Wings of Refuge News
Susan Gainen - nanoscapes, llc
May 31, 2010One of the greatest gifts that an artist can receive is to learn how your artwork touches people.
In early 2006, my friend Gina Rowsam bought a note card with the image of a very small painting called "Winged Flight." In mid-2009, she found that card and wrote a wonderful message for Jessie Boone, a young woman whose courage, fortitude and faith through the aftermath of a terrifying ski accident and subsequent brain trauma has made her and her family the focus for the thoughts, prayers and goodwill of many, many people.
Jessie's mother Lisa looked at "Winged Flight" and saw the hands of everyone who had supported them through this time, giving Gina an idea. The idea germinated the next day, when Lisa showed Shelley Lamle the note card.
They asked if "Winged Flight" could be made larger, but the original 3"x5" image was one of the first of my really tiny nanoscapes, and sizing it up was not an option. I offered to create a larger painting, which Gina and Shelley decided to purchase for Jessie. They asked that copies of the original and note cards be made available for purchase by others.
In "Jessie's Wings," I tried to capture the spirit of "Winged Flight," so that its 673 "wings" honor the people who have loved and supported this brave young woman, her friends and family.
"Jessie's Wings" honors everyone who loves and supports survivors. VIEW PHOTO
My Little Chickadee Creations - products inspired by Wings of Refuge!
May 31, 2010Ellie Jacobson, owner of My Little Chickadee Creations, has created a line of products that were inspired by Wings of Refuge. From now until June 30th she will be donating 40% of the sales of those items to Wings of Refuge. Be sure to stop by Ellie's booth at Band Together June 12th-13th to help support two great causes! For more information on My Little Chickadee Creations be sure to visit Ellie's fundraiser section on her Etsy store.
Wings of Refuge co-founder Ashley Gray interviewed by Paper to Pearls
May 26, 2010Paper to Pearls, a non-profit that works with the Women of Uganda among many other things, wrote about its ties with Wings of Refuge in a recent article. Read the entire press release!
Wings of Refuge featured on Socialize Your Cause as "Cause of the Week"!
May 24, 2010For a week, Wings of Refuge was featured as the "Cause of the Week" on Socialize Your Cause, a website which uses Social Media to raise awareness for Nonprofits, Charities, & Causes. Read the full feature article!
Want to be part of a team going to Tanzania this coming November?
April 11, 2010We are building a team to bring to Tanzania November 6th-20th, 2010. The main goal of this trip will be to complete the Lawate School Project. For more information on the Lawate School Project, please see our Orphanage Project page. For details on the trip, or how you can be involved, please contact us.
Details on the last trip
April 11, 2010Ashley and Justin had a fantastic, and very productive, trip to Tanzania this past March, 2010. For more detailed information, please see our Orphanage Project page.
Make a donation today and get FREE merchandise!
February 4, 2010$5 gets you a cause bracelet, $10 gets you a cause bracelet and 2 cards, $25 gets you a cause bracelet and choice of calendar or T-shirt, $50 gets you a cause bracelet, 5 cards and choice of T-shirt or calendar, and $100 gets you one of everything! (Free Shipping! While Supplies Last. Offer good through February 12th, 2010)
Wings of Refuge Blog now available
January 31, 2010Follow along with Wings of Refuge on their journeys by reading the new blog - available at http://wingsofrefugetz.wordpress.com
Wings of Refuge launches their YouTube Channel
January 31, 2010Not only can you hear what Wings of Refuge is up to by checking out our website, you can see it too! Be sure to stop on by our YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/wingsofrefuge
Wings of Refuge featured in latest Paper to Pearls Newsletter!
November 11, 2009In the latest newsletter from Paper to Pearls, Wings of Refuge is the featured website! Click here to see the full newsletter. Also, Wings of Refuge is featured on the Paper to Pearls links page: www.papertopearls.org/links.htm
beBOLD - Coming Soon
November 4, 2009One World. One Week. One Cause. Something big is going to happen during Thanksgiving 2009. beBOLD with us. Follow us on Twitter to find out more details. Search Twitter for #beBOLD to see who is already BOLD.
Purchase the 2010 Twin Cities Entertainment Book
September 29th, 2009We are selling 2010 Entertainment books to raise money for our Orphanage Project! Contact Ashley Gray if would like one, they should arrive in the next week or so. They are $35 and have $19,600 worth of coupons to local and chain entertainment spots. Great gift idea or handy to have around for tough economic times like this!
Wings of Refuge T-Shirt - Now Available to Pre-Order
September 17th, 2009Our new t-shirt, designed by Tom Wichterman of Lioncrest Design + Apparel, is now available for pre-order! Click here to view the shirt design: Front Back. If you would like to order one, email Ashley Gray at ashley.gray@wingsofrefugefoundation.org. They are $20 if you pick it up, $25 if we ship it.
Paper to Pearls to be featured in International Paper Jewelry Show
September 14th, 2009Congratulations are in order for fellow organization Paper to Pearls on their honor of being featured in the International Paper Jewelry Show hosted in Milan. For more information, read the entire press release.
Official Help Turn Wine into Hope invites now available!
September 9th, 2009Click here to view the official invitation. The current item list for the silent auction (as of 9/22/09) includes: Minnesota Vikings autographed photos (individual pictures + autographs of Adrian Peterson, Kevin Williams and Chester Taylor), a bottle of RandyZin 2007 Sonoma County Red Zinfandel, PartyLite basket, Wings of Refuge jewelry, Shaklee Get Clean starter kit, Artwork by John Fellman, Life Coaching by Sheri Benjamin, Maple Grove Gift Company basket, Arbonne skin care set, Gift Certificate to April & Co. salon, Tastefully Simple basket, Become Beauty skin care basket, Tupperware, African Artifacts, Twins Merchandise, Handyman services by Bakken Handyman, and Life Coaching by Jennifer Brentano.
Tons of New Jewelry Coming Soon!
September 9th, 2009We have been hard at work, and have tons of new jewelry coming your way! Check back soon or contact Ashley.
"Eco Chic" is the hot trend this fall!
September 3rd, 2009We are very proud to annouce that the Paper to Pearls jewelry will be featured at the Triennale Design Museum of Milan from September 15th - October 15th, 2009, and will then be on an international tour ending back in Italy in 2010 at the Museo della Carta of Fabriano. “This honor is not only a testament to the beauty and quality of our jewelry,” said Barbara Moller, president and founder of Paper to Pearls. “It also represents the recognition of our beaders as artists, now taking their place along side some of the most celebrated jewelry artists in the world. These women, whose lives have been forever scarred by conflict and poverty, can now see how much their work is valued and appreciated – and that it touches the lives of people in countries and communities all over the globe."
For more information on the Wings of Refuge paper beads jewelry, please contact us. Online shopping cart will be up soon, keep checking back!
Help Turn Wine into Hope Benefit
September 1st, 2009Wings of Refuge is holding a wine tasting and silent auction benefit on October 24th, 2009 at WineStyles in Champlin, MN. The event is an open house from 2-8 PM, with the silent auction from 4-7 PM. Tickets are on sale now for $15, and include unlimited wine sampling and appetizers. To purchase tickets to this event, or to donate to the silent auction, please contact Ashley Gray at ashley.gray@wingsofrefugefoundation.org.
Wings of Refuge t-shirt COMING SOON!
August 25th, 2009Wings of Refuge has teamed up with Tom Wichterman, owner of Lioncrest Apparel + Design, to design a WOR t-shirt! Keep checking back for more information.
Wings of Refuge is now on Twitter
August 20th, 2009Check out Wings of Refuge on Twitter. Add WingsofRefugeTZ to your following today, and invite others to, too!
