30 Word Thursday - Oops is it Friday Already?

Two years ago we had little snow,

The temps were mild and spring went wild.

This was my yard, trees were in full bloom...

the first week in April 2012.

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The premise of 30 Words Thursdays is simple...

Take an image (preferably one you shot, or have permission to use).

Write 30 Words about it. No more. No less.

Post it each Thursday.

Add your link to the InLinkz on Erin Prais-Hintz 30 Words Thursday post.
(InLinkz code will be open for one week.) Enjoy seeing what others have captured by visiting them and leaving a comment.

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Believe - Jewelry with a Message

be·lieve  

/biˈlēv/

Verb

1. Accept (something) as true; feel sure of the truth of: "the superintendent believed Lancaster's story".
2. Accept the statement of (someone) as true.

It's interesting what grabs our attention, as we're listening to music, watching tv, scrolling through Facebook and Twitter. As I'm dancing around on Pinterest, I have one board set up for inspiring quotes.  As I'm looking at it, I see a pattern in the words that capture my attention... Love, Dream, Believe.  I think everything in life has a message for us as we are all connected by energy.  SO it's no wonder that when I design jewelry, often these same words will show up in my custom creations.

I recently finished a custom order for a woman who has faced her own life challenges head on, followed her dream and now she's helping other people every single day.  She's using her gifts and her knowledge to help other people live better lives and literally feel better from the inside out. 

When we choose to follow the path to our dreams, it's not all straight and full of white picket fences.  People will think you are crazy at times to give up _________ (fill in the blank from your own experiences) which is well paying, has great benefits, predictable future in lieu of fulfilling your passion.

It's at this point that you need to look in the mirror, smile at the person you see looking back at you and tell them YOU Believe in them.  From the tips of the toes to the top of your head, believe in your dreams and work to achieve them. 

Why work tirelessly for someone else's dreams when you can put your energy and love into creating your own!  Believe...


What words speak to you?  If you'd like to have a special piece of jewelry custom designed with your special message, contact me via my Facebook Page - Bella Amore Legacy Jewelry.  I love designing exclusive pieces of jewelry that hold deep meaning.  My beaded jewelry designs are more than just jewelry - they become part of your legacy.  Show the world who you are and pass down your message for generations to come!

Love - Focus on What Really Matters, Pendant by Erin Prais-Hintz

Hope Eternal - Runner up in Make it for Mom Design Contest

The Journey - Challenge of Color 2012

Welcome to the Challenge of Color Blog Hop.  I first want to thank Erin Prais-Hintz for her wonderful organization of this event and the encouragement to all of the participants that signed up.  Erin, this challenge always inspires me, but I had no idea just where this would take me when I signed up this year.

This year, Erin partnered with Brandi Hussey to create some amazing color palettes using the theme Earth as Art.  Each of us were assigned two and we can choose whichever one we pleased.  I revealed my two color palettes earlier this month but wasn't going to tell you which one I picked.

While I love purple, eat, sleep and breathe purple... I actually chose the second palette, Empty Quarter featuring shades of grey (not quite fifty) & burgundy.  Can I tell you, when the student is ready the teacher will appear.  In this case Erin was a teacher (literally and figuratively) in my life.  I can't even put into words how grateful I am for that.  This is how I tell the story...

 At the time of sign-up we had just discovered 3 brain tumors in my baby brother (28).  The color of the Brain Tumor Awareness ribbon is Grey.  Secondarily, in September we found out my grandma whom I'm very close with was diagnosed as having Multiple Myeloma - a blood cancer.  She's currently undergoing treatments for that as well.  Is it a coincidence that the Multiple Myeloma Awareness ribbon is Burgandy?

I've been living at my brother's home this month taking him to daily treatments.  What I've been able to help him with, he's given me back in laughter and love.  We're still undergoing treatments and on this journey together.

Therefore... since the journey continues as does my piece.  It's not finished, but I see in my soul the big picture of what it's going to be.

The necklace is featuring many bead embroidered components.  It may be a bib-style necklace when all is said and done or it could morph into a full-blown collar.  The cabochons feature photos of my brother Greg and my grandparents as well as one that says family (those need to be finished).  Both photos were taken at our September birthday party before we knew Greg's brain tumor had returned.

Awareness Ribbon color was added with nail polish!

I've added additional components that also bring in the grey and burgundy/red theme.  I've added some bling and sparkle around various cabochons using sequins (I know my friend Sarah of Saturday Sequins will love that) and a crystal link chain. 

None of the components have been edged or backed yet... so you'll see string and such in the photos.  I also didn't have my usual photo set up (doesn't work when your digital camera USB cable is at home and you're on the road) so my photos have been taken with my phone.

So as this journey continues, my beaded art necklace which was a challenge in color will continue to grow and become more beautiful with each piece of the puzzle in place.

The Journey - bringing awareness to people that have been touched by brain tumors or multiple myeloma!  We all travel The Journey together - arm in arm, heart to heart!

To see all of the rest of the participants, please do visit Erin's blog.  See her inspired designs and the other artisans that are participating in the challenge.  Allow yourself to grow and let YOUR creativity tell your story! 

As we continue treatments with Greg, just know he's in great spirits and takes great pride in making me laugh every day!  It's the best way to fight a tough fight!

Peace & love to you,
{Hugs!}
Dawn

Participating in the Challenge of Color again!

I'm so excited that it's time again for Erin Prais-Hintz (Treasure's Found Blog) Challenge of Color.  In lieu of recent happenings in my world, I'm finding beading to be my peace. 

Last year when I participated in Erin's challenge she gave us great color palettes from Design Seeds to use as inspiration to create something wonderful.  I still get Design Seeds e-mail color palettes everyday and love the ideas and creativity it sparks! 

This year, Erin is working with Brandi Hussey (Brandi Girl Blog) to give us color palettes in the theme Earth as Art!  We were assigned two color palettes and we could choose whichever one we wanted. 

Here were my two choices:

I'm not going to tell you which one I chose until November 30th the day of the blog hop.  I'm not sure if I'll have an entire piece finished by then, but I am taking each bead as therapy in this journey I'm currently on with my family.  Beading is my peace, so let this be called The Challenge of Peaceful Color blog hop!

Hope your week is full of creative inspiration and love!
{Hugs!}
Dawn

Challenge of MUSIC - Blog Leap to Celebrate Music

When we were challenged by my good friend Erin Prais-Hintz from Treasures Found, to find a piece of music that spoke to us and turn that inspiration into a piece of jewelry, I dug into the recesses of my brain and yet, inspiration hit when I was driving.  Firefall's Just Remember I Love You came on XM and I was there... transported to a place of inspiration and seeing the jewelry I wanted to create.  So before we go further, doncha think you want to hear the song?  Yep, I thought so!  So here it is...  http://youtu.be/4mOUtxJDOV8

This song just speaks to me every time it comes on the stereo.  I'm a romantic at heart, so you KNOW that this is about to get all sappy up in here.  When Chris & I first started dating, he had gotten new truck.  He showed up at my work to surprise me.  Low and behold, when we got in the truck this song was playing on the radio.  Ever since then whenever it comes on the radio, up goes the volume and flutter goes my heart. 

The piece I created started with the focal.  The cab features a couple looking like they are saying goodbye before this man heads off to war.  It just really talked to me and I chose to pull out many of the colors from that focal to make the rest of the necklace.  I made a few accents featuring the green, pink and peach.  Then since the necklace was of fairly large scale I created a chain of beaded rings on either side of the necklace.

Pulling from the dark grey black & white vibe of the couple pictured, I pulled in some gunmetal chain and a gunmetal toggle to finish this design.  The toggle is a beautifully stamped Love toggle that has a heart charm dangling off it.  The beaded rings I created for the chain were adapted from Cynthia Rutledge's pattern in the June/July 2011 Beadwork Magazine. 

If you like the design, I have to give a big thank you to Sandy Spivey for creating this beautiful focal.  I loved this focal, and the one with the wolves that I used for a custom order prior to Christmas.  I went back to Sandy to ask her if she'd make a few custom cabs for me featuring my furbabies.  She was superb and worked with me to get the photos just right in the cabs.  SO if you'd like to connect with Sandy, she has an etsy store at:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/GlassArtCabochons.

Special thank you to Erin for organizing another wonderful challenge.  I love it when Erin pushes us to think outside of the box.  I hope you enjoy hearing my inspiration and seeing my bead embroidered jewelry I created from the heart.

{Hugs!}
~Dawn

To continue blog hopping, here's a list of all the other participants that have been inspired by music!

Erin Prais-Hintz

Marcie Abney

Christine Altmiller

Elisabeth Auld

LJ B

Lori Bowring Michaud

Shannon Chomanczuk

Cece Cormier

Jenny Davies-Reazor

Malin de Koning
Dawn Doucette <--- YOU ARE HERE

Beth Emery

Michelle Escano-Caballero

Erin Fickert-Rowland

Therese Frank

Amy Freeland

Tanya Goodwin

Stephani Gorman

Amy Grass

Beth Hemmila

Kristina Johansson

Jennifer Justman

Tari Kahrs

Susan Kennedy

Ema Kilroy

Kathleen Lange Klik

Kirsi Luostarinen

Paige Maxim

Beth McCord

Natalie McKenna

Alice Peterson

Cat Pruitt

Bobbie Rafferty

Johanna Rhodes

Cynthia Riggs

Sally Russick

Sarah Sequins

Amy Severino

Staci Smith

Kristen Stevens

Lola Surwillo

Stefanie Teufel

Sandi Volpe

Holly Westfall

Shaiha Williams

Are you up to a Challenge

Today is the big reveal day for my friend Erin's Challenge of... Contest.  The last challenge Erin put together was a challenge of color.  We were asked to pick a color family and then assigned a color palette in that family to design a unique piece of jewelry from.  That was a BOATLOAD of fun and it really helped me think outside of my normal old shoes rut (purple, turquoise and brown). 

So when I heard that Erin wold be making the announcement TODAY for this round of Challenge (which I love Challenge on the Food Network) I actually wrote it in my planner (yes the real paper version) to make sure to check out Erin's blog AND get my butt signed up because I know there's a limited number of spaces.

This morning Erin posted a great blog post to introduce The Challenge of Music.  You have to read her post because honestly, it paints you the perfect picture of inspiration for this challenge.  I know I'm crazy despite packing and moving to think I can do a challenge... But like the Little Red Caboose, I think I can, I think I can!"

I love challenges of any sort... it stimulates growth and growing is always a good thing!  SO if you would like to participate in The Challenge of Music by Erin Prais-Hintz, go to her blog post, take a read and be ready for a wonderful, creative journey!  Sign ups are limited and only open from today (2/1) through February 4th.

Look forward to seeing what YOU come up with!
{Hugs!}
Dawn

Challenge of Color Entry - A Walk in the Woods

Challenge of Color Entry A Walk in the Woods is available in my Online Store!

Fast Friday Post to get you up to speed

This is going to be a speedy post today because our little Bella had surgery yesterday and I'm now an official Licking Referee.  I hope the stripes look good on me.

Bella is in great shape.  She woke up with her usual appetite today, and I can tell she's going to be a fast healer.

I've had a few pieces of jewelry I've been working on sporadically throughout the week.  I'll have more to share with that, AFTER I get the photos.  I'm waiting for an order from Artbeads.com since they just had a stupendous $0.99 sale.  We all love a sale... but dollar days are my favorite!

My dear friend Erin Prais-Hintz celebrated a birthday this week.  (Shhh, don't tell her I told you, but she's only 25 -again, wink, wink)  In celebration, she's sharing more about her and having several giveaways.  Pop over to her blog to wish her a happy birthday and check out her birthday un-present!  http://treasures-found.blogspot.com/

That's all Bella is giving me time for... off to referee!  Hope your weekend is fantastic!
{Hugs!}
Dawn

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