Like many of us, I have been watching events unfold in the Ukraine. I cannot imagine how it feels to lose your home, your belongings, be in fear of your life and in fear for those that you love. It is heart-breaking to watch.

I may not be able to do anything to end the war, but I thought I could raise some money to support the relief effort. So, I began to think how best I could do that.

Why beading?

Creating objects with beads has been a salvation for me, and also happens to be my business. You may or may not be aware, but the Ukraine has a long tradition of creating beautiful beadwork. So, I immediately saw a link between my passion and the culture of this country.

Inspiration for the project

Then, it was a case of what to make. I am best known for my little beaded trinket boxes. So, that seemed a logical style to use. But what kind of box?

Well, something else you may not know about the Ukraine: they have a marvellous ballet school in Kyiv. It actually trained two of my all-time favourite dancers (Alina Cojocaru and Ivan Putrov).

And, of course, this is another personal link - my love of ballet and its wonderful heritage in both Ukraine and Russia. I would like to add another thought here. A lot of the media coverage is asking us to polarise this situation into 'good' and 'evil', but I invite you to remember that many Russians do not agree with the actions of their leader, and do not support this war. Many Russian families are also losing sons/husbands/fathers/brothers/uncles/nephews/friends in the fighting. So, really, there are no winners in this situation.

Anyway, as I was seeking inspiration for this project, what popped into my head was a beaded tutu in the colours of the Ukraine.

The fundraising idea

Ordinarily, I would sell this tutorial to earn my income. So, I am still 'selling' the tutorial, but not to earn money for me: instead, to raise money for the DEC Ukraine appeal.

I am inviting you to make a donation here. The email receipt you receive will contain a link to download your personal copy of this beading tutorial.

If I were selling this tutorial in the normal way, I would charge £10 for it. So, I would like to invite a minimum donation of £10 (feel free to go higher if you wish!) in return for which, as I say, you will receive a copy of this tutorial, teaching you how to make your own tutu beaded box.

I have set a pretty ambitious fund-raising target (based on what I would normally earn from this kind of tutorial), but I am hoping that we can all pull together and reach it...even exceed it!

Tutorial Details

This is a 14-page PDF tutorial. The beaded tutu is made using Peyote stitch (tubular and circular), and basic circular netting.

You will be working with size 10 Delica beads and size 11 seed beads.

The project is suitable for intermediate to advanced beaders, but if you are less experienced and want to learn, I have also linked to online classes that you can use to learn the basic techniques.

The finished tutu size is about 3.5" across the skirt and 3.5" high. I have included a photo of it alongside a pair of my own pointe shoes to give you some perspective.

You can also see the tutu from other angles, and the open box in the gallery images.

Now, although you will receive a copy of the tutorial, there is no obligation to actually make a tutu - the main aim here is to raise funds to help! So, I am grateful for all donations, including those from non-beaders!

(You can also use this link to view a short video on YouTube showing more of the beaded box: https://youtu.be/49F09oAC5ZE)

Thank you

Thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.