As you know in May I made the hard decision to close my shop due to ongoing health concerns. This journey that I’m on has been full of twists and turns. All I can do is remind myself of the progress I have made as I get closer to a diagnosis. I have learned to appreciate the lessons along the way and every time we cross a disease off the list I hope I am closer to my answer.
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I began noticing cognitive changes in fall 2017 and it was taking me longer to finish everyday tasks and my head began tingling. I’ve always been hard on myself and this time was no exception. Instead of thinking something may be wrong I blamed myself and thought I was being lazy and questioned why I wasn’t able to create as quickly as other designers. I wish I’d approached this time with love but that was not the case. Lesson learned. In January 2018 everything blew up with stroke like symptoms in the ER. What I thought was a one-time event has changed my life drastically. Left sided weakness caused me to have to close my shop on several occasions because I didn’t have the strength or dexterity to create the pieces I was use to making. Metal melted and tears flowed. I had to learn that my worth is made up of more than how much I can create and sell.

I have opened my shop a few times over the past year and a half as I regained my strength. I began losing consciousness in April 2019 and required the use of a cane and occasionally a wheelchair starting in April. My self-reliant nature was being tested at every turn as my husband dressed me and my family made most of my meals. I have since regained a lot of strength, my memory feels normal again. I am receiving IV iron infusions and waiting to see if the Mayo clinic will see me.  I do not want my life to be on hold anymore. I am so blessed to have supportive friends and family. I have met kind doctors who have gone out of their way to help me.

For this collection I have combined my love for everything vintage & retro with the current boho jewelry trend. Dark Oxidized sterling silver provides a rich backdrop for moonstone flashes, opal iridescence and regal amethyst.

Each piece has been handcrafted by my two hands. In the opal & moonstone necklace in the photo above I have combined an oval Australian opal that has flashes of blue, green, orange and yellow with an asymmetrical pear shaped moonstone that has deep flashes of blue and purple. Each piece has a unique chain that has been hand picked to compliment every pendant. 

A unique boxy sterling silver chain is paired perfectly with this charming pendant. This amethyst moonstone necklace is out of this world. The trillion shaped, faceted amethyst gemstone draws out the purple & blue hues in the oval shaped moonstone gem. I hand oxidized the sterling silver to give it that contrast I love so much.  

The third piece in this collection has the most exquisite details.This opal and moonstone necklace has a gorgeously detailed sterling silver flower on the front. From the back you can see that the shape of the piece is actually an owl. I sawed a crescent moon cut out on the back so you can enjoy the moonstones flash on the backside as well. Click on the photo to see all of these amazing details. 

​Let me know which is your favorite in the comments below. 

At Inspired by Elizabeth we know how special moms are. We have handmade hundreds of custom made Mother’s Rings for our special customers. Unique Mothers jewelry is hard to find and when most people hear the word "mothers Ring" they cringe at the thought of the generic highly manufactured rings our moms and grandmothers wore. Don't get me wrong I have seen some amazing vintage mother's rings but most of them make me cringe too and that’s ok because times change, fashion changes and mothers rings change too.

f you are like me and are always on the lookout for the unique and out of the box designs and concepts than our Mothers Jewelry is for YOU. Here at Inspired by Elizabeth we design Vintage Inspired Jewelry with heart. Our mother’s jewelry is no exception. 5% of our profits from each piece of jewelry you buy goes to empower young women through organizations like StreetlightUSA which saves, houses and rehabilitates young girls victimized by sex trafficking. See how Inspired by Elizabeth is giving back!

​We love giving back to the community and to you our amazing customers by offering you a highly customized shopping experience.  Our mother’s rings come in a variety of band styles, watch movement shapes, and of course birthstone color options. 

Recently, it has become more common to see people choosing to give back on one of the happiest days of their lives. Couples have been finding new and innovative ways to involve charitable giving in their wedding and it can range from favors, to cost effective and eco-friendly products. If you are considering having a wedding that gives back, we have some great ideas for you to consider.

Invitations  

From save the date cards, to invitations, and RSVPs, invitations can be damaging to the environment. Traditional papermaking involves harsh bleach and the processing creates even more waste, but there are still ways to have your invitations on paper. Look for companies that specialize in tree-free paper or recycled paper. For those wanting to go that extra step, you can also get recycled paper with seeds inside of it; when your recipients have the date down, they can plant their paper in the garden and flowers, trees or vegetables will grow. These invitations are from Of The Earth and are made with flower seed paper.

Bridesmaid Gifts
 
Choosing where to purchase your bridesmaid's gifts or jewelry can be a tricky task. Purchasing gifts that your bridesmaids will actually wear again is another story. One shop that is sure to check all your  boxes is Inspired by Elizabeth. 5% of their profits are donated to empowering young women through wonderful organizations like StreetightUSA that support young girls recovery from sex trafficking. Make your ladies happy and change the world. Each box can be personalized with your bridesmaid's name or special  message. They also carry groomsmen gifts and bridal jewelry. Giving back has never been so beautiful.

Rent a Not-for-Profit Reception Site  
Paying your site fee to a not-for-profit organization goes to help them in their various causes, whether it is the upkeep of the property or for training volunteers or more. Imagine your reception taking place in something beautiful like a botanical garden, a historical site or even a museum. Not only will your guests love the location, but you will be supporting a local not-for-profit with your site fee, as well as raising interest among close friends and family about the location.

Have you been to a charitable wedding or have some amazing ideas on how to create a wedding with heart? If so comment below we'd love to hear it and maybe include it in our next blog post.

Happy 2016 to you! 2015 was such an amazing year for us and we know the best is yet to come. Many new fun and exciting things will be unfolding for us here at Inspired by Elizabeth and we couldn't be more excited. We are kicking off the year with an amazing giveaway. The winner will receive a $50 credit to our shop. 

The best thing about this is that YOU get to choose what speaks to your heart. At this time of year you may be looking for Valentine's Day Gifts. If you are a soon to be bride we have abridal area set aside just for you. If you are a mother we have special items that can be customized with your beautiful family's birthstones. For our Steampunk fans we have Steampunk Necklaces and Steampunk Rings galore for your satisfaction. You can even have a custom made ring made where you choose your band, watch piece shape and crystal colors. We even have a small section dedicated for you guys. 

So browse our shop, make your wish and enter our giveaway to make that wish come true for yourself or someone you love today!

We are so excited to make your custom made ring! We will choose one lucky winner at random on July 21st. The winner can select up to 3 crystal color options (below). These rings are hand made with care using Swarovski Crystals & high quality vintage watch pieces. Antique silver filigree band is an adjustable (open back) band. If you know your size we'd be happy to adjust it prior to shipment. Winner announced through email & newsletter

By entering our contest you are agreeing to receive our Insider's Newsletter. A few times a month we share Insider's Only sales, new items and inspirations. You will receive an email asking you to confirm your subscription. Only confirmed e-mail address will show up on our giveaway contest list.

"I cannot say enough good things about this wonderful ring. We stayed in contact throughout the process and the ring was shipped out fast. I LOVE it. It is very unique and well made. " N.L. Customer Feedback. Testimonials page.

You can order your own custom made Steampunk ring here.

SCROLL DOWN THE PAGE TO ENTER!!

We are so excited to make your custom made ring! We will choose one lucky winner at random on June 2nd. The winner can select up to 3 crystal color options (below). These rings are hand made with care using Swarovski Crystals & high quality vintage watch pieces. Antique silver filigree band is an adjustable (open back) band. If you know your size we'd be happy to adjust it prior to shipment. Winner announced through email & newsletter

By entering our contest you are agreeing to receive our Insider's Newsletter. A few times a month we share  Insider's Only sales, new items and inspirations. You will receive an email asking you to confirm your subscription. Only confirmed e-mail address will show up on our giveaway contest list.

"I cannot say enough good things about this wonderful ring. We stayed in contact throughout the process and the ring was shipped out fast. I LOVE it. It is very unique and well made. " N.L. Customer Feedback. Testimonials page.