JUNKDRAWERS
A LITTLE OF THIS, A LITTLE OF THAT
FLORAL Flies
Fifteen years ago, Heather Krasnov saved all of her mother-in-law's old zippers and buttons, knowing that someday she would come up with a creative use for them. That day came four years ago when Heather and her husband were touring a museum exhibit of Victorian fashion in San Francisco. Heather saw a dress that had a large flower on its bodice, and the idea for zipper pins was born.
The Holden artist and middle school art teacher experimented many times with the pleating of the zipper and the attaching of the vintage buttons and beads until she was satisfied with the design of the pin. The zipper pins look great on blazers, coats, scarves, hats, and pocketbooks and are available in an assortment of colors for $15 each. Email Heather at hkrasnov@thompson. ctschool.net or call 508-829-9248 for your very own. Think Valentine's Day: these flowers last! Makes a great teacher gift too.
DREAM of Being a TEACHER?
Have you always wanted to be a teacher, but you're busy with the kids or working full-time? Becker College in Worcester offers the only program in the area with 100% of their accelerated elementary education courses in the evenings. If you take one class just one night per week from 6 - 10 p.m., you will earn a bachelor of liberal arts with a concentration in elementary education in two to four years. Plus, you'll be licensed to teach grades one thru six in Massachusetts. Classes are offered Monday - Thursday and run just five weeks each.
Win a Toe Jam CD at baystateparent.com. Click "Enter our contests." "It's a very flexible program," says Katie Hosegood, marketing and recruitment manager for the elementary education program, "Since the classes are only five weeks, you can take small breaks if you are going on vacation. You can also take four classes in a semester, one at a time. This allows you to be a full- time student so that you qualify for low-interest rate loans." Visit becker.edu or call Katie Hosegood at 508-373-9507. She says, "My favorite part of the job is seeing people realize their dreams!"
JAMMIN' School VACATION Shows
The Toe Jam Puppet Band performs the only children's concert we've seen where the adults join in the conga line of their own free will. Tom Poitras and Vinny Lovegrove are great…the kind of guys you wish were your neighbors. Interactive school vacation shows will be held Feb. 16 - 20: Mon. in New Bedford; Tues. in Framingham; Wed. in Norwood; Thurs. in Wellesley and Scituate, and Fri. in Auburn and Milton. (See our calendar on page 24 for more details). Toe Jam just released their third CD, Toe Jam in Outer Space. Visit toejampuppetband.com.
a BUG in your EAR
The Worcester Art Museum has the cutest ear buds for your ipods: ladybugs, bees, and pigs! What a sweet gift for a birthday or Valentine's Day surprise. The buds retail for $14.99 at the museum's store on 55 Salisbury Street in Worcester. Call for store hours and availability at 508-799-4406 or visit worcesterart.org.
Your Baby Can Save a Life: IT'S FREE!
Mary Herlihy, MD, chief of general obstetrics and gynecology at UMass Memorial Medical Center, was notified early last month that three units of cord blood collected through UMass' Cord Blood Donation program in which she spearheaded have been shipped as potentially life-saving gifts to a youngster in Europe, an adult in the United States, and internationally, to an adult with leukemia.
"While we can't identify which of our babies gave these particular units, we think that every mother and baby who donated through our program should take special pride in helping to give such an important gift," said Dr. Herlihy.
Umbilical cord blood is rich in stem cells, which are immunologically immature, resulting in fewer complications to recipient patients when used for treatments which bone marrow stem cells have traditionally been used. Cord blood can be used to treat more than 70 diseases.
UMass Memorial collaborated with Cryobanks International, Inc. to establish the Cord Blood Donation Program in October 2006. UMass Memorial is the only hospital in the state, or in New England, offering a cord blood donation program. Donating cord blood is still an option that many mothers are not aware of. Dr. Herlihy added, "What a great story for a mother to be able to share with her child later on in life—a story of giving."
Mothers-to-be who are interested in donating their cord blood should ideally enroll no later than the 34th week of their pregnancy. They can arrange for donation through their physician, through the Women's Center at UMass Memorial, or with the Cryobanks International local Worcester donor coordinator at 508-799-8864. There is no cost at all to donate. In the event the mother is unable to pre-register, there is an onsite registration process available at the hospital. Patients can also find more information on the Cryobanks International web site cryo-intl.com.
Each month, Junkdrawers strives to highlight people, places, and products in Massachusetts and beyond. Got a quick sec to send us a suggestion? Email editor@baystateparent.com.
