Look closely and you’ll see that the flowers on Marji Purcell’s 2″ tall potted plants are actually stoppers for Bottles of Hope.

These recycled glass medicine vials are covered with polymer and filled with good wishes and hope for health. They are distributed to cancer patients.

Cancer survivor and polymer artist Diane Gregoire began the project in 1999 in Rhode Island. The concept has spread internationally and many guilds and organizations contribute their time and art to this project.

Competition for cool BOH designs like Marji’s makes this a popular guild project. It gives you a great reason to clay with friends, learn a few tricks and spread hope at the same time.

Monsters of hope

The monsters of 2016 have raised their ugly heads already. But these monsters from Quebec’s Hermine Robi are full of hope.

For years, Hermine has set aside her scraps and cane ends to cover the small glass vials given to cancer patients who place their wishes and dreams inside these inspiring Bottles of Hope

Hermine has covered the empty bottles for so many years that she settles on an annual theme to focus her designs. Her monsters seem both ferocious and silly, perfect for helping patients look forward with a smile.

Using polymer for good like Bottles of Hope and Beads of Courage (check out their Instagram pix) often has the side benefit of unleashing creativity you may not have tapped into before. The bottles and beads that our local guild collected were infused with energy and caring. Do you have a plan for your scrap this year?

Stay away from Hermine’s Pinterest page unless you’ve got a chunk of time! I got lost in her color board.

Hope hidden in a bottle

Monsters of hope