Country friendship necklaces

Posted on January 7, 2013 by Jessica

Once in a while I get a really interesting request. I received one such request the other day. It was for a Haiti and a Dominican Republic necklace that fit together like friendship necklaces. The girl who contacted me is moving to Haiti and her best friend is moving to the Dominican Republic.

I was trilled to get the request! What a cool thing that they are moving to an area that such necklaces would actually work. They are relatively the same size and right next to each other so I would be able to cut them apart creating friendship necklaces. Woo!

She decided to go ahead with the idea and I couldn’t wait to share the final product! If you think you’d like something similar for you and a best friend, mom, sister, mentor let me know! I would love to be able to work on more projects like this.

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What’s your story? Emily

Posted on November 12, 2012 by Jessica

Yeah! I’m so glad you joined me today! It’s so exciting when I get requests for custom orders and it’s even better when it has such a special meaning to someone. I’ve got a really great story today from Emily so I’ll let her take it away!

My name is Emily, and I have been sitting her trying to come up with the importance of this necklace to me but how do you come up with words, when the feelings attached to this necklace are indescribable? My husband is a Sailor, currently deployed. We met about 6 years ago at work. It took us awhile but we finally got together and got married. Going through a deployment is hard to describe. It’s kind of like having your heart in the middle of the ocean with limited communication (oh wait, he is in the middle of the ocean… ).

One day I was on Pinterest, and saw the state necklaces with the hearts in them. I got to thinking, since my heart doesn’t lie in any one state (we’ve lived in 3, in the past 3 years) what if I could get one of his ship with a heart in it?! What a great idea, the only problem was, who makes such a thing? At first I thought, “I could just make it myself!” Haha! Not the case, I don’t have the skills or the equipment to make something so delicate and beautiful. So my search was on.

I turned to Etsy (my favorite handmade website) and did some searching. When I ran across Jessica’s page, I loved her work! She did such a good job and seemed to love what she does. So I took the chance and asked her. To my delight, she was more than excited to help. We talked back and forth for a couple days to get the particulars down, finding pictures and such. She was amazing through the whole process!!

We settled on the design and she got to work. I got my necklace in the mail today, in a cute little box, when I opened it I was SO unbelievably excited and amazed with the final product (the pictures don’t do it justice). It’s such a small thing, a delicate little necklace, but it has such a huge impact. It helps me feel close to my husband when he is thousands of miles away, and this is the last crew that will be on the USS Reuben James, the last wives that will be attached to this ship. I am honored to have a piece of my heart on this great warship, and I have nothing but wonderful things to say about Jessica! Thank you for giving me this small gift, that takes up a huge place in my heart.

I had such a great time getting to know Emily and I’m so glad I could be a tiny part of their story. How cut is their family picture?! If you enjoyed this story and are interested to hear more like it or perhaps even tell your own be sure to subscribe to the list!

What’s your story?: María Elena

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Jessica

Yeah! Today I have been blessed enough to be able to share Maria Elena’s story. I first heard from her when she ordered a Colombia necklace from me a few weeks back. She received the necklace and had some very kinds words to say so I asked if she would be willing to share her story with all of us. She agreed and I’ll let her take it from here:

My family immigrated to the United States from Barranquilla, the largest city on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. I lived all over the East Coast and Midwest (my favorite places so far? Massachusetts and Miami).

(Columbia Necklace)

Jessica recently made a Colombia necklace for me (with a customized heart over Barranquilla, of course) and since I received it I have not taken it off. I wear it layered under a shorter necklace that has three charms on it: a tiny cross, a little paw print for my pup, and a disc with the letter “R” for my beloved partner. Having these two necklaces against my skin reminds me throughout the day of the place, values, and loved ones that are so dear to me…it’s amazing what a small, polished piece of metal can do in that way.

Jessica’s work is precise, but not in a mechanical, mass-produced fashion. In fact, it’s quite the opposite: it’s full of heart and warmth. My Colombia necklace is a symbol of where I come from and all of the tangibles (and intangibles) that I attach to a place that I love deeply. Thanks to Jessica for having the courage to follow her vision and share her talents. I certainly appreciate her work.

Aww! Well I certainly appreciate you Maria Elena! Thank you so much for sharing your story with us today. It has been a pleasure getting to know you.

If you enjoyed this post please be sure to share it with your friends and sign up for the newsletter to find out when I’m sharing similar stories and other exciting news!

Customer’s story-Heather

Posted on September 24, 2012 by Jessica

This week I get the honor of sharing Heather’s story. I first met Heather this spring when we both attended BlissDom. We were both in need of a roommate for the event and we hooked up over the internet to share a room. It was a wonderful experience, one we both enjoyed very much. It was was great getting to know Heather and finding out about her amazing family. When I started this feature the first person I thought of was her and I’m so excited to finally be sharing her story.

(If you’re just joining today please read this post to catch up)

In 2003, my husband and I were fortunate enough to spend 4 weeks in Moscow,
Russia. We were surrounded with breath taking architecture, beautiful people, amazing
food, and ancient art. It was a wonderful time of connecting in a breathtaking setting.

I think the best thing about Russia is the souvenir we brought home. At the time, she
was 19 months old, weighed 19 pounds, and had a head of lightweight brown hair. Her
eyes were the deepest mocha and shone like half-dollar moons. She had an infectious
laugh. I loved her the moment I saw her. She is one of the most beautiful people in my world.

Michael and I waited about 3 years for Nina to come home. We prayed patiently for that
perfect little one to enter our lives. It took a village to bring our family together. For that
I am forever thankful!

It has been 10.5 years since our gotcha day. Our little Nina is turning 11 and it seems
that since we have gotten home – time has ﬂown by at warp speed. She has turned into
an amazing young woman. God has given her an artist spirit with a compassionate
heart like no other. She creates fun times for her 2 brothers and baby sister. In her free
time at school, she takes a step out to read to the special needs class. She continually
amazes us.

(Russia Necklace)

Our family will always have a special place for Russia in our hearts. That is why I
thought Nina needed a little piece of Russia to carry with her. Thank you Jessica for a
very special necklace that is perfect representation of a piece of our familyʼs heart!

If you are enjoying these stories please feel free to share. Join me tomorrow as I’ll be sharing the top questions I get asked about my work!

Customer’s stories-Rebecca

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Jessica

This week I am sharing Rebecca’s story! If you are just joining this week and are wanting to know a bit more about what I’m doing please read this post.

This story is a big one so let’s get right to it. Here is a little bit of Rebecca’s story as she tells it:

There is a very special reason behind why my friend Julie and I love Africa. Neither of
us has ever been, but one thing God has put in our hearts is certain: our daughters are
there. Julie and I became friends when her husband was hired as my youth minister
when I was a junior in high school. I have always admired her patient strength and
gentle kindness to all she encounters. She has three beautiful children, and now lives
in Alabama with her husband, Scott. They are without a doubt family to my family.

It wasn’t long after their move to Alabama that Julie shared with me her decision to
adopt a little girl from Ethiopia. They began the long process of paperwork and visits
last year, and are eagerly awaiting “that call.” Julie has a necklace that is personalized
as a representation of all her children. Each child has a special pendant on the
necklace, and a special place in her heart. When she shared her plan to adopt, I
found Oh So Antsy’s tiny Africa silver pendant. I knew it would be a perfect addition to represent her upcoming daughter’s place on her necklace and in her heart. I ordered it
without delay.

(Tiny Africa necklace)

In the mean time, I came across a book by Katie Davis, called “Kisses from Katie.”
It tells of a young girl who moved to Uganda and has since adopted 13 girls as her
daughters! And God began lighting a fire within me as well: my daughter is in Uganda,
He told me. Now, I have a tiny Africa pendant from Jessica’s shop too. I wear it every
day to remind myself that as I go through this long process of adoption, I do it with
gladness and a joy I can’t fully describe- my daughter, whom I have never met, has a
huge place in my heart and I can’t wait to hold her and love her, laugh and cry with her,
and grow with her in God.

There is no one else to give credit to than God in this amazing story of His redemptive
adoption that He offers to all of us. What a beautiful God we have!

I am so thankful to Jessica for her beautiful pieces and what they represent to Julie and
I. Her shipping is quick and her packaging showed care to individual pieces she makes.
And the pieces themselves are lovely! We are both blessed by them and hope you will
be too.

What an amazing story and I’m truly blessed that Rebecca allowed me to share it with you all today! If you enjoyed her story and others like it please comment below about something that’s maybe been on your heart or that you’ve been moved to do.

Customer’s stories: Laura

Posted on August 27, 2012 by Jessica

It’s that time again! Time for me to get to share another wonderful story from another wonderful and super sweet customer. If this is your first time here I’ll fill you in quickly. A few weeks back I decided I would like to do a feature on my blog where I share some of the stories I get blessed to hear. It just didn’t seem fair to keep them all to myself. To read a bit more check out my initial story here.

This week I get to share Laura’s story. A while back she ordered 2 Rhode Island necklaces as bridesmaid gifts and a couple of weeks ago she sent me a follow up email with beautiful photos of her bridesmaids wearing the necklaces. I immediately asked if I could share the photos and also a bit of the back story. So I will let her take it away!

(The bride and groom-so cute!)

Keith proposed to me in January of 2011, and although I was never the type of girl who had all the details of her wedding planned out from age 10, I knew right away where we would be tying the knot. Growing up in Rhode Island, I spent all of the summers of my youth at my grandparents beach house in Quonachontong (Quonnie) , RI. The place is very special to my family, and after Keith and I started dating he began joining me on my weekends trips to Rhode Island each summer.

(Rhode Island State Necklace)

What you have to realize about Rhode Island is that everyone outside of the state thinks it’s a “big” joke. A place you drive through to get somewhere else. The armpit of Massachusetts. Etc. Etc. Keith instantly fell in love with my tiny state, and agreed that Quonnie was the only place for us to get hitched.

(Gifting the necklaces to the bridesmaids)

When it came time for the impossible task of choosing bridesmaids I knew I wanted to pick 2 girls who had an equal love for the location and shared all my memories of growing up there. My cousin, Charlotte, and childhood friend, Janna, both fit the bill.

I began thinking about a unique and meaningful gift for the two of them, and decided it had to be something that represented our roots. I searched “Rhode Island” on Etsy and instantly fell in love with your necklaces. When I received them in the mail I was blown away by the quality and craft. They are unique, well-crafted, and most importantly represent something of great meaning to us!

(Photos 1, 3, 4, 5 were taken by Studio Blue)

What a beautiful bride and such thoughtful gifts. I was blown away at how gorgeous the necklaces looked on these ladies. Thank you Laura for sharing a bit of your story with all of us today!

If you enjoyed reading this feature please comment below and tell me about the special place you were married or a special place you would like to get married one day.

iphone snippets-lately

Posted on August 25, 2012 by Jessica

It’s nice having so many fun things to do but when I get back that means a whole lot of orders. I suppose in this case it also means feeling just a tad under the weather. So I’ve been resting a little bit, drinking lots of water, and tea. I may be starting to feel better. At least better enough to eat Moomers ice cream one more time before leaving Michigan. Yum! The ice cream was out of town at a Maple farm so the setting was just incredible and the maple leaves are just beginning to turn.

Next week I’ll be sharing a bit more of what I’ve been up to these last couple of weeks with my actual camera photos. Also on Monday I’ll be sharing another story! This time it’s a new bride and the gifts she purchased for her bridesmaid to represent a place they all love dearly. Make sure you come back! Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Customer’s stories: Steph

Posted on August 13, 2012 by Jessica

Yeah! Story number 2! I mentioned a few weeks ago that I was starting a new feature where I share some of the amazing stories I get to hear all the time! I started with my own and 2 weeks ago I shared Alexis’s story and today I get to share my good friend Steph’s. I’ll tell you a bit about my good friend first. I met Steph after having lived in Austin for about a year. We were initially drawn to each other because we are both around 5 ft tall and we like good beer (we met at a beer related event). Since that initial meeting we discovered we had much more in common and formed a wonderful friendship. (As she will share she met a boy from Michigan-my home state and where I’ve been spending my summer- and just moved here with him! I think that brings us even closer even though we’ll be so far apart)

The story as Steph tell it:

Texas Will Forever Be Home

I was born in Texas. San Angelo, TX. Yep, my dad was in the Airforce, which meant we moved – A LOT. Two weeks after my birth, the traveling began: Texas to California to South Korea to Maryland to New Jersey to Ohio…and finally, Texas again – Austin, TX – where I stayed for the past twenty years of my life. It is Austin where I learned to play softball, met my first loves, graduated from college, started me career, etc.
Austin means so, so much to me, & when I saw Jessica started making these awesome state necklaces, I HAD to have one of my own…to show my love of the place that made me who I am. Since buying & wearing my favorite necklace daily, I met The Man who convinced me to move with him to Michigan (where Jessica’s from!). I love, love, LOVE that my favorite necklace sparks up SO many conversations & I get to talk to new people about my loved Texas.

(Texas Necklace)

The Man insists that I’m a Michigander now & he wants to get me a Michigan necklace to wear. Maybe a teeny, tiny one, as Texas is forever my home.

(Tiny Michigan Necklace)

Thank you so much Steph for sharing a bit of your story with us today! I’m so happy for you and Kevin and I love that you get to experience all Michigan has to offer. If the winter gets to0 cold or long you always have Texas to escape to (just a week or so though because Kevin will be missing you).

If you like reading these stories please come back in 2 weeks as I’ll be sharing yet again! Also in the comments below tell me about a relocation you’ve had in your life or maybe a state you’d be willing to relocate to if the opportunity arose.

Customer’s stories: Alexis

Posted on July 30, 2012 by Jessica

As I mentioned last week I’m starting a new feature every other week (for now) where I share a story from one of my wonderful customers. I get to hear bits and pieces of so many awesome stories and it doesn’t seem fair not to share plus I get to hear more of the story too and I can be kind of nosy so this is perfect! Here we go!

The other day I got a request from a lovely girl named Alexis. She was looking to have a Spain shaped keyring charm made for her boyfriend. She also requested the heart be placed over Madrid seeing as how that is the first place her and her boyfriend traveled together (how exciting). I was happy to oblige and she was just wonderful to work with. I mentioned this new feature I was doing on my blog and she was happy to tell me and all of you more of her story.

They met in high school and after they had been friends for a while they started dating in the summer of 2009. He went off to college and she finished up her senior year of high school while they continued to date but saw less of each other. The summer after she graduated is when they traveled to Madrid together. As I mentioned above it was the first place they had traveled together but also the first time she went out of the country without her parents. Being as how it was quite a memorable and special trip she chose the Spain key chain as his anniversary gift (how sweet is that).

Now they both attend the same university and maybe as you’ve guessed they love to travel and cook she tells me. They are “far from the stereotypical ramen eating student”. To date they have traveled to Spain, Germany, and Italy together and they are currently planning a trip to South America!

I loved getting to know more about Alexis and I sure hope you did too! Her and her boyfriend are so darling and cute and I really appreciate her sharing more of her story!

If you are enjoying this new feature please comment below and tell me a special travel experience you’ve had or one you hope to have! If you’re interested in sharing a similar story send me a message at OhSoAntsy(at)gmail(dot)com. I would love to hear from you!

My story and a new feature

Posted on July 23, 2012 by Jessica

I have had a little something on my mind lately and I’m so excited to be sharing it! One of the things I love so much about what I do is getting to hear so many different stories from people all over the world and getting to feel like I am playing just a tiny role in their stories. With that in mind I have been toying with the idea of sharing some of these stories bi-weekly (for now) on my blog. I found it very affirming after I vocalized my idea I had customers volunteering their stories to me without any provocation. It was like the world saying yes you should do that!

I put some feelers out to these wonderful people and they were interested to be involved! How cool is that!? I’m excited to get to know a little bit more about my customers and I’m even more exited to be sharing their stories with all of you. Of course I like sharing bits and pieces of my life but I’m excited to share this space while adding some spice and variety. I’m hoping they will inspire us, move us, speak to our hearts, humble us, make us laugh, and perhaps even create some unexpected emotions.

To kick start the stories I will be sharing a bit of my own.

Up until I was 24 I had never lived anywhere but Michigan. In those 24 years I have done quite a bit of traveling around my great state and of course I loved it and could be amazed by it from time to time but it wasn’t really until I left that I felt a great pride and deep love for Michigan. I moved out of the state for the first time and landed in Austin, TX. As I’m sure most people are aware Texans really love their state! Maybe I just needed to be surrounded by people that are so outspoken about their love to realize mine. Or maybe it was the lack of water and the extreme heat that made me long for the familiar and a huge body of water that looks like an ocean. Or maybe it was being away from home for so long.

Every visit home strengthened my love and I was on the constant lookout for ways to show off where I was from and tell everyone so if they should ask. Somewhere in there I started my jewelry business and my state pride had a lot to do with it. The first two states I created were Michigan and Texas-go figure. I made myself a silver one initially but then decided I loved the delicate look of a tiny gold Michigan necklace. I’ll tell you I love it so much I rarely take it off. I sometimes sleep with it on and I forget to take it off when I shower. It’s goes with just about everything I wear and I love that! Most importantly I love showing off my love and pride for where I’m from and my family is from and where I will call home no matter where I go.

Next week I’ll be sharing a new story so be sure to come back or sign up to receive my updates that way you won’t miss a thing! If you’re interested in sharing a similar story send me a message. I would love to hear from you!