Bead of the Month

August 2024 Bead of the Month- The Dragon Egg Bead wishes you feelings of safety and protection. “Dragons are the guardians of dreams!”-UnknownAbout the Artist:"I've been making beads for over a dozen years and love making whimsical beads for kids and adults. Bright colors and silly designs appeal to me, but I also enjoy experimenting with all sorts of bead styles and techniques." - Lisa HanleyArtist inspiration: Peeking out of this egg is a magical little dragon. Revered as guardians in...

July 2024 Bead of the MonthAbout the Artist: "Years ago, I apprenticed as a goldsmith in the Caribbean. Here, I found an appreciation of jewelry and wearable art. Over the years, I have been fortunate to study other techniques that include flameworked glass, fusing, precious metal clay, bead weaving, knitting, wire working, and braiding. In 1998, I started Beads by Design, a retail bead store in Georgia, where I have been able to share much of this knowledge with others providing them with the...

June 2024 Bead of the Month"Castles symbolize fortitude and protection. I made this little talisman to remind me to protect my inner sanctuary when things get tough, a reminder that there are fairy tales and magic all around me and especially within. This pewter bead is handpainted with special powders so the colors appear to shift!" - Cynthia ThorntonAbout the Artist:  Cynthia Thornton creates magical things in Asheville, North Carolina. She and her husband Greg make Green Girl Studios...

May 2024 Bead of the Month Artist Inspiration: "I love the way the world looks so clean and beautiful after the rain, and rainbows are such beautiful surprises. The sloth is clinging to a rainbow, or maybe climbing a rainbow, and noticing the magic of nature. I imagined the sloth is slowing down to enjoy the moment."About the artist: Kari Chittenden started making glass beads in 2000 as a fun hobby to share with her then 12-year-old daughter. She loved making animal beads and other whimsical...

April 2024 Bead of the MonthThe unicorn is a symbol of hope when times are tough. It reminds us that anything is possible. The unicorn has deep inner strength--and so do you! About the Artist: Audra Delashmutt is a Beads of Courage Hall of Fame bead artist. Audra has been making beads for over 20 years. She lives in Illinois with her family and furry studio helpers. Audra has been making beads for Beads of Courage since 2017. She says, "to me there is nothing more magical than a unicorn. It is...

March 2024 Bead of the MonthLavender is a hopeful and optimistic color, and polka dots are just plain fun! This little guy, with his open heart and surprise gift of a bouquet of flowers, wants everyone to know there's always a reason to be hopeful and optimistic!About the Artist:Diana Spiller is a Beads of Courage Hall of Fame bead artist. Diana shares, “I have spent my entire life dabbling in art, but when I discovered beadmaking 10 years ago I truly fell in love! I loved the torch, the glass...

February 2024 Bead of the MonthFairytales say fairies, gnomes, and other forest creatures live in mushroom houses and toadstool cottages. This whimsical home features a window and door that can be "opened" with your imagination. About the Artist: About the Artist: Kari Chittenden started making glass beads in 2000 as a fun hobby to share with her then 12-year-old daughter. She loved making animal beads and other whimsical designs. That's what Kari still loves to make! Beads of Courage is close...

October 2024 Bead of the MonthArtist Inspiration"Stepping out of my usual comfort zone, these were exclusively made for Beads of Courage. I thought whimsical pumpkins would be fun for the October Bead of the Month." About the Artist"I'm a lifelong artist and have been a glass bead maker for over 20 years. Born and raised in the beach cities of California, my inspiration usually comes from the colors of the ocean and beaches."- Donna Conklin ...

September 2024 Bead of the Month"I've always been fascinated by dragonflies. They are magical. They spend the first part of their lives as water creatures and then creatures of the air. They are ferocious, devouring mosquitos like candy, but are also graceful and seem to bestow a blessing of peace on us when they fly close. I thought it would be the perfect subject for a 'fantasy' bead because, although they are real, dragonflies seem like they should inhabit the fairy realm.I've placed each...

December 2023 Bead of the Month - "The bluebird is the symbol of happiness. May this little bead bring you a happy smile when you get it." - Debbie Sims, Bead Artist About the artist: Debora Sims has been donating beads to the children for over ten years. She was in the first group of bead artists enrolled in the Hall of Fame. Beads of Courage has sent her beads into outer space and on the Iditarod sled dog race. She has a grandson who was enrolled in the program and understands both...

November 2023 Bead of the Month - "Having had a child who was ill, Carol can appreciate the difficulties of medical experiences and beads bring her joy. It is her wish that her beads help kids and families find joy when they need it most."It is my hope that my colorful beads put a smile on a sick child's face."- Carol Crye About the artist: Carol Crye works as a nurse practitioner full-time and enjoys lampworking and quilting in her free time. Carol has been lampworking for 24 years...

October 2023 Bead of the Month -  "The thing that brings me joy is books and getting lost in a good story." - Bead Artist, Stephanie White About the artist:  Stephanie has been making beads since 2001 and is a Beads of Courage Hall of Fame Artist. She loves watching the glass melt and using heat, gravity, and hand tools to create intricate and complex beads. She works at Beads By Design in Marietta GA and is lucky enough to be able to melt glass almost every day. ...