Wednesday, May 13

Time for a REDESIGN

After much thought, I think now is the time for an Elements by Dawn redesign! Given today's economy (I'm really tired of hearing and saying that phrase...but) now is the perfect time to reevaluate my business plan, marketing plan, polish some designs I've had floating in my head, and give Elements a fresh coat of paint, as it were.

For the past few weeks I've been researching web designers / graphic artists and I think I've narrowed my search to three artists (and their respective coders!). I've chosen a new color palette and am working on a fresh logo design and tag line too.

I almost can't wait to begin the redesign! However, knowing myself all too well, I think I'll need to put it off a bit until I revisit my business plan, or like most people....I'll put off the less desirable projects until the last minute. :)

Here's to the FUTURE!

Tuesday, March 17

Introducing: Elements by Dawn ~ Bridal


Looking for elegant bridal and wedding party jewels? Check out Elements by Dawn ~ Bridal!



This new jewelry line features stunning Swarovski Crystals, freshwater pearls, Swarovski faux pearls, sterling silver and 14kt goldfill. Custom orders are gladly accepted and I adore helping brides look their best!

Friday, March 6

I can ALMOST feel Spring in the air...

I love the Midwest. Truly. I have lived up and down the Eastern coast, and never really felt like I was "home." All of that changed in 2004 when my family moved to Wisconsin. My family originally hails from Wisconsin and my husband's family is from Michigan. Funny that it took me almost 30 years to return to my roots. Ah, but I digress.....

Where was I? Oh, yes. Spring! Today was a beautifully warm day. Most of the snow has melted off and tomorrow we're predicting rain. Maybe even a thundershower! The geese have started returning home from their winter grounds and before I know it, robins will be scurrying about hunting worms. Tiny buds will line the bare branches of our trees and Mother nature's color palette will soften.

Ah, Spring. Soft and vibrant greens, petal pinks, and daisy yellows. A time for rebirth and renewal.

What do you love about Spring?

Tuesday, February 17

February Birthstone


February's birthstone is the mystical and beautiful amethyst. Amethyst is a form of quartz and the word 'amethyst' translates from ancient Greek which means "not drunken." In ancient times, amethyst was worn to protect the wearer against, what else, drunkenness. In addition, the ancient Europeans believed it would protect them in battles.


Well, I don't know about preventing drunkenness or protecting me in battle, but I do know it is a gorgeous stone! Ranging from soft violet-pink to deep royal purple, this stone is a true beauty.


Most amethyst is found in Brazil, Austria, Russia, parts of Africa and India. In the US, amethyst of (generally) lower quality can be found in Texas, North Carolina and Maine. This stone was once highly valued and quite rare, however once it was discovered in Brazil, the stone became much more common and less valuable. But, I still think amethyst is quite valuable because of its color and ability to take on many shapes (smooth, faceted), it's fairly durable.
February babies, were your birthstone with pride and without fear of becoming drunk at your birthday party! OK, don't count on that last part! :)

Saturday, February 14

Happy Valentine's Day!

Ah, Valentine's Day, a day for lovers, friends and family! A day for flowers, chocolates, greeting cards and champagne. As a jeweler, I suppose I should say, "a day for giving jewels and gems," but honestly....Valentine's Day (in my opinion) should be about expressing love and care for those around you. Show appreciation for your husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, mother, father, children, family members and dear friends. Afer all, without them, there wouldn't be a traditional Valentine's Day to celebrate. :)

Cheers!

Friday, January 2

Happy New Year!

Welcome 2009!

This year I will....

  • focus on eating healthier and being more active
  • learn at least one new metalworking technique
  • update/revise/revisit my business plan
  • go dancing with my husband at least once a month
  • read a "classic" novel
  • laugh at myself more
  • practice patience with my soon-to-be-teenagers
  • learn a little html
  • update my blog more regularly!

Sunday, December 28

A word on workmanship

From time to time, as I browse art and craft shows, I come across a crafter who might have an excellent eye for color and design, yet neglects workmanship. Over and over again I pick up beautiful earrings only to discover the earwire ends have not been properly filed. Yikes! Who wants to put that through their ear?! If a crafter is going to take the time and effort to handmake earwires, why not take the little extra time and properly finish the item? The crafter's reputation is on the line! Moreover, all handmade jewelry maker's reputations are potentially on the line! If a customer buys a poor quality pair of earrings, how likely is that customer to buy any handmade jewelry again?! Likewise, if a customer purchases well made jewelry, the likelihood of a future purchase is probably pretty good!

Please, before selling your craft, take your item for a test-drive. Try it on, wear it for a day or two. Does it hold up to normal wear and tear? Is it comfortable? If not, what adjustments could be made to make the item better?

Remember:
Quality workmanship = satisfied customers, less returns and complaints, and more repeat business.

Friday, December 26

Handmade Pledge

It is now time for my Handmade Pledge confession....

But first, the good news! Just about everyone in my family received at least one handmade gift! My sons received handmade button/badges, a stuffed creature (upcycled fabrics), and mini notebooks (also upcycled). My sister and her husband received some graphic decals for their new home. Grandma received handmade bath silk, and my BFF received a marvelous piece of functional pottery. My husband? Well, that's were the confession comes in. He had his heart set on a GPS. So, he got a GPS. And me? Well, as hard as we tried, we were not able to find a pair of cool wool socks for me. I had a specific pattern in mind and a specific cut too. We searched for days to find these coveted wool socks, but to no avail. So we ordered from SmartWool. On the up side, they do practice sustainability and donate 10% of their online sales to various charities.

How did you do? Did you discover any great handmade items and makers?

Wednesday, December 24

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Day is almost here!

In less than 24 hours, the living room will be filled with joy and flying scraps of wrapping paper as the kids tear into their gifts. The savory aroma of Christmas dinner will waft through the house. Delightful Christmas tunes will fill the air. Oh, Christmas Day will arrive!

I hope everyone has a delightful day! Merry Christmas!

~Dawn

Monday, December 1

Green Tip of the Day

I recently found an excellent site which gives daily little tips on how to make your world and life a little greener. Ideal Bite is delivered to my inbox Monday through Friday. I especially liked this tip:

Don't throw out your holiday cards! Recycle them by reusing them as gift tags! The article suggests using pinking shears (or other fancy scissors) to make interesting and unique gift tags. I suppose you can also keep birthday cards and Easter cards to do the same. :)

Here's a tip from me: call around to local senior centers or women/children shelters. Many times these organizations are in desperate need of crafting supplies. Here, in Racine WI, the senior center uses old greeting cards for their residents. The cutting, pasting and creative process of crafting helps many of their patrons keep busy and it also helps with dexterity.

What else can we do with "old" greeting cards??

Friday, November 14

Take the Handmade Pledge TODAY!

"I pledge to buy handmade this holiday season and request that others do the same for me." This is the Handmade Pledge. I would like to revise the Pledge to include the entire year, not just during the holidays. I understand this may be a difficult request, but I would like everyone to try in earnest.

Why take the Pledge? Well, according to BuyHandmade.org:

Buying Handmade makes for better gift-giving.

The giver of a handmade gift has avoided the parking lots and long lines of the big chain stores in favor of something more meaningful. If the giver has purchased the gift, s/he feels the satisfaction of supporting an artist or crafter directly. The recipient of the handmade gift receives something that is one-of-a-kind, and made with care and attention that canbe seen and touched. It is the result of skill and craftsmanship that is absent in the world of large-scale manufacturing.

Buying handmade is better for people.

The ascendancy of chain store culture and global manufacturing has left us dressing, furnishing, and decorating alike. We are encouraged to be consumers, not producers, of our own culture. Our ties to the local and human sources of our goods have been lost. Buying handmade helps us reconnect.

Buying handmade is better for the environment.

The accumulating environmental effects of mass production are a major cause of global warming and the poisoning of our air, water and soil. Every item you make or purchase from a small-scale independent artist or crafter strikes a small blow to the forces of mass production.

Friday, November 7

The KAA Harvest Art Fair

Come visit Elements by Dawn on November 22nd at the Woman's Club on 8th Ave., downtown Kenosha from 9am - 4pm hosted by the Kenosha Arts Association!

I'll be unveiling my new Elemental Treasures Collection and the Indelible Collection! Elemental Treasures will feature classic jewelry designs all affordably priced under $25 and the Indelible Collection will feature shimmering multifaceted silver.

I hope to see you there!

Tuesday, November 4

Election Day!

Though the lines may be long, and the weather might be less-than-ideal....please go out and VOTE!!

Thursday, October 30

Halloween

While I like Halloween, I really don't consider myself a die-hard fan. In fact, the last time I donned a costume I was probably 12 years old. I was Mother Nature. I had a crown of artificial flowers in my hair, sprinkled on a little mystical glitter and wore a long white belted gown. I did not collect candy that year. I simply chaperoned my little sister around the neighborhood. She had fun, I felt awkward.

Now that I have children, I can see the same thing happening. My 11 year old son isn't feeling the Halloween spirit and I can sense my 9 year old is really questioning the whole dressing-up thing. Don't get me wrong, they still want to get their hands on some candy, but I think they'd be just as happy if I bought a bag from the store and gave it to them. :)

Here in the Midwest, or at least my corner of Wisconsin, a strange thing happens every Halloween. The local city government tells US when Halloween will take place. For example, if Halloween (October 31st) falls on a weekday, trick-or-treating will most likely fall a few days before the actual event. This year, trick-or-treating was on October 26th. The next city over is having Halloween on this Friday, the 31st. So, in reality, kids and adults can really pack in the Halloween fun, if you're willing to do a little traveling.

Sunday, October 12

Inventory Clearance Sale!


Elements by Dawn is having its first sale of 2008! The End of the Year Inventory Clearance Sale starts today.
My entire Etsy shop is Buy Two, Get One FREE! In fact, if you Buy Four, you'll get Two FREE! Regular shipping rates do apply, however, if you'd prefer USPS First Class ($3.00 for the first item, subsequent items are shipped at a discount), just ask. Additionally, all items will be GIFT BOXED and ready for gift giving!

Now is the perfect time to buy gifts for the holiday season....which is FAST approaching! :) Visit today for the best selection!

Happy Shopping!!

Sunday, October 5

October is HERE!

I love October. But not for the reasons you maybe thinking. I'm not a Halloween fan and I don't care much for the shorter days. But I do love the changing of the seasons! Witnessing the trees don their fall colors is pure magic. I love the cool breezes and watching the geese make their way to warmer climates.

Additionally, October's birthstone is the opal. This mesmerizing gemstone is the national gemstone of Australia where 97% of the world's opals are found. I adore opals! Their play of color makes them almost mystical. Pictured above is a genuine Black Opal mined in Australia. What a true beauty!
Opals are one of the few gemstones with a truly mixed history. In some cultures, the opal represents innocents, purity and the power to heal the blind. While other cultures regard it as evil and the bringer of bad luck.
Opals also need considerable care. Since the stone is relatively soft, porous, and is comprised of silica gel and around 10% water, it needs a little TLC. One should avoid hitting the stone on hard surfaces and it should always be removed before bathing, swimming, or coming in contact with any chemicals.

Sunday, September 21

On the BENCH


With the recent drop in silver prices (yea!) I've begun creating a few new wide cuff-style bracelets. They have always been a big hit! However, this time I decided to work in FINE silver rather than Argentium or sterling silver. What's the difference, you ask?

Well, before I began working in precious and semi-precious metals, I thought the term "fine" was simply a word to describe the metal's aesthetics..like fine art. The term "fine silver" actually refers to the purity of the metal. Fine silver is .999 (99.9%) pure silver. In contrast, sterling silver is .925 (92.5%) pure silver which is alloyed with (typically) copper. Argentium sterling silver consists of 92.5% pure silver, 6.5% copper and 1% germanium. Although, different alloy recipes for Argentium exist.

The main disadvantage of traditional sterling silver is it quickly tarnishes. And, if you're like me, I dislike polishing my jewelry...I just want to put it on and look fabulous! There are some methods to slow the tarnishing (oxidizing) process, like storing silver jewelry in individual zip-top plastic bags or using anti-tarnishing strips in your jewelry box. Of course, some wearers like the look of aged or antiqued silver...so tarnish isn't really an issue. :)

This leads to the next issue: what are the causes of tarnish? It's the copper in the silver alloy which oxidizes in the air which causes the tarnish. Some areas of the US are especially harsh on jewelry (as I discovered while vacationing in Florida). Florida has a lot of sulfur in the environment and quickly turns silver black! (Tarnish is really silver sulfide) Other tarnish causing agents include eggs, onions, chlorine bleach, and latex.

What does that have to do with fine silver? Well, fine silver is 99.9% pure silver and, lacking copper, will stay bright and beautiful for a very long time! It's a win-win situation. Your jewelry stays bright and beautiful and you have an heirloom quality piece of pure silver adornment!

My new wide cuff bracelets are made from 1" wide fine silver and will feature a hammered texture with subtle cut-outs for interest and a slightly modern edge.

Wednesday, September 17

ETSY Front Page Treasury!

As luck would have it, I missed seeing the Front Page action. But CONGRATS to the sellers who made my Treasury Front Page worthy! Without your beautiful photographs and exquisite handcrafted items....well, you get the idea. :)

However, I must say I have been very fortunate to have had a small handful of Treasuries make the coveted Front Page over the past two years. I always get a little giddy when I see my Treasury or one of my jewelry pieces gracing the Front Page. It never gets old! :)

So, here is the list of sellers (starting top left):

More REBRANDING

While my talented and uber-awesome DH works on my website and Blog, my job and focus has been on the aesthetics and eco-friendliness of the 'new' Elements by Dawn. Like I have mentioned before, the color scheme will remain mostly intact and my logo will not change. (After all, when was the last time Coca-Cola changed their logo and colors?!)

In addition to an updated website and new Blog, my packaging will also change. I currently use white paper boxes, which while very nice looking and gender neutral, are not as environmentally friendly as I would like. As most folks know, in order for paper to become white it is traditionally bleached. The bleaching process releases all sorts of nasty chemicals into the environment. I say, "no thank you!" I will be phasing in non-bleached paper boxes which also happen to be made from 100% recycled boxboard! I've also sourced new ribbon. The new ribbon is made from 70% post consumer waste and 30% post industrial scrap and uses water-based inks. How cool is that?!

My shipping boxes are currently recyclable and contain 30% post consumer waste. I'm satisfied with my shipping box supplier, though if I find a higher percentage of recycled material content with a different supplier, I may switch too.

I'm a little on the fence when it comes to packing peanuts. Yes, I know there are peanuts made from biodegradable cornstarch. I'm not 100% sold on that idea...yet. I have had some experience with the cornstarch peanuts and I'm afraid if one of my packages gets left in the rain or otherwise becomes damp, the recipient will have a gooey mess in their box. That's not the impression I want to make.

I currently use Styrofoam peanuts. I like them because I (and my customers) can reuse them over and over again. I have yet to purchase packing peanuts in the many years I have been in business. I like that! When I receive some peanuts in a box, I save them and reuse them. Sure, I have just about every color and shape of peanut imaginable, but they protect the merchandise just fine. :) What is YOUR take on the Styrofoam vs. cornstarch peanut? Or should I use some other material for padding and protection?

Saturday, September 6

2008 Fall Fashion Trends

Yep. I said it. Fashion trends!

Minimalism is IN this season. From Kenneth Cole to Valentino, the runway is filled with stark fashion. No prints, buttons, feathers, rhinestones, or even hints of contrasting stitches or embroidery is to be found. The lines are clean. Simple. Tailored. Perhaps I'm a little partial since I do consider my jewelry lines to fall into this category. But, hey, I have always been an admirer of simple lines and form.

However, bold prints, flowers, botanicals and flowing gowns are seen on other runways this season. Leaf prints and muted colors are taking center stage as well. Fendi and Ralph Lauren are embracing mother nature! Soft greens and Earthy browns are paired to really complete the theme.

Plaids and tweeds have also been on the fashion radar! Oh, and ladies...hips are in too! Show off your womanly curves with confidence (finally!).

Ha! Do you spy a 'trend' here? One of my favorite things about fashion trends are well....there always seems to be something for everyone. While I'm not much a fan of plaid and tweed and I prefer my hips to be underwraps, I do adore botanicals and minimalism. But the best advice I know of is "where what makes you feel good." Because when you feel good, you look good. You're confident, and that in its self is sexy and cool. Spend your money on great, well constructed basics and change up your accessories to keep up with the trends. After all, an awesome pair of jeans looks great with a plaid jacket, ruffled blouse, or even a silver sequined bustier!!