“Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.” ~Pablo Picasso
If you want to feel welcome as you explore meaningful pieces of jewelry and other works of art, just make an appointment and stroll through the spectacular purple door into the workspace of Dione Smith.
Smith established DS Designs in August 2017 and says she strives to grow by following opportunities to learn and challenge herself, and she has done exactly that. She remembers again picking up the craft of jewelry making after having been told early in life that making beaded jewelry was “just a child’s hobby.” It was the summer of 2017 when she went into a bead store in Charleston and bought supplies to make her first rosary, a lovely product she still makes today. In addition, she discovered metal stamping around the same time. Having a unique name, her interest in this skill was piqued because she could create personalized jewelry and items in a process that stamps one letter or symbol at a time. Her process, one that is used to create many different products, takes patience along with skill.
This skill allows Dione to put names on numerous items, as well as special words, phrases or sentiments: “What started as making something for myself turned into creating meaningful jewelry for others. I love being able to create those one-of-a-kind pieces for people.”
She began creating these pieces in a corner of her husband Kenny’s shop, which worked fine until she continued to gather more equipment and supplies to meet the needs of her growing customer base. Her first “workbench” was a fender stand with an old cabinet door across the top. By 2021, they knew she needed her own studio. They built this studio during the pandemic, having to search to find all they needed due to the low supplies and high costs of the time, and she finally moved into the studio in January 2023.
The inspiration to complete that shop was perfect timing. Her offerings grew dramatically when a friend told her about the opportunity to purchase an entire silversmithing studio and all its tools and materials. She’d never done that type of work, but her creative passions could not pass on the opportunity. The journey of being a silversmith was a long one. She had to merge the tools into her own studio setting, take silversmithing classes and practice the art before she felt confident to create the pieces as part of her own studio’s designs. She is unafraid of challenging work. Smith says, “That’s how I approach growth. If something sparks my interest, I’ll take classes, practice and figure out how to make it. I never want to stop learning, and I believe every new skill makes me a better artist.”
Silversmithing has led her to be on the search for lovely and unique stones. Her stock of stones is immense, and she has a large folder with clear pockets holding these stones that people can easily peruse to find one that speaks to them. She’s had customers who find a stone in which they “see” something special to them, such as an island in the sea, or find a color that has special meaning. Dione mentions she generally makes items for others, but she talked about two items with stones that she made for herself but then posted their photos online. They were swept up by customers who fell in love with them. Her husband Kenny and I laughingly told her she’d have to suppress her urge to post if she really wants to keep her works next time.
A variety of influences inspire her. One is her longer-term customers. She will see a stone or have an idea and, many times, have a particular individual in mind she knows would love it: “I know the styles they love, the colors they’re drawn to and I’ll find myself designing a piece with someone in mind.” She also finds herself inspired by architecture, patterns, flowers or vintage jewelry. She loves creating pieces with meaning.
Meaning in her life is also found in her 29 year-long marriage to Kenny, who she knows is her biggest supporter. She jokes (kind of) that “he wears about every hat imaginable—booth setup crew, heavy lifter, parking attendant, coin sorter, problem solver and my official meltdown manager if things don’t go as planned.” They tackle “no big deal” projects together. Kenny’s work on her creative space continues to help her in evolving that space into even more efficiency and an almost sacred setting in which to create.
Dione knows how crucial support has been, and continues to be, as her business grows. She values customers who have been with her for years and looks forward to new ones who find her and her art. She says, “Whether it’s a custom design or a piece inspired by someone who has supported me for years, I want every piece to be thoughtfully made, built to last and treasured for years to come.”
Dione works a full-time job during the day, so her studio, which is located in the Osage, is only open by appointment. However, this works well for her intentions toward customer service. She says, “Appointments allow me to give each customer my full attention. They can browse finished jewelry, shop my collection of stones and collaborate with me to create a custom piece in the very place where it’s made.”
You can find Dione’s work on Facebook at DS Designs Showcase, and you can message her there. Join me in browsing the site, preparing your own list of items you’d like and making an appointment to go through that purple door into the artist’s space. I plan to get my gift list to her soon. Some may be ready-made, but others are ideas that will require the creativity found in abundance at DS Designs.
