Black Tie Affair - part deux or dos or 2

Whichever your language... late last week I blogged about Nicole's BeadBacking which is my base of choice for bead embroidery.  You can read why back here.  And since we're on the topic, this is a sneak peak of a design I've be working on made with N.B.B.s purple shade... which is COMPLETELY wonderful.  More on that (because it'll be finished with JulsBeads you are going to LOVE!) Seriously!

But more on this next time...

In the mean time, I want to share with you the compliment to the Black Tie Affair Necklace I shared with you in the NBB review post.  Using shades of black, pewter, silver and finally a creamy white, I've created a pearl bracelet that is the perfect accompaniment!  Hence, calling it Black Tie Affair Part 2! Using Delica Seed Beads, Fire-Polished Czech glass rounds, and glass pearls, this bracelet was born.  I finished it on a 20 ga. full-hard wire with a wire wrap so it wears stiff like a bangle bracelet.  I love it!  More to come with this pearl netted style.  Wouldn't it be the perfect rope to display a bead embroidery pendant... maybe, just maybe? :)

Available in my Etsy Store

http://www.Custom-Made-Jewelry.info

Hope your day is full of sunshine!  I've baked cookies (rhubarb coconut w/ a cream cheese frosting - sorry about the drool), I've blogged, I've gotten laundry done and now I'm off to bead!

Have a fantastic afternoon!
{Hugs!}

Purple-licious LOVE and a Book Giveaway

I just LOVE purple... really, any shade of purple... light, dark, rich or flirty... I love 'em all!  So imagine my pure delight when my good friend Kathy asked me to design a custom set for an upcoming convention she's attending.  It's an all woman convention so I unleashed my ferocious purple power and viola! (Side Note:  I also love autumn, thus the theme of my jewelry models lately... please pardon the stem) ;)

I also wanted to share with you an Awesome Giveaway!  One of my good blogger friends Lori Anderson was just published in a new book, Making Elegant Jewelry.  To celebrate the release of the book, Lori's giving away a copy on her blog over at The Hive!  http://creatingthehive.com/blog-post/25922/beading-book-giveaway-making-elegant-jewelry

I would LOVE to win her book, but I'd be happy for you if you did too... honestly I would, right after I cried in my cup of coffee... but I'd get over it, someday. ;)  To enter Lori's giveaway, click here to go to her blog post.  Take a look at the gorgeous necklace she made for the book and leave her a comment!  Good luck to you (and me too, but more to you)!

Have a terrific week! {Hugs!}
~Dawn

Wedding Jewelry Makes Me Happy!

If I haven't told you lately, I just LOVE being able to design wedding jewelry.  Brides are a very special class of ladies... and their glow is unmistakable.  I've been commissioned to design a special set of jewelry for a local bride that was referred to me from a good personal friend.  In meeting with this bride, it turns out we have other mutual friends that we didn't even realize we knew. It's a very small world out there.

So today, I scheduled an appointment to meet with this special bride to show her the custom designed wedding set I created just for her.  Because each piece is born of pure love from my heart, getting the brides reaction is so, so special.  Today's reaction was worth it's weight in gold - and then some!  She just adored the jewelry and even more than that, she couldn't wait to show her bridesmaids and her mom.  I love, LOVE knowing she's going to take "me" home to meet her mama.  tee hee ;)

I've seen her dress in a photo from when she was trying it on, so I know she's going to be a beautiful bride.  I just feel so grateful that I got to add a little extra sparkle to her special day!

From my heart to yours... big, BIG hugs!

Super Sparkly Custom Order

I received a message in my FB mailbox from a friend I met via one of the many home businesses Chris & I tried to build before I decided to take control of my own future.  While those businesses had challenges from a corporate leadership stand, we were blessed to meet some really terrific people!  Kathy was one of them!  If you met her... you'd never forget her, she's really that wonderful!

Kathy is a Social Media expert and will be speaking at a huge conference sharing everything she knows.  So as the star of the show, she wanted stunning jewelry that was guaranteed to be one of a kind.

Here's what Kathy was looking for: "I Love Sparkley!  I'm looking for something in browns, golds or neutrals.  I don't want it to short (like a choker).  I'm undecided what exactly I'm going to wear, but this will give me lots of options.  Oh yeah, and earrings to match too, please."

Enter into Kathy's world pearls & swarovski crystals... I created a Bib-style necklace because it offered lots of sparkle and yet isn't chunky.  This way Kathy can handle the microphone like a pro and not let her jewelry get in the way!  I used bronze pearls with Crystal Swarovski rounds & bicones.  I also added some small Lt. Colorado Topaz to add sparkle and color that was a perfect match for the pearls.

Thanks so much Kathy for trusting me to add some sparkle to your already sparkly personality!  I know you'll do well and people will be enthralled with the message you are delivering.  You're the best in your field dear and I guarantee your message will be well embraced.

To learn more about Social Media, you can find Kathy on Facebook where you'll get to know her and find the link to her website:  http://www.facebook.com/KathyStoverCA

I loved working on your custom order Kathy!  Designing with a purpose, for a special person or personality is a true pleasure.  Thanks for allowing me such joy!

{Hugs!}
Dawn

Winner - Pearl Earring Giveaway

Thanks so much to everybody that entered.  I appreciate your friendship, and all the tweets & posts you made to spread the word about my giveaway.  What I love is that we're all making new friends from all over the globe and friends are the family we chose for ourselves.

So for my very, very scientific process of choosing the winner... I wrote everybody's names on paper for each entry and bonus entry you made.  Then I dropped them all into a beautiful glass bowl.  And randomly chose one name out by hand.  But I was blindfolded... by myself, and I prayed I didn't knock the glass bowl off the piano onto our hardwood floor.

And all ended well, especially for ......... GWEN!  Gwen please e-mail me your mailing address to designsbydawnmd@gmail.com and I'll put the earrings in the mail to you.  Also let me know if you'd rather have them on a leverback style hook and I'm happy to swap it out for you.

Please feel free to stop over to Gwen's Blog - Get Paid and Get Fit to see Gwen's tips for healthy eating and staying fit.  http://www.getpaidandgetfit.net/

Thanks again to all who commented.  I hope to see you back here on Sept. 15-16th so you can enter our Blogmania Giveaway where Team Favorite Things is giving away over $500 in artistan created wears!  I can promise you, it's going to be an amazing prize package! :)

{Hugs!}
Dawn

Something old, something new, something borrowed....

SOMETHING BLUE!!!!  Yes, I'm not sure about wedding traditions in other cultures, but this is a customary tradition here in the US. 

So feast your eyes on this....

Fit for any bride... there's crystal, there's pearls and of course, there's blue!  I designed as an anklet so any bride can wear it with her gown and it's not going to upset her new Mother-in-Law by clashing in the pictures.

It's been 80's and sunny her in WI, so I've been playing in my gardens - loosening up soil, planting seeds, splitting plants and being incredibly grateful for everything around me.  I'm one of those crazy people that LOVES both the heat and humidity... I know, what am I doing in Wisconsin, right? 

Hope your day is sunny, and if it's not... bring sunshine with your smile to someone who needs it!

{Hugs!}
~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!