Hello, I am Cherry and my business partner is my daughter, Jessica. I am the mother of four and grandmother of three boys and one girl. I decided early to stay home with my children and only took part time work occasionally to prove to myself that I had value in the working world! I always came back to my first love and responsibility, my family. While I was home raising children the artistic side of me was used in that endeavor.
When my youngest was five he became very sick and for the next 20 some odd years, we juggled hospitalizations, doctors’ appointments, schools, jobs, and the emotional issues and stress that go along with keeping a family together under painful circumstances.Â
Time marched on, life happened: marriages, moves, job changes, and grandchildren (shock to me!). During most of that time we were desperately trying to keep our youngest healthy enough for a kidney transplant. Finally, the transplant happened! Shortly thereafter, my brain exploded! I had a massive brain hemorrhage that caused a stroke. They think I was born with an abnormal brain. Anyone that knows me, knows this is true! God had protected my brain for all that time so that I could take care of my family in crisis. I think the “explosion� was Him telling me that it was finally time to slow down, to rest. I recovered from the stroke, but had to have brain surgery. I had extreme problems with balance, concentration, sight and communication (I talked too much anyway, so that was probably a blessing!).
Encouraged by my husband and children, I began working to get "me" back, I turned to the creative side of me, the artistic side. I quilted between the stroke and the surgery, something I had always loved. After the surgery, I decided to do portraits. This was something that I had always wanted to do, to seek out the details and capture the personality of the subject. I get great pleasure out of seeing a drawing come to life. I love to paint as well, and voraciously collect and list ideas of things I will paint when I have the time.
Right before my stroke, one of my nieces introduced me to beading. I loved it! What a wonderfully creative way to express myself! I could carry it with me to appointments, etc. In getting back to “me�, I realized that I could do so many things, go so many directions with it and I had gifts for everybody!!!
My children got involved, my youngest, a silent partner, investing in materials, and my youngest daughter and her husband helping with the business side (the website, shows, marketing materials, etc.) She became my active partner, encouraging me and pushing me to keep going. My oldest children are my advertisers! My girls wear my jewelry (they point out the necessity of showing prospective customers and testing out the designs). It really is an invaluable service, with the upside of always having jewelry made for them, with no two just alike!
What a blessing to have found something that I love to do, that uses that creative side of me that I had to put on hold. I have been set free to explore and hopefully make something that will be treasured for years to come!Â
I hope you enjoy!
From my heart,
CherryÂ
