What's Purple and Green and Sparkles All Over

If you saw my Bead Table Wednesday (BTW) post this week, you'll see a necklace I'm working on for me, myself and I.  Why is it we always design for other people first and sadly forget to make ourselves a priority (or maybe it's just me, but play along and make me feel better, okay?) Thanks.

So I'm working on a purple and green bead embroidered necklace.  I'm loving how it's coming along.  I had a few hours of puppy nap time this week and a beautiful day on my screen porch so I opted to make a bracelet to match.  Disclaimer: this is not my design, it was in Bead and Button's April 2010 issue.  It worked up in just a few hours and brought in both the purple and greens that I've worked into the body of the necklace.

I kept a tight tension to create a wavy, ruffly edge.  But with looser tension, this bracelet would lie flat.  I however am a curly girl, so a little bit of wavy is just my thing.

How about you... when was the last time you took the time to make something special just for YOU?  If you can't remember... go make something now!  You're special and you deserve to know that I really value our friendship (even if we've never gotten to meet in person)!

Make it a terrific day!
{Hugs!}

Thank YOU... really, Thank You!

As our feast of greatfullness approaches, we're all readying ourselves to share love, laughter and a wonderful meal with loved ones. (Beginning as soon as I'm done with this post, I'm going to start the baking - cherry pie and Aunt Noreen's Corn Casserole!)

One of the people I am so thankful for is YOU!  Without your comments, feedback and friendship I wouldn't be the person I am today.  Everytime I get a comment on my blog, I know that someone took a little extra time to read my post and share their thoughts.  In a world where it seems we're running 90 mph and never really getting our whole "To Do" list done, the fact that you chose to spend time on my blog sharing your feedback with me is really special.  And I sincerely appreciate your efforts!

I want to share my thankfulness with you.  As my token of appreciation for your friendship and feedback, I have marked one of my favorite pieces of ALL TIME on Sale... it's only on sale through Friday.  So... if you're not going to brave the crowd at 4 a.m. have fun doing your shopping online. This piece features one of my very favorite focal beads from Juls Beads (that girl makes magic with glass!)  She named the focal Lady Godiva and I think that's the most regal, royal name on the planet.  So for you, treat yourself or to treat someone you love - here's Lady Godiva on sale!

I hope you have a wonderful holiday, cherishing all those you love, never forgetting to say "I love you!" and remembering those families that can't be together for the holidays.  For those overseas and serving our country, I send you my greatfulness for your unending selflessness.

From my family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!
May you be blessed beyond your wildest dreams!

{Hugs!}
Dawn

Boo-tiful beads!

Like my new jewelry model?  She's around for a very limited time as she'll disappear into thin air in just over a week... BUT for the time being, I thought she did an excellent job displaying this necklace I just finished.

I used a few orphan beads that didn't have "perfect" matches (from my good friend Juls, of course).  Added a few round crystals and put together a sweet beaded chain and "Ta Daaaaa!"  Meet Caribbean Kiss!  Doesn't it make you want to book your vacation right.this.very.minute! :)  It does me, and that would include a tropical beach where drinks are served with umbrellas right about the time it's all white across the state of WI!

More bead-a-licious photos to come soon!  Caribbean Kiss is a 19" necklace with a toggle style clasp.  She is available for sale though I haven't listed her yet in my Artfire Store.  If you're interested, send me an e-mail at designsbydawnmd@gmail.com.

Have a Booooo-tiful day! :)
{Hugs!}

Nothing but Beading Here!

I'm sitting with my foot up and a whole lotta nuttin' but beading going on.  Since I attempted to use my superpowers to walk through a wall on Monday (and trust me, I must not have renewed my contract with SuperPowers R US because they cut me off) and one of my small toes on the right foot has turn oh so many unique colors in the last 48+ hours. 

BUT... if there is a bright side it's that I must sit with the foot elevated which leaves nothing but time for me to bead and create new jewelry!  So that's what I've been up to.  Well, that and lining up a few select friends that also have home businesses to participate in my "Welcome the Holiday" open house I'm having at my place on November 13th.

In lining up my friends I wanted a variety of products so nobody is in direct competition with each other AND of course since we'd be spending a whole day together I wanted fun, loving people.  So we've got my friend Angela, Mary Kay Beauty Consultant coming and a Tastefully Simple Distributor (because every party needs food, right?)  And I'll be working on the invite that will mail out next week. 

I'm having my holiday open house on a Saturday so even those people that work during the week, or are traveling a distance can stop by, do a little holiday shopping and enjoy lots of laughter with other early Christmas Shoppers!

And that means that this darn foot better heal fast because I've got a whole lotta Christmas decorating to do before the 13th!  I've got a tree to put up, stockings to hang and Christmas CDs to dust off!  I know you can't rush healing... but I'm still trying to prod it along a bit. 

Hope your day is full of unicorns & rainbows!
{Hugs!}

~Dawn

P.S. I just purchased this book to spur on some creative ideas that I can use some of my Juls Beads with.  Each of her beads are so beautiful, I thought this would be the perfect way to show them off in style as they should be modeled!  I'm really pleased with the projects and tutorials!  If you're looking to shake up your beading, I'd encourage you to get yourself a JulsBead, check out this book and let your inner wild child design!

She only turns 75 once!

And that is why I've designed this very, VERY special gift! Yes, it took many hours and lots of love, but this beauty is a special gift for a special lady turning 3/4 of a century old!  Seriously... doesn't that sound so authoritative saying 3/4 of a century? LOL

The Focal was hand selected from my dear friend Juls Beads.  Literally the second she put this one up in shop, I was jumping up and down, squealing - gimme, gimme, gimme!!!  This stunning bead has an opal irridescent appearance dancing right through the middle of the bead.  And since Opal is October's birthstone... and the recipient (who hasn't yet gotten this lovely) LOVES opals... thus the perfect marriage!

I used a gorgeous mix of purples and amber beads to really make the opal quality pop, and yet stay neutral colored so she can wear it with anything.  Copper wire adds a warm glow and those round amethyst crytals... well I'll let their bling speak for themselves!

All in all, I know this piece is going to make the 75th birthday the very best she's ever had... and I know I don't have to worry about her seeing this on my blog today, because she was on the computer last Monday and it'll be at least another week before she "turns that thing on again." :)  Don't tell me you haven't heard somebody say that before! 

Hope your weekend is wonderful!  We'll be celebrating with bells on as it is also my sweetie's birthday!

{Hugs!}

Spiral Stitch Beaded Rope Project

This week I tried something I have never done before... I went where my beads have never taken me... I traveled to the land of BEAD WEAVING!  I know, now you're thinking... "Oh geez Dawn, yet another obsession..." and you just might be right.  But how cool is it to be able to create chunky beaded chains like the spiral rope chain to hang beautious chunky pendants on? 

I have seen the spiral rope chain created by very, Very talented beaders on their blogs and in their Etsy & Artfire Stores.  I love the look of it, and I've wanted to try it, but had no clue where to start...

In steps my MIL.  She happened to see the Best of Step By Step Beads Magazine at JoAnn's when she was picking up her flags for Memorial Day.  She flipped through and saw the bead weaving and equated it to the wire crochet that I love so much.  So she picked it up and the love of seed beads continues from there...

So over the last week I couldn't wait to get my hands into some thread and itty bitty beads.  I created this pink and chocolate spiral rope chain, which I'm going to put some cone ends on w/ a clasp and call it mine forever because it was my first-born bead weaving project.  :) 

I also created a crystal necklace using some seed beads and 6 mm crystals.  It too turned out sparkley and beautiful and will go in my jewelry box as a treasure forever.  :)    I love trying new things, it opens the mind, expands the creativity and challenges us to create something new. 

If you're looking to break through a plateau, I encourage you to pick up a book, magazine or online tutorial about something you haven't done before.  Challenge yourself to complete it and see what you can learn!

Have yourself a wonderful weekend!  On Monday, I'll be sharing with you all about a new Sponsor we have for our Blogmania Giveaway!  You'll just love her - promise! :)

{Hugs!}
Dawn