So...what'd he say?

Today...... after a horrific weekend filled with pain, like I've never known and honestly, wasn't sure I'd make it through the night on Friday.  While that may sound dramatic..... it's truth.  I had so much *pain*.  It was RELENTLESS.  After Friday night, I drove an hour+ to the Twin Cities (my dentist was in Chicago) to an emergency dentist who promptly told me that I had an infected tooth and that it would be a cool $3k for them to fix it.

I don't have $3k.  I cried. Alot.  I'm on social security and am disabled.  I'm not able to work.....I don't have the luxury of picking up a few extra hours to make some extra cash.... my body won't let me.  Imagine the freak out.

Look at that smile! Help me save it!

So, this morning, I went to my own dentist, who agreed that YES I need a root canal.  However, he felt pretty certain, that a crown may not be needed immediately.  More importantly, the cost for the root canal and filling, will be right at $1k - which is MUCH more manageable than $3k, but still frightening because I don't have that kind of money.  I've spent the last several months being VERY disciplined and exercising HUGE self control to save around $600 - which is OUTSTANDING - but the thought of losing all that cash to a tooth and having NOTHING again is absolutely sickening.   (I know, I'm very THANKFUL that I have this savings.... I just HATE spending it!)

I'm asking for help.  I have to.

I have started a gofundme page, which you can find here: http://www.gofundme.com/pnvu2c  It also explains more of my story and why this probably happened..... and I will be doing a destash again in my Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/LindasDestash/.  Please share with your friends - I want to raise as much as I possibly can so that I can keep SOME sort of savings. 

If you'd rather purchase jewelry - you can find it here: http://cherryOnTopDesign.co and I do custom pieces, as well! 

THANK YOU for your friendship and if you would like to help, I'd be forever grateful (as would my mouth)!

Week #12 - Long Legged Lola

This week's addition is brought to you by amoxicillin, acetaminophen and delirium. It's been an awful week..... I have a VERY severely infected tooth, which has caused pain like I've ever experienced. I was in so much pain, that I was drenched in sweat. Bad week. After the worst night, I went to a dentist who promptly informed me that it would be $3000 to get a root canal and crown. I cried. Alot. I cried until I couldn't cry anymore....then I wept. I don't have that kinda money.  

So, I'm going to see my "regular" dentist tomorrow, who will look and decide what HE thinks is the best plan. It's going to be expensive and I have no idea how I'm gonna pay for it, but the alternative is to pull the tooth, but then I'd need a bridge or an implant, neither of which is much cheaper.

I have a group on Facebook - Linda's Destash, where I am planning to start destashing jewelry parts, auction style. I hope to get the auction up by Thursday or so. So, if you'd be willing to help - please join the group....every bit will help me pay for this.  I have also set up a GoFundMe page here: http://www.gofundme.com/pnvu2c if you'd rather not purchase jewelry parts but want to help. 

In other news..... I did create a pair of earrings a few weeks ago that I made as a "backup" pair and this is the week I'm calling them up from 'the minor league'. I call them "Long Legged Lola".... made with Swarovski crystals in 3 different sizes, colors and lengths. I kinda love them. =) I hope you do, too.

Year of Earrings - Wk 1 and 2 - #fail

OK - so I kinda committed to doing a Year of Earrings and I've already failed. Oy. But at least I KNOW I failed and am ready to share my first jewelery of 2015!

Czech beads with Seagulls by Asbury Avenue Designs - can you smell the sea air?

 

Druzy Agate with Amethyst rounds - Delicious! 

These friends aren't on sale yet, but I'm just proud that I've made SOMETHING in 2015!  It's been a struggle, between running a group on FB and having 2 MAJOR events since Thanksgiving, I've been overwhelmed.  I've also been sick - that Christmas Crud had taken me over - 3 rounds of antibiotics, a whole box of day-quil/ny-quil and so many other things.... just felt miserable!

If the seagull earrings are any indication of the jewelry I'll be making this year - I can't WAIT!! WOOHOO!

New Year - New Goals

Well here we are....2015.  Holy Canoli!  I will state for the record that the first check I wrote I used 2015...pretty impressed with myself. =)

Looking back at 2014, it was QUITE a year.  I experienced my lowest sales ever, I started a facebook group which has grown to over 1200+ after a group that I dearly loved closed down, I had a pair of earrings published, was paid for my designs for the first time, my alumni magazine published an article about me and my journey of illness which lead to jewelry, I discovered lampwork glass beads (my wallet is KILLING ME), built up a nice supply of Swarovski crystals, had a destash, had surgery to get my bionic belly battery changed, joined a company's design team, played some online games to win some FANTASTIC beads, played with some new techniques and expanded my knowledge of jewelry.  

I've got some new goals for this year - both personally and for my biz.  I'm looking forward to seeing how they will play out.  They're gonna take some work, some determination, some courage....but I'm hopeful I can do it.   Oh? You wanna know what they are?  HAHAH - No.  I'm not a big sharer of my goals.  Mostly because I hate not meeting them, then having to explain.  Ya know? 

So, for now - I'm just cranking some tunes...working on a HUGE project for my FB group - Bead Peeps.  (Right now, Fireball by Pitbull - Black Widow, Booty, Lips are Movin', Pompeii, Light 'Em Up, All About That Bass)  I'll be doing my first ever swap n hop.  THIS will be an adventure!  =)

Join me!  Come along for the ride!! 

Ravens, Ravens, Everywhere!

I'd like to extend a warm welcome and a huge shoutout to my peeps from Anderson University!  Would you mind leaving me a comment and let me know where you're from?  =)

Looking for some INCREDIBLE jewelry?  Perfect for Christmas gifts, Winter Formal, and all those weddings that are coming from the freshman walk!
You can find it here:  http://cherryOnTopDesign.co  and use this discount code: raven10 for 10% off - just for being awesome!

I went to AU from 1993-1998 and met some of THE most OUTSTANDING people, I could have ever dreamed of meeting.  We have continued to be friends through the years and I can tell you one thing - there is NO WAY I would be the person I am, today, without each and every one of them. 
 

The last time our group was together for a weddin'

OctoberFest Post

While a smidge late - I am a part of the http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com/ OctoberFest! 

I've decided to share a simple recipe.......one of my favorites and perhaps some would call it a "hack".

For an OUTSTANDING cake - take any cake mix and add a can of pumpkin to it....that's it - bake per  directions.....

=)

DELICIOUS and SUPER easy!

And this is one of my all time favorite photos....from October. =)  One of my favorite things to do in the fall is go apple picking.  While out, I saw this GORGEOUS butterfly feasting on this awful apple.  I was taking photos of the butterfly and *never* saw the bee who came later to feast, as well.  It reminds me of the beauty that can come from rottenness and the beauty that comes from my own life, and my own rottenness.  Quite a gift to see both sides of the coin.

Weird

So, many of you know that from time to time, I write about personal stuffs here - this will be one of THOSE posts

I've realized in the last few weeks that I've been struggling, quite severely, with depression.   It hasn't taken the usual forms of feeling bad about myself (although that does happen from time to time), it's come more in the form of feeling sad, overwhelmed and like something inside just needs to come out....somehow.

I know that part of this is because some tough days are ahead....my mother's birthday would have been Saturday - she would be 70.  It's kinda strange to think that my mother would be 70.  I can't even begin to imagine her at that age.  I'm beginning to see many traits that she had, in myself - some good - some not so great.  I do wish that she were here, though.  I can hardly imagine what she'd say about my jewelry business.  It would be awesome to see her excitement and I'm sure she'd be my #1 sales woman. =)  She sold Home Interiors for MANY moons and was quite successful with it.  I wish I could ask her for wisdom with selling and ideas of marketing and all that jazz.  She could, truly, sell ice to eskimos.

I'm sad that I'm quickly approaching ANOTHER birthday, single.  My deepest desire is to find a wonderful, Godly man, get married and have a family.  My heart hurts that it just hasn't happened.  Much of that, I'm sure, is due to my weight - which because of severe health issues - is kinda outta my control right now.  It just hurts my heart that I'm single...still.  This was *not* my plan.  Yes, I know I could be married....and feel like I'm in a prison - which is no way to live, either.  My dad often encourages me with "There is no pain, like the pain of a lonely marriage" and I'm so thankful God has protected me from that....but desperate to find the man for me.  WHERE THE FREAK ARE YOU, WALDO?!!?

I'm also realizing, that my depression comes through in my lifestyle....specifically my bedroom.  When my head is a mess - so is my room.  Part of this, is due to my health (if I bend over - my body wants to vomit, nearly automatically) and part is just due to the fact that there is plenty of time, another day, to deal with it.  I'm pretty overwhelmed with it.

And finally, I'm sad that 2 years ago, I boarded a plane to come home for "2 months" to take a vacation and then go back to DC and move into a new place.  I have yet to get my things from DC.  I'm $800 short.  Why is it that some random dude can raise $50k for potato salad and I can't raise enough to get my things home from DC?  I have a good "story" - I'm chronically ill, I can't work, I live with my father, my medical style bed is in DC - and I'm DESPERATE to get it home.  My body is suffering even more without it.  I even offered my jewelry at a HUGE discount and I sold $30.  REALLY?!!?  What the....?!?!  As soon as I get a little extra, something else comes up that bites me in the rear and sets me right back to where I started.

These things are things that many people deal with......these things are things that aren't easy fixes.....but these are my things.  I'm prayerful that God has a reason why my junk is still there, I'm still single and I miss my mom....but it'd sure be nice to see some of those pieces fall in to place.  So, if you know a wonderful, single, Godly 'sugar daddy' - have him me a call =)

Help Me Get Home?

Looking for my Bead Soup Piece? =) Click here!

Hey Y'All - It's looking like I might FINALLY be making progress to get my belongings HOME!  They are currently living in Virginia, right outside of DC, while I'm living in Minnesota.  I need to raise about $700 more dollars and I'll be able to get EVERYTHING home! 

Would you help?  You can make a donation here: Go Fund Me Page or purchase some jewelry here: Cherry On Top Design.Co. I'm SO CLOSE!  Even $5 would be a HUGE help!

Uhhh- WHOA! That's HUGE!

SO..here I am again with some very EXCITING NEWS!

Our local newspaper came out in July to interview me about my jewelry and my story.  After the pieces were published in BeadStyle, I sent an email to our local press and they were interested in the story.  SO...August 25 my piece was published!  Check it out!  They did SUCH a great job and I'm SO proud to be able to share my story with thousands of people!

Here's the official link:
http://www.sctimes.com/article/20130825/BUSINESS01/308240026