I was asked to interview with Channel Q's "Let's Go There" with Shira and Ryan on Monday evening to discuss the dangerous practice of parents trying to cure or reverse autism in their children. The public has been calling on the FDA to more strictly enforce laws to protect consumers (and their children) from false claims made by those who claim to sell alternative medicine. These laws have been in place for well over a decade but products like Miracle Mineral Solution continue to skirt the laws to the serious detriment of anyone who consumes them.

In preparation for the interview I got in touch with Emma Dalmayne of Autistic Inclusive Meets (based in the UK) and Melissa Eaton who have been working alongside other autistic people to call attention to the abuse of autistic children. Emma pointed out that organizations set up to protect the American people (FDA) and American children in specific (CPS) are failing to protect autistic kids from their own parents. The autistic community, which is made up mostly of autistic adults and some allies (that include parents of autistic kids), has been leading the charge to protect autistic children worldwide.

You can see several links on Robert Gehrman's Facebook page, Autistic Avenger, including a form for public commentary for a meeting with the FDA on July 15th, 2019.  A link to the post and a direct link to the form will be posted at the end of this post.

I felt very unsure going into the interview because I am not an expert on federal policies and sometimes find it too emotionally taxing to read about the abuse of autistic children. I do, however, know exactly what it is like to feel unwanted based on my own differences from other members of my family. I was raised to believe that I was vaccine injured and taken to see several alternative medicine providers and healers from a very early age. I didn’t know that I was autistic until I was in my mid-thirties and already running my own business, with two small children in tow.

The name of the show, “Let’s Go There,” seems particularly apt as I also talked about aspects of my own identity and lived experiences that I had never discussed in public before. I hope you will enjoy listening and join in the call to action to support the autistic community in protecting autistic kids!

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Seed & Petal is perhaps the most classic Lullaby Links design. It symbolizes the gestation and birth of a child. The shapes are based on the large seeds and relatively delicate petals of the lotus flower. The centerpiece is handmade of hot metal and then attached by hand to machine made chains of sterling silver (Silver and Mixed Metal versions) and 18K gold (All Gold version). The total length can be adjusted shorter or worn fully extended with one small clasp at the back of the neck. There will always be some version of this design in the shop but I think this may be my favorite that I have made so far. ​

In the end of 2018 we launched a second brand that is a spinoff of Lullaby Links. We had been working to broaden the focus of Lullaby Links but there was always a stumbling block: the word "lullaby" always conjures up thoughts of babies in arms.  We wanted to shift from being centered around caregivers with babies and small children to including adults soothing themselves with the jewelry. Lullaby Links has been a perfect brand name and we have loved being enmeshed in parenting spaces while all of the Lullaby Links team members (past and present) have been raising our own babies!

Lullaby Links is going to remain focused on caregivers wearing jewelry with their little ones. Fancy Fidget will be focused on adults and teens wearing jewelry themselves to self soothe and promote focus at school and at work. Most of the designs will be overlapped, but a few will be exclusive to each of the brands. Anything that is specific to caregivers with little ones, including birth imagery and babywearing inspired pieces will be exclusive to Lullaby Links, for example.  

We are also working on making both brands as accessible as possible while still making room for semi-custom pieces. We will be offering some items made-to-order just like the samples shown, in our web shops, and some customizable pieces with google form entries (as shown by the forms below). There will always be some seasonal pieces and some classics in each of the shops and we will try to do 1-3 things semi-custom each season as well. You can read more about the Spring designs and semi-customs below. All of the pieces will be made to order in concert with each other! All invoices will be sent out from the google forms on Mondays and due on the Wednesdays after (roughly 48 hours) but forms can be submitted any time.

This Spring I have chosen 3 of my favorite designs; Love Me Dew, Dew Drops on Lotus Petals and Ova Omega and Flora to add to the shops and offer as semi-customs via three separate google forms.

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​Love Me Dew:
https://goo.gl/forms/dblbBKCdhF7UWOv72
Dew Drops on Lotus Petals:
https://goo.gl/forms/Wo6Gqs6hN8bXgJtX2
Ova Omega and Flora:
https://goo.gl/forms/2V4VOZc9O2rAHv8J2

I will be posting the versions of these three that are made from the Semi-Custom forms on Instagram and Facebook, so make sure you are following both brands on each of the platforms.

We are also reworking our group on Facebook that was originally made around Lullaby Links to include Fancy Fidget. We want to focus not only on little ones in arms but also on adults wearing for themselves. We will be bringing back trivia nights and continuing some of the fun traditions in the group with a couple new spins to make the group as inclusive as possible. While we are rolling out these changes the group name, Lullaby Links Chatter, also clearly needed a change; so we have changed the group name to include both brands, with a nod to my love of acronyms and humor. The new group name will be LLaFF & Chat! That's Lullaby Links and Fancy Fidget & Chat but it's pronounced "laugh."

Speaking of pronunciation.. Did you know that the word coop in our other Facebook group Linklette Coop is pronounced like a coop full of chickens? It never was a co-op but many people thought that was what it meant! The Linklette Coop is a sales group for Lullaby Links and Fancy Fidget. It is mostly secondhand sales but I occasionally offer some new pieces there and post about current offerings on the websites there as well.

We hope you will join us in the LLaFF & Chat group for some laughs, games and post a selfie or a picture of your LLaFF collection!

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I bet you're curious about the pet! This is a Color Changing Chameleon from the first clutch I made back in 2015. They have been keeping people company all around the world and given Linklettes a fun new way to play with links. It's an eggy kind of science! If you go look in the Lullaby Links Chatter group on Facebook you'll see a bunch of videos of me and some of the Linklettes steaming or links with eggs. Yes, like from a chicken, though any old bird egg would do. The sulfur in the eggs turns the links fun colors!

The Color Changing Chameleon will only be available in silver. It has a neat rough texture on all three pieces. The price is $175 and it is shown worn on a Wheat Convertible Connection Chain which costs $100-$102.

The next piece on the entry form is Itty Bitty Dew Drops on Fallen Leaves. The sample piece has six leaves of three sizes with six dew drops of two sizes. It will be available in all silver for $150, in solid 24k gold for $878 or with a mix of the two metals for $504. The mixed metal version will have 4/6 leaves in gold and all of the dew drops in silver. There will also be an option to customize this piece with any number of leaves (in small, medium or large), in either silver or gold with or without dew drops. For that option there is a separate question to describe what you would like. The leaves are $20 each in silver and gold will be $88 for a small leaf, $104 for a medium sized leaf and $121 for a large. The dew drops will be $39 and $56. The piece is pictured below worn two ways on a Double Link Convertible Connection Chain which costs $60-$62.

Falling Leaves is a Lullaby Links classic from the fall of 2015. The leaves are ascending in size and have a beautiful polish with the ripple texture and little veins that are added by hand to each leaf. It is available in all silver ($155), mixed metal ($552) and all gold ($1,202). The mixed metal version (pictured below) has the second largest and smallest links in 24k gold and the remaining links in fine silver. All gold has never been offered or made before so we don't have a photo of it, yet. Both pieces are shown worn on a Wheat Convertible Connection Chain ($100-$102) below.

Dew Drops on Aspen is a slight change from the popular design Drops on Aspen of 2015 that had three orbiting drop shapes. This design is available in all silver ($85), mixed metal ($569) and all gold ($840). The mixed metal version will have both leaves in 24k gold (just like the Drops on Aspen did) and all three drops in silver. The samples below are both all silver. The itty bitty is shown on a Ready-Made-Argentium Chain in 18" ($20-$22) and the full size is shown on a Double Link Convertible Connection Chain ($60-$62).

Making Memories is two gingko leaves that fit sweetly together. This design is available in all silver ($100), mixed metal ($330) and all gold ($606). The mixed metal version will have the smaller of the two leaves in 24k gold and the larger in fine silver. The piece shown below is all silver and worn on a Wheat Convertible Connection Chain ($100-$102).

Roots and Rocks is inspired by the way roots and rocks become exposed and polished with many footsteps on a trail. It is also a visual reminder that there is beauty not only in reaching the summit but also along the way. Each root is unique and the process works best with 24k gold so this design will only be available with 24k roots either mixed with fine silver rocks or 24k gold rocks. Each of the pieces will be made to order and prices will be calculated during the making. The finished sample below would be approximately $330 based on current gold values and the smaller piece finished with a single silver rock would be approximately $143. The same with a single gold rock would be approximately $433 and a gold version like the sample below would be approximately $1,055. The finished sample below is shown on a Wheat Convertible Connection Chain ($100-$102).

The Sway Me design is offered in three different ways all in silver but if you ask me, I may add mixed metal or all gold options. Imagine the leaves holding little dew drops as they sway gently in the wind almost as if rocking them to sleep. Pictured below in all silver are the Sway Me Charm ($35), Sway Me Earrings ($65) and Sway Me Bracelet ($115- $119). The bracelet has two little bubbles at the closure and is made with the argentium wheat chain, available in two sizes (7" and 8") but if you need a different size you are welcome to send us a message!

The Cute Little Mug Bracelet is one of the most highly sought after Lullaby Links designs and as an avid mug lover I completely understand! It has two little bubbles at the closure and is made with the argentium wheat chain (like the Sway Me Bracelet). They are available in two sizes (7" and 8") but if you need a different size you are welcome to send us a message! The prices are $160 and $164.

The below link goes to a google form to take your order information. It may need to be copied into a separate web browser in order to open. We will also be posting the form on its own on Facebook and Instagram. The form will remain open until we receive 100 orders to be made in the 3-6 week production time or some time. It may close within a matter of hours or weeks and if it is open for more than one week we will be invoicing on Fridays throughout the 3-6 week period. Invoices should be paid by the following Tuesday. If you have any questions you can reach out to the Lullaby Links team on either of our social media inboxes or send us an email at lullabylinks@gmail.com.

Arboreal Official Offer Form

For more information on the chains available on this offer please see the previous post in the Official Offers section entitled, All About Lullaby Links Connection Chains and Convertibles.

We hope fall is beginning wonderfully wherever you are! I will be making these pieces to order as quickly as possible and may ship out in small batches by design or by purchase date if the form stays open past the first Friday. Happy Fall to all!!

💕 Francie 💕