ONCE UPON A TIME

The economy hit the skids, and I had to get creative. Christmas was nearing and spending was going to be minimal.

"Okay," I said, "I'm a creative girl. It'll be a homemade Christmas."

And thus it began. I sewed checkbook covers, pocket calendar covers, a jewelry tote for travel, fleece throws and PURSES. And I also made JEWELRY. And did I ever have fun! Yeah, buddy, did I ever! And you know what? Everyone really enjoyed their gifts.

Being an enterprising sort, I decided to concentrate on making purses and jewelry to sell. But what to name this little endeavor? Hmmmmmmm. I started with "Hearts & Hugs". Simply because I love hearts. Heart earrings, heart rings, heart tees. You get the picture. And I always end family phone calls with "Hugs all around." Thus, "Hearts and Hugs." But it just didn't resonate with me.

Then my beautiful daughter and granddaughter, both creative girls, came up with YAYAMADE, because I am YaYa to my grandchildren, and I made the items. Thus, YAYAMADE. I liked it, checked the internet to make sure using YAYAMADE wouldn't be infringing on anyone else, and low and behold, you have it.

Welcome to YAYAMADE.

The pics are some of the Christmas gifts that started the whole thing. I only got shots of them after gift exchange on Christmas Eve.