I’m really friendly so people are always surprised to find out I’m an extreme introvert and completely content to hang out by myself. My homebody tendencies borderline on hermit.
Places we’ve lived: Charleston AFB (South Carolina), Altus AFB (Oklahoma), Scott AFB (Illinois), Maxwell AFB (Alabama), Ramstein AB (Germany), and we recently moved back across the pond to Charleston AFB again.
I’m a Halloween baby. St. Louis is my hometown. I’m a bit over 5’9″.
And definitely don’t forget to join the club. It’s free!
Hi there! I just wanted to write to thank you for your Whole 30 cashew milk. I’m on day 2 of my W30 journey and made that recipe first thing this morning. I cannot wait to have a big glass this afternoon when the sugar cravings kick in!
When I read your ‘about” page just now, you say you were born on Halloween! That makes it your birthday TODAY! So here’s a happy birthday wish for you!!
Life. I’ve always loved doing crafts, just got started with the adult coloring books back in November, so when I found your group I just knew this was the perfect companion to my coloring.
I worked in the health field most of my life until I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 64, so after having a year of recovery my my breast surgery I retired.
Am looking forward to moving forward with your group and your great member.
Thank you so much for sharing your inspirational story!! Also an AF wife (Reserves, now) and mom of three, I’ve enjoyed reading and following your story, and learning about the talent behind some of my favorite Hobby Lobby designs!!
My wonderful husband got me a Silhouette Cameo for Christmas, in the hopes of keeping me busy during his upcoming deployment. That’s how I discovered you.
Thank you for all you’ve done to accomplish your dreams. It’s that reach for your dreams that has inspired so many of our own.
My 22 year old media major daughter just sent me this link and I am so thrilled with your kindness to share your art! Wow you inspire me! She is in the midst of setting up a new website for her momma and I love what you have done with yours. Thanks for inspiring me to play, work and go after my passions! I might have a question for you down the road on your legal sidebar. Very smart! Have a great week of afternoons!
Hi Dawn, Just discovered your website recently and love it! It is inspiring to see you pursuing a creative career! I am in the middle of looking at a career switch which can be scary but exciting! I don’t think it is ever too late to pursue what you love (I’m 47!).
I have your website in my favourite tabs when I open my browser! You are so talented!! I am wondering where you got your domain and started your website? I have been considering starting my own for a while now..
I just ordered, Words To Live By: Creative Hand-lettering, Coloring, And Inspirations …. I am BEYOND excited !!!
Hey there! Thrilled to have found you via Pinterest as I pin looking for inspiration for my son’s wedding in May of 2017! I am from Columbia so I was thrilled to see Charleston was home for you for a bit. I’m not creative but copy well…looking to learn brush lettering for scripture gift inspiration and maybe some little coloring sheets for the LITTLES at the rehersal dinner! Any suggestions of where I might could gather/buy I expensively coloring sheets themed for a wedding?! Blessings to you and your sweet family!
Thank you so much! We just got back from visiting Charleston last week. 🙂 I’d look on Etsy for some wedding or love themed coloring pages. Many shops have single page downloads available for just a few dollars now! Wishing you all the best with the wedding!
Wow. Just read your About page, and you are so Awesome! 🙂 so many things done – educations, kids, wife, personal website, creative hobby which later became a profession. You’re so energetic and positive. I just wanted to say it’s stunning to see such people in the world.
I am currently a teacher but I am going back to school for Graphic Design. I am currently enrolled at Sessions College and I saw that you received your certification from there also. How was your experience there and how hard was it to find work doing graphic design? I eventually would like to quit teaching and do graphic design work full-time, but I am super nervous about taking that step!
Hi Dawn I came across your site on Pinterest of course and I just wanted to say thank you for your cool freebies! I really appreciate it and I know that my best girlfriends will be happy to receive some new mugs! 🙂 Thank you and you are an inspiration.
Enjoy Germany!!! We adored our 4 years at Ramstein. My son was born at Landstuhl. Your time there will fly by so quickly!
Sooo glad I ran across your page..I’ve been struggling with major depression after being troubled with 4th stage cancer , rheumatoid arthitis advaed and fibro myalgia advanced and a lung disease. age 45..I’ve got.5 kids used to be very very active always been into art of many forms drawing painting crafts..baking so many activities I can no longer do but after reading every post n these pages tonight i’ve never felt so uplifted and inspired..I now know what I am able to do ..get back into my drawing and so many new products these pens i’ve never seen or heard about as soon as I am able to afford them I want to play! Thank you so much for the smile you put on my face tonight and I look forward o following you and getting involved in classes.
Dawn, I am sitting here filled with excitement. I can’t believe what has just happened. For more than a year my computer has been telling me it can’t recognize the Studio files I’ve downloaded from various sites. I figured that I had just lost all those files and would never get any benefit from them.
Tonight I had been looking for Halloween printables and your site came up in my search. I saw that you also had information on the Silhouette machine.
Someone asked you the question I’ve been wanting the answer to and there it was!! THE answer. I opened my Silhouette program, did what you suggested, found my folder with all the saved studio files which had been showing up as blank folders and now had the big Silhouette symbol on them. I almost fell off my chair. I clicked on one to try and and hallelujah! It worked.
I will definitely save your site to come back and check out more information. I also noticed you had a site with free cut files. I’ll go check that out now.
Woohoo! I’m so happy to hear you’ve figured it out. It’s definitely a commonly asked question with a simple fix but it can be so hard to figure it out unless someone tells you. 🙂 I hope you have a great weekend (full of creating!).
First, let me just say nurses ROCK! My father in law and best friends are both nurses and as much as they love it, I hear how demanding it can be both emotionally and physically, so thank you for all you do! Thank you as well for the kind words. I’m so happy you shared how the joy of creativity is spilling over to your nursing life. I couldn’t love that any more! Have a wonderful week!
I’ve always loved hand lettering and have recently wanted to use those skills more. As I was searching I was drawn to your blog, first because my name is Dawn Nicole and second because it’s totally what I was looking for. I’m excited to get started now!
Hi Dawn, Just found you through a guest post you did! Love your work! I feel like we have more in common than I thought! I was born and raised in Charleston, SC and I am currently living in Germany as well for the next 3 years 🙂 I am in the process of creating a blog right now so it is a work in progress but I’m so glad I found you so I can keep up with your work.
Hi Reva, It’s so nice to meet you! Oh how I miss Charleston. It’s where I hope to retire and open a brick and mortar art shop one day! 😉 Wishing you all the best starting your blog. I hope you enjoy Germany as much as we are. Have a great week!
HI Dawn, I have one of your books and just started reading it it is sooo good. Thanks for inspiring me to draw and write more. Hope you reply!
My Name is also Dawn Nicole and I was just wondering how many more of me there was in the world and stumbled upon you! I was amazed reading about you. About 6 years ago i stated a crafts business hand making souvenirs for Weddings, baby showers, etc. about 2 years later I started making Tu-Tu’s for little girls. I have since left both to the side(no time to make anything). I just wanted to share with you and my kindred spirit.
That’s so funny! So nice to meet you Dawn Nicole!
I love your emails, your blog, your books, of which I own 2. But every time I go to your website to look back for something I get that annoying sign up box, on my Kindle I cannot see an X to close it. Scrolling down I can get to the search and menu, but then every page change it is back. I signed up months ago. I have no need to sign up again. Please consider letting those of us who are already fans close that box so we can get to the “good stuff” without frustration.
Hi, Anne! I actually don’t have a sign-up box popup on my site. If you can send a screenshot, I can look into it!
I just found your site through youtube and I had to come here when I heard you live in Germany and bc I liked your style. I’m from Germany but moved to the US 5 years ago. Now my husband and I are thinking about moving our family back to Germany. I have a small etsy business and was debating on continuing my shop from Germany or not. Maybe cater more to Germans? I was wondering if you could tell me about how you do your business from Germany? Are Germans into hand lettered paper goods?
You are amazing. Your work, your lettering etc, all beautiful. Thank you for your beautiful freebies. I am doing a basic graphic design course next year and am so so excited especially after reading how its changed your life.
Your FB post today about Hand Lettering is no just for paper…I fell in love with the Dr Seuss quote on the wood piece! I hope it was Ok to pin it on my gift ideas board! I did say it was by Dawn @ Dawn Nicole Designs! If you would like me to delete this pin, please let me know!
Can you take me off of the comment reply section. I cant seem to get it done.I really don’t need to know all of those comments and responses.
You may be able to click this link to moderate your subscriptions from what I found on WordPress: http://dashboard.wordpress.com/wp-admin/index.php?page=subscriptions&option=comments. Click on “x comment subscriptions” to manage your subscriptions.
Thant would be nice. Why did I subscribe to opinions? LOL I am in the midst of writing a book so I am narrowing my emails for this season. Blessings to all you do!
Can you tell me what beginner supplies I need to get my daughter started on hand lettering and watercolor calligraphy?
If you can give me list of recommended beginner supplies that would be great.
Dawn, I just wanted to say thank you so much for all of this…ever bit of your website inspires me! I am looking to make a change and take some risks in my creative life and looking through your posts and all the information you are offering has totally given me a starting place and spurred my dreaming into action. I also want to say how much I appreciate your spirit behind it all. I absolutely want to walk forward in all I do with the same attitudes of giving more than I sell and community over competition. I don’t know you but I like you so much! ha! I just want you to be encouraged that what you are doing matters and God uses it!! Happy Saturday and Merry Christmas! PS my website is my old defunked blog that is about to get a new life, so don’t judge; )! ha!
Hi Michelle! Thank you so much for all the kind words and taking the time to leave such a sweet note. It truly made my morning to read it and I sure do appreciate it. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas!
Dawn, I just read a tutorial you did on glass etching. Sorry if this is a silly question but when stenciling, do I have to cut the reverse? I don’t think I’m explaining it correctly but don’t I want to etch the inside of the design?
Hello. You once had a salmon cake recipe that has been my go to recipe for quite some time. I went to make this christmas day and saw that it was deleted. Is it at all possible to send me the recipe. My family loves this recipe and I have sent a pinned version to quite a few people. Thanks so much.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On a baking sheet sprayed lightly with non-stick cooking spray, place salmon fillets and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Bake for 15 minutes. When done, wrap in foil and place in the fridge to cool for at least 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet heat a bit of olive oil and 2 tbsp unsalted butter over medium heat. Sauté onions, peppers, garlic, cayenne, old bay seasoning, and parsley until veggies are tender, about 15 minutes. Allow to fully cool.
In a large bowl, flake salmon and mix with breadcrumbs, eggs, mayo, celery seed, chili sauce, dry mustard, and Parmesan. Mix well (it’s easiest to use your clean hands!). Add in veggie mixture and mix well again. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
When ready, form mixture into cakes (this should easily make 10-12 cakes. You can freeze some or cook them all). Put some of the extra Parmesan on a plate and press each cake into the Parmesan to coat both sides. This will help your cakes stick together better as you cook them (plus a yummy, crispy cheese coating can’t hurt, right?).
Heat olive oil and butter in a frying pan over medium heat. Fry cakes in batches 2-4 minutes per side or until well-browned and heated through. Drain on a paper towel-lined pan, and keep warm in the oven if desired.
For serving sauce, mix mayo, chili sauce, and pickle relish well and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Thanks a million. I will be making these tonight.
I LOVE your blog, when I was doing my 1st Whole30 I lived by your sweet potato hash recipe and now would like to pass it on to a friend starting her first Whole30. Can you post or send it to me?
Hi Dawn! Love your site. I just discovered you are in Germany-so am I! The snow today was so pretty!! I am hoping your tutorials will help me get through the dark and cold rest of winter. I haven’t had much luck finding supplies here-pens and quality paper specifically. Am heading to the states this month for a visit and hoping to bring supplies back with me.
Thanks for all the ideas. Maybe we will meet one day!!
It is definitely cold here. But I agree, it’s a good reason to stay inside and letter! 🙂 I still order most of my supplies on US Amazon, although I do get some from Amazon.de from time to time as well (when they have it). Enjoy your visit to the States. Have a great weekend. Tschüss!
Hi Ash! Thank you so much for the kind words! Have an awesome weekend!!
Hi Dawn! I just found your blog and I’m fascinated. You are so incredibly talented, I love your work. Keep going, you are amazing!
I’ll make my blog public soon, I’m working on it, anyways I’ll let it below.
I saw one of your iPad Pro videos. I noticed you are left handed (as am I). I used to do calligraphy and want to get back into it on an iPad Pro w/Pencil. In the video, you were using a 9.7 in. iPad. I am deciding between a 9.7 and 12.9 in. and can’t decide. Do you have a preference?
I can’t find your 30 nights of whole30 dinners guide. Did it move somewhere?
Hi Allison! I no longer have any food related content on my site, sorry! I stopped blogging about food a little over a year ago.
Thank you for the free bookmark template – I run a small reading group at a primary school in the UK.
First, your children are beautiful. I am not always compelled to write comments.. but I just read your updated ABOUT.. thank you for sharing. I have been following you on IG, FB and your blogs for a several weeks now. I am new to lettering (not a leftie, but that’s ok) You are so inspiring and caring about your art and passion. I love reading and trying your examples and practice sheets!! Thank you so much for your interest in helping other be their best. I am retired/60 yrs/have 4 adult kids/3 grandies and thanks to my Dad, I believe you should always learn something new.. all the time!!! You are helping/inspiring me to do this. I have loved ‘pretty word/quotes’ forever. Now I am writing them!!!
Oh how cool, I just read your bio for the first time. My oldest daughter was born on Halloween 1981 ! I began following your fb page for my youngest daughter, she’s almost 12 now.! She loves your art and lettering. We are using your daily prompts now.
I hope that you get a chance to read this. I want to THANK YOU and let you know that you are a huge inspiration! I cannot thank you enough for posting all of your tips – and I mean about everything! I have already started applying some of your time management techniques in my crazy busy household and embracing the true introvert that I am – all while working on growing my hand lettering business (honestly, the list of our commonalities is a little bizarre – just sayin’). 😉 Please keep doing what you do! You are absolutely making a difference. Thank you for being you and embracing a community of support and giving. I look forward to your future posts!
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this sweet note, Lisa! It truly made my day today. 🙂 Have a great week!
Hi Corinne! I fell into the field of licensing by accident really. I just put my work out there and eventually, I started to get emails and inquiries. A good place to start might be Creative Market and/or Erst! I am planning to start adding more artwork there that other artists can license and use in their creations. Art, Inc by Lisa Congdon is a great book to pick up and read for more info too! 🙂 All the best!
Thanks a bunch for the info, Dawn! I’ll check out those sites!
Hi Dawn, I was a 20 year Air Force Wife and loved every minute of it. We really miss the military life since my husband retired. I have also retired from banking and now starting to fill that bucket list. One has always been to learn calligraphy. I have gone and bought some brush pens and trying to jump right in on it. My normal handwriting has always been horrible, so I know learning this will take some patience and hard work. So glad I found you here on line. Look forward to learning the lettering.
Hi! I saw you on Pinterest and love your page!!
I am wondering about the laundry bin that comes out diagonally, where you got that? I saw it on Pinterest and love it so much, but I’m not sure where to get one.
Hi Zoie! Thanks so much! We actually made it. 🙂 It’s now our dog food bin!
Oh, okay! Thanks! I was thinking of making one and using it for laundry! I’ll try! Thanks!!
I would like to do your free class but when I try to access it says to sign up thru Facebook. I do not have a Facebook account. Is that the only way I can access this class?
Hi Charlene, it’s run via Facebook only, sorry!
I love your printables. I have Choose Joy over my desk. Thanks for making the world a more beautiful place.
Hey – i just stumbled across your blog via Pinterest. I also just requested a Facebook approval. I can’t wait to dive in and learn more! I’m not that “creative” but I love to practice what is being taught. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
I’m also living in Germany (both my father and my fiancé are stationed at Baumholder) and I feel like lettering is the only thing keeping me sane out here! So glad to have stumbled across your blog. It just warms my heart to think that there’s another letter-happy military spouse not too far away!
It’s so nice to meet you. I’m so sorry for the delay in getting back to you. We were flying back from the US on New Year’s Eve and the jet lag turned me into a zombie this week, ha!
We actually just found out we are moving back to the US this Summer. A full year earlier than we expected but it’s back to my favorite city: Charleston, SC! So we’re pretty excited but we will miss Germany and Europe so much too!
I hope you’re enjoying a lovely weekend!
Hey-So my family and I are going to have a bookbox (little free library) and I thought it would be a neat idea to put a book mark in each one. I found your coloring bookmarks in my coloring box and was wondering if it be alright if I copied a few pages, cut the bookmarks out and put on of them in each book? Would that be considered personal or commercial use?
Hi Dawn, I miss your gorgeous monthly desktop wallpapers. I looked forward to them every month on my desktop computer screen. I hope you will consider bringing them back!
Hi Nancy! I’m still doing them. 🙂 Calendars for 2018 have moved exclusively to my Happy Email Club (it’s free). I send them out via email each month. I also add links to the subscriber-only page on the blog.
I’m trying to work on your brush calligraphy worksheets (which are a GREAT resource, by the way) and I’m using a Tombow ABT Dual Tip pen. I’m getting a bit frustrated (OK, very frustrated) because I cannot get a distinct thin and thick line, even if I drastically move the pen angle. Please let me know either what I am doing improperly or should I use a different pen. And, if a different pen, please give me a suggestion.
I can definitely help with this issue. It’s not you, it’s the pen!
The Tombow ABT is simply just not the best pen to start out with. Due to its large tip size, it’s harder to control. This is a video I made very recently about this very topic: https://www.facebook.com/bydawnnicole/videos/1690202984388563/.
Get full details and links to everything mentioned in the video here: https://bydawnnicole.com/best-brush-calligraphy-pens/.
Thank you! I saw your message yesterday and will go get this this weekend.
I bought your book (words to live by) and it’s AMAZING!!! Everyone in my class is borrowing it from me and i’m a big fan!!!
Thank you so much for this sweet note, May! It made my day. 🙂 I’m so happy to hear it!
Hellooo. Im so happy to be a part of this group. Your work is soooo beautiful. I am very new to lettering and recently took a class. Im hoping to learn so much more from you. Your frebies are also great as they are what I have been using for practice.
Hi Dawn! Thanks for all your advice – I especially appreciate your reviews of pens and papers. I think paper can definitely make or break a project. I have been practicing with the Tombow pens – both the Fudensoke (sp?) and the Dual Tips (which I love for both watercolor and lettering)! I was wondering if you have blank lined paper for use in practicing your workbooks and practice sheets? I have made my own but thought it would be convenient to be able to download… Anyway thanks for your work and your inspiration!
Thank you so much! I looked back at the workbook I bought and see that there are blank guides in the back! I had not looked all the way through the book – I was just working my way through the alphabets. You think of everything!!! I appreciate your help!!