My Arts and Crafts Shows in PA and My Website!

When I started making jewelry, I didn't have any intention of selling because of my health condition; I just needed to do something to keep myself busy. I don't know how, but once I touched the beads, I fell in love with them. I started giving them to my friends who helped us when we needed it. They liked them so much that they wanted to pay, but I didn't expect that. I said that I couldn't take their money because I wanted to give them as gifts. Then one of my friends said that she will take one as a gift andbuy one necklace she liked very much. I thought that she was the only one, but other friends also started buying. I gave many gifts to my nurses, the hospital staff, doctors' wives, etc.

One of the nurses first introduced me to the idea of craft shows as I didn't know what they were before. The first one I did was organized by the hospital in which I was receiving treatment. My good friend helped me to set up for this show.  She gave me the table, drove me to the show, stayed with us until the end of the show.  I have to thank all the friends who have encouraged me to do shows successfully.  Some of them came to the shows, brought their friends and bought the stuff from me.  I was so lucky to have such wonderful friends.  After that I started applying for a lot of shows. From September to December I did a show almost every week for few years.  You can see the pictures of my arts and crafts shows and how many I have done.  I have gotten good responses. 

In the beginning I started with just glass beads, glass pearls but I used to do different designs, and along with that, I started making beaded pillows, beaded wall hangings, beaded accessories, beaded apparel, and beaded greeting cards for different occasions.  I have sold some beaded pillows, wall hangings on Amazon.com. Then I started my website, but I only sent the link to my friendsduring the special occasions, and I got some orders.  I did very well in the first year.  Later on, I had good customers who used to order custom made jewelry.  Since last year, I have been thinking about remodeling my old website and starting it as a business one this time. I hope you all like it and encourage me, support me so that I can contribute to medical expenses which insurance doesn't cover.

By doing arts and crafts shows I have made good friends and learned so many things. My favorite thing was to get out of the house and meet the people, meet different kinds of vendors and see the variety of art and crafts; I enjoyed every minute of it.  My husband Sreenivas was behind all this. He drove me to shows, helped to set up the tables, took the kids to soccer on Saturdays and came back after the games to stay until the show is over, and then help me to pack up and drove us all home.  He was very patient; without his help and my kids' support I never could have made it until now.

I am starting this website with just jewelry and then slowly I'll add other works of mine too.  I do custom made wall hangings, pillow covers, greeting cards etc.  I love my bead work and enjoy it very much.  It helped me when I was having tough time; it was like a therapy for me. I hope you all like this website. Welcome to my Inspiration bead works website!

I'll post the upcoming arts and craft shows and if you are able to attend, you are welcome. 

Pictures from Past Shows

 
The first show I did at the Paoli Memorial hospital, where I take treatment!  For this show my good friend brought a table, umbrella, helped me so much.  I'll never forget the first show where I made $125.

The first show I did at the Paoli Memorial hospital, where I take treatment!  For this show my good friend brought a table, umbrella, helped me so much.  I'll never forget the first show where I made $125.

 
During this show I didn't even have the display stands necklace stands etc. So I just spread around the table all the jewelry. We brought the boxes and kept them open with jewelry inside.  We also took photo frames and wrapped color paper and p…

During this show I didn't even have the display stands necklace stands etc. So I just spread around the table all the jewelry. We brought the boxes and kept them open with jewelry inside.  We also took photo frames and wrapped color paper and put jewelry on them. I did many shows with just seed bead and glass bead jewelry only but with different designs.  I haven't learned anywhere but slowly self taught the professional way of doing with jewelry equipment.

 
By this show I brought some display stands for my jewelry.  They used to combine the tables so the jewelry and some wall hangings are my stuff.  The cap and other stuff is the next vendor's stuff.  These shows helped me a lot.  S…

By this show I brought some display stands for my jewelry.  They used to combine the tables so the jewelry and some wall hangings are my stuff.  The cap and other stuff is the next vendor's stuff.  These shows helped me a lot.  Some of them used to give me good advise!  I have met wonderful people and learned that everyone has their own problems and I'm not the only one with health problems and gave inspiration to continue the things I like to do.

 
I have slowly started making other accessories and scarves which I used to get material from India and I used to do sequin and bead work on them.  The fringe beaded scarves became quite popular.  My family was the main support and helped m…

I have slowly started making other accessories and scarves which I used to get material from India and I used to do sequin and bead work on them.  The fringe beaded scarves became quite popular.  My family was the main support and helped me in every possible way.  My daughter's name is Spoorthi which means inspiration and she really inspired me to come out alive from the major surgeries.

 
When my parents visited from India as I was not allowed to go there because I used to end up in the hospitals every few weeks, few days with Pancreatic attacks.  My dad was so surprised to see me struggling with a debilitating disease but still…

When my parents visited from India as I was not allowed to go there because I used to end up in the hospitals every few weeks, few days with Pancreatic attacks.  My dad was so surprised to see me struggling with a debilitating disease but still was able to do the bead work, jewelry, wall hangings, beaded pillows etc.  Even though my parents were sad but without giving up the way I was trying to move on helped them go back without much worrying about me and my family.

Here my father in law came to see me do the show.  I was happy that I wasn't lying in the bed all the time getting depressed.  The creativity of working on apparel like plain skirts, shirts, scarves etc. doing sequined work, bead work, doi…

Here my father in law came to see me do the show.  I was happy that I wasn't lying in the bed all the time getting depressed.  The creativity of working on apparel like plain skirts, shirts, scarves etc. doing sequined work, bead work, doing wall hangings like a Maple leaf, Fall trees with different leaves on the ground etc. beaded pillows and making jewelry worked like a therapy for me.

After selling some jewelry I used to make new jewelry with same designs and also new ones. So it used to keep me busy most of the time and distract my mind.  After my parents visit I stayed home even when I had attacks and treated with pain med…

After selling some jewelry I used to make new jewelry with same designs and also new ones. So it used to keep me busy most of the time and distract my mind.  After my parents visit I stayed home even when I had attacks and treated with pain medications that they prescribed but didn't go to hospitals for 8-9 months.  Then the doctors let me go to India in the year 2007.  During that visit I took all handmade gifts to my nieces, women, watches, birthstone bracelets, necklaces etc. for babies, on plain velvet dresses I did bead work and everyone was happy and amazed.  After this trip I tried to stay home and now I hardly go to hospitals once or twice in a year.  Sometimes I don't go at all.

During that visit I took all handmade gifts to my nieces, women, watches, birthstone bracelets, necklaces etc. for babies, on plain velvet dresses I did bead work and everyone was happy and amazed.  After this trip I tried to stay home and now …

During that visit I took all handmade gifts to my nieces, women, watches, birthstone bracelets, necklaces etc. for babies, on plain velvet dresses I did bead work and everyone was happy and amazed.  After this trip I tried to stay home and now I hardly go to hospitals once or twice in a year.  Sometimes I don't go at all. If the pain medication works I stay home and when the attack is uncontrollable then I go to emergency now. My son Chaitanya was in high school at that time and helped me in taking care of the baby and helping dad in the chores of the house and doing his school work. He matured so fast. He understands if anyone in distress very quickly.  We are so proud of him.

I'm going to this International Spring Festival every year and it is one of the interesting shows.  Different countries children perform cultural programs, the vendors also wear their own country costumes, some tables are just for display and s…

I'm going to this International Spring Festival every year and it is one of the interesting shows.  Different countries children perform cultural programs, the vendors also wear their own country costumes, some tables are just for display and some are for sale.  I always do sale table. After the trip to India I tried to stay home and now I hardly go to hospitals once or twice in a year.  Sometimes I don't go at all. If the pain medication works I stay home and if the attack is uncontrollable then I go to emergency now.

Apple Butter Festival Craft Show at UCC West Goshen PA.  I am not doing all the craft shows I used to do but some of the shows I still go and sometimes I try new shows too. 

Apple Butter Festival Craft Show at UCC West Goshen PA.  I am not doing all the craft shows I used to do but some of the shows I still go and sometimes I try new shows too. 

2011 International Spring Festival, Lansdale, PA. I enjoy going to this Festival because the whole family can go and have fun the whole day.  My husband and daughter eat the lunch there and watch cultural programs, sometimes she brings home wor…

2011 International Spring Festival, Lansdale, PA. I enjoy going to this Festival because the whole family can go and have fun the whole day.  My husband and daughter eat the lunch there and watch cultural programs, sometimes she brings home work and does it there.