Honest opinions only - don't sugar coat - thanks

[Evelyn]

I have made two different types of angel ribbons, one is the pink cancer awareness ribbon and the second is the yellow support our troops ribbon (portion of proceeds going to The Wounded Warrier Project).  While looking at the color charts for the meaning of the ribbons, there are numerous groups represented, but I didn't really find a category for the craft show that is coming in June to benefit The Laurel Shelter, its an emergency shelter for women and children.  The show is sponsored by the Blue Knights which is a law enforcement club for motorcycles.

To make a long story somewhat shorter, here's my idea.  I'm calling it Ribbon Angel of Hope.  Its made with irriodized crystal ice glass, I turned the wings upside down and left the wings brass and put a dull copper finish on the solder.
Here's my thinking:  With the glass choice, depending on where its located and where you are standing you will see different shapes and colors; with the wings turned upside down the angel can appear to be hovering, flying or landing (depends on your point of view), the Ribbon Angel of Hope can mean many different things to many people, it can be an abused woman hoping for a better life for her and her children, a person suffering from a disease hoping for a cure, hope for world peace, hope for....

For this charity I will be donating a portion to The Laurel Shelter and another donation of $1.00 to the buyers choice - anything - Red Cross, HIV Awareness, Heart Association (just to name a few).

So, is this too crazy, vague...etc...?  Solder the wings?  Flip the wings back? Keep the solder silver?

I would really like feedback

I've posted all three of the angels so you can compare

[JoanFrances]

Evelyn, it is very nice of you to do donations like that.  You may want to narrow you scope on the part where the buyer can choose where their dollar will go, otherwise you may find yourself mailing a dollar check (plus the cost of the postage) to way to many places.

I like the wings going up but that is just me.  I love the iridized glass and the copper/brass

[Anne]

Evelyn, everyone prefers something different so regardless of what , or how many of each you choose to make I'm sure they'll all be a hit.  Hoever because you did ask for honest feedback I am going to give you mine!  I think the nuggets you've used for the head are too small, if you can get the bigger size I think I'd use them.  The body and the wings work together size wise so making the body smaller wouldn't work. For the record I prefer the last two. The one with the wings down don't 'dot it' for me, but like I said everyone will have their own preference.  These are really nice and I expect you'll do really well with them.

[nansea121]

I like your new thought of using irredescent glass! It would represent hope because of the many colours the glass displays. When I first saw the wings, I thought...ahhhh, I wonder where she got those new wings from?
Very cleaver idea of turning them the other way! How about doing a few of each? Some copper and a few silver? If the silver ones go, it'll be easy to solder the other ones to suit:)

[nansea121]

I agree...a bigger nugget would make it look more porportional.

I'm still thinking about those turned wings....maybe make a couple that way but do the majority like you did the first 2.

[Audrey]

I love the iridized glass. Though I prefer the wings up, I also like them down. You might do one color angel down and the others up so they would be a little different outside of the color. You should do well with those. I agree that with a choice of so many charities you will be mailing $1 + postage all over the place. I would give them a choice of perhaps 3 causes to choose from.

[Evelyn]

This is why I love this forum, I have blinders on and can't see but in one direction, and then you all come around and expand my line of vision - thank you!
I'll have to look around and see if I can find bigger nuggets (keeping the costs down within reason)
I wasn't wild about the wings upside down either, but I wanted to also delinate between the other 2 angels - however, if I turn the wings around and leave them as brass - then that might be enough of a difference

I'm going back and experiment more

Limiting the choice of charities is another good idea - but - how do I choose the three????????????

[Elizabeth]

I like the irrid and the idea of 'different things to different people' -either silver or brass/copper is nice. Personally I don't care for the upside down wings.   If you wanted to make them different to the other two,  maybe you could attach them to the inner edge of the ribbon and angle them back a little ? - making them  slightly 3-D.  Just a suggestion as I have never worked with (or seen) the filligree wings and  don't know if it would work.
I aggree with Joan & Audrey to limit your choices of charities...
I think what you are doing is a wonderful gesture and hope they sell really well for you and your chosen charities.

[Elizabeth]

Suggestion to choose your 3  Charities  -  lucky draw out of a hat!!   otherwise you'll agonize for hours to make the right choice!

[Theresa]

Hey Evelyn, I too like the irid and your meaning behind it.

One of your charities could be the local ASPCA or animal shelter.

[Tom]

I dont see a need to let anyone choose a charity, donate that dollar to YOUR charity of choice, and let them know where its going. If they have a different charity they can use their own money for it, and you will save yourself a lot of confusion, and postage.  Just my 2 cents worth (probably not worth 2 cents though).

I got your wings today Evelyn, and will be putting one together either tonite or tomorrow, and will be taking it to the cancer center here.  The race for the cure is this Sunday, on Mothers Day.. that is going to become a tradition here I believe.  I will continue to support them in this cause.  I will tell them if they want to take orders on the day of the race, they can either write them down, and collect checks in my name, or just give people my contact info, and they will get the proceeds.

[Lou Ann]

Not sure what way the wings are but I like the yellow one best...

As far as a source for the nuggets, try Dollar Tree, they have some that are about an inch in diameter that might work, for my flower angels, I also cut circles the size I want out of champagne colored scrap glass...

Another thing to look into for the donations, is I know there is a website out there that will let you make donations with a credit card and as long as the charity particpates with them, you can do as many charities as you want with the one credit card transaction -- this one also waives the credit card processing fees on the behalf of the charity (some internet donation sites as you  to pay an extra fee to use your credit card). I will try later tonight to see if I can find the link (it is in my pages of bookmarks somewhere)

Lou Ann

Almost forgot, this is a wonderful idea. I've been wanting to do something for a friend and her mother who were both diagnosed with breast cancer within the last year so I may need to pm my order to you.

[Evelyn]

here's my first revision - I only made two changes, I turned the wings around and shortened the halo - so what do you think now?

Love the idea of the SPCA as a charity -

Tom, glad you got the wings and hope your angel raises lots of money.

[nansea121]

If you want to leave the wings brass, I'd colour in the solder tacks with a gold paint pen. You could also try a little dab of copper patina where the wings join to the body as well. Shortening the halo was a good idea.

[Evelyn]

If you want to leave the wings brass, I'd colour in the solder tacks with a gold paint pen. You could also try a little dab of copper patina where the wings join to the body as well. Shortening the halo was a good idea.

Nansea,
Was in a hurry to redo this angel just to see and missed the patina on some of the solder lines - the gold pen is a good idea also - I was also thinking about tinning the wings and putting a copper patina on them - making it more uniformed

[nansea121]

If you want to leave the wings brass, I'd colour in the solder tacks with a gold paint pen. You could also try a little dab of copper patina where the wings join to the body as well. Shortening the halo was a good idea.

Nansea,
Was in a hurry to redo this angel just to see and missed the patina on some of the solder lines - the gold pen is a good idea also - I was also thinking about tinning the wings and putting a copper patina on them - making it more uniformed

What is the size of those nuggets you're using now? ... ¾" or 1"?

[Evelyn]

had to go measure - 3/4"

[Evelyn]

Not sure what way the wings are but I like the yellow one best...

As far as a source for the nuggets, try Dollar Tree, they have some that are about an inch in diameter that might work, for my flower angels, I also cut circles the size I want out of champagne colored scrap glass...

Another thing to look into for the donations, is I know there is a website out there that will let you make donations with a credit card and as long as the charity particpates with them, you can do as many charities as you want with the one credit card transaction -- this one also waives the credit card processing fees on the behalf of the charity (some internet donation sites as you  to pay an extra fee to use your credit card). I will try later tonight to see if I can find the link (it is in my pages of bookmarks somewhere)

Lou Ann

Lou Ann,
pm me your address and I'll mail a couple of sets of wings to you.  My order from Warner arrived on Tuesday for the pink ribbons and on Thursday for the yellow ribbons - so I'm willing to share

Almost forgot, this is a wonderful idea. I've been wanting to do something for a friend and her mother who were both diagnosed with breast cancer within the last year so I may need to pm my order to you.

Also, thanks for the heads up on credit card donations - I was looking into the different sites for "how to" donate and hoping that some would do over the internet.

[nansea121]

had to go measure - 3/4"

Ah okey:) You might find some 1" nuggets at Walmart and Michaels (if you have one in your area) as well as the Dollar Stores.

[Evelyn]

had to go measure - 3/4"

we have both - so I'll stop there tomorrow during my travels - thanks

Ah okey:) You might find some 1" nuggets at Walmart and Michaels (if you have one in your area) as well as the Dollar Stores.