webgrits

Things I made for the wedding

For all of 2 minutes (well, not really, but close), I had a Blogger blog that I was going to use for my craft postings. That was before I resurrected webgrits from the dead. Tonight, I've moved over that handful of Blogger posts, and I wanted to repost this one.

Original Post Date: 3/28/08 11:23PM

There's been a lot of talk lately about handmade weddings, so I wanted to share items I made for my wedding last month.

Rosary

I made wedding rosaries for both me and my husband. I gave my husband his during our rehearsal dinner, and the restaurant manager wants to know how much I'll charge him to make one for his mother :) I used Swarovski bicones in the new Golden Shadow color, and the crucifix, centerpiece, and findings are sterling silver.

Bridal Jewelry

I made two sets: one for me and one for my matron of honor. I was still making the matron of honor's jewelry the day before the wedding! Everything turned out well, though. I used vanilla semi-round freshwater pearls and fern cubic zirconia. My matron of honor's jewelry matched except for the color of the CZ, which was a lighter yellowish green (lemon ice).

You can find out more and see more pictures in my Flickr wedding set.

It's been a long time...

It's been a long time since I visited the Grits. I left on a melancholy note, too. The least I can do is start my update with a happy note.

Jackie and I were married this past February. If you ask me, the best time to get married is some time after everyone has given up on you. The astonishment on people's faces when you tell them that, yes, you've finally decided to make it official, is kinda entertaining. We worked hard to have the small, beautiful wedding that we wanted, right down to the chocolate, action figured-topped wedding cake. Even the naysayers who told us we were doing everything wrong thought it was a great wedding, too.

I can't even remember where I worked in December 2005, but I know it's not where I work now. I've moved up the geek food chain to Senior Web Developer, and I'm even a project lead. I've also gone back to school to get my MBA. Who knew I had a knack for accounting? Certainly not me.

In my spare time (what spare time?), I began making rosaries. I've gotten fairly good at it, and some of my rosaries have homes all over the world. I have received the nicest emails from people who have bought one of my rosaries or chaplets, and it is nice knowing that my work helps bring people to a prayerful life.

We have a little nephew now. Little J is pretty cool, if you ask me, and we're only related by marriage. He started walking at Christmas, and he has new words in his vocabulary every time I see him. He vastly prefers my hubby to me, but, lately, he's actually noticed I exist. He likes it when I read to him, so it's a good thing I haven't forgotten how to do that.

In addition to being a few years older, my hair is slowly turning gray, and, this past Spring, I had to get trifocals. That almost broke my heart, but, damn if I can't see better. Next year, I turn 40. If I can survive that, I can survive anything.

Unfortunately, it hasn't all been wine and roses. Recently, after several weeks of illness, we found out that my Crohn's disease is back. It is the worst recurrence I've ever had, and I'm still reeling from the news. My GI wants me to begin Remicade infusions, but the insurance company, having told me last week they'd pay for it, now wants me to submit precertification paperwork. The infusions will cost approximately $7000 each, so I have to play their game. I've had to drop my Summer and Fall classes, and, if the infusions don't start soon and are successful, I'll have to skip Spring semester, too.

All in all, despite this bump in the road, life is good. I have a husband who loves me and takes care of me, family and friends who support me through good and bad days, and a dog with puppy dog eyes that make my day (of course I can't forget to mention Jackson). God continues to bless me every day.