Check This Out

My friend, Marti Plager recently sent me a link to her web page so I could check out some of her new pieces. Her new gallery, "COLORS OF CANCER", is based on the colors chosen to represent different kinds of cancer. Most of us are familiar with the pink for breast cancer, but did you know other cancers are represented by other colors? (Marti and I had talked about these pieces at a retreat we attended together. At that time, she told me she was "struggling with the idea" when I suggested she do small squares in the various "cancer colors." She wanted to let me know she had taken my suggestion and run with it. She has already sold several pieces and is having fun making them. And just so you know, she is selling the pieces for $100. She is donating $90 out of the $100 to the Livestrong program at the Y. She explains what that program meant to her below.)

I asked her if I could share her story about these pieces...so here goes in Marti's words.

As the caregiver for 6 months I couldn’t focus on any creative activity. It was hard to focus on just living and doing what needed to be done. Those months were all about George and the treatment. With gradual return to health  and the Livestrong program we were able to return to a quality of life.  Creating the the small blocks are so much fun. They are not monumental but a satisfying activity. I hope they will bring happy thoughts to others. I love the colors and the chance to use more of my hand dyed fabrics. Each piece is unique so if a person orders a “pink” block, that piece will be different than another person ordering the same color.

They are all 6” blocks and 1 1/2” thick, ready to hang or sit on the shelf. The Northeast Livestrong program at the Y is a 12 week free program for cancer survivors and their caregivers. The goal is to help survivors return to a quality of life through exercise, healthy eating, friendship, motivation and compassion. It’s as helpful for the caregiver as it is the survivor.  We are not in this battle alone.


I thought you might enjoy seeing one of her pieces. This piece is the color representation of brain cancer. (With the passing of John McCain, I thought this was a good piece to show you.) 

Marti says, "All of the squares have a little bit of red as part of the composition representing life and hope."

Please check out Marti's other pieces--maybe one (or more) will speak to you. You can find her "COLORS OF CANCER" gallery here. Check out her other work while you are there.