Well – over the weekend we were at Cape May Point once again enjoying the beautiful weather we had here in New Jersey and especially enjoying the beach, this time going to one of the bay side beaches so my daughter could enjoy the water without the waves crashing over her. I think I got my daughter addicted to collecting rocks and shells as after 5 minutes of getting bored digging in the sand, she grabbed her pail and my hand and told me to walk. We took a nice long walk down the beach looking for treasures as my daughter sang her own rendition of Mary had a Little Lamb over and over again.

Tumbled glass is very hard to find this year and I only found two good usable pieces this trip. However I did find many more shells than years previous, and found some really beautiful jingle shells that I can make into some nice pendants and earrings. There is more and more quartz washing up on the beaches since they dregged a few years back and pulled a lot of the sand back onto the beaches, so we are finding more “Cape May Diamonds” that will look beautiful once polished up and wire wrapped.

I sat on the beach gazing out into the water (and keeping one eye on my daughter) and for the two minutes I felt so relaxed, inspired and excited to use the shells and rocks we had just collected to make unique pieces. Of course, that peacefulness lasted only a few minutes as my daughter wanted to go for another walk to collect BIG ONEs (rocks) and in her little 1.5 year old voice grabs my hand and says “Come on Mommy – let’s walk!”. And off we went to collect more rocks than I will know what to do with!

I am a little disappointed in myself. I was so excited to tumble the clam shells we found in Leonardo, NJ that I rushed the job along and did not pay enough attention. I put too much water in the tumbler and after a week of the polish cycle going, the shells looked exactly the same without the glossy polish to them. I have since lessened the water and put in more polish and fillers and will let it go for another week or so. I was overly excited to get the shells into some designs, but it looks like I’ll have to a wait a while before I can get my hands on them! The shells look well tumbled and smooth, I just need to get them polished up and shiny to show off!

And we were off to Cape May Point for the 4th of July weekend to enjoy some sun, fun and rock hunting! My husband, my 20 month old daughter and I combed the beaches at Cape May Point looking for treasures to tumble and create some new and exciting pieces of jewelry. I was shocked to see how much both my husband (who was tasked to look for those Cape May Diamonds) and my daughter were so interested in sorting through the rocks and finding treasures. Of course my daughter was having more fun just picking up every rock and pebble she found and putting it into her bucket, but she is starting young!

A few weeks back we all went to Leonardo, NJ to go out on our new boat, but my daughter, her Mema (grandma) and I stayed on the beach while my husband and Deda (grandpa) fiddled with the boat in the marina. My daughter and I collected clam shells on the beach and we took particular interest in the ones that had the purple on the outer edges. Of course, my daughter collected everything and anything on the beach and put it in her pail and even used the clam shells to make happy birthday sand cakes on the beach (oh to be a child again!). Later that weekend I took a hammer to all those beautiful clam shells we collected to break them up into pieces that maybe I could use for jewelry. Taking a gamble, I loaded them up in the tumbler to see if I could round out the edges and polish them up. Currently we are on the last polish cycle so I am excited to see what I end up with in the end. But at first glance, it looks like I will have some beautiful shell pieces that will make gorgeous pendants once I am done. Stay tuned as these come out of the tumbler this weekend!!

Vael Designs has been working hard to raise funds for cancer awareness through selling our awareness line of jewelry. We have expanded our line quite a bit to include various different types of cancer awareness bracelets and to help raise awareness. For the end of the 1st half of the year, we are excited to announce that we are almost halfway to our goal! To date, we have raised $400 dollars towards the fight against cancer.

We are looking forward to meeting our goal by year end and are excited to see if we can raise the bar for next year!

This article was extracted from the 6/29/07 edition of the Windsor-Hights Herald – please see article located here:

http://www.packetonline.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18534022&BRD=1091&PAG=461&dept_id=456081&rfi=6

Township woman linking former hobby to charity
By: Cara Latham, Staff Writer
06/29/2007

“EAST WINDSOR — Township resident Elycia Norton recently received a thank-you letter in the mail from a bride who had purchased custom-designed bracelets for herself and her bridal party.
Not only did the bracelets — made from periwinkle blue Swarovski crystal and sterling silver — accompany the occasion well, but they also had special meaning to the bride. The cancer-awareness jewelry provided a way to incorporate the memory of her brother, who died from cancer, into the wedding.
Ms. Norton, 33, said she was surprised that the bride, who she had never met, took the time to mail her a note. However, she said, the response was typical of some of the positive feedback she’s been getting since she began selling the homemade bracelets on her Web site — VaelDesigns.com — with the goal of raising $1,000 for cancer awareness by the end of the year.”

You can read the rest of the article located here:
http://www.packetonline.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18534022&BRD=1091&PAG=461&dept_id=456081&rfi=6

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
MOM ENTREPRENEUR WORKS TO RAISE $1000 FOR CANCER
Contact: Elycia Norton, Owner
Address: East Windsor, NJ, 08520
Phone: 877-258-2136
Email: elycia ‘at’ vaeldesigns.com
Website: http://www.vaeldesigns.com

East Windsor, NJ – Work at Home Mom Elycia Norton (www.vaeldesigns.com) is excited about the goal she has set for herself and her business in 2007. Vael Designs, which began as a hobby and grew into a business in March of 2006, specializes in the design of unique and custom-made jewelry. Through the sale of her cancer awareness bracelets, she is donating a portion of the proceeds to the fight against cancer.

Elycia says, “It all started when a friend approached me to create a cancer awareness bracelet. Interested in the project, I took on the task and my friend loved it so much that I put it on my website. Because my mother is a breast cancer survivor, I decided to make a breast cancer awareness bracelet. Over the past year, I have had several friends affected by cancer and wanted a way to help make a difference as they struggle through this disease, so I decided to set a fundraising goal to raise awareness.”
The American Cancer Society’s website (www.cancer.org) provides information on how donations help cancer research, “The American Cancer Society funds the most innovative, groundbreaking research so future generations need never get cancer. We are the nation’s largest private, not-for-profit source of funds for scientists studying cancer. Our research program has resulted in saving literally millions of lives. We provided funding for breakthroughs such as tamoxifen, bone marrow transplants, and molecular therapies that have given new hope to the mothers, fathers, grandparents, and children touched by cancer. We continue to invest in the most promising programs until we achieve our ultimate goal—the elimination of cancer.”
“Running my business has been very enjoyable and rewarding, and as I continue to expand my cancer awareness line, I get to talk with people whom I would have never been able to before,” says Elycia. “They share their stories on how cancer has affected their lives, and so many of them are very moving and touching, and I am proud that I can make a little difference to help support cancer research.”
In the words of the ACS website, “Your gift is a big help in the battle against cancer—in your own community and across the country.” So help Elycia Norton reach her $1000 goal by visiting www.vaeldesigns.com to purchase your own cancer awareness bracelet.
About Vael Designs:
Elycia’s fascination with jewelry began as a child. Growing up, her father often held her spellbound as he crafted earrings out of silver wire or a bangle bracelet. He also spent many hours showing her and her younger sibling the different types of rocks and gems, which lead them to become interested in jewelry. Her sister started making beaded jewelry designs and following her lead, it eventually evolved into a thriving business.
For more information on her cancer awareness to jewelry contact Elycia Norton at 877-258-2136 or visit her website http://www.vaeldesigns.com.