I can't believe it's nearly October and time for the "Pink Ribbon Turtles" to begin again. This project was started in 2005 in memory of my dear mother, Nina Isabelle Etheredge Fritz, who passed away with Breast Cancer, and in honor of all those affected by Breast Cancer. Each year I've created what I call the "Pink Ribbon Turtles" and give the framed piece away in a drawing. All money collected is sent to the American Cancer Society earmarked for Breast Cancer Research.

This year marks a milestone in the "Pink Ribbon Turtles" Project as I have been blessed with the help of 7 extremely talented beadwork artists from around the world. Between the 8 of us we have created 3 different 'turtles' for this year's project. This results in 3 different drawings.

"Jewels of the Sea", which I designed and created, is a 14" x 15" piece of bead embroidery artwork that is professionally framed in a shadowbox frame and will be given in a drawing on Sunday, November 30th, 2008. "Jewels of the Sea" is located in Cocoa Beach, FL."Ling" - meaning compassion, was created by four different artists. "Ling" is one of two "4 Quadrant" turtles in this year's drawing. Each quadrant of the turtle was designed and created by a different beadwork artist. The upper left quadrant was completed by Gretchen Coats of Saginaw, MI. The upper right quadrant was completed by Dot Lewallen of Westerville, OH. The lower right quadrant was completed by Cynthia Bicker of Auburn, WA. The lower left quadrant was completed by Jena Tuntas of Cocoa Beach, FL.

The quadrants were sewn together to complete this very unique turtle. The only requirement for the artists was that the back of the turtle be some shade of pink.

"Ling" is a 16" x 20" piece of bead embroidery beautifully framed in a walnut shadowbox frame. The drawing for this turtle will be Friday, December 12, 2008. "Ling" is located in Cocoa Beach, FL. "Kameko" - meaning tortoise, symbol of long life, was also created by four different artists. "Kameko" is the second of the two 4 quadrant turtles created for this year's "Pink Ribbon Turtle" Project. Each quadrant of the turtle was created by a different beadwork artists. The upper left quadrant was completed by Aydell Hotelling of Bryson City, NC. The upper right quadrant was completed by Maria Teresa of Portugal. The lower right quadrant was completed by Ralonda Patterson of Decatur, TX. The lower left quadrant was completed by Gale Michel of Albuquerque, NM.

The quadrants were sewn together by Ralonda and the only requirement was that the back (shell) of the turtle be some shade of pink.

"Kameko" is a 16" x 20" piece of bead embroidery professionally matted and framed in a shadowbox frame. The drawing for this turtle will be Friday, December 12, 2008. "Kameko" is located in Decatur, TX.
Please go to www.atawhisper.com/prt.htm for more information about how to get tickets for these three drawings.