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It was September 1996, my son and I finally escaped the house we had called home for the last few years. Living with an abusive alcoholic was takings it toll on both of us. We left with our clothes, and a
meager checking account and moved in with my parents house for safety... the
scary, dark cloud of the past 4 years had been removed. It was early Sept. '96. My son wanted to send a special gift to his half sister for her birthday. We went to Hobby Lobby in search of something he could make for her. We were both captivated by the beads department. It was there we found a complete kit for making a rose quartz necklace. It contained a beautiful crystal, beads, stringing material and all necessary findings for completing the necklace at a
reasonable price. While scanning through the selection I came across one with a beautiful amethyst which I could not refuse for myself. Completely satisfied with our purchases we set for home to string our necklaces. Being 12 years old he was immediately distracted as soon as we got home and held no interest in putting together the one he was
going to make for his sister so I proceeded to make both. By the time I finished both necklaces, having altered both from the directions to what I perceived to be more pleasing to the eye, I was hooked, and I do mean hooked completely. I woke up the next morning and went to hobby lobby and spent $100 on beads and finding. This would normally be fine except I was financially unable to afford such expenses. Throwing caution to the wind and concentrating on the little voice screaming so loudly from within I spent almost all of our meager checking account on my new found addiction. However, I was not the only one hooked on this new craze, my son was completely caught up, too. He enjoyed designing necklaces for me to make for him to wear to school. It was there that one of the school employees spoke with him about a
necklace he was wearing. A short conversation lead to her calling me and coming over to the house to see my rapidly growing collection of beaded brainstorms. She immediately fell in love with my designs and soon asked the million dollar question: "how much would you charge me to make this in a
different color?" It was at that very second that it all made sense. I could do this for a living!
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Within a month I rented a small booth space at a local craft mall. My inventory was growing at a rapid pace. The craft mall turned out to be a not so profitable venture.
Desperate for the perfect place to sell my jewelry, I was told that I should set up a booth at the Farmer's Market at the Little Rock River Market. Early March 1997 I took two tables, table clothes, shelves, and a chair and displayed my
jewelry for the public to see. The responses I got were overwhelming. My sales that first day
surpassed a month of sales at the craft mall. Once again i was totally hooked and knew I was on the right path.
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Since then I have turned my beading craving into a business. It was slow going at first. I needed to reinvest
everything I made in to the business, and being a single mom made this a very difficult task. But my son and I were sold on the business that we gave birth to and we were determined that we would make it work no matter what the sacrifices. And we did. Since then, my son has graduated from high school and is working 2 jobs. He is still behind me 100%. I am no longer a single mom. I met a wonderful man, we married and bought a house together. I now have my very own 'bead room' for my business. I am still a dedicated Farmer's Market vendor and suppose that I always will be. My business has ventured in other directions leading me to teach classes at a fantastic little bead store in Sherwood, Kittie's Kreations and I am also starting to sell wholesale to a few retail stores.
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Life for me is good! I have made wonderful friends at the River
Market and thank God every day for the gift he has given me. I am truly blessed.
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