Ginny Diezel Studios

As most of you know, I am a pretty optimistic person - not Polyanna, but I generally have a good disposition and believe that there are always many wonderful possibilities which lie ahead of us.  It was with great delight that I found this article on my home page this morning.  I use msn, and this quickly caught my attention.  When you click on this link on the word article, it will take you to a page, and in the search bar, type Optimism and Your Health.  The first article to pop up on the list  is worth your time!  Have a read, and look forward to each and every day!

It is indeed official!  Yesterday, we had the launch of the Together We Can Foundation!  We are a brand new foundation begun in Virginia Beach, Virginia to serve the needs of the underserved in our community.  Our first undertaking will involve foster teens who are aging out of the system.

Are you aware that you and I have a custodial responsibility for every foster child in our communities?  I think most citizens hear the words foster child, and don’t know what that really means.  As soon as a child enters the foster care system, he or she becomes OUR child.  No, it’s not a biological thing, and it’s nothing which requires anyone to be super human.  What it does require, in my opinion, is that a given community must be mindful of what these children experience - and they experience far more than any child should - and work together for positive outcomes.  Through no fault of their own, these children live life on the edge, and they need to come back from that edge and see that there are possibilities for them in the future, regardless of what has happened to them in their past.

That’s where TWC comes in!  We have already been networking within the community, talking with our community college about opportunities for higher education, meeting with individuals who can raise a public profile of this situation through media, etc. etc.  And, yesterday, we were fortunate to have the First Lady of Virginia Anne Holton Kaine to appear before City Council to speak about her For Keeps program she has spearheaded to help foster children find permanent homes.  Prior to her Council appearance, during which time she gave us a big boost, she met with all of the Board members and the juvenile court judges for what was a terrific lunchtime get together!  What an exciting day!

Our Board members are rarin’ to go, so  look for more posts on our activities.  In the meantime, you can check us out at the Together We Can Foundation website.  Take a few minutes and go through our interactive information.  The needs of foster children are not exclusive to Virginia Beach, Virginia.  Nationwide, there are approximately 500,000 children in foster care.  This means that you have children in your area.  Think about how you can help, can get involved, and change a life for the better!

Well, this has to be some sort of computer miracle for me!  I have uploaded my text and my pictures to the working pages for STJ, and I did it all by myself!  Who knew?????????  I did not have my wonderful friend, Matthew Friedman, sitting next to me to keep me from passing out or crying myself into oblivion!  So, since I am getting better at all of this, I thought I would give you all a tiny peek at one of the items I will have available when we have our next pieces available on September 13th!  This is a Santa sculpted onto an unusual piece of wood.  I enjoy doing these so much, because there won’t be any two exactly alike.  Each piece will be an original, one-of-a-kind for any holiday collection!  Take a look, and enjoy!

Howdy, everyone!  In preparation for the September 13th Spooky Time Jingles new offerings, I thought I would post the door prize I will donate.  Remember all of you buyers!  Every time you purchase an item, you get ten chances to win a door prize.  Check out what is available this month on the door prize page, and you will surely be impressed!  We have a terrific group of artists, so make your selections, and you could be a winner!  This little guy will be available to a lucky winner at the end of our September offerings, so plan ahead!   Thanks for looking!

Labor Day greetings to you all!  The last holiday of the warm season, so-to-speak, and I am working on Halloween and yes, Christmas!  These three furry friends just arrived at FolkWorks Gallery in Evanston, Illinois for the big Halloween show which begins this Friday night, and runs through Halloween.  Although these are living temporarily at the gallery, I am hoping they will find good homes soon!  if you like their feline looks, please contact me at ginny@ginnydiezelstudios.com, and I will make some for you!