Two of my loves Glass Beads and the color Purple

Two of my loves are also coffee and donuts, but you didn't come here to find that out, did you now?  

What you really came here to read about were either A. Glass Beads or B. The Color Purple... either way, grab a napkin because you're gonna drool!  PROMISE!

Earlier this summer I was doing a wee bit of shopping and stumbled across the most awesome maxi-dress.  It was this fabulous purple and green bohemian style flowy sundress.  Honestly, it jumped right off the rack and said, "Take me Dawn, I'm yours."  And how could I not.  It looked like me even without me in it!  So home with me it came... along with the idea that I MUST have a necklace to go with it.  That was May...

Then was that infamous trip for coffee where something else said "Bring me home Dawn, I'm yours."  And so I did... and thus the necklace for this most perfect dress has been a work in progress during stolen moments of beading time for nearly 3 months.

I poured so many things I love into this necklace... obviously purple... with a dash of green.  Beyond that, I like rounded shapes... I've always had an eye for angular rather than perpendicular or parallel.  (Yes, in my dream bedroom, the bed will be at an angle, with the headboard in the corner.)  I love big bling, so the crystals add a pop or shparkle... yep, I spelled it shparkle because I can!  And I adore lampwork glass beads.  In this necklace I used some custom made lampwork beads from Julsbeads.  I mixed it all up with a host of seed beads and stones (agate, and some jasper thingy or other, and some shparkley purple glittery stones I had in a stash from who knows where) and voila!

And since I mentioned DONUTS... if you pop over to Juls Blog, she's got donuts over there... sorta.  It's a big 'ole Blog-o-versary and she's doing one.heck.of.a.hu-mungo.GIVEAWAY.  Then you can get your OWN donuts and pretty coily beads.  So just wiggle that little tushy of yours over there and enter... hurry because one the blog-o-versary donuts are gone, the party is O-V-E-R over! 

**Disclaimer: This blog post is 100% calorie free eye candy.  Designs by Dawn Marie will not be held responsible for licking of computer monitors, uncontrolled drooling, or twitching mouse finger.  If you experience any of these symptoms, please seek help immediately.

Thanks for playing! :o)

The woman is crazy - like completely off her rocker CRAZY!

Honestly, when someone's done gone and lost her mind, can we help her find a support group?  I'm working on it, but I'm drooling all over my keyboard and it's getting in the way!

I'm talking about our sweet southern lampwork artists Juli Cannon y'all (her y'all not mine.)  She's been crazy making beads the last few days and even crazier listing them in her StudioJuls Store!  What's really crazy... these sets of beads are only $10 each... that's nuts!  I don't care if it's walnuts, pistacios, peanuts or almonds... she's a whole mixed bag of nuts listing these sets for $10.  That's 1/2 price y'all (again, her y'all, not mine.)

So before she comes to her right mind (or I find a support group for nutty glass artists) I'd scoot your little patootie over to Studio Juls right now and scoop up your favorite sets! 

Like the beads but don't make jewelry (Stacy, Jenna, Kathy and so many more) pick some up and ask Juls to ship 'em this way!  I'm happy to make you something custom with these delicious baubbles! 

So don't wait... she might find the mind she's lost!  http://studiojuls.bigcartel.com/

Have a Wacky Wednesday! :o)

**Fine Print:  All images belong to JulsBeads.  All Rights Reserved.

What's the next best thing to free?

A big A$$ sale!  You heard me, I'm sharing the abundance of love display by my super friend Juli Cannon - JulsBeads.  The sale started yesterday (and I'm a bit slow) so I'm telling y'all (Juls word) about her super.duper.fantastic tax sale!  It runs through Wednesday so y'all can still get in on the good stuff!

Here's the link to Juls' Etsy Store:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/Julsbeads

Still Available in Juls Etsy Store

When you go there, the message is at the top for getting free shipping AND FREE BEADS!  Yes, I didn't have a typo there... free beads! 

Mine, Mine, Mine

If you've been drooling then now's the time to act!  Scoop up some of these gorgeous lampwork beads and I can't wait to see what you design with them!  I got these in the mail on Monday and I have to tell you, it was love at first sight!  Honestly!

Sent to me for a custom order!

♥ Peace & Beading! ♥

She only turns 75 once!

And that is why I've designed this very, VERY special gift! Yes, it took many hours and lots of love, but this beauty is a special gift for a special lady turning 3/4 of a century old!  Seriously... doesn't that sound so authoritative saying 3/4 of a century? LOL

The Focal was hand selected from my dear friend Juls Beads.  Literally the second she put this one up in shop, I was jumping up and down, squealing - gimme, gimme, gimme!!!  This stunning bead has an opal irridescent appearance dancing right through the middle of the bead.  And since Opal is October's birthstone... and the recipient (who hasn't yet gotten this lovely) LOVES opals... thus the perfect marriage!

I used a gorgeous mix of purples and amber beads to really make the opal quality pop, and yet stay neutral colored so she can wear it with anything.  Copper wire adds a warm glow and those round amethyst crytals... well I'll let their bling speak for themselves!

All in all, I know this piece is going to make the 75th birthday the very best she's ever had... and I know I don't have to worry about her seeing this on my blog today, because she was on the computer last Monday and it'll be at least another week before she "turns that thing on again." :)  Don't tell me you haven't heard somebody say that before! 

Hope your weekend is wonderful!  We'll be celebrating with bells on as it is also my sweetie's birthday!

{Hugs!}

Birthday Beads!!!

It's my party and I'll cry if I want to... and I really do when I get such great presents as these....

Yes, my mama saw me virtually drooling over this set of Juls Beads on Facebook over a month ago and she went in and bought them instantly.  I actually had looked at the listing again a day after I posted it and was so bummed when I saw somebody had bought them.  I was happy for Juls because I love seeing success for my friends... but sad for me.  Because I loved them... and I wanted them... and I just wanted to cry 'cuz I couldn't have them.

Until now... Here's your mental picture... I know you'll enjoy it.  My beautiful niece Ashlynn brings me this little package wrapped in polka dot tissue and ribbon... all the while singing ♫ Happy Birthday to You... Happy Birthday Auntie Dawn... Happy Birthday to you! ♪  Then she says "Auntie Dawn, open your present!"  LOL  It was absolutely precious!

I had no idea... I was so happy I could cry and now I get to take my beautiful beads that my mom knew I had to have, up to a bead show in Sun Prairie this coming weekend to possibly find some perfectly complimentary beads.... to make something special that I'll wear and cherish forever!  Don't you just love happy endings?

Okay... I'm going to eat cake now! 
~Peace & Love!

I'm addicted

Yep, that's right.  The first step in healing is admitting... right?  Well, I'm saying it right here, out in the open, I'm addicted to Lampwork Glass beads... in particular those designed at the hands of Juls Beads.  She's such a talented glass artist and a really wonderful gal.  Just recently I found the idea that would be the perfect showcase for the very first JulsBead I ever received.

The focal bead was so delicious I wanted to make sure it stood out.  So thus, I created a seed bead rope in complimentary iridescent black & purples.

But to make the addiction even more intense, I just read an update on Juls Blog that she's having a sale on all her focal beads... Now SALE and BEADS in the same sentence... sit on my hands and take away the Paypal log in!  Seriously!!  So if I were you, I'd Skeedaddle your little butt over there and pick out a few special pieces for yourself... OR for special Christmas gifts you are going to make for people!  I'll lead by example... :)

{Hugs!}
Dawn

Lampwork Glass Starfish Necklace

The inspiration for most of the pieces I create come from something, somewhere, or someone specific.  In other words I design from the heart.  Which if you get to know me, you'll quickly learn that's really how I am in every aspect of my life.  I live by my intuition and love from the heart.

About a month ago, I ordered a pendant that just really caught my eye, but at that time, I didn't know exactly why or what it would turn into.  This week, I had my Ah-Ha moment with the starfish pendant.

I gained all sorts of inspiration from the cute little starfish, added some Mother of Pearl, some adorable glass sea shell beads and viola!

I designed this set as a gift for someone who is facing adversity with a smile on her face and love seeping out of all of her pores.  As a family over the years, they shared wonderful trips to the Caribbean and spent many special moments scuba diving with the fish.  This is just a little something to give you a moment to reminisce over happy times, and gain strength to get you through the challenging moments you are facing today!  I know in my heart, the Good Health Fairy will be knocking on your door soon, bringing strength and love so you guys can plan another wonderful adventure in the next chapter together!  Just make sure you answer the door when she knocks!

P.S.  Aren't the dangly seashells so adorable on these earrings?  I just 'wubs 'em! :)

The Biggest Compliment

The biggest compliment you can get is a special order from family. I'm not joking, when my Grandma (who happens to be very stylish and hip) called me last night asking me to make a custom piece for her long time friend Pat for her birthday, I felt so happy. Grandma saw some pictures of my designs over on our family blog and she knew I would make something special.

So after talking with Grandma we decided on a bracelet and earrings set. Now for the fun part... ahhh, what to make. I have so many wonderful memories of time spent with Grandma (and Pat) growing up. I would get 1 full week of Grandma/Dawn time every summer. As there were 20+ grandkids, this one-on-one time was SUPER special. One of the unique fun things we would do is go flying with Pat. Pat's been a small plane pilot for years and she'd always make a special day when the skies were blue to take Grandma & I up above the world in a little Cesna plane. We'd go somewhere just a few hours away, have a nice lunch and fly home!

I felt really special and I know it meant the world to both Grandma & Pat just seeing the smile on my face. So in memory of all our times flying, I kept thinking "Blue Sky." But the light blue just wasn't perfect... Pat wears bolder colors. So I chose a cobalt blue with the clear beads accenting like clouds accent the sky!

I know my Grandma will be so proud to give this set, and I know Pat will just love it too! Thank you Grandma for letting me help with Pat's present. I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful family and such loyal family friends!

Have a wonderful weekend dear friends~
Dawn

New Lampwork Glass Necklace Project

It's like Christmas in March!!!


I'm so excited. I got a package today with all sorts of beaded goodies from Fire Mountain Gems! I want to share a sneak peak of a necklace I'll be working on.... I got a fun lampwork glass pendant, and some great pearls & beads to accent it. As we're headed into warmer weather and spring break for so many people, my mind is wandering to tropical... and this pendant reminds me of seeing the schools of fish, coral and other beautiful creatures while scuba diving!

I can't wait to start seeing this take shape! But for now, here's you're sneak peak!

Hope you were able to enjoy the beginnings of spring in your area!