Butterfly Bead Clarification

[RSimmons]

Just a clarification on butterflies as there seems to be some lingering confusion about them and the various discussions tend to get buried in threads. Some people prefer one style over another. We're not persnickety about it.

Sculptural butterflies are fine and we happily use them. The only caveat is that you want to be sure that the wings are thick enough and attached to the body very well so that they don't break easily. You don't have to wire wrap them before you send them, we can handle that it Tucson. It's great if you do want to wire wrap so that they are ready to wear as this speeds up the turn around time and gets them out to the hospitals faster.

Non sculptural butterflies made with pulled dots, murrini, copper/enamel or any other method you've invented are also very much appreciated. The same guidelines for wire wrapping apply here as with the sculptural designs. Wrap them if you want to; if not that's OK, too.

These are very important beads and, considering their purpose, for many are the most difficult to make. It's hard to express how much your efforts on these very special beads are appreciated.

Robert

Robert Simmons
Director for Bead Donations
Beads of Courage, Inc.

[Chad]

Jade is sending me some frit here soon and I plan on doing a bunch!

[RSimmons]

My lab closed early today so I'm planning a torching session this afternoon myself.

Robert

[apprentice]

someone fill me in on this ppllleeeaaassssseeeeeeeeee.

[Jade]

Hi apprentice! 

I've been running a frit bead challenge and the beads made will be sent to BoC - I've got a thread in this board telling about the challenge - the hows and whys.  Any bead made with frit is great, but I recently discovered from Robert that BoC is VERY low on butterfly beads so I asked for people to make butterfly beads as well if they could.

There are some links in the BoC board to some great butterfly bead tutorials!

[RSimmons]

I made the mistake of assuming that everyone understood the purpose of the butterfly bead and I've been reminded that I should have included more about that in my original post.

Butterfly beads are presented to parents who have lost a child to cancer or other illness that is part of the Beads of Courage program.  Many hospitals hold special bereavement ceremonies for these presentations.  Often the parents will put their butterfly bead on a chain or cord and wear it often as a tangible link to their child.  This is why we always want to be sure that they butterflies are strong enough to take daily wear.

Robert

[apprentice]

Ill try I am kinda new at beads have soft glass for now to work with but I will give a shot.If it don't work I'll try try again until it is good.I have been wanting something to have a perpose to do instead of( oh what should I try now)

[jv]

I haven't had the chance to get to a torch - I try my hardest!

[cutter]

Count me in and thank you apprentice for telling me about this.

[terry henry]

Me too...is there a size limitation on the butterfly bead?  And could you provide an address?

[RSimmons]

No, there's really not a size limit that I know of, though I suppose you wouldn't want to make it too tiny.  I've never seen one too big that I can remember.  You can send them to:

 Beads of Courage, Inc.
5301 S Houghton Road
Tucson AZ 85747

Please be sur to include your contact information INSIDE the package so that we can send you a thank you certificate and a receipt for your donation.

Robert