While going through a divorce that seemed to take forever to end; Leaves and Looms LLC was conceived while being forced into a one-bedroom space at a relative’s home to live during that time. It was hard. Real hard. Everything I had with me I utilized everyday. Even the food I ate I was forced to keep it in my tiny bedroom. I lived out of two storage units that I shared with my now deceased 92-year old Aunt. I was in charge of her affairs as she was in hospice and I had no choice but to leave my very own home in a hurry and pack her belongings along with mine and squeeze them into two storage units. An expense I could not afford at the time but, again, had no choice. I didn’t have the heart to tell my Aunt that I was going through a divorce. Till the day she passed she never knew. She was already worried about me enough doing the running around I did for my family and then for her whilst she was in hospice. Why make her more nervous and tell her all that I had endured and how I ended up after the separation?
I was taking a free class put on by the City of Buckeye on how to start your own business. My husband always told me that the idea of going back East to look at the autumn colors was “STUPID!”. I heard that a few times. As you guessed it, I am from back East. Just before I left my very own home out of necessity, I saw an ad on Facebook for an in-person class to teach the citizens of Buckeye how to start their own business. I wanted to start my own home business because I could not work traditional jobs due to my previous history of strokes. At least, when I would get tired or did not feel well, I could take a break at home and rest then when ready get back to what I was doing. My husband said . . . You guessed it, that my idea was “STUPID!”.
So, while he went to Alaska for two weeks for his Birthday and left me to pack the remainder of my belongings, one night I decided to be “STUPID!”. I applied for that class. And guess what? I got in! I truly did not think I would get in with everything that I had been going through with my husband and an impending divorce (Disclaimer: It was supposed to only be a “Legal Separation of Marriage” and he gave me his Blessing to find out more about it and to get the paperwork started but when he got back from Alaska and found out that I actually went through with it; he changed his mind and said he wanted a divorce).
Leaves and Looms LLC is a part of me. I LOVE the autumn colors of the leaves and the different types of food during different seasons. I had missed that growing up in the Catskills of New York. Going “Pumpkin Hunting” for that perfect pumpkin. Bobbing for apples at local farms (You cannot do that now thanks to current illnesses spoiling all the fun). Maple donuts and bagels. And just so much more! And the looms because I make winter beanies for the homeless and for my family. I also bought a large wooden loom to make blankets as well. It had become calming for me. To just try to sit and try to relax and make something with my two hands in the hopes that I am bringing joy, comfort and memories to the people that purchase my products. Hence . . . Leaves and Looms LLC was conceived.
Please, do not let anyone EVER tell you that what you would like to do is not important or “STUPID!”. Follow your heart. You may go through ridicule, even from those very close to you to whom are supposed to be your biggest supporters. But when you go to sleep at night and it’s the last thing you think about and in the morning; it’s the first thing that crosses your mind, well, it MUST have some validity! It is not only on the mind but in the heart as well.
Will I make mistakes along the way? Yep. You betcha I will. Will I mess up an order or take responsibility for shipping even though it would be out of my hands and in the shipper’s hands? Yep! Will I do my very best even knowing that I have had strokes and I am not perfect? Oh, yeah. Of course! But when people buy my products they will come to realize that they are not just buying anything that they can get from anywhere else. No . . . They are getting a story of resilience and struggle. They are getting a piece of me in each item that they order.
As a special gift from me to each of my customers; I am not just going to ship your items to you. Before I mail your items to you I will also Pray over your items. Prayer with purpose and intention. Prayer with Hope, Faith and most importantly . . . Love. It will be the same prayers that I prayed whilst struggling and trying to find out why I was going through what I was going through? Why did it happen to me? Why do I feel alone? Why was I being punished when it was not I who did the wrong? So many questions. So many prayers. Prayer is what got me through all the tears and struggle. Before each order is shipped I will still most likely cry because a part of me will be on its way to you doorstep. I will pray over all of your orders to wish you well. That God will watch over you and keep you. That God will place upon your heart the knowledge that you have a friend . . . Me! And I wish you safety, security and comfy coziness every time you utilize the product(s) that I made just for you!
Thank you for your trust in me in making your products. It was a labor of love. Thank you for believing in me . . . in the coziness of the season of Autumn which teaches us the beauty of letting go . . . for the feelings of safety, comfy and coziness.
Feel free to reach out to me via email at: var@leavesandlooms.com if you have any questions or concerns about your orders or even if you just want to chat. Also, if you have a special Prayer request; I would be honored to Pray with you and for you. I’ll talk to you all soon!
Sincerely,
Veronica Ann, Founder & Owner
Leaves and Looms LLC