Dawn Rhodes is a renowned polymer clay artist who has been creating beaded jewelry for over seven years, and is the founder of SHADES Jewelry Designs.

Dawn is semi-self-taught. Her jewelry making interests began a few summers back when she created her own seed bead bracelets, and cross necklaces using beads and charms, which she then gave as Christmas presents to her friends and family. The gifts were soon noticed, and attracted interest from others, who wanted to find out where they could purchase the pieces from and to see more items from the same creator.

The interest snowballed, and Dawn decided to expand her jewelry making and created SHADES Jewelry Designs. SHADES aim to create unique, hand-crafted pieces that allow individuals to express themselves. All pieces are personally handmade by Dawn. She likes to explore different combinations of beads, varying the colors, textures and shapes. A range of materials are utilized, including clay, paper and polymer, with the ultimate aim of each piece being unique, classic and contemporary.

Dawn continues to refine her techniques and develop her knowledge, and has progressed to a level of skill and workmanship that can only be reached though years of hard work and experience.

Dawn aims to become a jeweler, and is currently undertaking classes at the School of Jewelry Design and Repair at Ashworth University, in Norcross, GA.

She is also heavily immersed in the jewelry making community, being a member of a number of societies, including the Ohio Jewelry and Metal Arts Guild, the Self-Representing Jewelry Artists Designers #513, the Ohio Beaders, the Fashion Artists Network and Bead Artists Against Breast Cancer.

Dawn is the author and publisher of her own blog - the SHADES jewelry blog, which provides marketing and advertising ideas to other small crafts business, and also teaches jewelry making classes.

SHADES Jewelry Designs now offers wholesale pricing to retailers, and a portion of all their Jewelry Sales is donated to the Relay For Life / American Cancer Society.