The (wristlet) key to my heart
A couple of weeks ago I was at Kari’s pad and she had a post about Jennifer Garner locking her kid inside the car. Thankfully I have never experienced this. And the reason why is because I am really anal retentive about my keys. I have to know where they are at all times.
I think this may go back to childhood when my mother frequently misplaced her keys. I’m pretty sure they did not have a hook on the wall like we do. That’s the epicenter of order in this house. If you want to jack my world up, just remove that hook system from my kitchen. I will be paralyzed by chaos.
So my dad kept his keys on one of those retractable key chains on his belt. Remember those?
He had lots and lots of keys because he worked in security. I guess you need to lock a lot of stuff up when you work in security hence the name, which implies that one keeps things secure.
So it seems to me that he had roughly 20 to 30 keys on a loop on that retractable key chain. And I recall, as a child, yanking on those keys and watching them fly back up the chain and stop with an explosion at his waist.
He didn’t like it when I did that.
Now my mother had one of those key chains that was like a leather wallet with a snap. The key that was in use was out in the open. However, the other keys were hidden away, within the leather exterior, which created a nice, neat little package. If you could find it.
I think the plan was that she would keep those keys in her purse. And she always knew where her purse was. It was just the keys that were missing. I remember spending a lot of time, as a family, looking for her keys.
For that reason, I have a plastic spiral bracelet that is on my key chain so I can wear the keys on my wrist. And it was at Kari’s site that I learned there are some talented people out there who make wristlet key chains. And that is when I fell in love with my new key chain. See for yourself.
Look at the butterflies! And the lady bug. Lady bug, lady bug, oh how I love thee!
So the awesome artisan who made this wristlet key chain is Michele. She has an Etsy shop where she sells “exquisite handmade jewelry, wristlet key chains, and other beautiful accessories.”
According to Michele, the Sweet Irie name came about from the newest addition to her family — a kitten named Irie. “Her name means supreme joy; quite fitting, as she is the light of my life and the inspiration for my jewelry and handmade accessories, as she likes to help me work!”
Michele started making jewelry five years ago from a friend who taught her a new hobby — how to make hemp necklaces. Her kitten, Irie, used to play with or “steal” her balls of hemp and hemp creations, stringing them all over the house.
“Needless to say, she now has her own stash of ‘toys’ lying around,” Michele said. “And while it is always good to have a little help doing work, I have to admit, she isn’t much help! Just as well, I have since moved on from making hemp jewelry to creating beautiful handmade beaded designs and accessories.”
I speak from experience when I say Michele is very patient and understanding.
The US Postal Service jacked me around a bit, I must say. They took their sweet old time delivering my new key chain. And I was uptight about that. I emailed Michele, more than once (cringes), about the status of my key chain. I was excited, okay?
And Michele was so gracious. She checked out what was going on at her post office, kept me updated and dealt with my hyperactivity with aplomb.
I’m working on becoming more patient. Really I am. But it’s a growth area for me.
So now I have a beautiful, up-to-date key chain that I love with the intensity of one thousand white-hot pokers. And the first day I used it, I was afraid to leave it on the hooks in the Wellness Center at the YMCA while I was working out. I thought someone might take it. So I kept it with me.
But I’m working out my separation issues. I did leave it on the hook at the Y yesterday.
And frantically kept looking over my shoulder while I was on the elliptical machine. Because I didn’t want anyone to steal it. To hell with stealing my keys and my minivan. I’m more worried about my wristlet key chain.
Did I mention I love my new key chain? Because I do. Thank you, Michele!
