Post by Karin on Feb 14, 2015 16:58:47 GMT -6
Hi,
My name is Karin and I grew up in a small town in Bavaria. I moved to the US when I was nineteen - a much longer time ago than I care to admit. I came to jewelry making a little later. I worked a high stress job in the medical field for many years when it became clear that I needed to stay home to take care of my two boys, the younger with moderate to severe autism. For years my life revolved around helping him and making sure he had the proper care he needed. But I became emptier and emptier. Always a creative person I picked up a $ 15 beading kit and then let it sit for three more years before finally making something with it. I was instantly hooked. I took a wire wrapping class at the local art center and have been fiddling with wire ever since. Just when I had scraped up my courage to open my Etsy shop, my husband was diagnosed with cancer. Suddenly creating jewelry seemed like such a silly thing when he was fighting for his life. But when I discovered that I could bring my jump rings and pliers to his hospital bedside and make chain maille jewelry I knew I had found the therapy I needed to get me through bad times. It took my mind off many a dark thought. I opened my Etsy shop anyway, during the worst and most stressful time of my life. Now, here we are nearly 1 1/2 years later. My husband is much better and I can finally focus on becoming a more active member of the community of jewelry makers! I look forward to what I will learn from this forum!
My name is Karin and I grew up in a small town in Bavaria. I moved to the US when I was nineteen - a much longer time ago than I care to admit. I came to jewelry making a little later. I worked a high stress job in the medical field for many years when it became clear that I needed to stay home to take care of my two boys, the younger with moderate to severe autism. For years my life revolved around helping him and making sure he had the proper care he needed. But I became emptier and emptier. Always a creative person I picked up a $ 15 beading kit and then let it sit for three more years before finally making something with it. I was instantly hooked. I took a wire wrapping class at the local art center and have been fiddling with wire ever since. Just when I had scraped up my courage to open my Etsy shop, my husband was diagnosed with cancer. Suddenly creating jewelry seemed like such a silly thing when he was fighting for his life. But when I discovered that I could bring my jump rings and pliers to his hospital bedside and make chain maille jewelry I knew I had found the therapy I needed to get me through bad times. It took my mind off many a dark thought. I opened my Etsy shop anyway, during the worst and most stressful time of my life. Now, here we are nearly 1 1/2 years later. My husband is much better and I can finally focus on becoming a more active member of the community of jewelry makers! I look forward to what I will learn from this forum!
