Tag Archives: women bloggers

Morocco Visit – 2012

21 Tuesday Feb 2012

Posted by in Morocco, Travel

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Barbara Floyd, my friend and interior designer extraordinaire from Dallas, told me that Fez, Morocco, is one of her favorite places in the world.  I knew with her travel knowledge that we had a treat in store!  And it was!  Work of Moroccan artists and craftsmen was EVERYWHERE!

In the Old City, the neighborhood water hydrant is a work of art itself with intricate tile work.

Woodwork was carved in place! You never see just a plain, old plank of wood.

In the Old City, children can go to pre-school at a very young age. Schooling is compulsory for children in Morocco between the ages of seven and sixteen. The backpack is ubiquitous...

Walking through the Old City, medieval Medina, you see tile work, wood carving, and masonery that is spectacular.  And then once you experience the rug merchants shops, weavers, and tannery, you realize that talent is alive and well now. 

And this uber charming gentleman can make you want everything in the store

Out of this loom comes a bedspread, pashmina, scarf, and hundreds of other woven goods you need to take home!

If you are serious about finding a rug, expect to drink several glasses of mint tea and spend a half day looking at rugs, deciding and then negotiating. The vendors never expect buyers to settle on the first price….it is an artform in itself there.

Check out my visit to see the pyramids and the sphinx!

17 Friday Feb 2012

Posted by in Egypt, Travel

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A windy day at the pyramids

From Luxor, we had a short flight to Cairo and then a bus ride around the perimeter of the city to Giza.  We felt safe since we did not go into the city.

Budding Egyptologists - our traveling friends

Giza is the 3rd largest city in Egypt – home to over 4.5 million people.  It is also the home to three of the most famous pyramids and the Great Sphinx of Giza.  These were tombs for the Pharoahs built roughly from the mid 2,500’s to 2,150 B.C. according to National Geographic’s web site.  (I have had to rely on this and other sites.  At times on the trip I was looking (OK, gawking) and not paying attention to the guides.

Lunch at the Sphinx Pavillon Restaurant

I loved the story the guide told us about the largest pyramid built by Khufru at 481 feet high.  His son who followed him, Khafre, had his built at 471 feet high.  He didn’t want to be disrespectful to his father, don’t you know.  His just looks taller than his father’s.  Clever guy – he chose a higher place on the plateau to build his…. According to the guides, once a pharaoh was the ruler, they started working on his tomb.

The Sphinx

The Great Sphinx of Giza is sometimes attributed to the son Khafre.  It is carved  limestone with a human-like head, lion body and head dress of a pharaoh.  It is the largest monolith statue in the world at 24 feet long, 20 feet wide, and 66 feet high.  It is missing a 1 meter wide nose and a beard, though.  A popular belief is that one of Napolean’s cannonballs shot it off.

Over the centuries, the sphinx was buried up to its shoulders.  The first attempt at excavation was about 1400 B.C.   After several other attempts, it was finally excavated between 1925 and 1936.  It is pretty amazing..

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Visiting Egypt – January 2012

14 Tuesday Feb 2012

Posted by in Egypt, Travel

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Seeing structures built from around 3,000 B.C. just boggles my mind.  That was Egypt…

The Central Corridor at the Luxor Temple

In Egypt, we first stayed in Luxor which was once Thebes and for centuries was known as the capital of the world.  Sit on the porch of the Sonesta St. George Hotel, and there is the Nile River.

And then off we go to the Valley of the Kings including King Tut’s tomb, Hatshepsut Temple, Medinet Habu and the Colossi of Memnon. 

 

Women making bread

The bus trip out to the valley where the ancient tombs are took us by areas where the women still bake the bread daily in outside ovens and SAND.  Once you leave the city, everything is one color.  

Sunset on the Nile

In the Valley of the Kings, no photography is allowed—so pictures here are not part of my 1200 shots from the trip.  The tombs here are built into mountains, and excavation is a constant from what we saw.  Pharoahs were buried here for nearly 500 years from the 16th to the 11th centuries B.C. 

From inside Medinet Habu, the mortuary temple of Ramses III

As you walk into Ramses III tomb, you see magnificent carved artwork which still has rich color.  Then in King Tutankhamen’s tomb, discovered in 1922, you actually see the mummy of the 5 ft. 5 Inch boy king of 18 years old.  This is one tomb that was not totally looted through the years!  Kings were buried with things they would need to get them to the next world.

Nile lunch on a Felucca

After the morning of tomb-ing and temple-ing we had lunch on traditional sailing vessels (Feluccas) on the Nile.  The white table cloth service was elegant and a real contrast to the morning.

Luxor Temple

 

 

That evening was truly a gala event.  In the daytime, the Luxor Temple would be quite a sight, but at night…. With the lighting on the monster pillars, Ramses II statues and obelisks, and march music playing when we walked in, all 50 of us were awestruck.  Just when you think you are about templed out, here comes this one. 

As you look at the pictures, realize that this was once buried and had to be excavated from an artificial hill of centuries of rubble about 50 feet high.  Excavation began in 1884.

Archaeologists must be the most patient people on the planet…

See more pictures of my travels and jewelry (a lot of which is inspired by and whose beads come from the finds of these travels) on my Facebook page by clicking here http://facebook.com/kaydonahuedesigns

Amazing India Trip – January 2012

10 Friday Feb 2012

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From Cambodia, we flew up to India.  The original itinerary was to go to Agra and visit the Taj Mahal.  Shortly before we were to leave on the trip, we received that the Agra airport was still under reconstruction.  The alternate plan was to go to Udaipur in their lakes area.  Of course, we were disappointed, but heard about the beautiful things in Udaipur, so we decided we would enjoy the book our tour company sent about the Taj.

Elephant at the Oberoi hotel from one piece of stone

Then in Orlando, we learned the tour company had arranged for an alternate way for people to visit the Taj.  It involved a 4 1/2 hour bus ride each way….  The people who chose that option were very happy when they returned the next evening.  I can’t tell you about the Taj.

Staff in traditional dress at the Oberoi

But the Udaipur people were equally overwhelmed.  Our hotel, the Oberoi, was designed as a palace on the hill.  Indeed, we felt we were royalty.

In front of the City Palace

The next day, we saw the amazing City Palace and Museum built in 1559 by the Mahrana Udai Singh.  It is a maze of reception halls, residential suites and internal courts with eye-popping art work.  You can see from the pictures that the mosaic and intricate art work, gilded areas, and glass provided many oohs and ahs.  The 76th generation of that mahrana lives in the part of the palace we didn’t see.

Later in the day, we watched local artisans work with brushes smaller than I can comprehend using.  The smallest is 1 hair from a squirrel tail.  A large one is about 1/2 inch of camel eyelashes.  Udaipur artists are known for their “miniature” paintings – detail only not physical size.

That evening we had a sunset cruise on the lake overlooking the old city and City Palace.  To get there, we had a bus ride through the city.  Oh my!  The traffic was beyond belief.  And cows wander the streets.  And a camel pulls the ice cream truck.  Gridlock was everywhere – the real world.

This was a major study of contrasts…

Click here to view more photos of my trip to India on my facebook page at Kay Donahue Designs www.facebook.com/kaydonahuedesigns

 

 

Siem Reap, Cambodia – January 2012 Visit

07 Tuesday Feb 2012

Posted by in Travel

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Please excuse me for backtracking on the trip a little.  My excitement and awe of Tanzania was too much not to share more quickly!  Cambodia was unexpectedly wonderful.

Kay and Steve enjoying an elephant ride

Considering the extremely rocky and savage life under the Khmer Rouge, (officially the Communist Party of Cambodia) in the 1970’s, it is amazing that progress has been possible – albeit slow, since the Khmer Rouge fall in 1979.  Our tour company describes the Cambodians as being generally optimistic, and in the wake of so many years of war, are working to clear land mines, build schools, reform social institutions, and revive traditions.  They have high hopes for the future.

Angkor Wat - the largest religious building in the world

We visited Ankkor Wat, the largest religious building in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  It was built in the early 12th century with sides measuring ½ mile on a side.  Originally a Hindu temple, it is now Buddhist.  Later in the day we went to the Artisans d’Angkor.  There we saw young and old practicing handicrafts which have been passed down for generations. Wood carvings, silver, painted boxes, and woven silks were all intricate and beautiful.  The workshops ended around the store which seemed to stretch for miles.

Silver shop trainee

The next day we went to Angkor Thom City including Bayon Temple and Elephant Terrace and Taprohm Temple which is famed for the large tree roots.  And the elephant ride was a hoot! 

Temple Taprohm - the jungle temple. Tree roots!

We stayed in the elegant 75 year old (restored) Raffles Grand Hotel ‘Angkor.  In front of the hotel is a luscious garden which, along with the hotel, was destroyed by Khmer Rouge.  Now, the hotel has the finest of modern conveniences with old Cambodian charm.  The musicians played on traditional instruments while we enjoyed looking at the artwork and the fabulous hotel shops.

Raffles Grand Hotel ‘Angkor front garden

The tourism industry has been a driving force behind recent economic growth – and do they ever know how to make that work.  The people, history, and talents make this a remarkable memory for us!

See more pictures of my visit to Cambodia and other countries plus keep up with my jewelry designs on my Facebook page by clicking here www.facebook.com/kaydonahuedesigns

 

Pictures of our Tanzania Trip – January 2012

31 Tuesday Jan 2012

Posted by in Kay Donahue Designs Original Poly Clay Pendant, kilimanjaro, Travel

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These pics are from Tanzania.  The animals and the people were wonderful.  We had special range rovers with pop tops for our spotting for 2 days.

This was our 12 Passenger flight from Kilimanjaro


I’m in Cusco, Peru! Tomorrow I will visit Machu Pichu…

13 Friday Jan 2012

Posted by in Contest, Peru, Travel

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We are at the Lima, Peru, airport this morning for a 1 hour flight to Cusco at about 11,000 feet.  I hope these pills for altitude sickness work! Tomorrow we take a train  to Machu Pichu for the day.

Our 75 traveling companions are great.  And the staff of the expedition company is amazing.  I will tell you what company it is later in the trip.  You could peek at their web site and find out the countries we are going to – not good for the contest!!!

This afternoon I will get to go around the market square in Cusco and look for beads and other jewelry pretties.  Yesterday on the plane from Orlando to Lima, I finished a bracelet from beads I bought in Pompeii, Italy.  I think I spent the most time planning what to bring and how to pack my jewelry tools, wire and sparkly beads so I can work on the plane.

Cusco

Our hotel is the Monasterio.  It really was a monastery!  The first room you see is the chapel!

Now we are back from the square….  No loose  jewels where we went– beautiful finished pieces, however.  Silver is VERY expensive now.   

But before dinner we went to an Andean weaving demonstration at the Cusco Museum.  The ladies were also selling some of their textiles.  As you can see, Steve and I are the proud new owners of a table runner by Florentina and a wall hanging by Sabina.  The pieces are wool and alpaca and are so intricate.  The clothes and hats they are wearing mean they are from Cusco.  Natives in other provinces have their own definitive dress.  Other natives don’t have to ask!

We are feeling the altitude a bit….thin air at this altitude.  The pills are working though!

FACEBOOK PICTURE BONUS!

See Steve and I on our plane ride to Cusco by clicking here to visit my facebook page. Once there, be sure and click the ‘Like’ button next to ‘Kay Donahue Designs’ at the very top of the page so you can keep up with my jewelry making and traveling!

CONTEST!

No one has won yet…so there is still time to name the 9 countries I gave hints for in my two earlier posts. All you have to do is be the first one to name the 9 countries correctly and you will win this beautiful bracelet I made on display on my online store priced at $130.

Guess the hints and win this bracelet!

 

To leave your answers, just comment on my blog. You can do that by clicking ‘comment’ at the top of any of my posts…GOOD LUCK!


 

 

Keep Up With Me As I Journey Around the World…and here’s a CONTEST for you!

03 Tuesday Jan 2012

Posted by in About Kay, Bracelet, Jewelry Contest, Kay Donahue Designs Jewelry Specials, Travel

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Oh my goodness!  The week of the BIG TRIP is here!  Steve and I have to do some packing, but not too much for a trip around the world!  One thing for sure, I can take the basics and accessorize using Kay Donahue Designs jewels!

Win this beautiful $130 wire worked bracelet handmade by me using lapas, sodalite, cloissonne, and glass beads! Keep up with my blog and be the first to comment with all the correct answers to the hints to win!

This bracelet- Indigo Dazzle- is going on the trip, and I will wear it in all of the countries..  And it will be the prize in my contest! 

The Contest

The first person to guess all nine of the countries we are going to will win this “Around the World” bracelet!  In the next blog posts, I will give nine hints – one for each country.  When you think you know all nine countries, comment on my blog post which is time and date dated with your answers. To give your nine answers, click the option to ‘comment’ on the top right corner of my posts. We will announce the winner here and on the Kay Donahue Designs Facebook page, so be sure and subscribe to my blog and Like us on Facebook and you will be one of the first to read who wins! Read the first set of hints below!

 

HINTS 

1.  Francisco Pizzaro  went there in 1532.

2.  Isla de Pascua.

3.  The principal material used for woven crafts is the leaf of the pandanus plant.

4.   A wealth of natural minerals.

5.  The natives rarely shake hands.

6.  Has over seventy protected national parks and 400 wildlife sanctuaries.

7.  Very poor country.

8.  Ancient people played the oud.

9.  A renovated stock exchange structure.

I know that the friends we have shared our itinerary with will let someone else win….

We will blog with pictures and experiences along the way.

Good luck!

San Francisco: Where to stay and what to do for art lovers

30 Friday Dec 2011

Posted by in Bead Stores, San Francisco, Sausalito, Travel

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For our San Francisco escape, we stayed at the Argonaut Hotel in the Fisherman’s Wharf area at Jefferson and Hyde.  This was our third stay there!  It is a Kimpton Hotel, and there are some advantages to becoming one of their loyal members – like free internet!

The location is at the turnaround for the famous cable cars and walking distance to the ferry docks, many restaurants, and a view of the Golden Gate Bridge if you upgrade a bit!  Each evening from 5-6 pm, they have a free wine tasting around the fireplace in their beautiful lobby.  While we were there, they were serving free hot chocolate from 2-4 pm.  Yummy in the brisk weather!

As lovely as the hotel is, it is the staff that makes this a real stand-out.  From the moment we alighted from the cab, we felt like we were back home with the welcome of our doorman, Steve.  He enthusiastically exclaimed, “We’ve been waiting for you!  Where have you been?”  And on it went!  Each staff member was just tops!

In Sausalito, galleries are ubiquitous!  And I found gems for jewelry!  First I made a beeline for a huge gallery which used to be Fingerhut.  It is now Petris Gallery , www.petrisfinearts.com We were thrilled to find they represent Victoria Montessino.  We purchased one of her dynamic paintings in Naples, FL several years ago and love her bold, vibrance that jumps off the wall.  I saw the painting on a stroll, loved it, and had a dream about it that night.  Went back the next day….

Then our walkabout up the road took us to Dynamic Energy Crystals www.dynamicenergycrystals.com They have a really interesting collection. Their literature says they have the highest quality, best energy, and most beautiful crystals, gems, minerals, and jewelry available for your enjoyment, collection, and energetic practices. 21 Princess Street.  The piece I bought will become the focal point in a necklace.   

What a great place to visit!  And there are more exciting places in the near future — keep reading my blog to find out more…

Happy New Year!

San Francisco Fun

27 Tuesday Dec 2011

Posted by in Chinatown, Museums, San Francisco, Sausalito, Travel

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If you have been to San Francisco, can you ever imagine this city without the legendary cable cars and their bells ringing?  Well, if the city fathers back in the mid 1940s had had their way, these little cars clanging up and down the street would have been gone.  They were out-dated, costly, and didn’t project a modern image of the city.

Outrage!  Fortunately pleas to keep the cable cars poured in from not only locals but from all over the world!  It was part of the city’s image!  Imagine London without Big Ben, Paris without the Eiffel Tower, New York without the Statue of Liberty…  So if you go to the wonderful Cable Car Museum, you will learn all about how the fight was won and see the powerful cables working under the streets.

Then jog on water over to China!  You will feel like you have crossed the ocean when you go into Chinatown!  For the jewelry makers, there are plenty of opportunities to buy beads, freshwater pearls, and other gems.  If you want silk robes, jackets, colorful paper goods, this is unbelievable.

The streets are steep, so watch out for the elderly.  They can run you down while you gander, huff and puff, and slowly peruse the shops and sidewalk tables. They know where they are going, and they have been at this for eighty years.  They are in good shape!

Before you ferry over to Sausalito, stop in near the ferry dock at the Rodney Logue, Jr. Wilderness Gallery www.rodneyloughjr.com for some jaw dropping photography of our spectacular wilderness.  There are waterfalls, sunrises, and flora of Nevada, Hawaii, California, and Oregon that don’t seem real – but they are.  He is a purist – no doctoring up.  This artist started his professional life as a statistician and mathematician.  Thank goodness he saw the light!  The 13,000 foot gallery is across from the Embarcadero at Powell and Jefferson.

San Francisco Restaurant Review!

23 Friday Dec 2011

Posted by in About Kay, Hotel Reviews, San Francisco Restaurant Reviews, Travel

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The local San Franciscans were in amazement!  The weather this past weekend was PERFECT – crystal clear, 60 for a high, 45 or so low, no wind.  We missed seeing any of their famous fog until Sunday morning!  When you combine that walking weather with family, magical views, incredible restaurants, and art, you have a trip that makes lifetime memories!

Steve and I were joined by my daughter, Susan, and her boyfriend, Josh.  We were hosted by my niece, Jesse, and her husband Brian.  Now those two know this city!  Brian is native, and Jesse has learned a lot in the year since they moved there.  We all had new restaurant experiences because we tried highly recommended restaurants their friends loved.

Fat Crab and Eggs at Joanie's Happy Days Diner in San Francisco

I will rave about dining experiences in this blog and go on to other fun things next blog.  If you are traveling to San Francisco, or even if you live there, these are some dining opportunities I think you will love.

 

 

 

R&G Lounge isn’t what it sounds like!  This Chinatown Cantonese restaurant at  631 Kearney Street in Chinatown  is bustling with locals.  It looks tiny from the front door, but the downstairs is huge.  It has won Michelin awards for several years – and we concur!  Start with some egg rolls and calimari!  Their fried rice is fabulous; and our other shared entrees recommended by the waiter were equally great.

Top of the Mark at the Intercontinental Mark Hopkins offers spectacular views at sundown.  We missed that view but loved the nighttime twinkling lights over cocktails.

Rose Pistola  532 Columbus, is in a fun neighborhood not too far from the Argonaut Hotel (Fisherman’s Wharf) where we stayed for the third time.  The pizza at Rose Pistola is  cooked in wood-fired ovens — crisp, thin crust, with so many choices of toppings it is mind-boggling to finally make a choice.

On Saturday, our breakfast restaurant was recommended by the Argonaut doorman – “where we all go.”  Well, that did it!  Joanie’s Happy Days Diner was such fun and soooo good.  That is where I enjoyed the Fat Crab and Eggs which is on the blog photograph.  It is just a few blocks from the Argonaut.

Steve and I ferried to Sausalito on Saturday.   In the next blog, I will talk about the galleries and the hotel…

We enjoyed lunch and the service at Scoma’s on the water.  The Crab Louie salad was piled high.  I can also recommend their sourdough bread and butter….

That evening, we went to Umami’s Japanese restaurant.  Their happy hour deals are great –bottles of wine and appetizers half price.  After all the appetizers, we had a hard time ordering entrees, but we did.  We just passed around dishes and shared, and they just kept coming!!! 

Sunday morning, we brunched at Ella’s.  Again, a neighborhood restaurant the locals love. ( It is neoclassical american cooking.  500 Presidio Ave.  www.ellassanfrancisco.com)  If you love pancakes, these got rave reviews.  I had the chicken hash and had to share it so all could savor.  The chunks of chicken and potatoes were seasoned to perfection, crispy bowned  and not a dish you can have just anywhere!

After that midday treat, we needed a nap, a walk, and a chance to look at the views again before leaving on Monday.   Steve and I were on our own, so we asked for a consult.  The hotel concierge recommended Ti Piacera, 1507 Polk Street, for a farewell Italian dinner.   Amore!   Eggplant appetizer and calimari started us off on this revisit to Rome.  Chicken Parmigiana and linguine with clam sauce were FINE!

We did spend a lot of time eating over 3 days; however, we don’t have to weigh until we want to….or feel it is safe.

Please share! When you go to San Francisco, where to you like to eat? Comments welcome!

 

indigo dazzle and FREE SHIPPING on everything at shop.kaydonahuedesigns.com

20 Tuesday Dec 2011

Posted by in Bracelet, Kay Donahue Designs Jewelry Specials, Travel

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Click here to shop Kay Donahue Designs

Wouldn’t this sparkling bracelet be just a perfect  way to enjoy spending your money from Santa  that might be in your stocking in a few days?   Or when someone asks what you want for Christmas, you can  tell them you wil be happy to order beautiful jewels from your jewelry designer Kay Donahue Designs.com… You get to pick out exactly what you would love from my collection of one of a kind pieces!

Indigo Dazzle  is guaranteed to zip up your outfits of any color!  It is perfect for any season and flashes light with Swarovski crystal .  So lovely on your arm! 

FREE SHIPPING

And from now through December, shipping is free!  After all, this and other Kay Donahue Designs jewelry pieces don’t take up much room in Santa’s sleigh.

I would love to help make your Christmas “Merry and Bright!”



My friend, Georganna

13 Tuesday Dec 2011

Posted by in About Kay, Horseshoe Bay, necklace, TX

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As a Girl Scout I learned a song, “Make new friends but keep the old.  One is silver and the other gold.”  Yesterday I had lunch with one of my gold friends, Georganna Zaba. 

In Dallas, we worked at Lone Star Gas together in the early 1980′s, went to graduate school for our MBA,s, partnered in a marketing consulting firm, The Value Exchange, and now we get to enjoy our friendship in Horseshoe Bay, TX.  While we had our Christmas lunch, we celebrated her new honor.

Georganna has been in real estate for only six years now, and she has won many awards at Keller Williams already.   And last week she was named one of the Austin Platinum 50.  This is BIG!  She was chosen out of 1,000 area realtors for this honor based on outstanding achievements in sales, education, industry participation, and civic leadership.   I am so proud of my dear friend!

Georganna is also one of my loyal collectors and looks wonderful in her red suede Keller Williams jacket and her Kay Donahue Designs Christmas necklace.

Joy for the World

09 Friday Dec 2011

Posted by in About Kay, Horseshoe Bay, Jewelry, Kay Donahue Designs Original Poly Clay Pendant, necklace, TX

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I am writing this while listening to beautiful Christmas music on a blustery, wintery day in Horseshoe Bay, Texas.  Yea!   We are so thankful for several days of badly needed rain in the Texas Hill Country.  And no one is saying anything bad about 40 degree weather after days and days of over 100 degrees in the past summer.

Click here for a larger view of this necklace and to see the materials I used.

Joy for the World

This truly a joyous time as Christians remember the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of Jesus.  This cross, Joy for the World, is a reminder for me of God’s grace and blessings.

Amazing Grace

06 Tuesday Dec 2011

Posted by in Jewelry, Travel

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This necklace was inspired by my most favorite hymn, Amazing Grace.  Working on a cross always fills me with joy and hope.

Amazing Grace

I didn’t know anything about the song’s history until a few weeks ago when a friend sent me this website: http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=1312.  Not only is it one of the most powerful and beautiful renditions I have EVER heard, but Wintley Phipps in his Carnegie Hall appearance told the audience about the song’s history.   I wish I could have been there…

 

Why Artists Should Use Social Media

02 Friday Dec 2011

Posted by in About Kay, Social Media, Travel

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Golly, this is fun!  Does a heart good!  I just heard from one of my Alpha Gamma Delta sorority sisters who is purchasing a piece of my jewelry as a gift for another one of our sisters.  (No hints….You might be one of the more than 100,000 of us in the world!)  I love the personal connection with collectors and readers of my blog and online store.

This social media happening is WONDERFUL for those of us who create one of a kind art and want to reach potential collectors.  When you think about it, our outlet is the entire world now.

Pendant, 'traveling around' by Kay Donahue Designs

My social media consultant, Ashley Steinmetz, at Perfect Wave Marketing www.PerfectWaveMarketing.com takes care of the things I don’t know how to do or lack the professional expertise.  I just get to do the fun part– design jewelry like this pendant, Traveling Around, and write about travel.   You should have seen some of the photographs of my jewelry…not good.  Thank you to my friends who have complimented me on my exquisite online store photography.  I have to pass those compliments along to Courtney Slade (court@boardgirltravels.com) who was hired by Perfect Wave Marketing to take the pictures you see of my jewelry in my online store here www.shop.kaydonahuedesigns.com 

This blog post is to encourage artists to reach out through social media.  Many of you have the skills necessary to do this on your own.  You just need to be convinced… I had to hear the message several times before diving in.  Come on!  The water is fine! You can reach Ashley Steinmetz by emailing her at ashley@perfectwavemarketing.com if you’d like to find out more on how to use social media to market your products or services.

 

London

29 Tuesday Nov 2011

Posted by in London, Tate Museum, Travel

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In April, 2011, Steve and I went to London for a few days.  American Airlines had a great package which included business class air fare and the lovely Four Seasons Hotel just across from Hyde Park.  The location was perfect since it was just out the door to the Hyde Park subway stop.   So we could zip off to dozens of places.

Our dear friend and my artist mentor, Annis Allen from Austin said, “You are planning to go to the Tate Museum, aren’t you?”  “Well, sure!” we responded and then put it on our list.  One of her favorite artists is the renown JMW Turner, a British artist who lived 1775-1851.  Turner’s incredible, light-filled  collection occupies nine rooms in the Tate.  He is described on Wikipedia as a “British romance landscape painter, watercolorist and printmaker and a romantic preface to Impressionism.” 

Annis had a request—the same request she had made of all of her friends who had gone to the Tate.  “Bring me back some toilet paper from the women’s restroom, please.”  What?  It seems that the stuff is awful for its intended purpose but great for mixed media art.  It is so tough that it holds its shape and color like a dream – great texture in a painting!  She had collected some a number of years ago…

TP from the Tate

So after we saw the museum, I ventured off to the loo.  We artists take advantage of every opportunity for creating.  So for several minutes, I rolled off paper from the giant dispenser, looped it over and over the purse hanger on the stall door, made a couple of fine abstract designs and photographed them for Annis.  Then I rolled off a wad and put it in my purse.

 

 

Back in Austin, I framed the black and white photographs, put them in a sack, and tied it up with the Tate T paper.  When we proudly gave it to Annis, she looked at the huge Tate paper bow and said, “What is this?”   “Well, that is your toilet paper from the Tate!”   “They changed it!” she exclaimed.   Progress….

FREE SHIPPING at www.shop.kaydonahuedesigns.com for BLACK FRIDAY

25 Friday Nov 2011

Posted by in FREE SHIPPING, Travel

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Today only receive FREE SHIPPING on all my jewelry. No code is necessary. Simply head over to shop.kaydonahuedesigns.com , choose what you’d like to purchase and checkout. You can checkout using paypal or you’ll find the option to check out using a credit or debit card just underneath the paypal option. Have fun shopping my one of a kind designs inspired by travel and many with stories behind them that I gladly share.

-Kay

jitterbug joy

22 Tuesday Nov 2011

Posted by in About Kay, earrings, gold filled, Jewelry, Jewelry Events, silver filled, The Bunkhouse, Travel

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Click here for more details or to purchase these earrings

These earrings travel the earth now!  Well, not these exactly, but sisters of these have gone off to have fun and see the world.  They go to Shanghai regularly with Vicki, Italy with Becky, and who knows where with Marsha who is always on the go.  And I have silver and gold filled that I wear ALL the time because they dress up, dress down and go with any of my necklaces.  Mine have been to Spain, the Amalfi Coast, and Rome.  After I made the first pair and wore them, Diane said, “I want some just like those in silver.”  Now, I love to see that she has “buyer’s satisfaction.”  She wears them a lot!

At the Bunkhouse Gallery Show last spring, an adorable 10 year old girl and her grandmother spent a long time looking at my jewelry.  I could tell that some important decision making was going on.  My little shopper was looking for her mother’s birthday present and had her own money tucked in her little purse.  I was thrilled when she chose this design and sincerely hope her mother loves her birthday present.

Every jewelry designer, I think, wants to hit on something that is a signature design.  I don’t think it can be planned, but it is one of those happy accidents that just works.  That is what happened here with Jitterbug Joy and her sisters!

 

From Hong Kong with Love

15 Tuesday Nov 2011

Posted by in Cinnabar beads, Cloisonne beads, Hong Kong, Jewelry, Lampworked beads, Travel

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Click here for details on this necklace I designed that I call 'china days'

About 25 years ago, long before I became a jewelry designer, my dear friend and world traveler, Sallie Rawlings, brought me a beautiful, uberlong strand of cinnabar and cloisonné beads from Hong Kong. This was while Hong Kong was a British possession. I wore the necklace often and loved the orangy red in the fall and winter, particularly.  My neck and back were stronger in those days –it was HEAVY in a 45 inch strand.

Once I began making jewelry, that strand begged to be re-strung.  So I made Sallie a necklace and used three beads in this piece with the lampworked silver bead and the complementary green resin beads.

Cinnabar used in jewelry now is not the mineral used in ancient times, according to my research.  What is referred to as cinnabar now is really made of layers of lacquer over a wood base.  This lacquer is derived from a tree sap in China.  The lacquer is dyed – most of the time the color of the mineral, this brilliant red.  Then it is carved to represent symbols, birds or flowers.  Less expensive cinnabar beads can also be  plastic.

And cloisonné is the delicate process of applying tiny gold or siver wire on a base and then filling the divisions with enamel, and firing.  The tedious process is fascinating.  There is a very good description of the modern process on Wikipedia for cloisonné.  I am happy there are talented fingers to do this work from ancient times.  We just get to enjoy the fruits of their patience!

Argentina – where to wine, dine and rest your head

11 Friday Nov 2011

Posted by in Argentina, Hotel Reviews, Jewelry, Restaurant Reviews, Travel, Wineries

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After a quick trip to Oklahoma in the last blog, this one is back to our trip last fall to Argentina.  We enjoyed Buenos Aires then hopped on a plane to Mendoza which is the wine area of Argentina.  We stayed in Postales, Argentina, which is not in the city proper but in one of the suburbs.  The Chacras de Coria Hotel was lovely in a residential area.  The new owners had just taken over, so some things were under transition.  I was just reading guest reviews on Expedia from the recent past, and the hotel and new owners are getting rave reviews.

Next door to the hotel was a fabulous Italian restaurant, Maceratta Trattoria.  I think we ate there three times.  Once again we found that the Argentinians are known not only for their beef but for their lively Italian food.  The owner’s grandfather had immigrated from Italy after WWII and brought his cuisine.

We were there on a bright, sunny, Sunday–the beginning of their spring.  We walked to their town square and found it chocked full of vendors in a street market.  Whoo Hoo!  Antique jewelry, old radio parts, handmade clothing, and beautiful wood bowls.  We had seen the rectangular, divided wood bowls in nearly every restaurant for the ubiquitous olives and chips for appetizers.  Perfect take home for us!  But since they were everywhere, we kept with our plan to buy things when we got back to Buenos Aires for the last two days.  We didn’t want to lug things around.  And the Argentine airlines are VERY ticky about weight of checked and carry-on bags.  Well, we spent two days in Buenos Aires looking for our appetizer bowl.  All the stores knew what we wanted and had just sold the last one.  We finally found one, but not easily!

The hotel arranged wine tours for us.  We had a driver and this was good!  First, we were tasting the wines–sometimes at 10 am.  And having a driver eliminates staying lost on the tiny unmarked roads all day.  It seemed each winery had its own memorable feature – as well as the wine.  In the “aroma room” at the Belasco d’ Baquedano , visitors can smell about 46 aromas specific to grapes, fermentation and aging of wines.  We also had a fine lunch here with the perfectly flighted wines for each course.

We visited huge Norton with everything very automated.  And we visited the relatively small – Achaval Ferrer.  Alta Vista and  Pulenta Estate were also on the tour.  Malbecs are the prized, signature red wines in the area. We also learned to love the torrontes white wines from further north in Salta.

Argentina has produced wine for a long time, but it was not exported.  They just drank it!  Our book, The Wine Bible, said the Argentinians took a look at their neighbors in Chile and decided they too could export wine and make some money.  Consultants told them they had to improve the quality and increase prices.  After all, not one would believe a red wine could be very good if it was too cheap!  They have done the first very well– delicious, high quality wines.  And the wines from there are still very reasonable.

 

Click here to read more details or to purchase 'kingsland sun'

This necklace is again inspired by the Buenos Aires designer who dropped in little works of art every few inches in a long necklace.  I LOVE the colors and had so much fun making this piece with onyx, coral, gold filled pieces and unakite.  I would love to tell you the name of the designer who inspired me, but I can’t.  A year ago, I did not know I would be doing a travel/jewelry design blog or store…..  I don’t have his name, but I am indebted to him!


Guest Blogging for SEADREAM Yacht Club

09 Wednesday Nov 2011

Posted by in Guest Blogging, Italy, Travel

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Remember my trip to the Amalfi Coast in Italy that Steve and I recently returned from? We had such an amazing experience aboard the yacht that I absolutely had to share it with the world!

Read my guest post for SEADREAM Yacht Club on their blog by clicking here http://www.seadream.com/blog

 

 

College Memories and Amazing Students

08 Tuesday Nov 2011

Posted by in About Kay, Bead Stores, Norman, Oklahoma, Travel

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OK.  I admit it.  One of my favorite places to be on a crisp, November day is Norman, Oklahoma, home of the University of Oklahoma.  The flood of memories from my college days is amazing -the campus decked out with mums,  the fall color driving down Chautauqua, walking to class from the beautiful Alpha Gamma Delta house, Brockhaus Jewelry store, the Boomerang, and yes, football games.   But this blog has nothing to do with Sooner football.

I was just in a Board of Advisors meeting for the Michael F. Price College of Business, and am I pumped!  So many exciting things are happening!  The one I am so overwhelmed with is the news that business students have just hit a major milestone in the IBC program (Integrated Business Core).   They have contributed over $1,000,000 to Norman and Oklahoma City charities and 48,387 volunteer hours over the 16 years the program has been in place.

Since its beginning, 9,200 students have spent a semester -16 weeks- working in four  teams of 20 to brainstorm a product, develop a business plan, write a loan proposal to First Fidelity Bank, sell the product, and donate all of the profits to a local charity. Recipients have been Habitat for Humanity (2 houses), Make-A-Wish Foundation, Norman Public Schools (over 5,000 tutoring hours), child abuse centers, Limbs for Life, and many others.

During this IBC semester, students take management, law, and marketing classes as well as the practicum for the venture. They learn teamwork, critical thinking, problem solving, communication, and countless other life skills.  Can  you imagine getting 20 students who are about 19-20 years old to move this fast???   IBC was designed to give business students practical experience in business.  And students realize the value of their time helping others.  One student recently told Dean Evans that he had learned valuable lessons, but one of the most important things was the memory of the little boy he had worked with all semester in a child abuse center tugging on his pants begging him not to leave.

This is an incredible program for students, faculty, and the community.  I am so proud of Price College for a lot of reasons, but this is one I had to brag about!  Congratulations and good luck on the $2,000,000 goal and 100,000 sweat equity hours!

How about a quick trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina?

04 Friday Nov 2011

Posted by in Argentina, Jewelry, Travel

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Click here for more details on this piece

Pack this necklace for your trip to Buenos Aires and feel truly elegant when you go to a parrilla  (pronounced with a sh sound for the ll letters instead of a y for ll as in Spanish).  These restaurants specialize in
grilled meats and are seen in almost every neighborhood. 

In Buenos Aires, La Brigada was the first parrilla we went to – just before the famous tango show at Rojo Tango in the Hotel Faena.  We haven’t done the tango many times in the last year after seeing this level of expertise.  But – at this parrilla we experienced our first provoleta.  During the rest of the trip, we had to try the provoleta at each parrilla.  This is a round of provolone cheese (about 1 inch thick) usually sprinkled with oregano and grilled until melty inside.  Oh my goodness….. It has been on our dinner party menus several times since as an appetizer.

When you take a break from parrillas, you have a huge number of excellent Italian restaurants to enjoy.  There are many families who moved there from Italy and brought their cuisine. 

While walking the magical streets in Buenos Aires, we discovered a dream store for handbag lovers.  Tremo  at 1725 Guido in the Recoleta area had leather handbags that all wanted to go home with me.  Two made it on the plane! 

 

Held captive by Roman gladiators…

01 Tuesday Nov 2011

Posted by in Italy, Rome, Travel

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Kay and Steve held captive by Gladiators

 

Steve and our wonderful guide, Paola

 

Steve and our wonderful guide, Paola, in Rome at the Colosseum which was begun in AD 72 and finished eight years later.  Spectators – some 50,000–would watch the gladiators.  Roman senators would sit on the lowest level, and women and slaves would sit on the highest level.  Amazingly, it had 80 entrances and only one exit.

 

 

 

 

 


On the hunt in Amalfi, Italy

28 Friday Oct 2011

Posted by in Amalfi, Bead Stores, Italy, Jewelry, Travel

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Annalisa, the proprietor of Anna Mostacciuolo in Amalfi, Italy

Anna Mostacciuolo is an elegant little shop in Amalfi, Italy, which specializes in gold (oro), cameos (cammei), coral (coralli), and ceramic art (ceramiche artistiche).  The proprietor, Annalisa, is the fourth generation in her family to own the shop! 

This was the beginning of my hunt in Amalfi for gemstones and beads, and I was amazed at the amount of exquisite coral jewelry in the shop windows.  And I was thinking that my budget would be severely stretched if I could even find loose beads….  The price of fine coral is pretty dear according to some of my research.

Annalisa was not too encouraging about my finding loose coral but suggested that I might find something already strung and take it apart.  Some of the necklaces and bracelets are just strung in a very plain manner and ready to wear.  So I gulped and decided that is what I would do.  I guess it goes against the heart of a jewelry designer to take apart someone else’s work….

Her high quality coral is produced by the fishermen in Sardegna (Sardenia) in the Mediterranean and worked in Torre del Greco near Amalfi.  She doesn’t have a website, but her Amalfi address is Piazza Duomo, 22.  The phone is 089-871552.


Last Day in Rome…

25 Tuesday Oct 2011

Posted by in Bead Stores, Italy, Jewelry, Rome, Travel, Via Condotti

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Down the Spanish Steps built in 1723 and out onto the Via Condotti on the last day in Rome. This picture represents only about 1/4 of the Steps and means great exercise to work off the pasta and pizza. The Via Condotti is lined with Prada, Bulgari, Ferragamo and every other name you can think of.

 

 

Olga and Rosemary of Natolli Murano

 

Just off the Piazza Navona, there is a store for Murano glass lovers, Natolli Murano www.muranonatolli.com. It is more like a gallery of elegant vases, jewelry, chandeliers, sculptures and glasses. There we were hosted by Olga and Rosemary who educated us on how Murano glass is made, its long history, and how to recognize it, in particular.

 

 

 

We learned so much, but a few of the points they made were:

  1. Murano glass is made on Murano Island quite near Venice. Visitors can actually go to the island to see the glass being made but have to go early. The masters begin working about 5 am and stop about 11 am. This is worth checking out!
  2. The brilliant reds they achieve are due to the high amount of gold in the glass mixture. The colors are secret formulas. Murano is recognizable by the rich color and fine detail. Some pieces are etched; some have ribbons of brilliant color next to perfectly clear glass. Some are “silk milk” glass — perfectly white.
  3. Pieces are lamp-worked, blown, or poured depending on the size and shape.

Natolli Murano is located- Corso Rinascimento, 53/55/57, Rome

Their address is Corso Rinascimento, 53/55/57, Rome.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once you have feasted your eyes on the glass, go a couple of blocks to the Piazza Navona to one of the outdoor cafes for a delicious Roman lunch of pasta and pizza!
This piazza is pure fun! Listen to the street musicians, talk to the artists set up outdoors, and pop pictures of Bernini’s spectacular Fountain of the Four Rivers.

And if you are a people-watcher…..

 

 

 

Amalfi Beauties

21 Friday Oct 2011

Posted by in About Kay, Italy, Jewelry, Travel

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What fun to go on a jewel hunt in Amalfi, Italy!  This is just the beginning of all the beauties I am finding in Italy.  Part of the day is devoted to spreading out new finds to photograph them.  These Murano beads shout with color and can’t wait to get to my studio.

 

 

 

Mount Etna was in full dress at sundown when we were aboard the Seadream off Taormina, Sicily, Italy.   It spews away – anything but dormant.  It has erupted no less than eight times in the past thirty years.

 

 

Joaquin Sorolla

18 Tuesday Oct 2011

Posted by in Joaquin Sorolla, Spain, Travel

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It was just a short walk around the corner from our Chamberi neighborhood hotel in Madrid – to go back about a century to the home and now museum of Joaquin Sorolla.  This prolific Spanish painter lived from 1863 to 1923 and cataloged nearly 2200 paintings.   Everything about the gardens, home and paintings left me awestruck.  He is sometimes described as an Impressionist, but one book describes him as an Iluminist.  My fabulous art teacher for several years in Dallas, Xiang Zhang, said we should see Sorolla’s work.  So we captured this opportunity to dive into Sorollo’s paintings and elegant home.  Unlike some of the Impressionists, I think he was able to enjoy some notoriety in his lifetime.  I think he wasn’t starving!  Thank you, Xiang, for this introduction!

I can’t get out!

14 Friday Oct 2011

Posted by in Dallas, Marble Falls, Travel

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Fredericksburg, Texas, hosts the Hill Country Gem and Mineral Show in the January each year.  Nestled in the Texas Hill Country, west of Austin, this town is always bustling with visitors.  The vendors, many of whom are visitors themselves, are some of the most communicative and educational I have experienced.  Several years ago, one artisan inspired me to begin working with wire.  Prior to that time, I had stayed away from a gem or stone I couldn’t string because it didn’t have a hole in it!    Wire wrapping opened the door to myriad possibilities.  I could now buy pieces like this beautiful agate and make a cage for it out of wire – gold-filled or sterling silver.

About that time, I discovered that Beading Dreams in Dallas offered wire working classes.  I had just found the store and was amazed at the number of classes they offer.  Because Steve and I are in Marble Falls, TX, most of the time, I was thrilled to find that I could schedule private classes when we would be in Dallas.  In a short time I learned to make wire cages and bracelets to highlight the growing inventory of beads and gemstones in my studio!

Click here for more details on this piece and to see more of my jewelry

The delicately  colored agate stone of the pendant I found at the Fredericksburg show is designed with  rhodochrosite chips, the national stone of Argentina.  It is a beautiful pink stone mined early by the Incas and now the Andes natives in northwest Argentina.  Some literature I picked up in Bariloche at Artisan Jewelry in Silver and Stones says, “Rhodochrosite promotes deep love, aids  the spiritual and sentimental development, increases desire and eliminates loving obstacles.  Medically it favors the regeneration of tissues, activates the circulatory system, helps in ocular treatments and diverse types of asthma.  Everyone needs this gemstone!

fanciful flight

11 Tuesday Oct 2011

Posted by in California, Travel

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Click here to view 'fanciful flight' and my other jewelry available.

One of my favorite things to do on a trip is visit antique shops and hope to find a real treasure.  On a trip to the California wine country, there indeed was such a find near Occidental in the Sonoma area.  This jade butterfly was on a necklace strung with some pretty non-descript beads and some really worn gold plated beads and clasp.  I couldn’t wait to get it home, take it apart, and mix it with beads to compliment it.  The dark wine red is a beautiful complementary color, and the unakite and jade beads are a lovely contrast to the delicate carved butterfly. 

The offset focal point says, ”Look at me!  I am special!”

 

happy

07 Friday Oct 2011

Posted by in Italy, Jewelry, Travel

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This brilliant red bracelet is sheer energy and was inspired by our Florence guide, Rosa Macri.  She was like a 5 foot tall whirlwind on a day long walking tour.  By late afternoon, we KNEW we had seen the best highlights of this incredible city.  Her English was amazing as was her knowledge of the city.  If you want to contact her, you may do so at rosamaria71@libero.it

To help our tired bodies recover, we went back to our new favorite neighborhood Italian restaurant, I’Toscano on the Via Guelfa.  All three times we went there, we loved the service, family atmosphere, wine, and FOOD.  Steve is still trying to find a fagotinni* like they served.  Little pasta bundles were swimming in a spicy sauce that had to be sopped up with homemade bread.

When you pop this bracelet on, you sparkle with the red coral, Swarovski crystals, and lampworked beads from Florence.

*square stuff shaped pasta similar to ravioli

firenza fire

04 Tuesday Oct 2011

Posted by in Italy, Jewelry, Travel

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Welcome to my first blog!  I hope you will enjoy these posts highlighting travel and jewelry!  Thank you for reading along!

Click here to view firenza fire and more of Kay Donahue Designs

This necklace takes me back to one of the happiest places I have ever been.  Ah! Firenze!  Florence, Italy!  In my journey of jewelry designing, this city certainly sent me off with a flourish!  Bead negozios (stores) seemed to be just around the next corner.

My very patient and wonderful husband, Steve, had several opportunities to people watch on the street after we discovered yet another bead store.  He would look at the myriad strands and bead containers, point out his favorites and go out the door to wait for me.

This necklace utilizes some bright lime lampworked beads from a tiny bead boutique near the main piazza at the Duomo, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.  I had seen glass blowing, but lampworking is a different process.  These beads are made by torching or heating glass rods around a mandrel.  The bead is shaped, colors are are added, then adornment is applied on top when the bead is cool, if the designer wishes.  The Italians have been using this art form for the last four hundred years, and their Murano glass is well known around the world.  The technique was handed down though families, and the process was kept secret!  Only within the last thirty years have Americans been experimenting with the art form.

Cherry quartz in the pendant is one of my favorite gemstones, and the beads are from one of my favorite places.  The colors are cantare insieme – singing together!