Have you ever made a Bottle of Hope? Do you know what that is? I first became aware of BOH when I started doing polymer clay many years ago. I can remember several of us sitting around a big table with swirling mixes of PC in front of us. We decided to do BOH as a project. We covered small medication bottles with clay and decorated them to our hearts content. Some time later one of our teachers (Rhonda) taught us how to bead around them. The variations are infinite, depending on the beads you use. You can do peyote, netting, etc. or even, as in the above case, in bead embroidery. These bottles are then given to cancer patients as a symbol of hope for their recovery. It is a very worthwhile project. It is understood that these bottles are never to be sold, but are to be given as gifts. I have seldom found a more satisfying way to provide encouragement to those suffering from this dreaded disease. Try making one. Give it away. You will see what I mean.
Just a quick peek at my May page. Can you guess what it is? Most of it is done in 15/0's with a few 11/0's thrown in. This one is very labor intensive, but I think it will be worth it. I found out it's hard to photograph all those off white beads. I'm off to teach a Freeform Peyote bracelet at Beads, Etc. today. Should be fun.
Well, I just sent off my payment for my BFAC (Beading for a Cure) kit for this year. I can't wait to get it and see what colors we'll be working with. I'm not sure exactly what I'll be doing this year. Have to wait until I get the kit. I know it will be gorgeous as Beki Haley is making up the kits this year. Do you think it might have a rivoli in it? LOL. The proceeds from the auction, which starts in March , will go to Colorectal Cancer research. Watch my blog for further info about the auctions. This is done in memory of a friend of our group named Layne. She succumbed to this kind of cancer several years ago.In other news, I am about a third of the way finished with my May page. Once again, it will be different from the others. I am trying for a more dimensional look on this page. It will include some beautiful little star flowers I learned from Beki Haley while at the Tahoe Retreat this past October.More later.......
Finished this a few minutes ago. Is it bright enough for you? I started out with the large square bead with the stripes. Does anyone know what it is? It's known as Fordite. In truth, it is made up of many colors of automotive paint. I pulled all my colors from this bead. As I worked, I realized it made me think of all the Carnival celebrations in Rio and the Caribbean islands. The ruffles made me think of the beautiful costumes. If you look closely, you will see some of the irridescent sequins that you might find on those costumes.
This page is for April and is called Tropic Carnival. I don't usually work with such a variety of hot colors, but it just seemed to call for it. It was a fun page to work on. Guess I'll have to start thinking about the next one. LOL.
Here is a sneek peek at my April page for BJP. No, I am not a beading maniac (well, maybe I am). I have a perfectly good reason for beading ahead. I'm hoping to get a kit for this year's BFAC (Beading for a Cure). I figure if I can get the kit, finish it and send it off right away, then I can't lose it like I did last year. Duh! Wouldn't you think I would quit putting things in a "safe" place?
This page is totally unusual for me. I hadn't a clue what I was going to do when I started it. If you look back at most of my beading, I don't use a great number of colors in one piece. This one has everything but the kitchen sink thrown in. Think tropical; think fiesta; think Jamaica, etc. HOT colors!!! I'm having great fun with it. More when it is finished.
I spent the weekend being pea green with envy as one of my best friends was at the coast with her husband. I am craving to get to the ocean. I feel like a lemming! Don't get me wrong. I don't begrudge them their anniversary trip, but they wouldn't take me. Can you believe that????? I promised I would leave them alone. All kidding aside, I hope to get to the ocean soon. It seems to renew my soul. Does that make sense to anyone? 
Have you ever made a Bottle of Hope? Do you know what that is? I first became aware of BOH when I started doing polymer clay many years ago. I can remember several of us sitting around a big table with swirling mixes of PC in front of us. We decided to do BOH as a project. We covered small medication bottles with clay and decorated them to our hearts content. Some time later one of our teachers (Rhonda) taught us how to bead around them. The variations are infinite, depending on the beads you use. You can do peyote, netting, etc. or even, as in the above case, in bead embroidery. These bottles are then given to cancer patients as a symbol of hope for their recovery. It is a very worthwhile project. It is understood that these bottles are never to be sold, but are to be given as gifts. I have seldom found a more satisfying way to provide encouragement to those suffering from this dreaded disease. Try making one. Give it away. You will see what I mean. 
