Beading for research

Frontiersman

A Wasilla bead artist has organized an international effort to bring together beaded projects to raise money for breast cancer research.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and bead artist Jeanette Shanigan's personal story with the disease first got her started.

&#8220My mother passed away in 1985 due to breast cancer, and I swore on her death bed that I'd do all I could do in her memory,” Shanigan said. &#8220The project has grown every year, and this year is already off to a great start.”

At first, she donated beaded baskets and beaded beads to Bead Artists Against Breast Cancer, for the organization's annual fund-raising auction.

&#8220But I knew I could do more,” she said.

So, three years ago, she organized a &#8220mystery square” project where members of her Yahoo! group beaded squares, not knowing how they would be arranged. At an online auction, the quilt raised $500 for breast cancer research.

Then, last year, Shanigan helped organize a similar event, and 32 people contributed beaded squares with a floral bouquet theme. The piece brought $1,025 at auction. Shanigan said the generosity of everyone involved can be overwhelming. Linda Myers-Steele, owner of Evergreen Custom Picture Framing, provided the finishing touches for free.

&#8220We were showing it off at the bead show, and a woman told me we should frame it. I told her I didn't have money to do it, and asked if she would,” Shanigan said. &#8220She framed the whole thing for free, and did a fantastic job. It looks beautiful.”

This year, Shanigan went international and opened the project up to anyone interested, via the Internet. She's already got 44 pieces submitted, and is accepting them through next April. More information can be found at her Web site, www.shanigansbead

shenanigans.com.

Shanigan recently received the news that she was going to represent Alaska Bead Company in a national book being published this month. Her design, &#8220Optical Illusion Cuff,” was the only piece from Alaska selected for inclusion in &#8220Beader's Stash: Designs from America's Favorite Bead Shops.”

&#8220I was teaching classes at Alaska Bead Company and they put pressure on their teachers to submit. I choose ‘Optical Illusion Cuff' and sent it in,” Shanigan said. &#8220They had over 100 bead stores submit, and they actually chose 39.”

Shanigan is the past president of the Mat-Su Valley Bead Society and has written 10 beadwork books. She currently works on bead projects and writes a monthly feature column, &#8220Seed Bead Aspirations,” for the online magazine &#8220The Bead Bugle.”

Contact Casey Ressler at 352-2265 or vallleylife@frontiersman.com.