If you are a regular reader of this blog then you will remember me telling you about my lovely friend Beth and sharing her story with you:
This is a little project I have been working on for a while now. I have often mentioned how much I enjoy designing for the digital scrapbook community because it allows me immediate and personal contact with my customers, well this is probably the most poignant example of that interaction and the friendships that grow from it.
A little while ago a special customer contacted me and asked if I would consider making some cancer themed doodles for the cards and journal she was working on while she underwent various treatments for cancer. We ended up exchanging a number of emails and having quite a brainstorming session about what she needed and this little freebie pack was the final result:
Beth is the special customer and her story moved me greatly. Sadly, I am sure that almost everyone reading this will have had their lives touched by cancer in some way.
Beth created these cards to give to other cancer patients she knows, both young and old. Visit her blog to hear more of her story and to download the cards (I love the “Chemosabe” pun!)
I’d just like to say thank you Beth for trusting me to create these and for involving me in the way you did. It was a very moving experience for me and more than a few tears have been shed along the way. I hope your cards can bring some love, support and smiles to all those who receive them and may you always find a way to give voice to your heart xxx
April 2010
Tragically, less than 6 months after we completed these doodles, Beth lost her fight with cancer. We had kept in touch, exchanging emails and layouts, private messages and memories and we had a lovely online friendship that I hold very dear. I had never met her, never even spoken to her on the phone but her shining spirit and generosity touched my heart very deeply and I miss her very much.
A few months after Beth passed away, we heard the news that our next-door neighbour had also lost her battle with cancer. Tracey was a fun and bubbly character, the same age as me and her youngest son is in the same class at school as my daughter. Every day (weather permitting!) my kids played with hers, playing dodgeball over the fence.
Since then, this dreadful disease has touched more amazing women in my life, both in my own family and in the Lilypad family (you can read about Pollywog Melissa’s story and marvel at her utterly beautiful photography on her blog Life as a Lewis).
In honour of all these women I know and love, and in the hope that with enough fundraising and research I’ll never have to add another name to my back-sign again, my daughter and I have taken part in Cancer Research UK’s fundraising Race For Life every year since 2011, leaving a trail of pink feathers and glitter through the Cheshire woodlands!
Thank you so much to everyone who put their hands in their pockets to sponsor us every year, I don’t have the words to express how moved and grateful I am for the contribution from our wonderful online scrapbooking community, you really are the best! Together we have raised over £1500 in Beth and Tracey’s memory.
Beth’s Belief revamped
I spent some time this past week reflecting on friends both new and old who are battling this terrible disease, reading through the old comments on the original post (you can find them below if you would like to read them too) and shedding a few tears as I worked on creating the stamps for this set. The download now contains stamps in the usual three formats, along with the revamped coloured doodles and wordy-bit strips.
I hope that these illustrations will help you record your memories; tell your story; indulge in a bit of scrap therapy or create cards, posters and other personal items for your friends and loved ones as Beth herself did. More than anything, I hope that Beth’s loving, creative spirit lives on in the hearts of everyone affected by this dreadful disease.
Kate Hadfield creates hand-drawn graphics for scrapbookers, crafters, teachers and creative peeps like you! Kate enjoys her artsy process (and getting inky fingers!) and loves that her designs help scrapbookers to record their memories, and teachers and crafters to create beautifully illustrated projects and resources. She lives in north west England and enjoys long walks in the country with her dogs and watching Doctor Who.
Thank you so much! I just discovered you today, and your work is amazing, but your heart is even greater! I don’t have cancer, but numerous disabling chronic “invisible” illnesses. This will allow me to document some of my hospital visits, surgeries, and even just a bad day. Thank you!!! (I’m also sending love and support to all who need it!)
I just did my first Relay for Life after losing my neighbor and good friend, Renee to cancer a few weeks ago. Finding these cancer related scrapbooking items just made me so happy I could cry. Thank you so much!!
I’m so sorry for your loss Melody, cancer truly is an awful disease. Much love to you.
Congratulations on your first Relay For Life! I found my Race For Life (as it’s known here!) runs to be so moving and uplifting, I hope that you had a similar experience.
Thank you so much for sharing. I have stage 4 cervical cancer. This is my second brought with it. I developed it the first time at sixteen; a type you can only get from a drug (DES) your Mother took to stop from losing you and you received in vitro. This time is much worse. Have a wonderful day!
My grandson is in remission and we are praying so hard he stays this way. He has been ill since he was born and it took a year to find why he was so ill. So very hard on a baby. He was just learning to walk and in a 6 month time frame he had 7 bone marrow aspirations and cried so hard when he tried to walk. Still brings tears to my eyes but I am lucky!!! My baby is here and thriving. So many cannot say those same words!!! The kit is perfect to work his hospital stays. Thank you so very much for sharing!!!
Much love to you and your family, and especially your precious little grandson! Thank you for sharing your story, I shall keep your grandson in my thoughts – sending him all best wishes for his continued recovery xxx
Thank you very much for sharing your talent and your emotional story. I too lost my mother to ovarian and uterine cancers. Most of my aunts and uncles pasted from cancers and now several of my cousins have passed from various forms of the disease. I lost my brother-in-laws to lung cancer eleven years ago and several close friends. My sister has had a large melanoma a year ago and seems to being doing well. The numerous forms of this disease claims numerous victims yearly. Thank you and family for taken part in the walk for life in support of research.
Oh my goodness, I am so sorry for your loss, how awful. You and your sister are in my thoughts, all best wishes for her continued recovery. Thank you for sharing your story xxx
Thank you so much for these. Your background to them has broken my heart. Yes, we have all been touched in some way by this terrible thing, so I believe this set will bring tremendous joy to many souls.
Thank you Katie. This is lovely and very kind of you. Thank you to all the brave people out there battling this disease. You give us all a light to follow. Thank you to all those who lost someone to this horrible disease and shared their stories so we could learn from them and find courage and hope in their stories.
Over The Rainbow | Featured Kit
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Thank you so much! I just discovered you today, and your work is amazing, but your heart is even greater! I don’t have cancer, but numerous disabling chronic “invisible” illnesses. This will allow me to document some of my hospital visits, surgeries, and even just a bad day. Thank you!!! (I’m also sending love and support to all who need it!)
Thanks so much for your kind words. I’m so sorry to hear about your illnesses, I hope that today is a good day for you! xxx
I just did my first Relay for Life after losing my neighbor and good friend, Renee to cancer a few weeks ago. Finding these cancer related scrapbooking items just made me so happy I could cry. Thank you so much!!
I’m so sorry for your loss Melody, cancer truly is an awful disease. Much love to you.
Congratulations on your first Relay For Life! I found my Race For Life (as it’s known here!) runs to be so moving and uplifting, I hope that you had a similar experience.
You have such a gift. Thank you for being a light in the world.
Thank you so much for such a lovely comment June, much love to you.
Thank you so much for sharing. I have stage 4 cervical cancer. This is my second brought with it. I developed it the first time at sixteen; a type you can only get from a drug (DES) your Mother took to stop from losing you and you received in vitro. This time is much worse. Have a wonderful day!
Oh JoJo, I am so sorry to hear this, sending you strength and healing vibes. My thoughts are with you and your family, much love to you xxx
Thank you so much for sharing. My sister-in-law was literally diagnosed 2 days ago.
Sending all best wishes to your sister-in-law, I will keep you both in my thoughts xxx
My grandson is in remission and we are praying so hard he stays this way. He has been ill since he was born and it took a year to find why he was so ill. So very hard on a baby. He was just learning to walk and in a 6 month time frame he had 7 bone marrow aspirations and cried so hard when he tried to walk. Still brings tears to my eyes but I am lucky!!! My baby is here and thriving. So many cannot say those same words!!! The kit is perfect to work his hospital stays. Thank you so very much for sharing!!!
Much love to you and your family, and especially your precious little grandson! Thank you for sharing your story, I shall keep your grandson in my thoughts – sending him all best wishes for his continued recovery xxx
Thanks Kate, I’m in the midst of chemo right now, so this has special meaning for me. I am very sorry for the loss of your friend.
I’m so sorry to hear that, I shall keep you and your family in my thoughts Electra. All best wishes for a speedy recovery xxx
Thank you very much for sharing your talent and your emotional story. I too lost my mother to ovarian and uterine cancers. Most of my aunts and uncles pasted from cancers and now several of my cousins have passed from various forms of the disease. I lost my brother-in-laws to lung cancer eleven years ago and several close friends. My sister has had a large melanoma a year ago and seems to being doing well. The numerous forms of this disease claims numerous victims yearly. Thank you and family for taken part in the walk for life in support of research.
Oh my goodness, I am so sorry for your loss, how awful. You and your sister are in my thoughts, all best wishes for her continued recovery. Thank you for sharing your story xxx
Thank you, Kate. I shed a few tears reading your post.
I shed a few writing it! Thanks for leaving a message xx
Thank you so much for these. Your background to them has broken my heart. Yes, we have all been touched in some way by this terrible thing, so I believe this set will bring tremendous joy to many souls.
Thank you so much for your kind words Linda xx
So sad, but thank you much too. I can use this.
So beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing. Very near and dear to my heart as well. God Bless.
Thank you Katie. This is lovely and very kind of you. Thank you to all the brave people out there battling this disease. You give us all a light to follow. Thank you to all those who lost someone to this horrible disease and shared their stories so we could learn from them and find courage and hope in their stories.
Thank you for your lovely message Boo, such kind words for everyone facing this terrible disease! Thank you.