blog here...

Our newly designed website is up!

2010-06-16T05:04:00.000-07:00

Did you miss us? We sure missed you! It's been a few weeks since we started working on the new design and shopping cart. Check it out here. Let us know what you think. Please know we are going to be adding new items to the site over the next few weeks. We worked with Jodi and Ryan at thriveoncreative.com in Duluth and couldn't be happier with the results.

Happy Holidays

2009-12-03T20:37:00.000-08:00

This is such a great time of year! I love Christmas. I'm getting together with friends next week to make wreaths and a couple days later we're going to make cookies! Yippee! Ardy and I are on our way back from our place in AZ. We made the decision to sell the house, and it's now listed with ColdWell Banker through my sister Dorene. I hope the right buyer can find our home just perfect for them! It's been a great home for us.

On the grand kid front.... Savina turned 4 in November. I can't believe how fast time passes. She is so much fun to be with. We were playing with her Lego's while there for her birthday.... what a treat!

Luca has the most beautiful smile! Here he is with Grandpa Ardy.... I have to admit Ardy doesn't really know what to do with kids.... since he never had any kids of his own... but he sure loves these tw0. We'll be there again for Christmas and I can't wait.

The weather has been good in WI so we've been able to keep the shop open, cuz we're pretty sure when we get a few feet of snow people won't be too interested in navigating our drive, those of you who have been there know what I'm talking about. We're open Friday - Monday 11-4 and on weekends, we've been running Holiday Specials, with treats, door prizes, and special discounts. Dec 10th, we're having an OPEN HOUSE from 4-8pm. With 25% of the sales donated to Bayfield Food Shelf. Bring any non perishable food items to our OPEN HOUSE and you will receive a special gift. We'll be serving refreshments and other treats, please stop in and enjoy the warm feelings of both giving and receiving.

May first!

2009-05-01T12:02:00.000-07:00

Wow... so much has taken place since my last entry.

Our trunk show in Wayzata was fabulous! We had almost 50 guests, and had lot's of fun. Thanks Karen for your very generous hostessing and thanks to all our wonderful friends and customers who came, and bought great new pieces of jewelry to enjoy. We had two door prize winners, the necklace went to Mary D, and the bracelet to Becky. We love to give jewelry away!

Luca was born 4/23/09 (see photo to right) He's a very loveable little boy, and so good natured, and Mom is doing very well.

We had our PMC class. What a blast that was, we made some great new friends, spent time with some old friends and learned lots! I'm so impressed with our students, they turned out some great pieces. Hey.... students how about posting some of your photos here for others to see?

I'm in Ohio enjoying my daughter, and her family, and offering a helping hand where I can. I'm amazed how much work is involved with an infant and a toddler. Big sister Savina and I get to do lot's together and that's a joy!

Shop Opens for the 2009 Season. We are open Daily 10-6, so if you're in the area stop in and see what we have that's new.

Trunk show this weekend

2009-04-08T15:17:00.000-07:00

We're having a very productive week in the shop getting ready for our Trunk Show in Wayzata this Saturday 11-5. Robin is going through all our finished jewelry making sure it's perfectly ready, and I'm finishing up some new pieces that will be hot of the bench! It's going to be great to see so many of our friends..... can't wait to giggle with you all. Hope to see you there. If you want more information about this check the website... http://www.donaleedesigns.com/products.asp?cat=108 We'd love to have you join us.

Have a great Easter, and enjoy this lovely spring we're having. DK

So happy to be home!!!

2009-03-30T16:49:00.000-07:00

The sky was so blue and it wasn't too cold, when we pulled down our drive... our part of the bay is still frozen but our drive is completely free of snow. I'm so happy we're home! Ardy and I have been unpacking the trailer off and on since we arrived around 2. I think we might be done for the evening. I'm going to do major cleaning in the shop before I put stuff away. Robin will come on Wednesday and we'll be up and running in no time! It's seens so funny I went to the post office, grocery store, drove around town.. and didn't see a single person I knew... now that's amazing.. where is everybody?

I love this place... it's great to have a place to love as much as I love this place! ahhhhhh....

TROUBLE POSTING A COMMENT? Several people have sent me emails about problems adding a comment here..... I'm so sorry for any problems you are experiencing. Tips: Hover your courser over the word comments just below the blog you want to comment on, it becomes underlined, click on it, then it becomes a link to add comment, our host my ask you to sign in, and then just start typing to join our fun here... I don't want to feel like I'm talking to myself... which of course I do... but not usually in front of people like here.... hahahahah! Where is the place you love?

We're still on our way!

2009-03-29T05:41:00.001-07:00

Wow... are we glad the blizzard is over! We were very grateful find a motel in Vega TX, with visibility O, many drivers didn't and had to be rescued by the Red Cross. I'm really looking forward to getting back up North.. it's never taken us this long to drive from AZ to WI before and as some of you might know I'm not known for my patience in getting from there to here or visa versa. We used to drive it straight through... 36 hours. But we're older and smarter now!
What are you guys up to this beautiful day?

Sant Rosa, New Mexico

2009-03-26T21:09:00.000-07:00

Yippiee, we're in Santa Rosa New Mexico, and it's snowing! It's been busy the last couple of days getting ready to leave AZ, finish up several specil orders, continue to work on our new collections for the Aprill 11th Trunk Show in Mpls MN. We're really looking forward to seeing so many of you there. Thanks for the many RSVP's.

Let us Deluxe your DONALEE DESIGNS Jewelry

2009-03-24T11:23:00.000-07:00

It's Tuesday morning and I'm packing to head back to Bayfield. It's always a mix of sad and happy. We so enjoy both places. I put off packing till the last minute every time! I don't call myself a procrastinator... I just say I use all my time. It's been great weather here in sunny southern AZ, it's been in the 70-80's so it will be an adjustment to get used to the cooler weather again. Oh well....

Today, I'm shipping a big "deluxing" job out today to one of our Chicago IL customers. Every year or so, she sends me her DONALEE DESIGNS jewelry. I look at it closely for any potential problems, we re-string if needed, and polish it all so it looks like new and we call this process "deluxing". This is a free service we offer all our customers, so look through your collection and let us keep you looking good!

Welcome to our new blog!

2009-03-22T04:18:00.000-07:00

It's very late, well... really it's early...it's 4:15am Mountain time, and I'm still working on this project. I've been designing it for a few hours now... but I love designing... no matter what it is! Jewelry is my speciality... but anything that requires combining elements and making choices, needs to be thought out, and designed. There are so many options, and with jewelry there are some very unique ones; security, fit, and longevity need to be considerations also.

If you've worn DONALEE DESIGNS I'd love to hear your comments or questions. It can be about what ever you'd like to tell me about your piece, or maybe you have a question about cleaning or wear and tear. Don't forget we re-string at no charge if you ever have a break... don't be shy. Just send it back to us.

Maybe you just want to rave about how much you LOVE your DD jewelry... or you think we shipped your order in perfect condition... that's fine too.

I just really want to give us a place to talk jewelry, tools, gardens, kids, whatever... with my peps as my late sister Heidi used to call us. Peps = loving, nurturing friends and relies!

The rose to the right, is blooming in my garden today in Arizona. It's so inspiring! Every spring just as we start to pack to go North, our rose bushes start to bloom like crazy. I encourage our neighbors and my sister Dorene to cut them in our absence, I don't like the idea of them not being enjoyed. What does your garden look like today? Anything popping out?

Catch you later, DK