An Amazing Totally Awesome Reveal

Brace yourself for something really... really awesome!  

Saturday we're having the reveal for the Sequintastic September challenge hosted by Sarah over at Saturday Sequins.  If you haven't checked out Saturday Sequins blog before... head over and take a look at her work.  I'll wait, then come back because there's something else wonderful I have to share...

Waiting...  tick, tock, tick, tock...

Glad you made it back!  I was worried you got gobbled up by cyber grizzly panthers.  Those little buggers can be sneaky! ;)

It's rare that I create a piece of beaded jewelry from a tutorial.  It's rare I use a tutorial at all.  I actually look at the books & magazines, love the designers and admire their talent... then go on my merry way doing what I do... ME!

So imagine the bruise on my chin as my jaw dropped when I, myself purchased a tutorial from Heather Collin with the intent to actually make the bracelet!  I know, I was shocked too!!!

I saw Heather's Crossing Over bracelet a while ago.  I loved the curvy layering and Celtic feel to the embellishment and really, really wanted this bracelet.  So I scooped up her tutorial and this weekend made the bracelet.

Now if you saw the necklace I made as a custom order in turquoise and coral last week, you'll know I've been deeply inspired by those colors ever since.  I don't duplicate designs as each piece of jewelry I make is one of a kind.  So when I saw Heather Collin's Crossing Over, I saw the beads still sitting on my tray from that gorgeous necklace and BAM!  It hit me like the first sip of coffee in the morning!

Then I heard the angels sing... and now I have my very own turquoise & coral work of art.

If you like the bracelet and want to pick up your own tutorial (and you should) head over to Heather's Etsy store.  She's got TONS of beautiful tutorials listed in there.  http://www.etsy.com/shop/studio183   This one is Crossing Over, but I won't limit you to crushing on just one!

**This post is not a paid advertisement.  In fact, Heather has no idea I'm writing this and has probably never even heard of me (until I purchased her tutorial.)  But I have to say, her design inspired me so and the bracelet is sooooo comfy to wear.  It's not meant as your very first beading project if you've never done any beading before, but with some stitch know-how (and patience because lordy, lordy... herringbone with 11s and 15s takes for-EV-er) you too can have a wearable work of art!

Now, don't forget to come to our Sequintastic party on Saturday!  We'll be sporting some bling and showcasing just how sequins can be included in jewelry designs!

{Hugs!}
Dawn

P.S. If you'd like a piece of custom made jewelry designed for yourself or to give as a gift, contact me via my website:  http://www.DesignsByDawnMarie.com or on my Designs by Dawn Marie Facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/DesignsByDawnMarie.  I'm happy to work with you to make something really special that can be worn countless times and passed down as your legacy to your children or grandchildren!

Extreme Bead Embroidery Takes a Tropical Vacation -Now for the Umbrella Drink Please

From all white on white to extreme contrast with black & white, I decided to take a little journey with my bead embroidery to the tropics.  Somewhere from way out in left feel I was inspired to create something so beyond my "old shoe" comfort zone it's freaky.

I will say... brace yourself... I used orange *gasp*  as in tropical warm, sunshiney, happy ORANGE!  FREAKY again, I know!

Where is all this inspiration coming from?  Not sure exactly, but I'm loving playing with color.  

So this cuff started as an inspiration from the Etsy Bead Embroidery Guild.  The EBEG Beadfest challenge was fairytales... the variety that started as folk lore long ago and have been passed down through storytelling for generations.  My mind immediately thought of the tale of Hansel and Gretl, a German fairy tale told by the Brother's Grimm in 1812!  The tale is about 2 young children that are abondonded twice by their father and horrid step-mother not once but twice in the woods!  After the 2nd time of being abandoned the children get lost in the woods and find a house made of gingerbread and candy.

Being supremely hungry, the children begin to nibble on the candy home until they are invited in by a witch posing to be an old lady.  Suffice it to say the kids eventually trick the witch at her own game, find a stash of jewels she has hidden and with the help of a good storytelling, find their way back to their father.  His wife has mysteriously passed away and they can now live happily ever after thanks to finding the witch's jewels.

The focal of this cuff reminded me of candy.  Honestly it looks good enough to lick!  I added "jewels" in shades of lime both in beads and in the Nicole's beadbacking, aqua and accents of tangerine to create a bright, joyful "path" of treasure to emulate the journey Hansel & Gretl took.

While I'll be out of town while the blog hop takes place for the Fairytale Reveal during Etsy Bead Embroidery Guild's Beadfest on June 30th, I had to share this as it was truly a wonderful journey to create.  You can check out the other members of EBEG on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Etsy-Bead-Embroidery-Guild-EBEG/303381193012490 I never thought I would use orange - in fact I surprised a really good friend who was shocked I even had any orange in my bead inventory.  I tried the cuff just to capture a picture, and wouldn't you know, it decided to own me.  Yep, this baby is now part of my private jewelry collection!

Hope your day is inspired and your journey is sweet!
{Hugs!}
~Dawn
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Designs by Dawn Marie

Dawn Doucette is a jewelry artist creating OOAK bead embroidered jewelry in Lake Geneva, WI.  Inspired by the beauty around her, each piece is unique and something that can be passed down from generation to generation.  Much like a great painting, Dawn's bead embroidery tells a story and it's translation is very personal to each person that sees it.  Specializing in custom beaded jewelry, Dawn loves turning a personal experience or story of her customers into a OOAK piece of jewelry they will treasure for years to come!

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