Thanks to Christine Van Dyke Altmiller of One Kiss Creations Beaded Jewelry and Erin Fickert-Rowland of Elysian Studios Art, I became involved in the 7000 Bracelets for Hope project earlier this year. These wonderful ladies hosted a blog hop, whereby each designer was to create and donate a bracelet to the Global Genes Project - 7000 Bracelets for Hope. The bracelets are donated to mothers of children with a rare disease. The only real requirement for the design was to make the bracelet blue. This is what I donated:
I received an email in May from Lisa at the Global Genes Project, thanking me for my bracelets, and asking me if I would be willing to make up to 75 bracelets for their Gala on September 27th. She asked me for a price - but I am simply donating the bracelets for this very worthy cause!
 |
| Please click here to read about the 7000 Bracelets for Hope project |
I immediately went to my huge stash of beads and realized...I need more beads! One of my all-time favorite bead-makers is Susan Kennedy of Sue Beads. So, in early June, I commissioned Sue to make me 50 sets of lampwork beads! I was not specific - I simply said "make them blue or blue-green", because quite frankly, her beads are so gorgeous that I knew I could design with any bead she gave me. I asked her to send me a few sets at at time - I have received about 22 sets of beads so far from Sue, and combined with my current stash of beads, made 44 of the 75 bracelets (please click on the photos for a larger view):
I plan to take individual pictures of each of the bracelets once completed - I hate taking and editing pictures, so I am procrastinating and saving that task until the end!
In addition to the gorgeous lampwork by Sue Kennedy, I have utilized some awesome artisan components from artists including Lesley Watt (two bronze bracelet connectors, charms, headpins; and PMC silver components as well); there are two beachy bracelets using gorgeous porcelain beads by Sheri Mallery of Slingin Mud; lampwork by Donna Millard, lampwork by Maryse Fritzsch-Thillens of Glass Bead Art; gorgeous bronze components by LeAnn Weih of Summers Studio; lampwork by Kaz Baildon of Cheeky Cherub Designs; lampwork by Rachel Bishop of Puffafish Lampwork; and etched metal beadcaps by Lisa Liddy of Metal Me This.
I have been working with a lovely woman who works for the Global Genes project, Chris Hemple. She is the mother of 8-year old twins that have a rare, and fatal disease. PLEASE click here to read their story and send them some love. I cannot imagine walking in her shoes....
Working on these bracelets has been quite cathartic for me - my yellow lab, Sam (truly, my very best friend I have ever had in my 51 years) passed away three weeks ago. I miss him sitting at my feet when I am working at my jewelry table, begging me to take him outside --yet again -- to see what new smells the neighborhood has for him.
In addition to this bracelet project, I have a show to attend to next week. So, I had better get back to work! Thank you so much for stopping by!
Wow! Wonderful bracelets and such a food cause! If you need some more beads for this project, let me know and I will gladly make some and send a gift bag full of them your way ;-)
ReplyDeletePatti! These are beautiful and very very generous! WOW! Good therapy for a broken heart.
ReplyDeleteI made and sent in one memory wire bracelet. those are beautiful bracelets. It's such a good cause. I am looking forwar to seeing the individual pictures.
ReplyDeleteWow! how incredibly awesome are you to give so much of your time and energies to this project - well done you. I've spotted a couple of beauties in there but can't wait to see them all individually.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful idea and so glad to see.Lovely blog. love and hugs Tanya
ReplyDeletePatti, I am honored and grateful to be part of your incredibly generous donation of time and resources to this cause! You are truly a generous person! I'm so sorry to hear about your best friend, I had no idea. I still cry about my kitties, I miss them so much! The bracelets are all so gorgeous, they are lucky to have you make them for them!
ReplyDeletePatti, you are such a generous soul with a heart of gold. What an incredibly worthy cause. And such an ambitious project - one that will be cherished by the recipient. That's a lot of beads and bracelets! I can see why you are dreading taking the pictures though - group shots will suffice for now but we want to see more close-ups! ;-)
ReplyDeleteI know you miss your sweet friend. It is so hard. Now that I'm at the beach where we spent our last summer together, I think of Hodgie all the time. It used to be the two of us up late at night and now he is sorely missed. Sending you a hug, Patti!
Those are gorgeous! what a great donation!
ReplyDelete