Hello all,
I was diagnosed with Lupus in April of 2007. It was a very difficult time, I was in pain, tired and it took a good 2 years of trying to get the right mixture of medications to get me to a functional level. I spent a lot of time doing nothing and sleeping. I needed to fill my time and to take my mind off the daily struggle, as it was causing a depression that I feared would get very deep. Not working caused another level of stress, financial. It was getting close to Christmas and I decided that sitting on my but watching TV everyday was not getting me anywhere and with money tight, I needed a hobby to fill the time, take my mind off the pain and get Christmas gifts with little money. I made a necklace with a boyfriends sister back in high school and it has been hanging around my stick shift in my car for years. I was starring at that necklace one day, sitting in the car wondering if I should go to the mall or....a bead store! I can make a Christmas gift for my mom with beads! That was it! I was able to sit and bead with out to much effort physically and it took my mind off what my body was doing to me everyday. This beading hobby is now a full blown business. It has been a while but as you can see from the pictures my work is progressively gotten better. My 4 yr anniversary of living with Lupus was last month and this month is Lupus month. There is just now a new clinical trial out now for the first new drug to treat Lupus in 52 years! That needs to get better, fast!
Thank you for taking the time to listen to my story and view my jewelry that has become the key ingredient to a healthier me. I am making the Swarovski crystal butterfly bracelet seen below in colors that match the Mt Charleston butterfly, chosen by the director of the Colors of Lupus Nevada. Lupus uses purple(the color of awareness for Lupus) butterflies as a symbol so this bracelet works perfect for raising awareness. We will be selling this new version on my site starting tomorrow (you get a sneak peek) and a portion of the sales will go to the Colors of Lupus Nevada to help others with this disease in many different capacities.
Thanks again for the soapbox!
Laura Graham
The Lupus Mt Charleston Butterfly Bracelet
Swarovski Crystals Butterfly Bracelet
My first necklace I made back in '08
6 comments:
How wonderful. Best of luck in your efforts, and my prayers will be with you for continued healing. Meanwhile, it is an amazing coincidence that I should read how you eased your stress, more or less, by crafting. I recently posted about crafting as a stress-buster on my blog - you might enjoy it:
http://prayersncrafts.blogspot.com/2008/07/de-stressing-with-crafts.html
Yes, May is National Auto-Immune Disease Awareness Month. I have rheumatoid arthritis, a cousin to Lupus. At first, they thought I had Lupus because of something that showed up in my blood tests.I take a nasty chemo therapy drug once a week and will for the rest of my life. RA destroyed the middle joints of my fingers, but I refused to let it stop me from doing what I loved---making jewelry and crafting, so I can Sooo relate to you. I was diagnosed in 2004---the year I retired from the school district. It basically happened overnight. I don't people realize much about auto immune diseases,so it's good that you are doing what you can to make people aware.
Thank you both. NVwoods, methotrexate, right? I was on it a long time too but we switched it out for Azathioprine which is not much better but it helps with the fatigue. Good for you, my pain is in my hands in general and on days when they are swollen, forget beading but it wont stop me either.
Yes, methotrexate. It makes me spacey! I live on Mt. Charleston and the tiny purple butterfly is always a treat to see, so the bracelet does a good job of depicting it!!!
Absolutely beautiful! I don't wear jewelry and I would wear the purple butterfly bracelet. Love it!
Beautiful jewelry!!!
I too have arthritis in my left hand thumb joint and something starting on my right hand too. As well as degenerative disk disease. Which I have had for years. I too don't let it get me down. I take everything natural as possible to help the situation.
I won't stop doing what I am doing either. Knitting is a long time passion of mine plus soap making!
My therapy!
Beautiful job!
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