After receiving some life altering news, I took a big leap of faith in spring of 2012- I left my cozy, small town in Michigan and traded it in for a booming metropolis, looking for an attitude adjustment and a little southern sunshine. I thought for sure it would take me years to get over the devastating news I'd received that had sparked my journey, but it didn't- I found joy almost instantly in the warm ocean breezes, endless sunny skies, and most of all, a man named Tommy.

The joy in my heart quickly spread to excitement. I was once again EXCITED about what was to come next in my life. Once my mind ( and heart!) was expanded, I knew it could never be how it was before, and although I was overcome with joy and love, I still missed beautiful Michigan. My shop was the solution to this longing and cemented the marriage between my new life filled with happiness and my love-filled childhood.

"Remembeing Madeira" allows me to step back into all the wonderful memories I made growing up in michigan. My shop reminds me of learning to crochet with my grandma and little sister, being a little kid playing outside in my mittens and scarf, bundling up to walk the shore line of beautiful lake superior in the fall, and how breathtaking the snowy winters were in northern Michigan. "Madeira" is the name of a beach close to where I live now- It reminds me of Tommy and how thankful I am to have found him. Tommy and I are setting sail on new adventures all the time but I will always remember our first date walking along the warm beach and many, many more cherished memories I made with him in Florida.

Remembering Madeira is a collection of memories I cherish. It's about honoring the past and using it as a reminder of life's beauty and what you can accomplish with a positive attitude. Most importantly, it's about love.

- Jessica Ann