Friday, April 23, 2010

Making Beautiful Jewelry, Grandmother's Home Business

It's a pleasure to introduce you to Angie Baker, a "crafty" grandmother.  When you read her story, you will see how a creative gift can become a business. Enjoy!

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I am a mother of eight children-four grown boys, four grown girls.  All of whom I am proud of. I have seven grandchildren, three girls, four boys.  Six of my grandchildren are living.  I lost my Maxwell Shelby Ray Haworth at one year of age, but he is still mine. He was born with a heart deformity, half a heart. It was not found out until he was six weeks old, then they said he  was an old baby and his chances of survival were slim. Max was a gift for a year.

I got into my jewelry design business quite by chance.  I had purchased a beading kit from Costco at Christmas 2006 for my oldest granddaughter Brittney.  She didn't come that Christmas, I didn't get around to mailing it. So here sits this perfectly good craft item. I have been a crafter since birth, I am 56 years old now, so that will give you some idea.

Back to the beading kit. I decided to start playing with the beads, in February 2007, they were not top quality glass beads, but they were still pretty and interesting.  I created a few bracelets and decided to post them on a social site called Made Big Nation.  There you post items for sale and get made big coins in return, so that you can purchase other items posted there.

Along comes a person by the name of Donna Young.  She sees my chunky bracelet in orange and blues and asks me to create a bracelet for Valentines Day.  I agree, I also tell her I am new at this designing of jewelry but I will do my best.  I created the jewelry, sent it to her and she was pleased. She then contacted me to create another piece for a friend, which I did. Needless to say, she purchased a total of 16 bracelets, and my business was born.  There is more to the story, but I shortened it.

As to my interests, I love people, animals, anything creative, art, knitting, crocheting, candle making, soap making, leather work, rock tumbling, etc.  I have done it all.  You should see my craft room. It looks like a store!

Updated 11/27/18