Beads of Courage, Glow Frit & a Torch Giveaway - Oh My!

I've written about Beads of Courage before, but I've been meaning to share a video about it for some time. Jean Baruch, a pediatric oncology nurse and founder of Beads of Courage, was recently on the CBS Morning Show. Her moving interview and interviews with children in the program can be seen here. After you watch it, you will know why this program is near and dear to so many lampworkers' hearts.

I recently ordered my first batch of Glow Frit. Frit is crushed up glass that can be used on beads for decoration. Glow Frit actually glows in the dark! And here's the connection to Beads of Courage - GlowJoe , the artist who makes the Glow Frit, includes an extra packet of frit with all orders, with one stipulation: use some of this frit to make beads for Beads of Courage. Ok, Joe, you twisted my arm. :)

These little glow critters will be in my next shipment to Beads of Courage. Each one is made with GlowJoe's Netty Confetti Glow Frit. I have a couple more glowing turtles to send, too.

These critters aren't scared of the dark one bit. What a super idea - glow beads for kids! Thank you, Joe!

I highly recommend this seller. Try the Glow Frit and add something unique to your beads ~ plus help out with Beads of Courage - it's a win-win!

But wait - there's even more good news when it comes to Beads of Courage! One of my bead idols (yes, there is such a thing), Marcy of StudioMarcy, is giving away a torch. That's right. She won another torch (ho hum), and because she already has one that is practically identical to this GTT Cricket Torch, she wants to give it away. But there is a catch. A good one. Marcy will put your name into her torch raffle for every 25 beads, or $25, you donate to Beads of Courage. The more beads or money you donate, the higher your chances are of winning. But the big winner will be Beads of Courage, because a torch is excellent incentive for lampworkers and non-lampworkers alike to make more beads, as well as go through their bead stashes, to donate to the program. For all the details on Marcy's giveaway, head to this blog she set up specifically for this event.

I don't know about you, but I sure could use a torch upgrade. So let's all start making and gathering up more beads for Beads of Courage!

Cartoon Inspiration

When I'm asked in blog interviews what inspires me, I know the artsy thing to say would be "nature, textures, the wind, poetry . . . etc." But aside from stuffed animals, I'm most inspired by cartoons. That's right. And I'm not alone.

I still haven't seen Despicable Me, but I've seen the funny little minion characters in the movie trailers. Those are definitely some bead-worthy dudes. Deirdre from anklebiterbeads thought so, too, and she made this little Minion bead, and several more.

Anyone who lives in a pineapple under the sea is definitely an inspiration to sculptural lampworkers. And this bead is by far a perfect tribute to Spongebob himself. Marcy of StudioMarcy made him as a special request for a child in a program called Bead Dreams, which is run through Beads of Courage. Children in the program are suffering serious illnesses, and can request special beads of exactly what they'd like. I'm betting this Spongebob bead (did I mention he glows in the dark?) made a little kid very happy. It makes me happy just looking at it.

I made this little guy after my kids got hooked on the Doodle Jump app. I've only played a few times (I stink), but once I saw the little Doodler I wanted to try to make him out of glass. I gave him an advantage by putting on his jet pack. Now he'll be able to zoom past those funny little monsters . . . hmm . . . those funny little monsters sure would make fun beads . . .