Supporting Carla, Artful Heart and Handworks

Artful Heart and Handworks are asking for our community’s help in supporting our owner, Carla, during her treatment for stage 3 t-cell lymphoma.

The Artful Heart Gallery of Arlington and Handworks Gallery of Acton are two small businesses that proudly support local and fair trade artisans by allowing them to showcase and sell their merchandise.

Carla is the backbone of her stores. She has curated both an extensive selection of quality merchandise, as well as the personal and accommodating nature that her galleries are known for. Her dedicated involvement is not only essential in making the stores run smoothly but in being able to support the livelihood of both her employees and artists.

Over the past year and a half, Carla has attended countless appointments, tests, and some pretty intense chemo to diagnose and treat her lymphoma. In wonderful news, she is in remission and beginning her final hurdle - a stem cell transplant. This is a very important, but lengthy treatment where she’ll spend three weeks in the hospital and then several more quarantining at home to rebuild her immune system safely. Overall, Carla will be recovering for 3-6 months.

While we are all excited about this last step, Carla’s absence puts a financial strain on her stores. Even through her chemo, she has worked tirelessly between the two galleries, so between hiring more help for the coming months and entering the slower post-holiday season, small businesses like us need more support during this time.

Please consider donating to help support Carla, her employees and the many artists we represent. If you can’t donate, please consider choosing Artful Heart or Handworks next time you’re shopping for a card or meaningful gift.

Love from the Artful Heart and Handworks Teams