While I was out of the office and under the weather, the October 2008 issue of BeadStyle's sister magazine Bead&Button hit newsstands. This was particularly exciting for me as I am the subject of the staff profile on page 26 of the issue. My coworker Tea Benduhn wrote many kind words about me (including a nice plug for my children's book, "An Armadillo on My Pillow"). I especially like how she describes my love of cake decorating as an artistic pursuit, when in reality, about 50% of my passion comes from eating the cake!

Also in the issue is a fantastic article by Melody MacDuffee, a regular Bead&Button contributor, whose beadwork caught the attention of Krobo bead makers in Ghana, West Africa. The bead makers contacted Melody, asking that she come and teach them jewelry-making techniques and help them market their work in the U.S., and guess what? She did it! Melody and the bead makers have since formed a business, Soul of Somanya, and are producing truly beautiful jewelry that gives work to local young people who have otherwise limited employability. Their jewelry features colorful Krobo beads and wirework Adinkra symbols (visual representations of Ghanaian words of encouragement, like "grace under hardship" and "strength and humility"). To learn more about the Soul of Somanya project or to purchase the jewelry, visit soulofsomanya.org. Here is just a sampling to whet your appetite: