Aplastic Anemia Awareness Bracelet
The Cause that started the Awareness Jewelry Campaign

Frustration to Hobby
Have you ever bought a department store piece of jewelry thinking it was nice in the store only to have it fall apart on you days later?  That's exactly what happened to me!  Aftter a while I got tired of the quality of department store jewelry and the fact that most of the jewelry I was purchasing was never in the right colors, or never held up long enough to get my money's worth out of them.  Even looking around department store jewelry sections today I find myself appalled at the quality of manufacturing and materials being used.  My frustration bred into a hobby that quickly got tons of compliments and custom orders off the jewelry I was wearing!  Everyone seemed to want a custom piece of jewelry that would show off their unique style.  In fact for a long time it was a side hobby that made spare cash for me, but was not a full time business endeavor.

From Job Searching to Business Owner
In 2009 when  the economy started to down slide, I lost my job.  Not once, but twice in one year. A friend of mine wanted to see what I had for jewelry and had asked me to post photos for her to view online. I posted my photos and soon I had orders not just from her, but from a lot of my friends on Facebook as well.  At that time I also was trialing out the local flea market here in Raleigh and building some new friendships.  It was indeed the start of a business endeavor that would essentially change my life.

The Awareness Jewelry Line
In January of 2010 I started the Awareness Jewelry Campaign.  I had been looking for an Awareness Bracelet for Aplastic Anemia, a rare disorder of the blood that my grandmother had died from.   The problem was, I couldn't find any Awareness Jewelry for her cause!  So I decided to post a couple of bracelet designs for her Cause online.  I figured that if I could not find any quality jewelry that others probably could not as well.  What I did not anticipate though, was that right after posting the bracelets for Aplastic Anemia, I started to get requests for bracelets for Autism, Support the Troops, Leukemia, Domestic Violence, Pancreatic Cancer... and the list goes on.  Before I knew it I was selling jewelry all over the world, in countries like England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, Australia, and even Japan!  The Awareness Jewelry campaign has reached so many different people, and has provided a way for people to customize jewelry for the Causes that matter most to them.  It has also brought me some very genuine friendships as well.

News Coverage
Some exciting news for Little Inspirations came when the business was featured by our local news station in the Go Ask Mom column of WRAL.  News Editor Sarah Hall came to my home and interviewed me and did an amazing write up on my business.  It is an honor and privilege to be featured by WRAL on their news site.  You can find the posted online article and video interview by either clicking on the link on my Home Page, or by going to http://www.wral.com/lifestyles/goaskmom/blogpost/8986214/


Little Inspirations Gives Back to the Community
Little Inspirations is actively involved in a few different Causes and organizations.  I also donate bracelets to family fundraiser events to help raise money for unpaid medical expenses, and any other unanticipated expenses a family may incur during a major illness or life threatening disease. You can check out my Endorsements Pages to see some of the 

Materials Used
I do tend to use a variety of quality materials to create with from, including Beadalon Bead Stringing Wire, Swarovski Crystals, Mother of Pearl, Shell beads, Gem Stones, Czech Glass, Fire Polished Glass, and much more!  Findings are typically silver plated, bronze, or gold plated.  Please see the Metal Allergy Disclosure to the right for more information.  Other grades of material can also be selected with a Custom Order.

Selection and Design
I have found through time that my selection of beading materials and tool selection has become refined.  I try to select the very best quality material to create a stunning piece of jewelry that you will love just as much as I do.  In fact, if I don't love it... you probably will never see a photo of it.  

Quality Assurance
Defects in quality of material is taken very seriously and if I discover a quality assurance issue, I promptly discontinue my design, or find a replacement material that is of higher quality and will hold up better.  There is nothing I dislike more than a piece of jewelry that does not hold up to my standards.