So Many WIP - So Little Time

My motto through college (or should we say my excuse for procrastination) was "I work better under pressure!"  Have you ever said the same thing?

In this case, it really is about many, many projects all going on simultaneously!  I have "online" work that makes my eyes go batty... then I have my commissioned jewelry orders that make my artisan heart go pitter patter.

Because my to do list is thissssssssssssssssssssssssssss long, I'm going to get back to it and leave you with pictures of just 3 of my current projects that I've organized and have ready to start.

Coral, Turquoise and Gold Ensemble

Bold & Festive

Don't call me proud... I'm a peacock!

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

I Just Experienced a True Miracle and I'm Overcome with Gratitude

Be forewarned, this story has a happy ending and a wiggly butt! :)

Really?  I'm not having a baby?? I feel like it...

So over the last week, my beloved springer Brandi developed a finicky appetite.  Odd for a dog that is normally ravenous... but it's exactly the same symptom she had when we found a bladder infection in her back in May.  Felt her tummy, it felt full, so it must be a little bloating.  Wednesday we went to the vet for what I thought was a check for a bladder infection, more antibiotics and rest.

We took X-rays and found a huge mass in Brandi's abdomen.  Yes... M-A-S-S and I saw the x-ray, it was very big.  Because we can't tell from an x-ray just how it decided to grow in there our only option was a mass removal surgery.   I knew going into surgery it was a life or death surgery.  And I was only going to do right by Brandi... I would never put my baby through discomfort or unnecessary pain if she couldn't live a quality of life.  Note:  Back in May when she had the bladder infection, we did a full ultrasound specifically looking for any abnormalities or growths.  There were NONE!

Yesterday was surgery... I'll spare you all the emotional moments as there were many.  Suffice it to say, the surgery took 2 hours.  They removed a tumor that weighed 7.3 lbs.  (She was only 40 lbs including the tumor going into surgery.)  The tumor had grown around one of her kidneys and adhered to her spleen, so she had them removed.  The following 24 hours would be critical.  We needed to keep her blood pressure down so she doesn't throw a blood clot.... more waiting, praying all the prayers I could pray... and wait.

You have GOT to be kidding me...

My phone rang at 9:05 last night... it was the vet.  I was expecting an evening update, but wasn't prepared for what happened next.

"How's Brandi? Is she doing okay?"
"Um, Dawn, you live close to the clinic right?"
"Yes" a pit building in my stomach
"Well I think you should come down here and get her."
"Okay.... is she okay?"
"Yes, she's recovering fine.  But she's a true springer and getting very antsy.  She's actually standing on her own and walking.  She's not letting the morphine sedate her so I'm concerned her anxiety will raise her blood pressure.  I think if she was in a familiar, quiet environment she'd sleep much better."
"Okay... I'll be right there."

Fast forward, I wake up this morning at 5:45 to a loving, happy Springer cuddling me in bed with beautiful, bright eyes.  She's amazingly strong.  She's amazingly mine... my baby girl. 

Sorry it's fuzzy, cell phone in a dark bedroom

What happened was a miracle... even talking with the vet today at a follow up check up... the fact he was able to get the solid, dense mass out of such a small frame without damaging vital organs was a miracle.  To me, the fact he kept going was a miracle.  Brandi will be 13 in November, most vets would have seen the entire abdomen filled with tumor and not have gone on thinking she's just an old girl, she'll never recover.  But Dr. Chris saw the twinkle in Brandi's eye and her spirited, feisty demeanor prior to surgery.  She spent the morning at the vet clinic before her surgery keeping the front desk ladies company while they waited for her blood work results.  She was lovin up on all of them!  So he knew, she was a fighter... if he could just get that tumor out.

I physically saw the tumor when I picked her up last night... I'm still in awe.  THAT was in THERE???? Really?  (I took pictures but am not putting them here for my queasy stomached sister AMY and brother) If you're into ER dramas and want to see them, e-mail me.

Special THANK YOU to Dr. Chris Welch and his wife Dr. Kelly Roy at Geneva Lakes Animal Hospital who both helped Brandi.  You BOTH treated Brandi as if she was one of your own.  She's my baby and your unending determination to make sure she was in the best place possible is priceless to me.  To have my baby girl home, happy and healing after what most people would never have attempted is so special.  From the bottom of my heart... Thank You.

So for now... I'm going to be spending time being a Licking Referee, keeping Bella otherwise occupied so she's calm and being grateful for the many, many blessings I received this week. 

Hugs & Love!
Dawn

Summer Lovin with a Twist of Heavy Metal

Metallic finishes are everywhere right now... from faux finishes on jeans to shoes and other accessories, not to mention the metal surrounding the 2012 Olympics (gold, silver and bronze).  The metallic finishes I'm not so fond of are the kind in my teeth commonly called fillings - but we won't discuss that here.

This design challenge excited me when I saw the kit that Amy Severino of Amybeads put together.  I've had the intention of creating something in metallics for a long time and just never had the inspiration on where or what that piece would be.  Enter Amy's challenge kit and voila... then a plan and a design were born.

I loved the tree pendant Amy included in the kit.  To me, it spoke of being rooted in something bigger than ourselves, of staying connected to our spirit guides, faith and the universe.  As leaves on a tree change colors going from summer to fall, then drifting slowly to the ground, becoming one with the earth that we too are to leave a piece of ourselves wherever we go making it a better place than it was before we got there.

I posted this sign on my FB page the other day.  

It struck me in that we shouldn't just leave (EXIT), rather we should do something while we're here in order to leave a legacy! EXIST!

That's a feeling, an energy I embodied while creating this necklace.  The copper leaves slowly cascade from the pendant and rustle like the pile of leaves we used to play in as kids playing in the yard.  I pulled in shades of pewter, silver, brass, bronze, gold and copper to embody all the precious metals.  This too reminding us how precious our life is and how truly fleeting it can be.

Root ~ Stay Connected ~ Do Something Wonderful ~ Pass it On

This piece came together over several months.  As time went on and I watched my design grow, it took on a life of it's own, literally.  I could see it blossoming into something bigger.  I could see more components being added.  In the end, this piece is the perfect depiction of a life well lived... it's beautiful while it's here and continues to spread beauty for generations to come!

Thanks for stopping by!   Hope you feel more inspired after stopping by!
{Hugs!} ~ Dawn

An Eye for Color Comes in Handy

Welcome Home Greg Doucette!

So when my dear, little brother (who towers over me at 6' tall) sends me an e-mail with color swatches of Tweety Bird Yellow, Blaze Orange and Electric Blue saying these are the colors he thinks would look best in his new house the color wheel in my head started spinning, then smoke started coming out my ears and then I volunteered to help paint.

Yes, that's the events of last week that led to a very busy weekend and a few achy muscles - but those weren't too bad and the result is so worth it.

The Original Color was a peach with wayyyy too much pink for Greg.

On Friday, my brother purchased his first home.  It's a well-built solid ranch with 3 bedrooms, a full, finished basement, a 2 car garage all on a nice mature lot in the small town of Brooklyn, WI.  The home was a fore-closure, so he got it for the right price knowing he'd need to put in a bit of elbow grease before he moved in and plopped down in front of the playstation.  The good news is the majority of the work is all cosmetic.

The home was dirty, so Greg's home inspectors said "Just use a little Dawn, it'll clean this place right up for you."  To which Greg responded, "Great, I'll call her right now."  (Yep, no sense of humor here... no sireee!)

After seeing his thoughts on paint colors, then talking with him about how he wanted his rooms to feel when he comes in from work, or sits down to enjoy a weekend the "Wants" were very different than the colors he thought he wanted.  He wanted a warm, cozy feel that allowed him to relax.  But he really likes orange (Note: Blaze Orange was NOT painted in the kitchen)

What Greg didn't realize that I was able to help share with him is that you can get "orange" in a whole host of colors that can still give you the warm, cozy feel you are looking for.

So thus far, we got the kitchen painted (2 coats) from top to bottom - ceilings are the worst part of painting.  We've got the paint for the living room and are playing with options for the color of the master bedroom.  While I painted, mom cleaned and my dad with the brother-in-laws helped Greg install 2 new toilets and tear up stinky, icky carpet from the basement.

It's awesome to see the progress and even more awesome to share in one of the biggest moments of Greg's life!  He's come such a long way in 8 years and I'm a beaming big sister right now!
{Hugs!}

Love how Mulling Spice brings out the warm coloring in the floors and trim!

For Sapphire Lovers - Sparkly Dangle Earrings

Are you a September Baby - or are you just classy enough to love sapphires?

As I'm walking through stores this summer, I've been looking at color trends.  Two distinct trends keep popping up... there's a shade of mango that seems to be everywhere from throw pillows, to patio place settings to clothing and accessories!

The other color that is all over the places is that rich shade of cobalt or sapphire blue!  I know we've seen red, white & blue color palettes in place every summer as people love the marine theme.  But this year cobalt blue has taken center stage all on it's own.

When my sister picked cobalt blue and silver as her wedding colors for a June wedding I thought "What??? A jewel tone in the summer???"  Then as the wedding got closer, I started seeing cobalt blue everywhere.  It's a bright pop of bold among the tradition summery orange, turquoise and lime shades.

To bring in that touch of sapphire as an accessory I created these artisan beaded earrings, Don't Cry for September.  Each earring features a genuine paua shell in the center surrounded by sparkly crystals and tiny seed beads. There's something so magical about looking at the iridescent lining of a shell.  These Paua shells are no different.  They display vivid shades of blue transitioning to green and grey even.  Depending on the lighting you'll see that magical rainbow dancing in the middle of these earrings. Dangling off the bottom of the earring is a beautiful glass teardrop in a sapphire shade. 

These earrings aren't just for September babies (like myself) but for anybody that loves that elegant shade of cobalt blue.  The earwires are an antique silver creating a vintage inspired, chic design.

One-of-a-Kind Artisan Earrings Created by Lake Geneva, WI Jewelry Artisan

Don't Cry for September

These are truly one-of-a-kind for the woman that likes to be fashionable and still have flexibility in her accessories!  If you are interested, use the Buy it Now button above or e-mail me dawn@designsbydawnmarie.com and I would be happy to arrange delivery of these beautiful earrings to your home.

Each piece of custom jewelry I create is special and comes from my heart.  If you would like to have a piece of custom artisan jewelry designed just for you, contact me.  I'd be happy to collaborate on your vision and turn it into a piece of artisan jewelry you can pass down to your future heirs.

Have a fabulous day!
{Hugs!}
Dawn

Custom Bead Embroidered Cuff for Anniversary Gift

Do you know how much I LOVE making custom orders, especially when I know the custom beaded jewelry is a special gift for a special person?  

This gift I was asked to custom design was like no other I've done.  The purpose of the gift is to celebrate many years of marriage between a husband & his wife, and the two very special children they've created.

First, celebrating the marriage... the couple has a logo they use for their family business and homestead.  It's a large M in the middle for their last name, with a slightly smaller C and a J for each of their first names on the sides.  So as a focal for the bead embroidered cuff, they wanted me to create something similar to their logo. 

Their two children were born in the months of March and August.  So the color scheme for the beaded cuff needed to correspond with Aquamarine and Peridot.  Where the color scheme got interesting was adding in C & J's birthstones Garnet for January and Sapphire for September.  Initially I was "garnet-challenged" as the deep red wasn't playing well with the peridot and aquamarine.  That was until I used both the garnet and sapphire as accent colors to add that pop of color without overpowering the color pallet.

Indeed, I think that was the right move because now I have faceted garnets and sapphire crystals to represent C & J, but their children who are their entire world are the focus of this beautiful cuff.

As I am out of town this week, at the time of writing this blog post, J has not yet given C her beautiful cuff.  Hopefully when I return home, I'll have an e-mail hearing what she thought about the bracelet.  C is an interior designer, so I really wanted to make a piece that was 100% easy to wear with an artistic flair. 

From idea to clasp this piece was inspired by the love that these two have for each other.  They have a very special relationship that continues to endure the test of time.  Ups & Downs are the path of life and these two together hold each other's hand and embrace the adventure!  Because let's face it, sometimes life takes us off roadin' - it's up to us to drop a gear and get back on track!

Happy Anniversary to C & J!  My wish for you is many more decades of family adventures!~
{Hugs!}
~Dawn

-----

Designs by Dawn Marie

Dawn Doucette is a jewelry artist in Lake Geneva, WI.  Each piece she makes is one-of-a-kind.  If you are interested in having something special custom designed for yourself or a loved one, e-mail designsbydawnmd (At) gmail (Dot) com.  She specializes in listening to what your dream idea is and turning that into a piece of custom beaded jewelry that will be passed down to future generations in your family.

Are You Tired of Craziness and Chaos from Wearing too Many Hats?

I know I'm not the only one that juggles, balances and goes to extremes to keep the household running (cleaned and fed) as well as managing my business appointments and working on client's commissions.   In a day we wear so many hats that we can get completely immersed in the project at hand only to think... did I eat lunch yet???  Oh well, it's 5:00 somewhere... time to get dinner ready.

And while I enjoy the circus, I myself am not trying out to be a clown that juggles anytime soon!  So why am I telling you this?  Because I've been using a great planner that has really allowed me to organize every aspect of me in one place.  Crazy right?

I'll admit, I'm an office supply junkie... so a trip down the planner aisle at Staples is a bit like crack for me.  Ooooo, ahhhh.... and new pens, don't even get me started.  But really, having all my "stuff" in one spot has always been a challenge.  I've kept a business calendar for my appointments, a fitness tracker to track my workouts, a daily To Do list... and random post-it notes for things that just don't fit anywhere else but I need to remember.  And I don't even have kid schedules like my sister and so many of my friends have!

When my friend Elaine showed me the planner she was using I tried to steal hers... but then realized her to do list wouldn't fit my needs, so I had to get my own. :(

The Ideal Life Planner has been the answer to so many aspects of craziness in my life.  It not only organizes your business, but helps you organize your health and your priorities as well.  What I really appreciate is that the entire planner isn't dated... so you can start it whenever you want.  It also focuses on the positive and gratitude which aligns our hearts and minds to be the best "YOU" you can be!

So what's in this magical planner that I am soooooo in love with? 

• Monthly & Weekly Inspiration & Motivation
• Open Calendar Space for started your journey whenever you wish
• Daily Scheduling pages to keep you organized
• Extra space for notes and lists
• An easy to use nutritional & fitness tracking system (This was my missing piece!)
• Space to identify your priorities - family, personal development, spiritual, business, etc.
• MY FAVORITE part is a section just for gratitude... "taking a moment to acknowledge and appreciate what you are thankful for brings feelings of hopefulness and joy!"

After I started using the planner and loving it, I wanted to share my experience with the creator Kelly Wagner.  Kelly is one busy, BUSY mom that created this planner as a way to organize her own life.  She has a bazillion (7) kids ranging from 6-16 years old.  With sports, meetings, work and family time she needed to having something to remind her to eat every now and again... and to get in her workout when she could.  Kelly's life is all about coloring outside the lines and being a good role model for her kids.  And until she created her own, she couldn't find a planner that "fit" everything in.

BALANCE that's what this planner gives me! 

This planner has simplified my life so very much.  If you're wearing 87 hats and find that you are sometimes forgetting to take a deep breath and center yourself, then maybe Kelly's planner can help you bring peace to your day!

I love it and I know you will too!  You can get the Ideal Life Planner in Green, Pink or Hot Pink (my fav.)  I will be accessorizing mine with some flatbacked Swarovski crystals, you better believe it! :o)  You have the option of getting the 2012 Ideal Life Planner which is dated for this year - or when you're in the shopping cart, you can add the un-dated 6 month planner to your cart and delete the dated planner.  http://bit.ly/IdealLifePlanner

I hope your day is balance and full of joy!
{Hugs!}
Dawn

Accessorizing a Grand Wedding Celebration - Grand Finale

Good Luck Little Sis!

What lengths we go to in the name of beauty!

This weekend was such a special weekend for our family.  We celebrated my sister Amy's wedding.  After years of dating, months of planning, dozens of tastings, appointments and fittings Amy & Don officially tied the knot. 

As part of their special day, I was able to add sparkles to so many lady loves in my life.  I started this blog series to document each piece I was able to create for the special day.  Saturday brought so much pride to my heart.  As a big sister, I was sooooo happy to see my little sis so beautiful and so in love.  She was simply glowing and it just touched my heart to no end.  As a jewelry artist, my creative heart beamed... people were complimenting the jewelry without even knowing I had created it.  Amy's photographer was commenting on her accessories and how beautiful they sparkled... it gave her great pride to point at me and say, "My sister made that!"

Copyright Matt Mason Photography

I think I've talked enough... I just want to show and tell now.  I'll let you see Amy in all her glory, shining like the elegant & sophisticated bride that she is!  For a peek at the entire wedding album created by Matt Mason Photography out of Lake Geneva, WI you can visit his Smug Mug profile at:  http://mattmason.smugmug.com/Weddings/Doucette-Reier-Wedding/23610388_JrH4NT#!i=1910263087&k=SHHzrV8

My Beautiful Mom Just Glowing

Copyright Matt Mason Photography

Copyright Matt Mason Photography

Copyright Matt Mason Photography

Copyright Matt Mason Photography

Here's the links to the specific posts featuring pieces of this beautiful wedding that I was able to contribute to:

Part 1 - Mom's Earrings

Part 2 - Bridal Bracelet
Part 3 - The Veil

Yes, there is no jewelry and this picture has no edits, touch-ups or enhancements, but there sure is a lot of love!  It was taken at the salon right after we all had our hair done.  It's the 3 sisters... Left to right, Brenda, Amy & Dawn.  I don't know when the last time was (if ever in our adult life) that we've had a sister picture taken.  This is a picture I'll treasure forever!

It just filled my heart and overflowed my love 'o meter sharing in this weekend.  Making bridal jewelry is really special in itself, but getting to see it walk down the aisle, dance the first dance, toss flower petals and cut the cake are really special moments!

Now it's your turn!  Spread love and joy this week! 
{Hugs!}
Dawn

------

Dawn Doucette, Artisan

For information about affordable bridal jewelry or to discuss having custom wedding jewelry created for you and your wedding party, contact Designs By Dawn Marie at:  http://www.DesignsbyDawnMarie.com or on Facebook! 

Matchy Matchy Necklace to go with my cuff

While this week is UBER-busy, I'm having a blast balancing it all... that is if you consider a blast looking like a circus clown, riding a unicycle, juggling bowling pins while trying to walk the dog. 

Now that's a picture... and since I'm so short on time (getting ready for my sister's wedding and will post pics after this weekend) I'll just give you a pretty picture to look at.  I made the cuff that was for the EBEG Beadfest that I was going to sell, but then it adopted me and now it's MINE!  So I thought it would like to have a playmate in the jewelry box... enter a pendant I started EONS ago... seriously, it was soooooo 2010 when I started this pendant (said while rolling eyes like a valley girl). 

Anyhoo, I didn't like how the bezel came out and I didn't like how the white background popped (this was one of my early, early attempts at bead embroidery and I had not yet discovered the joy of colored Nicoles Beadbacking).  So I tossed it in the fugly drawer and said "hasta la vista you ugly thing."

Now you see, the lampwork heart wasn't ugly... it was and is really quite stunning (lampwork bead designed by my favorite glass artist Juli Cannon, Studio Juls), but I had done such a crappy bezel around it (before I discovered how important it is to bezel with all the same variety (sort of) of seed beads.  So I had some delicas, some tohos, some czech and thought no problem.  Seriously, we all learn from our mistakes.

So when I felt the need to have a complimentary necklace for that droolworthy cuff (yes, the one with the orange accents) I pulled out the fugly thing determined to turn that Caterpillar into a butterfly.  Bring in some crystal bicone spikes out the top, a pearl and hang it on a ribbon and viola... fugly goes butterfly in a nano-second!

Why do I share this?  Because we all learn from our fugly mistakes and grow... or let them fester in the fugly drawer... either way, we keep on smiling and trying new things!
{Hugs!}
Dawn