{Image Description: a collage of children playing made using stock photos with the words “celebrate neurodiversity” floated over top in a fun fuchsia colored font.} 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! Cassandra really brought out the best in me and I am very excited to share this interview I did with her last month. I had a lot to say that day but I find myself at a loss of words for what to say about it today so I'm going to go ahead and just leave you with this..
My goal for 2019 is to make both of the brands, Lullaby Links and Fancy Fidget, more visible by 2020. I am in the process of hiring an amazing publicist but I have seen how powerful word-of-mouth can be so we are also going to be inviting applicants for Media Ambassadors. Media Ambassadors will be using their own social media platforms to spread the word about both of the brands I opened. As an artist it has always been important to me that my work not only be beautiful, but also that it be functional. The way that each piece moves and the way that people interact with the pieces in their daily lives is just as important to me as the aesthetic. Whether someone is soothing a small child, grounding themselves during a stressful meeting or absent-mindedly fidgeting during a long commute these pieces are meant for comforting. The Media Ambassadors will be showing all the ways that the jewelry I make brings comfort to their daily lives by showing them in action as well as just looking cool with various outfits. I have always loved seeing pictures of people around the world wearing jewelry I’ve made to soothe themselves and their little ones! There are albums on both websites with pictures of Lullaby Links and Fancy Fidget in Action but I want to see more. I would love to see people using the hashtags #LLinAction and #FFinAction on their social media platforms as well as in the chatter group we have on Facebook for both brands: LLaFF & Chat. You are all welcome to use those hashtags and click on them to see others using them too! If you’d like to apply to be a Lullaby Links and/or Fancy Fidget Media Ambassador please fill out the linked form: https://forms.gle/47wzdyqZEfBhGwbTA. We are excited to introduce our first two Media Ambassadors! DeShanna Neal is an author, a homeschool parent and an advocate for transgender children who works at the National Center for Transgender Equality. She works tirelessly to make the world a better place for transgender people of all ages and is raising four talented and thoughtful children. She asked me to make a piece to symbolize her holding up the world for her children and immediately I envisioned the world balanced on a teacup. The way that teacups stand up through generations despite being made as light and delicate as possible has always charmed me. I love the way pottery carries through from one generation to the next with stories and is a piece of our history with which we can interact. DeShanna loved the idea and I added four little orbits for each of her children. This piece, World in a Teacup will be available in both shops with or without orbits. To read more about DeShanna’s work with transgender kids you can follow her on her public page on Facebook: www.facebook.com/callmetrinitysmom, Instagram: www.instagram.com/trinitysmamabear or check out her blog: mytransgendergirl.blogspot.com . .Cassandra Nelson is a fellow autistic artist who is working with neurodivergent artists all over the world to bring more visibility to our art and our talents. She is also local to me and I have loved getting to know her since she volunteered to model for a Fancy Fidget photoshoot at my home. Her art business Exceptional 2 Infinity has a focus on positive art “that celebrates, commemorates and cultivates community within Neurodivergent culture.” I’ll be posting an interview I did with her in the next couple of days and am excited to see more interviews with neurodivergent artists she meets on her travels. This is an area of the art world that no one has effectively explored and I could not be more thrilled to see our stories brought to light by one of our own!
Cassandra is fashion forward and her style has a bit of an edginess to it so when we talked about a design for her Ambassador gift I showed her some pieces with angles. I could not have been more excited when she asked me to make edgy hearts! It’s a spin on the polygon trio I have been wearing almost non-stop for several weeks and wore during my interview with her with a sweet little gold pearl for her daughter Margaux. This piece, Edgy at Heart, will be available with and without an orbit (in gold or silver) in both shops. I’m also excited to make a couple other designs with the edgy hearts that will be coming to the shops soon. You can see more of her artwork and the beginning of her journey into promoting neurodivergent artists/talents on her website: www.ex2infinity.com/ and follow her on Instagram at: instagram.com/ex2infinity and instagram.com/neurodivergentcreative. There are some new All in One necklaces in both of the shops! Fancy Fidget has more geometry inspired pieces and Lullaby Links has more traditionally feminine designs. I suggest you check them both out to see what fits your style best. All of the All in One necklaces are adjustable by up to 2” and have a single clasp at the back on the neck like a traditional necklace. For a la carte pieces that can be worn together or separately check out the a la carte sections of the shop. We love to mix and match with different styles of chains, centerpieces and charms but the All in One necklaces have always been a hit too. This is Infinite. It's a simple elegant design with 5 little links: 3 hammered and 2 in round wire with a round wire infinity off-center. It feels like pebbles in hand and is a sweet little piece whether worn at the nape of the neck or extended. The attached chain is made up of tiny sterling ovals. It has one small clasp at the back and a 2" extender. Next we have Seeds & Petals. It's a two tiered necklace of two sets of links wired together to create one centerpiece in an elegant looking design. The style is inspired by the seeds and petals of the lotus flower. It's a spinoff of the Lullaby Links Classic AiO Seed & Petal. The attached chain is a sterling chain that also resembles seeds and petals. It has one small clasp at the back and the open links in the chain make it easy to clasp at various lengths. This is Infinite Love! It's a two tiered necklace made up of two sets of links wired together to create one centerpiece is an elegant necklace for any occasion. The style is a mixture of two Lullaby Links Classics; Bubbling Infinity and Bubbling Heart. It is the perfect celebration of a parents love for their child in a piece that can be loved by both! The attached chain is an open sterling oval. It has one small clasp at the back and the open links in the chain make it easy to clasp at various lengths. 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. Any of these designs can be made in mixed metal or all in gold. If you are interested in a mixed metal version or all gold version of one of the designs that is not offered in any of the sections of the shop you are always welcome to email me, Francie. My email address is: francie@lullabylinks.com. I hope you have enjoyed reading about these pieces and will find something that perfectly suits you in one of the shops!
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. 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! Fall makes me happy and this offer is full of happiness! I love to watch leaves fluttering in the wind, floating to the ground and glistening with so many little droplets after a storm. I've added in a little pet, something to keep you grounded while you watch them and a cute little mug to keep you warm. The form for entry will be linked at the bottom of this post and you can enter up to three times for three separate items on your invoice. We will be closing the form when we reach 100 entries and may pause over night if it gets close to 100 around bedtime. Invoices will be sent out on Fridays and due the following Tuesday. Shipping will be added based on your location and tax will be added for customers in California. 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 💕 Pictured below are the three Convertible Connection Chain styles; Wheat, Oval and Double Link laid across my hand. These next five images show (1) Oval Link Convertible Connection Chain 33" doubled back/fully extended, (2) Wheat Convertible Connection Chain 31" with the clasps close together draped over my hand, (3) Oval Link Convertible Connection Chain 33" with one side fully extended and the other doubled, (4) Double Link Convertible Connection Chain 33" with both clasps clasped on to the centerpiece, (5) Serling Connection Chain 16" clasped on to a Safest Place Charm.
The 31" Convertible Connection Chains are about 15-17" doubled and the 33" Convertible Connection Chains are about 6-18" doubled back. With both clasps clasped onto the centerpiece they are exactly 31" or 33". The centerpieces add length to the necklace as a whole and the centerpiece in all but one of these photos is Petite Seed & Petal which is about 2". The Sugar, Honey Iced Tea Official Offer is officially open! For this offer we are trying something a little new. I have loved selecting the number combinations over the years but this time you'll be able to choose your own numbers! You'll select one of the four styles; "Oh Sugar!", "Honey, I love you!", "Iced Tea" and "Soda Bubbles" and then select how many pieces you would like of each size for the main links (small, medium, large) and orbiting links (small, large) in fine silver or fine gold (24k). Then I get to play with the pieces on your submission and fuse them all together for one beautiful centerpiece. Chains will be available to add to your order and you can submit for up to four centerpieces with or without chains. Prices for each of the individual pieces are listed on the form and below each of the sample photos in this post. Shipping will be added based on your location and orders to be shipped within the state of California will have sales tax added. 💖💖💖💖💖 "Oh Sugar!" This style is inspired by sugar crystals under a microscope. Each of the main links in silver are $45 and the orbiting links are $30 also in silver. The gold prices start at $211 each for the main links and $100 each for the orbits. "Honey, I love you!" This style was inspired by honeycomb. Each of the main links in silver are $45 and the orbiting links are $30 also in silver. The gold prices start at $211 each for the main links and $100 each for the orbits. A little orbiting heart can be added in silver for $25 or in gold for $115. "Iced Tea" This style was inspired by.. waiting for it.. Iced tea! 😜 Each of the main ice links in silver are $45 and the orbiting links are $30 also in silver. The gold prices start at $211 each for the main links and $100 each for the orbits. A silver pint glass can be added for $45 or used as the main link like the first sample below. A pint glad with a little slice of lemon can be added in silver for $70 or with the lemon slice in gold for $158. "Soda Bubbles" also inspired by exactly what they are named! Each of the main ice links in silver are $10 and the orbiting links are $5 also in silver. The gold prices start at $101 each for the main links and $76 each for the orbits. A textured silver lemon can be added for $30 or in gold for $210 (see second image below) For this offer you will be able to select from three Convertible Connection Chain styles (Double Link, Oval and Wheat) in two lengths 31" or 33". These chains can be worn doubled back and clasped into a 3.5" horizontal extender; or clasped onto the centerpiece with one or both clasps for a longer necklace. There are also three lengths of Sterling Connection Chains; 16", 18" and 20"; that clasp directly onto the centerpieces. Pictured below are the three Convertible Connection Chain styles; Wheat, Oval and Double Link laid across my hand. These next five images show (1) Oval Link Convertible Connection Chain 33" doubled back/fully extended, (2) Wheat Convertible Connection Chain 31" with the clasps close together draped over my hand, (3) Oval Link Convertible Connection Chain 33" with one side fully extended and the other doubled, (4) Double Link Convertible Connection Chain 33" with both clasps clasped on to the centerpiece, (5) Serling Connection Chain 16" clasped on to a Safest Place Charm. The 31" Convertible Connection Chains are about 15-17" doubled and the 33" Convertible Connection Chains are about 6-18" doubled back. With both clasps clasped onto the centerpiece they are exactly 31" or 33". The centerpieces add length to the necklace as a whole and the centerpiece in all but one of these photos is Petite Seed & Petal which is about 2". 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 Friday if we don't reach 100. Invoices will be sent Friday the 31st and payment will be due the following Wednesday the 5th. If you have any questions you can reach out to either of our social media inboxes or send us an email at lullabylinks@gmail.com.
Sugar, Honey, Iced Tea Entry Form This offer has already brought so much sweetness and a whole lot of fun! We hope you love the pieces as much as we do!! 💕 Francie 💕 The Same Same but Different offer is coming together quick! The first batch of shipping labels are being printed today and that’s about half of the orders. We are expecting to get the second half out Saturday or Monday but we’ve also got some big changes coming.
Change is hard for me and I’ve been teetering on the edge of using a carting system on the website since it was created a few years ago. It’s ready and I’m not sure I’ll ever be truly ready so with lots of support from the Lullaby Links team I’m going to go ahead and go for it. It seems fitting to start out with the pieces offered from the Same Same but Different offer and that’s what we are going to do. There is a limited quantity of centerpieces and chains available for purchase in the cart, right now! Pieces purchased there will still be being made to order and the turn around time will still be about 3-6 weeks. Shipping will be added and tax for orders shipping within California. In the meantime I’ll be getting the current orders shipped out, working on an itty bitty collection for the next offer and may put up another call for smiles this or next Sunday. [Image Description: many many many hearts in silver and one in gold displayed on a fluorescent rainbow textile of cushy goodness. This is almost all of the Ascending Hearts and Hearts of Confusion centerpieces from the current offer] The first Official Offer of 2018 is officially open!
Please fill out the form linked below and be on the lookout for an invoice in 24-48 hours after your entry. This form will remain open until we reach 75 orders or all the designs have been completed by batch. |