The Key to Happiness

I decided in May to start my own club called the Charlotte of the Month. I only planned to make a cute little frozen Charlotte doll surprise to mail off to other Charlotte lovers like me. But then I thought, "What is a club without a newsletter?"   So to give life to my MUCH neglected blog I am going to post my newsletters here. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them.  

They Key to Happiness

Recently I was having a conversation with a friend and she was saying how she was well, just unhappy. But all her unhappiness was due to the actions of other people. That is when I reminded her, that she alone held the key to your happiness. She could use it to unlock her happiness or she could give the key to someone else and let her happiness depend on what they decided to do with it. And what if they lost it? Then would all her happiness be lost with it??
I hope this month that you remember that you alone hold the key to your happiness. And NEVER put the key to your happiness in someone else’s pocket!  Until next month! </h3>



                                                                   Smile & Hugs,


                                                                        Lorelie

Pain is a part of life...

I don't often write about my personal pain or experiences but I had one of those "Ah-ha" moments today that I wanted to share...


A little background. I am 47 and I have arthritis. I was diagnosed at 38 and told by 50 I would need both hips replaced. I had one hip done at 42. Didn't go so great. Chronic bursitis and tendonitis in the hip. At that time I was also diagnosed with facet joint arthritis and degenerative joint disease in my back. Foot surgery, hand trouble. Life is fun...I have tried to accept that pain will just be a part of my life. Why am I telling you this? Because I am also a believer that we are always put right where you are suppossed it be. And today just confirmed this.

Today I had a Docotor appointment with a new Doc to try and figure out a new pain. There was a line to check-in.(Don't even get me startd with that!) In front of me was an eldery woman. Maybe 80 or more. She was sitting at first. But then saw a line forming and said," I see there there is a line starting, I better get in it." She went before three of us. We said nothing.


You could tell she was in pain. Leaning with her head down on her walker and an audiable, "Ohhhh..." I felt my hands just wanting to go up and pat her back and say it is Ok. But is wasn't. And I didn't.

Finally, when it was her turn, pill bottle in hand, she said,I parapharse, "I need to see the Doctor. These pills do not help the pain. They make me out of it and I can't take care of myself. And I live alone." Which was more apparant by the medi-alert bracelet on her hand. She continued to say what she was diagnosed with. Some of the same things as me. I honestly felt like I was having an out of body experince. Looking at myself 35 years from now. In pain. With no children. Trying to get someone to make the pain stop.


They told her it could take 4 weeks to help. Her head hung low. She said, "Well what am I supposed to do for the pain?" There was no answer. And that is when it hit me even harder than it has before. There is NO answer. It was then that I told myself, I could be this woman. I will be this woman unless I choose, at this moment, to accept that this is what it is. Pain is going to be a part of my life. Period. I choose to not live on drugs. I try to learn to manage the pain and deal with it through a positive attitude. I have tried to be this way for the past few years, but as anyone in chronic pain knows it can get the best of you. But I do believe I can have the choice to let the pain get the best of me or to get the best of it.


Funny thing is. I had actually missed my appointment today. I had the wrong time and wasn't even supposed to be there when I was. However I just know I WAS supposed to be there. Just to see meet this woman. To feel her pain. To learn a lesson. To learn that there are some things in life that pills just cannot fix. Unless you want to go through life lke a zombie. There are some things in life I just have to accept cannot be fixed. Some things I just have to live with. Like arthritis.


I left the office. I didn't reschedule my appointment. I know, in my heart, there is nothing anyone can do for me. I have been to so many doctors. Given so many pills. Unless I want to live on drugs with all the side effects they can bring, there is nothing they can do. And I will not live like that. This woman, though she did not know it,gave me more strength and peace of mind than any drug could give. I know I will have pain. But I know, even more now, I have a choice. I let it control me. Or I control it. Through rest, kindness, peacefulness and art. I choose the latter.

If I have learned on thing in my 47 years it is this. Sometime the answer is, there is no answer. And the sooner you can live with the acceptance of that the happier and more peaceful you will be...

Hope for Oklahoma Auction

Hope for Oklahoma is A group of individuals are coming together to raise funds for those in need due to the devastating tornado in Moore, Oklahoma (and surrounding areas) that occurred on May 20th, 2013.We will be auctioning off handmade jewelry, art and other items to raise funds, here on Facebook. 100% of the proceeds (after PayPal fees) will be donated directly to families in need.

I have donated this one-of-a-kind frozen Charlotte bracelet for auction. You can bid on this and all the other wonderful item at https://www.facebook.com/hopeforok

Sneak Peek at new designs for April!

My First Spring show will be April 6th from 9-4 at Millard West High School. Lots & LOTS of new one-of-a-kind new creations will there! Here are just a few:

Sterling band soldered rhinestone rings

Over 100 new resin necklaces!

Pretty things for your hair

Hand sewn and stitched fabric cuffs

Fun and Flirty bangles

And just a little something for my more Modern Gal!

Lots of new brooches

New art including handbags!

And Victorian Button necklaces in sterling, copper and gold plate pendants.

These are just a few new things that will be there! Hope to see you April 6th!!

Art & Soul Retreat 2012

Well with Summer coming to a close I thought I would post and share my vacation photos! Really it was more work than vacation. It had been on my list to attend an art retreat. So in June I left the Husband behind and hit the road for Las Vegas! Actually Henderson at Green Valley Ranch Resort and Casino

I had five FUll days workshops. And I mean FULL! My goal was to take a finished project from each class. I worked through lunch every day to achieve this goal. The first little project after check-in was to decorate your badge. My first finished project!

My first class was Soldering for Virgins.

I will say it took me a while to get the hang of it. But it has opened up a whole new World of things I can do with my work. The next two days were also spent soldering.

Now THIS is a belt buckle!

And my favorite soldering project of all, my Jumpin Jill doll.

We created an original collage that we then set under glass to create her body. So cute with her little arms and legs will jump up and down!

After soldering for 3 days I was ready for a break! The next class was just fun. I got to sit with my Art Sister, Jana. A very talented artist and teacher herself.

Creating a collage using fluid acrylics, water soluable crayons and whatever else hit me. Then is was all covered in beeswax. I love to paint and collage, so this was just relaxing. Not sure if I will ever use the wax technique, but it is good to know.

My final and favorite class was enameling. My Teacher Jean was AMAZING! And it was just myself and Jana so it was like getting one on one attention.

I heard that this is an art that takes 5 minutes to learn and a lifetime to perfect. And how true that is!

This was a fun learing experience. But I will say I exhausting! My final day I did a little shopping at the shops steps away from the hotel. And finally spent a few hours poolside.

The best $15 margarita I ever had!

I did have one last surpise project waiting for me that I was prepared for. On my way to the airport I met this lovely young girl carrying a HUGE vase of roses. Her boyfriend had set her them at the hotel. Well, she wanted to take them home. Knowing there is no way you can get a vase full of water and flowers through TSA, I put on my thinking cap. With all my supplies I just a piece of canvas, we put wet paper towels around the stems,and I secrued it all with twine.

She looked like Miss America walking to her gate! All's well that ends well. Including Summer vacations...

Cooking up my art doll brooches

Rice, it's not just for dinner anymore!

Seek Peek Rockbrook Village Show May 5th!

Here is a sneek peek at just a FEW of my new creations for the Rockbrook Spring Fever Craft Show! Saturday May 5th from 10:00 to 6:00. Rain or Shine. But let's hope for SHINE!! New cuff bracelets

Lightweight and perfect for Summer! Fabric rosette and hair accessories

Dainty antique watch cases filled with lovely "gems", rings & necklaces

New pocket watch necklace filled with all sorts of lovelies

AND sweet vintage Disney characters!

And of course new frozen Charlotte creations

Also new handbags and art dolls

Hope to see you there!