CHA Anaheim 2008 Follow-up CHA 2008 Anaheim Follow-Up E-Newsletter for Designers & Editors "Bottles of Hope" Challenge to Benefit Children called "Hope on a Rope" Diane Gregoire, founder of "Bottles of Hope" dedicated the AMACO-STAEDTLER HOPE ON A ROPE designers challenge to Susan Clement who has made hundreds of bottles for cancer patients and their families. Susan creates "Hope-on-a-Rope" style necklaces as wearable "Bottles of Hope" for children. We decided to embellish this trend with beadrolled necklaces for our "Hope-on-a-Rope" designers challenge for CHA Anaheim 2008. Click here to visit our Top 25 "Hope On A Rope" Photo Gallery Julie Stephani of Creative Home Arts and Lisa Pavelka awarded Myra Katz the "Best Expression of Hope Award". Myra and her daughter Samantha have been making Bottles of Hope for years as Myra's own battle with cancer created a bond with other patients at her hospital. Click here for more photos of the award ceremony. Diane Gregoire chose Hasbro Children's Hospital to receive the "Hope-on-a-Rope" necklaces saying that she would personally place each necklace with a child. Diane conducts art therapy workshops with children at Hasbro in addition to her workshops at associated LifeSpan hospitals with adults. Hasbro is also the recipient of a donation by AMACO in honor of all the entrants in the challenge and for all those who visited the AMACO booth in February at CHA and dropped off business cards. AMACO awarded Diane Gregoire the Community Leadership Award for her exceptional stewardship of "Bottles of Hope" for the way in which she keeps the purity of her original idea alive as it moves forward without bylaws and governing boards. See podcast of the awards reception. We also acknowledge the Southern Connecticut Polymer Guild for promoting "Bottles of Hope" from its beginning. AMACO-STAEDTLER HOPE-ON-A-ROPE WINNERS Best of Show: Michael Devine People's Choice: Michael Devine Best Use of AMACO Beadrollers: Christy Minnis Best Use of FIMO: Ponsawan Sila Best Expression of Hope: Myra Katz Community Leadership Award: Diane Gregoire Industry editors voted Ponsawan Sila's hourglass (above, right side) the "Best Use of FIMO" award which contained polymer clay hearts. Michael Devine's "Where the Wild Things Are" (left) was voted "Best of Show" by editors and "People's Choice" by CHA attendees. Christy Minnis won "Best Use of Beadrollers" for her "Safari" entry (below, right). Cathy Carlin, the event administrator, is sending out the etched crystal awards to winners, letters to all entrants, and press kit CD's to the Top 25. AMACO is making contributions on behalf of the winners to cancer charities or hospitals as specified by the award winners. Any questions, please contact ccarlin@amaco.com.