Sweet Girl Design: My Family

The Memories and Thanks Blog Hop is both in honor of a lovely friend of Lori Anderson's, Marianna, and for those people in our lives who mean a lot to us - you can read more about the hop here.

I'll start at the beginning - why I started making jewelry.

My beautiful niece, Erica, was diagnosed with cancer in September 2008 - that rocked my family's safe, comfortable world - this doesn't happen to our kids!! Erica had been living on her own and making a comfortable life for herself in Myrtle Beach, SC. When she got sick, her Mom made her come back to Merrimack, NH to get the best care they could find. I wanted to be able to do something, anything, for her. Knowing that she liked jewelry, I started taking classes at my local bead shop. During this time, I started calling her Sweet Girl (SG for short) because she had such a sweet little voice - she also had a wicked sense of humor! As time went on, she was in treatment and I was making more jewelry, so I asked her to help me come up with a name for my "shop". She chose Sweet Girl Design which I love, because she's why I got into making jewelry and she continues to inspire me. Erica was beautiful, delicate-graceful, funny and, most definitely, full of love. My niece, Jackie, wrote this wonderful poem about her sister.

This past September was the 3rd Annual Erica's Run which raises money and donates it to local families in the Merrimack area, who are fighting cancer. Three of my sons and I were able to go - there were 436 runners, up from 207 in 2011! The team that puts this run on is a wonderful group of people that have helped lift my sister and her family up from the depths of despair - they're now a part of our family, too. There aren't enough words to say thank you to them, we are eternally grateful!!

I was fortunate to have been able to move my Dad near me, in February 2011, when he had dementia. He lived in a beautiful nursing home about a mile from my house, so I was able to visit every day. My boys would often come with me and play cards and laugh with him - they got to know their grandfather in a whole new way. My parents had divorced over 20 years ago, but any anger or resentment melted away, and Mom would often visit him when she was in town. The love and compassion my Mom showed towards my Dad at the end - she wouldn't leave his side and held his hand as he passed.

In February 2012, my Mom went to stay at my sisters in NH for surgery - she had just found out that she didn't have cancer! She was in such a state of pure joy - the weight of worrying lifted. On Valentine's Day, my sister and her fiance found Mom on the floor in her bedroom, unresponsive. My sister called me as soon as the paramedics left - I said, of course she's going to be ok, it's Mom, the strongest person we know! My other sister, uncle and I flew in immediately, not sure what to expect. The aneurism was so big, that there wasn't a chance for her to come back - our rock, the best person we knew, wasn't coming back to us. The memories we shared in my Moms last couple of days - we laughed..... we cried.... I'm so thankful for my two amazing sisters, the two strongest people I know!

The memories my boys have of their grandparents - priceless! They were able to see the silly side of Grandpa - one I hadn't seen since I was a kid. Nana was always interested in what they were doing even if she didn't understand it (computer anything, video games) and often flew in for their many events.

My oldest sister married her best friend, last summer, in a beautiful wedding in Wilton, NH. I was able to make her a necklace using beads from one of my Moms and Grandmothers necklaces. The dish in the picture is one, of many, that my Grandmother painted - she was a fabulous painter!

I made these necklaces using my Moms clip-on earrings and a crystal drop - I wear them often. I've also made necklaces for my sisters and nieces.

I picked up a crochet hook over the Christmas holiday (it's been years!) and started making scarves. Lori suggested we use the color red in Marianna's honor - I found this Starbella Collegiate yarn - it's now my favorite scarf! I've made several of these scarves because I like the ruffles - or as my nephew used to call them, buffles. I love how soft, fluffy and buffly they are!

I found this key in a local antique store - it's a grandfather clock key that I put on a chain of stringed beads that slips right over your head. I added a blingy crown made with a vintage pearl, bead cap and Swarovski rondelle.

If I could turn back time with this key .....
one more hug .....
one more smile .....

I'm so grateful that I have two amazing sisters to share all of our wonderful memories with, and make new ones - I'm thankful, daily, for their love and constant support!!

Thank you for taking the time to read my post! I hope you'll take some time over the weekend to visit the many participants - I'll be spending the next few days reading all of the inspiring stories.

Hostess, Lori Anderson Pretty Things

Adlinah Kamsir Dream Struck Designs

Aimee Biondolillo Aimee's Jewelry Treasures

Alicia Marinache                 All the Pretty Things
Andra Marasteanu               Handmade by Indra Marasteanu
Andrea Trank                      Heaven Lane Creations
April Grinaway                   Brooklyn Bead Goddess

Barb Solem Vivi Magoo Presents

Becky Pancake Becky Pancake Bead Designs

Beth Emery Stories by Indigo Heart

Bonnie Coursolle Jasper's Gems

Cassi Paslick Beads: Rolling Downhill

Catherine King Catherine's Musings

Cece Cormier The Beading Yogini

Chandra Leitz Juniper Goods

Charissa Nesler FireStorm Designs
Charlie Jacka Clay Space

Christina Hickman Vintage Treasures Jewelry
Christine Stonefield - you are here - Sweet Girl Design

Chrizette Bayman Bead Soup Mix

Cindy Wilson It's My Sea of Dreams

Crystal Thain Here Bead Dragons

Cyndi Lavin Beading Arts

Debbie Rasmussen A little of this, a little of that

Denielle Hagerman Some Beads... and other things I like
Diana Gonzalez Arte y Poemas

Diane Hawkey diane hawkey

Dita Basu ankarshilpa

Donetta Farrington Simply Gorgeous

Dyanne Everett-Cantrell Deeliteful Jewelry Creations

Emma Todd A Polymer Penchant

Erin Kenny beadiful therapy

Erin Prais-Hintz Treasures Found

Gina Hockett Freestyle Elements

Gloria Allen Innovative Dreams Jewelry

Heather Marston CSW Designs

Inge von Roos Inge's Blog

Jacqueline Marchant Fiddledeedee Jewelry

Jami Shipp Celebrating Life!

Jean Yates Snap Out of it Jean, There's Beading to Do!

Jennifer Reno Musings of a Crafty Jenny
Jenny Robledo Peppa's Dream

Jennifer VanBenschoten Jewelry, Art and Life
Jessica Klaaren Cellar Door Jewelry

Jessica Murray Whimsical Monkey

Joan Williams lilruby jewelry

Jo-Ann Woolverton It's a Beadiful Creation

Joanne Browne josjewels1

Jodie Marshall Jodie Marshall Lampwork Beads Wearable Art

Johanna Rhodes Fire Phoenix Creations
John Rasmussen Rasumussen Gems and Jewelry LLC

JuLee Wolfe The Polymer Penguin

Julie Bean Blue Pig Blog

Karen Mitchell Over the Moon Designs

Karin King The Sparklie Things Blog
Karin Slaton Backstory Beads

Kat Douglas Washoe Kat's
Kay Bolton Toodles and Binks

Kelly Hosford Patterson The Traveling SideShow

Kim Ballor Vitamin C ... A Daily Does of Creativity

Kim Dworak CianciBlue

Kim Houston The Pink Martini
Kym Hunter Kym Hunter Designs

Laren Dee Barton Laren Dee Designs

Lea Avroch LA Jewelry Designs

Leanne Loftus First Impression Design

Lena Adams (Mari's daughter) -- TBA
Liddy McLaughlin Liddy McLaughlin Art

Linda Florian Lily's of the Valley Jewelry & Creative Creations

Linda Inhelder Must-Haves Jewelry

Lisa Hamilton Simply Irresistable Jewelry
Lisa Suver Fancee That

Lori Bowring Michaud Artfully Ornamental

Lori Poppe Adventures in Creativity with Lorillijean

LouAnn Elwell Southpass Beads

Mandi Effron Craft-o-licious

Marcia DeCoster MadDesigns

Marcia Dunne The Alternative Foundry

Marie Covert Creating Interest

Marjorie Savill Linthwaite bennubirdrising

Marlene Cupo Amazing Designs by Marlene

Martha Aleo Ornamento

Marti Conrad Marti's Buttons -n- Beads

Mary Ellen Parker BeeTree by m.e.

Mary Govaars MLH Jewelry Designs

Mary Lindell Mary Lindell Artisan Jewelry

Maureen Connolly Mrs Beadsley's Workshop

Maybeline Tay The Jewelry Larder

Melissa Elgin The Addicted Beader

Melissa Mesara one-eared pig beads

Menka Gupta Menka's Jewelry

Michaela Pabeschitz la mar de bonita

Mischelle Fanucchi Micheladas Musings

Mona Rae Baroody Who Does She Bead She Is?

Nan Emmett Spirit Rattles -- Spirited Earth

Nancy Pedersen Something Heartfelt by Nancy

Natalie Davidson NorthShore Days
Nikki Douglas Bead It and Weep

Pam Farren re-maker

Pam, the Crazier Sister The Crazy Creative Corner
Priya Krish Hellopalz
Rebecca Anderson Song Beads

Rebecca Sirevaag Becca's Place

Robin Kae Reed Artistry HCBD

Rochelle Brisson a creative chelle

Sabine Dittrich perlendschungel

Sandi Volpe Sandi Volpe

Sandra McGriff Creative Chaos

Sarah Goode Pookledo
Sarah Singer String a Song of Sixpence

Serena Trent All Things Made Jewelry

Shai Williams Shaiha's Ramblings
Sharon Palac Sharon's Jewelry Garden

Sharyl McMillian-Nelson Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections

Sheila Davis Stone Designs

Shelley Graham Turner Fabric of My Life

Sherri Stokey Knot Just Macrame

Sherry Baun Unicorns Jewels

Skylar Bre'z Brising Beads

Stephanie Haussler Pixybug Designs

Tania Spivey Moobie Grace Designs

Terri G. Blooming Ideas

Terry Carter Tapping Flamingo

Terry Matuszyk Pink Chapeau Vintage Jewelry

Toltec Jewels Jewel School Friends
Tracy Kruse Goldkisses Art

Tracy Martin Nutkitten's Jewelry

Zia Parks Anzi~Panzi's Work Shoppe

Zoe Marcin Beads, Tea and Sweets

I love fall - all of the beautiful colors, the crisp night air and the three birthdays we celebrate in our house! This is my 20, 15, 10 month!!! The fourth birthday is in February - he'll be 17!

The lovely, Rita over at Toltec Jewels and Jewel School Friends is hosting October Fest today and celebrating her birthday - Happy Birthday!!

Now, I will admit that I completely forgot about this reveal - I signed up for it and *poof*, I forgot about it! Thankfully, I was working on some Halloween jewelry over the weekend. Sometimes I forget to take pictures, so I'll have to go back over to Zodiac to get pictures of the earrings - I love how they turned out!