Whidbey Island Jewelry has been open for just about a year now. I have sold my jewelry at the local Craft Fairs, Vender Markets, and Shops in Washington State. Now I have two wonderful Studio on Etsy: http://whidbeyislandjewelry.etsy.com and Artfire: http://whidbeyislandjewelry.etsy.com and a Website: www.whidbeyislandjewelry.com I started making my jewelry as a hobby and it become my business, when because of illness I could not go back to work as a nurse. I was working as Registered Nurse in a Neonatal Unit when I started to get 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. 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. My doctors and I made the decision that 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 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. 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. Thank you for taking the time to read this, Kimberly Artist/Owner Whidbey Island Jewelry Arthritis Foundation Website: http://www.arthritis.org My E-Mail Address is: kimberly@whidbeyislandjewelry.com

Community Info Member since:   06-02-2009 Last visited:   06-02-2009 Timezone:   -6.00 GMT Total Posts:   0 Post Rank:   0

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Additional Info Birthday: 05-24-1963  (46 years old) Location: oak harbor, wa Occupation: jewelry crafter, and designer Interests: crafts and writing

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