In the ash and rubble of 9/11, I was 7 months pregnant with my first child. Not only that, I was working for a major financial institution, and I was asked to go on assignment one street away from where the towers fell that awful day. I only managed to get out of the short trip from New Jersey because I was uncomfortably pregnant. I was lucky.

When my son was born, he was quite a handful, but I tried very briefly going back to work. After only 2 months back in the corporate world, not only was I already pregnant with my second child, but I felt that I was missing out on my child's life. The stress of leaving his crying face in daycare everyday pushed my hormonal emotions over the edge, and I knew I had to find another way to make a career for myself.

After my second son came along, I was looking for a very specific necklace for a wedding. Someone pointed me to Etsy, but I still could not find exactly what I wanted. One supplier suggested that I try to make it myself. A light bulb went on! I did exactly that. I watched videos every moment that my babies slept (which was not a whole lot!) and made my own necklace. Not long after, my third and final child, my beautiful daughter, joined her 2 brothers.

I did not tell my husband my plans. I took a bunch of old gold jewelry that I never wore to a local jewelry store and sold it. I used the money, every penny of it, to buy jewelry supplies and start my own business here on Etsy.

My babies are not babies anymore. They are amazing wonderful young adults, who I still want to spend every waking moment with. They grew up with mom making jewelry at all hours of the day and night, but always making time for them: they were and still are always my number one priority. I hope to continue my jewelry, though the world has changed so much and along with it Etsy. I appreciate those customers who have stuck with me while I watched my babies grow.