PORT TOWNSEND — You can don pink sweats and participate in a three-day run to raise awareness of breast cancer and funds to find a cure.
You can buy a pink ribbon and wear it on your coat to show solidarity with women who have breast cancer.
Now you can express your support on a whole different level.
“Bling Your Bra for Breast Cancer” is the latest fundraising idea from Melanie Bozak, owner of Crafts Cottage in Port Townsend, and her daughter Christy Spencer, who teaches classes there.
Last year, the mother-daughter duo organized the first Passionately Pink for the Cure Event in Port Townsend to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
This year, they are adding a two-day scrap-booking retreat at the Harborside Inn, plus holding a Passionately Pink fundraiser on Oct. 18, when the winner of the Bling Your Bra contest will be unveiled.
“The public is invited to vote by putting quarters in the cups,” Bozak said, referring to teacups, not C-cups.
Women — and men — are invited to enter the contest by taking a bra and decorating it with ribbon, lace, sequins, beads, fur or feathers — whatever takes their fancy.
To inspire people, Bozak is offering free workshops at 11 a.m. today, 5:30 p.m. Monday and 1 p.m. Friday, and inviting people to bring a bra and whatever decorations they want.
“You can go nuts with embellishments,” Bozak said.
For ideas, she looked up “decorate your bra” and found photos of women modeling flamboyantly fun creations they had made. One bra had a strings of lights; DIY belly-dancing bras had rings of coins and gold chains.
“When I saw the bacon and eggs one, my mind started racing with ideas,” Bozak said, referring to a bra with bacon-strip straps and cups that look like fried eggs.
Another photo showed a group of women, obviously at a party, all wearing bras completely covered with pink marabou feathers.
The blinged bra can serve as part of a Halloween costume, Bozak said, worn either inside or outside clothes.
Theme creations, like a Madonna bra, are another possibility.
The foundation garment doesn’t even have to have to belong to the person entering it, she said, but could be purchased at a thrift store.
“I have a friend who is buying a giant bra to decorate, and another one who is thinking of using a demi-bra,” Bozak said.
The entries — identified by number, not name — will be displayed in the store a week before the Oct. 18 fundraiser, with voting continuing at the fundraiser, when the winner will be announced.
Passionately Pink for A Cure event is a drop-in event starting at 10 a.m. with a raffle, bake sale and crafts table.
Dedication ribbons will be sold and displayed on the wall, and information about breast cancer prevention and screening available, Bozak said. Donations are also requested at the door.
“It’s really about women helping women,” Bozak said.
Preregistration is requested for the BYB workshops. Bozak also will set up workshops for groups, or talk to organizations about the fundraiser.
To contact her, phone 360-385-0708 or go to www.craftscottage.com.
Crafts Cottage, 1980 W. Sims Way, Port Townsend, is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
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Port Townsend/Jefferson County reporter-columnist Jennifer Jackson can be reached at jjackson@olypen.com.
