Though I do have stories running through the back of my head most of the time, I’m not actually writing all of the time. I thought I’d start sharing some of my other hobbies and things I like to do when I’m not writing. One of my favorite things to do is to make jewelry, which I’ve been doing for over half of my life now.

When I was eleven a friend taught me how to make simple bracelets out of embroidery floss. These bracelets were really easy and relaxing to make, and they started off a long list of things I like to do that involves working with my hands. I made so many of these little bracelets, and I loved going to craft stores and picking out new colors of floss.

We moved back to Ohio just after I learned how to make these bracelets, and one of my new neighbors saw my interest in jewelry and taught me how to make beaded pieces. I have spent the last twelve years of my life making jewelry whenever I have time and selling it when I can.

I currently have almost 300 different kinds of beads. I have made almost every piece of jewelry that I wear. I just love all of the colorful beads and I feel at peace when I’m making patterns and stringing beads. These are some of my favorite pieces I’ve made. I wore the blue bracelet on my wedding day.

I recently found a way to link my jewelry-making and my writing in an exciting project called Hope Bracelets, which you can read about here. I hope to find more ways to combine my two passions in the future.

So if I have free time in the evenings after a day of writing, you can find me spread out on the floor of our living room with my 18 cases of beads, making patterns and creating beautiful jewelry.