Beads of Courage

Beads of Courage is an amazing organization for children with serious illnesses. Beads are given to the children throughout the course of their treatment for certain milestones etc (check out their website for more info!) http://www.beadsofcourage.net/


I have posted before about my collection of beads that I have been saving for them and tonight I finally got them packaged up and almost ready to go. I don't know why I keep hesitating to send them, I keep thinking, in a few more days I could add some more...


I add to the pile each time I torch, sometimes one or two, sometimes everything I make in one session is specifically for them because I feel it is a great program. I have lost friends and loved ones to cancer as I'm sure many of you have; it's part of the reason I became a nurse...to try and help in whatever way I can. I believe that there are times when even a tiny amount of encouragement or hope can be all a person needs to help them get through the next treatment, the rest of the day....the rest of the week....


I counted them up tonight and there are over 300 beads in the picture below, some are big and some are small, but each one was made with caring and love; and I even added a piece of courage to each of them!


Please check out their website to see the ways that everyone can help this great organization!


Just for reference, the surface covered in this pic is over 3 ft square.

Alchemy

Well, the Alchemy request turned out alright after all! I made 2 beads, the one that I pictured, and the one that she pictured and sent her a photo of both; turned out that she liked my version better! I didn't really care which one she picked, I'm just glad that she was pleased with one of them! ;) Anyway, here is a pic of the bead made into a pendant. The "T" is to represent the Tennessee Vols logo.

My Stuido

Thought I would add some pics of my workspace. Please keep in mind that these were taken before the ventilation was installed. Also just realized that you can't see my kiln in these pictures, it was probably still packed from the move since I didn't get to use it for a few months! I will try to get some more pics sometime, but this is probably the only time you will be able to see the top of the workbench my father in law worked so hard to build for me! ;)