Sarah’s Surprises

If you purchase this Black and White Market Tote, $18, from Sun 2 Create, not only will you have a stylish new market bag - you’ll also be helping donate $9 to Susan G. Komen For The Cure!

That’s right, 50% of the purchase price from items labelled PINK at Sun 2 Create will be donated to Susan G Komen For The Cure.

Mary says Breast Cancer Awareness is important to her because:

I have a good friend who is a breast cancer survivor. She is a wonderful person, whose experience with the disease really seems to have given her an appreciation of life that not many people have. But, I had another friend who did not survive. Her cancer spread and she died several years ago, leaving two boys the same age as my own children. I would love to see this disease eradicated in my lifetime.

Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Awareness Bracelet, $35.

This bracelet is created entirely of pink Swarovski pearls and crystals and sterling silver. It features both a pink ribbon charm and a small round charm which reads “hope”. It measures approximately 7 1/4″ and is finished with a sterling lobster clasp

Meredith from Tillyjewels also agreed to be interviewed!

Thank you so much Meredith.

1. Please tell us a little about Tilleyjewels.

Tilleyjewels has officially been in business since 2002, but I’ve been working with beads and creating jewelry for over 25 years. I primarily create jewelry and hair accessories from beads and wire, specializing in wedding jewels and headpieces. I have a serious obsession with freshwater pearls, Swarovski crystals and Czech glass floral beads.

2. What made you decide to focus on jewelry?

Magpie tendencies–I can’t get enough of these shiny little sparkly things. I’ve experimented with a lot of different mediums over the years, but my heart always came back to the beads.

3. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry to make?

That would have to be my Rainbow Cuff Bracelet. Even though I use the same materials every time, each one comes out a little different, it’s own little work of art.

4. Where do you find the inspirations for your creations?

Mostly from the materials themselves. I love to shop for unique pendants and lampwork and polymer clay beads that speak to me. I just try to listen and follow their instructions on what they want to become.

5. Are there any websites that you visit daily? If so, why?

Etsy is my main online selling venue, so I’m on there everyday working and browsing. The only other public site that I go to daily is the forums at www.theswitchboards.com –it’s a great networking site for indie business women. The ladies have businesses in every stage of development and are great about helping out with advice.

6. And finally, why is Breast Cancer Awareness important to you?

Several important women in my life have been affected by breast cancer. I started making pink ribbon jewelry in 2006 when my daughters’ grandmother was diagnosed–she went through chemo and is a survivor. I wanted to create something for all the women in our family to wear as a reminder of how easily your life can turn upside-down and how important it is to be aware of what is going on in your body. I also make a similar bracelet in the colors which represent colon cancer awareness in memory of my grandfather.

Isn’t this Breast Cancer Awareness Makeup Brush Holder, $10 from The Giving Tree adorable?

And to think, it even comes with makeup brushes!

I love the pink ribbon that’s used to tie it, isn’t it pretty?

You can’t see it in this picture, but the back of the brush holder is yellow and pink with pink ribbons.

The Natalie Necklace, $95, from Kaleidescope Jewels, was inspired by Katherine’s (the owner of Kaleidescope Jewels) best friend who was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 23. Natalie is 25 now, and unfortunately, cancer has spread to her lungs.

Katherine agreed to share a little more about Natalie - with Natalie’s approval, of course. I have to admit this story is bringing tears to my eyes.

Natalie was 23 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She found a lump when she was taking a shower one morning that just appeared out of nowhere.

We work in a clinic/hosp so she went in that day and had an ultrsound, mammogram, and also a biopsy. Not thinking that it was possible because she has/had no family history of breast cancer.

She got a phone call about 4 days later telling her that is was cancer. she had a lumpectomy 2 days later and found out that it was in 2 out of 12 lymph nodes. She went through all the Chemo lost her hair and then had radiation.

With being 23 not married no kids she was feeling pretty down because they told her that she had a 50/50 chance of never having kids and to Natalie kids are her world!!

She made it through that without any major setbacks.

When she went to have her port-a-cath taken out they found that part of it broke off and lodged really like centimeters away from her heart. So she had to go in and have this emergancy surgery to have this piece taken out. That was really scary because any moment that could have dislodged and went straight to her heart and killed her.

So after that was all over she was fine for less then 6 months. She went in with pain the the breast so they did a MRI and found 8 spots on her lungs. She needed to have biopsied. Well like I told you they came back cancerous. The only option she has is chemo because there are so many in both lungs she can’t have a lung removed.

The chemo that she is on now is pretty harsh. Her blood levels run pretty low that she has to cancel chemo. She has had such low blood levels that she has recieved 12 pints of platlets and 6 pints of whole blood. Her platelets dropped so low that she couldn’t stop bleeding so she spent some time in the hosp.

This time around she has been pretty low with hope which scares me.

She is my rock and keeps me afloat and I can’t imagine my life wothout her. She is a great inspiration to everyone that she comes in contact with. She has so much light in her that everyone is drawn to her. she is the most compasionate and loving person I know and I am glad to call her my friend. I love her with all my heart and pray for her everyday!

Here is Katherine’s description of Natalie’s Necklace:

“The stones used in this necklace are: large white onyx, brazilian quarts moss agate, African pink rhodocrosite rhondelles and squares, mother of pearl (pink, champane, black), Nabimian amazonite, Australia deep pink Jade, Freshwater pearls (hot pink and cream), pink fossil, pink jade pillow stones, abalone, white stripped agate, white jade, and swarovski crystals.

The pinks are very eye catching and the sterling shines magnificently.

This necklace is made from multiple types of sterling silver chain. The chain is sterling silver and it measures at 45 inches. You can wear it as a single long necklace or double it up for more effect. I have also been able to make it into a bracelet.”

The Pink Awareness Bracelet, $29, from Bonny Jewelry is stunning.

I love the pink and rose pink beads - and of course the awareness ribbon charm.

“This breast cancer awareness bracelet was created using lovely pink quartz ovals, rose pink Swarovski crystal and lots of sterling silver bead caps and small sterling beads to add sparkle and catch the eye. The awareness ribbon charm is sterling silver and dangles from the end of the bracelet loop. A pretty and feminine bracelet with a purpose.

The bracelet is 8 inches (20.3 cm) long but is fully adjustable down to 6 1/4 inches (15.9 cm), closing with a lobster claw clasp. All metal components are sterling silver.

All jewelry is packaged in a cotton lined box for storage and gift-giving.”

Bonny shares why breast cancer awareness is important to her:

Breast cancer awareness is important to me because it affects so many women and their families. I’ve had several friends affected by this horrible disease (one is a member of our NH Street Team) and they are truly inspirational. Chemo and radiation treatments won’t stop them from living their lives and being with those who are important to them. Cancer touches everyone’s lives - I lost my Dad to brain cancer - and it needs to be stopped in its tracks.

Remember ladies - do your monthly breast exams and get a mammogram when your doctor recommends it!

Bonny is so right - it can be so easy to give up when you have problems, and it’s amazing to see women who don’t give up, and keep living their lives, even in the midst of chemo and radiation treatments.