Last Saturday we got to be involved in a very special annual event.  Every year the Make a Wish Foundation hosts an event where sick children and their families get to make beaded jewelry.  Each child makes at least two pieces- one to keep (or give as a gift) and one for the foundation to auction off to raise money to grant more wishes.

Saturday morning, our owner Susie, our Purchasing Manager, Shanna, one of our Fulfillment Specialists, Shannon and myself packed up bins of beads, tools and supplies and headed to the Make a Wish office in Irving, TX (about 45 minutes away from our headquarters).  This was my first time to visit their offices and I have to say, it made me feel nice just to be there.  On every wall I found another photo of a grinning child, beaming at the camera surrounded by family and friends.  One child had a lei around her neck and was standing on the beach in Hawaii.  Another kid was proudly holding up her new Macbook Pro.  My favorite was a girl standing arm-in-arm with the entire cast of the show, “Friends.”

We laid out pre-cut pieces of beading wire with one end of the clasp already attached and let the kiddos fill bowls with all the beads that caught their eye.  Then we just let them go!  You should have seen some of the designs they made.   It was actually very artistically inspiring because these kids came up with some color combinations I never would have thought of.  It was very sweet, too. One little girl made 5 bracelets for the foundation to auction off.  One little boy made a bracelet for “Big Mama,” which is how he lovingly refers to his grandmother.

I was blessed to have been able to bring my 14-month-old son, Sawyer along as well.  He LOVED chasing around the bigger kids. There was even a person in a chicken suit to take pictures with (lunch was catered by a chicken place)!  We had such a wonderful time.  I only wish we had gotten even more pictures!  We will definitely participate next year and, if we can, we will get pictures of each of the beautiful pieces the kids make.

The kiddos working on their creations and Shanna hamming it up for the camera

More kids working hard on their designs and Susie helping out

Little fellas in the top left look so proud of themselves :)

Everyone did such a great job!

For more information about the Make a Wish Foundation or to donate (it’s a great cause!) visit their website.

The post Make a Wish Jewelry Making Event appeared first on Auntie's Beads.