I understand how shopping online can lack that personal touch.  My intention is to bring that Love and Kindness Initiative touch to what would normally be an impersonal experience.

 

 

When my dog Laila passed away in 2015 of conditions related to old age, I began giving out little bags of ten assorted heart beads to people who’d prayed for us after she’d been diagnosed with terminal cancer two years ago.  I don’t remember why I began doing this, other than it felt like the right thing for me to do.  

 

We got our miracle.  Even though we didn’t utilize conventional cancer therapies like surgery, chemo or radiation, the cancer completely vanished and never returned.  My heart knew we never would have gotten our miracle without the help of the hundreds of people around the world who’d prayed for us, so I assembled and distributed I don’t know how many little bags of heart beads to everyone I could find who’d willingly made up our Community of Love: the people and the strangers I’d approached where we lived, the people from around the world who’d inspired me to keep going, the people who’d loved me.  The ten different heart beads in each bag symbolized all the people who combined to make up our Community of Love.  I felt really good giving out these bags of beads, and I’d figured that was that.

 

Someone, I don’t know who, noticed that the heart beads all had two holes drilled for stringing.  They mentioned that the beads would make beautiful bracelets and had I considered using the heart beads to make jewelry.

 

Uh……no, not really.  But I would!

 

 

That was the beginning of my making Bracelets From Heart.  I made them partly as occupational therapy to get back my motor skills as I continued my stroke recovery and partly as a way of connecting with the dormant creative part of me.  I’d been a successful artist for 35 years before I experienced a near-death experience in 1998 and walked away from that career.  It felt really good to get back to designing, even if I was now designing different things than before.

 

When I began The Love and Kindness Initiative in the fall of 2018, something, again I don’t know what, told me I needed to get back to making bracelets to help people remember that, when they get upset, they can look at their wrists, see heart beads and remember to choose to be love in each moment, no matter what.

 

I design my bracelets through intuition.  I like using round beads and heart beads because love feels round and heart-shaped to me.  I like using stones that make me feel good.  I especially like using semi-precious gemstones because I feel the energy they emit.  I do hands-on healing work and infuse each bracelet with healing energy.  Maybe you’ll feel it, maybe you won’t.  It doesn’t matter to me as much as I hope you like my designs.

 

I string each bracelet on strong 1mm elastic cord.  The cord will last a lot longer if you learn to gently roll the bracelet on and off your wrist.  Having said that, the cord will eventually break.  Good!  When it breaks, I invite you to distribute the heart beads to those who have touched your heart.  Life constantly changes, and your bracelet will eventually break.  By giving away the heart beads, I invite you to honor the ever-changing process of life and share as much love as you can with those who cross your path.  

 

 

I didn’t know about craft fairs.  I didn’t know about flea markets.  I didn’t know about selling.  Truth be told, I’d much rather have stayed home with the covers pulled up over my head rather than face a lot of strangers when I never knew for sure what words would come from my mouth.  I learned to trust God in all things.  I learned the right words always showed up when I trusted God.  I learned the right people always showed up when I trusted God.  I learned I was doing something in the world that was affecting many more people than I originally believed to be possible, as long as I kept showing up and kept asking God to direct the words that came from my mouth.  I trust that, if you’re reading this right now, you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.  

 

I learned the differences between craft fairs and flea markets, I learned I was on path, and I now, thanks to God, am finding the perfect opportunities to bring my bracelets and my message of love to the world. 

 

So here you are, a potential customer at my Online Craft Fair.  I hope you enjoy yourself.  I hope you allow yourself to be filled with the energy of love.  I hope you buy bracelets for yourself, your loved ones, or just in case someone shows up you feel might benefit from wearing one of my bracelets.  Just like the guests who show up at my table at craft fairs, I will send you two free heart beads with every order:  one for yourself and one to give to someone you love.  That’s one way I keep the love circulating.

 

Buy one bracelet, buy many bracelets to stack or to gift, or enjoy being part of The Love and Kindness Initiative.

 

Together, through one loving interaction at a time, we can transform our world through love.

 

Sheryl Hirsch-Kramer

21 November 2019

 

Designer, Bracelets From Heart

Instigator, The Love and Kindness Initiative

Inspirational Speaker and Stroke Survivor

Let’s do this together!