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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Lake Geneva Wisconsin - Perfect Place to Visit and Even Better to Live

I'm so excited about this challenge I participated in.  We're so lucky in our artist community to have someone like my dear friend Erin Prais-Hintz who organizes and hosts the most fun challenges!  Erin, from the bottom of my heart I thank you for coordinating this challenge!  I had so much fun!!!!!!  The Challenge of Travel was the theme for this challenge... and yet really it didn't involve traveling at all.  Rather, we were to discover and play in our own backyards on a stay-cation and translate where we live into a creative piece of art.

First, I have to tell you, I love living in Lake Geneva, WI.  I've lived in 5 cities in my life and Lake Geneva is by far my favorite.  Why?  Because there's so much to do, see & feel... yes FEEL!  This city evokes a warmth in my heart that just can't be put into words.  But rather than me going on & on and on... I'll SHOW you just how beautiful my city is!

www.lakegenevawi.com

Top Left: Riviera Ballroom, Top Right:  Expect a Miracle Mansion, Bottom Left:  Stone Manor, Bottom Right:  Standing on the docks at the Riviera.

Lake Geneva is steeped in history!  We have magnificent estates on the water, originally settled by wealthy Chicago businessmen as their summer homes (the Wrigley Chewing Gum Family, the Morton Salt family.)  Today just a handful of those original estates are still standing.  Most of the property has been purchased, had the original houses knocked down and new mansions built in their place.

Part of the history surrounding Lake Geneva is our magnificent family-run company Gage Marine and their line of tour boats, Lake Geneva Cruise Line.  The coolest way to see the previously mentioned estates is from the water.  Gage Marine has several old tour boats that they have lovingly restored and do daily tours on May thorough October (and into November if the snow hasn't flown as some of the boats are covered & heated!)  The Walworth (also called the Mail Boat) runs a marine mail service daily.  This is the only marine mail service still operational in the United States.  Just this summer, Brian Williams and NBC News came to Lake Geneva to film a special about the Mail Boat Tour and it's history on the lake.  Here's their video story: www.nbcnews.com/video/nightly-news/52503777

Fall in Wisconsin offers so much beauty!

We're so lucky... we have world class golf courses designed by PGA legends.  We have world reknown sailing greats and legendary boatworks companies.  Lake Geneva also was the home to Hugh Hefner's first Playboy Resort (now it's Grand Geneva Resort, and the bunnies are all retired).  Lake Geneva was also the home of Dungeons & Dragons founder Gary Gygax.  Many celebrities have owned homes around the lake throughout the years.  We even have a walking path that goes all 23 miles around the perimeter of the lake on the shoreline, allowing us to cut through the yards of the beautiful lake estates, enjoy their views and appreciate their immaculate landscaping!

When trying to decide how to best represent Lake Geneva, I knew I needed to pull in both the water and the land.  So the blues mixing with the greens were the basis for this design.  Because of the rich history and tradition around the lake, I also wanted to pull in accents of rich gold.  The last part I wanted to really bring into play in my design was the unique niche in which real estate around Geneva Lake falls into.  Having such elegant vacation properties really creates a stand-alone dynamic in our market that has helped our small business and boutiques locally to weather the economic storm of years past.  So incorporating a stone grey/brown element was key.  

The gemstone on the top of the pendant is a genuine Labradorite.  The color is a grey/brown but it reflects mangificent hues of golden yellow and blue.  Labradorite is known for stimulating the imagination (I guess that's why it spoke to me!) :) The second stone is an artistic resin cabochon accented with round crystals and the bottom focal is a paua shell.  I selected the beads in a method that allowed the blues and greens to stand out and the gold/grey to flow throughout the pendant.

In the necklace the long bicone bead was actually the jumping off point for the entire necklace.  Created by my very dear friend Juli Cannon of Julsbeads, it embodied everything I wanted this necklace to be.  Blue/Green/Turquoise/Brown all wrapped up on a beautiful glass package.  I chose a complimentary Julsbead on the other side of the necklace to balance off the artistic glass creation.

Lady of the Lake - Inspired by Lake Geneva, WI

I added a mix of crystals, agates, more crystals and some funky, sparkly round beads all the colors dance magically together!  So I call this necklace a balanced asymmetrical look.  And she'll be known as "Lady of the Lake!"

Photo By Chris Kayser - Follow her on FB: Lake Geneva, A Day in the Life of

Visit Lake Geneva ~ We'd love to have you!

Dawn Doucette is the artisan soul behind Bella Amore. Bella = Beautiful, Amore = Love Through all things, Dawn looks for something beautiful and creates each design in the energy of love. Dawn resides with her soulmate Chris, and two fur babies in Lake Geneva, WI. Her inspired designs are created to be cherished and passed down as heirloom jewelry. If you'd like to have Dawn create a one-of-a-kind piece of legacy jewelry exclusively for you, contact her via her Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/BellaAmoreLegacyJewelry

To view other hometown blogs and see their inspired creations, visit Erin's blog for a master list: http://treasures-found.blogspot.com/2013/08/2nd-annual-challenge-of-travel-stevens.html.

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

Selected as Cousin Creative Circle Brand Ambassador

Be Yourself Charm by Cousin Corp.

First, can I tell you how hard secrets are for me... especially good secrets.  When something wonderful happens (or is about to happen) I'm bursting at the seams to share and yet I have to keep my lips zipped.  It's like when you find the perfect Christmas present for your sweetie... and you HAVE to tell someone because it's burning a hole in your head, and you're so excited to see his face on Christmas morning when you surprise him, but you can't keep it in because all that Christmasy goodness would cause one to explode... Yes, I'm THAT excited!

I am honored and thrilled to have been selected by a panel of esteemed judges at Cousin Corporation to be on their Creative Circle as a brand ambassador for the upcoming year. (Click Here to read the press release.)  Out of hundreds of applicants, I was one of 5 jewelry artists chosen.  I'm thrilled because I use beads in an unconventional way!  It makes me very proud to be able to bring my form of art jewelry to a larger audience and help people think outside of the box.

Cousin is a 4th generation, family-run company which is so special to me.  As my jewelry is designed to be a legacy from the matriarch of the family to future generations, so is this company for the Cousin family.  I value family so much and I'd do anything for my family.  So to be welcomed as an official "Cousin" is an honor and a privilege.  (Useless Trivia that won't get me on Jeopardy: Jeff Cousin, President of Cousin Corp. was born in Beloit, WI about 45 minutes from me)

"Our Creative Circle program has absolutely surpassed our expectations," said Jeff Cousin, President. “We want to keep the craft of jewelry making relevant and maintain it as a growing art. We are excited to expand the program so we can show even more people that jewelry making is accessible and rewarding, and also introduce them to the Cousin brand.”  As Cousin Ambassadors they will have a platform to share ideas with the product development team, create projects for publications in magazines and on various social media platforms, preview upcoming programs and provide feedback about products before they go to market.

Published in Beadwork Magazine September 2012 - Love Toggle by Cousin

Over the next year, I'll be working with an incredible group of women to share our love of jewelry design.  We all have unique styles and bring something special to the Creative Circle.  We'll be working with the designers at Cousin to help test and try new products and give feedback to help enhance the art of jewelry design.

Designed for Tony Romo's Wife at the suggestion of my brother - Chain by Cousin

As my journey into the art of jewelry designs embraces this new adventure.  I have so many people to thank for inspiring me, teaching me and helping me to become ME!  My grandma taught me to crochet at a really young age, which translated into a few wire crochet jewelry pieces.  My mom taught me to sew and quilt which has been exponential helpful in creating the style of jewelry I create today, bead embroidery.  My mother-in-law who encouraged me that "surely you have a talent darling" and that I needed to "bling it up a bit."  My dear brother, Greg who has become an integral part of my business as an inspiration, an idea generator and over all quality control.  I'm so lucky he's so interested and passionate about that which I love doing so much.  My sisters Amy & Brenda, thank you both for appreciating my jewelry and allowing me to create special YOU-inspired designs.  Amy your wedding was such a joy to be able to create for. My numerous business mentors for believing in me, wearing my pieces, sharing my name and helping me to make good business decisions to grow the business I have built.

Finally, I have to thank Chris.  You're my soul mate and my best friend.  I thank you for allowing me to explore my creative side and find what my true calling is.  It gives me such joy to create pieces of jewelry for women I know love them and are going to pass them down to their daughters and granddaughters.

I'm looking forward to the upcoming year of sharing my creativity with the Cousin team and fellow members of the Cousin Creative Circle!  I'm honored and excited to embrace the possibilities!

A Cuff Reminiscent of the 19th Century

Bead Embroidery as an art form can tell the story of a Greek Goddess or a contemporary diva... by starting with a blank slate and allowing your soul the space to create, each piece is unique and something truly special.

Lady Lilith Beaded Art Cuff

This cuff speaks to an elegant woman, someone who loves fine pieces and wears them well.  The filigree band just speaks to me, with is delicate cut outs and flower designs, it's almost like wearing lace on your wrist! 

The focal is loaded with sparkle!  Using Swarovski Crystal as the centerpiece and surrounding it with even more Swarovski crystals, this OOAK piece of wearable art brings out rich tones of eggplant, peridot, turquoise and topaz in a myriad of iridescent rainbow finishes.

Available for Purchase - Email Dawn@DesignsbyDawnMarie.com

When invited to a ball, dress like royalty!  This piece is the perfect marriage of the romantic, Victorian style with modern bead artistry!

Silver and Gold - Elegance and Oppulance in Beaded Jewelry

Have you seen it?  The bright shiny yellow gold finishes are all over this fall season and it looks like the trend will continue through the holidays!  It's been a long time since gold has been "in" as silver, antique silver and brass lent themselves to vintage inspired designs in the recent past. 

Recently I was inspired by a tutorial in Beadwork.  I usually flip through the magazine, get inspired and file it away with the rest of my jewelry magazines to take out when I'm having a lull of creativity.  However, I've been following their Beaded Bead series for their 15th anniversary and this one beaded bead popped off the page at me.  I thought what the heck I'd give it a try! 

I tried and I like!!!

I created 3 beaded beads for this necklace using the round beads as the inspiration for the color palette.  The rounds are black with silver and gold foil accents on them, lending perfectly to gold & silver netting for the beaded beads. 

I strung the necklace featuring pewter colored pearls, shiny gold rounds, some black faceted rondelles and a few bold, vintage gold beads for a little more va-voom!  The end result is a necklace that is super versatile, comfortable to wear and adds that splash of bling that I think every woman needs!

What's your "Must Have" in a design?  Is it a go-to color?  Are pearls in nearly all your pieces?  I know I bring Swarovski crystal in anywhere and everywhere I can because I really do thing every woman deserves to sparkle!  Follow me on Facebook for more inspired sparkles!

Hope your week is inspired!
{Hugs!}
Dawn

If you like this piece of custom designed artisan jewelry and would like something created just for you (or for someone that means a lot to you) now is the time to begin talking about Christmas gifts.  Drop me a message and we can discuss in more detail what you are looking for!  I just love creating a wearable work of art that perfectly depicts the person wearing it!

Custom Jewelry Order Spreads Happiness around the globe

It's amazing the reach of just one picture and the emotion it spreads.  Recently I finished a custom jewelry order.  What happened after sharing just one little picture shows just how much we can impact and make a difference to others.

The story goes something like this... a woman that knows I make jewelry was heading to a bead show with her friends.  She said if I pick up some beads, can you make me something with them.  Well Absolutely!!! I love bringing in someones personality into a design.

The beads she picked up were a great mix of turquoise, colored magnasite, red coral and some funky lampwork beads.  The colors were such a perfect mix for her vibrant personality I was instantly excited to make something with them.

Large Beaded Bead adapted from Beadwork, Small Beaded Bead adapted from Heather Collin's Anastasia tutorial

After discussing what she likes to wear for jewelry, I set out to make something truly special that showcased her personality to a T!

The necklace is a longggggggg necklace  - 42"-ish.  I wanted to incorporate the beads she selected with some seed bead work of my artisan hand.  I also wanted to make a pair of complimentary earrings because a piece this bold needed some WOW earrings to go along with it.

She received the set yesterday and the follow-up e-mail and voice mail she left me were really, really precious.  I'm thrilled she loved the design as it's what I see in her personality.  She's full of sparkle and shine and truly makes a difference in the lives of all of the people she interacts with!

My jewelry is out of this world! I love it! 

I love the way you write an email your passion oozes through!!!

Your work is so impressive and beautiful!!! I can’t wait to show my mom!

Mary Petersen, Keefe Real Estate, Inc - ABR, SRES,CHMS

www.sellinglakefronts.com

So when posting the picture of this set on Google+ imagine my delight as people started responding with "I agree, it makes me happy just looking at it" and "Absolutely uplifting and gorgeous work."  These coming from people locally all the way across the pond to South Africa!  The ripple effect stretches so much further than what we even realize... so my challenge for you today, do something that will make a difference again and again and again!

If you like this piece of custom designed artisan jewelry and would like something created just for you (or for someone that means a lot to you) now is the time to begin talking about Christmas gifts.  Drop me a message and we can discuss in more detail what you are looking for!  I just love creating a wearable work of art that perfectly depicts the person wearing it!

Dawn Doucette, Artisan

Have a terrific day!
{Hugs!}
Dawn

Win a Designs by Dawn Marie Artisan Jewelry Set in Lake Geneva WI this Weekend

This weekend, the Geneva Lake Women's Association is hosting a grand, gala event in Lake Geneva, WI.  The GLWA organization supports so many good causes and helps so many people in our local area, that I knew I wanted to do something special to give back and they'd put my something special to good use!

GLWA every year gives out a scholarship to a young woman in the area that has been active in her community, done well in her academics and is going on to further her education in order to give back to her community.  As a scholarship recipient when I went off to college, I know just how helpful opportunities like the GLWA scholarship are. 

As part of The Big Easy Jazz Cocktail Cruise, they are having a New Orleans Mardi Gras style event.  To make this event really special it all takes place on the Lady of the Lake - a grand and glorious old boat from the Lake Geneva Cruise Line fleet.  From cocktails and hours d'oeuveres to fantastic music, dancing and legal gaming the entire event culminates with the Venetian Festival boat parade and watching fireworks on the water.  Originally Chris & I were planning on attending the event as it's sure to be a great time, but since Brandi is still healing and we can't leave her alone, I've created something really special as a donation for their auction prizes.

This necklace is called Embrace Your Inner Beauty!

I was inspired to create a piece that speaks to the young women that are applying and receiving the scholarships from the GLWA.  At an age where messages from society are coming at us so fast - where to eat, what to wear, what you should be, who you should hang around with - and our decisions become the foundation for our future, I wanted to showcase being true to yourself.

We're all unique, made special and we all have a gift to share with the world.  The bold colors in this design along with the hint of asymmetry showcase an individual style.  This is for the woman that's not afraid to share her voice with the world.  She's not afraid to be noticed and she's sure to make a difference in the lives she touches. 

At the bottom is a cute little charm that says "Be Yourself" a gentle reminder that who you are is really special.  I hope the woman that wins this necklace (or a smart man who's going to give his wife an awesome gift) continues to share her message with the world.  Follow her heart and make a difference in the lives she touches. 



If you're local and still need to get your tickets to The Big Easy Jazz Cocktail Cruise on Lake Geneva, visit the GLWA website at:  http://www.GLWA.net  Funny side note, I'm about to publish this blog post and I hear The Morning Blend in the background a featuring this special event!  Serendipity... I think so!

Embrace Your Inner Beauty ... and let your glow be seen!
{Hugs!}
Dawn

Jewelry Repair - From Broken to Beautiful With an Extra dose of WOW added

For people that know I create jewelry, I often get those phone calls, e-mails and pleas for help to fix pieces that they've purchased or been given that have broken. 

Before - Broken Strand of Freshwater Rice Pearls

One jewelry repair I received recently was from a sweetheart of a woman that works with Chris (we'll call her E.J.)  She had a strand of pearls her daughter gave her years ago.  It broke and has been in her jewelry box for a couple of years now.  So she asked if I could shorten it and do "something maybe earrings" with the extra pearls.

The strand was on a cotton thread, so with time anything on cotton thread will wear through.  I did shorten the necklace, used a lobster claw clasp and an extender chain to give her flexibility in the length she wanted to wear the necklace at.

I also made a pendant that could be removed if E.J. wanted to wear just the chain.  The pendant is bead embroidered using a quartz stone I already had, the adding the pearls as embellishment. 

The quartz has a special significance or meaning.  I know some of my dear friends can add on to the description I've found, but I really love the fact it enhances the human energy.

"Crystal is a common stone, but a powerful one. It is mainly used in healing as amplification for the energies of the other working stones. In healing, the crystal point is best and the size can be important.

For meditating the crystal ball or point can be used. As it is a powerful stone the user should experiment with each to find what is best for him. The Quartz Crystal has a similar vibration as humans. This is why using Crystal to meditate and keeping a Crystal helps one to know oneself. It will sometimes not work for a negative person." ~http://crystal-cure.com/crystalgem.html

Because I have a thing about having matching sets, I also used the additional pearls to make a pair of earrings.  Creating a grouping effect, much like a bunch of grapes, I wire wrapped each pearl and attached them to a length of chain.  They dangle perfectly and can be worn as regular, daily jewelry. 

I delivered the set in person yesterday so I could see E.J.s face when she opened them.  To say she was thrilled was an understatement.  Her excitement about something new created from something old was priceless.  I treasure opportunities like this - to breathe life into something so special that it will continue to live on and make people smile!

What's old is new again!  
{Hugs!}
Dawn

LIVE from Lake Geneva WI - Designs by Dawn Marie Custom Beaded Jewelry

Home Sweet Home!

Designs by Dawn Marie is so excited to finally be coming to you LIVE from Lake Geneva WI!  Our big move has finally become a reality.  Last week was so incredibly busy, but it couldn't have been more amazing.  I honestly know somebody up in heaven was looking out for us because everything came together so beautifully, it was a force beyond our control.

First the weather - SUNSHINE, blue sky and 70's... in March... in WISCONSIN - for real?  Yes indeed we won the weather lottery last week. 

Okay, now here's your laugh... I dropped the girls off at my mom's for the day so nobody got underfoot.  Lucy, my dog sister was so very happy to have Brandi & Bella to play with all day.  When I got back from my mom's, I pulled in the driveway and saw this huge van parked and being loaded.  My exact thought was "Holy crap, I wonder who else they are moving with us because that's ridiculous."  After all, we moved everything except the furniture.  So literally all the moving guys were packing and moving was beds, dressers, and other furniture... surely not a whole truck full of this size.

Um, well, these words are tasting quite a bit like peanuts... packing peanuts.  Indeed we did fill this truck.  The movers are the experts, they knew the space they would need and they nailed it to the inch.  Literally, they could not have fit one more thing in the truck.  To which I'm laughing because I was the crazy one.  I guess I'll just go back to designing because I'm not cut out to be a professional mover.

For those that are local to me, AC Transfer and Storage out of Delavan was WONDERFUL! (262) 728-3311.  They took such good care of our belongings, actual moving costs came in under the estimate and they were very personable.  I highly recommend them if you're looking to move... because after all, your friends and family will only work so many times for pizza and beer... then you're left holding the empties! :o)

Welcome Home - Put on our garage door on moving day!

Now isn't this sign just the sweetest?  Somebody really knew how to make two people feel very welcomed into their new home and new neighborhood.  Don't know who it was, but everybody we've met in the neighborhood has been so very kind.

So to further enjoy our new home and being in Lake Geneva, we walked downtown for St. Patty's Day.  Yes, WALKED!!!  It was awesome... no more feeding the meters (and getting $13 tickets for being 1 minute late on getting back to your car.)  No more worrying about traffic jams on Sunday afternoons... because now these two feet can get me up close and personal with all the fun Lake Geneva has to offer.

Moving makes us sleepy...

This summer is going to be wonderful in our new home, I can just feel it.  I'm very much looking forward to meeting other local business owners and helping to promote the community.  I also hope to meet some of our local boutique and art gallery owners and introduce them to Designs by Dawn Marie Artisan Beaded Jewelry! 

Thanks so much for all your well wishes throughout the move.  We now continue with our regularly scheduled business of creating more custom beaded jewelry one piece at a time! 

{Hugs!}
~Dawn