On January 22, 2006, I began taking care of my parents. My mother had just become paraplegic from something called Transverse Myelitis. Dad couldn't take care of her alone and I had just lost my job due to downsizing. So it was obvious that God had orchestrated this so that I might be available to help them. It started out to be 7 days a week that I would go there and help out for about 5 hours a day. I would cook, clean, shop, attempt to be a companion and take care of mom's needs. As we figured out all the needs and got into a routine, I went to 6 days a week. This still was a long draining week.
When I would go home, I wanted nothing to do with cooking and cleaning. It was so great that my wonderful husband picked up much of that load. However, I found that I needed an outlet. So I started to do puzzles and found I liked a certain kind. This kind had lots of small items to piece together. Like windows, horses, people, pumpkins and the like. I don't like the blend of colors to figure out. That seemed to take the fun out of it.
When puzzles got old, I began to look at Pintrest. I got excited as I thought that even I could do some of that stuff. I started with game tiles from Goodwill and made them into magnets and pendants using pictures from scrapbook paper, magazines and even children's books much like the puzzles I was doing. I took these and decoupaged them to the tiles and finished them with a glossy rounded finish. It was a lot of work, but I finally felt that I was accomplishing something.
A friend of mine talked me into going on the road with her and selling these. That too was a lot of work, but fun and exhilarating. I did okay, but not anything like I expected. So I started branching out.
Now I have a variety of items, all using a finished or used item and making a new purpose for it. My favorite was the car charms until I started making the clocks on CDs/DVDs. Now I love them, I can't stop making them. I do want to get back to making items with silverware. I have rings and a few necklaces, but I enjoyed the spoon people that my husband and I made. So I am looking forward to it warming up a bit so I can go out to the shop and mess with a few ideas I have.
I am so excited to open my shop and show you what I have made. I have many items yet to take pictures of and upload. So come back often as I will be adding these to the shop.
I know my story of how it all started, is a bit long and I hope you have lasted this far into it.
Mom has since passed away and I am taking care of dad now. So, that part of my life has slowed down and has allowed me time to determine if re-purposing is something I want to continue doing. I have decided to work and make this grow into something to help me retire. Thank you for your encouragement and support as I jump into a new phase of my life.
Thanks for coming and I hope to see you at a show.
