Handmade Store: C magination

I have loved making things with my hands from a very early age.
As a child, I frequently saw my mother sewing, crocheting, knitting, doing needlepoint and embroidery. In those days, sewing clothes was often cheaper than buying them. My mother would make clothes for me and my siblings, and adorn them with special buttons, embroidery and what not, always using her imagination. We had clothing items with special touches on them.
As a child, I often got craft kits as a gift for my birthday and Christmas.
When my grandmother visited, she would ask for "things to do" and Mom would give her some of her sewing. I quickly realized that my grandmother was an expert in all kinds of needlecrafts and that this is where my mother and her sisters had gotten their expertise.
I grew up with that kind of influence around me.
Mom taught me to crochet at a very young age and I eventually learned to knit as well.
As a teenager, then as an adult, I often found myself amazed by people's imagination and creativity, whether in arts, crafts, music or writing. My mother, siblings and extended family are still very creative people and each have their "thing".
The first piece of jewellery that I ever made was because I wanted a necklace to go with a pair of earrings that I had and could find nothing that I really liked in stores.
I bought the little bit that I needed to make that necklace and, from then on, was hooked. How often have I been to various places where beads are sold and took hours to choose beads, look at various colours and textures and imagine what could be done with them! I have so many beads, findings and various types of strings that I could probably open a small bead store! Some people have given me old unwanted jewellery that I take apart and use as well.
Over the years, I have made several pieces that I have given to family or friends on special occasions, or just kept for myself. Making jewellery has also enabled me to provide my employer with pieces to be won as prizes for the annual United Way campaign.
The pieces that I make nowadays look nothing like my first ones. They are more elaborate and really show my experimenting with colours and various bead arrangements. My style has evolved with time and really reflects what I like: bright colours, lots of movement (for earrings) and the ability for a piece to reflect light. I prefer delicate and feminine to chunky and huge, and some of my pieces also reflect my love of antiques and vintage items.
Co-workers have urged me to try and sell my creations. I have been hesitant, thinking that many people out there do make jewellery already.
Now I have changed my tune. I think that my style is my own and that there will certainly be a market out there for it.
All that I know about jewellery making is self-taught. I have to admit that the Internet has been a great source of information and help for all of the times that I found myself in a bind!
I am currently experimenting with wire jewellery and have made a few prototypes that will eventually become the real thing.
If I dare dream, it would be nice to be able to live off my craft and spend all of my time doing that: creating, making, selling.
Making things with my hands takes me to a special place where my imagination can fly into the infinity of creativity and beauty. It makes me feel serene.