Faith Melody Memories - My "Ah Hah" Moment - Why I Do What I Do

So, I've decided I don't feel like getting the work I need to do done tonight. Just one of those nights. I've been taking some pics of my jewelry to update my Etsy shop with and was thinking about why I make jewelry.

As I was taking some pictures, I tried on a couple pairs of earrings (one was a pair of freshwater pearls like you have Jen Anderson). 

When I tried them on I went over to the mirror to see what they looked like on me.As I tried these earrings on, I said jewelry makes me feel pretty. That, in a nutshell, sums up why I make jewelry in honor of Faith. She makes me feel so much love and she makes me feel pretty. I want to share that wonderful feeling with others in Faith's memory.

This was one of those "ah hah" moments for me. While I have always done this in Faith's honor, I never really verbalized it to myself and made this much of a special connection. By helping others feel pretty, I am sharing a piece of how Faith makes me feel.

Capture Your Grief - Day 3 - In Honor

Today's Capture Your Grief topic is In Honor.  I do so much in honor of Faith.  However, one of the main things I have done and do to honor her is my business, Faith Melody Memories.  I create each piece of jewelry myself with love in her honor.  I started making jewelry as a hobby after she went to Heaven this past April.  I decided it would be a great way to keep her memory alive to offer special pieces of jewelry in her honor.

Here are a couple of the bracelets I have made for myself and offer in my Etsy store for purchase. The black and white bracelet has Faith's footprints as well as her name, birth height, weight, date, and time.  The pink and black one has her heartbeat.  I cherish these and am so blessed to have the prints and heartbeat as well as the ability and supplies to be able to make them.  

Faith was a beautiful little girl and still is.  She grew inside of me for 24 weeks and 2 days.  I fell in love with her from the moment I found out that I was pregnant.  She will forever live in the hearts of so many people.  She will live in my heart until we meet again in Heaven.  

In the short time that Faith was with me, she taught me so much.  She taught me how to love in ways I never knew that I could.  She taught me what it feels like to be a mother.  She taught me that I need to live life to it's fullest.

Faith continues to teach me on a daily basis.  I miss her more than I can ever express.  I want to hold her so badly that it hurts.  I hurt for me, I hurt for my husband, I hurt for Joy.  I hurt for all the people whose lives that Faith has touched and would have touched.  So many people love her and always will.  I can't help but think of what she would be like if she were here.  She would be 1 1/2 years old this month.  

Faith will always be my oldest daughter, my love, and the light in my heart.

Mommy loves and misses you sweetheart.

Faith Melody Memories - Seeking Bloggers

After Faith went to Heaven, I started creating jewelry as a hobby.  I created some pieces that her hand and foot prints in her honor so I can wear them.  I decided I wanted to create these types of items for others.  I recently decided I also want to add my other creations to my shop, as I started making jewelry in Faith's honor.  Truly, each piece I create is special to me and is made with  Faith in my heart and in her honor. 

I am currently seeking a few bloggers that blog about fashion/jewelry that would be willing to do a blog post featuring a piece (supplied for free) made by me.  If you are interested, please send me a message via my contact form.

It is my utmost honor and my heart's desire to share Faith with the world.  I can do this by creating jewelry and sharing it with others.  

Please take a look at my store, Faith Melody Memories, and let me know what you think of my creations.  I also take custom orders if you have something special in mind.

Faith Melody will always be my first child and I will continue to share her love with all that I can.

Capture Your Grief - Day 26 - Healing Ritual

Healing Ritual is today's Capture Your Grief prompt. It seems that I have actually started or gotten back into doing quite a few things that are "healing" for me since Faith died.  Of the handful of these things, this evening I'll be focusing on making jewelry and beading.

I have really been enjoying creating new jewelry pieces with beads and wire lately.  It is very relaxing for me and lets me use my creativity for something different.  Also, most things don't take too much time to create, which is a plus!  It gives me a great sense of accomplishment also to start and FINISH something pretty to wear.

In a way, as I create new pieces of jewelry, I am honoring Faith, as I am using the talent that God gave me to create something lovely.  This way, I can wear new creations and/or bless others with something pretty to wear.

It also gives me time to spend some quality time with myself.  I am glad that I have started this new hobby and have really been getting healing from creating new jewelry.  I am sure I will continue to do so...

Capture Your Grief - Day 9 - In Memory

In Memory is today's Capture Your Grief  prompt.  There are so many things that I have and have done in Faith's memory since she went to Heaven.  Since I don't have time to discuss them all, nor do you want to hear about each one, I'll focus on a few of them.

I've started this blog in honor of Faith in hopes of helping myself as well as others going through similar grief.  It has helped me a lot.  I have also started writing in the journal that my husband and I purchased during my pregnancy.  I feel closer to Faith when I write and draw in what I now fondly refer to as "Our Journal".

I now collect "Faith" jewelry.  I think I always will.  The silver necklace you see in the picture that says Faith is one that I got before we found out that we were having a girl.  We both just knew.  I wore it all the time, and was wearing it when Faith was born.  Needless to say that it is one of the most precious necklaces I own and I will cherish it for years to come.  I am also planning to make some Faith jewelry soon, since I have now started doing some bead work.

I have also made the two bracelets you see in this picture: one that has Faith's heartbeat, the other that has her footprints as well as her birth length, weight, time, and date.

Creating these bracelets has brought me comfort as well as given me a wonderful creative outlet that I did not have before.  I plan to create similar pendants and earrings soon.  

Soon after Faith's passing, I realized that I wanted to create items for people going through this loss that would be long-lasting, highly sentimental, and yet still very affordable.  So, in Faith's honor and in her memory, I have created Faith Melody Memories.  When anyone purchases that has lost a child, part of the purchase will be donated to the church camp that I grew up going to every summer, so that children that cannot afford to go can still have the opportunity.  I will be creating many different items for different occasions, keepsakes, and the like, but the basis for my company will always be sharing Faith's love with others.  You can see my items here: Faith Melody Memories.

Faith's Heartbeat Bracelet - Priceless

I created this beautiful pink bracelet by adding a printout of Faith's heartbeat.  Her heartbeat here is shown at 146 bpm and it is so beautiful to me.

The longer I am here the more I realize how precious life truly is and that we MUST cherish the time we are given.  I am so thankful that we have the ultrasound with this picture of Faith's heartbeat.  

I know that as I keep creating, each piece will continue to get better and better.  However, although I know I will get better at making these keepsakes and the quality will continue to get better, I know that in my heart, some of the most precious ones I'll have are the first ones I have made, like this one and the one with Faith's footprints and other information from the day and time she was born (right).

I needed to create these "prototypes" to get my business rollling and I am very pleased at how they turned out.  Although I have a LOT more ideas of keepsakes I will make for myself using items that are special to me from other people/relatives, to me, these two bracelets hold a piece of my daughter, are the heart and soul of my business, and are PRICELESS.

I am currently thinking of some other new ideas for my business and am thrilled to be blessed with the creative ideas that Faith is blessing me with, so that I may share them with others.

Please come by my new store here: Faith Melody Memories and let me know what you think.  I would love feedback, input, and ideas.

Faith Melody Memories - Momentos Update

I am proud to announce that I have created my prototype (a bracelet for me) of one customized bracelet like what I will have for sale (made to order) in my new Etsy store soon.  I am thrilled about being able to create this type of momento for people.  Any thoughts and suggestions would be appreciated.  I hope to have another one done soon, but I am brainstorming how I want to do the second one...

The bracelet has Faith's footprints as well as her name, date and time of birth, as well as her measurements.  I know this is something I will be able to treasure and wear for many years to come.  

I plan to be making other special bracelets, as well as earrings and pendants similar to these soon. 

I will be working to get my new Etsy store up and running soon, so I will have that information available ASAP.  In the meantime, I'll keep brainstorming new ways to honor loved ones with these pieces of jewelry.

In honor of our precious daughter, my new business will carry her name...Faith Melody Memories.

Momentos Update

I am currently working to get my office (Faith's room) in order so that I can get to work on momentos.  I have been brainstorming and coming up with other ideas that I am adding to my list.  I am getting very excited to show you!

Along with momentos for people who have lost a child(ren), I am working on some ideas for momentos of other family members that have gone to Heaven as well...

I should have some more work done this weekend, so please check back for more information!