SUZIE Q'S DIARY

... OF STRENGTH, HONOUR AND HOPE, which sums up what Beads of Courage stands for.

Here's the Mission Statement for Beads of Courage:

"Caring for children coping with serious illness, their families and clinicians by helping them to RECORD, TELL and OWN their story of COURAGE through beads."

Because of my lifelong connection and passion for beads, Trollbead's main theme of "Every Bead Has A Story" and Beads of Courage's "Every Bead Tells a Story of Strength, Honour & Hope", I came up with an idea for our upcoming Trollbeads Glass Artisan Event. I decided to pull this trilogy of "Bead Love" together and donate the proceeds from Mariela's "You-Design" custom glass Trollbeads, which she'll create when she's here in Calgary at my shop, to Beads of Courage!

It seems to me to be the synergistic thing to do, and after reading through the story of Beads of Courage below, I hope you'll think so too.

In a nutshell, this explains a bit more of how the program works:

"What is the Beads of Courage Program? The Program is a resilience-based intervention designed to support and strengthen children and families coping with serious illness. Through the program members tell their story using colourful beads as meaningful symbols of courage that they receive to honour and acknowledge each step of their treatment journey. Beads are given according to a program specific program bead guide. For milestones in their treatment journey, they receive handmade one-of-a-kind glass beads that are donated by members of the International Society of Glass Bead-Makers (ISGB)."

For a more "visual" idea of the Beads of Courage program, please take a look at this touching and poignant VIDEO:

Beads of Courage Canada from Beads of Courage-Canada on Vimeo.

Isn't this video heart-warming and inspiring?

6 star beads = surgeries
97 yellow beads = nights in the hospital
More than 140 black beads = needle pokes
7 red beads = blood transfusions
75 light green beads = test/scans (with more to come)
20 white beads = rounds of chemotherapy
98 rainbow beads = physiotherapy/prosthetic appointments (with many more to come)

Just to name a few!

Interested in getting involved in this wonderful program? Here's one way, if you enjoy making stuff...BEADS OF COURAGE DONATIONS.





If you're not a maker but you'd still like to contribute, please check out the Beads of Courage "CARRY A BEAD" program. It's a way to participate in a very cool way! Check it out by Clicking on this Link: CARRY A BEAD Program.

On Saturday, December 1, from 10am - 4pm join us at Suzie Q Studio at the Crossroads Market in Calgary for a special Trollbeads Glass Artisan event!

Mariela Chaves was taught the art of glass bead making by one of the founders of Trollbeads, Lise Aagaard.

Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, Mariela joined the Trollbeads team in November of 2014. Apart from being a full-time employee at Trollbeads United States HQ, Mariela has dedicated herself to glass making and enjoys the artistry and personalization of creating unique glass beads. She finds tremendous inspiration for her glass bead making (also know as "lampworking) in her two kids, as well as Latin music and culture. “I enjoy the beauty behind working with glass and observing its beautiful nature. When demonstrating bead making with others I am able to pass on the love of creating a bead that speaks to each individual. Every bead truly has its own story”.

Don’t miss this chance to watch Mariela create Trollbeads glass beads right before your eyes. See coloured rods of glass being heated, twisted and combined to create gorgeous Trollbeads glass beads.





Here's a short preview of what you'll see...

Hope you can join us on Saturday, December 1, from 10am to 4pm at Suzie Q Studio. ~ xo Suzie ❤️

I just got back from a short Thanksgiving trip to Kelowna and brought back a huge suitcase full of Barefoot Venus! It's a luscious line of botanically based beauty and personal care products made right in Kelowna. We'll have them all unpacked and set up for you by the time we open this weekend.... 

Suzie Q Studio is located at the Crossroads Market, #145-2635 26 Ave. SE and OPEN Friday-Sunday, 9AM-5PM>>>Directions to Suzie Q Studio.

Hope you'll drop by Suzie Q's this weekend, and discover your inner goddess! ~  Suzie ❤️

... "Style is Attitude, Attitude, Attitude!"

 ~ IRIS APFEL

I adore Iris Apfel. To me, she is pure inspiration and the purses and tote bags that just arrived at Suzie Q Studio remind me of her bold, live-out-loud, "Iris Attitude"!

If you're not familiar with Iris Apfel, she is a wise, style icon who is well into her nineties and still going strong! To get a small taste of what she's all about, take a look at this fab VIDEO...

HOTCAKES DESIGN is Deco-flavoured jewelry and each piece is an adventure in carving, vintage fun and style!  All Hotcakes pieces are hand-crafted, hand-polished and fun to wear, that are perfect to layer with other items in your collection! This unique jewelry is reminiscent of retro "Bakelite" from the first half of the 1900's, without the highly collectible price points. BTW... we have additional Hotcakes pieces that aren't shown here, so please ask to see everything, if this collection is of interest for yourself, or a gift for a fun-loving friend!


There are lots of new treasures at Suzie Q Studio at the Crossroads Market in Calgary... purses, tote bags, leggings, shawls, art journals and more! It's never too early to start your hunt for those unique holiday gifts.

Suzie Q Studio is located at the Crossroads Market, #145-2635 26 Ave. SE and OPEN Friday-Sunday, 9AM-5PM>>>Directions to Suzie Q Studio.