Bead for Life

Amazing how beads can help so many people.  Please read this article that I received in a recent Jewelry newsletter.

BeadforLife Eradicating Poverty One Bead at a Time® Submitted by Torkin Wakefield, BeadforLife Co-Executive Director

Ask any jewelry maker or bead lover and they'll tell you, beads bring people together, and they have for centuries, both socially and as a means of commerce. Our friends at BeadforLife have built their grassroots organization on this principle and have brought tens of thousands of people, across all cultures and economic classes, together in an effort to make the world a better place, one bead at a time.  Join BeadforLife founder, Torkin Wakefield and the remarkable jewelry makers of Uganda, Africa as they share their story in this featured article and heartwarming video, The Story of BeadforLife: Eradicating Poverty One Bead at a Time.  Made from recycled paper and other upcycled components, the brightly colored beads are strung into vibrant necklaces and bracelets in an effort to improve the economic conditions within the Ugandan economy, as well as bring beauty and social interaction to women all over the world.

To read the article

Mother's Day

I spent a week in Utah with my daughter and her family, and we were joined by my son and part of his family for Mother's Day weekend. I want to share a picture of two of my eleven grandchildren.

Mitch is 17 and headed for his first year at Oregon State University (go Ducks). Nick is 13 and recently moved to Utah from California where he is in the 8th grade.

Fabric Beads Necklace

Here's the Necklace

Fabric Bead Jewelry

Since this blog is called "Designs by Loretta" I thought I should start posting some.

This is my first attempt at making Fabric Beads.  Black and yellow are two of my favorite colors so thought I would mix them together in these fun pieces.  The necklace is 21" and can be worn as a long necklace or wrapped three times around your wrist for a fun bracelet.  It includes Honey Candy Jade, Zebra Jasper, onyx and sterling silver along with the fabric beads that I made.

The bracelet is three strands and incorporates Bali sterling silver, Zebra Jasper, Onyx and the Fabric Beads. 

Watch for more of my Fabric Bead creations.