THE PROJECT: I am so excited to share my latest beaded cuff creation for the 2011 Bead Journal Challenge. My theme for this collection is character traits I admire in a strong woman. My cuffs for January & February featured
spirit and
confidence. This March piece pays tribute to
The Joyful Heart Foundation, an organization that focuses on healing, educating and empowering survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse.
THE INSPIRATION: This organization was founded by one of the strongest, most inspiring, most emphatically passionate advocates of our time,
Mariska Hargitay. Mariska’s life was dramatically changed by the response she got playing special victims detective Olivia Benson on
Law & Order: SVU. The letters she received from victims, many of whom still held their secret inside, disclosed stories of abuse. Mariska took this turning point in her life as her true calling. She realized she wasn’t just meant to act and bring the dramatic stories to life but to help shine light on subject matter that is often hidden and considered taboo.
Mariska Hargitay founded the Joyful Heart Foundation in 2004 as a means of healing survivors and helping them to reclaim their lives. Thousands of participants have had the opportunity to take part in their
healing retreats and wellness programs. Joyful Heart is at the forefront of awareness campaigns and they have opened up millions of eyes to issues that have stayed hidden for far too long. One of their ongoing crusades is to
end the backlog of untested rape kits. Earlier this season, SVU aired “
Behave,” a phenomenal episode guest starring Jennifer Love Hewitt which dealt with this horrible epidemic. This episode was inspired by a true story shared at a Joyful Heart Celebration Gala. Mariska and her fellow cast mates delivered a
call to action which aired at the beginning of this episode.
Together, Mariska & the Joyful Heart Foundation have made ending the backlog their priority. Their work has led to the testing of thousands of rape kits that had been shelved for many years. Mariska delivered a powerful
testimony in front of congress about how we are failing the test of providing justice to sexual assault survivors.
I am not only a fan of her work as an actress, I also hold a deep respect for the passionate heart Mariska has and how she's making a difference in so many lives. She’s
taken a stand and used her visibility to deliver a program that provides support, encouragement and a new beginning. To me, this exemplifies what it is to be a strong, powerful and inspiration woman.
THE DESIGN PROCESS: At first, I was unsure of how to approach this design theme. I wanted to make sure I did the foundation justice. The idea to recreate the official
Joyful Heart logo with beads seemed like the perfect solution. There is so much carried through in those simple lines and letters…. so many shades, so much life and beauty. To me, the blocks of color represent the differences in the individuals whose lives are being touched by Mariska and the Joyful Heart Foundation. I think that joy and vitality transferred well into a piece of wearable art.
I am excited to share that this bracelet was created as a personal gift for Mariska. Her inspiration is unmatched and I’m honored that my craft will allow her to quite literally wear her heart on her sleeve.
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT: Please visit these links for more information about Mariska Hargitay and the ongoing efforts of The Joyful Heart Foundation:
Thank you all for your continued support and encouragement throughout this creative challenge. I am really enjoying bringing these pieces to life. I am honored to create them and feel truly proud of this collection. I welcome your thoughts and comments.
“When people are abused and assaulted, it is like the doors to their souls slam shut. The goal of Joyful Heart is to let the light, and the life, back in--to banish the darkness and let the healing begin."
– Mariska Hargitay
I was excited to take part in the recent Spring Swap event that took place amongst the Etsy Beadweavers. This year there were 24 participants who created beautiful pieces based on the preferred styles and colors of their recipients. My recipient was Kinga Nichols of White Rabbit Jewels. If you visit her etsy shop, you will see that Kinga is extremely talented and has created some stunning pieces herself, so I sure had my work cut out for me! ;) 
