Pink is the Color Of Passion

Winter in Wisconsin means white and a whole lotta grey.  Lucky for me, I have the ability to color my own world!  Enter a bright, cheery, summery PINK!

Similar to Honeysuckle, Pantone's color of the year in 2011, this vibrant fuchsia pink is HOT with a capital H-O-T. Not only is it happy, but it exudes love and you all know that's one of my missions in this world - spread love and happiness!  This year's Pantone color of the year is Emerald which I'm also in love with.  And no, it's not just because I'm a red-headed Irish lass, honestly! ;)  So I've got plans for something spectacular featuring that in the near future too.

I created this custom beaded cuff featuring a mix of black and pink.  I used different finishes of seed beads to create depth and texture.  This cuff is created on an oval shaped brass blank so it's a one-size-fits most, and being oval, it fits so beautifully on the wrist!

Now for the really, really awesome part... I backed this cuff with... wait for it... metallic fuchsia lambskin.  Yes indeed, it's so hot I'm going to have to call the fire department.  Seriously, I'm totally in love with this cuff, so much so I had to make a necklace to compliment it.

And because I love you ♥ now YOU can get this song stuck in your head today too... Pink by Aerosmith. Because Steven Tyler wears some amazing beaded jewelry by my friend Sherry Serafini!



Looking for something special?  I love custom orders.  Contact me to talk about what you are looking for and let's turn your vision into a one-of-a-kind piece of couture art jewelry!  I guarantee you'll turn heads in a Designs by Dawn Marie original!

http://www.facebook.com/LemonsLemonadeLife

What's that book I'm reading? Get your copy on Amazon!
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Welcome to the Color Challenge Blog Hop - You won't believe the palette I had

First, I really have to thank Erin over at Treasures Found for organizing this challenge.  When she asked me what color palette I want, I said, "Surprise me!"

Boy was I surprised!  And since it's a challenge, boy was I challenged!  I got the color palette BROWN - so I was thinking mocha, chocolate and earthy tones, okay!

What?  Green??? And Blue??? Holy jeez... I'm going to have to think on this!  Here was my challenge palette, created by Design Seeds.

Jarred Tones by Design Seeds

I loved the brown and blue combination, but tossing in green really threw me.  And then inspiration struck (or rather jumped) out of my bead stash and onto my table.  From there, bead by bead this cuff grew and really turned into something special.

A Walk in the Woods - A Beaded Cuff Bracelet

Not only did I use the color palette as inspiration, but I also used the photo itself.  See the glass jar in the photo?  The focal I started with for this design is a Druzy Agate.  It has the look of crackled glass of the jar with the warm earthy brown "dirt" around it. 

I have no idea what the side cabs are.  They've been sitting in my "I'm.going.to.do.something.with.these.someday" pile for oh, about a year... but I didn't know what I was going to do.  So alas, they are the perfect way to pull in the blue & green - Holla!!


The whole cuff was so out of my "zone" from concept to creation it was crazy.  But looking at the finished piece, I can honestly say I grew and I'm so excited to have created it.  I love that I was challenged by the color palette, but also by creating something I've never created - a bead embroidery cuff!  I was able to use some of the "special secrets" I learned just a few weeks ago in the Sherry Serafini class I took and look what it turned into.

By the way, I will totally be needing bi-focals if this addiction continues.  Those little bronze beads that are 3mm and the scalloped seed beads are 15/0s.  Yes they are tiny, and yes each is sewn on by hand... but the end result - totally worth it!


Now, I'm off to hop over to the other challengers blogs.  I love seeing how people embrace a challenge and grow from it!  Feel free to visit some more great bloggers and see the works of art they've created.  Also, if you're looking for inspiration, please do visit Design Seeds Blog.  They put out GREAT color palettes daily that are sure to inspire you! 

1 Norma Turvey ~ Teal ~ Color Crave

2 Jeannie Dukic ~ Green ~ Mineral Tones

3 Mary McGraw ~ Teal ~ Embellished Hues

4 Jo Tinley ~ Red ~ Decadent Tones

5 Rebecca Anderson ~ Pink ~ Tulip Tones

6 Kristi Jaro ~ Red ~ Temple Entrance

7 Stephani Gorman ~ Green ~ Dew Tones

8 Melissa Meman ~ Green ~ Fruit Star

9 Kathleen Lange Klik ~ Teal ~ Silk Hues

10 Cynthia Riggs ~ Red ~ Autumn Comfort

11 Heidi Post ~ Teal ~ Flora Bright

12 Cece Cormier ~ Teal ~ Merino Teal

13 Amy Freeland ~ Gray ~ Cultured Tones

14 Alice Peterson ~ Blue ~ Island Play

15 Rose Noble ~ Gray ~ Autumn Stacked

16 Kristina Johansson ~ Yellow ~ Sunny Flower

17 Kirsi Luostarinen ~ Teal ~ Dragon Hues

18 Tari Kahrs ~ Orange ~ Citrus Tones

19 Mallory Hoffman ~ Purple ~ Petaled Dark

20 Molly Alexander ~ Brown ~ Peppered Tones

21 Regina Santerre ~ Red ~ Frosted Berry

22 Emanda Johnson ~ Teal ~ Color Purl

23 Amy Severino ~ Orange ~ Winged Tones

24 Bobbie Rafferty ~ Teal ~ Lime Hues

25 Tanya Goodwin ~ Gray ~ Pecked Tones

26 Lisa Lodge ~ Blue ~ Nocturnal Tones

27 Hope Smitherman ~ Blue ~ Bloom Tones

28 Linda Landig ~ Green ~ Cacti Dark

29 Ambra Gostoli ~ Teal ~ Perched Autumn

30 Lori Bowring-Michaud ~ Blue ~ Sharpened Blue

31 Pippa Chandler ~ Teal ~ Hungarian Hues

32 Keirsten Giles ~ Purple ~ Mineral Brights

33 Jennifer Justman ~ Blue ~ Autumn Rays

34 Sandy Richardson ~ Purple ~ Moroccan Brights

35 CJ Bauschka ~ Teal ~ Teal Air

36 Shaiha Williams ~ Teal ~ Sushi Hues

37 Kay Thomerson ~ Purple ~ Autumn Spectrum

38 Sally Russick ~ Purple ~ Golden Gate Tones

39 Cilla Watkins ~ Purple ~ Autumn Infused

40 Shirley Moore ~ Purple ~ Frozen Heather

41 Jenni Connolly ~ Gray ~ Paw Tones

42 Tamara Soper ~ Green ~ Field Tones

43 Sharyl McMillian-Nelson ~ Blue ~ Nested Blues

44 Jen Velasquez ~ Pink ~ Sweetened Tints

45 Maria Grimes ~ Red ~ Bright Bloom

46 Elisabeth Auld ~ Gray ~ Petaled Tints

47 Susan Kennedy ~ Pink ~ Zinnia Tones

48 Shannon Chomanczuk ~ Gray ~ Autumn Leaf

49 Holly Westfall ~ Yellow ~ Sprinkled Tones

50 Patty Gasparino ~ Red ~ Color Carton

51 Angela Little ~ Pink ~ Singapore Brights

52 Lizzie Zawinski ~ Green ~ Budding Hues

53 Kristen Stevens ~ Pink ~ Scooped Tones

54 Dawn Doucette ~ Brown ~ Jarred Tones

Learning and Growing - Sherry Serafini Class REALLY Expanded my Creativity

This weekend was such a weekend of extreme emotion.  Starting with a very hard good-bye to my uncle who was taken too soon.  He was an incredible man, father, husband, brother and son.  To my aunt, he was her soulmate... the person that could finish her sentences, make her laugh, show her the kind of love you only find once in a lifetime.  It was precious to be able to share memories, but everyone also shed so many tears - Bill was such a genuine wonderful person, filled with love and gone too soon.

Can you say WOW?? Stunning collar by Sherry Serafini

As if I was sent a message from Heaven, I also was able to take a great bead embroidery workshop from Sherry Serafini on Sunday.  The chances that she was teaching anywhere that I could drive to was miraculous on it's own.  I didn't know when I registered over 2 months ago just how much this workshop would be needed for my soul.  Honestly, I know things happen for a reason... this "happening" fell into place perfectly.

I had never taken a class... beyond college... but a class I was looking forward to taking for fun - this was a first.  The ladies at Funky Hanna's in Racine were so accommodating, answering all my questions and making sure everyone felt welcome.  Class was full and the energy amongst all the women beading was incredible!

The project we were working on was a component style pendant.  I'm about 75% done, so I'll post those photos when I finish.  We were also able to play in Sherry's stash.  I scored the MOST amazing cameo that I can't wait to turn into something extraordinary.

BUT even beyond the project was the little tips or "Golden Nuggets" that you pick up from Sherry and other beaders just working side-by-side.  I learned so much!  I can't even believe how crazy fast my brain is working right now.  Honestly.... this class was all about thinking outside of the box.  Making components that can come together to creating something incredible!

Sherry, if you should happen to land here on my blog, thank you so much!  I cannot express in words what I feel in emotions.  Getting a peek inside of how your brain works was so much fun!!!  Letting us "play dress up" with some of your amazing collars was inspiring!  Your kind remarks about my necklace was so, so touching.  I'm humbled, flattered and sincerely grateful.  I very much look forward to sharing classroom space with you again.

I was so busy taking it all in, I didn't snap many photos.  BUT here's the ones I did take! 

These were some examples of the Wavy Cuff Class Sherry taught on Saturday.

I fell in LOVE with this collar... seriously it was all sparkly with gorgeous Swarovski Crystals and gold... oh baby did it have some gold!  Honestly, reminded me of what royalty would wear in ancient Egypt!

Who's royalty now?

I told you I love that collar... It was stunning.  I am now an honorary member of Ancient Egyptian Royalty... seriously! ;)

 My lessons for the weekend:

• Surround yourself in love - family, friends, and business associates.  Life is too short to hold on to negative feelings.
• Say "I love you!"  Tell those you love how much they mean to you. 
• Surround yourself with people that have achieved more success than you.  You will learn something new all the time and continue to grow as a person.  
• Beauty is everywhere!  Embrace it!

Hugs and creativity to you this week!
~Dawn

P.S.  For anybody looking to learn how to do bead embroidery, I learned from Sherry's book The Art of Bead Embroidery that she co-wrote with Heidi Kummli.  That book was my bible and the coolest part is that it's almost like two books in one.  Sherry and Heidi share each of their styles (which are very different) and learning both styles let me figure out "Dawn's way" a style unique to me. Sherry was my teacher even before she knew she was my teacher!