Wear My Heart

You wear my heart.

There are all kinds of creators and designers; amazing people who re-purpose and craft. With imagination and a little gumption, amazing things can be made.

What I do goes beyond that. Creating, for me, starts in my heart and pours out in the form of hand painted and hand stained wood bead jewelry. It is birthed from within me.

I send out pieces of my heart everyday in hopes that the love I pour into each small bead will shine in a big way, embellishing and bringing JOY to the woman who holds and wears it.

When I meet beauties wearing my jewelry, it is like reconnecting with a dear friend from the past. Every creation, every single one holds a special place, in my heart.

A few weeks ago, I met a beautiful stranger wearing Sarahfide, it meant more than I can articulate in words.

I was in a store about 30 minutes away from my home. John and I were purchasing some shoes for our middle child. I heard my name, “Sarah?”. I turned to see a beautiful and loving face with a most welcoming and sincere smile. As I looked at her, she looked at me. I didn’t know her. As her eyes went down to her raising wrists, I realized she was showing me her Sarahfide Bracelets. I’d like to say I responded like Grace Kelly but I think I was more like Kathrine Hepburn. I broke code, with her permission, and hugged her. We stood in the isle talking, about jewelry of course, and her beautiful southern name, Ella Jean. I am horrible with names, but I think it will be a name I remember forever.

We had to take pictures, of course. She was a kind and gracious woman. (The bracelets she was wearing had been custom ordered for her, by her daughter. So special.)

Ella Jean

A picture of her creations before they left my studio.

The third bracelet was on the other hand, I was so excited, I didn’t get it in the picture.

If you are thinking about purchasing jewelry to keep or to gift, I would be honored if you would consider purchasing and wearing Sarahfide. I can’t speak for major retails and hobble jewelers, but I can without a doubt tell you that your comments, likes, shares, purchases, and ultimately wearing Sarahfide literally makes my heart smile. Let me share a piece of my heart with you. Visit my Season’s Greetings Jewelry to see all of the NEW, Hand Stained, beaded jewelry I’ve added to the site, just for you. CLICK HERE

Painting Broken Flowers

Before eighteen months ago, I had never picked up a small paint brush. I’ve painted walls but slapping paint on a wall in a house is a lot different than detailed painting on a small bead. I’ve Never. Ever. considered myself an artist. Creative, yes. Artistic, no.

When I launched Sarahfide.com, I had no intention of painting anything, but as I started building my earring collection, I needed specific colored beads. I looked into purchasing (painted) beads but since many of the earrings were one-of-a-kind, it wasn’t economical for me to spend money on strands of beads when I only needed two or four beads of a certain color. That is when I started painting my own beads. My first paint colors were teal and mustard. These are an updated earring of my original earring designs, now available on my site.

Teal Zeal Dangles All Day Fun Dangles

As Sarahfide grew, I started to receive requests for more intricate jewelry creations. It seemed every month I receive a request that challenge my skills. The thing that scared me the most were flowers. In truth, I have a gift with colors, blending and obviously making a beautiful, wearable piece of jewelry but flowers!!! that takes skill. Artistic skill!!

A few weeks ago, I received a special request for a Mother’s Day gift. I was asked to recreate a china pattern onto a bracelet. Back Story- My client’s Mother-In-Law had one dish from her mother’s china and it had been broken. The pieces were collected and It was being displayed in a shadow box.

This was the picture that was provided to me.

Requests like this are so exciting!! I love being challenged with new creations and I love being a part of something so special!! This was sure to be a beautiful and meaningful gift. BUT…. the china pattern was… FLOWERS!!….

In first grade, Miss. Dubois, my first grade teacher, with gentile patience, would place a small wooden train on my desk and read the book, “The Little Engine That Could”, every time I would say, “I can’t.” Almost forty years later, when faced with something that seems impossible, I still think of Miss. Dubois and the little wooden train.

Truth, I didn’t succeed the first time or the second time, but I didn’t give up.

Friend, I don’t know what painting broken flowers looks like to you. Maybe it is making a huge life choice that terrifies you, or making a commitment that is going to force you to sacrifice a comfort. We all have moments when we are looking at something daunting. Try. Don’t give up. Don’t give in. Try, Try again!!

Click the video to see the details up close.

I feel honored that you continue to believe in me!! It was a joy and honor to create so many amazing pieces this Mother’s Day!! Thank you for inviting Sarahfide into your lives and wearing it so proudly!!

Labeled

There will never be a Mother’s Day, that I don’t think about the women who have heavy hearts, the forced smiles, and the silent tears.

I was married in 1999 and had my first baby in 2008. Year after year, we tried to get pregnant… and nothing. Hundreds of pregnancy tests, because you never use just one. You use the entire pack, hoping… praying for a faint line. My particular medical condition was Endometriosis. At 23 I was labeled - Infertile

In 2007, after doing {IVF} In Vitro Fertilization a second time, John and I conceived. We had one more failed IVF attempt before naturally conceiving our second and third baby.

No matter your circumstances: Not being able to get pregnant, not being able to carry a baby to term, loosing a baby after birth, or loosing a child, please know, I see you. I’m talking to the women who have no children and women who do. We all have a story.

Sadly, I have nothing to offer to help ease your pain… No magic words or potion. I can only offer my prayers, my love, my shoulder. This necklace is dedicated to all of you.

An empty bead, for those who have never known the feeling of being pregnant.

A date, for those who have loved and lost a baby in their womb.

A gray initial, for those who carried a baby in their arms but had to say goodbye to soon.

A black initial, for those who have lost a child, young or old.

I love you and I see you.

~s (You can view this necklace on my site Sarahfide.com)

The Waters Edge

I was sitting by the waters edge thinking about my life, a pretty serious notion. I had just come from yet another doctors appointment and had just scheduled a small surgery for next week. It will be my first surgery, since starting Sarahfide, a little over a year ago.

Many that know my story, know, poor heath has become a part of my life. Four years ago, a medical accident happened. I went into surgery to have an ovary removed. In error, they removed a portion of my urinary tract. It was horrible. It was painful. It was a nightmare. It was life changing. By the way, I want to share that part of my story, deeply, but not today.

Today, I want to talk about several ah-ha moments.

The first was a verse I was reading, in my morning devotion. It said, “Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad. Proverbs 12:25 For me, this verse said, “Sarah, your heart is heavy and it makes you sad, why don’t you talk about your struggles and share how God continues to give you strength to press forward. It will bring Joy and happiness to talk about it.

Then, I had a phone call. It was my niece. She wanted to tell me how proud she was of me. She said my jewelry was amazing and I was crushing it. I cried, literally. I told her that I had just come from the doctor and her call was absolutely perfect timing. Her call made me think. Wouldn’t it be better for my niece to see all of the amazing things I’m doing at Sarahfide, while also seeing the daily struggles, and how hard I’m working, EVERY DAY, despite my illness??

It’s time. It is time to see me as I am.

You may ask me, “Why have you been hiding this?”. I’ll tell you… here it is….. I’m scared. I’m scared you will not purchase my jewelry, if you think I’m sick. That’s it. I think that if I post about having a kidney infection, you are going to skip over my White Wash dangles and purchase from someone else, because you’re worried your purchase will be to stressful for me.

BUT!! I’m going to call it what it is. It’s a lie. AND, I’ve proven for the past year, that I CAN run a business, meet every single deadline, fill thousands of orders AND do it all while also being sick.

Because, that is just what I am. I’m sick. A doctor accidentally removed the wrong body part and it resulted in me living with constant infections, constant pain, a life time of antibiotics, possible kidney failure and the medical history of an 87 year old. <A doctor said that to me once.

So, this is me. I’m Sarah. I’m a sinner saved by Grace. I’m a wife. (Married my high school sweetheart 22 years ago.) I’m a mother to three beautiful young ladies. I’m a daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. I’m a business owner. AND, I’m sick. I will always be sick, until Heaven.

So, this is me giving you a heads up. I’m making some changes here at Sarahfide. I’m going to be more open on Social Media. I’m ready to show you that even through suffering, You. Can. Still. Find. Joy! Which is why, JOY was my first jewelry collection. I love that it is still the most popular of all my collections. Go check it out…. and be prepared. Sitting at the waters edge today brought me clarity and a new found determination.

Before you move on to the next thing, be sure to check out Sarahfide.com. Mothers Day is right around the corner. I offer Free Shipping and the most adorable Cottage Chic packaging. As always, Happy Shopping