Let me tell you about Ornatopia . . .
Over fifteen years ago I started making Christmas ornaments for my family and friends. Before long I was doing local
Christmas craft shows. It was a great feeling to see the same people come to my table year after year to see
what new ornaments I had! It also kept me inspired to come up with new ornaments each year.
Making my ornaments is like therapy to me. I can relax and forget everything else as I'm concentrating on my latest project. In 1998, when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, making ornaments literally WAS my therapy. I spent most of the year trying to endure chemo, a stem cell transplant and finally radiation. The ornaments really helped to get me through each day — to focus on something other than being sick. If anyone out there is going through a similar situation, please e-mail me if you would like to compare notes or just need a little support from someone who's been there! I also donate a portion of my profits to The Susan G. Komen Foundation. This year should have marked my eleven-year anniversary of being cancer-free, but unfortunately they found a small spot in my chest. Thank God for moderm medicine - I had three "Cyber Knife" treatments in February and supposedly that took care of it! I guess time will tell.
I love legends and stories, and most of my ornaments come with a tag or card that includes one, like the "Christmas Spider", the "Bells of Christmas" and the "First Christmas Tree". I think it adds something to the ornament. The USA ornament includes a card with the lyrics to Irving Berlin's "God Bless America." If there isn't an existing legend, I sometimes write a verse or story of my own. "The Legend of the Firefly and the Dragonfly" is one I wrote myself. If you know of any legends that aren't included here please e-mail me. If I can come up with a new ornament to go with the legend, I will send you one for free! I hope to hear from you . . .
Angels •
Legends & Songs •
Money-Givers •
Santas & Snowmen
