Hello. My name is Mary McCarthy and I am 34. I have a husband, Tim 38, and two children, Melissa 13 & Timbo 7. We live on/operate my father's small farm. I am making the (slow) transition from working outside the home to making/selling jewelry fulltime. I have a background in mechanical design and manufacturing but I am currently working in a preschool classroom for Autistic children. I enjoy working with any children and have found this job to be a rewarding experience however, my son was recently diagnosed with a serious childhood disease which causes him to miss school frequently. As a result, my hours at work have been reduced. I have always made jewelry for extra income, so my husband and I decided that I could make jewelry at home when my son doesn't require my presence. I have been building a shop in the cellar, I have several orders to fill, (somehow even one for a small local gallery) and I am very excited.