Home Office Makeover - Part Two - My Creative Space

So here it is...the big reveal!  For those that just found my little blog, read here to get the back story (with horrific photos of the before).  I am now a happy crafter and creator of beautiful jewelry.  I am now able to breathe, I am now....back to the way I should be!

My initial inspiration for the minimalist 'white walls' look came from a couple of places.  I spotted this Pottery Barn wall and fell in love with the organization.  The white walls created clean lines and I saw the details in the photo.

A Beautiful Gift for My Etsy Store

Creative DIY

They say good can come from bad situations and I am a walking reference for proof of this.  Despite having some very major issues with the health of both of my sons: my eldest tried to emerge into this world at only 24 weeks gestation and, after a very difficult bed rest, was delivered by emergency C-section and rushed of to the NICU for breathing complications; the very same child developed bacterial meningitis at the age of 4; and my younger son…well he wanted to trump big brother so he fought leukemia…(yes, they still argue about who had it worse!!!)

Yet I am an exceedingly lucky mom.  Both my sons are healthy now and I have experienced so much generosity, kindness and caring from such a diverse group of people, even people who have never met any of this crazy family, and it truly humbles me. 

One such person is Etsy shop owner, Regina Gold.  I have never met Regina, nor had I visited her shop, Gold Puff before.  Yet, after me posting on the discussion forum asking for design advice, she sent me a beautiful logo made especially for Butterfly Warriors.  She told me that my son’s story had touched her and she wanted to donate her talents.  Regina’s shop is not a design shop.  She is not promoting anything for sale.  She is just an incredibly creative person who did something so good. 

I even had the nerve to get picky about the color of the ribbon!  Yep, I am that person (sometimes). But the reason is because I never want my mission to be forgotten.  I notice I am becoming more involved in other illnesses.  I am painfully aware of the horrors of autoimmune diseases: my mom has Lupus, ME and Fibromyalgia.  I have ME. But I still try to focus most on raising cancer awareness.  Also, my donations from each sale go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, so it makes sense to be clear about the main focus. 

So Regina was a superstar and gave me an orange ribbon.   I have to say, I love having such a beautiful logo for my Etsy Store, but it is so much more meaningful because it came from the heart.  Someone took the time to show love for all the warriors, and that is not lost on me one bit.  So here it is, the new logo for ButterflyWarriors on Etsy.  Perhaps Regina has a new calling and should open a shop selling them…I would be a customer if I had not already been gifted such a treasure. 

My Accidental Bracelet Design

I am a summer lover. Once spring arrives I get all excited for the colors I love most; blues, turquoise, and greens.  I also love being able to wear white without feeling silly, (I know that is my own perception of things but I never wear white in the winter comfortably.)

My love of 'easy' led me into the world of memory wire bracelets and I have a passion for them  They look like multiple bracelets, but don't wiggle around or take ages to put on.  They also keep their shape so well...told you I like 'easy'.

This particular bracelet happened by accident...literally.  My beads spilled and the colors went together so well, despite being a pile on the floor,  and my next idea was hatched.  The only part I actually 'designed' was the addition of silver beads.  I selected silver glass beads to work alongside the rest of the glass beads already chose by default.  I usually like contrast (metal beads with wood, or glass etc.) but this time I felt there was enough going on already.  What do you think?  Perhaps I may use this design in another color too...