I am Dawn Hatzidakis of designsbydawnky (.com), a second-generation metalsmith, wife and Mom from Crestwood, KY just outside of Louisville, KY. While my Mom and Dad are both jeweler designers, my Mom taught me the art of metalsmithing. After leaving the business world in my early 40's, I decided to change careers and study the art of jewelry making. Why Copper? I have always had an interest in unique colors and patterns due to my fine arts background. I was drawn to copper because of its ability to change colors, bend, and fold. My work isn't pre-planned or sketched. I am guided by the metal as it "speaks" to me. As I cut, hammer, solder, etch, and finish each piece, it transforms into its own unique design. So, every piece of jewelry is hand fabricated from start to finish with love! Mastering the art of patina is my favorite aspect of being a coppersmith jewelry designer. Have you ever noticed that the Statue of Liberty is turquoise? Well, it is made from copper that has patina’d over the years. The elements of nature oxidize the metal, turning it into the unique shades of color. The colors, patterns, and textures created from the oxidation of copper are unique to each individual piece and can not be fully replicated. Nature is in control; I just speed up the process with my own “recipes” to patina my copper jewelry.