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I hope you are completely satisfied with your purchase. If not, please let me know right away. Can’t find where to leave a review? Go to the product and find the product ‘Description’ then click on the Reviews tab right next to the Description tab. If you’d like to leave a general comment, go to the ‘Contact’ page. Thanks so much!

lovefromsantabarbara

How was your Thursday? I did a little time at my b

How was your Thursday? I did a little time at my bench working with wax, but spent most of the day working on trying to get my taxes done. It rained AGAIN last night and today, but cleared up in time to take a walk. Luna and I saw 4 deer cross the road and one lingered out of curiosity I guess.

Was it a productive day for you?

Thanks as always for your comments, likes and follows! 😊

Day 29 is all about big goals for 2023. My big goa

Day 29 is all about big goals for 2023. My big goals are to spend more time thinking out designs, letting the rocks, castings and other pieces ‘tell’ me how they would like to be seen. The other thing is that I want to keep learning new skills to expand my abilities and design possibilities.

I know it’s almost April, but what are your big goals? Let me know in the comments. And thanks a bunch for your follows, likes and comments. It means a lot to me. 😁♥️🙏🏻

Day 28: Places that inspire. Are you inspired wh

Day 28: Places that inspire.

Are you inspired when you get away and go somewhere? I think it’s so refreshing and expands our horizons. I’ve traveled to some amazing places near and far, but actually right now, I’m feeling very inspired right where I am. Seeing the plants start budding out and blooming is such a joy to experience. I may want to go somewhere tomorrow, but right now I’m appreciating being right where I am. ♥️🙏🏻🥰🐞🐝🦉🪶🌱🪺🦋

Day 27: People that inspire you. Well this is an e

Day 27: People that inspire you. Well this is an endless list. I’m inspired by so many. I’m going to broaden it beyond jewelry to give a nod to other inspirations of mine.
Phil Orr built the house I used to live in. He was an archaeologist who discovered the oldest human remains in North America. It’s a fascinating story you can read about here:
https://www.teachchannelislands.org/tales/arlington-springs-man
He and his gemologist wife were friends with Ganna Walska, the Polish opera singer that lived up the road and was responsible for creating Lotusland, one of the most amazing gardens in existence.
The second gentleman shown is a great uncle of our family who worked as an animator for Disney. Some of his projects were Fantasia, The Wind and the Willows (his was the voice of Angus McBadger), Pinocchio and many more. He went on to discover most of the now known Chumash rock painted caves which he documented in a book he wrote, Rock Paintings of the Chumash.
I’m also inspired by Beatrice Wood from nearby Ojai. She was an American actress/artist/ceramicist during the Avant Garde period and friends with Marcel Duchamp. She eventually became known for her iridescent luster glazes.
Georgia O’Keefe and her floral paintings are another inspiration. I love her style.
Then there’s Antoni Gaudi and his architecture and mosaics. Stunning.
A few musical inspirations are Billie Holiday, Eva Cassidy and Bonnie Raitt. Among many others. And a special shout out to my band mates and the people who come hear us. They are truly inspiring. ♥️

Are you a lover of texture? It seems like every ar

Are you a lover of texture? It seems like every area of my creative life exudes texture in some form or another. I love it. Day 26 of Meet the Maker is all about textures.

I take so many ideas from nature. Shells, trees, coral, fish (in the form of cuttlebone casting), stones, oils and butters and sugar and salt in my body care products, minerals that granulate in my watercolors, different size grains of salt for different texture effects in watercolor, piercings and stamps on metal, the list is endless. These inspire my work and make it more interesting for the viewer as well. At least I think that’s the case. Do you?

I just finished the piece that I subconsciously ma

I just finished the piece that I subconsciously made for my mom. A heart wrapped in a heart. And there she is perched right inside. I think she would have loved this.

I did a reel previously showing my work on it before it was cast. This shows post casting once I got the plaster removed to finished piece. I hope you enjoy watching the process. Leave me a comment if you feel inclined. 💕

Note: I used Hone and Highlight in my tumbler. It gave it a nice satin antique sheen. @rosyrevolver

I’ve learned that setup is everything when it co

I’ve learned that setup is everything when it comes to soldering. You often have to get creative and think through all the possible outcomes. Kind of like life. I soldered these small jump rings as a bail last night. I had to figure out how to prop them up securely with the seam on top, fluxing the jump rings as well as the three tiny pieces of chip solder, heat them with melting them, watching for solder not to flow where it shouldn’t (thereby locking pieces together that weren’t meant to be), and I’ll just say etc. because I’m sure I’m forgetting some things. Each time I solder, I learn something. The middle link didn’t solder the link closed, but considering the subject matter, I couldn’t linger with the torch to try and bring the solder across the joint. Plus it was hard to make out exactly until I quenched, pickled and scrubbed it. It may have worked if the joint hadn’t been tilted slightly downward. So I got it done this morning. Stay tuned!

If at first you don’t succeed…

How’s your Saturday going?

#lovefromsantabarbara #learningeveryday #soldering #solderingjewelry #solderingjumprings #happysaturday #metalsmith #silversmith #lostwaxcasting #lostwaxprocess

Asking which is your favorite piece is like asking

Asking which is your favorite piece is like asking which of your children is your favorite.

With each piece I’ve made, it becomes a building block for future pieces. I learn something every single time I sit down at the bench or soldering station. I’m showing a couple of my most recent complex pieces, because I learned SO much with each one. A shout out to Carl Stanley for introducing these projects in class that were so varied and multi faceted in their scope. AND I made SO many mistakes on both of these pieces, but somehow they survived and became finished pieces. Just like I’m not perfect and somehow survive events in my life that don’t break me but help me grow into (hopefully) a better and more conscious and experienced person. I’m very aware of my flaws and shortcomings, but I strive every day to become a better person.

Does your work do that for you? I’d love to hear your thoughts about it.

#meetthemaker #meetthejewelrymaker #marchmeetthemaker #marchmeetthejewelrymaker #lovefromsantabarbara #imperfect #learningeveryday #metalsmith #turquoise #inlay #onlay

Day 24 is all about packaging. Since I have many l

Day 24 is all about packaging. Since I have many little businesses, I’ve designed logos for each one, types of packaging, colors and everything in between. Here’s a sampling of what I do. I feel like it a good way to put your best image out there. And it’s a learning process to see what works. Is packaging important to you?

Thank you for any comments and likes. It really does help. 😊

Day 23 of March Meet the Maker is all about the pe

Day 23 of March Meet the Maker is all about the people that have helped you on your journey. For my jewelry journey, there are many. I’ve taken classes with Carl Stanley for awhile now and have learned so much from him in so many types of jewelry making. I’ve also learned from Gary Elkins at the jewelry studio. During the pandemic, I looked for learning resources online and found Francesca Watson @jewelryinstructor It was so nice to find a ‘tribe’ again. Through her, I met Tonya Davidson @therealtonyadavidson Mind you, I’ve never met my online friends in person. Yet. I also discovered Charles Lewton Brain and watched all his videos as well as Lucy Walker. I’ve watched other videos of Mark Nelson, Kate Wolf, Ricky Frank and so many more. I know I’m probably forgetting a few! I’m so grateful to have both online and in person instruction. It has really helped me grow in my metalworking.

Who has helped you along the way?

Down the road from us. It’s rained again for the

Down the road from us. It’s rained again for the last couple days. I see we have more coming next week. When it rains, it pours these days.

#montecito #montecitostrong #foothills #santabarbara #santabarbarafoothills #recordrains #rainstorm #santabarbaracounty

Our hands tell a story about who we are. I wouldn’t say I’ve ever had beautiful hands, but they are one of my most important tools. So you know what? I love them. Not only do they put love into whatever I make, but they hold my loved ones, comfort those who are suffering, make some very creative meals, help me do my job on stage and so much more. So yeah, I’m okay with them not being glamorous. They’re part of what makes me happy and who I am. And I take pretty good care of them with my handmade whipped body butter, balms, serums and cold process soap that I make. They all keep my skin looking younger.

Not sure what I’d do without the use of my hands. I remember that when I had carpal tunnel surgery, I was a mess!! I felt so helpless. Have you thought about how your hands help you lately?

Thanks for letting me know in the comments! ♥️

#marchmeetthemaker #marchmeetthejewelrymaker #meetthejewelrymaker #meetthemaker #lovefromsantabarbara #thesehands #thesehandscreate

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It is all so fabulous. I haven’t found a thing that I didn’t think was the best I have ever seen. Donna, you have an incredible talent. The scents and textures are absolutely divine!!!! I encourage everyone to buy, but then there would be none for me. What a dilemma! ❤️♥️❤️♥️❤️♥️

I haven’t found a thing that I didn’t think was the best I have ever seen. - Santa Barbara, CA

I gave this soap to a friend as a hostess gift and she said, “How beautiful! Can I open it?” She thought it was a jewel box!

Soap or jewelry box? - Florida

Donna makes such wonderful products! Love, love, love everything she makes.

Love, love love! - Huntington Beach, CA

Thanks for making birthday giving so beautiful and easy! Can’t wait to actually touch the soaps. They look amazing on Facebook! And it occurs to me that I have a lot of people who could use a little Love from Santa Barbara.

Birthday giving – so beautiful and easy! - Santa Barbara, CA

I too bought this lip balm and love it. It is very soft and luxurious feeling. I kind of go nuts with lip balms as my lips are always dry and I am not a big lipstick person, so this is a wonderful find.

Soft and luxurious… a wonderful find! - California

I’ve never found a product that makes my skin actually glow. Since I started massaging your whipped body butter into my face like you suggested, then the hot wash cloth afterward, I have no more skin problems. I don’t need to go back to the dermatologist. My skin is GLOWING with health! Thank you!

My skin is glowing!

I’ve been using your whipped body butter on my dry, cracked heels, and they are no longer cracked but instead, so soft and smooth!

I love this stuff!

Just crazy about the colorful vibrant jewelry, especially the Funk Zone Necklaces and Donna’s new gorgeous lightweight earrings! I get so many compliments when I wear LOVE from SB items out and about – I also buy them for my friends and family as special gifts. The only drawback is, I selfishly want to keep them all!

Crazy about this jewelry!

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