Ideas and Inspiration for
Artisan Jewelry Designers
for Vintage Jewelry Supplies
A Leap of Faith
Some of you may recall an artist we profiled a couple of years ago. Her name is Donna Digtes. Recently I was thrilled to see some of her work published in "Stringing" magazine. After I wrote to congratulate her, Donna shared much more of her story with me. Many of us have experienced first hand some of the painful events she has endured, so it is especially empowering to learn that she has risen from the ashes to not only take control of her life but to help others as well.
We give you a standing ovation Donna!
Donna writes: Thanks so much for your encouraging e-mail. I am excited also about the publicity. Actually this is the second time I have been in "Stringing". My first was in the Spring of 2009. I also had a feature article in my local newspaper telling my story about how beading helped me overcome my chronic depression. I have gotten a lot of feedback from it so I know that it touched a lot of women who had the same problem.
You may not have known but when I started out, I was just out of a hospital after having a mental breakdown. It's a long story but, praise be to God, I am overcoming. I want to reach as many women with the hope of a better tomorrow as I can.
After my twenty-five year marriage broke up (He found someone else) I suffered an emotional breakdown and was left with chronic depression. During that time I found myself in the deepest darkest place that I never want to be again...a place where I no longer wanted to live. I had begun to heal from that when a few years later I found myself back in that dark place again.
For several years, I had been emotionally abused in the workplace by my supervisors in an effort to push me out of the position that I had held for more than twenty years. When I would try to confront the situation, I was made to feel that it was all in my imagination. I was humiliated, berated and left to feel that I brought all my problems on myself. I emotionally fell apart again. During my counseling, I found that what had happened to me was not uncommon to older employees in an effort by their employer to force them out to make way for younger workers with a lesser salary. It even had a name...mobbing!
My mother had pancreatic cancer and while I was recovering from this breakdown, she passed away. Being the only child, I had full responsibility for her burial , two months later my best friend died and I had lost my job. I was slipping back into that deep depression and I knew that I had to do something. I began searching for a hobby. I eliminated so many things and then I truly found my solace in beading. That was about the time I sent pictures to you (AccessoriesSusan.com). It made me feel so good to make beautiful things.
I still have my issues. I still find it hard to accept that my designs are good. I thought that when the magazines wanted to publish them, it would make me feel more confident. It has helped but I still have a problem promoting myself. I suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It keeps me very timid but I am now opening my own shop so that I can host workshops.
Last summer, I taught basic beading to seniors at the local junior college and I loved that. I don't know the first thing about having a business but I am learning. This shop is a giant leap of faith. I want to offer classes to seniors and people like me to help them gain more confidence in themselves and to feel worthwhile. I have found by helping others, I help myself.
During Christmas, I felt led to host a Jewelry Party in my home with all the proceeds going to a local charity that provides toys and basic necessities to less fortunate families. I raised $875.00 just in my neighborhood. When I took the money to the center, the manager told me she was just sitting there wondering how she was going to provide for the eighty-two children that had not been adopted by other families. She said I was just like an angel walking through the door. I felt that God had used me in such a powerful way. I mention this not for any credit for myself but to let others know to listen to their hearts and follow that lead. It can take you to some incredible experiences that give you such an awesome feeling of true worth.
Thank you again for your interest in my story.
Sincerely, Donna
Subscribe to "Stringing" magazine from this link:
https://subscribe.pcspublink.com/magazine/Intw/subscribeForm.asp?track=JENB9&pub=ISTG&term=4
We give you a standing ovation Donna!
Donna writes: Thanks so much for your encouraging e-mail. I am excited also about the publicity. Actually this is the second time I have been in "Stringing". My first was in the Spring of 2009. I also had a feature article in my local newspaper telling my story about how beading helped me overcome my chronic depression. I have gotten a lot of feedback from it so I know that it touched a lot of women who had the same problem.
You may not have known but when I started out, I was just out of a hospital after having a mental breakdown. It's a long story but, praise be to God, I am overcoming. I want to reach as many women with the hope of a better tomorrow as I can.
After my twenty-five year marriage broke up (He found someone else) I suffered an emotional breakdown and was left with chronic depression. During that time I found myself in the deepest darkest place that I never want to be again...a place where I no longer wanted to live. I had begun to heal from that when a few years later I found myself back in that dark place again.
For several years, I had been emotionally abused in the workplace by my supervisors in an effort to push me out of the position that I had held for more than twenty years. When I would try to confront the situation, I was made to feel that it was all in my imagination. I was humiliated, berated and left to feel that I brought all my problems on myself. I emotionally fell apart again. During my counseling, I found that what had happened to me was not uncommon to older employees in an effort by their employer to force them out to make way for younger workers with a lesser salary. It even had a name...mobbing!
My mother had pancreatic cancer and while I was recovering from this breakdown, she passed away. Being the only child, I had full responsibility for her burial , two months later my best friend died and I had lost my job. I was slipping back into that deep depression and I knew that I had to do something. I began searching for a hobby. I eliminated so many things and then I truly found my solace in beading. That was about the time I sent pictures to you (AccessoriesSusan.com). It made me feel so good to make beautiful things.
I still have my issues. I still find it hard to accept that my designs are good. I thought that when the magazines wanted to publish them, it would make me feel more confident. It has helped but I still have a problem promoting myself. I suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It keeps me very timid but I am now opening my own shop so that I can host workshops.
Last summer, I taught basic beading to seniors at the local junior college and I loved that. I don't know the first thing about having a business but I am learning. This shop is a giant leap of faith. I want to offer classes to seniors and people like me to help them gain more confidence in themselves and to feel worthwhile. I have found by helping others, I help myself.
During Christmas, I felt led to host a Jewelry Party in my home with all the proceeds going to a local charity that provides toys and basic necessities to less fortunate families. I raised $875.00 just in my neighborhood. When I took the money to the center, the manager told me she was just sitting there wondering how she was going to provide for the eighty-two children that had not been adopted by other families. She said I was just like an angel walking through the door. I felt that God had used me in such a powerful way. I mention this not for any credit for myself but to let others know to listen to their hearts and follow that lead. It can take you to some incredible experiences that give you such an awesome feeling of true worth.
Thank you again for your interest in my story.
Sincerely, Donna
Subscribe to "Stringing" magazine from this link:
https://subscribe.pcspublink.com/magazine/Intw/subscribeForm.asp?track=JENB9&pub=ISTG&term=4