Turquoise Envy - Do you have it?

Yes, it's true, some people have Turquoise Envy.  It's what happens when one sees something beautiful made with turquoise and secretly covets it for themselves.  The good news is, there's a cure for Turquoise Envy!

I've been a very busy lady as of late.  I am taking my one-of-a-kind jewelry designs on the road to Scottsdale Arizona!  Over Memorial Day weekend, I'll be participating in an incredible event designed to help entrepreneurs price, package and promote their businesses to success.  Linda P. Jones is the master of wealth building and one really important component of that is having your own business.  So the intensive retreat she's hosting Memorial Day weekend is specifically about branding to appeal to your ideal clients.  (There's are just a few spaces open still if you are a business owner and would like to join us:  http://bit.ly/YMUtzp )

So in preparing for the retreat, I've been finishing a few pieces of jewelry that will be going with me to sell (including that turquoise and druzy cuff I showed a short time ago) and showcase what options are available to have designed in a custom piece of jewelry by me.  I'm really excited to connect with new clients and to help showcase their individual beauty through their jewelry style.  That's what makes custom-made jewelry so special... it's made exclusively for you, to your taste, color and style - and in turn is a visual image of who you are.  It's just so special that someday you can pass that jewelry along to your family as part of your legacy! 

Druzy Love Me or Druzy Not

As a child, I was a rock collector.  I loved picking up rocks with unusual colors or smooth faces.  When I was in junior high, I went with my friend Karen to her grandparents house in Indiana.  We went down to their creek (pronounced crick with a short i) and gathered geodes.  Little did I know at 12 how much I would still love rocks in my adult life - and that's not just the ones between my ears. ;)

Of course Diamonds are a girl's best friend... those are rocks that just ROCK!

What I didn't realize as a girl however is that the sparkly pieces of geodes I collected would re-enter my life in the form of jewelry design.  When we were wading barefoot in the creek we'd look for round rocks that when you picked them up and shook them, if you heard something rattle in there, it was sure to contain crystals.  We'd haul buckets (very heavy buckets I might add) back to Karen's grandparents house where Grandpa would break some of them open with a hammer to show us the "magic crystals"

Today, working with Druzy stones have me giddy like a little girl again.  What is a druzy?  Druzy is a layer of crystals that form within a mineral crust, like the inner cavity of a geode.  Natural druzies come from a number of different stones including agates, jasper and quartz.  As people have started to see more of these beautiful natural earth-born crystals in jewelry, their demand has grown.  Now companies have created treatments and coatings for natural druzy stones to give them a more sparkly finish.

In this piece I used a titanium coated druzy that has a beautiful iridescent finish.  It showcases a myriad of colors ranging from lavender to turquoise.  I really love that color combination, so I pulled in natural amethyst beads and more chunky turquoise beads.  I also incorporated some blingy bold Swarovski crystals that have a finish in the complimenting lavender hues.  Because more bling is better, right? :) 

I wish I could capture the true sparkle of this piece.  It really is magnificent!

A Walk in the Woods

This wasn't the first cuff I created with a druzy focal.  I created another cuff, "A Walk in the Woods" using a natural druzy focal and turquoise accents.  This piece was designed for The Challenge of Color blog hop hosted by my dear friend, Erin Prais-Hintz.  This cuff was purchased as a gift between girlfriends.  It shows how much we cherish those women in our lives that are there to laugh with us, cry with us and help us pick up the pieces if we've made a mess of something. 

As an artist, there are pieces that you create that just stick in your mind foever.   This piece will be one of those memorable pieces.  From the colors to the textures and the big sparkle, this is a piece that will be a showstopper for a confident woman that loves to look good and turn heads!

Here's hoping you have something sparkly in your week to make you feel like a million bucks - because you deserve it!
{Hugs!}
Dawn

Everlasting Blue Danube - Featuring Pantone 2013 Spring Colors

Designed to showcase a few of this year's Pantone colors, I set out to design this legacy necklace around a special lampwork glass focal bead.

There's a story behind that bead...

A long, long time ago in the land of Delavan, I was mailed this focal bead.  It came from Princess Julianna Cannon (owner of JulsBeads).  Her instructions were, "This is an UAB (ugly ass bead) but rather than pitching it, I thought you might be able to do something to make it less ugly."

I saw the beauty in this glass focal immediately, and waited for the right opportunity to showcase it in all it's glory.

Everlasting Blue Danube by Dawn Doucette

Into the picture enters a design contest to showcase Pantone's 2013 colors and as luck would have it, this UAB fit 3 of this years colors!

I embellished the natural beauty of this focal by bringing in some gorgeous crystal rondelles and some round glass druks.  My favorite part of this piece (aside from the flower focal) is the fringe.  I wanted to create a fringe that resembled roots, so I used the vibrant spring green to create a funky, root-like fringe.

My piece was selected as a finalist in the Beadaholique design contest.  If you like my design, I'd really appreciate your vote.  Voting is open to the public through April 17th.  Click this link http://ow.ly/jX37w and "Like" the photo of my Everlasting Blue Danube in Facebook. 

The beauty within this flower formed of glass will carry out it's legacy forever.  It will always beautiful and it will always sparkle.  There's beauty all around us, it's up to each one of us to appreciate the small things and see that beauty. 

 {Hugs!}
Dawn

Semi-Precious Gemstones - Rich in History, Beautiful in Art Jewelry

When I'm creating different pieces of art jewelry, it's interesting to me what strikes me to use in my designs.  When I'm designing with semi-precious gemstones, three stones in particular jump out at me.

Turquoise - Amethyst - Tiger's Eye

What's even more amazing is when you start digging into the meaning of each stone and the metaphysical energy in the stones, what they offer.  This piece uses a turquoise focal in the center, accented with rich, chocolate brown faceted crystals and soft coral beadwork. 

Turquoise is also used in the links and the necklace is finished with a copper chain.  Have you noticed how often you see turquoise jewelry that uses copper as the metal?  It's not a coincidence, copper enhances the effects of turquoise.

Here's some interesting turquoise facts:

• If given a turquoise by a loving friend, that stone would protect the wearer from negative energy and bring good fortune.  
• Turquoise brings peace to the home.
• Turquoise carries great wisdom of basic truth within it.

"Turquoise is a stone that has been prized for many years. The ancient Egyptians used turquoise in jewelry. Turquoise is greenish-blue or pale sky blue. The name means "Turkish stone" as it came to Europe by way of Turkey. Turquoise was mined more than 6,000 years ago in Sinai. The best turquoise comes from Iran, but not much is exported now. Much turquoise comes from Mexico and the United States today." via crystal-cure.com

It's not a wonder turquoise resonates with so many people!  What semi-precious gemstone speaks to you?

Spring Inspired Jewelry Designs

Yes, we still have snow on the ground where I live in Lake Geneva, WI.  BUT I'm going to use the Power of Positive Thinking that Spring is on the way soon... she just had to stop and pick up a new handbag and killer heels.  :) And until she arrives fashionably late I'm going to stay inspired by pieces I've created that remind me of spring. 

Butterfly Kisses - Available for purchase

Fern Gully - Available for Purchase

Princess for a Day - Custom Order with JulsBead Focal

The funny thing where I live, the old saying goes something like this: "If you don't like the weather in Wisconsin, wait 5 minutes and it'll change."  Interestingly enough... it still feels like Winter.  However, this weekend we're supposed to be in the upper 40's (and maybe hit 50 - gasp!) for Easter Sunday.  So at least all the little adorable girls in the precious little white Easter dresses won't be too chilly.  They will have to worry about muddy shoes though!

GRAND Prize Winner - Romance in Bloom

Flowers for the Queen

I'm finishing an amazing cuff that I can't wait to share with you... picture this, chunky turquoise and amethyst with a druzy focal.  It really will be the bomb diggity when it's done... so off to the studio I go!

Walk in the Woods

Hope you have a fantastic day!
{Hugs!}
Dawn

P.S.  I'm still sporadically having that thing with the "no-reply" email address when I'm commenting on other people's blogs.  It just did it again yesterday when I commented on my superstar glass girl JulsBeads!  So if you aren't sure if yours is also working right, I'd be happy to email you and let you know... just include your email address spelling out AT and DOT so the quirky online gremlin robots don't spam you.  :)

What is Art?

Art is evident in our world in many forms.  Art can be a painting or a sculpture.  Art can be photography or music.  Art can be movement and dance.  Art can take any form your mind can dream up.  

Art tells a story, whether in words, sounds, movements or feelings.  This piece was inspired by my heart and the feelings that are in it.  The focal is a lampwork glass work of art created by my dear friend Juls - JulsBeads.  I've had it in for a year (or 3) and loved it, loved the colors, but hadn't captured it's story. 

Until last week... and then it sang to me.  And I created it. 

I brought in shades of soft lavendar with Swarovski violet opal crystals, a rich amethyst and elegant turquoise.  I was even able to pull in Pantone's 2013 color of the year "Emerald" using blue zircon crystals. The necklace is finished with a few vintage inspired faceted glass beads and luxurious amethyst pearls. 

What's singing to you this week?  Are you working with black & gold or are you playing in green for St. Patrick's day!

Stay inspired~
Dawn

When Did We Fall Off the Face of the Earth and Become NoReply When Commenting on Blogger

Has anybody else noticed lately that when people comment on your blog their email address is noreply-comment@blogger.com?  

I've commented on blogs over the last few weeks and people normally reply.  But I hadn't gotten any responses, so I thought, hmmmm, that's wierd.  I know everybody didn't suddenly jump off USS Dawn and choose to ignore me.

I also noticed when people commented on my blog, I tried to reply to them and their email address shows up as noreply-comment@blogger.  For those of you that have commented on the last 3 or 4 posts, if you haven't heard back from me this is why.

It would appear that somehow Google (who owns Blogger) has changed something in their algorithm that we are now all set to this funky no reply email address.  I fiddled with my profile for hours yesterday trying to get my email address to register with my comments on people's blogs.  I went back to my blogger profile from using google+, I checked the "Show my email box." NOTHING WORKED.  I even check *gasp* Google help... yeah, it didn't work either.  Help had nothing to offer for help, imagine that. LOL

So if anybody has the magic wand, I'd like a sprinkle of that fairy dust.  I really want to reply to all of you that so lovingly leave comments on my blog.  Even if the world jumped off the USS Dawn and nobody wants to reply to me...

In the mean time, if you're having the same technical challenge as I am, please leave your email address in your comments, I'll gladly respond.  (make sure you use AT and DOT instead of their respective symbols so the bots don't find you)

Thanks so much for helping a normally technically saavy internet user get the kinks out!

Love ya!
~Dawn
designsbydawnmd AT
Gmail DOT com
That's where you can find me! ;)

I Spy Something Turquoise

Did you ever play "I spy" as a kid... or count the (pick any color) vehicle as you were driving down the road in the back of the station wagon on a really longggggg carride?  Or was that just something my parents did to pass the time with the 4 of us wild & crazy kids?

Either way... I've been juggling a whole lot over the last number of weeks.  Let's just hope I don't drop my balls! ;) 

I started working on a piece using a focal that I've had for a very long time.  When a specific focal talks to you, you're supposed to drop everything and create, right?  Well taxes be damned and 87,524 other things on my plate right now, I've only been able to create in bits and pieces.  BUT, what I can promise you is that it will be amazing.  AND I promise it will be done before May.  IN ADDITION, I promise not to drop any balls... that could get messy. Tee hee he!

Coming Soon to a piece of wearable art - is one calling your name?

And because I really love you, that gorgeous lampwork focal in the piece I'm working on as well as the 6 you see above, were all created by my sister by choice, Julianna Cannon of Studio Juls (aka JulsBeads).  Juls gave me the kick in the shin I needed to dip my toes in the water of seed bead artistry and for that I am eternally grateful!  Won't you go show Juls some love and follow her blog?  She makes the most amazing glass focals and her beaded art is just out of this world! 

Love & Hugs to you!
~Dawn

Another Piece of Art created with a JulsBead focal

What starts as glass, transforms to wearable art! Thanks Juls for your inspiration!

Custom Jewelry Inspired by the Peacock - and my sister

"Hey Dawn, I know it's short notice and I was going to wear that set you made me last year to go with my grey dress, but it really didn't go, so I was wondering if there's any way possible that you can make me something to go with this dress I bought for a wedding."  *Yes, this was spoken as all one sentence for those of us that are grammar conscience.*

"Sure, how "short" is short notice?" 

"Oh, a week from Saturday..."

Yes, the things we do for family are priceless.  This was an actual conversation had between my baby sister and I last Tuesday... and after she emailed me a picture of her wearing the new dress she had purchased, I knew exactly what I was going to make her for the wedding she's going to this weekend.

Short notice and custom made aren't often used in the same sentence, but when inspiration is ready to cooperate (and I can hand-deliver the pieces eliminating shipping time) then once in a while magic can happen!

Peacock Amore... that's the inspiration behind this custom beaded set.  I made a necklace and bracelet using the teal that is the color of her dress with black and cobalt blue accents.  It'll give the pieces even more options to wear again and again.  This set is going to be a staple in my baby sister's wardrobe.

When I delivered it to her yesterday, her response was priceless... "How do you DO that?"

My response:  I pointed my very high-energy niece (4) and nephew (3) whom I love more than words and responded "How do YOU do THAT?" :)  

Brenda will be the belle of the ball, second to the bride herself and true royal beauty in the eyes of her husband! 

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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