Bead-It-Forward project

Collecting squares of beadwork to assemble into mini quilts, shadowboxes and ornaments to auction off at the Bead&Button Show to benefit breast cancer research.

2013 Bead-It-Forward Project

The theme for the 2013 Bead-It-Forward Project is "Flowers: Stitching to find a bloomin' cure," and in just under three months, the Bead&Button team received 1,313 beadwork squares for the project. Each of these squares have been assembled into a variety of items to be auctioned off at this year's Bead&Button Show. The video below shows one of the masterpieces that was created to resemble one of Van Gogh's most famous paintings and will be up for auction at the Bead Social and Auction Night.

Many of the other items that will be available for auction were created during Bead-It-Forward Assembly Nights, where the Bead&Button staff was joined by friends, family, coworkers and members of the Loose Bead Society of Milwaukee. Visit Bead&Button on Facebook for a sneak peak of these items.

2013 Bead square patterns

The following patterns were submitted for the 2013 Bead-It-Forward Project and designed using size 11 cylinder beads. Cylinder beads are also known as Miyuki Delicas, Toho Treasures, and Toho Aikos.

2014 Bead-It-Forward Project

In 2014, the Bead&Button staff will once again be organizing the Bead-It-Forward project! As in years past, we'll collect squares of beadwork that measure 1.5 x 1.5 in. (3.8 x 3.8 cm) and assemble them into mini quilts, shadowboxes, ornaments, and a few surprises. These items will be auctioned at the 2014 Bead&Button Show, and all proceeds will benefit breast cancer research at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

The Bead-It-Forward theme for 2014 is "Turn the tide on breast cancer," so squares should depict ocean/aquatic/beach motifs. Visit this page in months to come for free patterns, and read future issues of Bead&Button magazine for details about special Bead-It-Forward challenges. Also, "like" us on Facebook for regular news and updates on the Bead-It-Forward project.

All squares are due to the Bead&Button office by March 3, 2014. Carefully read the guidelines below, and then download and print a Submission Form before submitting your square(s).

Are you new to the Bead-It-Forward project? Check out our gallery of submitted squares from this year's theme, "Flowers: Stitching to find a bloomin' cure."

Guidelines for the 2014 Bead-It-Forward Project

The theme of the 2014 Bead-It-Forward project is “Turn the tide on breast cancer.” Each piece of donated beadwork must be 1½ x 1½ in. (3.8 x 3.8 cm) square.

You may use any beadwork stitches or other techniques on your square, and you may include beads in any color, shape, or style, but the overall motif of the square must reflect ocean/aquatic/beach motifs.

Each beaded square must be stitched to the center of a 2 x 2-in. (5 x 5 cm) backing, like Lacy's Stiff Stuff beading foundation. Keep in mind:

Our friend Chris Franchetti Michaels has written an excellent tutorial on attaching your beadwork to the backing.
Avoid drawing lines on the front side of the backing with pencil, pen, or marker.
You may dye the backing or color it with permanent markers if you wish.
All beads and objects must be securely attached to the backing with thread. Glue or tape is not durable enough.
Do not stitch or draw anything on the exposed backing around the square.
On the back of your completed square, please print your name in permanent marker and draw an UP arrow to indicate the desired orientation of the square.
You may submit as many squares as desired, but if possible, please submit them all at once.

Download, print, and fill out the 2014 Submission Form below, and then mail it to us with your completed square(s) by March 3, 2014. Here's our address:

Bead&Button Magazine

21027 Crossroads Circle

P.O. Box 1612

Waukesha, WI 53187-1612

If your square is not received on or before March 3, 2014, it will not be included in the Bead-It-Forward project. Likewise, a square that does not conform to the above guidelines will not be included.

By submitting your square(s), you agree to relinquish all rights to your completed square(s) except recognition/acknowledgement of your contribution to the Bead-It-Forward project and the specific quilt/shadowbox/ornament/ other item in which it is featured. All items will be auctioned off at the Bead&Button Show in June 2014. Feel free to email Associate Editor Jane Danley Cruz at jcruz@beadandbutton.com if you have questions.

Thank you for participating!

Click on the downloadable file below to download and print the 2014 Submission Form.

Downloadable File(s)

2014 Submission Form (74 kB)

PDF documents require Adobe Reader.