Great Interview about Social Media Marketing with Kathy Stover

Good morning!  I know how odd is it that I'm doing a blog post on a Sunday... BUT what I want to share with you is that good, that you'll want to kiss me for sharing!

This week, I listened to a great interview about social media marketing.  Suzy Manning, founder of Sizzzl interviewed me a while back for her blogtalk radio program about following your passion and what that can translate to in business.

On her live show this week, she interviewed well know social media expert and entrepreneur Kathy Stover.  Kathy is one of my greatest mentors in the world of social media marketing.  She's on top of everything new in the world of online marketing... and works with several high profile clients planning their social media marketing plan and creating their entire online presence.

Listen to internet radio with SuzyManning on Blog Talk Radio

In this interview she's sharing with you some very helpful tips about social media marketing that I think you'll find really helpful in growing your business online.  (If you can't see the media player above, click here to visit the website to listen to the recording.)

Hope your week is full of creativity, love and family.  With it being a holiday we'll be gathering around a big feast with family.  I've been "told" by my 3-yr old niece that she's going to bring her "jewelry book" and we're going to make jewelry on Thanksgiving.  I'm still laughing... I may not have birthed her, but she's a chip off the Auntie block!  LOL

{Hugs!}
~Dawn

What have I been working on - it's a SURPRISE!

And if I showed you now, A. it wouldn't be finished, and B. Erin Prais-Hintz writer of Treasures Found blog would probably come right to my house, string me up by my toenails and dress me in orange!  Not that there's anything wrong with orange... after all "Orange" season starts this weekend (aka the opening of hunting season.) 

SO even though I can't SHOW you what I'm doing, I can tell you... 

Erin has organized her 2nd annual color challenge.  She collaborated with Jessica of Design Seeds out of Madison, WI and has given each participant their very own color palette to design with.  We chose our main color and the rest was a surprise.  (Side Note:  If you go to Design Seeds website, you can sign up for their daily e-mail of new color palettes.  I did and I LOVE getting that e-mail in the morning!)


I told Erin, surprise me - and boy did she ever!  I told her I had stash in everything except red, orange or yellow.  Beyond that I was open to the challenge.... and can I say, I LOVE my color palette!  I would never have put all 5 of these colors together, but seeing them on paper... then creating with them, it has been helping me venture into a whole new area of creativity. 

So not only am I playing with fun colors (and I'll spill just a hint, my main color is brown... but that's all I'm sayin!)  I'm also designing something that I've NEVER made before!!!  Yes I'm challenging myself beyond what I've ever done and I feel so liberated!  Okay, I can hear Erin, I think she's on my shoulder saying, "Dawn, enough... don't say any more.  It's supposed to be a surprise."  I know, I know... I'm just excited at where this journey is taking me!

Enough babble!  I'm off to bead!

Have a beadiful day!
~Dawn

Playing with Seed Beads and Chain - REALLY

I'm smiling ear to ear about sharing these beautiful bead embroidered Tiger's Eye earrings with you.  Why?

• Because I mixed mediums... namely seed beads and chain.

• Because I incorporated some of my new found "balance" in my design.

• Because I would totally wear these with blue jeans to the store - just because.

Don't you just love it when something beautiful comes together?  I sure due, because lord knows we've all had pieces we've not finished or taken apart because they just weren't "right."  So when we get it, we do a little dance and keep on beading!  Which is where I'm about to go!

{Hugs!}
Dawn

P.S. If you like these earrings, you can snag them from my Etsy Store:  http://www.etsy.com/listing/86258314/tigers-eye-earrings-tortise-brown-bead.  I'll happily wrap them if you're giving them as a gift too! ;)

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To see more bead embroidered jewelry from Designs by Dawn Marie, visit her website: http://www.DesignsbyDawnMarie.com or "Like" her on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/designsbydawnmarie.

Reveal - Things I Learned from the Sherry Serafini Bead Embroidery Class I took

I'm still overflowing with creative juices from the class I took with Sherry Serafini a few weekends back now.  What was so very cool for me was to broaden how I "picture" designs.  In other words, seeing pieces in a different way from beginning to end than what my brain had previously seen. 

Here's a picture of my finished pendant - I used Sherry's pattern and supply list, but I put the supplies/components together myself.  So the color palette for this one is designed in true "Dawn Colors." ☺

One really HUGE "ah ha" moment for me was to break things down into individual components.  So I created this "component" and not sure what to do with it, it could be a part of something bigger like a bracelet, collar or pair of earrings.  Who knows just where that one piece of the puzzle fits into play!

Balance - not just in a "weighted balance" terminology.  But color balance.  This was also HUGE for me.  Because I don't naturally "see things" asymmetrically, hearing about balancing color rather than size or quantity was incredible. 

Swarovski Lochrosen - aka sequins - are my new favorite Swarovski component.  You see them embellishing the top cab and the second component.  I LOVE how they add sparkle (which is hard to see in my photo because I haven't had a good sunny day to capture a true picture of this piece).  Yet they are a "low profile" sparkle.  They just kind of sit there like "Look at me, I'm pretty!"  Will definitely be adding more of these to my working stash.

Stitch in the Ditch!!!  My mom taught me years ago when she was teaching me to sew and then as we were creating quilts to Stitch in the Ditch.  I hadn't heard this term in over 2 decades!  LOL  But when Sherry described the embellisments we were adding to the top and middle component, she said stitch in the ditch!  And I knew exactly what she was talking about!  What a fun trip down memory lane!

So those were a few of my "Ah Ha" moments in this great bead embroidery class.  Sherry was a great teacher, so real and awesome at explaining and answering questions.  I love my pendant.  Because of the tremendous amount of Swarovski on the pendant, I wanted to keep the necklace simple so the pendant could really "Shine" as the star of the show.  I beaded it on some memory wire and viola!  I love it!  And I wore it to a local craft fair this weekend and got tons of compliments.  Even other jewelry people that are non-seed bead style designers, were amazed at the detail! 

Hope your week is creative, fun and full of greatness!
{Hugs!}
~Dawn

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To see more bead embroidered jewelry from Designs by Dawn Marie, visit her website: http://www.DesignsbyDawnMarie.com or "Like" her on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/designsbydawnmarie.

Because I Love You I am Sharing this Book Giveaway with YOU

BUT I really, really want to win, so if you don't get a chance to check it out, I'll forgive you. tee hee hee

I WANT This BOOK!!!

Over on Lori Anderson's blog, Pretty Things, there's a great giveaway for not one but TWO great books!  She was asked to review both books for Potter Craft and now she's generously giving away the books.  I'm not sure if she's drooled all over them or not, because I sure would have!  BUT if you're interested and want to win (which you don't because I really, really want to) check out her blog!

Great for Upcycled Crafting

And if you aren't a follower of Lori's blog... become one.  She's full of spunk, humor, pie (as in the food, not the mathematical calculation without the 'e' kind) and sincerity.  She's also a really great jewelry designer that thinks outside of the box.  SO check her out and let her know I sent you her way! K?

Taken this morning on her 12th birthday

As a P.S. to this blog post, today is my Brandi's 12th birthday!!  We woke up to a light dusting of snow this morning, so she's THRILLED!  That crazy dog LOVES snow.  I know, I said she was crazy.  I adopted Brandi from the English Springer Rescue of America (ESRA) many moons ago and she has been the perfect dog for me.  Even when she shredded a box of kleenex because she wanted it to snow INSIDE... yes I told you she loves snow!

So happy birthday to my wonderful, loyal and loving Springer Spaniel!  I am so lucky you picked me! 

Brandi looking beautiful in 2005! 

Taking YOU on a Vacation with this Beaded Brooch

Yes, as Matt Lauer is taking us all around the world on the Today Show, playing Where in the World is Matt Lauer, I created a piece that is definitely inspired by somewhere other than the land of brats and cheese.  LOL

I created this beaded brooch at the beginning of last week.  I have no idea where the inspiration came from, but I love the tropical yet native feel.  I purchased a set of 4 of these clay "bricks" because they were pretty.  I had no idea what I would make, but they just looked like little treasures. 

So after making the Hope beaded brooch as a custom order, I had brooches on the brain.  I saw these beads again and thought "Ah ha!" Because of all the colors in one bead, creating a brooch would be perfect!

I'll be putting this brooch in my online store tomorrow.  If you would like it for yourself or to give as a gift for X-mas to someone special, I'll give you first dibs.  For my blog followers, the beaded brooch is $40.  E-mail me at dawn {AT} designsbydawnmarie {DOT} com and we can chat! 

Hope you feel the inspiration I felt creating this piece.  It's a real color play for the eyes!  As it's raining hammer, nails & pitchforks here for the second day in a row, I'll just look at all the pretty colors in this beaded brooch and pretend I'm on a beach in the Carribbean!  Bring on the umbrella drinks!

{Hugs!}
~Dawn

Learning and Growing - Sherry Serafini Class REALLY Expanded my Creativity

This weekend was such a weekend of extreme emotion.  Starting with a very hard good-bye to my uncle who was taken too soon.  He was an incredible man, father, husband, brother and son.  To my aunt, he was her soulmate... the person that could finish her sentences, make her laugh, show her the kind of love you only find once in a lifetime.  It was precious to be able to share memories, but everyone also shed so many tears - Bill was such a genuine wonderful person, filled with love and gone too soon.

Can you say WOW?? Stunning collar by Sherry Serafini

As if I was sent a message from Heaven, I also was able to take a great bead embroidery workshop from Sherry Serafini on Sunday.  The chances that she was teaching anywhere that I could drive to was miraculous on it's own.  I didn't know when I registered over 2 months ago just how much this workshop would be needed for my soul.  Honestly, I know things happen for a reason... this "happening" fell into place perfectly.

I had never taken a class... beyond college... but a class I was looking forward to taking for fun - this was a first.  The ladies at Funky Hanna's in Racine were so accommodating, answering all my questions and making sure everyone felt welcome.  Class was full and the energy amongst all the women beading was incredible!

The project we were working on was a component style pendant.  I'm about 75% done, so I'll post those photos when I finish.  We were also able to play in Sherry's stash.  I scored the MOST amazing cameo that I can't wait to turn into something extraordinary.

BUT even beyond the project was the little tips or "Golden Nuggets" that you pick up from Sherry and other beaders just working side-by-side.  I learned so much!  I can't even believe how crazy fast my brain is working right now.  Honestly.... this class was all about thinking outside of the box.  Making components that can come together to creating something incredible!

Sherry, if you should happen to land here on my blog, thank you so much!  I cannot express in words what I feel in emotions.  Getting a peek inside of how your brain works was so much fun!!!  Letting us "play dress up" with some of your amazing collars was inspiring!  Your kind remarks about my necklace was so, so touching.  I'm humbled, flattered and sincerely grateful.  I very much look forward to sharing classroom space with you again.

I was so busy taking it all in, I didn't snap many photos.  BUT here's the ones I did take! 

These were some examples of the Wavy Cuff Class Sherry taught on Saturday.

I fell in LOVE with this collar... seriously it was all sparkly with gorgeous Swarovski Crystals and gold... oh baby did it have some gold!  Honestly, reminded me of what royalty would wear in ancient Egypt!

Who's royalty now?

I told you I love that collar... It was stunning.  I am now an honorary member of Ancient Egyptian Royalty... seriously! ;)

 My lessons for the weekend:

• Surround yourself in love - family, friends, and business associates.  Life is too short to hold on to negative feelings.
• Say "I love you!"  Tell those you love how much they mean to you. 
• Surround yourself with people that have achieved more success than you.  You will learn something new all the time and continue to grow as a person.  
• Beauty is everywhere!  Embrace it!

Hugs and creativity to you this week!
~Dawn

P.S.  For anybody looking to learn how to do bead embroidery, I learned from Sherry's book The Art of Bead Embroidery that she co-wrote with Heidi Kummli.  That book was my bible and the coolest part is that it's almost like two books in one.  Sherry and Heidi share each of their styles (which are very different) and learning both styles let me figure out "Dawn's way" a style unique to me. Sherry was my teacher even before she knew she was my teacher!