Dawn Doucette discusses Bella Amore Legacy Jewelry in recent interview

Bella = Beautiful             Amore = Love

Have you ever spent time with yourself really searching for what's your passion?  What REALLY means something to you that you just want to dance down the street singing about?  What are you going to leave as your mark on the world?  What's your legacy?

I know that while I'm here on this earth I express my gratitude for my health, happiness and love every day.  In fact, it's part of my mission to spread love and happiness to as many people as I can touch.

Creating really special beaded jewelry is part of the way I spread happiness and love.  When I'm creating something custom for a client, the love pours forth in so many facets.  From our initial discussion through the creation process, I am pouring love into each and every piece.  Once that beautiful package is wrapped and shipped out, I anxiously await to hear the joy my client feels opening her present! :)

Joy, love, happiness... peace - Bella Amore is all that and more!

Recently I was interviewed on a radio show about my passion for the jewelry I create.  The hostess, Suzy Manning talks with guests focusing on how to help women in their midlife connect with what their true passion and purpose is.  I truly believe everyone is beautiful and everyone has something special to give.  Finding what your special gift is and sharing it with the world, that's where your legacy starts!

Listen to internet radio with SuzyManning on BlogTalkRadio

If above audio player doesn't work, click here to be taken to the archived interview.

Bella Amore is a brand created from the depths of my soul.  Seeing the beauty around me, spreading love and letting women know how special they are!  The pieces I create are unique, artistic, quality and a reflection of the woman within.  If you'd like something custom designed to showcase your personality, or to honor 3 generations of family, a sister connection or a special mother/daughter bond, connect with me.  I'd love to send some beautiful love your way! ♥

Hugs!
Dawn



Here's a P.S. Because family is so important to me, I have to share a few pictures from a family weekend we had at my brother's house!  We had an amazing bonfire, cookout and overnight!  It was really special for all 4 of the kids along with Mom & Dad to be together under one roof.  We roasted smores, ate burgers, laughed a lot and we were able to help get a lot of yard work done around my brother's house! 

With my "Little" brother - who'll always be wayyyy taller than his big sis!

My Family (L to Right) - Mom, Amy, Brenda, Greg, Me, Dad

More Family ( L to R) - Don, Amy, Greg, Dad, Mom, Bren, Ashlynn & Liam

I think this a combination of Cheese S'more!

Grandpa and a sleepy camper!

Creating a Legacy of Love

Welcome, welcome, welcome!  It has been a very busy month in my studio.  I was preparing for a trunk show with my jewelry that took place in Scottsdale, AZ over Memorial Day weekend! 

Turquoise, Petrified Wood and Magnesite focal stones on copper necklace.

If you've ever done a show of any sort, you know the last minute details can drive you batty.  This time however, preparing and wanting to have the right mix of products on display was what I spent a great deal of time preparing. 

Interestingly enough, I spent 2 of the 4 weeks prior to my trip to Scottsdale at the hospital with my brother having tests, waiting for results, having more scans, waiting for more results and all the goofiness that Greg & I could muster in between.  This made the simple things like printing care instructions a challenge, but instead allowed me to finish a few last pieces to take with me.  Even more important than that, it allowed Greg to see my pieces and share his opinion to have a say.  And I have to say, he has a good sense of color balance!  It was awesome to collaborate on the last few pieces for my show.

Quartz & Carnelian Necklace with Freshwater Pearl & Crystal Accents

While I was out there, I got sporadic messages from Greg wondering how it was going and what pieces the women liked the best!  He was also reminding me just how lucky I was to be in such a beautiful location where it was sunny and warm (Wisconsin was 50's and raining the whole time I was gone).  I felt like I had a business partner in my little brother and it was such a joy to come home and share the stories of the wonderful women I met that fell in love with my jewelry. 

Turquoise Necklace with copper chain

If you like any of the pieces that have sold, I'm happy to create something similar and perfect for you as a custom order.  Visit my Facebook Page - Bella Amore Legacy Jewelry - and send me a message so we can discuss your unique style!  I look forward to making you something special that you can pass on to your daughters or granddaughters!

{Hugs!}
Dawn

Crazy Lace Agate Necklace with pearl & crystal copper necklace.

Available for Sale - Art Glass Focal from Juli Cannon, Turquoise and Tigers' Eye Accents

Turquoise Envy - Do you have it?

Yes, it's true, some people have Turquoise Envy.  It's what happens when one sees something beautiful made with turquoise and secretly covets it for themselves.  The good news is, there's a cure for Turquoise Envy!

I've been a very busy lady as of late.  I am taking my one-of-a-kind jewelry designs on the road to Scottsdale Arizona!  Over Memorial Day weekend, I'll be participating in an incredible event designed to help entrepreneurs price, package and promote their businesses to success.  Linda P. Jones is the master of wealth building and one really important component of that is having your own business.  So the intensive retreat she's hosting Memorial Day weekend is specifically about branding to appeal to your ideal clients.  (There's are just a few spaces open still if you are a business owner and would like to join us:  http://bit.ly/YMUtzp )

So in preparing for the retreat, I've been finishing a few pieces of jewelry that will be going with me to sell (including that turquoise and druzy cuff I showed a short time ago) and showcase what options are available to have designed in a custom piece of jewelry by me.  I'm really excited to connect with new clients and to help showcase their individual beauty through their jewelry style.  That's what makes custom-made jewelry so special... it's made exclusively for you, to your taste, color and style - and in turn is a visual image of who you are.  It's just so special that someday you can pass that jewelry along to your family as part of your legacy! 

Druzy Love Me or Druzy Not

As a child, I was a rock collector.  I loved picking up rocks with unusual colors or smooth faces.  When I was in junior high, I went with my friend Karen to her grandparents house in Indiana.  We went down to their creek (pronounced crick with a short i) and gathered geodes.  Little did I know at 12 how much I would still love rocks in my adult life - and that's not just the ones between my ears. ;)

Of course Diamonds are a girl's best friend... those are rocks that just ROCK!

What I didn't realize as a girl however is that the sparkly pieces of geodes I collected would re-enter my life in the form of jewelry design.  When we were wading barefoot in the creek we'd look for round rocks that when you picked them up and shook them, if you heard something rattle in there, it was sure to contain crystals.  We'd haul buckets (very heavy buckets I might add) back to Karen's grandparents house where Grandpa would break some of them open with a hammer to show us the "magic crystals"

Today, working with Druzy stones have me giddy like a little girl again.  What is a druzy?  Druzy is a layer of crystals that form within a mineral crust, like the inner cavity of a geode.  Natural druzies come from a number of different stones including agates, jasper and quartz.  As people have started to see more of these beautiful natural earth-born crystals in jewelry, their demand has grown.  Now companies have created treatments and coatings for natural druzy stones to give them a more sparkly finish.

In this piece I used a titanium coated druzy that has a beautiful iridescent finish.  It showcases a myriad of colors ranging from lavender to turquoise.  I really love that color combination, so I pulled in natural amethyst beads and more chunky turquoise beads.  I also incorporated some blingy bold Swarovski crystals that have a finish in the complimenting lavender hues.  Because more bling is better, right? :) 

I wish I could capture the true sparkle of this piece.  It really is magnificent!

A Walk in the Woods

This wasn't the first cuff I created with a druzy focal.  I created another cuff, "A Walk in the Woods" using a natural druzy focal and turquoise accents.  This piece was designed for The Challenge of Color blog hop hosted by my dear friend, Erin Prais-Hintz.  This cuff was purchased as a gift between girlfriends.  It shows how much we cherish those women in our lives that are there to laugh with us, cry with us and help us pick up the pieces if we've made a mess of something. 

As an artist, there are pieces that you create that just stick in your mind foever.   This piece will be one of those memorable pieces.  From the colors to the textures and the big sparkle, this is a piece that will be a showstopper for a confident woman that loves to look good and turn heads!

Here's hoping you have something sparkly in your week to make you feel like a million bucks - because you deserve it!
{Hugs!}
Dawn

Everlasting Blue Danube - Featuring Pantone 2013 Spring Colors

Designed to showcase a few of this year's Pantone colors, I set out to design this legacy necklace around a special lampwork glass focal bead.

There's a story behind that bead...

A long, long time ago in the land of Delavan, I was mailed this focal bead.  It came from Princess Julianna Cannon (owner of JulsBeads).  Her instructions were, "This is an UAB (ugly ass bead) but rather than pitching it, I thought you might be able to do something to make it less ugly."

I saw the beauty in this glass focal immediately, and waited for the right opportunity to showcase it in all it's glory.

Everlasting Blue Danube by Dawn Doucette

Into the picture enters a design contest to showcase Pantone's 2013 colors and as luck would have it, this UAB fit 3 of this years colors!

I embellished the natural beauty of this focal by bringing in some gorgeous crystal rondelles and some round glass druks.  My favorite part of this piece (aside from the flower focal) is the fringe.  I wanted to create a fringe that resembled roots, so I used the vibrant spring green to create a funky, root-like fringe.

My piece was selected as a finalist in the Beadaholique design contest.  If you like my design, I'd really appreciate your vote.  Voting is open to the public through April 17th.  Click this link http://ow.ly/jX37w and "Like" the photo of my Everlasting Blue Danube in Facebook. 

The beauty within this flower formed of glass will carry out it's legacy forever.  It will always beautiful and it will always sparkle.  There's beauty all around us, it's up to each one of us to appreciate the small things and see that beauty. 

 {Hugs!}
Dawn

Semi-Precious Gemstones - Rich in History, Beautiful in Art Jewelry

When I'm creating different pieces of art jewelry, it's interesting to me what strikes me to use in my designs.  When I'm designing with semi-precious gemstones, three stones in particular jump out at me.

Turquoise - Amethyst - Tiger's Eye

What's even more amazing is when you start digging into the meaning of each stone and the metaphysical energy in the stones, what they offer.  This piece uses a turquoise focal in the center, accented with rich, chocolate brown faceted crystals and soft coral beadwork. 

Turquoise is also used in the links and the necklace is finished with a copper chain.  Have you noticed how often you see turquoise jewelry that uses copper as the metal?  It's not a coincidence, copper enhances the effects of turquoise.

Here's some interesting turquoise facts:

• If given a turquoise by a loving friend, that stone would protect the wearer from negative energy and bring good fortune.  
• Turquoise brings peace to the home.
• Turquoise carries great wisdom of basic truth within it.

"Turquoise is a stone that has been prized for many years. The ancient Egyptians used turquoise in jewelry. Turquoise is greenish-blue or pale sky blue. The name means "Turkish stone" as it came to Europe by way of Turkey. Turquoise was mined more than 6,000 years ago in Sinai. The best turquoise comes from Iran, but not much is exported now. Much turquoise comes from Mexico and the United States today." via crystal-cure.com

It's not a wonder turquoise resonates with so many people!  What semi-precious gemstone speaks to you?

Spring Inspired Jewelry Designs

Yes, we still have snow on the ground where I live in Lake Geneva, WI.  BUT I'm going to use the Power of Positive Thinking that Spring is on the way soon... she just had to stop and pick up a new handbag and killer heels.  :) And until she arrives fashionably late I'm going to stay inspired by pieces I've created that remind me of spring. 

Butterfly Kisses - Available for purchase

Fern Gully - Available for Purchase

Princess for a Day - Custom Order with JulsBead Focal

The funny thing where I live, the old saying goes something like this: "If you don't like the weather in Wisconsin, wait 5 minutes and it'll change."  Interestingly enough... it still feels like Winter.  However, this weekend we're supposed to be in the upper 40's (and maybe hit 50 - gasp!) for Easter Sunday.  So at least all the little adorable girls in the precious little white Easter dresses won't be too chilly.  They will have to worry about muddy shoes though!

GRAND Prize Winner - Romance in Bloom

Flowers for the Queen

I'm finishing an amazing cuff that I can't wait to share with you... picture this, chunky turquoise and amethyst with a druzy focal.  It really will be the bomb diggity when it's done... so off to the studio I go!

Walk in the Woods

Hope you have a fantastic day!
{Hugs!}
Dawn

P.S.  I'm still sporadically having that thing with the "no-reply" email address when I'm commenting on other people's blogs.  It just did it again yesterday when I commented on my superstar glass girl JulsBeads!  So if you aren't sure if yours is also working right, I'd be happy to email you and let you know... just include your email address spelling out AT and DOT so the quirky online gremlin robots don't spam you.  :)