7000 Bracelets for Hope with Znetshows.com

As I mentioned in a blog post last week, I was invited to take part in the latest Znetshow.com lightening round challenge.
The challenge for this particular lightening round was to choose just two blue beads from Znetshows catalog, and with those selections, design and donate bracelets for The Global Genes Project's 7000 Bracelets for Hope campagn.
Please click on the links, I tried to summarize their mission, but I think it's best if you read for yourself. I'd heard about them about a year ago and with my own family's connection to rare and genetic diseases I felt a need to contribute. Before I was invited to this challenge, I'd ordered several Chinese Tiaria crystal rondelles in blue and white from Znetshows.com, whith the intention of donating to the campaign. So I've added a picture of what I've done with some of those beads too. My choices for this lightening round are the teal blue coin beads and the smokey blue 3mm rondelle beads. Which I paired with denim strips, with snap closures, to represent the Global Genes awareness ribbon. There are a total of 16 bracelets so far, five teal coin, two white coin, one butterfly, and eight stretch bracelets. I want to make a few more (I have enough smokey blue beads to make just one more butterfly, but I still have nine teal coin beads left) before I send them off.

Creative Spark Glossie Fall Edition pre-post

First I'd like to thank everyone for the kind replies to my last post, it's going to take time, I know that, and I'm grateful to know so many who understand. I miss my brother, I always will, a part of me will always want to scream and yell, and cry out loud at the whole world as if it were someone's fault. I have questions. I have regrets. And I have hope. Your thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated. 

Jeff lived life the the fullest, and I plan to follow his example. He was a creator too, that's our connection. Occasionally he would ask me about my jewelry work, he worked with hemp and beads, knot work, micro macrame. I'll never have the physical strength to finish the pieces he left behind. But my mother insisted I take them anyway. To try. 

First, I'm trying to pull myself back into the creative mindset. I've followed the last two challenges from Znetshows.com, but without participating. This summer, the Znetshows Design team put together a Glossi, called Creative Spark, an online magazine featuring the products from Znetshows.com, using a theme, "Rings and Bling" and a select group of Znetshows design team members. The next edition of Creative Spark, the fall/winter edition, for which the theme is Pearls, I've been asked to participate. 

These are my bead choices. 

BDS1894-21 Glass pearls round beads O -Black K0808 (16mm)

These big black pearls are enormous, heavy, and solid. Like tiny bowling balls. I love them!!

This picture is a bit deceiving, these pearls are quite small, and very slate gray sky cold...or are they glittering frozen dew? Melt from an icicle hanging from the boughs? 

BDS1795-37 Glass pearls round beads O -Hemitite K0958 (3mm)

BDS1867-08 Glass pearls teardrop round beads O -Grey K0357 (7x5mm)

My non pearl choices: to compliment and accentuate the pearls.

MO529-AS Base metal alloy necklace antique silvertone

RS202-123 Designer glass nugget beads faceted varies Meridian Blue semi-transparent blue coating

And for the next post, Hope has put together 'lightning rounds', challenges with a quick turnaround. I've started a post with my choices and pieces, but I'd like to post it as one post and I'm still working on a couple of pieces. The aim of this lightning round is to make bracelets for the organization Global Genes Project and thier 7000 Bracelets For Hope campagn, who offer hope, encouragement, and blue bracelets to patients and families who suffer from rare and genetic diseases. I'd already planned a donation, and ordered several blue beads from Znetshows.com before I was invited to this challenge and so I have a lot to work with. I'll have that post up soon.