Belated Christmas Presents are Good too - Right?

Christmas presents are good anytime of year in my book.

For jewelry artisans... and really artisans in any form of art... the holidays are a really important time of year for business.  Even more so this year, people are paying attention to where the gifts are coming from that they are buying for family, friends and loved ones.  I spoke with several people that were only shopping local or hand-crafted this Christmas.  They are lucky I didn't kiss them right there on the spot because that's how much I appreciate their decisions!

With so much going on in my family this last few months, I had a custom order that I knew wouldn't be done in time for Christmas.  I touched base with the wonderful customer and she was so sweet assuring me it's not a problem at all and the piece would be perfect for Valentine's day.  That's deserving of another kiss right there!

So I have now finished the necklace she ordered.  The stone is a green opal from Africa.  I purchased it at my local bead shop Beadology in Lake Geneva, WI and I was thrilled to be able to design around it.  The colors of green paired with the red brown and terracotta veining is just beautiful.  I put it on a twisted antique brass chain for a soft, vintage look and added a few faceted agates to pull the natural green into the chain.

The necklace is backed with a metallic chocolate lambskin leather... that alone is totally drool-worthy!   Suddenly I'm really excited for Valentine's Day, funny how that works! 

So let's hear... I know you must have gotten something really awesome for Christmas or helped somebody give something really awesome.  I want to hear your story!  I love spreading happiness!

May 2013 bless you and bring you happiness and joy!
{Hugs!}
Dawn

Winnner of Celebrity Creators Present is

Genelle Voss!!!!

But wait... there's more!  Princess Bella Marie of DeVincentisville didn't pick just one winner, she grabbed two (I know, she has a big mouth).  SO it's only fitting I get to give out TWO presents!!! YEAH!!!  So the second winner of my birthday giveaway is.... 

Nancy Neubauer!!!!!

I have to thank everybody that watched the show - both live and the recorded version.  Because it's my birthday, it gives me great joy to give out presents!  I will e-mail both Gen and Nancy to let them know and be able to design something one of a kind that is perfectly "them!"  After all, that's what makes a Designs By Dawn Marie piece so special... it's handmade beaded jewelry created especially for the recipient and personalize to their tastes!

See the glitter?  Yes, he even had the cake sprinkled with edible glitter!  ♥

I've had cake for breakfast (thank you sweetie), and it's National Coffee Day (coincidence, I think not) and I'm going to have lunch with my mama!  SO it's going to be a great day!  I feel so very loved everyday, but especially today!  


Hope your day is terrific!
{Hugs!}

Dawn

Success comes in packages of all sizes

Having the rummage sale this weekend was such a growing experiece.  We had a very successful sale and I think part of that can be chalked up to Dawn doing her best to make it a party!  Yep, why do it if it ain't fun! :o)

I applied similar concepts that I use for the home parties and open houses I do for my handmade beaded jewelry.  Setting the stage for a WOW from the minute people walk in the door (in this case the garage.)  I had tablecloths on all 12 banquet tables (yes and we still had stuff staged in front of the garage doors on the driveway.  I offered a warm beverage to anybody that came in (coffee or cider) as a thank you just for coming out.  We piped in some soft music and people were truly wowed!  We were truly wowed at how much sold, and how little we have to pack up (all of which we're not donating to a local charity, and books are getting donated to our local library for their book sale.)

However the real successes this weekend were more than just the cash box and naked tables.  Here's what I mean:

- The gentleman that came back (drove 14 miles back) just to pay us $6 that we had undercharged him.  Then bought some more things and called later in the day to ask if he could purchase some windows and pick them up on Tuesday because he was in his truck on his way up north for the weekend.  Yes sir, your honesty knocked my socks off.

 - The woman that had a wonderful conversation while taking some of our free books.  We discussed her weekend plans and I suggested an idea how she could stay warm while dressing for a luau they were going to in 50 degree weather.  Who also came back to give me a hug and thank me for making her feel so special with all the health challenges she and her husband are going through. (and yes, her kindness in coming to share that with me did indeed bring me to happy tears.)

- The young mother that brought her daughter and the daughter said please and thank you for every single thing, including an ice cube I got out of the freezer for her cider so it wasn't so hot.  The little girl invited me to her birthday party to share in her cake.  She'll be 5 and was precious.  I love seeing parents that really teach their kids not just manners, but appreciation and gratitude. 

- The ladies that came near the end when all was quite picked over just to see if there was anything they wanted.  Finding nothing, they insisted on leaving a donation for a cup of cider and the warm, welcoming spirit despite the rain.

- For my family, who trudged all the way down from Deforest, Madison and Mequon all over an hour each way just to come out to show their support.  My heart felt gratitude cannot be measured.  Nor could the shock on my face as I saw them walking up the driveway.

- A long time friend that saw our sale posted on Facebook.  Drove up from IL just to say hi and reconnect after several years.  Again, my shock and gratitude were overflowing.

Seeing this side of human nature was AWESOME!  With all the junk they show us on TV and the news, we're really missing the ability to embrace the wonderful aspects of people.  Honesty, gratitude, appreciation and thoughtfulness are so much bigger than the blucky part of this world. 

So to all of those people that shared the wow moments with me this weekend, I owe you so many thanks and more! 

I hope you all have a fantastic week!
Much love & hugs!
~Dawn

Finding Your Niche WHILE Expressing Your Creativity

I'm a firm believer than when you find your niche (no matter what type of product or widget you create) you will still have abundant creativity and great ideas.

I also believe that while we can enjoy lots of things, if you really, really want to succeed as a true business (not a hobby) you need to find your niche and become really, really good at what you create.  It's not to say you can't enjoy doing multiple things, because as creative artisans, we all have several joys.  But the true love of what we create... the piece that comes from our heart... the pieces that reveal our soul are where we are meant to be.

I bring this up after creating custom made jewelry with several styles over the years.  I've strung, wire wrapped, crocheted, embroidered and woven.  Now that's one heck of a varied list when you're talking about handmade jewelry.  But, I really, really LIKE each style for different reasons.  It wasn't until I made the Dancing in the Tide Necklace that I had considered which direction was calling me. 

Seed beads have become like crack for me... seriously, I think they talk (outloud) to me.  They tell me where they want to live and who they want as neighbors and I just take their orders and try to make everybody happy.  After all, I'm a Libra... and I like balance.  In working with seed beads for a while, I finally got enough GUTS to try bead embroidery.  What was I afraid of?  Who knows, but I'm so glad I did.  Each piece is different, all are special and when I finish a piece, even I'm surprised at the messages they reveal.

Well last week (or maybe the week before) when I created the Dancing in the Tide necklace, it was like a Nirvana for me.  Each piece starts with a OOAK focal bead.  I happen to LOVE the artist Juli Cannon so her lampwork focals are most often the WOW factor in my pieces.  Why?  Because I know she pours an infinite amount of love into each-and-every-single-bead she makes.  Yes, they are all born of her very talented hands and knowing I'm helping out a fellow artisan is really important to me.

So I start with an already special piece and I added more pizazz and "Dawn-a-size" it, creating an even more OOAK piece.  I pride myself in being able to bring personality to a piece.  If I'm designing a custom order for someone, I like to bring their personality into a piece.  But if it's not a custom order, I let the focal do the talking.

I think I'm closer to finding my niche with this design.  Similar, but completely unique, I've created another seed bead necklace - again, similar but OOAK.  My goal is to be able to create a style that when somebody sees the photo or the jewelry on someone, they KNOW it's a Designs By Dawn Marie original! 

This very well could be one of those designs.  Each one I've made, it's like I can't get enough.  It feeds my creativity.  It's a mix of funk and a whole lotta soul!  The design is the type of project that makes me giddy to get in the studio in the morning and makes me forget that I didn't eat lunch. Say what?  I know... me forgetting to eat is like snow in Mexico... or is it? 

Where does your creativity buffet come from?  What's THE thing that makes you giddy to create what you create?  Hope your day is terrific! 

{Hugs!}

Earring Extravagaanza!

Available in my Artfire Store

I'm on a roll... and when I'm rollin' ain't nothing gonna stop me!  Seriously, the coffee is dy-na-MITE this morning!  It's kicking my headache right out the door sayin' see ya, don't have time to be ya!

I wanted to share a little project I finished.  My dear friend Stacy (who just posted an awesome blog post about marketing your handcrafted business) had contacted me a little bit ago about making a few pairs of earrings for her.  I absolutely love doing custom orders because the design is a reflection of the personality of the person that will be wearing the piece.  So Stacy had fallen in love with a few sets of lampwork glass beads from Julsbeads etsy store.  If you've been following my blog, you'll know how much I ♥ Julsbeads... like seriously, bucket list = lottery + move her to my house to design just for me.  Ahhh.... back to reality.

So Stacy purchased from Juls and had her ship the bead sets directly to me.  Because Juls Beads just speak to me so much, I received the package in the mail on Friday and they immediately spoke to me.  Both sets!  I know, crazy when inspiration hits that fast... but it happens.

I sat down at my work table, played with some complimentary stones and wire and as my sweetie was walking in from work I had created two masterpiece pairs of glass earrings that I know Stacy will love!

This isn't the first time Stacy and I have done this.  She'll find beads or pendants that just speak to her, but she doesn't make jewelry.  We work great together as she tells me what she would like made, and I design a completely unique piece of jewelry for her to be proud of.

If you're in the same boat as Stacy, and just ooohhh and ahhhhh over a set of beads or a pendant, and would like something special made, you're welcome to contact me.  We can discuss the options available and what you are looking for and I'll created a unique piece of handmade beaded jewelry you will love!

Silver Leverback Earrings with Chocolate Accents