What can I say, it’s been an extremely hard year.

My husband got sick September 2012, I lost my job in January 2013, and we’ve been hit in the gut repeatedly ever since.

And one of our kids was subjected to HORRIFFIC bullying in school to the point where we had to press charges against the kid as well as file a complaint in juvenile court.

While the judge believed us and ruled in our favor, because it was this kid’s first offense he got away with simply an order of No Contact and required anger management therapy.
Our kid still has to look at this bully’s face every single day in school.  They’re not in the same classes, but they’re in the same hallways and the same cafeteria. It’s beyond stressful.
The bullying wasn’t physically afflicted. Let me correct that – the bullying wasn’t DIRECTLY physically afflicted.

A huge part of it was cyberbullying via FaceTime.  Our kid was threatened via FaceTime by this kid that if he didn’t cut his arms up and hold the phone so this kid could WATCH HIM DO IT – that he’d spread rumors about him and his entire family.  Our child succumbed and did what this kid demanded.  It was heartbreaking.

The effects are still just as prevalent now as they were when the bullying happened, and therapy has been in place for our child since last May.

Those three things alone have been more than I can contend with, honestly.

And then I’ve been trying to slowly build up my jewelry business, Eldwenne’s Fantasy by taking it on the road to Supernatural and Vampire Diaries conventions. I still have a long way to go there.   But I am DETERMINED to get this ship sailing! I’m hoping my Click Start Me campaign picks up before it expires on December 30, 2013 (my birthday, of all things!)  To be able to get my business the funding it needs to succeed would be the best birthday present ever.

Most people that know me know that I’ve been trying to get into teaching elementary school.

I’ve also mentioned to my friends and family that I’m looking to get out of New Jersey.  It’s just way too expensive to continue to live in a place where it’s just not safe, property taxes are out of control, and being a homeowner is just not what it’s cracked up to be anymore, you know?

I’m sure many of you out there that own homes, at least in New Jersey, feel the squeeze.  And for people like us whose income was slashed to bits are feeling it even more. I’m trying to minimize the stress from as many angles as possible for myself and my family.

And last night, I got a piece of life-changing news.

After an extremely rigorous application and interview process, I’ve been accepted into the Teach for America program!

The Teach for America program, in a nutshell, provides quality teachers to underprivileged regions to provide education equality.

I am beyond honored to be accepted into this program, I really can’t articulate how excited I am about this!

The icing on the cake?  I’ll be based in NASHVILLE!  I have a lot of family in Nashville and will be surrounded by wonderful people.  Now I might have to start getting country music savvy, Shannon!

We have a lot of family where we are here in the NJ/NY area, but we will be making stops up here at least every month or every other month.

This is the kind of change in scenery that’s going to make a huge impact on us, especially for our child that’s been suffering in their current school.

So the next question everyone has been asking me is, “What about Eldwenne’s Fantasy??  What about your jewelry??”

Well now I have the fortune of doing BOTH things that I love most – teaching AND jewelry! Eldwenne’s Fantasy will be going just as strong (hopefully STRONGER) than ever! I will still do the Supernatural and Vampire Diaries conventions circuit.

The conventions are on weekends.  Yes, they usually start on Thursday nights into Sundays.
If I can’t take a Friday off here and there, there is nothing wrong with doing just Saturdays and Sundays either.  Those days are incredibly busy and worth it.

And I’ll have the opportunity to meet my beautiful customers, such as Molly!  Isn’t she gorgeous?  My friend, Jenn, commissioned that necklace for Molly’s birthday.  Blue is her favorite color and she wears it well!

Thank you for sharing Molly’s pic, Jenn – she’s SO PRETTY!!

Now I have the daunting task of coordinating our move to Nashville.

With that on my plate, I need my Click Start Me campaign to be successful now more than ever.
The funds raised by Click Start Me http://tinycs.me/9T will provide the funding I need to cover everything needed to grow Eldwenne’s Fantasy:

–            Travel expenses to get to the conventions where I can meet you and personalize pieces just for you!

–            Much needed supplies and materials to create new pieces (that’s how my new line of hand-stamped pieces was born – through your generous donations!)

–            Educational opportunities to learn new techniques and mediums

–            Some venues charge high table fees to vend with them – this helps make these venues more attainable to me so that I can connect with you in person!

I have great rewards in return for your generosity!  ALL donations receive a gift certificate worth the amount of your donation at Eldwenne’s Fantasy: www.eldwenne.etsy.com INCLUDING CUSTOM ORDERS, by the way!

For example, if you donate $20, you will receive a gift certificate worth $20.

If you donate $25 or more, I will add an ADDITIONAL $25 to your gift certificate!!
For example, if you donate $25, you will receive a gift certificate worth $50!  If you donate $50, you will receive a gift certificate worth $75!  There’s no limit!!  I will always add $25 to all gift certificates on donations of $25 or more!

It doesn’t stop there.  I always give rewards to those who share my link with someone who donates!

If you share my link http://tinycs.me/9T with someone who donates, you will receive a gift certificate for $25!

Remember – my gift certificates never expire!!  They’re valid until they’re spent!  Their value never goes down if you don’t use them right away.  A gift certificate’s value is what it is – no fees, no expiration dates – just opportunities to buy one of a kind, handmade jewelry!

Now lastly – I want to hear from you about what kind of discount offers you’d like to see Eldwenne’s Fantasy have for November!

That’s right – you tell me and I’ll do make it happen (within reason, lol!)  If I choose your discount idea, I’ll give you a gift certificate worth $20!!
And I leave you with some pics of the goodies you’ll see at this month’s BurCon in California!!  Yup – I’ll see you all in California later on this month!!  Thank you!!