Monday, January 4, 2010

A Happy Holiday Surprise



Quite a few months back, I had participated in a pay it forward thing on Facebook. You were suppose to send a piece of your work to a certain number of people, and they would do the same. Olga was the only one who had responded, and we both had agreed to do an exchange, for sometime in the near future. However both of our lives got really busy, and unfortuantely to be honest I forgot about it.

My husband had lost his job, and we were in such difficult financial times, that we were selling our personal belongings to pay what bills we could. We ended up having to move to a less expensive house, our vehicles went back to the bank, and we were struggling, not unlike most in our community, or nation for that matter. On top of all that, I opened up a new shop and Market(with others) on 1000 Markets, all within this time frame. My goodness what a year I have had....lol!!



Skipping ahead to the beginning of December I was feeling very stressed and excited with Christmas coming up. I was tired and to be honest a bit grumpy. I had so many projects that I was working on that needed to be completed before my daughters birthday and Christmas. So to say the least I was feeling overwhelmed, probably not unlike many of you during the holiday season. And then, to my complete surprise, I recieved a package from Sweden. It was from Olga, and it was one of the most beautiful bracelets I have ever seen. She named it Forest Path, which is perfect for me also because my favorite color is green, like the lush earth. I was so excited that I put it on and really didn't want to take it off ever....lol. She had just made my day, no actually she had just made my month. She is such an amazing artist, but more importantly she is an amazing person.



I feel so honored to have an original piece that was made just for me from Olga. She is an incredible artist. It's actually pretty funny, being a beadweaving and bead embroidery artist myself, that this is the first piece that has ever been made for me. I don't make jewelry for myself often at all, and this just feels wonderful. Please visit Olga's blog at http://mamma-foxan.blogspot.com to see more of her stunning work, I hope you all are fortunate enough to own a piece of her stunning art.

Olga, if you are reading this, thank you so much!! I'm honored and will treasure it always!!

Sincerely,
Rachele

14 comments:

  1. That's absolutely beautiful! Your very lucky to have a piece from her, and I hope things get better for you in life :)

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  2. I love both Olga and her work. She is an amazing artist and a lovely person. I hope your life calms and crystalizes a bit for you. It's a hard time!

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  3. What a nice surprise to receive! Sounds like you needed a little bit of wonderful. It's absolutely lovely!!!

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  4. What a beautiful thing! Both the bracelet and the act of giving it! I hope this was just the beginning of good things for you.

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  5. Both Olga and Rachele are two of the most lovely ladies in beadweaving, on the internet in the world. I am glad that they had this chance to interact. They have both occasionally brightened my day with their kind words when I need them.

    Happy New Year

    Patricia C Vener
    http://vener-art.com/beadblog/

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  6. What a beautiful bracelet! It's wonderful when someone you've never even met can touch your heart in such a beautiful way!

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  7. That is a wonderful surprise! Isn't it amazing how beading can lift us up when we're down? Usually it's when we're making things that we get therapy, but having something made for us can be wonderful, too!

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  8. Thank you so much for the warm comments ladies. I hold Olga very dear in my heart and she will forever be my beadweaving friend as will you all. I have nothing but love for you all!!
    Sincerely,
    Rachele

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  9. That bracelet is stunning. You're lucky to have Olga as a friend and I know you'll think fondly of her every time you wear it.

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  10. Argh, I've written a long comment, but it has disappeared!

    Anyhow, I had fun working on that embroidery and was hoping it will make you feel better. I've been in the same situation as you now, for two years ago. Both I and my husband got suddenly unemployed, we've just bought our dream house (and took a mortgage), and I was pregnant with our second kid... Yeah, that was a year....
    Whatever happens, things do usually work out at the end, and what does not kill us makes us stronger.
    It was a great idea to exchange bracelets, we should do it more often ;)
    Thank you for the wonderful bracelet that I got in return! I can barely take it off as well, lol. Have never tried to make anything that big for myself, I ADORE IT!

    Blogged about it here:
    http://mamma-foxan.blogspot.com/2010/01/my-preciousssssssssssss.html

    BEST WISHES in the coming year to you and your family!
    Big Hug!
    Olga

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  11. Thank you Olga,
    Things are already looking up for my family finacially. I do agree with you though, and I really feel like our true characters are developed by our struggles vs. just happy times. This past years challenges have made our family reaccess the important things in life and has brought us closer together. It's all good and never any regrets...hugs

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  12. ÓÓÓÓ! Bravo! Beautiful! Very nice! :)))
    Congratulations! :)

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