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Monday, December 20, 2010

What Every Woman Wants Under Her Christmas Tree. The Elegance of Designs by Dawn Marie. Jewelry Giveaway!


Welcome everyone! We’ve reached the final week in my What Every Woman Wants Under Her Christmas Tree blog event. It’s been a festively spectacular event thus far. Thank you to everyone who has popped in to share their holidays with us this yuletide season! 2010 Christmas at this blog is certainly one that will go down on record…to be blog chatted about for years to come. Mark it on your calendar now, I will officially be hosting this holiday event every year. Are you a jewelry maker, novelist or other creative vendor? Then contact me now at skypurington@live.com and get booked for 2011!

While every single person who has been featured this season is the best of the best, I did save one of my favorites for last. Why do I think so highly of her? Loaded question. Dawn Marie came into my life earlier this year when I participated in Blogmania. Thank God for that event or perhaps our paths would not have crossed! Though she was part of the event, Dawn Marie took the time to comment on my post. (one of nearly 400). I read her comment and commented back on her blog. Within literally two email correspondences I knew she’d be a friend for life. Save a scant few others, I’ve never come across someone so kind and giving. How could I not adore her instantly?

Our mutual love for gardening definitely sealed the deal. Remember those 40 hostas Dawn? What was I thinking! LOL. Our only regret? We live quite a distance apart. Makes no difference. When you find a person like Dawn, you know distance means nothing. She’s a keeper.

Okay, it’s officially time to have some yuletide fun. This week (though Dawn Marie grumbled at me something fierce over it!) My treat (her talent) I’m putting a few things beneath this blog’s Christmas tree. And, bless her heart, Dawn Marie hand-made two jewelry pieces specifically for this blog event. A beautifully designed Rose Quartz Set - Earrings & Necklace on a gold plated chain and a Vintage Brass Pendant using a mix of bronze and brown tones on a Choker Style Necklace.

I couldn't help but steal what she'd said in an email to me about when she worked on the pieces being featured in this blog post. I feel this one sentence really drives home how much she cares about her work... 'It's sunny today, so that's what I'm going to do when the sun is "just right" in a bit.' Not sure about you but I was thoroughly impressed that she worked around the sun's placement. True artist I'd say! Two lucky winners will be drawn. How do you enter to win? Well, I’m all about holiday cheer and the memories that they invoke. So, to be entered to win share with us one of your all time favorite holiday memories in a comment at this blog.

Ready to get to know Dawn Marie a wee bit better? Aye. Good! Here we go…

SKY: Dawn Marie, it’s wonderful to have you back. Merry Christmas!

DAWN MARIE: I love stopping by! Thanks for the invite! Your readers are absolutely wonderful to chat with!

SKY: Must agree. Great bunch of followers here! While I intend to focus on your fabulous jewelry business in just a moment, I’d like to first dive into your life at the holidays. Do you have a favorite holiday memory you’d like to share with us?

DAWN MARIE: As a child, I always loved Christmas Eve. We would go to the children’s service at Church, then we’d drive around looking at Christmas lights all over town. By the time we got home, Santa had stopped by (because our house was always first on his list) and we’d have dinner of popcorn shrimp and all sorts of other kid-friendly finger food. Then we’d all get to open one gift before bed.

SKY: I too love Christmas Eve. My little one gets to open one gift as well! Many have traditions at this time of year. Mine is setting up ‘Santa Central’ with my son, picking out the perfect tree with my family and then hanging bulbs. What are yours?

DAWN MARIE: Now as an adult, the tradition has changed to incorporate my fiance’s family too. We celebrate Christmas Eve with Chris’ family doing a big, formal dinner on the fine China followed by hours of laughter and sharing of gifts. Then we get up bright and early Christmas morn and head over to my Mom & Dad’s for Christmas breakfast. We all gather on Christmas in our snuggly jammies… slippers and all!

SKY: That sounds wonderful! We’re both ‘mamas’ to dogs (Belgian Sheppard and Great Dane pup here). Their smiling faces are a huge part of my holiday season. Part of the family, they will always create a holiday memory. What about yours? Any moment in the past bring a fond smile to your face?

DAWN MARIE: My fur babies are quite comical. They always do a little shopping of their own and wrap gifts for their Daddy to get on Christmas morning. I have no idea how they learned to use the internet and all, but they never cease to amaze me! ;) Then we package them in the car with us to go over to my parents’ house. They are part of the festivities over there!

SKY: *Smiles* So sweet! Now, let’s chat about ambiance. As Christmas is nearly upon us, my house is decorated. As you might imagine, my tree is lit with blue lights, arched Victorian doorways framed with spruce, mantle speckled with red-berried holly. How do you decorate your space at this time of year? Does it influence you while creating jewelry?


DAWN MARIE: Great question Sky! Every year is different… I like tradition, but I also embrace creativity. So the one staple piece is the handpainted Nativity scene on our piano. Chris’ mom made is a few decades ago and it’s absolutely beautiful – complete with Swarovski crystals. This year, I decorated my office/studio with a small tree and all sorts of festive decorations. I have beautiful angels, santas from around the world and of course I needed to add the old school garland in bright red!

SKY: Sounds beautiful, Dawn Marie! I’m big on music, especially at this time of year. I love to cozy in and write to Highland Bagpipes Christmas while I write. What about you? Do you have a few favorite songs or perhaps albums that you listen to while working at this time of year?

DAWN MARIE: I love celtic music any time of year. While I have some traditional albums, I still gain unlimited creativity when I put in my Celtic Woman album. Their voices just speak to me! So even though it’s not their Christmas album, it still puts me in the festive mood and let’s my creativity bloom. The other album that you can count on in my holiday selections is the Kohls Cares for Kids annual holiday album. All the proceeds from the sale of those albums goes to St. Jude’s children’s hospitals and every year they have a different theme/genre or style. They’re all wonderful!

SKY: Oh my goodness, I love Celtic Woman as well. Their music is absolutely breathtaking. This is the first I’ve heard of Kohls Cares for Kids annual holiday album. Bravo my friend, I always try to bring awareness to this blog and the various ways people can help children in need. Thanks for bringing it to our attention!

The season puts us in a festive mood. Have you created jewelry specific to Christmas? If so, what element of the holiday inspired the piece or pieces? What were you thinking as you spun your magic?

DAWN MARIE: Well I LOVE the glitz and glamour surrounding Christmas and holiday parties as well as getting all gussied up for New Year Eve. So rather than focus on Red & Green… I love to focus on big sparkle! Pieces that are perfect for a night out on the town or a holiday party and can still be worn throughout the year! This year I also wanted to add a touch of handcrafted to my Christmas Tree, so I designed a few beaded ornaments that are very festive too.

SKY: As this run is titled, “What Every Woman Wants under her Tree,” Christmas blog event….if you could choose two of your ALL TIME FAVORITE pieces you’ve ever made, what would they be and why?

DAWN MARIE: Can I only pick two???? That’s so hard. Each piece I make is really, really different. Much of the time, each piece is created for a specific person so I incorporate that person’s personality. This year I created a set for a bride that even I said “Wow” when I had finished it. The necklace in particular was stunning. It used ivory pearls and was created with swarovski crystal & pearl “charms” that looked like bubbles. It was really stunning and draped so beautifully across the neck and collar bones.

Another one of my all time favorites is in the purple family (are you surprised?) The necklace used varying shades of purple Swarovski Crystals, some silver accents and deep purple pearls. It turned out really beautiful and again, had the sparkle that just catches my eyes!

SKY: This set is positively stunning. I am SO impressed! WTG my dear! Dawn Marie, it was a pleasure meeting and getting to know you better throughout 2010. You are a truly fitting way to tie up this Christmas blog event. Thank you so much for joining us and bringing your holiday into our homes. Best to you always, my friend.

DAWN MARIE: Thanks so much for having me Sky! I just love sharing the love at Christmas time and I appreciate your readers taking the time to stop by and say hi! Have a blessed New Year too!

Learn more about all the wonderful hand-crafted pieces Dawn Marie has to offer. Visit her Website. Follow Dawn Marie day to day at her Blog. Enjoy social networking? Find Dawn Marie on Twitter and Facebook! Contact Dawn here.

What a spectacular thing having Dawn Marie here. Don’t forget, for a chance to win be sure to leave your fondest holiday memory in a comment at this blog. Contest closes Saturaday, December 25th 12 AM EST. All winners to be announced next week on the right hand side of this blog.

And that’s not all, one extra lucky commenter from every post from the start of this event will be announced Christmas day. What will you win? That will be a surprise, my treat to you! So be sure to swing back to A Writer’s Mind to find out if there was a little something extra for you beneath this blog’s Christmas tree!

And because I couldn't help myself, this one's for you Dawn Marie. My favorite Christmas song by none other than Celtic Woman...Carol of the Bells. I highly suggest you all turn up your speakers as these ladies are absolutely unbeliavable!


A very, very Merry Christmas to you and yours. May you find all you desire beneath your Christmas tree this year!

~Sky

31 comments:

Carol L. said...

Hi Sky and Dawn,
Wow, I love The Celtic Women. Their sound is as close to Heaven as I'll get right now :)So amazingly talented. Dawn, I love your pieces. They are really unique and beautiful. Another talented lady. :)
This has been such a great blog event.I too love Christmas and have so many wonderful memories of holidays past with family.But right now my fondest Christmas memory is the last we spent wit my 2 bothers, mom and dad. II lost them all unexpectedly within 4 years of each other. But those memories will always keep me warm and I know they are together. I want to wish everyone a Happy Holiday and may all my kilted Highlanders be under my tree. lol
Ladies, wishing all your wishes come true..Cause we know what the heck the odds are of mine coming true. lol Peace and Joy.
Carol L
Lucky4750@aol.com

Carol L. said...

Please excuse my spelling errors. As you can see I shouldn't use the computer as my daughter said till I'm fully awake :)
Carol L
Lucky4750@aol.com

Dawn Doucette said...

Sky, that Celtic Woman choice was PERFECT! Don't they truely sound like angels. Thanks so much for having me on your blog! I really look forward to sending love to whomever wins!

Have a very blessed Christmas everybody and cherish those you love!

{Hugs & Love to all!}

Suzanne Barrett said...

I, too, love Celtic Woman, but my favorite Christmas songs are from Nana Mouskouri. What an amazing voice!

My favorite Christmas memories. All of them wonderful, shared by a close-knit family and furry friends. But my all-time favorite has to be the year I decided to make all the gifts myself: a blouse for my aunt, a long nightgown for my grandmother (who lived with us), "scarab" cuff links for my dad, a mosaic cat sculpture for Mom, a wooden toy for my brother. In addition, I baked several types of Christmas cookies--pfeffernuesse, lebkuchen and others we didn't usually have other times of the year. For the wrapping paper, I used a wallpaper sample book (the paper was lovely, but, in truth, it was fragile and had a tendency to tear).

Patricia K said...

They are so great. Have all thrie CD. IT is my favorite carol of the bells

Sky Purington said...

Oh, what a wonderful start so far Dawn Marie! *Waving HI to Carol, Suzanne and Pat! Thanks for popping in to join the yuletide fun! I've actually been spending the evening putting together photos for my parents to give them this Christmas. Kind of ate up my night:)

Dawn Marie, I'll start spreading the word about this fantastic giveaway. Thanks so much for joining me this holiday season my friend!!!

Sky Purington said...

PS...I intend to respond to each and every one of your responses this week. Such wonderful memories! Regrettably, tonight the hour is too late!

Hywela Lyn said...

Sky, sweet friend, sorry to be so late coming to your blog event, it's been busy, busy, busy! (And it lookes very Christmassy outside my window at the moment!)

What a lovely and nostalgic post! I can relate to a lot here.

Dawn Marie, I loved hearing all about your Christmas traditions. Our fur babies (two horses and a 'rescued' Jack Russell terrier) also go Christmas Shopping!

We too have a tradition of opening 'one present' which is something I've done since childhood, and a tradition my husband and I have over the last few years is our annual visit to Redwings Horse Sanctuary to buy Christmas gifts, which also helps them finance the care of the horses in their care, and then a visit to our local 'Christmas Tree Farm' to purchase our tree about a week before Christmas.


Oh I nearly forgot, I love Celtic Women and 'The Carol Of The Bells' is my very favourite.

Thanks so much for sharing, Sky. What a fantastic video for Christmas!

Happy Christmas to you and yours!

Debby said...

Celtic Woman is wonderful. I am happy to have my family this year. that may not be so next year.
debby236 at qtt dot net

Unknown said...

Oh Sky I am so glad you did this! Dawn is a treasure to me as well and as soon as we met I knew I had a friend for life! I did learn a few new things and that was so cool (Celtic women ROCK) I also love highland stories so I am looking forward to reading some of your work. Once again thank you so much for this! You must be pretty special too so I hope to get to know you more in the next year!

Happy Holidays!

Beth Caudill said...

I have to say Carol of the Bells is my second favorite Christmas Carol. (Do You Hear What I Hear? is my favorite.)

I'll be adding Celtic Women to my list of music. :)

My favorite Christmas Memories are putting the tree up on Thanksgiving weekend. Football, Christmas Carols and wrapping lights around the tree (this was before they had the prelit trees.)

Love the jewelry designs, Dawn Marie.

Karla said...

I lovely Celtic Women too. DM your fur babies are so cute!!! It's nice to get to know you better.

karlatrx AT gmail DOT com

Shannon Chomanczuk said...

I have been a follower of Dawn's for several months now and she is always so sweet and helpful.
These are both lovely pieces and I really enjoyed the interview.
My fondest memory of Christmas is the year my mom and I had the flu. I was only about 4 or 5 at the time and my youngest sister (there are 3 of us) wasn't born yet. My mom and I were so sick that every bed sheet and all the pj's were soiled. My mom and I slept in her bed together wearing summer pj's while my dad watched my younger sister. Being the oldest I think I enjoyed and appreciated this rare occasion to have my mom to myself again, even if we were sick. We stayed home and played with our presents and snuggled all day.
Shannon C

Sky Purington said...

My dear friend, Lyn. So good to 'see' you! I know life gets so busy this time of year it's often times difficult to connect with everyone you care about. Thank you so much for sharing your holidays with us!

PS...holy WOW, are you getting some snow across the pond!

Sky Purington said...

Suzanne, so glad you could pop in! I used to love hand-crafting gifts. In fact, I did so a few years in a row. Wonderful memory. Thanks for sharing!

Sky Purington said...

Pat, can you believe I don't own all the CD's yet? Gotta get on that! Merry Christmas!

Sky Purington said...

Oh Debby...I hope everything's okay? And I agree, being with family is truly the most important thing. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Sky Purington said...

Kristen, thank you so much for the kind compliment. Looks like we have a few things in common, Dawn Marie's friendship the best of them all! Here's to a Merry Christmas and a new year forged of more wonderful friendships. Great to 'meet' you!

Sky Purington said...

Ha! I hear ya about the 'prelit' trees, Beth. Know what I did? Added more of my own! I'll be darned if I'm not stringing some lights!

TY for swinging in my friend. Merry Christmas!!!

Sky Purington said...

Karla, thanks for joining the fun! Merry Christmas!

Sky Purington said...

Oh Shannon, what a wonderful memory! Regrettable you were so sick...but well worth it I'd say. Thank you so much for sharing your holiday with us this year.

A very, very Merry Christmas to you and yours!

SiNn said...

Hi Sky and Dawn your blog is awesome and Dawn I just love your jewlry pieces


ihave a few holiday memories id like to share first one was kind of after christmas 5 days to be exact my sister was pregnant with my newphew and im inbed holiday off form school Iget this wake up get up and ocme on hes born i saidno way he isnt due yet mynephew was born 6 weeks early and the light of my life even now 13 almost 14 yrs later seeing him so tiny in that incubater i fell instantly in love and im now his god mother so hey best of both world later on christmas the next year came and lemmetell you the scariest one ever seehe contracted insefulitus we didnt think hed make it lil guy pulled threw a week in the hospital didnt deture him from being home for christmas and back in full swing two yrs go buy and he sees the comercial for the diamons r forever everywoman deserve something special and he just had to find that something special he spent 2 weeks hunting for it wrapped up thegifts for my self his momma and his grandma and it was the sweetest mostbeautiful gift ever they were shiney smooth rocks because they are forever he gave ustaht christmas kiss only a child cangive was so beautiful him and i have another specila connection mybirthday is 9 days after his we celebrate eachothers birthdays together every year

My other christmas memmory was when me and my fiancee got back together he wrote me a song and sang it on christmas we also made the desision to make our youngest aperminant part of our family on christmas looking back was the best thing we ever did


ty for reading

mortalsinn@yahoo.com

Stacey Smith said...

My Favorite holiday Memory is when I got my Nieces the furby thay wanted when thay where all sold out in the stores and the kids did not think thay where gettting them but thay did not know that I order them early and got them in the mail.so thay got there furbys that thay wanted so bad this was about 12 or 13 years ago.thay loved them for a few months then grew out of them so fast Kids.
sasluvbooks(at)yahoo.com

The Scarf Princess said...

My favorite memory is the first Christmas after the farming accident that left me a quadriplegic. I was four years old and two of the older/grandpa-like men in our neighborhood wanted to make Christmas special for me. One of the men dressed as Santa to visit me and showed me Rudolph (the other neighbor hiding in the bushes with a flashlight and a piece of red fabric covering it so I saw a red nose) jumping around the bushes outside my window.

I'll remember that moment forever. These were neighbors that I didn't know very well, but who took the time to make what was a hard time so much nicer.

joderjo402 AT gmail DOT com

afineday said...

My fondest Christmas memory is when I got a tape recorder from Santa Claus! I took it to our holiday get together at my Grandparents. Santa had also given my sisters some books with poems and rhymes so we started reading these into the tape recorder and playing them back. It was mostly me, my cousin and her dad, my uncle Jimmy. We learned the "Christmas Is Coming" rhyme and can still recite it verbatim this many years later. After we moved away, things really changed, but when I want to go back in time, this is the one day that comes to mind. Jimmy's been gone for quite some time but I can still hear his voice and laughter as we goofed around with that tape recorder that Christmas day.

Anonymous said...

"What Every Woman Wants Under Her Christmas Tree."
My memories of Christmas are a very mixed treasure of sorrow and great happiness. I came from a home that was desperately abusive. There were some years that I will never burden anyone's heart with, for this time of year is still very bittersweet for me, and it still brings me a teeth-clenching month of days to get through with my own very happy family. Kids coming home from college, and one with a new husband from far away, and a son with a wife who has never said an unkind word about anyone and is 25 years old, and lived through cancer 2 times already. So, I concider that alone to be miracle of happiness enough for one persons lifetime.
But, I have several memories of going back home to the big city on the weekend, late on a friday night and in the back seat, a neat line of tape is drawn to keep my brother and myself on each of our own sides and to keep us from touching and causing any trouble. I would lay my cheek against the cold window pane with my pillow and watch all the pretty houses lit up like magical Christmas scenes and I knew that when we got to Gramma and Grandpa's house they would have their lights on too, that would Santa know where to stop!
When we would get to Gramma's she always smelled pretty, she smelled like Gramma and those special cookies out that only Gramma's magic oven could make. We would so many we would fall asleep. The next night was always our Christmas dinner, and that would only come after we had popcorn shrimp, and iced-tea. Later, it was my gram's special baked ham, and dinner rolls with cherry jello and other goodies. The best for last was her German cheese cake.
We always went to bed too early hoping it would help morning come faster, but between all the food and excitement , we did fall asleep and in the morning under the prettiest tree that has ever been, because Gramma had lights that the candles had water bubbling up through the candle. We would just stare and stare at those wonderous candles all lit and the water running through them, and Gramma had glass German ornaments on the tree as well. We would look all over her tree and never see the same thing twice, she even had special ornaments that looked like candy/cookie ornamants but you could not eat them, we so wanted just one bite !
That next morning, somehow , in the giant city, Santa had found us, and there were some toys for us and Gramma always knitted us matching mittens, hats and winter socks to keep us warm when we played outside. Gram has been gone about 15 years now , but she made socks for my husband and he is still wearing those warm wool, gray socks to work in the winter time. She is still loved and thought of every year, like she was right here with us and her Christmas dinner is served in every detail on my Christmas table, and her Tree skirt is used and so is her linen table cloth. Gramma and Grandpa when we were with you on Christmas we were not just safe and happy, Christmas was a real Miracle. We loved you so much and have never forgotten a moment spent with you. We send you our love again this Christmas, Cindi Hein and family.

Anonymous said...

"What Every Woman Wants Under Her Christmas Tree."
My memories of Christmas are a very mixed treasure of sorrow and great happiness. I came from a home that was desperately abusive. There were some years that I will never burden anyone's heart with, for this time of year is still very bittersweet for me, and it still brings me a teeth-clenching month of days to get through with my own very happy family. Kids coming home from college, and one with a new husband from far away, and a son with a wife who has never said an unkind word about anyone and is 25 years old, and lived through cancer 2 times already. So, I concider that alone to be miracle of happiness enough for one persons lifetime.
But, I have several memories of going back home to the big city on the weekend, late on a friday night and in the back seat, a neat line of tape is drawn to keep my brother and myself on each of our own sides and to keep us from touching and causing any trouble. I would lay my cheek against the cold window pane with my pillow and watch all the pretty houses lit up like magical Christmas scenes and I knew that when we got to Gramma and Grandpa's house they would have their lights on too, that would Santa know where to stop!
When we would get to Gramma's she always smelled pretty, she smelled like Gramma and those special cookies out that only Gramma's magic oven could make. We would so many we would fall asleep. The next night was always our Christmas dinner, and that would only come after we had popcorn shrimp, and iced-tea. Later, it was my gram's special baked ham, and dinner rolls with cherry jello and other goodies. The best for last was her German cheese cake.
We always went to bed too early hoping it would help morning come faster, but between all the food and excitement , we did fall asleep and in the morning under the prettiest tree that has ever been, because Gramma had lights that the candles had water bubbling up through the candle. We would just stare and stare at those wonderous candles all lit and the water running through them, and Gramma had glass German ornaments on the tree as well. We would look all over her tree and never see the same thing twice, she even had special ornaments that looked like candy/cookie ornamants but you could not eat them, we so wanted just one bite !
That next morning, somehow , in the giant city, Santa had found us, and there were some toys for us and Gramma always knitted us matching mittens, hats and winter socks to keep us warm when we played outside. Gram has been gone about 15 years now , but she made socks for my husband and he is still wearing those warm wool, gray socks to work in the winter time. She is still loved and thought of every year, like she was right here with us and her Christmas dinner is served in every detail on my Christmas table, and her Tree skirt is used and so is her linen table cloth. Gramma and Grandpa when we were with you on Christmas we were not just safe and happy, Christmas was a real Miracle. We loved you so much and have never forgotten a moment spent with you. We send you our love again this Christmas, Cindi Hein and family.

Fedora said...

Dawn, those are amazing! I love those pieces you've created! And thanks for such a lovely post filled with joyful thoughts for the holidays! My fondest holiday memories are of the times that we spend together with family and friends around this time of year--it's a treat to be with them, enjoying a good meal and the warmth of a friendship that is strong throughout the year, not just now :) We've got some plans for the next few days, and I'm excited for them, knowing that we'll be making new memories for the years to come!

f dot chen at comcast dot net

Unknown said...

Carol of the Bells is my favorite, too!

My favorite memory was just last year when I was still pregnant with my son. We went to a local church for their midnight candlelight service on Christmas Eve. When the music started, so did my pre-labor contractions! He was born on the 28th. The most wonderful belated Christmas present!

hancoci_s at msn dot com

Unknown said...

OMG!!!!! So I'm one of those woman who can't really stand jewerly because of how over the top everyone has taken it nowdays...but Ms Dawn Marie...WOW I have to say I would wear your creations in a heartbeat! Amazing!!! Ok I had to get that out.
My best Christmas memories are still being created...My family makes new ones each year. My son(13 now) and my daughter(2soon to be 3)always do something that sticks out that adds to the last...like this year when the star broke and Rusty went and bought a new topper just to surprise me. Just the little things. always wonderful.

Kimberly said...

Thank you to Dawn Marie for letting me know about this lovely blog and awesome giveaway. You two are blessed to have found each other.

My favorite Christmas memory is very simple. It was when I was 17 years old and it was the last Christmas my family shared together. There was happiness, joy, peace and laughter amongst me, my younger brother and mother and father. How things would quickly change for the worse. . .Today, my parents are divorced and my father and brother live states away. However, that joy of that Christmas Day stays with me every year.