If you’ve been reading this blog and have wondered how I came to be so incredibly talented and witty, not to mention humble, it’s time you knew my secret: I was homeschooled.
Yes, it’s true. I was homeschooled off and on during my elementary years and all through high school. It was a great experience, for the most part. I got to take naps right in the middle of Algebra and never had any pop quizzes.
But my senior year came and went and I graduated with very little fanfare. One day, I ran out of school work to do and that was it. My high school years were over. I didn’t have a class ring, a year book, or even a cap and gown. There was very little to commemorate my years of effort except an ACT score and a stack of college applications.
So when Shannon Ferraby contacted me a few months ago about the possibility of doing a giveaway for customizable jewelry, I was thrilled. Shannon is an independent consultant with Origami Owl Custom Jewelry. She is in the business of making wearable works of art that tell a story, the story of what you’ve accomplished, what you love, or maybe even what you dream of.
Shannon is a memory-keeper, a story-weaver, a dream-catcher.
All I could think about when I was introduced to her business was how perfect her jewelry is for all the other homeschooled girls out there who graduate without much to show for the milestone they have achieved. I thought about how perfect her living lockets would be as a graduation gift for a special young woman, like my own daughters, and I knew I had to do this giveaway.
Of course, this giveaway is not just about me (ahem) and Origami Owl is about more than just making lockets for homeschooled girls. Origami Owl is about preserving any story in jewelry form.
Being a story-teller myself, I kind of love that. A lot.
Shannon specializes in creating Living Lockets, although if you look around her site, you’ll see some other types of jewelry too. It’s just that these are my favorite.
These beautiful pieces are like scrapbook pages on a chain. You all know I don’t scrapbook, even though I love the idea of scrapbooks. I just. can’t. do it. So I am thrilled by the idea of having a “scrapbook” without all the, well, scrapbooking.
Much like the page of a scrapbook, each locket can be filled with personalized charms that tell a story. The story can change over time, and you can add or subtract charms as often as you like. Change it to suit the season, a new goal in your life–whatever you like!
Lockets are secured with strong magnet closures so they can be opened and changed as often as you desire.
The story you choose to highlight might be an accomplishment, like a graduation,
Graduation Locket with school colors and year
the story of motherhood,
or a lifetime achievement.
You might want to preserve the memory of a special trip,
a beloved pet,
or remind yourself of the person you strive to be,
and what you believe.
Whatever your story is, Shannon would like to give you the chance to tell it with Origami Owl. She is giving away a $35 credit to Origami Owl to one reader! All you have to do is enter the Rafflecopter below. Don’t forget to share the giveaway for extra entries, and stay tuned to Shannon’s Facebook page for other specials you won’t want to miss! You can even send your husband to her page and Shannon will help him create a Mother’s Day gift you’ll adore.
That’s what I call a happy ending.
My locket would tell the story of the births of my children.
I would like to use it for my Mom. 🙂 She has wanted a necklace to show all of us kid’s birthstones for a while. As you can imagine, it’s a little hard to find a necklace big enough to hold 8 soon to be 9 birthstones lol! ;D
I’ve recently ordered a living locket (I LOVE O2 lockets!), and I would order a rolo chain and a couple dangles. 🙂
I recently heard about these necklaces. What a genius idea! A beautiful way to be reminded of the treasures and blessings in your life.
I would tell my life story! Love Origami Owl lockets!♥
I would make one to represent my faith and dreams.
I never though that something other than rings and diamond neclaces could be given to others that you love, but this opens up my perspective by A LOT. Making a special locket for my girlfriend was one of those happy moments of my life, as it was hers to when I pulled it out and she burst into a wide smile, so thanks for all the wonderful things you’ve put into this world.
Which one do I start with? My own or the two that I know each of my girls would love to design?
I would get a locket to honor my triplets I lost at 20 weeks in pregnancy. The lockets are beautiful.
Oh my, how heartbreaking.
I love Origami Owl, although I have yet to get something from them! I hope to get one that will tell of my wonderful husband and children, and how blessed I am of God 🙂
The story of my life with my husband, and our wonderful kids!
andysavi.mom@gmail.com
I will be telling the story of my family in my locket. I’ve already told my husband this will be my Mother’s Day gift this year and every little bit helps!
I would tell the story of my kids, they light up my life everyday.
I would tell the story of my family with stones for my parents and boys.
I love these!
It would tell of family and faith. Those are both very important to me.
My locket will tell of all the things that are important to me and make me who I am – my hubby, my kids, my faith, my quilting, my music and my love of France!
I would give it to my daughter and she wants music related charms and a 16, her sweet 16 in is a couple of weeks!
These are all great. 🙂 I’m very visual so I love that you can tell stories this way. Thanks for the opportunity to win!
The story of my family
If I were to tell a story, it would be of my faith in God, my marriage to my wonderful husband, and of course the sweet little girl God has blessed us with.
Oh wow! I had no idea you were home schooled- it’s pretty rare for our generation!
I love these necklaces! So fantastic!
I had no idea you were doing this! I’m totally going to have to share this with both of my pages! 😉
So as far as the story I would put- so many to choose from… hmmm… I would love a motherhood necklace. I have been given one in the past but with 6 children it looks kind of funny all weighed down… but this is classy! I would totally wear this one!
I also really like the “strive” to be one up above! I would call it “My Magnitude of Mission” Necklace… something that says “Leaving a Legacy” & “Mission” & “Living Intentionally”… Living My Calling… Being Who God Made Me to Be! Any of the above!
It would be quite the challenge to some up my passions in one neck charm… faith, mother to 6, wife, passionate about leaving a legacy for Kingdom Impact, author {milestone}… what fun though.
My locket would state that I am a mom, and that I have a November daughter. I would also have birth stones to represent my mother & my 2 grandmothers. Plus I might even (if I had room) select a cat charm & a teacher charm. I would definitely need the help of a designer to help put it together so that it looks good as well as representing me.
I would tell the love story of my sweet hubs and myself…30plus years and still so in love.
It would be a memorial of our journey…my hubby and I, and our soon-to-be tiny baby girl. 🙂
I would definitely make a mother’s necklace. — My earliest memories were of me wanting to be a mom. At age 18 I learned I had severe endometriosis and was told I’d probably never have children. Throughout our 15 yr marriage, I endured 7 surgeries for stage 4 endometriosis. All along the way, doctors said it was impossible to conceive. But I did. I conceived the most precious daughter, who is now 9. I could never have another child, so I sought after embryo adoption even though the doctors said I needed a hysterectomy and couldn’t risk carrying multiples (because of health problems). We tried embryo adoption once, and lost 4 little ones. It was heartbreaking. We tried again, and despite the odds we were given, we adopted and had triplets! Me, the infertile woman, riddled with chronic health issues, enduring 15 surgeries, have 4 children. 4!!! Each are a picture of God’s amazing grace and extravagant love to me and my husband! I’d love to wear something proudly around my neck, reminding me of my quiver full! They’ve given me a small glimpse of the adoption my heavenly Father has granted to me!!
It would tell the story of my dreams…wedding, Irish travels, my daughter, vacations (flip flops)!
I would tell my families story.
There are many wonderful stories in the above posts. My story would be all the loves in my life, faith, family, nature, animals. I would have to have more than one locket.
I’d like something that tells how proud I am of all my kids.
I would make one that was a fond memory of the baby that a dear friend lost at 20 or so weeks when she was expecting. She named her dear child Rachel and the older siblings were very excited to meet her. A heart defect took her from this world before she was even able to be out and explore it, and this left her family very heartbroken. I think having such a lovely piece of jewelry would be a wonderful memorial and a reminder of the many blessings that remain in her life.
So fun… I’d love to give one to my SIL who is looking for a ‘mommy’ necklace that isn’t the same as all the rest. I’d love one for myself that was me independent from mommy-hood, the theatre, dancing and performer I was before I was a mamma.
if i won,i would give it to my sister who is really struggling right now. i would fill a locket with the sister charm,the hope charm and the believe plate. hopefully she would think of me when she saw it and remember she is not alone no matter how hard things get. 🙂 as for my own locket,i would fill it with a boy and girl birthstone charm for my 2 kiddos who mean everything to me,and the pancreatic cancer ribbon charm in memory of my dad who passed from the disease.
I’d love to have a locket commemorating my three kids, or possibly my commitment to my hubby.
It would be hard to decide! I might do one to give to my amazing (talented, humble….etc.) daughter in memory of her dad who passed away when she was only 11. Or I might do one for me to commemorate the new love that God has given me – not to replace my father’s daughter – but to add to the love that I’d already had. Or to commemorate all of the daughters that have been added to my family through marriage – mine to Ron and our sons to their wives (and always including the above mentioned daughter).
How God has been so merciful and gracious. My husband and three children are amazing gifts and a huge part of the story to tell
I would tell the story of my kiddos! I have three surviving quads that are 6 now and a five year old and an almost 10 year old!
Love all their stuff and how customizable it is!
I love these. Not sure if I can even enter from outside your country. Mine would tell of my blessings. My faith, my hope, my family. Wow, they really are so lovely 🙂
If I could make an origami owl locket, it would be for my best friend Amy. She is one of those women you meet that is rare and memorable. She is like a beautiful and rare gem that you stumble across accidentally and never forget. She has a faith in the Lord that is humbling, with roots so deep and strong in God that throughout the last few years of heartache and turmoil, she remains true and constant. Her husband has struggled to find work over the past few years (he is in construction) and they live dollar by dollar. With two little kids and very little extended family support, they rarely seem to worry but instead quote Scripture promises for each trouble that comes their way. This year has been especially tough for her…her father (whom she was very close to) passed away from jaw cancer that metasticized into brain cancer, and her mother (who divorced her father awhile ago) is taking her family to court over estate issues. She has a lot to complain about and worry about, but the most I have ever heard her say was “i wish i could just have a moment to breathe”. I would give her an origami owl locket because she will never be able to afford something like this, nor would she ever complain about that or even feel sorry for herself. And, she would never write into something like this to win it because she would say that surely there is someone else out there more deserving or in need of it than her. But, she is someone to whom a small gift like an origami owl locket would add a little more light and a little more hope to her world and let her have a chance “to breathe”.
I guess I would probably do one of being a mom to our 3 littles…
Love origami! I haven’t been able to order, but would love to get something that I could cherish. It would contain symbols of my faith, hope, love, and journey as a woman, wife, and mother. Thank you for the opportunity to enter for a Origami product 🙂
My locket tells the story of my love – it holds all birthstone charms of my grandchildren! There are 11 stones, and my ‘Nana’ charm!
I would probably do something for my sil.
My locket would definitely have the aqua mom charm and my kiddos birth stones 🙂
After browsing the website, I have two ideas. One could tell the story of a musical journey, the deaf teacher who inspired me (I found an ASL “I Love You” hand charm!), and somehow work in the need to accept the difficulties along the way. Or, I have a friend who lost her first baby last year. I think she would love a design with his first initial, the footprint in the sand, and a “faith” plate or perhaps “blessed.”
Mine would be about my kids because they are my life.
It would tell my story of me & my boyfriend, our 7 years, life, and our new addition coming soon.
It would take me a long time to decide too, but it would be about my kids and my Love.
I would get a lifetime locket.
I would like to have one of these. You do such great giveaways. I really like rafflecopter.
Beautiful!
It would tell the story of my family!
I would likely summarize me in a locket. Faith, art, favorite color, music, sign language, my birthstone ect.
i would make one for my older sister. we had a dad who worked at the local copper mine and a very sick mom so she basically raised me. i love her so much she means the world to me and i would love to win this for something special for her. i would do a sisters plate with the owl charm, the faith charm, the heart and mom.
I would probably make a locket for my sister-in-law who just had a baby after having twin boys. She needs encouragement as a single mother of 3 boys.
I already have a Living Locket started! It tells the story of a strong women who has been through so much trauma and turmoil….but still lives and enjoys life, and loves her two almost-grown sons. I still need a few more charms to tell my whole story!
Thanks for a chance at a fun giveaway! What story? The story of memorable events, things that have been life-changing & significant.
It would represent my adopted puppy, Cookie 🙂
I would like a locket to reflect my family, my faith, and my foundation. not sure how to do that tho!
I’d tell the story of my travels.
I love my locket! It has a charm to represent each of my children, my husband, myself, and our wedding anniversary!
My locket would share my faith and the fact that I’m a mom, wife & 2x cancer survivor. 🙂
I would make a locket to commemorate my family recent trip to Maui and our intention to make our girls world travelers!
I would love a locket that tells the story of the wonderful family God’s blessed me with!
Wow, it would take me a long time to decide, but it would be about my marriage and children 🙂
Hmmm…that’s a hard question. But I really like the locket that you suggested about being who I strive to be. Or reminding me I have hope in Christ. So maybe something like that. 🙂 Thanks for the fun giveaway!!!
I would tell the story or my children..
Ooh, I have admired these lockets for a while, but not done anything about it. Fun giveaway!
Mine would tell the story of my 4 precious children. They are my magnum opus. 🙂
story of my life and my girls
My life is FULL of stories and I love it! I think a story I would like to tell and remember is the one of my tubal pregnancy with led to an emergency which led to the discover of a tumor which led to another surgery during which I almost died.
I love this story because it reminds me of every precious day I have here on this earth, with my children, with my husband, and just…HERE. I have a much greater appreciation for all that is around me and LOVE that part of my story (even if others are a little sad).
Your question is a hard one since I am very limited in imagination and creativity. If I could design my own locket, I would like to design it for my oldest granddaughter who will be graduation from college next month at the age of 20 with a degree in psychology. Like you, she was homeschooled and was able to take dual credit college courses at a local college her junior and senior years. She graduated with honors with her associates degree one week before she graduated from high school and entered her current college with 63 transferrable hours. She has taken 22 hours each semester (except for this last semester which has been a lighter) in addition to working almost 40 hours a week in an outside job as well as working as a research assistant (first three semesters) and a TA this semester. How would I put that story in a locket? I have no idea, but I’d love to try. These lockets are lovely and so very, very unique. Thanks for the chance to win this nice GC.
Replying to myself? Why not? I am actually doing it as a reminder to myself while I am thinking about it. I have reached the point in my life where that is necessary. 🙂 After I posted this and looked at the different choices of lovely things she makes, I thought of something really special that I could make, with a great deal of help from Shannon’s eye and creativity. We have four grandchildren waiting for us in heaven, but one has a special story. It would be nice to find a way to tell it in a piece of jewelry that would be a way for our daughter to have that memory with her in a tangible way and possibly incorporate her other babies who are “gone too soon.” I won’t tell her story here, but for anyone who might be interested, it can be found here. http://thestoryoftalitha.blogspot.com/
Haha–love it!
These are really cute, I love the Paris one! : )
It would tell the story of my children and my marriage, how we have come to thrive in spite of life’s challenges.
I’ve admired these beautiful pieces in the past and would love the challenge/opportunity to create one of my own.
If I were to tell a story, it would have to be about my husband and our very young sons. God has richly blessed me with my family and I would choose things that reminded me of them and out time together 🙂
Those are fantastic. You’ve brought my attention to something I have not thought about. I homeschool both my children. No year book, I think I’ll start a scrapbook for their school career. No fanfare for graduation. Ok for my son but may devastate my social daughter. Thank you for bringing this to my attention! Gives me somethings to think about and consider.
wife, mom to 4 girls, teacher, librarian, chef to many — love the charms but love to scrapbook too!