NEVER TOO OLD TO BE SCHOOLED, BY GOD

Yesterday, I turned 46! Wow. It's hard to believe I'm closer to 50 than 40.😳

Oddly, I don't feel old. I feel like I just got here, and I feel like there is still much to be done!

Since it is my birthday, or at least yesterday was, I've decided to pour my heart out and share what I've been learning in my life recently (Queue the photo of me in front of the school lockers). I plan to never be too old for God to school me.

It's true that I am all about joy and love and creative vibes, but the reality is that I'm human, and sometimes life is hard. 

This might be triggering for some, so feel free to stop reading. 

Short story, several weeks ago, I was sexually assaulted. I genuinely don't want to talk about it, but this is what I do want to say.

I was kind & welcoming.

My kindness was taken advantage of.

I froze. Shock. Disbelief. Confused. Betrayed. Scared. Hurt. Sad.

John acted swiftly, and due to his efforts, the entire ordeal was minor and quickly resolved. 

Guess who I felt the most betrayed by? ........ God.

I'm ashamed to say it... but it's true.

My thoughts:

After everything I've been through and after feeling like I fight for every day I'm given, why would God allow this. 

I say, “fight for every day” because, for those of you who don’t know, life for me hasn’t been easy.

I was born with learning disabilities, which resulted in being bullied and mistreated by teachers and students, which made childhood hard. I was abused for having bad grades.

I dealt with fertility issues that felt like a living nightmare for years, including two failed IVF attempts.

And more recently- six years ago, a surgeon, by mistake, removed my ureter instead of my ovary and it has left me with a lifetime of kidney and bladder issues. It about killed me and might still.

And that’s not all. This is only the stuff I can share… there is much more to my story…

So of course when this happened, I’m thinking…. Doesn't God know I'm tired of being tested. All my life, I’ve been faced with trials, testings, and abuse….. I’M TIRED of it!

Doesn't He see me working as hard as I can to have joy and create joy.

Doesn't he.... love me...

I hear Satan's lies like whispers that lurk in the corners of my mind, trying to convince me that it's okay to give up and give in. -No one will blame you if you just stop being joyful.-

Fast forward... I'm sitting in Sunday School, and we are talking about the miracles of Jesus. Most have heard of the miracle where Jesus fed over 5,000 men -not counting women and children... so it was a lot of people... and He fed them with only five loaves of bread and two fish.  BTW, the reason Jesus fed that many people was because He had been walking around all day healing people one at a time. A large group had gathered to watch. (Not much has changed. We still gather to watch when there is something new or interesting, throwing in some food, makes it that much better!! am I right!) 

Sitting in Sunday School, I had the epiphany.

He could have spoken a word and healed everyone all at the same time, but He didn't.

Is it because He didn't think of it like it never occurred to Him... No!

It's because He wanted to meet each person face to face. It wasn’t really about the illness or the hurt he was healing them of, It was about the relationship, the one-on-one, the closeness.

Eureka!

My brain went through a time warp, and I saw my life on fast forward playing out the scenes, ending on my recent assault... and I remembered an important truth:

God never changes.

He wants a relationship with me, just like He did with each person He healed that day.

He could speak a word, and my entire life would be perfect, void of pain, complete with  happiness, butterflies, and rainbows. But!!! He doesn't do that because He wants me to come to Him, face to face, through my prayers, through my Bible reading, through worship….

I’ll be the first to admit that I seek Him far more when times are hard and I feel like I need Him.

So, I have a choice. I can blame God for the struggles in my life, or I can dig a little deeper and see that God allows trials because it draws me to Him and keeps me close.

-As a jewelry creator, I can absolutely relate to God in this regard. I love seeing how my jewelry is serving its purpose. I love seeing how it looks and feels as time passes. I love hearing how my creation brought joy and made someone smile. 

That being said, I'm only a jewelry creator.... Try to imagine how intensely God feels about His creation.. how intensely God feels about me... about you.

The thought leaves me humbled… and it is easy to silence the whispering lies. Of course, God loves me!! He wants to keep me close to Him because He sees all, knows all, can do all!

Friend, I know that life can be hard... like really, really hard. So much hurt!

God isn't trying to hold you down and beat you up and leave you stranded. He's trying to draw you closer to Him so that you can experience JOY beyond anything this world can offer. Because He is like nothing this world can offer.

He is true kindness. 

He is true love.

He is where you find true JOY.♡

"You should charge more!"

Sunday, as I methodically worked to create a jewelry display that would be both welcoming and aesthetically appealing to shoppers, my work came to a halt as another vendor approached my table. It isn’t uncommon for vendors to walk around, mingle, and shop one anothers merchandise before the rush of customers. I always welcome the opportunity to meet new people, grow business connections, and sell jewelry.

At first, it was all “ooh” and “ah”. Then the conversation turned to, “You sell your stuff too cheap”. 

It’s a hard conversation, I've heard it before, and it never gets easier. It hurts every single time it’s said to me.

Why… Well, picture this, you’ve been in your kitchen for several years making something delicious. SEVERAL YEARS!!!! It took several years because the recipe called for ingredients to be cultivated and cooked for long periods of time. It’s necessary for it to taste just right. So, here you've been in your kitchen for years, sweating over a hot stove and finally the day has come for you to serve what you've been cooking. All of your hard work, sleepless nights, time away from family and friends, tears, burn scars… all of it, it’s time to finally serve everyone what you've made them, and only seconds after serving it, someone says, I think it should have more salt. Trust me, it wouldn’t only sting… it would be like someone knocked the air out of you. The fact is, you didn’t forget to salt it. The salt content was EXACTLY how you wanted it to be. You spent months just on perfecting the salt levels in your recipe. The truth is, it wasn’t lacking salt. It tasted exactly how it was intended to taste. Maybe… they just didn’t like it.

I hate being told how to price my jewelry. I didn’t just throw beads on a table and smack a price on them. Critics are everywhere. It’s part of owning a business. 

With an external smile on my face and a few nervous chuckles, I took the ten minute correction they gave me but inside felt so defeated, deflated, and rocked to my core.  (To their defense, I’m sure they thought they were being helpful.) 

The truth is, I don’t know it all and I am absolutely one of those individuals that wants to learn and keep growing. 

However, some things about me and my business will not change. Honestly, I didn’t really feel like I was given a chance to explain why my prices are what they are, not to mention, this was happening minutes before the market opened the doors and I was still trying to make preparations to my table, and get my mind and spirit ready for the busy day.

It has bothered me a lot so, today, I get to say what I wanted to say and what I wish I had said then.

I am passionate about Sarahfide jewelry being priced how it is.

Growing up, we didn’t have a lot of money. When I say we didn’t have a lot of money, I mean none. My parents worked all the time to make ends meet. My dad was a chimney sweep, janitor, night security guard, steel mill worker, pool man and my mom was a seamstress, teacher, plant nursery worker, fabric cutter, house cleaner and more. My parents did anything and everything to make money but jobs were hard and they were underpaid because they were both high school dropouts. I should add, it further complicated things, because during this time,  to defy the odds, my dad was going to college. Most of our household income went towards his degree. We lived near Chicago. It was a very difficult time, but as a family, we persevered. After that, even with the degree, we were a below average income family. (My father had broken his back and with no medical insurance, it was hard.)  Both of my parents worked and we lived in moderate houses and only purchased used cars. You might wonder what that has to do with my prices and to that, I say, everything!!! 

I am often told that I could sell some of my pieces for hundreds of dollars each. What I’m doing is so rare, people will pay a high price for it.  No one does what I’m doing, but there are some that do something similar and they do sell theirs for a much higher price . A piece of jewelry can be viewed as a work of art that should be sold for what a gallery painting is sold for…. I’ve heard all of this and I know…

But see, I want my jewelry to be worn by women like my mom, my sister, my friends. Does having a lower price point mean that there will be people who won't shop with me because they refuse to spend under a hundred dollars on earrings? Sure. And, that’s okay. Some of those people are my family, my friends.

I am passionate about everyday women, being able to wear handmade, hand painted jewelry at affordable prices. For me, it isn’t just about profit. It's about the love I have for what I do and my desire to share it with everyone. I love  fashion and I love sharing my take on trends in the form of a small hand painted wood bead. Seeing women wear Sarahfide, seeing their faces, seeing them feel more confident, more on trend, and feeling comfortable because my jewelry  is lightweight, THAT is what I’m here for. That is why I am priced what I’m priced. Here at Sarahfide, I promise to give you handmade, hand painted jewelry, made with my whole heart, soul, and mind, at prices you can afford. Some pieces will be more expensive because they are more intricate and take longer for me to paint. Some pieces will be less expensive because I’ve learned to streamline the paint design and use more affordable metals in my creative process. Instead of using 14 Kt gold earring hooks, I use Stainless Steel, hypoallergenic earring hooks.

This weekend, I wanted to say, “Trust me, I know what I’m doing. My business is thriving. It’s growing. I’ve got more deals and offers than I can say yes to. Let me worry about how much money I make and you just enjoy it. Admire it. Know that it was made with love. Wear it. There is nothing like it. It’s one of a kind. Buy it before someone else does.”

I didn’t say it the other day, but today, I’m saying it. I’m making it known and I’m making it clear.

Why women like me get a -Bad Rap

Let's jump right to it... Yesterday, I posted a reel that got a lot of traction and I noticed a trend in the comments. The women who had the most to say were other business owners, like myself, who primarily operate and sell through social media.

I know why this is, and I want to talk about it....

When I started Sarahfide Creations, I faced a lot of scrutiny over posting pictures and videos of myself. Not all the scrutiny was verbal. Some friends and family just stopped following me or just plain stopped interacting with anything I posted. What I'm going to say might shock you, but it NEVER occurred to me that I would have to step in front of the camera and become the face of my brand Sarahfide Creations. Truth be told, if someone told me I'd have to be in front of the camera all the time, I never would have started this biz, and that’s a fact! I’m glad I didn’t know because this has changed my life and my health. If you knew me before I started this biz, I was way more likely to post pics of my family.. I’ve never had a problem getting in front of people and publicly speaking (that’s what I did professionally for years) but having my picture taken was an entirely different thing.

BUT!!! The fact is, I'm in this for the long haul.

Sarahfide is part of me and when I say she’s a part of me, I mean she is like a fourth child, a part of my genetic makeup, born from the creative love I have in my heart. Because of Sarahfide and you, I'm willing to step out of my comfort zone, onto a limb, and do what must be done to thrive.

To thrive in business means you must make money. (I’ll add… I love creating beautiful jewelry but if I don’t sell the jewelry I create, I don’t make money, therefore, I can’t buy supplies and I can’t do what I love, which is create beautiful jewelry for beautiful women. (Seriously.. It’s a complete cycle.)

To thrive, I have to model my jewelry and talk about my jewelry. Advertising used to be a picture in a catalog, then it was a picture of jewelry and a link but that doesn't cut it anymore. We want to see people using it and living in it, which means opening my life to the world. Ninety-seven percent >>>(((97%!!!))) of my sales come from social media outlets and I'm sure it's the same for the business owners who commented on my reel yesterday. Friends, it is challenging to own a small business but it is so important that small businesses exist for our economy. (I think I'll do a separate blog about that. LOL). Not only is it difficult to be a small business owner but add Christian and Woman to the title, Yikes! I'm not only navigating the business side, but first and foremost I'm navigating my business with a Christlike mindset. It's hard enough to do business but throw in a spiritual compass...WOW!!!  Words like modesty and testimony and statements like, you represent our church are used. It isn’t a small or easy task. The world's view on business is that “It’s not personal, it’s business and anything goes. ” But for me, I can’t take God out of the equation, He lives in me! This leaves me, as a business owner, swimming against the current of modern sales tactics. (In the fashion industry, “sex sells”… and I do not, will not operate under that mentality!) I’m sure it is the same for other women like me in business, which is why I think it struck a conversation point yesterday. 

If I was a CEO, had a large office downtown, in the tallest building, it would be expected that I would dress for success, make public appearances and show up for social media events. I would be expected to advertise my product. People wouldn’t say, “She just wants attention” “She is trying to attract men” “She is so vain”. (or maybe they would???) But the reality is, why is it as a community -especially Christian community (((yikes)))- where women like me, who operate their business using a social media outlet are scrutinized and given the stank eye… yup, I just went there (and I hate that I have to!).

We have to start having this conversation with our friends. We have to be the woman who says, “Woooooe… I think you're reading that business owner ALL WRONG!” Lets change the conversation. Not only start changing the conversation but lets start interacting, hearting, and sharing content created by CHRISTIAN WOMEN IN BUSINESS!! I need you to like my content, because people with a -sex sells mentality- aren’t going to! I need you to comment. I need you to interact with me. You (and creating jewelry) is why I’m out on this limb. This limb has the best, most beautiful exhilarating view, and I’m here for it!!! BUT, It is going to take an entire community -every-single-one-of-you- to make this small business and other Christian women small owned businesses thrive.

A Strong Blog ~ Saving Babies

With my vendor market only two days away, I wanted to openly talk about why I’m so excited to be a part of an event that is raising money for The Nest, A Women’s Center, located in Jacksonville, Florida.

The biggest and most important reason is that they believe life starts in the womb, in accordance to the Bible.

The second reason I love this charity: they offer free services, such as early pregnancy detection.

I love that they offer support through women’s groups but, I was touched when I saw they offer post-abortion support.

See, when I was young, I had a friend who got pregnant. She was terrified. She not only feared telling her parents that she was pregnant but feared having to tell her parents she had sex with her teenage boyfriend. Out of fear, she secretly had an abortion. I didn’t know her till a while later but even now, she carries the scars of that decision.

I wish I would have known her then. I know I would have made my voice louder than the fears inside her head. But alas…

With that said, I’m happy to know that post abortion support is something The Nest offers because I’ve never met a women who hasn’t regretted having an abortion.

As the mother of three girls, I have already started talking to them about the decisions they will make in the future.

I first teach abstinence. BUT!! I also teach murder is a sin. We openly talk about what causes pregnancy AND!! we openly talk about abortion not being a solution or fix to anything they do.

Babies are a gift from God. A miracle. Living souls.

I tell my girls continually that whatever “trouble” they get into, John and I will walk along side them and help them in any way we can, even if it means helping them raise a baby.

According to one article I read, over 60% of women who have abortions have a religious affiliation. I can’t help but wonder if it’s because the conversation stop after abstinence. We should also teach that murder is sin and life starts in the womb.

I know that this is a STRONG blog but speaking Biblical and Godly truths will always be the strongest voice you hear at Sarahfide. When people say, “It’s not saving babies.”, this conversation is just that~ Saving babies!

So, several things: If you believe as I do, know, you are not alone. For any women reading this who have made the choice of abortion, I would ask that you not allow this to cripple your walk with Jesus. The Nest is a resource that can assist in finding spiritual and emotion peace. Lastly, for any women contemplating abortion, my hope is that you will seek Biblical truths and reflect on two important verses:

Psalm 139: 13&14 - For you formed my inward parts; you kitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Exodus 20: 13 - Thou shalt not kill.

I’ve put it all on the table today, there is nothing left to be said but this…. I love you and more importantly, God love you.

~s

Thoughts Before I Sleep

It is 9:44 p.m. and I’m headed to bed because I’ve only had 2 hours of sleep in the past thirty something hours. I know it will read as a complaint, but it isn’t. Not even a little. Tonight I close my eyes feeling grateful, humbled, accepted and loved. I’m talking about you. Grateful for you. Humbled that you accept me and my creations.

The past few weeks have been hard. While trying to creatively get the Garden Goddess to be everything I wanted it to be, I’ve been fighting infects and kidney issues. I once again, sat in a doctors office where words like surgery and medications roll off the tongue like I’m being up sold fries at the McDonald’s drive through.. I fight a lot of physical battles but the mental battles are what threaten to immobilize me.

Three years ago, those words would have wounded me and even though they feel like a gut punch at the moment, I have the beautiful outlet of Sarahfide to help me channel my energy. When once I thought my only purpose was to suffer, I now know that my purpose is so much more than that. I do suffer, but I suffer along side women who also suffer. Together, we can pray for one another, laugh together, learn together, and grow together.

So, today was a picture. A picture of a community, surrounding an underdog (me), cheering her on to the next leg of the race. I know.. you thought you were just purchasing a piece of amazing hand made jewelry but you weren’t. You were contributing to my fight. My fight to not give in and not give up. For two years, I’ve been creating and you have supported me but today, I opened a door into my mind, my heart and you accepted my art. You loved it, you purchased it. Grateful.. humbled… shocked…. Not shocked that you showed up but shocked that you showed up because you wanted to invest in me, Sarah.

I just wanted you to know… I am very thankful for you. I’m thankful for your hearts, the pictures you send me, the posts you tag me on, the messages you send me, the support you show me, your purchases, wearing Sarahfide, All. Of. It.. I’m absolutely grateful for your love and support.

I love you.

~s

P.S. Although future surgery looms, there is no assurance that it will bring healing. It’s more of a borrow from this part of the body to “try” to fix that part of the body. For now, we pray for strength. We also pray for pain and infections to be minimal or obsolete. So, no surgery.. no medications.. for now.

SOLD OUT? at Sarahfide

Have you been eyeballing my Newest (Coming Soon) Garden Goddess Mini Collection? Well, reading this, might help you snag one, before it’s sold out. Which is happening a lot here at Sarahfide, and this is why.

When I first launched Sarahfide, I had open stock in everything on my site. Let me make an analogy that might be more relatable, to make my point…

Dinner time is rolling around and your busy trying to fold the laundry, but it’s your night to feed the people in the house. You announce you’re going to do grilled cheese for dinner and you tell everyone to let you know when they want to eat. There is always that one that is always hungry. So, you lovingly make grilled cheese and then get back to folding the laundry…. BUT the smell of the grilled cheese has just activated the hungry pains in a second person. You stop folding and make the second grilled cheese with lots of love. Before you can get back to the laundry mound, it happens again. This happens throughout the entire night. Someone comes in, ask for their grilled cheese and you happily make it. However, the laundry never gets folded. Looking back, if you had just cooked a 30 minute meal, had everyone eat at the same time, you could have had dinner done in an hour and a half. You not only could have happily fed everyone, you would have done all the laundry and had time to sit play a house game and maybe sneak in a surprise desert for everyone.

It was like this with my open inventory. I would create it after it was purchased. Being a small business, this benefited me because I didn’t have to keep up with storing extra inventory and it allowed me to customize pieces for you. For example, if I had a small round drop in black but you wanted it in red, you could purchase the black, send me a message asking for me to create a red and I would run to my desk and get it done.

Either way, I was running to my desk to fill your order, black or red, it didn’t matter.

In October, in preparation of my first show at Charlirose&Co I started creating an inventory so I would be able have jewelry to sell. It was then that I knew I needed to change the way I did business.

Truth be told, it isn’t good business to sell something you don’t have. True, I created it the moment an order came though and had it sent before my 3 to 5 day processing time frame, but still, it was hard for me to have routine throughout my day, because I was running to my desk a lot. (I say “run to my desk” in light humor, because I’m usually at my desk creating. A better way to say it would be, clear my desk of what I was working on.)

So, in December, I kicked it in high gear and started creating pieces and changing my inventory to accurate inventory counts. I also thinned out my collections. I analyzed what sold and what didn’t, keeping only the pieces you beauties love and want.

This brings us to where we are today, which is a lot more Sold Out at Sarahfide.

At Sarahfide, I have two categories: The Sarahfide Staple Pieces and The Mini Collection

The Staple Collections are the pieces you love and want all year long. They are earrings, necklaces, and bracelets in the most popularly worn colors that come in all sizes from mini to large.

The Mini Collection’s are the small collections that I create out of inspiration for the season, fashion trends or just artist freedom. The jewelry in my Mini Collection’s are limited and in many cases are One-Of-A-Kind. So, when it’s sold, it’s sold out. I’d love to just sit and keep recreating your favorites in my Mini Collections but, in keeping with forward moving fashion, seasons change and so should my Mimi Collections.

The hardest part of this business change is not being able to make everyone happy. It literally makes my lip pooch out knowing you might miss getting the earrings you want or the bracelet that would have gone perfectly with your eyes. It’s hard, but… I want you to get the best of Sarahfide and in just a few short months of making this change… it’s been WONDERFUL and, it’s allowed me to take control of my creative schedule. I’ve been able to sit and create. When you purchase Sarahfide, I can go to my inventory drawer, package and ship your order and go right back to creating.

My goal in making this change is to bring you more and bring you EXTRA!! Already, I can tell a big difference in my newly created creations. With that said, I’m close to finishing my new Garden Goddess Collection, so stay tuned for a release date. AND!!! Don’t wait. When you see something you love, snag it. Because if you wait, it might get sold out.

Detour

I hate detours.

As it goes, I’m a directionally challenged individual. I’m the person who goes to a restaurant and gets lost on the way to and from the bathroom.

I’m not really different in life. I like schedules. I like to know what I’m supposed to do and when it needs to be done by. I like to know where I’m going.

We are only in the first few weeks on January and already, I feel like my life is on a detour.

I had so many goals and aspirations for myself personally. I had goals for our family.

I had a goal not to let the dishes stack up. Yea, that’s not going too good either.

A few years ago, John and I took a trip to South Dakota. We had heard of it’s spectacular views and decided to go. Although we believe it is always safe to follow maps and stay on major roads, we decided to ask our waitress, who had lived there all her life, if there was anything off road, we should explore. She was a wealth of information. She told John what remote roads to take, because let’s be honest, it was completely lost on me.

Instead of following our agenda, that day, we decided to take the detour she had given us.

Later that day, I was surrounded by so much beauty, all I could do was gasp. Have you ever seen something so beautiful, it makes you gasp the first time you see it. Well, every bend in the road, every swivel of my head created an uncontrollable gasp from me. Even John was in a haze at experiencing such splendor.

Recently, I have reflected on that trip to Dakota and I’m so grateful to the waitress who knew what I needed more than I knew myself.

I think what I’m trying to say is this. Detours can be beautiful too. In fact, they can be more beautiful. We learn about ourselves and who God created us to be, in the detours of life. When life is good and everything is going our way, it’s easy to keep our heads up. It’s when our lives are on a detour that we are seriously challenged and put to the test.

So today, I am embracing the detour I’m on. I’m going to work the new years resolutions into my day and keep moving forward.

By the way, my Warm White Winter Collection, worn in my photo was a detour. I had something else sketched out for the new year, but went another way, and I’m so glad I did. My Warm White Winter Collection is beautiful, neutral, and can be worn with absolutely anything. It makes smiling so much easier.

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Do You See A Difference?

The other day, I did a “Spot The Difference” game on my Instagram stories.

It quickly became very apparent that while I thought the difference was huge, the feedback I received was that it was hard. In fact, almost everyone needed a hint to find the difference in the two pictures. ((sorry))

I thought people would easily see the huge chunk of my nail missing.

But, here’s the truth, I’m self-conscious about my hands. Weird right! My hands are small and my fingers are wrinkly in weird places and since I use my nails like tools, they are almost always broken, chipped, short, etc.. In all honesty, I’ve never had beautiful nails… I’ve just always tried to keep them neat and tidy and painted. Now they are in photos and reals and videos, Oh Myyyy!

How interesting it is, the things we sometimes obsess over. We see a fault so we are sure that the world sees it too.

This year, I am determined to show appreciation to the body that has brought me this far. No More Secrets is a blog I wrote and it explains how much my body has endured. The trauma I’ve lived through has left it’s mark on my body. Even with my changed body, I want to look at myself and feel grateful. For example, instead of looking at my nails and seeing broken and chipped nubs, I want to recognize the gift they are to me and my work. I need my nails. As a jewelry designer, they are literal tools and are critical in my day to day work. I want to look at them with a grateful heart instead of disdain.

In the Bible, the book of Mark, chapter twelve, it talks about loving God with all your heart and loving your neighbor as thyself. I’m not a theologian but I’m going to interpret that we are supposed to love God, ourselves, and others. Ugly self talk about others AND ourselves isn’t loving or kind.

This little game really helped open my eyes to just how critical I am of myself. Something I thought would be such a big and obvious fault, was insignificant. To God, it is invisible. God is so gracious and merciful. From my finger tips to the depths of my soul, God loves me. AND!!! He loves you, no matter what!! I hope this encourages someone today. For me, I learned a huge lesson, so thank you for playing.

By the way, the winner is Amber Hasty! She is going to get to pick any earring from my Warm White Winter Collection.

I know I say it all the time, but I really apprentice you playing and teaching my such a valuable lesson this week. Ya’ll are simply the BEST!!!

XOXO

~s

No More Secrets

I’m not keeping secrets any more.

Several times, I’ve tried to talk about my real life… but I have trouble finding the words over the voices in my head. The voices shout things like….Don’t embarrass your family. Don’t tell too much. Don’t be negative. Put a positive spin on it so people won't feel bad for you. Be honoring to God. People wont buy from you if they know you're sick. The list is much longer… but, you get my point.

After several attempts to share my real life, but being unable to find a starting point, I’ve decided to come at this from a different viewpoint. In the past, I’ve tried to start at the beginning… but seeing how that is muddled and blurry, it’s almost impossible for me to start there.

So, I start from my current perspective.

A bed.

A Cat

Beads

Paint

And a window.

I’ve been in bed for two days. The short version… Four years ago a doctor accidentally removed part of my urinary tract, my left ureter, instead of removing my ovary. The consequences? Too lengthy to go into today. What I can tell you is that I have issues and it results in seasons where I suffer from cysts that form or infections related to my urinary tract. I hurt. Pain is my constant companion. Because of the pain, I fight feelings of anger that this medical mistake happened. I fight the urge to loathe and wallow in self pity. I fight voices that tell me God is punishing me. I fight demons that tell me death would be such sweet relief.

Before you judge me too harshly, remember, I’m baring my soul here. Be kind to me. Please.

There is an upside, Sarahfide.

Most of the time, I can still paint beads and run a business from bed. In fact, many of you may be dropping your jaws right now, because you didn’t know. Which, in many ways, is how I want it to be. My illness shouldn’t have anything to do with my business… but it does. Sarahfide was born from the bedside of a sick woman. The sick woman being me. In many ways, the woman you see today is because of Sarahfide ~ my jewelry biz. Sarahfide was born because of this medical injury. I started hand making earrings to get me through the day. I am the woman I am today, because of the healing Sarahfide has brought me. One can not exist without the other.

The good news is, I always get better. After bed rest and over the counter IBUProfen, the swelling goes down, the pain dims and I feel normal (my normal) again. 

You might wonder how this affects business… it doesn’t. I have plenty of inventory, so when someone purchases something, I can pull it out of the drawer and ship it. Of course, it does mean that my hubby, John, has to pull out my adorable Sarahfide packaging and tie a pretty little bow; seeing how he was a warehouse manager for almost 15 years, he can handle it. Hopefully I’ve proven, I’m in this… All in. No matter if I’m sick or not.

Opening doors like this always lead to questions…and I want to be an open book. So here’s a little bit more, which might give you some insight into my life and more specifically, my health.

I’ve been as far as the top urologist at Mayo Clinic, there is no fix. I have to learn to live with kidney issues, urinary related infections and my current situation, cysts. This is and how it is. At some point, hopefully a long way off, the pain or a fever will force me to go to the hospital. I’ll be probed and prodded, like I’ve already been 100 times, seriously, I have some crazy stories. Surgery will be discussed and I’ll be encouraged to take medication that will help dull the pain or shrink the cyst or fight off infection, but medication comes at a cost. I know, because I’ve taken them and I’ve taken myself off of them. In all of the cases the medication didn’t seem to work and the side effects were sever. The bottom line, my body will never recover from the internal damage done. I just have to learn to live life, the best I can, and make the most with what I’ve been given. Which by the way…. is a lot. God has given me an amazing supportive husband. So supportive that he purchased my business license and did all the leg work to get me what I needed. God has given me the most amazing daughters who are a breath of fresh air and a HUGE reason I grin and bare it and don’t give into self loathing or drown myself in pain medications. I have parents and siblings that would drop anything and everything to help me, if I needed it. AND!!! I have you. Amazing, supportive, positive women who love me and my creations. Who not only buy my jewelry but wear it proudly. Talk about blessed. God has given me so much. He has been faithful, when I am not.

When I think about God, and His goodness, it’s the number one reason I want to share my real life. The girl you see in the top picture, the beautiful diva decked out in the most amazing jewelry, she’s me.. and the girl in the bed… well, she’s me too. Both pictures are me. Welcome to my real life. No more secrets.

WHY CharliRose&Co?

Meet Lauryn. She is CHARLI ROSE & CO.

When Lauryn was still living in Florida, she and I met because we worked in the same building, although it was for a very short time. At the time I was hired, Lauryn was getting ready to move to North Carolina. We were like two passing ships.

Lauryn moved, had a second baby and started CHARLI ROSE & CO. I was getting used to a new job and raising my three girls..

Then.

Everything came to a screeching halt for me. I was in a medical accident. While on vacation, in South Carolina, I got sick and ended up in the hospital. During an emergency surgery, my ureter was removed instead of my ovary.

Except for my husband at my side, I was alone. I was in a strange state- city- hospital and I knew no one. I started connecting with friends and family through Facebook. It was the quickest and easiest way to give updates about my health. From my hospital bed, I tuned into the CHARLI ROSE lives on Facebook and looked forward to reading their posts. Seeing Lauryn smiling and telling me, “Stay Beautiful” helped brighten my day. I needed all the goodness that CHARLIE ROSE brought, because my reality was, scars on my body were quickly adding up. I was feeling lost, hopeless… ugly. BUT!!!! Lauryn told me I was beautiful. Beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Even though she was talking to everyone watching, in those moments, I felt like she was talking to me. A Sister in Christ speaking to my heart, reminding me that I am wonderfully and fearfully made.

Lauryn openly talked about her relationship with her body. In many ways, hearing her struggles made me feel sane. I looked at Lauryn and saw a beautiful woman and hoped that even though I was struggling with my body, maybe I was beautiful too.

Clearly there is more to the story but the condensed version… The medical injury took its toll on me. I diminished. I was very sick emotionally, physically, mentally.

I fought death. I fought to live and not let this tragedy destroy me. BTW, I still fight. Illness is and will always be a burden I carry.

For fun, I started creating jewelry.

Then, I started selling jewelry.

Then, -IT- happened.

Lauryn from CHARLI ROSE contacted me and asked me to create for her on-line/ in-store Boutique. These are some ChariRose&Co photos!! Love it all!!!

Now, Sarahfide can be found not only at SARAHFIDE but it can also be found at CharliRose&Co. I can’t begin to tell you the impact Lauryn and CR has had on me, my family, my business, my LIFE!

That. is. the. why. That is why, CHARLI ROSE & CO!!!

Some other reasons…. I LOVE the clothes!! I LOVE the beauty and grace they exude and I love seeing how they style everything. I LOVE supporting a small business. When I purchase from CR, I know my money is supporting a family, business, and community, right here in the USA. I LOVE Lauryn. I love her heart. I love her message. I’ve held her hand and cried, sat on her couch, and talked with her little’s. She is exactly what you see. A HARD working mamma, who loves Jesus, family, and county. A woman trying to help other women, like me and like you, find apparel that will encourage them to love the skin they are in.

BTW, it works. I feel absolutely beautiful, when I wear my Charli Rose and of course, my Sarahfide!!! Can’t you tell!!!!

We need women like Lauryn and we need businesses like CHARLI ROSE & CO!!! Let’s show her some love and support!!! Click this link right now and use the CODE I put below!!!

SHOP CharliRose NOW

Happy Shopping and…. Stay Beautiful!

USE CODE:

SARAH15

for 15% OFF

your purchase at

CHARLI ROSE & CO

Wear My Heart

You wear my heart.

There are all kinds of creators and designers; amazing people who re-purpose and craft. With imagination and a little gumption, amazing things can be made.

What I do goes beyond that. Creating, for me, starts in my heart and pours out in the form of hand painted and hand stained wood bead jewelry. It is birthed from within me.

I send out pieces of my heart everyday in hopes that the love I pour into each small bead will shine in a big way, embellishing and bringing JOY to the woman who holds and wears it.

When I meet beauties wearing my jewelry, it is like reconnecting with a dear friend from the past. Every creation, every single one holds a special place, in my heart.

A few weeks ago, I met a beautiful stranger wearing Sarahfide, it meant more than I can articulate in words.

I was in a store about 30 minutes away from my home. John and I were purchasing some shoes for our middle child. I heard my name, “Sarah?”. I turned to see a beautiful and loving face with a most welcoming and sincere smile. As I looked at her, she looked at me. I didn’t know her. As her eyes went down to her raising wrists, I realized she was showing me her Sarahfide Bracelets. I’d like to say I responded like Grace Kelly but I think I was more like Kathrine Hepburn. I broke code, with her permission, and hugged her. We stood in the isle talking, about jewelry of course, and her beautiful southern name, Ella Jean. I am horrible with names, but I think it will be a name I remember forever.

We had to take pictures, of course. She was a kind and gracious woman. (The bracelets she was wearing had been custom ordered for her, by her daughter. So special.)

Ella Jean

A picture of her creations before they left my studio.

The third bracelet was on the other hand, I was so excited, I didn’t get it in the picture.

If you are thinking about purchasing jewelry to keep or to gift, I would be honored if you would consider purchasing and wearing Sarahfide. I can’t speak for major retails and hobble jewelers, but I can without a doubt tell you that your comments, likes, shares, purchases, and ultimately wearing Sarahfide literally makes my heart smile. Let me share a piece of my heart with you. Visit my Season’s Greetings Jewelry to see all of the NEW, Hand Stained, beaded jewelry I’ve added to the site, just for you. CLICK HERE

Glimpse Into My Private Collection

Welcome to a rare glimpse inside my private jewelry collection. Fifty-six of my favorite brooches pictured here with many more packed away.

I started Sarahfide two years ago but my love for jewelry and vintage accessories started when I was a child.

Three years ago, when we moved from our large home to our current home, which is small, I packed away a lot of my jewelry and my vintage accessories. Some of the few vintage pieces that aren’t packed have been making a few appearances, you can see one of them in the picture. Notice the glove…

Today, I unpacked, sorted, and organized my jewelry collection.

-If there was ever ANY question if creating jewelry is my calling, talent, gift.... today brought finality and an end to those hidden questions that linger at the back of my mind.

~Isn’t it amazing how God curates our lives. As long as I can remember….

I. (have and will always)

Love.

Jewelry.

I love beautiful, well made, quality jewelry. I also love vintage costume jewelry. Gaudy, delicious, exquisite beads that, well... you don't see any more. I can not be more excited that I am breaking the mold in the jewelry industry. I'm not just assembling some jewelry kit and selling it or buying already made jewelry and reselling it, I'm creating jewelry from scratch. It starts with a raw wood bead and the value of that wood bead is purely based on the skill, creativity, and time I put into it.

I am excited to share more!!!

P.S. If you think I have a lot of brooches, just wait till I show you my private bangle bracelet collection. W.O.W!

But for now, I leave you with my Sarahfide Bangle Collection available HERE where all my Fall Jewelry can be seen…. also, notice the handkerchief in the top left corner…

…. beautiful.

XO

~s

Painting Broken Flowers

Before eighteen months ago, I had never picked up a small paint brush. I’ve painted walls but slapping paint on a wall in a house is a lot different than detailed painting on a small bead. I’ve Never. Ever. considered myself an artist. Creative, yes. Artistic, no.

When I launched Sarahfide.com, I had no intention of painting anything, but as I started building my earring collection, I needed specific colored beads. I looked into purchasing (painted) beads but since many of the earrings were one-of-a-kind, it wasn’t economical for me to spend money on strands of beads when I only needed two or four beads of a certain color. That is when I started painting my own beads. My first paint colors were teal and mustard. These are an updated earring of my original earring designs, now available on my site.

Teal Zeal Dangles All Day Fun Dangles

As Sarahfide grew, I started to receive requests for more intricate jewelry creations. It seemed every month I receive a request that challenge my skills. The thing that scared me the most were flowers. In truth, I have a gift with colors, blending and obviously making a beautiful, wearable piece of jewelry but flowers!!! that takes skill. Artistic skill!!

A few weeks ago, I received a special request for a Mother’s Day gift. I was asked to recreate a china pattern onto a bracelet. Back Story- My client’s Mother-In-Law had one dish from her mother’s china and it had been broken. The pieces were collected and It was being displayed in a shadow box.

This was the picture that was provided to me.

Requests like this are so exciting!! I love being challenged with new creations and I love being a part of something so special!! This was sure to be a beautiful and meaningful gift. BUT…. the china pattern was… FLOWERS!!….

In first grade, Miss. Dubois, my first grade teacher, with gentile patience, would place a small wooden train on my desk and read the book, “The Little Engine That Could”, every time I would say, “I can’t.” Almost forty years later, when faced with something that seems impossible, I still think of Miss. Dubois and the little wooden train.

Truth, I didn’t succeed the first time or the second time, but I didn’t give up.

Friend, I don’t know what painting broken flowers looks like to you. Maybe it is making a huge life choice that terrifies you, or making a commitment that is going to force you to sacrifice a comfort. We all have moments when we are looking at something daunting. Try. Don’t give up. Don’t give in. Try, Try again!!

Click the video to see the details up close.

I feel honored that you continue to believe in me!! It was a joy and honor to create so many amazing pieces this Mother’s Day!! Thank you for inviting Sarahfide into your lives and wearing it so proudly!!

Labeled

There will never be a Mother’s Day, that I don’t think about the women who have heavy hearts, the forced smiles, and the silent tears.

I was married in 1999 and had my first baby in 2008. Year after year, we tried to get pregnant… and nothing. Hundreds of pregnancy tests, because you never use just one. You use the entire pack, hoping… praying for a faint line. My particular medical condition was Endometriosis. At 23 I was labeled - Infertile

In 2007, after doing {IVF} In Vitro Fertilization a second time, John and I conceived. We had one more failed IVF attempt before naturally conceiving our second and third baby.

No matter your circumstances: Not being able to get pregnant, not being able to carry a baby to term, loosing a baby after birth, or loosing a child, please know, I see you. I’m talking to the women who have no children and women who do. We all have a story.

Sadly, I have nothing to offer to help ease your pain… No magic words or potion. I can only offer my prayers, my love, my shoulder. This necklace is dedicated to all of you.

An empty bead, for those who have never known the feeling of being pregnant.

A date, for those who have loved and lost a baby in their womb.

A gray initial, for those who carried a baby in their arms but had to say goodbye to soon.

A black initial, for those who have lost a child, young or old.

I love you and I see you.

~s (You can view this necklace on my site Sarahfide.com)

The Waters Edge

I was sitting by the waters edge thinking about my life, a pretty serious notion. I had just come from yet another doctors appointment and had just scheduled a small surgery for next week. It will be my first surgery, since starting Sarahfide, a little over a year ago.

Many that know my story, know, poor heath has become a part of my life. Four years ago, a medical accident happened. I went into surgery to have an ovary removed. In error, they removed a portion of my urinary tract. It was horrible. It was painful. It was a nightmare. It was life changing. By the way, I want to share that part of my story, deeply, but not today.

Today, I want to talk about several ah-ha moments.

The first was a verse I was reading, in my morning devotion. It said, “Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad. Proverbs 12:25 For me, this verse said, “Sarah, your heart is heavy and it makes you sad, why don’t you talk about your struggles and share how God continues to give you strength to press forward. It will bring Joy and happiness to talk about it.

Then, I had a phone call. It was my niece. She wanted to tell me how proud she was of me. She said my jewelry was amazing and I was crushing it. I cried, literally. I told her that I had just come from the doctor and her call was absolutely perfect timing. Her call made me think. Wouldn’t it be better for my niece to see all of the amazing things I’m doing at Sarahfide, while also seeing the daily struggles, and how hard I’m working, EVERY DAY, despite my illness??

It’s time. It is time to see me as I am.

You may ask me, “Why have you been hiding this?”. I’ll tell you… here it is….. I’m scared. I’m scared you will not purchase my jewelry, if you think I’m sick. That’s it. I think that if I post about having a kidney infection, you are going to skip over my White Wash dangles and purchase from someone else, because you’re worried your purchase will be to stressful for me.

BUT!! I’m going to call it what it is. It’s a lie. AND, I’ve proven for the past year, that I CAN run a business, meet every single deadline, fill thousands of orders AND do it all while also being sick.

Because, that is just what I am. I’m sick. A doctor accidentally removed the wrong body part and it resulted in me living with constant infections, constant pain, a life time of antibiotics, possible kidney failure and the medical history of an 87 year old. <A doctor said that to me once.

So, this is me. I’m Sarah. I’m a sinner saved by Grace. I’m a wife. (Married my high school sweetheart 22 years ago.) I’m a mother to three beautiful young ladies. I’m a daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. I’m a business owner. AND, I’m sick. I will always be sick, until Heaven.

So, this is me giving you a heads up. I’m making some changes here at Sarahfide. I’m going to be more open on Social Media. I’m ready to show you that even through suffering, You. Can. Still. Find. Joy! Which is why, JOY was my first jewelry collection. I love that it is still the most popular of all my collections. Go check it out…. and be prepared. Sitting at the waters edge today brought me clarity and a new found determination.

Before you move on to the next thing, be sure to check out Sarahfide.com. Mothers Day is right around the corner. I offer Free Shipping and the most adorable Cottage Chic packaging. As always, Happy Shopping

Don't Let Your Love Fern Die

Hopefully, this made some of you laugh!! For those of you who don't know, this is a quote from the movie, How To Loose A Guy In Ten Days. -You gotta love a lighthearted comedy, Right?!?

But seriously, having been married Twenty-Two years, I think it qualifies me to give you some helpful advice.

Here it is…..
Tell them what you want.

They can not read your mind. I know!!! We want them to... but seriously, do we really?

One of the best days of my marriage was when I accepted the fact, He. Can’t. Read. My. Mind.

Occasionally, I try to fall back into some kind of a romantic comedy where I have an expectation for him to show up at the perfect location to save the day, but that's not how it usually plays out in real life.

So, if you want flowers, tell him.
If you want him to take you out, tell him.
If you want him to buy you Sarahfide, tell him. :)

It is so fulfilling when you tell someone what you want <and> they Do IT! And!!!! most likely, all that energy they would have spent trying to figure out what you wanted, now turns into energy they put into getting you what you want and doing it in a big way.

So, take it from me, tell them what you. If they ask you to get specific, get specific.

Also, -and this is for your guys- if she says she doesn’t want anything, let me suggest still doing something. February 13th, she may not want anything, and genuinely mean it, but then, February 15th rolls around. She hears and sees what everyone did for Valentine’s Day and… well, you know how it goes.

You have eleven days, so start talking, start planning, get her some Sarahfide!

Shopping with Sarahfide is easy, I accept all payment methods, I offer Free Shipping with no minimal order and, I have the most amazing packaging. You don’t need to wrap it. It ships to gift.

Below are five elegant options that would be perfect for the occasion.

LOVE ME NECKLACE : You can choose between Gold or Silver. Only $15.00.

Below are the: SHY SINGLE LADIES DANGLE EARRINGS These little earrings go with everything. $15.00

This is the: ART DECO NECK DAZZLE NECKLACE- $30.00

You can choose between four different bead options. The Platinum is my personal FAVE!!!

CUSTOM EXPRESSIONS BRACELET STACK only $25.00. You can choose her initials, your babies initials, maybe a word that inspires her, or something significant to the two of you. This bracelet is a win/win.

Everything located on my site is designed, hand painted, and created by me, Sarah. I’m the sole designer and owner of Sarahfide Creations and the gal that is trying to Help.You.Out!!!

Happy Shopping!!

~s

The John in Sarahfide

Today, I want to talk about the silent partner at Sarahfide. If you haven’t guessed, it’s my husband John.

I stay busy painting, packaging, photographing, marketing, etc... So, he and I have developed a routine. We have meetings, usually over a Saturday morning coffee, and discuss what supplies I'm running low on and discuss what I will need to create upcoming new collections. Not to mention, he helps me hardware my round drop earrings, and more recently my chain necklace assembly.

Occasionally, while researching the best price and the highest quality, he will come across something that catches his eye and will have me look at it. Point and case, my Shimmer Drop Necklace. He found the amazing brick pendants and suggested I add it to my Sarahfide Collection. It was love at first sight. They are stunning and have been a huge seller. Clearly my man has great taste, at least I'd like to think so, after all, he loves me.

While doing his weekly ordering a few months ago, he approached me about purchasing a Paper Clip chain, a new trend in the jewelry market. Knowing I already had so many irons in the fire, with Christmas around the corner, I told him I didn’t have time to create something new. Of course, being a woman, and occasionally being known to change my mind..... I admittedly told him several weeks later that I regretting not ordering it when we had the chance. To my delight, he told me he had already ordered it.. I was thrilled. She is Solid Gold Stainless Steel and feels luxurious and fun. I named her the Better With You Necklace. BTW, If I never take it off, you will know why... He picked it.♡

John does so much to help and support Sarahfide. He has been a huge participant in my Sarahfide Custom Order Signs. He goes and purchases the wood, stains it, hand paints it using stencils I design. He is a finisher. Whether it is hardwearing a sign, working my Round Drop Earrings, or assembling a beautiful Sarahfide necklace.

I can't believe how fun and joyous it is to work so hard and I'm getting to do it with my best friend, by my side... Check out today’s reel to see him in action and check out my stories to see several of the pieces he picked to add to my collections.

~s

If You Hit A Wall, Swim. Fly!

Have you hit a wall lately in your life? Maybe at your J.O.B., in your marriage, with a friend??

I did. Four short years ago, during a necessary, common surgery, a doctor accidentally removed the majority of my left ureter. (They were attempting to remove my left ovary, but made a mistake.) It was devastating. Life changing. What should have been an outpatient surgery, turned into a half month stent, in a hospital. Three surgeries, a dozen procedures, and top physicians couldn’t repair the damage that had been done. My body was, is, and forever, will be broken. I spent the first three years mostly recovering from my latest surgery or procedure. Then, I received the devastating news from Mayo Clinic, that the pain, infections, and possible kidney failure were just going to be part of my life. There was noting they could do. The damage was done and it was not repairable.

My Brick Wall.

I gave in to the idea that I had lost myself on that surgical table. I was hopeless… depressed. I felt like a giant taker. No longer a functioning contributor to my family or society. I believed I had noting to give. I fell prey to the lies that I was worthless, unnecessary, and unneeded. Just existing was hard.

The details of my recovery are another story, and one I am anxious to tell, but not today.

I will say, that as a part of my recovery, I started trying to create things to give to others. I wanted so much to bring JOY to others. I started making small gifts and it evolved into making jewelry. Then…Sarahfide was born. I had learned to SWIM.

Sarahfide has become so important to me. It is my pride and JOY!

Why?

First, it has helped me see my value. Even if I didn’t have Sarahfide, I am no longer blinded by the lies that I am worthless. I have an amazing husband and three beautiful children and I contribute to their lives, Just By Being Me.

Secondly, I’m ready to contribute. Not only do I want to pick myself up and live, but I want to thrive!!! I want to contribute to my church, my family and friends, and to my home. Two years ago, we sold our home. We couldn’t afford to live there and pay my rising medical expenses, with my declining health. After selling our home, we moved into an old property owned by my parents. It is a mobile home, made in the Seventies. This is where we now lay our heads but it has never felt like our home. We are grateful for our community, our family but I am ready to stand on my own two feet. My dream, my husbands dream, AND our three girls pray that Sarahfide will be successful enough to buy a home of our own. Not new… not large… just ours.

So, you can see, there is much to be done. The wall is still there. Going that way is not an option for me. Daily, I struggle with the consequences of this medical injury. It is not going to go away. I am leaning how to do life differently. I am now in the water and I am swimming. I have a goal, a destination, and I am determined to get there, even if I have to learn how to FLY!

No matter your dream, don’t give up. Never! Give! Up!. If you hit a wall, find another way. There is always a way around. Swim. Fly, if you have to!

This Is The Moment

When I started this business six months ago, I had a goal. I thought it would be epic if I was able to create an entire line of coordinating pieces of Sarahfide jewelry, for every woman. From earrings, to bracelets, and everything in between.

Getting here, has not been easy. Pandemic. School closures that forced this mom boss to shift gears . You know what I’m talking about!! We are all there together.

There were so many times that I thought I would never meet my goal. BUT!!! I got up every morning, poured my coffee, took care of my three beautiful daughters, loved on my hubby, drank cold coffee (because there are only so many times you can stick it in the microwave), and then used spare time to create. It was only a few weeks ago, that it happened. I was getting ready for a celebration, getting all fancy, when I went to put my jewelry on. I had everything I needed to be completely Sarahfide. I hadn’t even realized, I had done it. I had met my goal.

So many times we stare up the road and think our destination looks so impossibly far away. I remember climbing a mountain once, it took half a day to get up to the top. When I looked up, the top seemed so far away. I got there by putting one step in front of the other. It was a huge accomplishment.

GIRL!!!!! Don’t give up on your dream!!! Keep putting one foot in front of the other. Fall forward. Manage Blessings! Take a breath, then take another.

I started this business literally days before the announcement of a pandemic. I had a choice. I decided to fall forward. Everything I’ve done in my life, with the help of God, has brought me to this moment. I’m not talking about the jewelry, although it is amazing. I’m talking about using my talents to encourage, be a blessing, compliment, and bring JOY! Creating jewelry gives me an outlet to touch so many lives, but without you, my gal pals and soul sisters, it would be a pointless endeavor.

Not only have I successfully created an entire line for myself, but I’ve also created an exclusive collection for a store called CharliRose&Co. I can not tell you how fun it has been to secretly have this opportunity, that I can now share with you, my Sarahfide Sisters. She has been doing sneak peeks and this exclusive line will release in just a few days. Can I just stop here and say, this accomplishment is as much yours as it is mine. So many of you have purchased Sarahfide, worn Sarahfide, and shared Sarahfide. It is your support and encouragement, and lets by honest, your money, that led me to believe I could do and afford a wholesale exclusive line. Your confidence in me, and your confidence in my work was the perfect boost I needed.

So, now I have created an entire jewelry line available to you with coordinating pieces, I created an exclusive line for a major woman’s appeal boutique, AND I have been commissioned to create jewelry that will be worn for a wedding. E.P.I.C!!

Thank you for your love. Thank you for your support. Thank you for sharing Sarahfide. Thank you for wearing Sarahfide.

So, to bring this full circle…. I’m so glad I didn’t give up when they announced the pandemic.

Remember, everything you have gone through, in life, has brought you and I to the moment we are in. When you are tried and tested, breath in every life experience you have had… the good and the bad. Keep your eyes on the goal. One step at a time, one breath at a time. Rest. Fall Forward.

These are the moments we were created for.

Be a light. Encourage. Love.

Because I pushed forward when times got hard, and because you continued to believe in me, I get to set new goals and you can too.

Whatever mountain you have to climb, you can do it. If you hit an obstacle, find a way around it. If you need help, ask for it. If you have to cut loose burdens that hold you back, cut them loose.

Because, this is the moment for which you were created!

I love you!

JOY COLLECTION

~s

Beautiful Soul Sister

Let me tell you who my Soul Sister is…

When I had the idea to do an entire earring collection titled SOUL SISTER, I knew exactly what I wanted this collection to represent and who I wanted to name it after….

I am a woman. I have three daughters. I have a sister, a mother, and a grandmother. I have nieces, aunts, a mother-in-love, sisters by marriage, and girl friends…. notice a theme?

I am surrounded by women. Amazing. Beautiful. Intelligent. Funny. Tal-en-ted- Women!

I wanted this collection to represent all the women in my life, including you.

You and I are different shapes, sizes, and colors, with different gifts, strengths, and talents… But, the fact remains, we are women. Although these earring are different shapes, sizes, and colors, the fact remains, they are earrings.

Beautiful, hand made, uniquely designed, crafted with love, and amazing. … You might think I’m talking about the earrings, but I’m talking about you.

You are a one-of-a-kind, unique, and beautiful piece of art. Precious and Priceless. Y-O-U.

If you are like me, you have been doing life a bit differently these past months. In a word, change. As someone who has struggled with depression and anxiety, during seasons of my life, it has been a concern that this changing world might trigger me into self isolation, mentally and emotionally speaking.. but it hasn’t.

-You- You are my reason.

You, my Beautiful-Soul-Sister. (BSS-I just created something there.) You have brought so much JOY into my life. You have engaged with me. You send me messages when you love something you see. You give me hearts, and likes, and WOW faces. You tell people about me. And… well, you keep me creating, by purchasing Sarahfide.

I never knew this adventure would lead me to something so completely unexpected and absolutely beautiful.

-YOU!

So, in this collection, you will find you and All women are represented:

the woman who likes to COZY up with a blanket and read a good book; the woman who has a GREEN thumb and loves her flowers and plants; the earthy woman that likes the BARE minimal; the woman who is in the midst of a STORM but still smiles through her pain; the woman who seeks SERENITY amidst a Chaotic world; the woman who loves a good pair of DENIM BLUE jeans and an amazing pair of earrings; The woman who runs with the WIND in her hair, with no cares in the world. And, Today, I release the last of the soul sisters. Her name is PITCH. Represented in her is the woman who is ready to PITCH her tent and stand firmly on what she believes. She is kind. She loves others and is welcoming to all people, even though they may have different opinions and views. she is brave.

I hope you found yourself in there. This collection, after all, was designed and created for you.

My BSS!!

Thank you for your support, your friendship, your love, and for wearing Sarahfide.

XO

~s Click HERE to see the newest and final (for now) S.O.U.L- S.I.S.T.E.R