Beads made from just about any glass are welcome, though there are a couple of things that we would like to avoid. Please avoid using reduction glass, frits, powders or enamels that will leave a metallic surface on the beads. These metallic surfaces tend to wear over time and we want your beads to remain as beautiful as the day that they were made.

Bead size is not important; we can use all sizes and variations of beads (round, tubular, sculptural) for our treatment milestone beads. Bead hole size is at minimum 1/16 inch, though 3/32 inch holes and larger are easiest for the kids to string. The inside of the bead should be free of bead release. Please make sure that there are no sharp corners, sharp edges on the bead holes, cracks or protrusions that would easily break off (such as hearts with long, delicate tails). Beads should be fully kiln annealed. Please remember that these beads are worn and handled by children and should be sturdy enough to stand up to normal wear and tear.

We ask that all beads please be mailed to our headquarters and not taken to the hospitals or patient treatment centers. This ensures that all of our program hospitals are supplied with the beads they need. This also allows us to track our donations and to send out receipts, certificates and our warmest thanks! 

Beads of Courage, Inc. 

5301 S Houghton Road 

Tucson AZ 85747

beads we seek

Act of Courage beads 

We specifically ask for a random assortment of handmade beads for children to select from for the Act of Courage (recipient and donor) treatment milestones. Use your creativity - the sky is the limit! These beads are really important and we need lots of them. When they receive these beads the children sort through a selection of these Milestone beads until they find that one bead that speaks to them of their own unique experience. Many bead makers donate extras from sets, orphans, and the beads sitting around the studio that need a good home. 

Heart beads 

We appreciate the donation of handmade Purple Heart beads (cancer treatment) and Red Heart beads (cardiac treatment) that are given to children who are celebrating the Completion of their Treatment. We prefer hearts with the hole running horizontally through them, but hearts that have a vertical hole are perfectly acceptable - we ask that they be wired with a headpin loop so that they can be strung with the pointed end down. 

Cardiac Member's Choice beads 

We specifically ask for a random assortment of handmade beads for children to select from for the Act of Courage and Bone Marrow Transplant (recipient and donor) treatment milestones - use your creativity - the sky is the limit! These beads are really important and we need lots of them. When they receive these beads the children sort through a selection of these Milestone beads until they find that one bead that speaks to them of their own unique experience. This is a time for you to stretch your creative muscles and try new ideas and color combinations. Many bead makers donate extras from sets, orphans, and the beads sitting around the studio that need a good home. The more wonderful and creative the bead, the more it connotes an act of bravery for a child in treatment! 

Steps for setting murrini on bead 

You may download the murrini on bead instructions created by Robert Simmons. Steps for creating the wearable Butterfly bead You may download the wearable butterfly tutorial also created by Robert Simmons.

contact

Feel free to contact our Director of Bead Donations for questions related to beads.