A Songbird Sings: Robin Lane

Looking Back & Giving Back

While watching an episode of Chronicle on July 25th, I was amazed with the "Ballad of Robin Lane". Robin was a rock 'n roll icon from the 1980's. I remembered her band, The Chartbusters and listened about her life since and up to her recent non-profit organization, songbirdsings.org which is focused on helping those suffering from trauma. Whether it be abuse, PTSD, incarceration or exploitation and other forms of trauma, the organization wants to help -- one song at a time by providing support systems and music therapy.

I contacted Robin via Facebook to let her know that I loved the episode and asked how I could help. Fundraising is the best way to support this non-profit. So I set up a donation page at Fundraise.com. I donated $100 and my mother, Lorraine donated $50. Additionally, I am selling four $30 PRAY IT FORWARD necklaces on Cherished Saints, where $10 profit from each sale will go to Robin's organization.

Robin has been busy promoting Songbird Sings with public appearances and performances -- and her CD, "A Woman's Life". Consider making a donation this holiday season or purchase Robin's CD -- to make a difference and to give back by helping others that have suffered major trauma in their lives.

Robin Lane ROCKS!

Background on Robin Lane direct from Wikipedia:

Robin Lane (born 1947, Los Angeles, California) is an American rock singer and songwriter. Her band, Robin Lane & the Chartbusters, released three albums on Warner Bros. Records in the early 1980s, and was best known for its single "When Things Go Wrong".

Robin Lane grew up in Los Angeles. Her father was Ken Lane, songwriter and pianist for Dean Martin; her mother was a model. While in her teens, Robin began singing and performing in folk-rock clubs in southern California. From 1968 to 1970 she was married to future Police lead guitarist Andy Summers. In 1969, she sang backing vocals on the song "Round & Round" on Neil Young's album Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere. In the 1970s, Lane moved to eastern Pennsylvania and then to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where her musical interests turned from folk-rock to a harder sound influenced by the growing punk rock and New Wave genres.

In 1978, Lane formed the Chartbusters with Asa Brebner and Leroy Radcliffe (of The Modern Lovers), Scott Baerenwald and Tim Jackson. She had signed with Private Stock Records, which shortly afterward went out of business. After Jerry Wexler saw a Chartbusters show, however, he signed the band to Warner Brothers. Their first album, Robin Lane & the Chartbusters (1980) featured the singles "When Things Go Wrong" and "Why Do You Tell Lies?", earned favorable reviews, and received widespread airplay; the music video for "When Things Go Wrong" was the 11th song shown on MTV's first American broadcast day, August 1, 1981. The band had two more releases on Warner, the EP "5 Live" (1980) and "Imitation Life" (1981). The limited commercial success of these records, combined with business disputes and Lane's desire to have a child, led to the breakup of the Chartbusters in 1983.

Lane continued writing and recording music, and released the independent EP "Heart Connection" (1984), the self-produced cassette In Concert (1989), and the full-length Catbird Seat (1995). She co-wrote the song "Wishing On Telstar" for the 1991 Susanna Hoffs album When You're a Boy.

In 2001, Lane and several of the Chartbusters regrouped for two reunion concerts, and decided to continue recording and performing; they released "Piece of Mind" in 2003. Since then, Lane has moved to western Massachusetts, where she works with the Turners Falls, Massachusetts Women's Resource Center, using music therapy to aid survivors of abuse.

Background from the website of Songbird Sings:

The Mission of Songbird Sings

It is the mission of Songbird Sings to transform those silenced by domestic violence, sexual exploitation, post traumatic stress disorder, childhood abuse, war, and incarceration, enabling them to give voice to their experiences and emotions. Through songwriting and creative collaboration, participants find the key to their own healing, developing inner strength and resilience as they come to trust themselves and others, while building support systems between those with a shared history of trauma. 

Future goals:  To create a nation-wide network of accredited instructors to offer Songbird Sings songwriting and recording workshops for trauma survivors.

Blessed with Friends from a Lifetime

Last night, I met up with three friends of thirty years for a reunion dinner (our third this year). Over the years, our lives have changed. Jobs (we all met at UPS back in the 80's), marriages, kids, dating and relationships -- but we've stayed in touch in one way or another, sometimes not as often as we'd like. But -- there remains a strong bond of friendship between us -- and a history.

It's rare though, in this day and age for key friendships to transcend time. It's a special bond that can't be broken as we always pick up where we left off. It's catching up on current events in each other's lives, reminiscing on the past and talking about taking a trip to Europe together. And we laugh and we laugh.

This digital world makes staying in touch so much easier since our friendships began in the days before email, computers, smartphones and Facebook. I am thankful and feel blessed to have these amazing friends in my life -- then, now and as we grow older.

Reminds me of a quote by one of my favorite artists (and name of one of my Savannah's) Georgia O'Keefe.

Georgia O'Keefe once said, "Nobody sees a flower really; it is so small. We haven't time, and to see takes time - like to have a friend takes time".

And that it does -- TIME to have and to keep a friend.

Seller Spotlight: Josie & Perri

Etsy offers unique, vintage, handcrafted items from artisans around the world. Some of my favorite Etsians sell vintage medals too. I just purchased a gorgeous vintage, silver medal from Joan -- who is the artisan and visionary behind Josie & Perri. 


Josie and Perri offers a collection of handcrafted jewelry featuring vintage and antique religious medals and more. Some have been hand-selected in France. The charms, medals and crosses are often added to hand designed chains with pearls and gem stone beads. The prices are amazingly low for such quality designs. Great gifts to consider this Holiday Season and truly one-of-a-kind!


                                                                            Blessed Virgin Mary Necklace

Saint Joan Necklace

Vintage Theda Marcasite Cross with Pale Rose Tourmaline

Sterling Silver Miraculous Medal Necklace

A Tale of Two Saints: Anthony & Christopher

Saint Anthony and Saint Christoper are two major protectors so I was thrilled when I came upon this amazing two-sided sterling vintage medal.

Saint Anthony & Saint Christopher Double Protection

HISTORY LESSON: 

There is perhaps no more loved and admired saint in the Catholic Church than Saint Anthony of Padua, a Doctor of the Church. Though his work was in Italy, he was born in Portugal. He first joined the Augustinian Order and then left it and joined the Franciscan Order in 1221, when he was 26 years old. The reason he became a Franciscan was because of the death of the five Franciscan protomartyrs -- St. Bernard, St. Peter, St. Otho, St. Accursius, and St. Adjutus -- who shed their blood for the Catholic Faith in the year 1220, in Morocco, in North Africa, and whose headless and mutilated bodies had been brought to St. Anthony’s monastery on their way back for burial.  St. Anthony became a Franciscan in the hope of shedding his own blood and becoming a martyr. He lived only ten years after joining the Franciscan Order.

Saint Christopher died a martyr in Lycia in 251 A.D. during the reign of Decius, a Roman Emperor who conducted the first systematic persecution of Christians. Very little is known about Christopher's life, but many legends have developed around his name.  One of the most popular legends describes the saint as a tall man of tremendous strength who made a living carrying people across a raging river. One day his passenger was a child who grew so heavy as they crossed the river that he feared they would both drown. Christopher was amazed that one so mighty as himself could be overcome by one so small. The child then revealed that he was Christ, and the heaviness was caused by the weight of the world which he bore. The name "Christopher" means "Christ-bearer," and it is no surprise that he is often depicted as carrying a child, who, in turn, is carrying a globe.  It was a common medieval custom to place a large mural of the saint opposite the south door of the church, in belief that the sight of it would safeguard the passer-by from accident that day. In modern times, St. Christopher is considered to be the patron saint of travelers, especially of motorists. St. Christopher is listed among the "Auxiliary Saints", or the Fourteen Holy Helpers, venerated for the efficacy of their prayers in time of need. His feast day, July 25, was dropped from the Roman Calendar of 1969, but may be observed locally, or in churches which bear his name.

First Blog: Greetings from Cherished Saints

Cherished Saints is a collection of silver religious saints and icons, new and vintage from France, Italy and other worldly places. 

It all began when I started my own personal collections of medals for necklaces and bracelets. And now I search for them everywhere. 

My favorites are engraved with names and dates from previous owners, lifetimes ago.

This blog will share information about Patron Saints, religious medals, jewelry, design, shopping, pets, horses, cowboy boots, chit chat and more.  Hope you'll join me in the discussions!

Rachelle