Salvage from the past to make your life richer in the present.

Mrs. Coach L

 We’ve got true winter weather outside in good old southeast Texas.  Tonight I will layer on all my cool weather gear and watch my husband and his fellow coaches change the lives of young men on a football field.  As I make my way to my designated seat in the coaches’ families seating, area, I will hear lots of  “Hey Mrs. Coach L.!”  To which I will respectfully respond with a greeting of my own. Teaching is my life’s career, and I am sure that over the years I made more than one student unhappy.  I can only imagine what creative term of endearment might have been applied to my John Hancock.  “Mrs. Coach L” might not sit well with many women. My name is Kim.   “L” has nothing to do with me. You see my husband joined the Evadale Coaching Staff last fall to where he became the second coach whose last name is Williams.  To make everything a lot less confusing, the students use the first letter of my husband’s first name, Laurence, apply it coach and you get ” Coach L”. This is a simple and effective way to keep everyone straight.  Recently I was even called Mrs. Laurence. To this I just smile and accept my loss of identity because I know that being Mrs. Coach L is an honor given to me because of the love and respect a community of children has for my husband.  Yes, my son and I have given up countless hours that when strung together become days, weeks and months of absenteeism from our family life.  Would I trade those hours for being just Kim Williams? No, I would not.  I see all of the good he does for his students and players. I am proud to be Mrs. Coach L. 

Take Time to Share Memories

What a lovely evening we had at Merchant Soiree last night. It was a pleasure to share my concept for Historically Haute with so many potential customers. I heard lovely stories of the recent loss of a loved one followed by the pledge to hunt down the perfect photo to capture the memory of that person. My wish is that all daughters, sons, and grandchildren will take the time to find that perfect photo, love letter or card. My journey in the development of Historically Haute was spent delving into my mother's safe for sentimental memorabilia. Mom and I spent hours devouring each and every letter and document. Shared laughter, tears and many questions might have gone unanswered. I hope you will allow yourself the time to share the memories, stories and history that make each one of us connected to the past.

The Abridged Green Bling Timeline

                                 The Abridged Green Bling Timeline

Before it slips my memory,

I wanted to document

how this simple request,

"Can you make me some football bling

to wear to the first University of Texas,

San Antonio Roadrunners game?",

morphed into Historically Haute, my Etsy Shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/kimmykw?ref=si_shop and my desire to participate in blogging.

Here is how is all happened.

DAY 1   Shopped San Antonio Area for

   UTSA Football “bling” for Casey to wear to

      the very first football game. Casey is one of 

    my four sisters and is known for her stylish 

            dress. She loves big jewelry. No luck.

DAY 2  Casey: (When reading this, stretch

the words out very long and give special

emphasis to elongate the vowel sounds.)

“Could you make me a necklace to wear

            to UTSA Football Game?”

            Me: “Sure that will be fun.”

DAY 3   Email from Casey: “I'm going to

            need you to make me several necklaces

    and I will need matching earrings, as well.”

            Me: “Oh that will be fun.”

DAY 4  Trip to Hobby Lobby, coupon in

       hand, to get the supplies to make the jewelry

           that Casey commissioned.

DAY 5  Two hours later it hits me;

            “I don't know what I’m doing.

            Barnes and Noble! Lucky for me

            its right across the street. Books and

            magazines to study!” Several hours later,

    the books are purchased. I think to myself,

            “I've got this under control.”

            Next I make a trip to

            Hobby Lobby, Michael’s, and Joann’s to

            search for the best supplies.

DAY 6   When reading Tales of Adornment,

       By Kristen Robinson, I see that Kristen shares

            information about her Etsy Store.

           Etsy becames my new obsession. Hours fly by as

      I study shops. I make several trips to the big 

       three craft stores for supplies. The managers

            are looking at me with suspicious faces.

            I think to myself, “I hope they don’t

            realize, I used more than one

            coupon, per day, per person."

DAY 7   In a big moment of brilliance, I wonder

   if Youtube has any demonstrations on how

            use to Ice Resin? Is there a mental illness

            called Youtube addiction? If so,

          sign me up for the twelve step program.          

DAY 8   The first attempt to make the bezels is a

            success. I assemble Casey’s order and

            prepare it for shipping.

DAY 9   Call from Casey:

            (read slowly, stretch the vowels)

            “Oh! Halloween Bling would be so cool.

             Can you make some necklaces and

             earrings for me?”

             Me: “Oh, that will be fun.”

DAY 10  I head back to the big three craft stores for                  

             Halloween bling making supplies. I am happy      

 with the bezels which I add to chains. I

  complete designs with beads and charms.

             Now I have a surpulus of jewelry. The

             lightening bolt hits me. I need an Etsy Store!

DAY 11  I set up my Etsy Store, take pictures of my

           jewelry and load the pictures to Etsy. I spend a lovely day exploring all types of jewelry shops.  

             I learn that there is a market for repurposed                          jewelry. I begin to put together a brand with my own special twist for repurposing vintage and antique jewelry.I proudly announce on facebook, "I've got an Etsy Shop,

   √http://www.etsy.com/shop/kimmykw?ref=si_shop." 

 DAY 12 With an enthusiastic attitude about my brand,

 I hit the antique stores on a hunt for vintage

jewelry. I visit Urban Chic, Urban Retreat and

            The 11^th Street Market, and my own collection

              of vintage jewelry. It was inspiring and

              great fun. I enjoyed meeting shop owners and     

introducing my brand.

DAY 13 While checking out my favorite shops on Etsy,

            I stumble upon one of the artists who mentions

In her shop banner her blog site.

             I check the blog out and discover a whole new        

             opportunity to share my work, promote my     Etsy Shop, and journal all that I have learned.

DAY 14  http://kimmwilliams.blogspot.com/ is born.

In just fourteen days, I learned how to take forgotten,

broken and unappreciated jewelry findings and transform them into personalized heirloom jewelry. I opened a Etsy Shop and created a blog. 

            Not bad for a "repurposed" gal like me!

Prologue

Discovery should never be underestimated.