Whidbey Island Jewelry is handmade Jewelry from Whidbey Island, Washington, USA. I am specializing in unique handcrafted lampwork beads, sterling silver, 14K gold fill, Hill Tribe silver, Swarovski crystal, gemstone and Wedding Jewelry. Designed and handcrafted jewelry by me, Kimberly Neuhauser. (This is me to your left)
Whidbey island Jewelry has been open about a year now, and I have sold my jewelry at the local Craft Fairs, Vender Markets, and Shops in Washington State. Now I have this wonderful website and two Web studio one on Etsy: http://whidbeyislandjewelry.etsy.comand one on Artfire: http://www.whidbeyislandjewelry.artfire.com
I want to share a story with you about how arthritis has changed my life. I hope it can help you understand why all the arthritis links on a jewelry website. I started making my jewelry as a hobby and it has become my business, but my passion is to help the Arthritis Foundation “free the world of arthritis pain” Maybe you will be moved to help as well.
I was working as Registered Nurse in a Neonatal Unit when I started to get sick with seemingly unrelated illnesses. Doctors could not figure out what was wrong with me. My joins hurt; I started getting mild rashes, mouth sores and began to feel extremely tired all the time. The doctors I saw could not figure out why. This continued for several, very frustrating, years until I was sent to a Rheumatologist who diagnosed me with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (LUPUS) and Psoriatic Arthritis.
My Rheumatologist started me on medications and I began to feel better. I attempted to go back to work in nursing many times over the last few years and found it impossible. I failed to be able to do the job on a daily basis. One day I will feel well and my pain level will be manageable. The next day I would hurt so much I could not get out of bed. The unpredictability of my Illness made keeping a set job schedule next to impossible. My doctors and I made the decision that hospital nursing; much less critical care was not an option.
I could not just stay home, my children are grown I needed to go back to work before I went crazy. I knew going back to nursing was not possible; I needed to do something I could do from home that had a flexible schedule so I could deal with bad days. I began to dream about owning my own business. The flexibility and independence was something that I liked. I always loved beading, and had made some of my own jewelry pieces in the past; I knew just what kind of business I would open, a unique handcrafted jewelry store. That is how Whidbey Island Jewelry came to be.
My objective in telling my story is to reach other people who have been touched by one of the many illnesses that are collectively called Arthritis and encourage them to get connected. Singularly one person can make a small difference in our world, but collectively we can conquer anything, even Arthritis.
If this letter has moved you in any way, Please contact the Arthritis Foundation via the first link below for information, support or ways to help. Arthritis Foundation website: http://www.arthritis.org
If you’re located in Island, Skagit, San Juan, or Whatcom Counties in Washington State contact me via the second link below and join my blog site so we can support each other, and together we can work for a world free of arthritis pain. my blog site: http://www.whidbeyislandarthritisblogandinformation.org
Handmade Unique Jewelry from Whidbey Island, Washington, USA. Specializing in Unique handcrafted Jewellry including; lampwork beads, sterling silver, 14K gold fill, Hill Tribe silver, Swarovski crystal, gemstone, and Custom Wedding Jewelry. Designed and handcrafted by Kimberly Neuhauser.
Whidbey Island Jewelry is handmade Jewelry from Whidbey Island, Washington, USA. I am specializing in unique handcrafted lampwork beads, sterling silver, 14K gold fill, Hill Tribe silver, Swarovski crystal, gemstone and Wedding Jewelry. Designed and handcrafted jewelry by me, Kimberly Neuhauser. (This is me to your left)