Robert Simmons

I am honored to be one of the artists invited to make a set of commemorative beads for the Beads of Courage 20th Anniversary celebration. I came to BoC in late 2003/early 2004 when I met Jean on the artist website Wet Canvas. She was looking for bead makers and I was looking for something to do with the beads that I was making. It all took off from there and after almost 20 years I’m still creating glass art for the children and their families. Nancy Campbell and I started the Dream Bead Program as a small pilot project at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. I served as Director for Bead Donations for many years and was elected to the Bead Artist Hall of Fame in 2013. Over the years my wife, Camille, and I have had the opportunity to visit kids and their families in the hospitals in our area. Through these contacts, we have learned firsthand how important these small tokens are to the children, their families, as well as the doctors, nurses, and other medical staff who work with them. I chose a floral theme for my anniversary bead which I call ‘In the Garden’. These garden beads represent the spiritual and emotional growth that so many have experienced through participation in the Beads of Courage programs. It is my hope that when you hold or wear one of these beads you will experience the peace and hope to be found in a garden of flowers.