March 22 2015

You know, when I started this I didn't expect to meet so many people.    I considered craft shows to be where I would chat and learn, and connect but I was profoundly surprised by the connection with people I have found over the internet.  (Yes, yes I know, everyone else knows this,  but I didn't!)

I hosted a small jewelry party last week. Sort of a test to see if a) I liked it, b) how my displays held up, that sort of thing.  Thinking of something fun to do (and badly needing makeup) I got chatting with a lady selling  makeup via the local Ladies Who Lunch group.  So, she came along and we both did our thing, with wine and coffee, and laughter.   Lots and lots of laughter.

I loved it.    And I think I want to do it again.  Craft fairs are wonderful,  the internet sales are good,  the custom orders are gladly accepted but the home show also satiated my need for a bit of a more personal connection.

I hope my ladies loved the pieces they bought, the makeup they tried.   And I plan on doing this in the summer with a few more crafty artsy minded folks.  A garden showcase maybe!  Now I just need a garden to do it in!

Oh, and have you heard of Ladies Who Lunch?  Awesome group - community minded business women looking to connect and promote local businesses.   Amazingly supportive and just a little awe inspiring some of them - with what they have built from scratch.   I am gonna learn a lot! (Hopefully by wearing my new makeup and selling a ton!)

I couldn't lock in a local artist for March to profile.  But I did do my monthly donations.   Ladies who Lunch and Sits with Me dog rescue plus an auction item for a local family who lost nearly everything in a house fire.  Loving the fact I can do this!

Now I have to go brave the snow and minus 15 chills.    It be cold out there!

Dawnings!

ps  We posted again this week - a few treasures to add to our horde - check us out on Facebook and Etsy!

Some friends of mine are currently climbing Kilimanjaro, so I thought why not find out what jewelry (yes I am obsessed) gets created in that part of our big bright beautiful world.

Apparently color plays in a lot (borrowed from  here:  http://interesting-africa-facts.com/African-Jewelry/Maasai-Bead-Jewelry.shtml ).

• Red - stands for bravery, unity, and blood. Red is the color of cows blood. Often a cow is slaughtered when the Maasai meet and therefore unity is associated with red.
• White - represents peace, purity, and health. The association with health comes from white cows milk which the tribe drinks to stay healthy.
• Blue - represents energy and the sky. Rain falls from the blue sky which provides water for the cattle.
• Orange - Symbolizes hospitality. The association with cattle is that visitors are served cows milk from orange gourds.
• Yellow - like orange yellow also symbolizes hospitality. The animal skins on visitors beds are yellow.
• Green - symbolizes health and land. Cattle graze on the green grass of the land.
• Black - represents the people and the struggles they must endure

And this artist has a very modern take on the traditional designs:  http://influxjewellery.com/matthieu-cheminee/

Im coveting this book, and placing a request for my local library to order it :  Jewelry Techniques of West Africa,  by Matthieu Cheminée

One of our favourite stones - Tanzanite comes from the region.    

Etsy has a fantastic range of Kilimanjaro inspired jewelry too

Now I'm sitting here getting bitten by the travel bug!

Kwaheri & Nakupenda  (Goodbye, and Love!)

Dawnings

March 2nd 2015

What a few weeks!  Did you miss me?    Had to get the computer rebuilt and so I missed our chat.    I have now made arrangements so I won't leave you lonely again!

This weeks coffee assisted wandering across the inter webs included too many funny pet videos (don't judge me)  and a rehash of the melted silver in pine needles technique (my first few tries are ....not great) and research for a few custom orders.  When I started this adventure in jewelry I didn't even think about custom orders  but they come in and I am thrilled.    With Mothers Day approaching I have orders coming in and its so much fun figuring out how to put things together.    This afternoon I will be making up two more necklaces and two pairs of earrings to join the pretty pile of chiffon bags by my front door waiting on pickup and mailing!

I won't be making these however: http://youtu.be/e4A720TeqWc  Nope!  The top ten most expensive pieces of jewelry in the world are a little teeny tiny bit out of my range.    

I also wanted to fix up a ring that lost a stone...so practicing my setting techniques. This blog is good for that:

http://www.jewelrymakingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/2012/07/25/intro-to-stone-setting-essential-tools-for-setting-stones-in-bezels-and-other-settings.aspx

And lastly I wanted to share my treasure hunt updates.  I was perusing FreeCycle and decided to post an ad asking for broken and unwanted treasures - and in return I would donate to the food bank.  And it worked!!   I have been the lucky recipient of quite a few bags of treasure and the Food Bank is getting its donations regularly.      Plus these kind folks get to declutter, and avoid landfill!  Win!!

I thought that was pretty sharp of me,   patting myself on the back and avidly waiting for yard sale season to start!   Do you have any ideas how I can source supplies?

Hope your March is off to a good start....I will be choosing a local charity to donate a Dawnings creation to for our March good will gesture.    Ideas?

Chat soon!
Dawnings

p.s.  Here are some of this weeks creations - available on Facebook or Etsy.

Sunday Feb 7 2015


What did we see on this mornings coffee round up?   Glad you asked!

Well, did you see these glorious gems and beads at the Tuscon show?   I am in awe of the (what seems to be miles of..) beads and sparkly things.  Check them out here:  http://www.tgms.org/show-2015/  I follow these guys on Facebook and am wondering how I get there next year!

And look at what this artist does with old tires!      http://yonghoji.com/db/?ckattempt=1

Toby Malms mother and child sculpture...me want!  His stuff is simple and elegant and eloquent  http://www.jernmalm.com


Do you like the delicacy of silver filigree?  

See how its done here:  http://youtu.be/pLShQYztBHI

Not sure I will ever try it but it really is beautiful!

Our new postings are up on Facebook - we had fun with bangles this week.  Let us know what you like?

Bangles, Bangles, Bangles! 

Remember the leather we recovered from the
furniture store....isnt it beautiful!

Here is what we made with it this week

Looking forward to chatting with you!


Dawnings

Feb 7th 2015

How creative do you feel when you have a cold, the weather is out to get you and regular job stress fills all the space in your brain?  Yeah, me neither.

But Im back,   yesterday I lucked into some plain bangles so those are all jazzed up now for you to covet tomorrow when I post and there are some keyrings, bookmarks, earrings and necklaces coming your way too.

I need some inspiration people...!!

Chat soon on our Sunday coffee ramblings!
D

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