsy

 

peaceful, calming, mysterious

Organic, natural, earthy

 

It was St. Patrick’s day and my husband, Chris, and I sat working away in our office.  We decided to follow-up with the Internal Revenue Service to see where our non-profit, Max’s Blue Butterfly, was in the non-profit approval process.  And it was great news…..we had just been approved as a 501(c)(3) non-profit agency.  HOORAY!!  The woman on the other end of the phone said she had never seen anyone be approved this quickly.  It was certainly our lucky day.   Was it the Leprechauns or other powers at work???

Visit our new website http://www.maxsbluebutterfly.org to read about our vision and mission for this non-profit.   

 

 It was a great evening at the Nine’s Hotel in the newly refurbished Meier & Frank building downtown.  Power of the Purse sponsored by Girls, Inc. is a night of glitz, glam, wonderful handbags, generosity and philanthropy.  It was so inspiring that even in this economy, people were opening up their purses and contributing the big bucks for one-of-a-kind gorgeous handbags. 

 Power of the Purse  pairs Portland’s most notable leaders, artists, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists with local purse designers to create handbags of their dreams. Each piece is a unique work of art that is auctioned off during a live fashion show showcasing the fabulous handbags, the creative individuals who inspired the design, and the bright stars of the evening the girls in our community. 

Zari Santner, Brittany, Me Me & Zari enjoying the evening!

 Here’s the purse that Zari and I designed together which went to the highest bidder for $900–all proceeds going to Girls, Inc.

Hand ruched lambskin leather w/bamboo handle

On my last post I wrote about my experience in the KVAL parking lot and how I saw a license plate with 604 and what this meant to me. Well I had another great experience today.  Every other week I volunteer at the Dougy Center where I co-facilitate a group of bereaved parents.  It is one of the most important and fulfilling things that I do.  In any case, I’m driving there this morning thinking about Max and how he would be turning 16 soon, taking driving bootcamp 101 from his Dad and wondering what other crazy things he would be doing as a teenager.  Then I began thinking about how I shared my 604 experience in my last blog post and wondering if I should share more of my Max experiences.  I realize that by sharing these stories some people may think I’m a bit “woo-woo” but I’m also aware that this is very real for me and it might help validate someone else who may be wondering about experiences they are having with a loved one who has passed.  As I’m thinking about this, I look up to the lane right next to me and the car in front has 604 on the license plate.  I had to laugh.  Thanks Max for giving me clarity to see that yes I need to write about my experiences with you. 

If you didn’t read the last blog post, Max’s birthday is June 4 (604) and I happen to see this number on license plates, street addresses, on sides of buses and many more places all around the world.  When this happens, it is my sign from Max that I am on the right track.

Have you had any experiences or signs from loved ones that you want to share?  I’d love to hear about it!