A Wonderful Surprise

If you have been a follower of mine for any length of time you know that Awareness is very important to me.  I love to make Awareness Treasuries on Etsy.  I have been feeling blue so I curated an Awareness Treasury last week to help bring my spirits up.  In addition to the usual thank-you's I received a wonderful gift along with a note stating that the giver had also been in a less than perfect mood and my inclusion of her item in the Treasury lifted her spirits too,.  I researched this gift and the shop where other gifts just like mine are for sale.
The story behind the items in this shop was so inspiring that I had to interview the owner. The gift that I received was my very own... Random Acts of Kindness Hide-A-Heart.

Here is the interview that I promised:

Thank you for this opportunity to share the HIDE A HEART Story with you and your readers.

How and where do you work and what do you make?

I work out of my home in one of the bedrooms now known as HIDE A HEART HQ. It is a small space with a large window, so it has afternoon sun and a view of the front flower gardens. I have attached a photo of the work table and as you can see it is cluttered, a perpetual state of 'being'!
 
Both my husband and I created the game, name and trademark of HIDE A HEART. I create all the heart ideas and applications of using HIDE A HEART including the font selection on the hearts (which is Gigi because that is the name my granddaughters call me) the printed materials, photographing, packaging, brochures, blogging, marketing, selling, etc. etc. etc.

Is there a reason WHY HIDE A HEART was begun?
Our youngest son was injured in a car crash about 6.5 years ago. Thus far he has not recovered enough to be conventionally employed. My husband is retired but we did not 'plan' funds for our support to also stretch to support our son for an undetermined number of years.

So one day, while brainstorming how we might create a revenue stream for ourselves as well as a means of work our son might eventually be well enough to take over, Randy and I thought about how twenty-nine years ago we began hiding a little red glass heart for each other as a simple, romantic and fun way to express affection. We have, over the years, introduced some of our friends to the idea and that's how and why HIDE A HEART began. For more details, please visit www.hideaheart.wordpress.com

I love the concept of Hide-A-Heart.  Can you tell us the oddest or most amusing place you have hidden or found your heart?


One day a few years ago, I realized I had not 'discovered' the little glass heart in quite a while. "Hmmm" I thought, "maybe I should actively LOOK for it." You see, I had become a little dependent on finding the heart unexpectedly because it was reassuring and always made me smile.

So, I began with cleaning the bedroom from top to bottom, including the closets and chest of drawers...even vacuuming UNDER the bed! Nothing. So I moved to the bathroom and cleaned and organized the drawers and medicine cabinet...Nothing! I went on to the linen closet, then to the kitchen cupboards and drawers!! NOTHING!! I was so bummed I decided to bake some scones to comfort me in my disappointment. When I dipped the measuring cup into the sugar canister, a little red glass heart was peeking out from under the sugar. I sat down and cried and laughed at the same time!

Do you have any customer testimonials you would like to share.  A story that has touched you.

A darling 'Love You' HIDE A HEART story can be found at http://desperatelyseekingsanity.com/2010/06/01/a-gift-a-game-both
However, most stories I hear come from people who give the purple 'Hope & Healing' HIDE A HEART to someone. There are many 'Hope & Healing' stories, but a recent one came from a woman who gave the 'Hope & Healing' heart to her sister-in-law who had recently been diagnosed with cancer. After receiving the gift, her sister-in-law called her to say she was taking the purple heart with her each time she went for treatment and keeping it in the pocket of her robe when at home so she could reach in and touch it and be reminded of the love and support of her sister-in-law.

Do you have any plans for other hearts in the future?


YOU would NOT believe the ideas I have for hearts!  But, so far I have hearts to say 'Love You', 'XOXO', 'Forgive', and 'Hope & Healing'. I also have a 'Prayer' heart with a cross and soon a Star of David and a 'Universal Ribbon' heart and an 'Oh La La' heart with, respectfully, the ribbon or lips fashioned out of rhinestones and a 'Claddagh' for friendship. I have a 'Random Acts of Kindness' heart too. Most can be seen on www.hideaheart.etsy.com  

Is there anything else that you would like to share with us? While HIDE A HEART is not yet a viable business, the project has proven to be a catalyst for healing my own spirit. Please visit www.hideaheart.wordpress.com to read about how and why.
Where can Hide-A-Hearts be purchased?
HIDE A HEART can be purchased at www.hideaheart.etsy.com or Amazon.com by searching Love You or Hope and Healing or Forgive HIDE A HEART or visit www.hideaheart.com where you can find more testimonials as well as purchase a HIDE A HEART.

Thank-You so much for my Random Acts of Kindness Hide A Heart,  It is such a great gift idea,.  I encourage everyone to give a Hide A Heart  to someone you know or (as in my case) to someone you don’t know.

Here are links to Hide
A Heart on the internet:

Etsy Shop
Hide A Heart
Facebook
Twitter
Wordpress
Blogspot