Hello friends, My name is Leveda. I am mom to 4 amazing adult sons, grandma to 3 sweet boys between 2 and 15 years, and after a couple of frogs, I finally married my prince, who I have known since I moved from California to Tennessee in the early 90's. When my sons were still small, I was mainly an at home mom and, let me tell you, those boys tried my patience every day! Somehow, we all survived the chaos. Once the boys were attending school, I would take some classes here and there hoping it would help me get back into the job market. I taught myself how to do income taxes by studying the paper publications and forms (yes, I'm that old!), and for 3 years I did taxes for clients during the season (still with paper forms) independently, then later on I worked for one of the major tax services. It was a small supplement to our income, but it helped to support a bunch of hungry boys, plus I got to meet some amazing people!  

There were many jobs and many years before I landed my LAST job. I was sent to work a 28-day assignment to fill in for the receptionist while she was on maternity leave. This didn't last very long and they ended up getting another temp because within days I was transferred to the warehouse and distribution department as a full-time cycle counter until my agency contract expired, then I was hired full time at the candy factory. Around one and a half years later, I was offered the traffic coordinator position. I had absolutely no experience and I was terrified! But I accepted the position and stayed there for over a decade. The companies ownership changed and I was moved to customer service, were I finished out my last 3 years. During my 16 year stay, I survived 2 company ownership changes, multiple new inventory and distribution system implementations, countless warehouse and office moves, 2 "promotions/lateral transfers", and 16 annual warehouse full count inventories that took sometimes up to a week to perform. The arrival of COVID turned out to be the kick in the pants I needed to leave the stress of work behind. So, I retired at the end of 2020. 

 Around June 2021, I decided I need a hobby and I want to learn macrame jewelry making. I sat down with some new materials that I bought at the hobby shop. The macrame board came with a pattern for a beautiful bracelet at an EASY level, ha! I must have needed the ULTRA EASY edition! My total experience with macrame was only a couple of plant hangars over a decade ago. Anyway, my first bracelet was a complete disaster! It's embarrassing, but I still keep it, and most of my other early stuff, even the failures. They are great reminders that I didn't give up. I tried again... I discovered what I like to call "YouTube University"! There are tons of tutorial videos for macrame jewelry. I studied, a lot, and I sometimes start a project intending to follow the pattern, but then I go off a different way. I've always loved letting my creative side shine, there's an energy that lifts me up when I'm feeling down or tense, I guess that's why I call it my therapy.  I just turn on my music, choose the colors and materials that call to me, find a good tutorial, or go out on my own and let the magic happen. 

You can watch my progress in the photos that I'm sharing here. I hope you enjoy!!!

  Be sure to check back soon. There's no telling what I'll do next! :-)

       ❤️❤️❤️