A Note From Laurie, Owner & Artisan
Hello, and welcome to Gypsy Grove.
You may have already noticed that the website looks just a bit different than it has. Incredibly, this is the first update to the site in two years. And it is long overdue.
The last two years have been, without doubt, the most trying and stressful days I have ever experienced. After months of searching for a diagnosis, I lost my mother three weeks after she was diagnosed with lymphoma in July of 2018. Despite how sick she'd been, it was a shock that sent me reeling for quite some time. By the end of 2018, I had lost 8 family members and 6 pets. The loss was unbearable and overwhelming.
In early 2019, I faced my own health crisis. As I sit here in September of 2020, I still have no definitive answers despite dozens of tests, hospitalization, and multiple specialists. I can only tell you that there is an issue with the electrical impulses in my heart that will someday require surgical intervention. It has been a difficult road to reclaiming some semblance of normalcy, but for now, the medication has given me back most of the life I had temporarily lost.
During those two long years, Gypsy Grove was left in limbo much of the time. While my mother was sick, and for months after her death, my focus was on completing the book she had been looking so forward to. And I did! The Hidden Goddess debuted in February 2020 to glowing reviews. (You can read more about that at my other site, www.lauriemartingardner.com.) It was an incredible project to work on, and I'm thankful for the much needed distraction while life seemed to be unraveling. As for my jewelry, well, I barely touched a pair of pliers in 2018. My mother had been my greatest fan and was the sole reason that I began making jewelry in the first place years ago. I just didn't have the heart for it. I worked on small projects sporadically throughout 2018-19, but it just wasn't with the same passion as in years past.
And then, slowly, I felt the call to pick up the pliers and get back to work. It wasn't easy. I'd lost some of the dexterity in my hands and some of the finer details had been forgotten. But eventually, I fell back into the rhythm of slinging rings and weaving metal. It was glorious!
And that brings us to the current state of affairs -- Covid-19. Just as I began to really create again, the pandemic swept across the country and closed, well, pretty much everything. In the last few months, I've seen suppliers run out of inventory and even close their doors forever. It has been difficult for everyone, but I am eternally thankful that so far my family and I have avoided the virus and many of the difficulties that have developed from the crisis. Throughout all of it, I have made countless pieces of new jewelry and have rediscovered my passion for chainmaille. I have piles and piles of it, just waiting to be photographed and shared with all of you!
So, when is it coming?
The short answer is, "eventually." If you visit the Gypsy Grove Etsy shop, you'll notice that it is running with limited stock. That's simply because supplies have been so difficult to receive in a timely manner. I do not want clients waiting for weeks while I hope that shipments arrive safely. So, I chose to limit stock to things easily created with what I already have on hand while slowly building up a stockpile of supplies. This is working out quite nicely so far, and I have a lot of beautiful things to share with you. But the shortage of supplies is not the only reason for the delay. Big, BIG changes are coming to Gypsy Grove. Changes that I have been considering for at least a year and are currently being put into motion behind the scenes. I don't yet know when I'll have all the pieces in place, but I am hoping that it will be by the end of the year. That's why the website has been reduced to bare bones. You can still easily contact me here, through the site, or find your way over to the Etsy shop by using the links at the top of the page. (The Amazon shop remains closed.)
To stay updated, I encourage you to join me over on Facebook or Instagram (links at the top). I'll be posting more in the weeks to come about the exciting changes in store for the Grove. I'll also be sharing sneak peeks at new jewelry and even tossing a sale or two in along the way. The last two years have been dark and starless, but a brighter moon is rising in the Grove!
Finally, a huge thank you to everyone that has supported me and the Grove for so long. Your encouragement and kind words have helped me through so many dark days. It has been my great honor to create for each of you. From the depths of my heart, I am grateful and humbled by your kindness.
Now, time for me to get back to work.