January 21 2015

Well it is 6am-ish on a Wednesday.   This weeks posting will include many bookmarks so I thought I would put a sneak preview here. When I started Dawnings I wanted to include a line of children activities or loot bags.  I don't know about you but I have no love for dollar store bags full of high colour, high sugar candy and plastic that breaks as soon as you play with it.  

So I thought, why not little kits - to make a necklace, a bracelet, a key chain or a bookmark?  An activity during the party and a party favour all in one!  I tested this out on a few of our friends children and they love making things they can keep.    A theme like animals or dragons,  a common colour to suit your party girl or boy!

And of course I have to test it out so thats what we did this week - tested the Bookmark Theory,  (doesn't that sound important!) My child and some of his friends put together some bookmarks with dragons, Chinese coins, little beads with turtles and skulls.    A great success!  My only regret is I didn't take pictures before they took them home!    

And you know we like to reuse things that otherwise get thrown away but we did buy these metal bookmarks new.   We are exploring ways to create them cost effectively (that leather I have springs to mind!)


Instructions are fairly simple;

1. Take the plain metal bookmark.
2. Select from whatever you can find - beads, chains, wires, findings, limo, mini figures.
3. Cut a piece of thick wire and using jump rings where needed attach the decorations to the bookmark.
4. Test it by gently pulling on it to ensure its really firmly attached.
5. Go find a good book and settle in your favourite reading nook!

And of course I had to get in on the action - see some of my creations below!

 Vintage green glass beads from a broken necklace 

Tiny glass bee - I never would have a use for him in my jewelry - so 

Im loving that I found him a home here!  There were a few of these in my treasure box - a lovely bright red cardinal, a bee, a little bug.    You can see them all on Sunday!

Success!  

This was a lot of fun to do with my child,   and his friends.     Think the loot bag thing will work?   Let me know in the comments!!
Ciao!
Dawn

Sunday January 18 2015

Our coffee ramblings this weekend, well let me see.

I was at my work table yesterday talking through designs with a close friend and another lovely friend dropped by.

It hit me then how lucky I am.    

When I started Dawnings a few months ago I thought it was just me,  muddling through things, discovering what it takes to run a business.  But a talented graphics/human factors person guided me through branding, design and logos,  and all around me friends and family watched and searched for things I can use in my creations,  offering advice as I went. My talented sister talked me through some design and creation challenges and we have some lovely conversations re things we can make.      Yesterday my friend who does staging came by and guided my table displays for my upcoming craft fair, and home show.  She even volunteered to come for the day at the next craft market for moral support!   And then (told you I was lucky) another friend who runs her own business gave me advice on accounting etc.   My new friends on Linkedin advised on my blog giving me handy tips, and discussing such topics as pricing and challenges in our hand made world.  Then to top it off husband made me displays which look exactly like I wanted out of used floorboards!

So,  at the end of the day as I looked at my new table display and started inventory of what needed doing next I really felt blessed.       I am really enjoying this journey Dawnings is on, and am glad you are here with me!

To cap it off this quote passed by on Twitter as I was updating this morning;

Among Life's precious jewels, Genuine and rare, The one that we call friendship Has worth beyond compare. ~ Author Unknown

Feeling blessed?  Share with me in the comments below!
Ciao
Dawnings


https://www.etsy.com/se-en/shop/DawningsCustomDesign

Wednesday Jan 14th 2015

Good Morning, and what a frosty morning it is!   What was I thinking when I chose Canada as my new home I wonder, when the Bahamas or Turks & Caicos could have been my destination - sun, sand, sun, did I mention sun?

Whats it like where you are?   Hope you are warm and toasty.

Here is a sampling of our recent items, we are ramping up now for a home show (never thought I would do one of those but here goes!  Friendly faces and a glass of wine will make that adventure easy! I will post some pics!)   And we finalize a date this weekend for a craft show we are doing just in time for Valentines!

So, stay tuned Dawnings friends,  lots of lovely sparklies being created as I make sure I have enough things to fill up a table!

  Chat soon!
D

Sunday Coffee Roundup Jan 11 2015

This morning I had some lovely conversations with creators and artists on Twitter. This kind of surprised me because sometimes Twitter feels like I'm in a room of people all talking at once, so its nice to make a personal connection!

I didn't find much on my treasure hunts this week,   sometimes I luck out, sometimes I don't.     I usually have a few items in a box that I can use so I am not stuck!

We are bit random this morning, listening to Amos Lee and mellowing out.  

Where do I find my materials?  I get asked this all the time.

I try very very hard not to use new items, except for pierced earring wires and threads.

I am a constant presence at charity stores, vintage flea markets, yard sales, freecycle and kijiji.  I join every Facebook group I can find in order to trade, and discover items.    Friends and family are always dropping off little bits and pieces.      I pick up belts, keychains, necklaces, chains, bracelets, loose beads, findings and connectors everywhere I go.  

As you can imagine,  it takes a lot of time to dig through all that and find the right bead, finding, chain, stone and then clean it, polish it, take out chips, or dents.   Fix chains and findings,  partner things and take them apart when they don't...click.   The best part is when I can create my own with pieces and solder, wire or link them somehow.

My favourites since I started are the found leather pieces from a furniture store that I still have so much exploring to do on,    the copper heat sinks (I love the colour!) and the spoons.       Who knows what will show up next!

When a piece does 'click' Im always so pleased,  the goal is to reuse things that would be thrown away, discarded or otherwise ignored.    Anything to avoid the landfill.

You may also have noticed we don't package in boxes, or on earring cards etc.  Thats on purpose as I'm trying not to add to the garbage!  I also hunt for reusable boxes and we use chiffon reusable bags so we keep the whole 'green' thing in mind.
Other coffee morning randomness:

I also discovered some awesome how to's on YouTube;

Molten silver with pine needles....interested?  I was, whoever thought of this was a genius!  The results are beautiful.   http://youtu.be/e0FxQpBb_n0

Love the celtic?    This awesomely simple tutorial by Jocelyn D shows a gorgeous celtic wire bangle being created.   http://youtu.be/RoEelDwyXO0

And this one by CSL designs is so elegant!  http://youtu.be/zH8P0IyEmNY

Go on - give one a try!  You know you want to!


Where do YOU get inspiration?  Where do YOU find materials?

Hope you have a great week!  I posted a few new things - you can find them on Etsy.  Hope to connect with you soon!
Dawnings

Guest Artist:  CADIA

Hello Everyone,

This guest artist has some of the most beautiful creations I have seen, I am coveting SO many of these pieces!

Artist:  Cadia

Website: www.oficinadiecipercento.com

Facebook Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/OficinaDieciPerCento?ref=hl

Biography: Born in Benevento, but Florentine by adoption.  Cadia's obsession for the goldsmith's art has led her, since adolescence, to follow an educational path to become a goldsmith jeweller.

Cadia started her training in Florence, around the age of sixteen, with a course of wax sculpture then she continued with a two-years jewelry course at the Goldsmith centre "Il Tari" in Marcianise (Province of Caserta).  Afterwards she continued in  in Naples, with a Diploma in Applied Arts (Metals branch), then in Vicenza with the qualification of Goldsmith operator and finally in Florence for a Master's degree in Culture and Style of Fashion and a specialisation course in ancient Florentine goldsmith's techniques. 

Nadia has for six years been assistant of two goldsmiths in a Professional institute (Metals branch), dealing with everything concerning the jewelry environment: projects (freehand drawing with pencils and watercolours or with design softwares as Rhinoceros), and objects production (both unique pieces that serial ones).

She participates in several competitions both national and international, in trade shows abroad, and she's presently working on her new Gothic-inspired collections.

 Moon Bubbles rings: 

Bronze ring, galvanic rhodium plating and liver of sulfur oxidised crust.

Nabucco collar:

Bronze collar with bath in 18K rose gold, Honey colour crystal multifaceted Cabochon-cut, treated leather string.

Nabucco ring:Bronze ring with bath in 18K green gold (Etruscan gold), Citrine quartz multifaceted Cabochon-cut.

Semi earring: silver sterling earrings with synthetic gold leaf.

I think you will agree Cadia has a beautiful eye for these things!  Check out her site!

Chat soon!

Dawn

ps Oh, and our weekly postings go up tomorrow - stay tuned!

Jan 4, Sunday

We posted our new items this morning to the sounds of Abba (don't judge, you probably know all the words too!) and we are now going out to play in the snow!

Check them out... https://www.etsy.com/se-en/shop/DawningsCustomDesign


And after that - back to the task at hand!    

Work in progress, stay tuned! 

What are YOU up to today?

Distracted Much?

Today, today I was going to make rings. All day.  Yep, rings. Rings for your fingers, rings for your toes.   My new ring mandrel arrived this week and I thought whohoo!  I had been waiting on that for a while, and now I can get going.....and yes I did.

I made ..... earrings, three necklaces, and seven silver bookmarks from old spoons.   Hmm.  Did you see a single ring in that list?   No me neither.

Ah well,  I suppose we wait till the muse strikes us.     And on the plus side I practiced with the silver spoons, something I have been wanting to do for a while.     I picked up a dozen pretty souvenier spoons at the charity store to practice on before I use the really beautiful antique sterling spoons I have sitting just waiting to be upcycled!

So, tomorrows posting will have all this and the other items we made all this week.   I am bound to slow down a little once I'm back at work next week but its been a great two weeks just making' and mending' and fixing'.

Chat tomorrow,  posting day!

In other Dawnings news we applied to three craft fair this week - wish us luck in getting chosen!

Chat soon!
Dawn

Favourite Website Roundup

Over the holidays I discovered lots of new websites while sipping Godiva Chocolate Coffee (seriously, you have to try it, its delectable!  A gift from a treasured friend!)   You might already know these sites or have  few favourites of your own...(and if you do please please share them!)


So here goes, my top ten!

1.  Lots of free project downloads at JewelrymakingDaily: http://www.jewelrymakingdaily.com/forums/
2.  These guys at Handmadeology have a lot of cool stuff: http://www.handmadeology.com/10-blog-topic-ideas-for-jewelry-designers/
3. Everything Handmade: I am SO trying the torch fired enamel earring tutorial from here: http://www.oheverythinghandmade.com/blog/
4. I think everyone knows Craftsy but just in case.... http://www.craftsy.com/blog/2013/10/tips-for-selling-handmade-jewelry/
5. These guys seem to have a great appreciation for conservation and give back  http://blog.handmade-beaded-gemstone-jewelry.com
6. We lucked into some leather this (last!) year so love Ninadesigns: http://www.ninadesigns.com/blog/category/how-to-make-jewelry/
7. I know they are commercial but great service and their videos are so easy!  Fire mountain gems:  http://www.firemountaingems.com/video.asp
8. Buzzfeed:  http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/46-ideas-for-diy-jewelry-youll-actually-want-to-w#.pvd5Y327ll
9. These guys at Allfreejewelry have SO many how to's! http://www.allfreejewelrymaking.com

And lastly (for now at least!) 

   10. Howcast - I also got some great tips for photos here:              http://www.howcast.com/guides/624-How-to-Make-Jewelry

Anyway, hope your Jan 1 is going well!

Let me know YOUR favourites! 

Ciao, 

Dawn