Designs by Donnalee

I’m very excited that I got a few followers lately that make me very happy. You know who you are 🥰. It’s nice to be noticed. I truly appreciate it. Grateful is a better word, actually 🤗. Life has a way of making everyone so busy today. We never have time to do the things we want to: see my family and friends like I would like, w**d 🙈, clean (who am I kidding, I don’t want to do that 😋), volunteer ( now that I do want to do more of!), and work on the parts of this small business of mine that I don’t love and I’m not particularly good at- like the social media piece 😣. Speaking of which, this gorgeous stone is a window druzy agate with a substantial sterling band, hand punched with a dandelion theme. Love the rawness of this stone ❤️. As always, all pieces are for sale till they find their home 🥰

Well, epic fail on my trying to do more posts even with the potential public embarrassment 😋. I knew it wouldn’t help me 🙈. Again, we all have things we need to work on 🤷‍♀️- hehe. I have been working though. Pretty hard actually. And selling. Rings have become a staple on my table. The bigger the better! This is the biggest yet and a bit of an experiment for me. The rose quartz, rainbow moonstone, and amethyst all just seemed to want to be together 🥰. This is one bold ring, but she’s a beauty for the right person 💕. As always, all hand crafted in sterling silver with love and a tad bit of cursing 😂.

This little business of mine has done many things for me. Helped me grow, learn, challenged me, and definitely kept me busy 🙈. There’s so many aspects of it that are behind the scenes. The one that I’m the absolute worst at is marketing and self promotion 😞. I made a New Year’s resolution that I would do better. Ha! That went well 😋. I’m trying it here publicly to see if I can embarrass myself into it, but you know I don’t even think that’ll help. There’s just some things in life that we’re not that great at 🤷‍♀️. But I am going to try…. This stunner is not for the shy 🫣. About 4 1/2” long with Dragon Blood Jasper, an ah- mazing Ruby from Turkey, and aventurine. She’s pretty eye catching 💥✨⚡️

Hope you all had a safe and happy holiday weekend. We sure did 🎆! Love the longer, warmer days and feel of summer. This is my season 🥰. Probably because I am a heavy water sign- sun, moon, mercury in Pisces, and ascendant in Scorpio. A lot of other weird s**t going on in the chart too 😋, but I believe this is what draws me to the lake that I’ve lived on for over 30 years on and helped me to create my first talisman to the element of water. With a hand picked stone from a beach in Iceland and piece of coral from a beach in Mexico. Some tourmaline and aquamarine lend a little gemstone energy to the already powerful feel of the seas. I had a hard time deciding whether or not to put this baby on my table as she spoke to me intimately. But she called to another woman day 1 on the table also and is now in her new home. I saw the woman’s daughter at a recent show and she told me she’s madly attached. There’s just something about collecting bits and pieces from around the world and creating something with it that someone finds beauty/connection to and will wear and cherish. Some days I really love what I do. Most days really. Hope you enjoy most of your days also ❤️

Happy Memorial Day weekend everyone! Hope you’re enjoying it with family, friends, or solitude, if that’s what your soul is calling for right now. Every now and then, a bit of that is healing for you ❤️‍🩹. Me? I hope to surrounded by loved ones. Mother Nature is playing nice and it’s going to be gorgeous out. I plan to work a little, garden a bit, maybe get out on the lake, and partake in some spirits 🥂. Cheers to a safe weekend to all and a HUGE thank you to all the veterans 🇺🇸that have given of themselves to keep us safe ❤️. Gorgeous double drop shattuckite and turquoise pendant featured here. The colors are so pretty in person.

Playing a bit more with copper and brass now and free forming it. Lots of fun! Like how the small tourmalines just add that little extra flash to the already sparkly copper. Trying to play with lots of new items and techniques this year. We’ll see what happens 🤷‍♀️. You have to keep learning and growing or you get stagnant, right? Or just plain ole bored for me 😋. But my husband always knows when there’s a new skill being learned by the amount of swearing going on upstairs 🤣. Hey, we all have to earn our wings by fire with this 🔥🧚‍♀️

Nothing like a sunny bumblebee jasper to bring in all the things I’m feeling. Warm air, trees budding, the hope and newness of spring when the earth gets washed clean again. Not my favorite season, that would be summer, but it means its coming!!!

Anyone else getting the spring bug? The urge to get out there in those sleepy garden beds and do some digging and sprucing up? Trouble is I also get myself all psyched to go out there and jump in and then I’m like 🤔which ones do you cut back in the spring? Which we’re supposed to be fall? Do you cut old wood, new wood? Yikes! 😳 I love ❤️ to garden, but at times it’s a bit overwhelming to remember everything 😋. And I may be rushing things a bit. No, not me…. 😇. This interesting piece is a Petrified palm wood, yes wood, and black obsidian. Love the contrast in it.

And so the show season starts again… I honestly love doing shows when they’re busy. Meeting all the people and the other vendors. Trying hard not to spend more than I sell 🤣. So far I’ve constrained myself today, but I’m feeling the urge to look around soon 😋. Speaking of looking, this beauty is a white buffalo turquoise in a cool sterling setting. Very unique stone. Oh, and so far I’ve only bought one item- doing well 😋.

I came into 2023 with high hopes to get off my ass and finally start to use this amazing platform a little bit. Unfortunately, it’s been a bit of a rough start for me. Don’t mean to complain, cause Lord knows I feel very blessed most every day of my life, but if anyone out there is a fellow migraine sufferer you get it. Ugh 😣. Those babies can just lay you out for days. Mine have pretty much taken out the first part of Jan. But after 3 rounds of steroids and lots of rest, I feel like I may be breaking free 🤗. I so feel for anyone going through long term, consistent pain. There’s really no words for how hard life is when you aren’t feeling well. Prayers, healing white light, and lots of love being sent out to all those that need it right now. Hope there’s light at the end of your tunnel soon ❤️. On a prettier subject, this Turquoise chain and sterling feather with turquoise just brought a smile to my face today. This stone has a way of doing that. As it has a strong connection to the throat chakra and helps to enhance communication and expression. It also aligns all of the chakras and is often used for healing purposes. Can’t go wrong with that 🥰

I can’t believe it’s early Dec already. As I head to the airport for my annual sisters trip (yay sisterhood!). Franticly hoping that I’ve gotten my Christmas shopping done on Etsy, Instagram, and Amazon. Who leaves the house anymore?! Sent all my Christmas cards ✔️. How many more years do you think we’ll do this touching thing as a society? 🤔 I’m sure I’ve forgotten to pack something. But it’s probably nothing that a nice cocktail, my toes in the sand, and hearing the ocean waves, won’t make me get over 🤗. If you’re feeling the pressure of shopping and want to browse, please look at my site. To guarantee on time shipping, be sure to look at pieces not labeled SOLD 😬. This beauty is sterling silver with black window druzy pendant with a little sterling dragonfly perched on her. Pretty statement piece ❤️

It’s been a very busy fall. Full of adventures, travel, and family visits. Perfect really. I’ve been very negligent at posting 🙈, but been hitting the shows and meeting some great people. I need to learn a bit more balance, but I guess that’s something we all strive to learn in one area or another. There are many other lessons I should probably prioritize 😋. Ah, but let’s just focus on the gorgeous weather and these amazing stones. Ha! Procrastinating may be one…

This piece is a bit older, but has what I liken to the tree of life on it, well a branch anyway… and makes me think of everything going on around me right now. I have so many friends that have loved ones that are sick, suffering, or dying right now 😢. This great circle of life that we’re on is a wonder. Such joy and such heartache all riding hand in hand🥺. Wishing you and your loved ones good health, good times, and the wisdom to take time to spend with friends and family while we can ❤️

Spending the weekend at the Weston Fine Arts Fair. Beautiful day, albeit a bit warm. Jose Feliciano will be the headliner, if you’re into that… if not, lots of beautiful art and pieces. My problem is always trying to make more than I spend at these shows🙈 This little ring is a cool stone, pinolith. Surrounded in sterling with a little sterling detail. Rings seem to be big sellers for me lately. The bigger the better 😋. Wishing everyone a great Sunday as they relax, unwind, or party 🎉! Spend their day their perfect way as they prepare for another Day back to it 🤗

I’m baaackkk after what feels like a long time on here. Sorry for the radio, ahem, social media silence. I’ve been extra busy creating pieces for upcoming shows. Head down in the studio working. But I forget that you gotta play all ends of this which includes advertising too 🤦‍♀️ Sooo… My husband calls this one the coat of arms pendant🛡. I can see it, kinda. Either way, this mookaite jasper is a cool stone. The touches of gold set it off just right against the striking yellow and maroon. Not colors that normally speak to me, but together these are really speaking out🤗

I wasn’t my husband’s favorite person yesterday. Asked him if he’d help me with a small task in the yard, which of course led to about 2 hours of trimming , ladders, raking, and burning brush. His opinion was that we needed all self maintaining plants 🤦‍♀️. I tried to explain to him that anything in life that has beauty requires care, love, and possibly a little bit of work from time to time to help it grow and become its best self. After the eye roll, he just continued picking up brush and muttering something 😋. But, when these bushes bloom and our yard is full of color he is the first to be in awe. So today he’s happy with me again. The work is done, it’s a gorgeous day, and we wait with anticipation for the yard to do it’s thing 🌹💐🌳❤️. Till then, here’s a little springtime in a necklace. Turquoise and sterling sunflower. Can’t go wrong with either, and together 🤩. I hope you all enjoy this day anyway you like. Whether it’s yard work, visiting, or just relaxing. Make it yours ❤️

It’s starting to feel a lot like spring here! Or maybe it’s just my hopeful thinking as it literally just snowed all day a few days ago 😋. But hey, I am the eternal optimist 🤗. The days are a little warmer, a little longer, and everything feels a little brighter. Bring it on!! 🌸🌞 This beautiful pendant is to help celebrate the March babies. It’s their birthstone, an aquamarine, straight from our trip to Turkey. I love the color of these stones. Always remind me of the sea and happy times 🥰.

Just settling back in from a little break from the cold in Mexico. The sun on my face felt so good while we were there. I forgot how healing that and the smell and sound of the ocean waves were. Standing in the sand, with the waves lapping your calves and the sun warming your body you could forget all about the madness of this world for a bit… ah, to actually be a mermaid 🧜‍♀️😋. I guess I’ll settle for a silversmith with wanderlust 🥰. Although today’s offer is actually copper. A handmade, formed, copper flower 🌸. A little spring brought back with us ❤️

Happy birthday to my beautiful niece, Tyleigh. 19 is such a great age. Wishing you a wonderful year honey with continued growth and happiness. Love you SO very much. ❤️😘🥰

Ah, that lovely time of year 🙆‍♀️. Sitting in my gynecologist office waiting my turn. It’s such an invasive, but necessary, visit. Luckily I love my Dr. She’s great. I guess men have the same issue when they’re asked to cough 😋. Well, whatever keeps us all healthy and strong 💪🏻 🥰 . How else can I live to be 100?! 😜 💫💫💫. Some pretty little lacy sterling baubles to look at while you ponder if you’re up to date on your check ups 🤔

If you live in the northeast you have to like all seasons. I’m not a winter girl, but I do love a good snow day ⛄️. We’re all caught inside on this cold, blustery day with less snow than predicted, but still enough and pretty. I’m busy creating and most of my friends are binge watching Netflix and cooking 🤗. These are good days, my friends. Spend them your favorite way ⛄️❄️💍 This little sterling necklace reminds me of the circle of life. Simple, never ending, and full of changes - including seasons among others. Sometimes in this chaotic world something simple calls out to you or you need something simple to remind you to ground and just breath 💫✨.

Bright wishes for a happy and better new year, one and all. Lord knows last year was pure hell, mixed with moments of sunshine. Hoping this year is a nice mix of sunshine, laughter, love, hope, happiness, and yes, a little rain must always fall, but hoping it’s equivalent to the rain from this pretty little white plume agate cloud. Soft, gentle and not too damaging. I think we could all use a nice healing, healthy, happy year right about now ❤️

2021 was a tough year. We lost four people in our immediate and extended family 😢 and had some people go through pretty hard changes. But we came together with stronger bonds and knowing that we have each other’s backs and will all pitch in to help to get each other through the worst of what life has to offer. So here’s hoping that’s done and 2022 will bring some of the good that life has to offer 🙏🏻🤞❤️. On a happier note 🙆‍♀️, these are some of my top pieces of the year. Especially in a year of pain and chaos, having an escape in my art is so wonderful and I’m so very grateful to everyone who has bought something from me, complimented my work, or even told me how I could do it a little better 😋. I learn from everything and everyone! Thank you all!! Work wise it was a pretty good year at least 🤗

I love this stone because it looks like there’s a little forest growing inside of it. It’s called moss agate and if you love nature, it’s a dreamy stone. Set in a handmade sterling setting. Ready for the holidays 🎄❤️