RAPID CITY - Often, life's obstacles bring about new opportunities.

Such is the case with jewelry designer Karen Marso, whose handmade collection will be for sale this weekend at the Country Fair craft show at Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.

Several years ago when Marso was battling breast cancer, one of her sisters sent her a cancer bracelet that she had made. Marso wore the bracelet to work, where it broke one day. She promptly picked up all the beads, put them in an envelope, and mailed them back to her sister for repair. When the bracelet came back to her, Marso noticed that her sister had added to it, changed it slightly, and also included another one for her. "At that point," she said "a bell just went off for me, and I thought, 'Why don't I do this?'" and Sisters Handmade Jewelry was born.

That was about three years ago. Marso said she started out making earrings and bringing them to work, where her co-workers would ask her if she could make similar jewelry for them. That led to necklaces and bracelets, and Marso said she discovered "her calling." She has been selling her jewelry for the past two years.

A self-described "jewelry fanatic," Marso said she has always loved jewelry, "heading directly for the jewelry booths at the craft shows." These days, she sells her own jewelry at craft fairs, working about four shows a year. Her creations are also for sale at Victoria's Garden, a local florist and gift shop in Rapid City.

She takes special orders and also works on wedding designs in which she matches the jewelry to the bridal gowns. She is also interested in doing "home shows," where she would bring her designs to parties, offering them for sale to the hostess and guests. She said she will make earrings "to match," shorten, lengthen, transform: "Pretty much anything people want."

Marso doesn't follow jewelry trends and describes her work as "classic, timeless, and unique." Using sterling silver bought mostly online, she tries to buy beads locally at rock shops and also attends bead shows, including one this past spring in Denver, always keeping an eye out for the unusual.

Using strings and wire, Marso fashions glass beads, Tibetan pendants and semi-precious stones such as leopard skin jasper, Russian serpentine, turquoise, coral, freshwater pearls, unakite, dichroic glass, and onyx into unique pieces that appeal to jewelry connoisseurs of all ages.

Although Marso would like to make a living designing jewelry fulltime, she still has her day job at Freed's Fine Furnishings, where she works extensively with color, complementing her jewelry business.

"Everything I've done is artistic, from working at a photography studio, doing outdoor signs, calligraphy, interior design, and now, jewelry. All part of the creative process."

Marso's earrings start at about $13 a pair, bracelets run about $25, and necklaces range anywhere from $40 to $80 for a one-of-a-kind designs seen nowhere else.

She is looking forward to the exposure she will receive at this weekend's craft fair.

"I just want people to know my name and to associate it with quality," she said.

If you go

What: Country Fair Fall Arts & Crafts Show

When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 23

Where: Rushmore Plaza Civic Center

Cost: $1 for adults, children admitted free; proceeds benefit Rushmore Lions Club Sight & Service Projects