7,000 Bracelets For Hope

It was during one of my daily fixes of beader extraordinaire Lori Anderson's Pretty Things blog that I first learned about 7,000 Bracelets for Hope, a campaign by the Global Genes Project to raise awareness for children with rare diseases.

From their website:  "To help raise awareness we're asking 7,000 jewelry designers, volunteers from the craft community and various artists to donate one bracelet to this campaign to show their support for kids living with rare disease, disorders or conditions.  These bracelets will then be distributed to participating families in December 2011."

The theme for these bracelets is denim, as in jeans (get it, genes?), and I was super excited to dig in to all of our blue jean hued elements and get started on Beadaholique's contribution to this cause.  Sarah and I both immediately thought of Denim Lapis, and I definitely wanted to add a fabric element to the design.  I decided upon a lovely dusty blue silk ribbon, cut into segments and frayed for a loved, lived in, well-worn effect-- just like your favorite pair of blue jeans.

Forever In Blue Jeans

I was really happy with the results.  I hope it brings a smile to its recipients' faces, and reminds them that there is an army of beaders out there, thinking about them and wishing them strength and health.

If you would like to be involved, visit the Global Genes Project site, click on the 7,000 Bracelets For Hope emblem, and follow the instructions to register.  To get inspired, here are some blue-jeanie goodies to browse through!


-Andrea