More Photos... Coming Soon...

Photos for these past few posts coming soon!!

Still working on the photos.....!!

Sorry for the delay!!!!!

# 23

# 23

***Special Order Necklace***

This necklace is made of Peridot chip beads, with sterling silver beads and clasp. I'm including it here because it is a piece I "created," although I did not do much to "design" it. The customer wanted this (very) long strand of Peridot chips strung, for her granddaughter, in a fairly secure way. So, I used a very strong beading wire (nylon coated steel,) and fastened crimp beads about every two inches for the entire length of the chain (over 30 inches total.) That way, if the strand should break, the beads will not ALL fall off of the cord, just what is within the broken part could.

Enjoy!!

- Dawn :)

# 22

# 22

***Love these earrings!!***

Semi-precious stones (amazonite & smoky quartz,) are individually wire-wrap-looped with sterling silver, and connected to a hand-forged/hammered sterling silver triangular spiral dangle.

NOTE: These earrings go with # 21 (and these are NOT for me to wear!!)

Enjoy!!

- Dawn :)

# 21

***A bracelet for ME!!***

This bracelet contains several of my favorite stones & materials, in "chunky" form... Each bead is individually wire-wrap-looped with sterling silver, and connected to the next piece. Semi-precious stones (amazonite, smoky quartz, and bronzite,) are combined with quirky fresh water pearls... Mostly neutral earth-tones, with a touch of fresh, sweet blue.

I made the first one in this series for myself, because I wanted to experiment with the clasp. This handmade sterling silver wire spiral clasp (which I love in itself,) did not work with this bracelet the way I wanted it to... So I am still experimenting... (I just want to post it here to share my process of exploration...)

Enjoy... and stay tuned for more on THIS bracelet!!

- Dawn :)

#’s 17 18 19 20

***(More) Short & Sweet***
4 Pairs of Earrings with Short/Medium Dangles
Beads include Stones/Glass/Ceramic/Sterling Silver
All on Sterling Silver Wires

Included here are one of my FAVORITE's... I call them "Fiesta Donuts" (can you guess which ones they are?!?!)

Deadline Extension :) Project Continues...

A few days ago, I realized that, so far, I have posted 16 out of 100 items, which leaves 84 more items to post, and my 30 days was almost up!! *** Yikes!! ***

I have MADE several items that have not yet been posted, and there are several items in the works to finish and post.

So, I've decided to *** extend *** the 30 days a bit... Hmmm... I'm thinking of extending it until the end of this year. That sounds good to me right now. :) ...and the idea of extending it seems much nicer than the alternatives---crazily finish it quickly, or abandon the project---and I really don't want to do either of those.

I believe that progress is good when we are working on our "Creative Projects" :) Progress may go forward sometimes, and as a dear friend once told me, sometimes "sideways..." But we should always try to keep it going, if it is something that we want to do.

Creating the TIME to CREATE...

We talk about "finding" the time, but really, we have to MAKE the time!! In other words, we need to CREATE the time to CREATE our creative works. It's like other parts of our lives, and parts of our days, where we (ideally) manage things so that we can do the things that matter most to us... Like time to create... Whether we are doing it for work or for play or for relaxation (or for all of those things combined,) it's important to do our creative stuff. Sometimes it can be really challenging to coordinate it all, but it is sooooooo worth it... Like exercising and eating well and getting enough sleep... **Creating for Joy** can help make a very happy, healthy, vibrant person... mind, body & spirit!!

So, with that, I will get back to my "creating"... and I hope **YOU** will, too!!

Enjoy!!
- Dawn :)

# 16

Sweet!! Swanky!! Stylish!!
This pair of earrings is JUST LIKE the pair of earrings that I've been wearing lately... I LOVE THEM!! Textured, sterling silver, shimmery chain that moves with you, attached to a sterling silver Bali bead, with a copper ring for a *touch* of mixed-metal appeal... They are dressy and they are casual, which makes them very versatile!! (Did I mention that I love them?!?!)

Enjoy!!

#’s 11 12 13 14 15

Five Bracelets... All with my favorite Sterling Silver Toggle ever mass produced!!
This bracelet format, using these materials and colors, are something I've been doing for about 5 years... The designs are sometimes fairly symmetrical (like these) and sometimes very much asymmetrical, but they are always strong designs made with sturdy materials, which stand up well to everyday use!! (Oh, and they are also very lovely, which jewelry should be!!) ................ P.S. Single pictures of each one coming soon, in the meantime I want to get these posted!!

Enjoy!!
- Dawn :)

Busy working on bracelets

Hope you all had a GREAT Thanksgiving, filled with good health, good friends/family, good food, and lots of ***JOY***

I've been busy working on new bracelets to post soon... revisiting some trusty, tried & true designs... and doing some fun, new techniques as well...

Stay tuned...!!

Enjoy!!
- Dawn :)

Interested in something??

Soon, you'll be able to peruse & shop at your leisure in my new on-line shop... In the meantime, please keep in mind that all of the items posted here are either still for sale, or can be re-created at your request. If you'd like more info on purchasing any items, please contact me!!

Thanks for your interest & your support!!

Enjoy!!
- Dawn

#’s 6 7 8 9 10

***Dazzling Dangles***
5 Pairs of Earrings with Longer Dangles, all on Sterling Silver Wires and Chain

Beads include Semi-Precious Gemstones—Smoky Quartz & Labradorite, Freshwater Pearls, Swarovski Crystals, and some Exquisite Glass resembling old Carnival Glass

I love working with these beads, every little precious one of them!! I love the way they look and the way they feel… Carefully forming wire-wrapped loops, attaching to sterling silver chain that is so delicate, yet quite strong… Kind of like some women I know!! ;)

Taa Daa !!

Photos!! At last!! Photos now correspond with the posts I am making!!

Thank you Chris!! ... It's a GOOD Day!! :)

Enjoy!!

#’s 1 2 3 4 5

***Short & Sweet***
5 Pairs of Earrings with Short/Medium Dangles
Beads include Stones/Glass/Ceramic/Sterling Silver
All on Sterling Silver Wires

This style of earrings is one of my personal favorites, and have been some of my most popular selling pieces for several years. I love to sit down and make a bunch of these earrings… Choosing good “matches” of beads for a pair… Coordinating them with other beads… Forming quirky wire-wrapped loops to attach to the earwires… When I look at a group of them together, they are like little “candies” to me… So sweet!! :)

100 Different Pieces of Creative Work in 30 Days

Design Goals & Challenges # ONE
November 21 - December 20, 2009

Unique Jewelry & Calligraphy & Mixed Media
The challenge is called “100 Different Pieces of Creative Work in 30 Days.” I will make, and post photos of, 100 Different Pieces in 30 days!! This includes ***Unique Jewelry (Earrings, Bracelets, Necklaces, *Oh My!!*) ***Calligraphy & Lettering ***Paper Arts (Greeting Cards & Handmade Books) …and perhaps some other *Mixed Media* Serendipitous Creations…

Planning to use mostly materials that I already have in my studio, this will be a wonderful way of *exploring and enticing* new ideas, and *re-visiting* some old favorites (also *re-using/re-cycling/re-purposing* which will be both good for the environment of our world, and for the environment of my studio!!

I look forward to sharing this process (and these products) with you all... And, of course, I’d love for you to contact me with any thoughts & questions you may have about my creative work & process, and about your own as well!!

Enjoy!!

- Dawn :)

It's all about the Joy...

Joy... The Joy of creating... The Joy that I get when I am being creative, designing something, producing something... Artwork, crafts, and more... The Joy that I get when people like my work... The Joy that people get when they like things, and when they are creating things themselves... The Joy that we all get when we share something we like with other people...

It's a cycle... I find Joy in creating... I create my work from a place of Joy... I share my work and my Joy with others... People share their Joy with me... and the Joy keeps going... It’s wonderful, it’s happy, it’s healthy... It's natural...

"Creating for Joy" is... Sharing & Encouraging Creative Pursuits... Creating & Selling Unique Jewelry, Calligraphy & Word Art, Mixed Media, Art & Craft... Teaching and Learning all these things and more... A place to share my own *creative* journey, and to inspire others to also *create* for Joy, for Health, for Love, for Life, for Peace, and more...

En-JOY!!

- Dawn :)


Note: This photo is from my archives... It's a close up of part of a Mixed Media Painting I did in 2004 called "Colorfall"

The Space Between

Although it’s been almost a month since I’ve “posted” here, I have been *working* on my blog, I just haven’t been *posting* about it!! I guess I just kept thinking that I would post once more work was done!! Hmmm… Like photos—my biggest hesitation to post my next few posts is because I don’t have corresponding photos yet to post along with the words… But I realize now that I can still go ahead and post anyway… Afterall, one of the purposes of a blog is to “capture the journey”… be it with words, or photos, or both!! ... Aha!!

So, here’s a re-cap of the past 4 weeks or so…

Blog Design/Banner—Changed the format template so that the “blog” part is on the LH side now, and the “info” part is on the RH side now… ***Still working on a Banner/Heading*** … and plan to remove the pink stripe that was embedded in the original template…!!

Blog/Posts—I’ve written some drafts of future posts… and I’ve given a lot of thought to what kind of things I want to include in my blog, and how I want it to relate to my creative business (and to my creative life!!) … and I am really looking forward to sharing the journey with you all…!!

Project—Okay, so, I realized that it would be much more practical, at this time, to change the scope of my project a bit… Instead of being 100 pairs of Earrings, it will be ***100 pieces of Jewelry*** ... This will allow for much more variety, and will also help me to build up inventory in my new online store (more info on that in the next few weeks!!)

Photos—My official jewelry photographer (aka my wonderful boyfriend Chris) has been working hard to capture photos of my work to post on my blog, and in my new on-line shop. This required a whole set-up to get the lighting just right for photos that clearly represent the piece of jewelry in a realistic way… ***Thank You, Chris!!***

And ***Thank You to Denean*** for all of your help and encouragement getting started with my blog!!

And ***Thank You to those of you*** who are following along!!***

Enjoy!!

- Dawn :)

Design Goals & Challenges

Design Goals & Challenges are one of the things I look forward to sharing here on my blog... Some of my intentions of these challenges are as follows...

*** a great way for me to encourage myself to explore new (and old) creative techniques, materials, and designs...

*** will include deadlines and other goals, encouraging me to stay on track...

*** a great way to share my creative journey with anyone in the world who is interested in my work...

*** and so much more...

I look forward to sharing these things with all of you... Thank you for following along!!

- Dawn :)

Hello and Welcome!!

“Creating For Joy” is designed to share, encourage & support creative pursuits... A place to show new work, old work, and work in progress… A place to post photos, articles, projects, techniques, and other information...

My mission is "...to create, share & enjoy... art & craft & good times..." and “Creating For Joy" is a great way to do all that, and more... and this blog is a great way for me to share my work, and my journey...

As I begin this blog, I realize that there are so many things I’d like to include (biography, portfolio, photos, etc) ... And I realize that it won’t “get here” all at once… The creation of this blog will likely be a journey itself, in conjunction with the journey of the story that it tells...

Design Goals & Challenges are one thing I look forward to sharing here on my blog... These challenges will be a great way for me to encourage myself to explore new (and old) creative techniques, materials, and designs... and will include deadlines and other goals... *and* ...because I am sharing this with the world, it will help keep me on track...!!

My first one will be explained more in my next post… The challenge is called “100 Different Pairs of Earrings in 30 Days.” I will make, and post photos of, 100 Different Pairs of Earrings, in 30 days...!! Using only materials that I already have in my studio... Exploring and enticing new ideas, and visiting some old favorites. I look forward to sharing this process (and these products) with you all...

Thanks for checking out my blog... I hope you’ll visit again soon!!

Enjoy!!

- Dawn :)

Note: This photo is from my archives... It's a close up of part of a Mixed Media Painting I did in 2006 called "Soul Stirring"