07/04/2023
How it all started... on 3/3/2023, I had to have pacemaker heart surgery, and was on bed rest for several weeks after. Author Pepper North, being an angel, sent me audiobooks to listen to. (Don't tell her, there may have been crying involved before the listening took place.)
Several weeks after that, I found myself as of this posting, still on bed rest, actually and unable to work. It turns out my body decided to break down in another area, and I need another surgery and it can't take place for another couple months. So I wanted to thank Pepper, and began playing with my resin bookmark molds. She, along with authors Kate Oliver & Becca Jameson had a new MC series coming out shortly, and I thought... what if I took the MC logo, the book's title and her name and put it into the bookmark? Keeping with the MC theme, I pulled inspiration from wallet chains and used chain for the ribbon and attached black and yellow leather tassels at the ends. Some rough around the edges gold glitter was thrown in, and the attached photo was the result!
I only wanted to send them as a thank you for doing something so kind. But Pepper is the kind of person to encourage and saw something I'd never thought of... offer these to other authors as unique custom swag to order from me. At first I thought it was a little silly, it's my crafting I do while I devour audiobooks... (ps, will work for audiobooks! LoL) But then I brainstormed a bit in messenger with her, I could use colored chain, I could use unlimited charms on the ends to represent the theme of the book... hundreds of glitters, cutouts, I have a Cricut also, I can cut anything. I do graphics and place them just like I did the title... blood stains could be made using certain resin inks...
In the middle of my wandering, she told me she wanted to order more for the next in the series. I was floored! I agreed, and while I made them, (once Staples found my print order) I found a rhythm, and it just felt right. So... Come Swag With Me was born. I have ideas and more than just bookmarks, and I'll post pics as soon as I have them. If you want to talk to me about ordering something or have a question, feel free to message me here or on IG. I created a profile there as well! Pepper... thank you for being the encouraging soul that you are! 🫶🏻