I hope you receive all the love poured into the creation of these little tokens of my fondest affections.
Welcome!
My name is Amanda Burdine. I am a single mother of three wonderful children Sally, Dick, and Jane (Yes, I really did that). When our family structure shattered due to my love’s distracted interests, I was lost and completely broken—in desperate need of an outlet. However, with two children and one on the way, it seemed like no relief was in my stars. Whereas previously art had always been a constructive outlet for me, my time for such leisure was obviously quite limited. All my efforts and spare moments needed to go towards caring and providing for my precious children.
During this very dark time in my life, someone gave me an Etsy gift card to cheer me up. Little did they know they had opened the door to more than a quick dip into retail therapy. I thought, why buy myself one necklace when I could make exactly what I want, not only for me but for others also? Thus, the shop Tokens of Gerontion was born. Not only did I get to use my innate, artistic coping mechanism to heal my broken soul but I also had found a way to supplement my limited income and use my passion to provide for my family, without feeling like I was failing to make productive use of my time.
If you could not tell by the names I chose for my children, literature has always been near and dear to my heart. I wanted to create pieces that spoke to that, and allowed my lifelong affection to take a literal form, as beautiful as the love itself. My mate had been much of a reader himself and left his antique book collection in my care. I found comfort in making something beautiful from what little I had left of him. Every piece is made with all the love I have to offer; the love for my children, the reminder of the love I had for my husband, and the love of art and literature that has been my leading passion for most of my life. I hope that through my product I can share all that love with you!
I liked the idea of using common, natural materials in my work as it was not the extraordinary that gave me comfort during my crisis, but the little niceties of the simplest act of kindness or just an average day without the weight of pain. I use little things like lady bugs and flies and common flowers as a tribute to the soothing comfort of the basic thing in life.
I hope you enjoy your purchase and receive all the love poured into their creation.