I purchased a pair of earrings with the name Laurel Burch printed on the back. So I decided to research her name and find out what I could about Laurel Burch. The story and pictures I found about her life were quite interesting to me so I decided to share the story with everyone in my blog. Many collectors have been drawn to her by her spirit and her beautiful designs that have been touched by her life.

Laurel Burch moved out of her childhood home at the young age of 14, because life at home was not good. She was living in Southern California at the that time. She took nothing with her but a paper bag with her clothes, and she was suffering from osteoporosis a rare bone disease she was born with. She tried to find odd jobs in order to survive, but with her fragile body she could not work hard. So most of the time she had no job, no money and not many dreams for her life.

Laurel began her search for connectedness and something she could do to survive. She found that God had given her a beautiful gift of making jewelry out of old coins, bones and beads. As people passed her by on the streets they would admire her unusual creations of jewelry and ask where they could buy jewelry like hers. She began to trade and sell her jewelry so she could get the things she needed to survive. She even gave some pieces away to cheer up other peoples lives. Her jewelry designs and creations helped her to make many friends and she found these friends were beginning to collect her jewelry.

Laurel often had to work from her bed or wheel chair while designing and making her beautiful creations. Laurel always said, "I refuse to have anything in my life that I can't turn into something beautiful or magical, I just simply refuse." Her art and jewelry designs will forever bring a sense of joy, passion, and brightness to peoples lives. Laurel shared her talents with a long list of charitable causes, helping to design book covers, posters and other things in order for them to raise money to help others. Laurel passed away on September 13, 2007 due to complications from her bone disease. OH! but what a inspiration she was to all the people she touched with her life and designs. Out of her life of hurt and pain and now her ashes she made something great come from her life.

I'm going to keep the earrings you see in the picture as a remembrance of Laurel and what her life has taught so many others. That when life deals you a bad hand, never give up, do what Laurel did with her life by making it something beautiful by touching others with the gifts she was given. Thank you Laurel, I am forever thankful and grateful I found that pair of your earrings and looked up your story. You are now a never ending inspiration in my life and I hope to find many more of your creations in the future.

Sandra Compton

Uniquely Yours