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Ruby Lane's Creative Hands Newsletter March 2009

In This Issue

• Happy St. Patricks Day
  
• SHOP SPOTLIGHT: Galina Kirman
  
• ARTISAN SPOTLIGHT: Annica Larsson of Lydia's Lodge
  
• WELCOME: L'atelier des bijoux
  
• March Bead and Jewelry Shows
  
• Wear green, get lucky!
  
• Share Creative Hands With A Friend
  

HAPPY ST. PATRICKS DAY

Looking for a pot of gold? Check out the Jewelry Artisan shops on Ruby Lane where you will find gorgeous jewelry at the end of the rainbow.

Opal Moon Handcrafted Artisan Jewelry

Handmade Designer Jewelry to take you where your HEART wants to go

SHOP SPOTLIGHT: GALINA KIRMAN

I started out my professional life a million miles from jewelry design – for seven years, I was an intellectual property lawyer, helping clients protect their trademarks. Despite my legal eagling, I was always drawn to the creative arts and to working with my hands – since I was a young girl, I have loved to paint, draw, cook, sew and even to help my father fix things around the house. About six years ago, while about to take maternity leave, I wandered into a local bead shop. I bought a strand of prehnite rondelles and a large Venetian glass heart, and the rest, as they say, is history.

What started as a hobby quickly grew into a near-obsession, something I looked forward to doing every free moment. New ideas for pieces swirled in my head day and night and I began to jot down notes and color combination's in a little journal that I still carry with me. After my daughter was born, I decided to stay at home with her rather than return to work. I proceeded to spend the days with her and then create jewelry in the evenings, sometimes working well past midnight without even noticing the time.

I started out using basic bead stringing techniques, which I still use to create complex multistrand necklaces, using complementary gemstones in various sizes and shapes. Although the technique seems basic, it takes hours to achieve the correct balance between shapes, sizes and colors in a multistrand piece. I also employ wire wrapping techniques to create three-dimensional, unique gemstone clusters and handmade "chains" of gems, with a result that is labor-intensive but immensely satisfying.

A little over a year ago, I branched out into metalsmithing. I absolutely love it – it allows complete freedom in creativity; the only limit is my own skill base, which I am constantly striving to expand. I have mastered sawing, piercing, soldering and cabochon stone setting. One of my current projects is a bracelet that I created by forging (striking annealed metal repeatedly with a hammer to change its shape), which I am looking forward to setting with faceted stones.

My focus is on precious and semiprecious gemstones and precious metals. Often, I let the stones guide me in how I approach a piece. Perhaps as the result of my lifelong interest in art, I have a passion for color and attempt to use gemstones to create painterly effects. In choosing materials, I am particularly drawn to undyed coral and Tahitian pearls; the fact that these gems come from beneath the sea fascinates me. I also love blue tourmaline, a very rare gem that has an ethereal and calming quality. I frequently use vintage materials and charms in my work, to give certain pieces a sense of history and uniqueness. I find it interesting to take something from one place in time and, by altering its context, make it new again. All of my pieces are one of a kind – I try to keep my work fresh and use my creative freedom to express my evolving vision.

I have now been making jewelry for over six years. In addition to selling through the Internet, I also sell my pieces through local boutiques in New York City and a department store in Toronto (Sears Canada). My family also enjoys the gifts they get!

In addition to creating jewelry, I love spending time with my husband and children, who are a constant source of delight and wonder. I also enjoy reading and taking advantage of New York City's abundant cultural offerings. A trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art always provides inspiration and hours of enjoyment!

Galina of Galina Kirman

ARTISAN SPOTLIGHT: ANNICA LARSSON OF LYDIA'S LODGE

I believe that everybody has an extra special talent – a gift they bring to the world – that makes them feel excited, alive and fulfilled. It is just a question of finding out what that talent might be. The pursuit of finding your purpose can take some time and is not always a straightforward path – but it is truly amazing to get there – like finding the Holy Grail.

I have always been creative. As a little girl I loved fairy tales and would spend hours on end in this magical parallel universe of beauty and enchantment (to be honest – they still inspire my work). I use to collect white stones and paint them with my mum's nail varnish and pretend they were precious gemstones. My mum did also get a few (not so welcome) surprises when I had decided to re-decorate her kitchen and other creative ideas I just had to explore. Luckily, I had a happy childhood and a very kind and understanding mum.

Art school was my natural choice and I did attend a few and loved every minute of it. In time, I thought I had to grow up and have a `proper' job to get a safe source of income. This is exactly what I did and have spent a number of years working in the `real' world.

Time passed and I was feeling increasingly unhappy. It was as if a big part of me was switched off, in hibernation. All of a sudden (when you least expect it) life changes – my father got seriously ill and I needed a creative outlet to be able to switch off from my worries. I happened to stumble across a website teaching jewellery making and I just knew it was meant for me – I had finally found my calling.

I got the necessary equipment and started up and it just felt so right. I had found the love of my life. Suddenly my heart was singing, my head buzzing with ideas – I just felt so alive! This love affair started about 5 years ago and I strongly believe that it will continue for the rest of my life.

I work mainly with semi-precious and precious gemstones. My main metals are silver and 14kt gold filled wire. I am starting to incorporate a few lamp worked beads into my work so this is something you will probably see more of in my shop in the future. My main passion is sculptured jewellery incorporating gemstones of the highest quality. I want my customers to feel that they are wearing something unique and special. There is just nothing that compares to the feeling you get when a customer comes back to tell you the piece of jewellery they bought has brought them joy and happiness.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and just to clarify: the days of using stones and nail varnish have passed. I only use high quality, genuine semi-precious, and precious stones in my work now.

Annica Larsson of Lydia's Lodge

WELCOME: L'ATELIER DES BIJOUX

I believe that you should make yourself feel special every day, and I always feel special when I wear something beautiful. I love walking out in the morning with a gorgeous piece of jewelry on - that detail just makes the day shine brighter for me. I created this shop to share that feeling with you.

L'atelier des bijoux (la' tə∙je de bi∙ʒu' ) translates as "the jewelry workshop," but my shop is so much more than that! Here you can find original jewelry made with high-quality gemstones and metals, crafted with exquisite attention to detail. Every piece is designed and hand-crafted by me, and I take pride in making sure that each of my creations is made from the finest materials with the utmost care. I never create anything that I would not love to wear myself, and you will almost always find me wearing one of my own creations. All of my jewelry is created with solid .925 sterling silver or high-karat gold-fill or gold vermeil findings.

Rebecca Fogle of L'atelier des bijoux

MARCH BEAD AND JEWELRY SHOWS

• Mar 6-8: Del Mar, CA - Gem Faire, Del Mar Fairgrounds, Exhibit Hall
  
  
• Mar 6-8: Charlotte, NC - Charlotte Jewelry and Bead Show, Metrolina Expo Center
  
  
• Mar 14-15: Atlanta, GA - The Down The Street Bead Show, Cobb Galleria
  
  
• Mar 20-22: Salt Lake City, UT - Gem Faire, South Towne Exposition Center, Exhibit Hall 5
  
  
• Mar 20-22: New York, NY - The Whole Bead Show, Metropolitan Pavilion, South Pavilion, 1st Floor
  
  
• Mar 20-22: Collinsville, IL - International Gem & Jewelry Show, Gateway Center
  
  
• Mar 27-29: Sarasota, FL - Frank Cox Productions Gem, Jewelry and Bead Shows, Municipal Auditorium
  
  

WEAR GREEN, GET LUCKY!

Trudy's Cozy Corner

Handmade Beaded Necklace in Greens with Flame Worked Heart

This necklace is one of the better ones I have done. I love the way it drapes around your neck, it's done with thread so it's not stiff. The tiny seed...

Just Jo Jewels

African Green Jasper, Russian Serpentine, Green Garnet, Riverstone and Sterling Silver Necklace

African Green Jasper, Russian Serpentine, Green Garnet, Riverstone and Sterling Silver Necklace. This necklace is a wonderful marriage of greens and ...

All About You! - Designer Artisan Jewelry

Green Onyx Briolette Sterling Dangle Earrings

Green Onyx pear-cut briolettes are large at 16x11mm in crisp, cool shades of green. They have wonderful translucency and excellent faceting that ...

ShiningMountain Jewelry

Kumihimo Fiber and Bead Necklace with Cactus Focal Bead

This one is a real cutie! A green lamp-worked cactus bead complete with blue purple flowers is the focal point of this necklace. It is suspended from...

Gemlynn

Genuine Emeralds, Green Onyx, Praseolite, Coin Pearl Necklace

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Bead Girls Jewelry

Stormy Seas Lampwork Necklace ~ 14K gold filled chain with lampwork and Swarovski crystals

I love the borosilicate lampwork in the Stormy Seas set, we offer a matching bracelet with coordinating lampwork. The colors in the pendant make it a...

Crystalline's Estate Jewelry Artisan Treasures

C Designs 2 1 4 green Waterfall CHANDELIER swarovski crystal Sterling Earrings

Gorgeous 2 1 4 waterfall chandelier earrings. Each one of my designs is unique and one of a kind. You will never get an exact duplicate. The metal ...

Connolly Design

St Patrick's Day Necklace of Lime Turquoise (Dyed), Bright Green Glass Beads, Copper Beads

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Jewels By Liz

Art Glass Tiger's Eye Twist Bracelet

This is so elegant. It is done in goldtone metal, large links, with toggle clasp. The central point is a 2 x 1 abstract venitian glass pendant. ...

Madonna Star Designs

Moss and Mauve ~ Beaded Artisan Bracelet ~ Repurposed Vintage

A vintage beaded cluster earring is the focal piece and was my inspiration to create this bracelet. I've added three strands of fern green and ...

SHARE CREATIVE HANDS WITH A FRIEND

Did you enjoy this issue of Creative Hands? Do you know others who would enjoy receiving it? We invite you to forward this issue on to others. Happy reading!
 

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