Early July Morning, Cocoa Beach, Florida

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Memories and Thanks Blog Hop Reveal

Lately, I've been so busy with Christmas, family, and getting my youngest son ready for his first semester of college (taking him across the country and getting him settled, too). I got so busy I plum forgot about something I had signed up for. 

Many of you have seen the Bead Soup Blog Hops hosted by Lori Anderson, well, she came up with another blog hop. Memories and Thanks Blog Hop. I thought it was a really cool idea and wanted to do it. When I first heard about it, I sat right down and started to create, but my idea was a HUGE flop. I put it away, and guess what!? I forgot all about it until today when I saw what the date was. OH NO!!!!

The idea behind this blog is to make something that has a deep meaning toward an individual in your life. I have so many wonderful people in my life, that it was really hard to choose. Lately, though, I've been doing a lot of thinking about one special woman that I know.

My youngest sister...

First off, I have to say, I am one lucky woman, as I have two wonderful sisters. I know that if I really needed something...any thing, they would be there for me. But my baby sister, well, she is a very special gal! Why? Well, there are a number of reasons. First off she has some very special little boys in her life. Her and her dear husband have been blessed with two beautiful little boys, both with autism. She runs into daily challenges with them and boy, is she ever a trooper. They say that mothers who are blessed with special needs children are angles...this is VERY true.

Not only does my sister have challenges with her boys, but she also has challenges with her own health. She has scleroderma. Even though she has this health issue, she is still blessed with pretty good health; and we are all very grateful for that!

So what to make with her in mind? First off, I would like to eventually give this to her. She can't really wear a lot of jewelry, so I needed to come up with something else, and this is what I came up with.
A key chain.
I did a little research on the ribbon colors for scleroderma and found that they use a blue butterfly. That is why I used these blue butterflies for this piece. You will also notice the rainbow colored flowers, the ribbon color for autism. I crocheted three strands of beads and braided them together to make this key chain. If she doesn't want to use it as a key chain, she can hang it off her rear view mirror, or hang it wherever she likes.  

Well, I'm sure you will want to visit the other ladies' blogs..there are about 135, so take your time...visit a few each day for the next week or so, and enjoy all the beautiful pieces...


Hostess, Lori Anderson       Pretty Things


 Adlinah Kamsir                   Dream Struck Designs
 Aimee Biondolillo               Aimee's Jewelry Treasures
 Alicia Marinache                 All the Pretty Things 
 Andra Marasteanu               Handmade by Indra Marasteanu 
 Andrea Trank                      Heaven Lane Creations
 April Grinaway                   Brooklyn Bead Goddess
Barb Solem                         Vivi Magoo Presents
Becky Pancake                    Becky Pancake Bead Designs
Beth Emery                         Stories by Indigo Heart
Bonnie Coursolle                Jasper's Gems
Cassi Paslick                       Beads: Rolling Downhill
Catherine King                    Catherine's Musings
Cece Cormier                      The Beading Yogini
Chandra Leitz                     Juniper Goods
Charissa Nesler                   FireStorm Designs
Charlie Jacka                       Clay Space
Christina Hickman              Vintage Treasures Jewelry

Christine Stonefield            Sweet Girl Design
Chrizette Bayman               Bead Soup Mix
Cindy Wilson                      It's My Sea of Dreams
Crystal Thain                      Here Bead Dragons
Cyndi Lavin                        Beading Arts
Debbie Rasmussen             A little of this, a little of that
Denielle Hagerman             Some Beads... and other things I like
Diana Gonzalez                  Arte y Poemas
Diane Hawkey                    diane hawkey
Dita Basu                            ankarshilpa
Donetta Farrington             Simply Gorgeous
Dyanne Everett-Cantrell     Deeliteful Jewelry Creations
Emma Todd                        A Polymer Penchant
Erin Kenny                         beadiful therapy
Erin Prais-Hintz                  Treasures Found
Gina Hockett                      Freestyle Elements
Gloria Allen                        Innovative Dreams Jewelry
Heather Marston                 CSW Designs
Inge von Roos                    Inge's Blog

Jacqueline Marchant          Fiddledeedee Jewelry
Jami Shipp                         Celebrating Life!
Jean Yates                          Snap Out of it Jean, There's Beading to Do!
Jennifer Reno                     Musings of a Crafty Jenny
Jenny Robledo                   Peppa's Dream
Jennifer VanBenschoten    Jewelry, Art and Life
Jessica Klaaren                  Cellar Door Jewelry
Jessica Murray                   Whimsical Monkey
Joan Williams                     lilruby jewelry
Jo-Ann Woolverton            It's a Beadiful Creation
Joanne Browne                   josjewels1
Jodie Marshall                    Jodie Marshall Lampwork Beads Wearable Art
Johanna Rhodes                 Fire Phoenix Creations
John Rasmussen                 Rasumussen Gems and Jewelry LLC
JuLee Wolfe                       The Polymer Penguin
Julie Bean                           Blue Pig Blog
Karen Mitchell                   Over the Moon Designs
Karin King                         The Sparklie Things Blog
Karin Slaton                       Backstory Beads
Kat Douglas                       Washoe Kat's
Kay Bolton                        Toodles and Binks
Kelly Hosford Patterson     The Traveling SideShow
Kim Ballor                          Vitamin C ... A Daily Does of Creativity
Kim Dworak                       CianciBlue
Kim Houston                       The Pink Martini
Kym Hunter                         Kym Hunter Designs
Laren Dee Barton                Laren Dee Designs
Lea Avroch                          LA Jewelry Designs
Leanne Loftus                      First Impression Design

Liddy McLaughlin               Liddy McLaughlin Art
Linda Florian                       Lily's of the Valley Jewelry & Creative Creations
Linda Inhelder                     Must-Haves Jewelry
Lisa Hamilton                      Simply Irresistable Jewelry
Lisa Suver                            Fancee That
Lori Bowring Michaud        Artfully Ornamental
Lori Poppe                           Adventures in Creativity with Lorillijean
LouAnn Elwell                    Southpass Beads
Mandi Effron                       Craft-o-licious
Marcia DeCoster                 MadDesigns
Marcia Dunne                     The Alternative Foundry
Marie Covert                      Creating Interest
Marjorie Savill Linthwaite     bennubirdrising
Marlene Cupo                        Amazing Designs by Marlene
Martha Aleo                           Ornamento
Marti Conrad                          Marti's Buttons -n- Beads
Mary Ellen Parker                  BeeTree by m.e.
Mary Govaars                        MLH Jewelry Designs
Mary Lindell                          Mary Lindell Artisan Jewelry
Maureen Connolly                 Mrs Beadsley's Workshop
Maybeline Tay                       The Jewelry Larder
Melissa Elgin                         The Addicted Beader
Melissa Mesara                      one-eared pig beads
Menka Gupta                         Menka's Jewelry
Michaela Pabeschitz              la mar de bonita
Mischelle Fanucchi               Micheladas Musings
Mona Rae Baroody               Who Does She Bead She Is?
Nan Emmett                          Spirit Rattles -- Spirited Earth
Nancy Pedersen                    Something Heartfelt by Nancy
Natalie Davidson                  NorthShore Days
Nikki Douglas                      Bead It and Weep
Pam Farren                           re-maker
Pam, the Crazier Sister        The Crazy Creative Corner

Priya Krish                           Hellopalz  
Rebecca Anderson               Song Beads
Rebecca Sirevaag                 Becca's Place
Robin Kae Reed                   Artistry HCBD
Rochelle Brisson                  a creative chelle
Sabine Dittrich                     perlendschungel
Sandi Volpe                          Sandi Volpe
Sandra McGriff                    Creative Chaos
Sarah Goode                         Pookledo
Sarah Singer                         String a Song of Sixpence
Serena Trent                         All Things Made Jewelry
Shai Williams                       Shaiha's Ramblings
Sharon Palac                        Sharon's Jewelry Garden
Sharyl McMillian-Nelson    Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections
Sheila Davis                         Stone Designs
Shelley Graham Turner        Fabric of My Life
Sherri Stokey                       Knot Just Macrame
Sherry Baun                         Unicorns Jewels
Skylar Bre'z                         Brising Beads
Stephanie Haussler              Pixybug Designs
Tania Spivey                        Moobie Grace Designs
Terri G.                                Blooming Ideas
Terry Carter                         Tapping Flamingo
Terry Matuszyk                    Pink Chapeau Vintage Jewelry
Toltec Jewels                       Jewel School Friends
Tracy Kruse                         Goldkisses Art
Tracy Martin                        Nutkitten's Jewelry
Zia Parks                              Anzi~Panzi's Work Shoppe
Zoe Marcin                          Beads, Tea and Sweets
  


25 comments:

  1. Very kewl key chain! I love that you researched the "ribbon" for scleroderma. God bless her for raising 2 autistic children and dealing with her own health problems! You are lucky to have such a wonderful sister! I'm sure she will love her key chain!

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  2. This is a great idea, and yes, our baby sister is an angel and a heck of a mom. I seriously don't think I could do half of what she does on a daily basis.

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  3. How thoughtful, and so pretty. I bet she is going to love it.

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  4. What a lovely piece and a sweet tribute! Blessings to you all.

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  5. A heartwarming story - and a wonderful tribute for your sister. If she can't use it as a key chain, maybe she'll use it as a purse chain! Either way - she'll love it, I am sure. You're a wonderful sister!

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  6. You have made a beautiful triblute to your sister and made beauty from challenges. I have two sons with autism as well.
    You rock! Very lovely key chain! I love all that it represents, eespecially your love. jean xox

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  7. I love hearing stories about the sister bond!! I don't have any sisters but always wished I did! Awesome tribute to your sister!

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  8. Thank you for sharing your sister with me through this story.I love the keychain you made for her and the reason behind it. :)

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  9. What a thoughtful gift for a special sister, beautiful!

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  10. Such a beautiful tribute to your sister - I love the keychain!

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  11. A great piece in tribute to your sister. Thanx for sharing your story with us.

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  12. Beautiful tribute to a special sister. She will definitely treasure it.

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  13. Such a nice way to honor your sister with something she can use each day and bring her cheer. Thank you for sharing your story and your creation. Enjoy the day! Erin

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  14. Your sister sounds like an amazing person. I am a mother as well as a school counsellor. I can only begin to imagine the day to day challenges your sister faces. Your nephews are blessed to have an angel as a mother and she is blessed to have a wonderful family and great sisters. Lovely tribute.

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  15. I also have a son with autism (and severe mental retardation)...he is almost 40 years old now, but I remember all too well the daily drama and trauma. Thank you so much for honoring your sister...I almost feel as if you've honored all mothers of kids with "special needs"!

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    1. Thank you for such sweet words, yes, I guess you can say, I have honored all families with special needs children. Each of them are extra special!

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  16. You found all the right elements for your key chain. A wonderful tribute to you sister and her boys. I believe the puzzle piece is the symbol for autism. I have a few friends who's children have varing degrees of it. Scleroderma is a rare disease. I've only met one other person who had it. She was exceptional as I am sure from what you have shared with us ...your sister is too!
    Thanks for your visit to my blog...this memories and thanks blog hop is the most touching hop I have participated in. Looks like I totally commented in the wrong area! Please forgive me.
    Hugs
    Terri G.

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    1. No problem, Terri, I'm just glad you come to visit my blog. You are right the symbol for autism is the puzzle piece. I have a really cool bracelet my sister gave me with a turquoise puzzle piece. Rainbow is the color too, that is why I put rainbow flowers on the piece. I figured they went really well with the butterflies for scleroderma. When I looked the color up for Scleroderma, they showed the blue with butterflies. I thought that was really cool.

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  17. Great idea. I am not sure I know what scleroderma is, but I will look it up. Way to pull it together even during a busy time.

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  18. Thank you for sharing..Very Pretty..
    Peace and Love..

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