Beads of Courage 2014 Reveal and Auction

This is my 2nd year to join Jennifer Cameron's Beads of Courage Art Charm Exchange and Benefit Auction.  About 40 bead makers and jewelry designers signed up to create Art Charms in an effort to support and raise money for a great cause, Beads of Courage.  

If you don't know about Beads of Courage, click the link to see what they do. It's an amazing organization dedicated to providing comfort and helping kids share their stories of what they've been through during their long illness. This is done using BEADS...how cool is that??

I created 11 Art Charms using this year's theme...SOAR

Beads of Courage 2014 Charm - SOAR

I decided to create angel wings using my new favorite medium...polymer clay.    

Angels soar high above to watch over and protect us.

I custom mixed a deep purple for the wings and a lighter periwinkle color to stamp the word "soar".  I hand cut and textured each charm using multiple tools.  The edges were smoothed and the stamped letters highlighted with black ink to make them stand out.  I also brushed a sparkly mica powder on each wing.  A hole was cut into the top corner so a jump ring could be added for hanging.  I created and added a faux rivet using black clay to help reinforce the hole and to add character.  On the back of each charm I added a tiny heart between the wings using liquid clay which helped to bond them and added the final special touch. 

Beads of Courage 2014 Charm Backside - SOAR

The benefit auction starts today and the start times have been staggered so everyone has a chance to bid and win a little piece of art.  See all the beautiful charms and bid to help us raise money for Beads of Courage right here: Click to go to Auction

Click the links below this photo to see the awesome charms that everyone else made.  Here's a peek of the charms I received in the swap:

Beads of Courage 2014 Charm Swap

Jennifer Cameron: http://glassaddictions.com

Alenka Obid: http://pepita-handmade.blogspot.com

Alicia Marinache: http://www.allprettythings.ca

Andrea Glick: http://zenithjade.blogspot.com

Caroline Dewison: http://blueberribeads.blogspot.co.uk

Cassi Paslick: http://badatbeingmom.blogspot.com/

Cate van Alphen: http://fulgorine.wordpress.com

Cheri Reed: http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com

Chris Eisenberg: http://www.wanderware.blogspot.com

Cory Tompkins: http://www.tealwaterdesigns.blogspot.com (THIS IS ME)

Elisabeth Auld: http://www.beadsforbusygals.com

Genevieve Gabbert: http://www.glassaddictions.com/blog

Jami Shipp: http://celebratinglifewithdamamashipp.blogspot.com

Jenny Davies-Reazor: http://www.jdaviesreazor.com/blog

Jill Bradley: http://www.jillybeads.blogspot.com

Kim Dworak: http://www.cianciblue.blogspot.com

Lee Koopman: http://stregajewellry.wordpress.com

Lennis Carrier: http://www.windbent.net

Lesley Watt: http://www.thegossipinggoddess.blogspot.com

Mallory Hoffman: http://rosebud101-fortheloveofbeads.blogspot.com

Melissa Trudinger: http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com

Michelle McCarthy: http://www.fireflydesignstudio.blogspot.com

Monique Urquhart: http://ahalfbakednotion.blogspot.com/

Moriah Betterly: http://mlbetterly.blogspot.com

Nancy Dale: http://nedbeads.blogspot.com

Nancy Smith: http://wirednan.blogspot.ca

Niky Sayers: http://silverniknats.blogspot.co.uk

Perri Jackson: http://ShaktipajDesigns.com/blog/

Renetha Stanziano: http://www.lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com

Shai Williams: http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com

Sheila Prosterman: http://catswithbeads.blogspot.com

Susan Delaney: http://susandolphindelaney.wordpress.com

Susan Kennedy: http://www.suebeads.blogspot.com

Terri DelSignore: http://artisticaos.blogspot.com

Toltec Jewels: http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com

Vanessa Gilkes: http://culturezine.com/blog/