Tuesday, March 01, 2005
By BRENDA G. ANDERSON
Correspondent
Copyright 2005 al.com. All Rights Reserved.

Donna Grant Eiland doesn't have a lot of time for her jewelry business these days. She is focused on her husband, Bo, the victim of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as ALS.

Married in 1998, Bo Eiland was diagnosed in 2003. "I am Bo's primary caregiver. A nurse comes by a couple times weekly, but otherwise I take care of him. He has a great outlook and is not angry about his situation," said Donna Eiland.

"I didn't know much about this disease until I met Kelly Ivey last spring. His daughter also has ALS. He encouraged me to take Bo to UAB Medical Center in Birmingham last summer. That probably saved his life," she said. "After our trip to Birmingham, Bo was able to attend his daughter's wedding reception. He also got to see his new grandchild last month."

Since people like her knew little of this deadly disease, Eiland hopes to promote public awareness. "I would like to design a piece of jewelry or pin denoting ALS which would focus attention on research and a cure," she said.

Eiland has been designing jewelry for several years. "After high school, I worked in marketing for a Birmingham bank. It was a good job, but I wanted to work with my hands and use my creativity. A friend sent me a pair of earrings made from a spoon. I told myself, I can do that, too,'" she said.

She began collecting old silverware: the more ornate, the better. With boxes and boxes of beautiful spoons and forks, Eiland began her business. "I had bracelets and earrings in several Birmingham stores," Eiland said.

Eiland began to branch out with new ideas. "I've always loved roses. My next project was collecting old china plates, cutting them with a wet tile saw then soldering on the casing for brooches and earrings. The word got out. I had people asking me to make something out of their grandmother's china plate or other sentimental pieces," she said.

Since retail was too demanding, Eiland chose to market her items through retail shops. "At the Pink Tulip in Birmingham, my china jewelry became their best sellers in 1997. I then went to market in Atlanta and sold to retailers," she said.

After experiencing a divorce, Eiland moved to her cottage in Fairhope. "I was tired of soldering and tile cutting, so phased into porcelain jewelry. I use the same process as used on England's Chintz pottery. My jewelry has the same effect as porcelain china pieces," Eiland said.

Currently, her porcelain jewelry is sold in the Eastern Shore's Spoiled Rotten and Enchanted Cottage and Mobile's Tiny Town.

Her business name, Victoria, came from her grandmother. "I loved her name and said if I ever had a little girl I would name her that. One year before my daughter was born, I had named my business Victoria. So now, I have Victoria, my daughter, and Victoria, my business," she said.

Eiland has been featured in the Shelby County newspaper. Her work is also featured in Southern Lady and Victoria Homes magazines.

But, for now, Eiland is focusing on her husband. "Good friends help with their support. My neighbor, B. Sumrall, and my friend, Dina Loper, have been great. Sherwood Helms and Tony Ondracka come by faithfully to see Bo. Every day, I ask God to give us inner strength," Eiland said.