Have a Bling Filled New Year.

May 2012 be filled with shiny, happy, warm and wonderful moments.....as well a little bling.

Thank you for your continued support of our company.  We promise to continue our mission of creating one of a kind pieces....hand made with love.

Happy New Year from Ardore Donna Designs.

Santa baby, forgot to mention one little thing, a ring....

Nothing warms the heart of your lovely lady....like BLING!  Nothing gives me more pleasure than creating jewelry that makes my clients sing.  Christmas is a opportunity to kick those creative juices into high gear.

The thing about custom jewelry is not just that it is hand made....but that you now own a one of kind item.  So when your girlfriends are oooohhhhing and aaaahhhhing...you get to say, "this is the only one".

Some items turn out so extra special, that they end up in my jewelry box instead of price tagged and up loaded.

Feel extra special this Christmas, own a piece of 

Adore Donna Designs.

Santa Baby.....hurry down the chimney tonight!

Blue as the Ocean

When working with gems, one first has to decide whether to fit a gem into a particular design or built around the gem that catches your eye.  There are numerous colors to select from.  I lean in several directions....red being one of them....however, more often than not I reach for the ocean, the sky, the blues.  I can not even pick a favorite among the pales and deep blues.  I can build a wondrous item just from a glance at those beauties.  My daughter's birth and death were both in September, as well as the birth of my beloved husband, perhaps lending a hand to my obsession.

I must admit to having pep talks with myself.....filled with reminders that I am creating to "sell" and therefor must branch out from all I hold dear.

But don't misunderstand, this girl never turns down a diamond (or topaz for that matter)!  They come in blue too, you know!

Critters......the ones we love.

Standing in the bathroom I felt a slight tickle across my right foot.  Glancing down I caught a glimpse of "IT" and my low budget horror flick scream flooded the apartment.  This was immediately followed by the..."Kill It" chant.  Now ask me how many pieces of jewelry I own proudly displaying spiders.  The only good spider is one sporting ruby eyes?  I guess so.  Scratch that, I know so!  I make so many different designs that it would take a day to produce a list, however anytime I upload a selection with critters.....the masses go wild.  Butterflies are still my best sellers.  Why do we love wearing a sterling silver elephant necklace when in person our only comment is, "Boy do they smell?"  Most (and I use the term loosely) people are animal lovers on one level or another.  So, naturally, we would be drawn to jewelry, clothing or decor with them incorporated in some form or another.

This does not pose a problem for me....I have a box filled with butterfly bling.  So, tell me your critter of choice and I will create one that lasts a lifetime.

Blings the thing......

Bling is what draws the masses......trust me.....the vast majority of your clients will be females and they love the sparkle.  I have cases filled with beads, stones, findings, tools, etc.  But nothing catches the eye....like gold or gems.  Recently I was gifted several bags of loose gems and I can remember the first time they spilled out of their plastic onto black velvet and the way my eyes danced.  I love the smooth, cool texture too.  I can build a whole design around one gem.....easily.  Wedding bands are a grand example of the desire to own a piece of the rainbow.  How many men do you see lined up to buy their women a plain band?  How much are they willing to shell out for a diamond that most of them don't understand or desire?  Everyone has witnessed women grabbing another's hand.....almost yanking it clean off, as they ooohhh and aaahhh over her ring?

I am not sure there is a clear reason behind this obsession.....beyond the fact that people loves beauty, to feel beautiful and everyone wants to have status.

For myself, the steps to creation bring as much joy as seeing the finished product.....so much so....that temptation has taken over and caused me to keep several pieces rather than sell them.....guess I am no better than the masses......and that is just fine with me.

Silver, Silver, Silver........White Gold?

Each new design reaches a point where I hesitate and think......Where is this going as far as metal?  Many beads or gem stones drag you kicking and screaming toward one metal or another....and yet others say....."what speaks to you today?"  So goes it with my men's line.  I can't seem to take the Yellow Gold road.  So, before me lays Silver, Jewelers Metal and White Gold.  Which to use?  Sometimes It depends on the gem or bead.  Many of my men's designs are metal only and therefor I by nature lean towards Silver.  Recently I was asked to create a piece from Stainless Steel.  Hummmm.....newer format for me...can it be manipulated as easily?  I love the darker look of white gold and yet....silver can be made to look more "manly" with oxidation.  Why am I so frustrated and intimidated?  who would have thought such a hump in the road could make me consider a detour.  Only kidding!  I never sacrifice workmanship....ever.  I have been known to scrap an entire design and start from scratch.  Perhaps I will just cave and use the silver!

Men love bling too!!!!

So here I sit.....drawing designs for my latest line.......for men.....yep....you heard that right....men.   Several people have asked for it and after much thought a bright light came on......(blinding me and causing me to embrace the edge of a wall.....aahh but let's save that story for another day).  I want to not only offer something special...something custom...something yours alone, but something for everyone.  OK, so I leaned a tad bit heavy on the word "something", but let's face the fact that it has a air of mystery about it and something is a far cry from nothing.....yes?  Men can look stunning too.  Why not?  Should they not capture to attention of a crowd when appearing in view?  Nice suit.  Love the jeans.  Wait....what is that?  Oh yeah....now that is a guy with taste.  It is "ALL" in the details people.  Nothing smacks of "I care about myself" more than a whiff of smell goods, sexy denim, a fantastic wrinkle free suit, Booya shades or something extra.  My friends and I ALWAYS notice a nice watch, men's bracelets that are "different".  I guy who pays attention to the details....is a guys who brushes his teeth before bed and folds, yes I said....folds his clothes.   DING, DING, DING.....we have a winner.  I smell a cat fight breaking out.  Take a deep breathe and line up.....I intend to bring you that "SOMETHING" worth waiting for.

Chocolate Bling

So I get this email......asking how much I would charge for a piece done with chocolate diamonds.  I jump online and start pricing loose stones and various cuts....when it hits me....I'M HUNGRY.  Why would you name bling after food?  The intellectual part of me knows.....the color of these beauties is the reason.  The grumbling animal down below.....dwelling in my tummy....says, "What......Chocolate.......Where?  Now all I can think about is food....preferably something really awful for my figure.....but fantastic for my attitude.  How's a woman supposed to get anything done?   :)

Update:  Tummy satisfied......I opted for a healthy bowl of fiber.  Back to work......searching.......but don't worry....eating the diamonds never entered my mind.

And so it was.......that I fell for Silver.

All my life I have cheered for the Under Dog, picked the unused path, befriended the weird and tried to love the un-lovable.  When I was a younger....Gold was the thing.....Yellow Gold.....everyone wanted it, paid crazy amounts for it....bragged about it....you get the picture.  Don't get me wrong....yellow gold is stunning and should wear its beauty with pride.....but it does not stand alone in  the crowd.  There is another such Royalty.....a glow from a nearby friend.  In high school....the "It" girls all donned pieces from a particular, well known store that specialized in silver....the item to have at that time was a charm bracelet.  I loved the antique look that screamed I am someone....than, today and always.  I felt that burn....the call of bling that affects so many.  From there...I was a prisoner.....soon to discover white gold and eventually platinum.  Why does it capture us so?  It looks wonderful with colored beads and stones in a vast assortment and yet can rock......so to speak.....all on it's own.  It is fun to work with and I rather enjoy dressing it up or letting it barely peek around another medium.  How can you go resist the pull of silver.....the temptation to wear it?    

Crash and Burn

Ever had a great idea that turned out to be.....well.....something to be swept under the rug?  Designs can be beautiful in your head......but the layout before you....may not be so perfect.  Whether it is a function issue or clashing of what once was two beautiful beads....it can be a devastating blow to ones ego, to find your dream piece last night, isn't worth your time and effort today.

Oh well, some dreams were meant as a warning...."Don't make this".  I am smiling and laughing as I write this.

See, laughter truly is the worlds best medicine.  Just make sure your alone when laughing like a loon!

Hark! Listen to the call of the Bling.

I have come to the conclusion that gem selection is quite possibly the most heart wrenching part of this business.  The constant urge to wander to one end of the table, when what you need is at the other.  If I could convince every client to purchase blue bling......I would create every piece with Sapphires. But no.....some ladies hear a different sound.....the call of a Ruby.....Diamond......etc.  So I have trained my ears, eyes and mind to reach beyond my own personal desire and concentrate on finding the "perfect", someone else s dream gem. This in and of itself brings a certain degree of satisfaction and I rather enjoy running my fingers along the different textures of pure bliss.  A grown woman's candy store and the small light at the end of the tunnel....for my husband.....that there will be a return in the end  (after creation and sale).  I have, in fact, become rather talented in the area of costume jewelry as well.....shocking to those who really know me.....I am sure.  So, if you really want to witness the call of the wild......I mean Bling......take a woman to your local jewelry or bead convention.....stand back and please extend your arms....in cases of fainting spells or heavy bags of splendor.  ~Enjoy

Oops........did I do that?

Every person is the first to toot their own horn when reaching the stars.  We all want to feel appreciated, wanted, needed.  But who stands up in a crowd and yells, "I screwed up" ?  With each design I instinctively know when something is not working.....an imperfect curve, bad color selection, uncooperative wire or a simple lack of creative thinking that day.  There are times when I let it get the best of me....banging failure tunes across my brow; but other days I move to the next challenge, barely blinking, knowing I will find my way.  The good days far outweigh the bad and this thought carries me through the later.  As long as talent sits with me and drive beats the rhythm of "get up, rub some dirt on it, you will be fine" through out my weary bones......I know success will find me.

So....YES......I did that!  Proud to admit it.  Now step back and watch me fix it with the end result better still...than you ever imagined! 

In the beginning.....

I have always been fascinated with anything shiny.  Ever since childhood, I have taken note of people's appearances too.  I could not tell you what the teacher said, but I described her shoes right down to the condition of the soles.  One Sunday in church, this well-to-do woman sat to my left.  She captured my attention the entire hour.  Everything from the sweet smell of her perfume to perfect hair.....I was mesmerized.  Then I saw it, the most beautiful thing to grace my presence, her ring.  The rainbow of colors kicking off the surface, danced across my eyes while a small gasp escaped my lips.  I sat there dreaming of the weight of it, the smoothness of the top and how others would envy me for having it.  I could not wait to own my first diamond and although I have ventured into many industries.....my heart always lingers close to my first love....BLING.