Two tidbits before the long holiday weekend:

• We've gotten a few questions about where to find the black and white charms we used in the "Hearts and coins" bracelet on page 74 of  our "52 Bracelets"  special section.

Here's the scoop: We found the charms at Michaels, but according to Plaid, the company which manufactures them under the "Fresh" label, the brand can be found at many craft chains. You can also buy them online on the Plaid site.

* The Portable Playhouse, a non-profit organization, has joined with a nationally known bead company to raise money for its art therapy program. Their goal is to create the world's longest beaded necklace. They are working under the guidelines of The Guinness Book of World Record’s to record and certify our efforts. The money raised will be used to help fund specialized art therapy beading programs at hospitals and cancer centers across the country. They work with hospitalized children, (regardless of their illnesses) and women fighting cancer in outpatient cancer centers across the country.

Portable Playhouse has already worked with tens of thousands of children and women and is looking for help to reach even more. Check out their  Web site for more information or to donate to the cause. For each $1 donation, a bead will be put on the record-setting necklace and they will record your name for the Guinness World Records Book. They are "Beading miles of smiles . . one bead at a time."

When I went online to donate today, they were at 1933 beads. It would be great if BeadStyle readers could push them over 2,000 this weekend.