823KEYPROJECT.

Readers of Take Me Out to the Runway, I have an important announcement to make! By great fortune, I was recently informed of the 823 Key Project. What is this project, you may ask? According to the site, 823KEYPROJECT is a way for musicians, writers, painters, photographers, and fashion designers to "showcase their unique interpretation of the world, while emphasizing authentic and community minded work."

Here's how it works: through the purchase of a vintage skeleton key necklace, each one unique and handmade, a fund is set up. After the 823rd key necklace is sold, this fund will become available to these artists in the form of a $25,000 grant. This grant will be awarded to one artist whose perspective changes the world around us. Anyone can apply for this grant, and each person has an equal chance of winning. It's the perfect way for you to get your work out there, and to make a difference.

21,398 keys: There will only be a grand total of 21,398 unique skeleton key necklaces available. So, where does the "823" concept come in? Each necklace will be adorned with a unique letter and number. There will be 823 keys with the letter "A", 823 keys with the letter "B", 823 keys with the letter "C", and so forth. After each "letter" is completely sold, a grant will be given out. In total, that's 26 $25,000 grants for 26 different artists! The money used to purchase your unique key goes directly to this cause. How amazing is that?

The first key ever was given by Trevor Hubbard, the creater of 823KEYPROJECT, to his friend who was going through a tough time. The logic behind this? The well-known saying "When one door closes, another opens." The number 823 was chosen because in the old pager days, it meant "thinking of you".

Not only are these skeleton key necklaces for a good cause, they look AMAZING. Seriously, I'm talking spot-on trend here. Each key is a one-of-a-kind found object ranging in date from 1830 to 1940. They range in length from 3 to 4 1/2 inches, and are hung from a brass chain with a strongly unique brass twist clast. Each key comes with a signature “823a” pewter tag that ties you to the 823 Community forever, 21,398 people who believed in making a difference and changing other people's lives.

I'm more excited about the 823KEYPROJECT than anything I've ever posted before. I think it's a creative way to change the world around us, to support the creation of art, and to support a cause. Me? I will definately be purchasing an 823 key necklace as soon as possible. I beg of you, my faithful readers, to do the same. Please tell all who you can, and please feel free to dedicate one of your own blog posts to this cause! Art is what makes the world we live in beautiful, and you all deserve to be a part of that beauty. For more information, please visit the site below. I'm extremely excited to hear from any of you who have purchased an 823 key necklace, and I hope we together can spread the knowledge of this cause worldwide.

http://www.823keyproject.com/