Are you up to a Challenge

Today is the big reveal day for my friend Erin's Challenge of... Contest.  The last challenge Erin put together was a challenge of color.  We were asked to pick a color family and then assigned a color palette in that family to design a unique piece of jewelry from.  That was a BOATLOAD of fun and it really helped me think outside of my normal old shoes rut (purple, turquoise and brown). 

So when I heard that Erin wold be making the announcement TODAY for this round of Challenge (which I love Challenge on the Food Network) I actually wrote it in my planner (yes the real paper version) to make sure to check out Erin's blog AND get my butt signed up because I know there's a limited number of spaces.

This morning Erin posted a great blog post to introduce The Challenge of Music.  You have to read her post because honestly, it paints you the perfect picture of inspiration for this challenge.  I know I'm crazy despite packing and moving to think I can do a challenge... But like the Little Red Caboose, I think I can, I think I can!"

I love challenges of any sort... it stimulates growth and growing is always a good thing!  SO if you would like to participate in The Challenge of Music by Erin Prais-Hintz, go to her blog post, take a read and be ready for a wonderful, creative journey!  Sign ups are limited and only open from today (2/1) through February 4th.

Look forward to seeing what YOU come up with!
{Hugs!}
Dawn

Challenge of Color Entry - A Walk in the Woods

Challenge of Color Entry A Walk in the Woods is available in my Online Store!

This Artisan is Asking for your Help

The First Snow of the Season by Dawn Doucette

I am elated and excited to share this bit of news with you.

Yesterday I received an e-mail that one of my jewelry designs I entered in Beadaholique's contest "The Jewels of January" has been selected as one of the top 10 finalists.  I am so excited, and feel so blessed to be chosen.

Now for picking the winner... winners will be chosen by the public.  Voting is open to anybody.  To vote, you have to visit their Facebook Album of entries and click "Like" on the photo you want to vote for.  My Necklace, "The First Snow of the Season" is Entry #2.

Voting is open until Tuesday at 4:00 pm PST and it's a VERY close race.  There are some incredibly talented artists that have been chosen and I feel so fortunate to be included.  Would you consider giving me a "Like?"  And if you really like my design, use the Share Feature under the photo in Facebook to share with your friends.  I really, really appreciate your support!

The link to click directly to the entry photo in Beadaholique's Album is:  http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150518461956864&set=a.10150518451221864.374589.11327971863&type=1&theater 

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!
{Hugs!}
~Dawn

You can find Designs by Dawn Marie all over the internet.  She's a bit of a social marketing geek and enjoys connecting with other artists and sharing our love for one-of-a-kind creations!

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From Kit to Kaboodle - The Lima Beads Challenge Results

I'm so excited that today is the reveal of this jewelry making challenge.  I don't often purchase "kits" of pre-sorted and picked out beads and components.  But when I saw a blog post by Shannon & Lorelei Eurto about the kit they put together with LimaBeads I said GIMME!!!!  And I surfed right over with credit card in hand to get hooked up!

It was my first experience with LimaBeads and it was wonderful. Super fast shipping, great quality stones and beads, well packaged.  So if you're looking for a new bead vendor... check 'em out!

Once I had the hot little kit in my hand, it was up to my muse to show up.  I laid everything out on a cookie sheet, and added some of my own "stash" and played with ideas and moved things around... for 2 weeks!  Then inspiration struck and I saw two distinctly different color patterns that were popping out at me.

Here's the first!

I saw the creamy yellow colors and the soft lavender blending together in a really soft, romantic look.  Once I had the color pallet in mind, putting the necklace together flowed so sweetly.  I used a vintage button that had both the cream and lavendar on it.  Enhanced it with seed beads and the Czech glass gladiola buttons and rondelles that were in the kit.  I also incorporated a few of the freshwater pearls to add a little splash of the cream.  From the focal, I created a drop with the Vintage pendant they included in the kit.  Dangling center I was able to use one of the amethyst teardrop.

The second piece I did was and still feels like buttah (or butter depending on where you live) in my hands.  I had a beautiful focal that was created especially for me from Erin Prais-Hintz of Tesori Trovati.  It's a double sided pendant from her simple truths collection.  Once side says "Love" the other side says "Focus on What Really Matters" - which is so perfectly Dawn!

So when I saw the beautiful dyed silk ribbon included in the challenge kit, it married so perfectly with the pendant Erin had made me, I knew they needed to be joined in holy bead-trimony.  :o)  But how the heck to I use silk ribbon???? I've never used a fiber in my creations before in my life!  Enter in some oval chain I had in my stash and my great talents as a weaver. (really the talents aren't that great, but it sure sounded important).  From there all the components came together.  For the necklace I actually created something asymmetrical that WORKS for my eyes!  (I'm a little type a not A, just a, and asymmetical is often very hard for me to create)  I brought in some of the purples, this very cool lone abalone bead that came in the kit, turquoise zebra jasper nuggets and Czech FP rounds.  But then I still had the challenge of those funky, beautiful Biwa pearls.  They were top drilled like little tears from the sea, so I had to use them.  I wire-wrapped a chain and created a party fringe!

So thanks for coming to my reveal party!  Please stop over to Lorelei and Shannon's blogs to see their creations and those of other participants.  I had a great time and really was able to grow with such a unique mix.  I still have earrings to make to match the necklaces (because one can't have naked ears), but those are still on my bead table.

Hope your weekend is fill with Love and pumpkin spice!
{Hugs!}
~Dawn

Just meeting me for the first time?  Let's connect on Facebook to spread the word about artisan jewelry! http://www.facebook.com/designsbydawnmarie or find me on Google+ Dawn Doucette