Running Bling

Don't you just love that necklace (the one to the left)?  The beads at the bottom are the birth stones of Doug, Chloe and I.  "Strive" defines an ultra in one word.  I wanted a necklace that was motivational, that meant something to me, that was inspiring.  I didn't want an ordinary running necklace.  I have been looking for a while.  Along came Liz then Cindy and here is where the story begins...

Cindy (local running friend, just ran her first marathon) called before her marathon and ... wait this begins before that...Cindy and I were running one Tuesday and we were talking about the Nike Marathon and how they get a Tiffany Necklace at the finish line, she said (in her sweet Texas accent)  "that is one reason I would be motivated to run a marathon."  Fast forward a few weeks...Cindy and I are once again running and she says she is thinking of running the White Rock Marathon (my head almost blew clean off my body, I was so excited, I didn't hear anything else she said) but, if she did she needed a necklace for a reward, something to keep her going, something to look forward to.  I was over the moon about the prospect of Cindy running a marathon.  I think I might have yelped and danced I was so excited.  Didn't care about the necklace, didn't even think about it again except on the like gagillion occasions she mentioned it, lol.  You see Cindy is my fashionable friend.  She looks great, nahhhh she looks amazing and she can put together an outfit that belongs in some magazine.  Yes she still hangs out with me, somehow she overlooks my lack of make up, my odd outfits that typically include compression socks in neon colors and my steadfast devotion to a hairstyle that I like to call "wake and go." So when Cindy said she was running a marathon to get a necklace, all I heard was "running marathon" all the rest was white noise and all she was thinking was "necklace." Oh we are quite a pair.  So you can imagine my surprise when she called a few weeks out from the marathon to ask about a blow torch and making a "26.2" charm.  WHAT??? Cindy and a blow torch...Not good.  I started scrambling.  I didn't want her to get a burn injury before the race or worse yet burn down her home.  I had to figure out how to get her the necklace of her dreams without anyone being permanently disfigured.   And then ...into my mind pops (ding) Liz.  My dear friend.  My Wednesday play date.  Liz makes awesome jewelry certainly she could make a "26.2" charm.  Liz and Cindy got together and start plotting Cindy's necklace.  OMG! It turned out to be one heck of a necklace. 

Liz does upcycled jewelry which means she buys old necklaces, takes them apart and makes new pieces with them.  She also hand crafts her own new charms/ medallions via many innovative techniques.  The girl can make anything.  She is really talented.



Cindy's Marathon Necklace

So Liz steps in, saves the day.  Makes Cindy a necklace and then I started thinking....wait...I want a necklace too.  I have been looking for years and haven't found the running necklace of my dreams.  So I sit down with Liz and describe my necklace.  Next thing you know she has made me a necklace too.  And the kicker, her necklaces were cheaper than what Cindy and I could find on line.  Her stuff ranges from $25-$50.  That is pretty impressive.  Cindy's necklace has beads the entire way around it so she can wear it with her hair up and it looks great from all angles.  LOVE IT!

Liz also made these IMT (Iron Man in Training) bracelets for another client.  I know it is hard to get past the awesome hand model but please try and keep your eyes on the bracelet, lol. 

So if you are interested in having Liz make you something contact her at: creativeinputbyliz@live.com. She is going to do a Giveaway on Heather's Blog later on this month so, keep an eye out for that.  I will post when she does it.  Oh wait I almost forgot the best part of this tale.  So Liz and I have been hanging out for a few years now.  We get together pretty much once a week every week and until now she has held out on me.  She has not given into my running mania but...a few days ago on FB...she posted (I am excited just repeating this)...that she is in fact going to train for and run her first 1/2 this year.  AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YIPEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and finally WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!! She is darn lucky she didn't tell me in person, I would have tackled the girl.  So freaking excited for her.  Go Liz go!