Welcome 2008!

Hello All!

It has been quite a while since my last blog post but I plan to remedy that.

I have been very busy designing lots of really cool earrings that have been very popular for the Christmas season. That is very exciting for me.

Just take a look and you can see just how versatile these lovely creations really are!

I've also been working on getting more traffic to my Online Catalog Store this year... my goal is be my own financially stable business by the end of the 1st quarter!
Go Me!

Ok-- New designs...

Crochet: The Rasta Scarf...Yep... Matthew requested a Rastafarian inspired scarf so I designed one and he loves it... making scarf number 2 for his friend now...

Free Pattern:
Level: Super Easy
Supplies:
Worsted Weight yarn- 1 skein each
black, red, yellow, green
I used Red Heart Super Saver and it worked up perfectly
Size I crochet hook

Pattern:
Using Black chain 50
Row1: Hdc in 3rd st from hook and in each st to the end, chain 2 and turn
Row2: Hdc in next st and in each across to end, chain 2 and turn
Row3: continue as Row2 until color block is 12 inches long ( Pattern Stitch)
When Black color block is 12 inches long change to Red yarn
Once that color block is 12 inches long change to Yellow until 12 inches long then change to green and once it is 12 inches long change back to black until 12 inches long.
Once final row is completed add one row of sc then secure and weave tails at beginning and end.
You scarf is complete and will measure about 5 ft in length which should be long enough to wear comfortably around anyone's neck.

LIVING with LUPUS

DID YOU KNOW?

MORE PEOPLE HAVE LUPUS

THAN AIDS, SICKLE-CELL ANEMIA, CEREBRAL PALSY,

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, AND CYSTIC FIBROSIS

COMBINED!

Source: Lupus Foundation of America, Inc., Lupus Fact SheetProvided by the Lupus Foundation of America, Inc.

This Means SOMEONE YOU KNOW HAS LUPUS!

Some of you know that I was diagnosed with Lupus just over a year ago. Of course the disease was around long before that , and I like many others, went through a series of frustratingly disappointing tests and dialogs with Doctors over many years along the way to accurate diagnosis.
I try not to talk about my illness with people in general... only those who have it, or an equally debilitating problem, that can relate to how I feel and what I go through daily trying to Live with Lupus.
But I decided to change my focus and see where it leads me... thus far I think it is leading me in a positive direction that I think will help me to help others.

What is Lupus?

Well, that is a loaded question so I will give the easy to understand version, but you must bear in mind that it is much bigger and more vastly affecting than I can even begin to describe here on my simple blog pages.

Lupus is an AutoImmune illness.
Simply put it means that my immune system is attacking and destroying the cells of my body like they would a germ or bacteria that cause the flu or a cold. For whatever reason, my immune system has become the Super Hero-SUPER IMMUNE SYSTEM ! It takes on all cells- friend and foe alike- without discrimination. Ok, anti-discrimination is great when you are talking about equal housing opportunities, job candidates, college scholarships... but when we are talking about the building blocks of every being, it is not such a good thing to have a Super Hero on your side!
SUPER IMMUNE SYSTEM causes inflammation and swelling in the soft tissues and connective tissues within the body; like the heart, lungs, kidneys and liver. It cause joint pain and swelling, which lead to arthritic-like pain and often the inability to sit , stand or walk for significant periods of time. It causes pain for no apparent reason that is random and unpredictable, that comes and goes without any warning, and can leave a person writhing in pain and exhausted beyond belief.
Our Super Hero can also attack the Central Nervous System ( CNS) by causing swelling and cellular changes in the brain. These symptoms may come and go without rhyme or reason with increasing severity along the way. Forgetfulness, confusion, severe headaches, vision disturbances, loss of coordination and notable difficulty making your body do what you ask it to do, like lift a leg to go up a step, become more frequent as time goes by.
Chronic Fatigue, exhaustion, insomnia... these are all familiar symptoms known to those of us LIVING with LUPUS and our friends and families.

The Bad News is ...
There is NO CURE for this illness or those related to it like Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Scleraderma and the many, many more that I cannot possibly list here.

The GOOD NEWS is...
Research is being done to develop new medications and treatment programs to make increasing the QUALITY OF LIFE for those LIVING with LUPUS an attainable and long term goal.

How can I make Others Aware of LUPUS?
This is the question I asked myself.

What can I DO to MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
The Answers I gave myself are these...

Tell SOMEONE about LUPUS and Show Support for Lupus Research...

To that end I am writing this blog entry and I am creating a line of LUPUS AWARENESS jewelry and accessories that will be available at

www. DHDesigns.4t.com

A portion of the purchase price for all the LA products will be donated to the LUPUS Foundation of America to help fund Lupus research.

Please help me to help others by purchasing your Lupus Awareness items at
www.DHDesigns.4t.com

DID YOU KNOW?

World Lupus Day - May 10, 2007
World Lupus Day provides both a day and a forum for various findings to be shared with the global lupus community. In addition, observing World Lupus Day offers lupus patients the comfort of knowing their condition is recognized and being addressed on a global level.

OCTOBER is LUPUS AWARENESS MONTH
It doesn't have to be October to help spread the word about lupus.If you want to know more about lupus, contact The Lupus Foundation of America, Inc.

DHDesigns.... That's Me!

Well it would seem that I have finally decided to join in the Blogging fun and here I am.
Who am I, that is the queston.
I am ~d of DHDesigns. I make jewelry, fashion accessories, purses and more. I crochet, knit, sew, enjoy wire wrapping, beading and am now trying my hand and making my own silver jewelry and accents.
Some of the jewelry collections available for sale via the web can be viewed and ordered at:

www.AllJeweledUp.com/Dhanlon

Don't see something you want , or need a different color scheme-- just email me, tell me what you want and I will make it!

A little about me... I am 40-something and have a rather large family including 6 children, a husband, a dog and some hamsters. My hobby is bird breeding so I have several pairs of lovebirds and other small parrot species right off my craft room. I enjoy reading, crocheting, knitting and creating jewelry and purses in various mediums. I love to experiment and try to let my imagination do the talking when it comes to my creations.

Getting my business off the ground is my priorty for the 2007 year and so far it is looking pretty good! To help get it going I am offering specials to all who order jewelry from me in months of January, February and March. For more info on the specials I am running please feel free to email me.

Feel free to take a look at the available jewelry collections and stay tuned for new postings with patterns for jewelry and crochet items.

I tend to ramble at times and tell stories about my daily life and my simple pleasures. I hope you will come back to share these with me soon!