Milton crafter's wedding bouquets bring joy - and light - to that special day

Tina Bonsall, right, with an array of suncatchers and prisms and one of her wedding bouquets, which also light up (Courtesy photos)

MILTON - Tina Bonsall likes making custom-designed jewelry wedding bouquets. She also likes making people smile.

And her business of crafting those and other such fetching baubles let her do both.

She's been operating Ladytinabelljewelry out of her White Mountain Highway home for four years now. Two weeks ago she decided to go public; she opened up her showroom to the public.

The shop's sign at 184 White Mountain Highway in Milton

"I used to just allow appointments, but I decided earlier this month to open up the shop to walk-ins," she said on Tuesday.

Much of her handiwork is done for weddings, including the creation of wedding bouquets that light up.

"I design them around the bride's dress and the color themes of her wedding," she added.

She also makes wind chimes, suncatchers, prisms and crosses, sometimes even taking a piece already made and making it brand new with her own special flair.

She said the business brings her much more than just a way to make some extra income to help pay bills.

"I enjoy what I do," she said. "I love meeting the people that come in and take one of my items home with them and see the smiles on there faces."

Bonsall said she gives back on many levels, which has its own rewards.

"I will make bouquets for brides that can't afford one, and I will make wind chimes and suncatchers for people who have cancer or have lost a loved one whatever the circumstance," she added.

She also donates pieces to local charities so they can make money selling them.

"It's my way of giving back to the community," she said. "God gave me these special skills so I share them with others. To me my business is not about getting rich, it's about how can I bring a smile to people's faces. A lot of people donate to me and it helps me to be able to keep giving back. It brings me much joy."

Her shop is located at 184 White Mountain Hwy. about a mile north of the Milton line, where she just put up her signs about two weeks ago. It is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday-Monday.

You can find her website at ladytinabelljewelryweddingbouquets.com or go to Facebook at Ladytinabell.com.