Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Who is Val behind Designed by Val?


I want to introduce myself. I am Val Swanson, the owner and designer of Designed by Val. I am 44 years old and have been married for 20 years, almost 21. We do not have children but we have 4 wonderful nieces and 2 fabulous nephews who live in the same area as us.We have thoroughly enjoyed watching them grow up. The oldest now has her first job after college and the youngest has started high school.

I worked for fifteen years as a litigation paralegal and enjoyed it. I had to stop due to a chronic illness. I have chronic migraine headaches which means I have a migraine headache all day and all night, all of the time. My goal with this blog is to write three times a week; however, due to my migraines I may miss some days so bear with me.

I started making jewelry about eight years ago. My best friend Ann took me to a bead shop. I thought it was going to be a complete disaster. I had never done anything creative in my life. All the creative work in my family was done by my younger brother. He is a graphic designer now. He was a nightmare younger brother, creatively speaking. When we would color together, the grass in his coloring book would be three shades of green while I was fighting to stay in the lines! I developed quite the complex; hence, why I thought the bead store would be a disaster.

To my surprise I enjoyed myself immensely at the bead store. I made two necklaces. I quickly decided it was too expensive to make jewelry in a bead store as often as I wanted so I started buying my own supplies online. After giving family members and friends jewelry often enough that they started running away, it was suggested to me to start a shop on Etsy. I did and I haven't looked back since. In my shop are semi precious gemstone jewelry, seed bead jewelry, and kumihimo jewelry. Take a look and let me know what you think.

www.designedbyval.etsy.com

17 comments:

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  2. Was nice knowing you more and how you got hooked to beads :)!!! Liking your blog is so calming.

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  3. Val, I look forward to lots more blogging and will check back frequently!
    Congratulations on taking the big step in.
    xo

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  5. Val this is lovely !
    looking forward to following your posts !

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  6. Had to laugh when you wrote people started running away because you given them so much jewelry! Ha!

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  7. Hi, Val! Well done on taking the plunge with the blogging thing. I shall follow you via RSS!

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  8. Hey Val - great blog. You've inspired me to re-visit my own!

    You have a lovely writing style - something that can't necessarily be said about all blogs. I'm genuinely interested and was so pleased that you have written this second piece.

    I was reading your first blog on my mobile yesterday and got very cross trying to send a comment (I essentially had a tantrum - with myself).

    So I'm looking forward to reading your other entries.

    Keep at it Val - you're doing great!

    Y x

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    1. Thank you for your encouragement Yinka. You are very kind.

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  9. Loving this, Val! Way to go! Looking forward to more - following you through my email. You go girl!

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  10. So glad I found your new blog, Val, and look forward to reading all your new posts! And I can so empathise with people running away cos you've given them so much jewellery - I can now recognise that cringe before it happens!

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