Made In Barnstable: D R Designs

Growing up, Dawn Rosell’s mother taught her how to sew at a young age.

“We didn’t have a lot of money, so I would take old clothes and rework them, decorate them with beads…luckily it was the 80s, so you could really do anything," Rosell said.

Rosell’s ability to be creative with clothing inspired her to pursue fashion design as a career and she attended the Chamberlin School of Design at Mount Ida College in Newton.

Her love of Cape Cod drew her back post graduation, but unfortunately, she found fashion design opportunities quite limited. Instead, she settled into the world of retail and banking.

About five years ago Rosell rediscovered her love of design--this time focusing her efforts on designing and creating jewelry. “I didn’t like what was on the market,” she said, “so, I started making jewelry for myself.”

People started to notice her creations, and requested jewelry for themselves.

According to Rosell, the jewelry is “artful, funky and unstructured, not really mainstream.” She likes to craft unique pieces that no one else will have, and strives to make everything one of a kind. She feels more inspired if each piece is different, and she really enjoys making custom pieces.

Just as her jewelry is unique, she has a unique process when creating custom pieces. She prefers when the customer is involved in choosing the pieces that will eventually form a necklace, ring, bracelet or earring. She “loves the experience of the face to face interaction.”

She also makes collections inspired by her surroundings or by life events. Her latest collection--inspired by the birth of her son Jacob in 2008--is entitled “Mother and Child,” and features a lot of wire detailing.

Mastering the wire work was a challenge for Rosell, as she never received any formal training in jewelry making. But Rosell “like[s] to push it a little, and constantly be challenged.”

Which is why, when she was asked if she would be willing to create a collection made from vintage materials, she jumped at the opportunity. She was given an antique chandelier, and some vintage pearl necklaces, which became the materials for her “Upcycled and Recycled Collection.”

In addition to creating jewelry with these types of found objects, Rosell uses shells and stones right off the beach, as well as unique pieces she finds online, which fill her workshop at her home in Marstons Mills.

Rosell launched an Etsy Store, an online marketplace for artists, artisans and crafters, about two months ago, and has been working on generating online traffic and sales. She is also planning on renting one of the Town of Barnstable’s Artists Shanties on Hyannis Harbor in September, participating in more craft shows this upcoming year. She has also begun to sell her creations at and in Hyannis.