Dragon Skin Designs 

Dragon Skin Designs offers handmade fine silver jewelry.  Our most popular medallions are first drawn by our Designer, Donna Grant.  She then copies the design onto a plastic block and hand carves the images with linoleum carvers.  Using Precious Metal Clay, the designs are pressed into the metal clay and then fired and finished.  Most designs are then accented with 22 karat gold.  In addition, to the medallions, Donna weaves chain maille bracelets and necklaces, accenting the designs with precious and semi-precious stones.  She uses the same metal clay process to create handmade clasps or accent beads that accent the theme of the piece.  Dragon Skin Designs jewelry is inspired by nature - both real and fantasy!

From the Designer

I always wanted to create my own jewelry.  Like a lot of people, I started with simple beading - but I was frustrated with trying to find the perfect clasps and other findings.  That's when I discovered metal clay.

I started using metal clay 6 years ago.  First, to make clasps and bead caps, but after my Rio Grande certification, I discovered relief impressions....and thus my collection of medallions! 

To my joy, people seemed to identify with the symbols - finding an attachment to a story within their own life.  Most of the symbols also reflect a bit of me.

 - Donna Grant

About the name

I get a lot of questions about the name Dragon Skin Designs.  What is Dragon Skin, anyway?  I am an avid fan of J.R.R. Tolkien.  I read The Hobbit when I was in my early teens.  This scene stuck in my mind:

"I have always understood," said Bilbo in a frightened squeak, "that dragons were softer underneath, especially in the region of the - er - chest.  But doubtless one so fortified has thought of that."

The dragon stopped short in his boasting.  "Your information is antiquated," he snapped.  "I am armored above and below with iron scales and hard gems.  No blade can pierce me."

"I might have guessed," said Bilbo.  "Truly there can nowhere be found the equal of Lord Smaug, the Impenetrable.  What magnificence to possess a waistcoat of find diamonds!"

"Yes, it is rare and wonderful indeed," said Smaug, absurdly pleased.

....of course for those that know the story, poor Smaug did have a chink in his armor, in the end.