A few months ago, Pat wrote a post,
Our Island Dog Goes Hollywood!, about how we were looking for an artist to create a character based on our Island Dog. Here's an excerpt:
Pattie and I are trying to find the right artist to portray Island
Dog in just the right light. Check-out this profile shot near Hernando
Beach:
Island
Dog is a born model. Some would say celebrity! OK. That may be a
stretch - at least for now. But there is no question he has "IT." That intangible inner light that screams "STAR!"
Why do we need an artist? So Island Dog's image can be featured on a fun line of T-shirts, tote bags and beach towels. All profits will help Pat and Pattie help other cancer patients live longer and better lives!
Big head or not, at least Island Dog's heart is in the right place!
But
in the meantime, we need to work hard to try and keep Island Dog humble
and grounded. Next thing we know, Island Dog will sneak-away and
hitch-hike is way out to Hollywood!
Our nephew,
Ted Camper, is an incredibly creative and talented young man. A junior at
the Illinois State University, Ted has volunteered to help us find an artist
for our project. This is my vision. I'm looking for a cartoon
caricature of Finnegan that captures his fun energy and spirit.
So I figured
we should post more pictures to help give someone a "leg-up" (PUN
INTENDED!) on the project.
But first,
here's a bit more about how and why we want to take-on another project, even
when Pat's cancer isn't under control.
Tuesday, Pat
wrote about the project on his daily blog for bone marrow cancer patients and
caregivers, MultipleMyelomaBlog.com.
Let me reproduce that post for you here. It should explain a lot:
Posted on November 27 2012 by Pat Killingsworth | 508 views
I ran this post for the first time last spring. Despite all of the
unexpected ups and downs, Pattie and I are continuing plan for the
future.
I love that! Working hard to build something together. It’s what
helped build our marriage and keep us close for all of these years.
In this case, the plan is to grow our
My Cancer Store
to include more than just books–adding items that can help all of us
improve our quality of life. This might include supplements, CDs, DVDs
and even apparel. We are hoping to start selling Island Dog T-shirts
by spring.
Modeled
after Finnegan–our long-lived shelter rescue–these shirts and other
products will be fun and colorful. Fun projects like these help keep me
from becoming discouraged.
All proceeds from the sales of my books and other products in our slowly developing My Cancer Store go to help us keep doing what we do–keeping everyone updated on the
latest and best ways to live a better life with multiple myeloma and
other cancers.
Now that my fourth book about multiple myeloma,
Financial Aid for Myeloma Patients and Caregivers, will be published soon, I will be able to turn my attention to updating and improving our online store.
In a former life, Pattie and I developed and ran tourist-style shops
in northern Wisconsin. You know, the kind of fun stores that sold moose
tablecloths, antler lamps, T-shirts and fun spices, jams and jellies.
But the days of starting a bricks-and-mortar location are long gone.
Too much time, hard work and financial investment. So for now, we will
focus on our philanthropic cyber plans.
Our young tech volunteer, Robb, suggested we continue expanding our
social media network. So I’m going to run this post again today, asking
that my readers “like”
My Cancer Store. Thanks in advance for helping us out!
Social media. Can’t live with it–can’t live without it!
My brilliant tech volunteer, Robb, has convinced me to start using facebook as a way to help get the word out.
I’ll be honest. I don’t use facebook, except to post links back to my features and articles. But he helped me create a My Cancer Store Wall. Lots of fun pictures. It also allows me to add commentary
about key posts I write from this site and my fast improving–and I think
innovative and a source of lots of great anti-cancer news and info–HelpWithCancer.org site.
That way you regular facebook users can follow what’s going on in one convenient spot.OK, OK. I’m coming around. And although I hate the way businesses
and groups get caught-up-in and shamelessly promote their facebook
sites, I can see the advantages and wisdom of it all.
So click-on that LIKE
button on our Wall and help us out. And in return, I promise to start
updating and adding informational value to the site. Promise!
Who knows? Maybe we can be the next Livestrong! I’m no Lance Armstrong, but I’m trying!
Thanks for reading, everyone! Feel good and keep smiling! Pat
Did you know that I'm a cancer survivor, too You can learn more about us in the "About me" box on the right hand side of our homepage. Does all of this help explain what Pat and I are trying to do?
GOOD! Next, here are a few more pictures of Finnegan for all of you aspiring artists out there in cyberspace that might want to help cancer patients. Some are new. Some we've run before:
You should get the idea by now. Note the black walking harness we use that shows-up in most of the photos. THAT CAN DISAPPEAR. And if an artist would like to use more black spots or shading to help define Finnegan's character, THAT'S OK, TOO.
I'm looking for an Island Dog cartoon character that can do human poses. Like lying in a hammock with his arms crossed over his head. Or leaning-up against a palm tree. Eventually, we hope to have softwear that will allow pet owners to buy shirts using pictures of their pets in tropical scenes, too. And did I mention that Pat was able to purchase the domain name, CalypsoKitty.com? Island Dog and Calypso Kitty. How fun is that!
Island Dog represents love and energy and the islands! And believe it or not, there isn't much fun island wear and apparel available down here. Having run tourist shops that feature sweatshirts and Ts, this surprises me. A golden opportunity to help our brothers and sisters live better lives while they battle cancer!
I will let Pat share details about the business model and how we hope to raise funds sometime soon. In the meantime, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your help getting this project started.
And never, ever forget:
Life is always great on the island!
