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

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

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

Todays Coffee Roundup - And HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Good Morning! And Happy New Year!

I love the holidays,  easy peasy coffee time spent browsing the internet.    I was asked this morning for photos of my table for an application I'm making to a local cool craft fair ...and of course I had those ready (ahem cough).

So,  our mission today - create a craft table display!

First I ran to the local charity shops - where I lucked into a most excellent Bombay Company find, a large tea chest.  New hinges, a good polish and that's staging area #1.

A very beaten up vintage box makes for display area #2.

Next -  a coupon search for Micheals and voila! Two eiffel tower displays at 70% off (we are thrifty!)

Wanting something natural and not so square to balance it I scoured the area while walking the dogs - and a beautiful twisted tree branch adds a little au natural to the table.

Charity store find #3 - cork mats.

And lastly I co-opted our tray from the living room table.


Finally - a run to the hardware store for eye pins to screw into the wood and cork so as to hold things steady.

What do ya' think?

I am liking image #1 better - the addition of the round cork mat adds a little balance.

Oh and hey, check out that beautiful vintage silver mirror!    Wasn't intended to buy that but its so elegant and beautiful!

Total cost:  A smidge over $38 - not too bad!

Pictures are on their way now with my application - hopefully we get in and get to meet some folks in the spring!

Hope your New Years brings you love, hope and happiness.  Spread a little cheer today!
Dawn

Did you see this?    Part of social media is spreading your wings far and wide - Linkedin is a great place to get advice and converse with like minded individuals. I have had some great chats with people there - and look!   I got profiled on this website from South Africa!

Feeling so global right about now!

http://workfromhomemembership.com/craftlistings/handcrafted-jewelry-dawnings-custom-designs/

Big thanks to our new friend Robert Bruce Anderson!   Take a browse through the crafting world in South Africa on his site!

Dawn

And did you see? New items are up for sale in my Etsy shop - take a look - recycled copper heatsinks turned into beautiful creations!   https://www.etsy.com/se-en/shop/DawningsCustomDesign

I take the heatsink, polish it, file it down a little (they are pretty rough edged) and then work them.   I cut, texture, dome, heat and generally experiment till I like the look and then (because I really love contrasts) add something - silver, pearl - who knows what I will find in my box of treasures.      

 Love these things,  the copper is gorgeous and the recycling a  huge bonus.   

<wicked laugh> Spouse is getting nervous as I keep eying all electronics now, wondering what is in them that I might use! 

Dawn