Support Christy's Journey to Rebuild After Loss

The sudden loss of Christy’s husband, Artie, in January has brought immense grief and upended her life following 40 years of marriage. Emotionally, physically, and financially, the future feels overwhelming as she navigates life on her own for the first time and searches to fill a deep hole in her life’s meaning and purpose. Currently living with one of her children and finding her footing, Christy is pouring her heart into launching Bell and Lou — an artisan business rooted in the love and encouragement Artie gave her to develop her craft when they first got engaged in 1982. This venture is more than a livelihood; it has taken on a newfound importance as a path to rediscovering purpose and rebuilding a life after Artie’s passing. Rebuilding is never easy - it takes courage and support - but with our help, Christy can turn resilience into reality. Afterall, there are times in life when we all may need a second chance to create, thrive, and find new meaning in our lives.

ABOUT THE BUSINESS

Bell and Lou is about celebrating life’s everyday moments, no matter how mundane or infinitesimal. Life’s small moments can bring such joy: from the morning coffee scent that signals to you that it's time to start your day, to the handwritten notes that make you smile, or the candlelit dinner you have at home “just because.” Our mission is to create products that elevate these moments and reasons to celebrate, turning them into lasting memories to contribute to a more beautiful world.

ABOUT THE PRODUCTS

This concept is deeply personal, built upon Christy’s belief in finding joy in life’s small moments, which has taken on a new significance for her during this challenging time. Anyone who knows Christy knows that she is a talented, passionate, and meticulous creator and that she pours her passion into products that celebrate the beauty in everyday details. Her business products are a reflection of this ethos and are designed to bring meaning and appreciation to life’s simplest moments.

As of now, she has developed the following products:

Balloon bunchers - A near invisible balloon holder that makes it easy to bunch 3 or 5 balloons in a gorgeous pattern within an instant. Each balloon buncher comes with removable adhesive. There are also Balloon Buncher Kits that come with balloons and ribbon.

Felt-based bags - Beautifully designed reusable gift pouches and gift bags made of felt that are perfect for gift cards and small gifts. Each comes with tissue paper and a gift tag ready to use without a fuss.

Paper flowers - Designed to use as gift toppers, these flowers come with removable adhesive, ribbon and a gift tag ready to top the next gift you give.

Mini Banners - Mini personal banners you can send to a loved one or friend. Each banner comes with balloons, mini balloon bunchers and removable adhesive ready to hang with no other materials necessary.

Christy’s products are meant to be reusable. After her business officially launches and is underway, Christy is planning to source sustainable materials for future products.

WHAT WE NEED

Starting a business is both exciting and costly. Your support will enable Bell and Lou to cover essential start up costs such as:

Materials, product design, and development - including prototyping and testing samples, research for future more sustainable materials

Marketing and branding - including branding, graphic design, social media promotion, ad sales, print materials, etc.

Packaging - including stickers and packaging with logo

Distribution - including distributing products to sites of sale and fees for entry into craft fairs or markets

Equipment - maintenance and/or replacement

Estimated total start-up costs: $14,500

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Thank you for your compassion and for being a part of Christy’s journey towards healing and thriving. Your kindness and generosity will help her move forward, heal, and create a beautiful future for many people. You can help in the following ways:

Donate - Every donation, no matter how small, is deeply appreciated and will make a difference.

Share our campaign - spread word about this campaign to friends, family, colleagues who believe in celebrating and creating memories from life’s small moments.

Follow Christy on Instagram - @bellandlou_

A SMALL GIFT FOR YOU

For those interested and who provide their mailing address: Any donations greater than $25 will receive a BalloonBuncherKit. Any donations greater than $50 will receive a BallonBuncherKit and a felt reusable gift card pouch, while donations greater than $100 will receive a felt reusable gift card pouch and two gift bags.