The Jewelry Beginning and Breast Cancer

   Jewelry designing came to me way after the first visit to the Bead Shop-the only one around back then-to learn to make bracelets.  A group of friends around a huge round table trying to thread beads was so much fun. Several more Saturdays were spent making more bracelets and I was hooked.
  I never thought about designing bracelets much except at that shop until my friend was diagnosed with Breast Cancer.  As so many of us sadly realize, the best friend wants so badly to take "it" away from our dear Best Friend for Life. Feeling pretty helpless I just couldn't think of what to do for her...besides the obvious support.  
   We need a cure, is what I kept thinking.  I started my research and found myself at the Susan G Komen website.  Which led to how do we make money for research.  Which led to making bracelets and donating the money from selling them to SGK.  It was such a small amount at the time, but it was all I had. It selfishly helped me cope with her cancer.  
   I started getting requests for the bracelets for friends and family members. A small shop in St Charles, MO was interesting in selling them.  The bracelets were just simple pink and white beading with a sterling silver BC Ribbon.  All the findings were SS.  It was back in the day when SS was extremely resonably priced.
The BC bracelets led to more bracelets just for fun.  Gifts for everyone! I found that I was so enjoying creating.  It was fun. 
  The pianist at church was diagnosed and her friends messaged me for a bracelet ASAP. It was her teddybear during all the hard times. She traveled from MO to TX to MD Anderson, but sadly lost her battle.  She had told her friends to please make sure her bracelet traveled up to Heaven with her.  No words can describe how desperately I had prayed for a cure.
  Life and working full time got in the way and jewelry designing was on the back burner for many years.  I lost my dream job in St Louis and moved  to Advance where Gram had left me her home. 2008 happened, and jobs were scarce.  I started designing again and setup the studio in the spare bedroom.  With the obligatory loveseat for my dogs, HoneyMarie and Fred to be able to continue to bark out the window. My friend and I managed to find a cheap second hand 12' countertop and actually got it setup.  I organized, worked, created, and was so happy.  Found a wonderful shop in a small town that carried my work.  And much to my surprise, it all sold! That is, until she decided to only carry products from "juried" jewerly artists.  How do you become juried for junk jewelry creations? 

 I found several others who sold my jewelry, started a website-boy that was hard- and tried Etsy. I don't know what it was, but I just could't make anymore $.  So the studio sits in disarray. Lots of $ invested in parts and pieces. And my creative side is just...poof!  Gone.
Sharing some past creations just for fun.

This necklace was created for a friend with many Vintage/Antique pieces she had collected over the years.  She is an artist.

I have collected Vintage and Antique typewriters and Chrystals and had so much fun with them.

And the most fun ever was collecting all the Vintage Cracker Jack toys for this one!
I have albums of my jewels on my just for fun Facebook page Auntie RooLoo's Cottage.  Nothing is for sale, as it is all long gone!