If you didn't know, I had a little business similar to Pep Talk Pebbles years ago. Then, following the death of my Nana and a subsequent decline in my mental health, my career took a sharp turn and I packed all of my crafty stuff into boxes and popped it into the loft.
For eighteen months, following her death in February 2010, I had desperately tried to continue with my business whilst crippled by grief. My eating disorders had taken a grip of me like I'd never experienced before and the depressive episode I was in, almost claimed my life. Eventually, I sought help and to this day, that was the bravest thing I ever, ever did.
I then threw myself into therapy and self help and very quickly turned a corner. I had overcome it! and I felt like I could conquer the world. I'd begun power walking in the evenings, when I would listen to Law of Attraction podcasts. I remember exactly where I was one evening when I felt so high on life, I could jump and fist pump the air with a scream. High in confidence, high on life and with little head space for 'Bespoke Greetings' (my business) I packed it away in boxes and embarked on my new career. I never once looked back and had zero desire to do any crafting, even as a hobby.
During the next 2 and a half years, I experienced another crippling depressive episode which at the time I put down to PTSD, which I was diagnosed with. I ended my marriage. When I left our family home, I took a few boxes of my packed away business with me, but it remained unopened. I was often asked if I would do it again and my answer was no, weirdly I had no desire to. Despite how much I adored it at the time.
Anyway, fast forward a few more years and a few more mental breakdowns along the way and here I am, coming to the end of my career in Public Health and 4 months in to Pep Talk Pebbles. You know, like full circle. Which messes with my head a bit. (I wish I could add emoji faces to these blogs!) I now know that I have Bipolar, I didn't know at the time. A lot of things make so much more sense to me now.
I'll get to my point now - the bottle you see in the picture above was one I found in a box of craft supplies from 2011. They were originally inspired by my Nana because at the time, she wore a teeny message in a bottle around her neck on a silver chain.
In those boxes that had been sat in the loft of my marital home for years and then in my garage for 7 years, I had some unused bottles, some charms and beads etc. So, I resurrected this range of products that meant so much to me and bring you these new, updated bottles.
Plot twist. These new bottles are actually a fraction of the size of the original ones I made all those years ago. Amongst the boxes of craft stuff, were some teeny bottles with glitter in them. I never used the glitter but always thought the bottles were adorable and I couldn't part with them. So, inspired by finding the original bottles, I emptied the glitter, worked my crafty magic and hey presto!
These measure 1.5 x 3.5 cm (approx 4cm with cork). The intricate detail, from the crafting of them to the presentation in their own boxes, exude charm. I hope you agree.
You can see further pictures and other designs in the listings. I just wanted to share how they came about because it feels profound. Pep Talk Pebbles feels profound. I feel like I've come full circle this year. I dunno, like I have arrived back doing what I should be doing, before Bipolar derailed me and threw me down a different path. It derailed me again this year but put me back on to this track. That's how I see it anyway, being the romantic bastard that I am.
Life eh? Overwhelms me, perplexes me, steam rollers me, spits me out and re-plants me....and all in the space of my morning coffee somedays! (that bit's a joke, my coffee is never anything but pure joy)
Thanks for reading. Go look at these bottles and tell me how damn cute they are. I love you xx