June Bead of the Month - Featured Artist Jackie Marr

Beads of Courage loves our generous and valued bead artists! We sat down to talk with one of them, Jackie Marr, who designed our June Bead of the Month! 

Jackie discovered her passion in a beginner’s course on bead making. She learned the meditative, creative, and therapeutic values that accompanied glass artistry. She discovered Beads of Courage at the International Society of Glass Beadmakers conference known as The Gathering. She wanted to help Beads of Courage so she could play a part in a child’s healing process and bring them joy through her beads.

Not only does Jackie make beads at home, but she also has her own studio, Kiss My Glass, in Santa Cruz, California. It first opened about 35 years ago and has grown over the years to include mosaic, fusing, bead making, and more. This studio not only holds classes, but hosts amazing teachers from all over the United States. Kiss My Glass is a huge supporter of Beads of Courage, and during the annual Bead Challenge, Kiss My Glass routinely wins awards for their bead donations and fundraising efforts! 

When asked what her inspiration for the June Bead of the Month was she said, “I create ocean scenes in glass art often and so the Beach theme bead was a natural extension for me. I particularly liked varying the swirly air and the waves in each bead because every day is a little different yet beautiful.” 

Thank you Jackie for your endless support, and for creating the June Bead of the Month! You can keep up with Jackie and her studio Kiss My Glass on Facebook or on her website. People like Jackie help us to support children and teens coping with serious illness around the world. You can support Beads of Courage by purchasing the June Bead of the Month. Stay tuned for July's Bead of the Month!

NOTE:  The Beads of Courage Bead of the Month features exclusive limited-edition wearable art supporting the mission of Beads of Courage. The Bead of the Month series offers a new, limited-edition handcrafted glass bead each month of the year. These beads have been commissioned by Beads of Courage especially for this new series, and only 100 of each bead will be created. Don't miss this opportunity to purchase an exclusive new piece of wearable art each month. Your purchase supports the mission of Beads of Courage, a 501(c)3 organization providing arts-in-medicine supportive care programs for children coping with cancer and other serious illnesses.