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 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. 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 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 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, 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 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 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 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.
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.