Each One is Unique!

Hot off the bench! Your loved one's fingerprint on a sparkling charm...perfect as a Mother's Day gift, wedding gift, anniversary gift, memorial piece, etc.

Precious Memories

Turn your son's or daughter's love note into a treasured keepsake. My favorite little note from my daughter has been hanging on my refrigerator for 15 years! It has faded so much that I could barely make out the message, but I still didn't have the heart to throw it away. I captured her writing, along with my son's signature and a drawing of himself, on this sterling silver ring. Now it has become a precious go-to accessory!

What a treat to find this in my inbox from a lovely client wearing my Serenity Prayer Wrap Ring:

I love the ring! Thanks so much!!

Build your own unique charm bracelet using custom donnaodesigns charms. Make a statement and create a one-of-a-kind piece to celebrate your one-of-a-kind life! Start with this chunky chain link sterling silver bracelet that features a bold sterling key and padlock that serves as both a toggle clasp as well as a charm. You can personalize the back of the lock with a message of your choice. Add a photo charm, a monogram charm, initial charms, the possibilities are endless. The bracelet with the padlock toggle clasp/charm is substantial with a nice weight and feel.

any charms?

bracelet only $150.95 USD with monogram charm $195.95 USD with photo charm $225.95 USD

Congrats, You Nailed it!

Here's a fun, creative way of saying, "Congratulations, you nailed it!." It's at once industrial and chic and will become one of his/her go-to pieces. 

The wearer will be pleasantly reminded of a job well done each time he/she puts on this unique piece. The solid sterling silver nail ring is hand forged from recycled sterling silver and contains a message (CONGRATS) inscribed on the palm side of the band. $52 + $4.50 domestic shipping.

To the Moon and Back Necklace

Introducing the To the Moon and Back Necklace in celebration of the 45th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Lunar Landing! July 20, 1969 marked the historic first manned landing on the moon. My hand forged solid sterling silver moon was made to honor this great human achievement. Grab your silver sliver of the moon while quantities last. 20" L.
$49 + $4.50 domestic shipping.

Handwriting Cuff Bracelet

A donnaodesigns.etsy.com original! You can have your loved ones actual handwriting on an eye-catching sterling cuff. It's sure to be cherished for years to come and is perfect as a Mother's Day gift, wedding gift, anniversary gift, memorial piece, etc.

This bracelet showcases a heartfelt message from a little boy to his mom. Kids have a natural optimistic look on life; the message here was taken from a birthday card and is a wonderful reminder of the up side of getting older. You too can make a wonderful keepsake made from a signature or line from a note, a card, a letter, your wedding vows, etc.

This lightly hammered, flared sterling silver cuff is approximately 3/4" wide and tapers to 1/2". $150

I can use handwriting from a card, letter, or just about anything on a white background as long as it is a high contrast image. Please purchase the listing before submitting the writing sample. To submit, just scan it, save it as a JPEG and email it to donnaodesigns@gmail.com. 

All Shall Be Well

I know I haven't posted in awhile, but when I received this email from a special customer I knew I wanted to share her touching message (with her permission):

Hi, Donna. I just wanted to give you an update on the "All Shall Be Well" ring that you made for me last year. It was a source of great comfort to me during some VERY hard times in my life. Happily, things have started to level out for me. Last week, one of my good friends discovered that she has breast cancer. On her Facebook status, she used the "All Shall Be Well" quote and said that it was her new mantra. I knew instantly that it was time to pass your beautiful ring on to her. She has some hard times ahead of her and I knew that it would bring her as much solace as it did for me. I gave it to her yesterday and she loved it. I told her that when she no longer needs it, to pass it on to someone who does. I wonder how many hands it will pass through. Because my friend's hands are smaller than mine, she has put it on a chain around her neck so that she can spin it. :)Just thought that you would like to know that your ring has passed on to its next chapter. Perhaps you can put something like this on one of your lists and other people will do this also.Thank you so much for the lovely work that you did. Hope that all is well with you. :)

I love that this ring is well used and I hope that it's message serves as a constant positive reminder to anyone wearing the ring.

I wish her friend good health.

Graduation Time

It's about that time again! It time to start thinking about the dads and grads in your life. Fellow estian FinERJewelr has created a collection of beautiful gifts for that special grad. Check it out here:

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4be9b084ec018eef27da0a24/for-your-favorite-grad?sort=hotness&order=desc

I'm thrilled and honored that my "Be the Change..." necklace is among the items featured! Thanks so much Emily! You should check out her etsy shop for some beautiful handmade jewelry and lampwork beads.

Let Him Carry His Personal Message

I've made necklaces, bracelets and rings...various items personalized with special words/names/quotes that I thought would appeal to men, but my husband has snubbed his nose at every piece until I came up with a money clip.

I made him one with his favorite quote by the very wise, very old and very green Yoda, "Do or do not, there is no try". I can't believe that he carries it everywhere and prefers it over his wallet. He's pared down what he carries to only a credit card, ID and some money. Click on this link to check it out: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33194552

Ironic Isn't It?

I've just had one of those days!!! I had to make three hand stamped spinner rings before I got it right.

After making the first ring, I realized my customer wanted the large heart stamp instead of the small heart stamp. Ring #2 looked great, but my last couple of whacks to flare the ring froze the spinner in place. Finally, finally I got the stamping right and the ring still spins.

Talk about irony, I spent all last night and all day today making this ring with the inscription: Carpe Diem, Carpe Noctem!!! It most certainly did seize my day and seize my night.

After all that I love the way it came out...

Making it BIG

I was so excited when I found a set of letter stamps in a giant size-1/2" letters-I just had to get them. Here I stamped a 1" disc and made it the focal point for this multi-strand bracelet. It's definitely big and funky.

I also found this beautiful paillette chain and couldn't resist. It was a bit blingy before I oxidized it, but now it has an appealing, aged feel to it.

I love creating meaning filled pieces and am trying a new way to make the words look as beautiful as the message. Using my hand saw I attempted the look of chinese calligraphy on these earrings. One says "peaceful" and the other says "tranquility"; a lovely message in any language.

I made it into a treasury! littlebirdproduction.etsy.com included my ANGEL WING necklace in this beautiful collection. The photos all work together, creating a wonderful ethereal quality to the page. How appropriate that it's about angels.

You should check out littlebirdproduction's etsy shop. It's loaded with eye-catching knitwear, especially the Wine and Dine Me Scarf. Love it!

New Rings Are Now In My Etsy Store

I've been experimenting with scraps of silver, hoping to create more organic shapes for my pendants and rings. I love the convenience of die cut discs, but then all my pendants start to look alike. I love the way this ring came out and to think the silver was going in the scrap pile. This juicy carnelian looks good enough to eat! I only have a few of these cabs. I must find more of them, otherwise I'll be tempted to keep them all for myself.

Preparing for Mother's Day

Here's a another version of my layered locket. I also make one with a round picture frame. Both sound like mini wind chimes when the cover moves past the frame. The locket is perfect for moms, grandmothers, pet owners or anyone who want to keep their loved ones close to their heart.

Customized Cuff Links

Here's a pair of cuff links that I made for a customer in Singapore. I used my 1/4" letters for these and love the way they came out. I'm tempted to slurge on a custom set of letters, but can't decide on hand written letters or the ever popular Papyrus font. I can't go wrong with either, but there's something really appealing about personalizing items with letters that look like they were written by hand.

Pearls for Everyday Wear

Pearls seem to be a recurring theme in my latest creations. I love wearing pearls, not in a strand, but paired with atypical partners like leather and organic rustic sterling. Pearls add polish to everything they touch.

Layering Adds Interest, Wouldn't You Agree?

I've been playing around with the idea of making larger stacking rings. I originally was only bezel setting this pearl onto the patterned band, but then decided to have it rest inside a dark sterling cup instead, I find the contrast of the rich, heavy patina and the luminous white pearl so appealing. It seemed a little bare so made things more cozy by wrapping the pearl with a twisted of sterling. What started off as a simple ring has benefited from layers of added interest.

Here it is at another angle...