Ruby Lane's Creative Hands - Messages from the Heart February 2010

In This Issue

• Happy Valentine's from Ruby Lane!
  
• JEWELRY ARTISANS: Messages from the Heart
  
• FINE ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Denny Plesea
  
• Ruby Lane Ranked #1 Site for Sellers In Recent AuctionBytes Marketplace Survey
  
• Ruby Lane Jewelry Artisan & Fine Art Shop Owners - GET PAID TO BLOG
  
• Heartfelt love infuses every piece from these fine artisans.
  
• Join Ruby Lane on TWITTER and FACEBOOK
  
• Share Creative Hands With A Friend
  

HAPPY VALENTINE'S FROM RUBY LANE!

Valentine's Day is coming! Click here to see a special valentine message from Ruby Lane, or go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-plbdZxNUo

JEWELRY ARTISANS: MESSAGES FROM THE HEART

GALINA KIRMAN - What Warms my Heart and the Hearts of Others

The thing about my work that warms my heart is that I know that my pieces will touch the hearts of others, not only literally (a necklace certainly rests above the heart), but also figuratively. It amazes me that I can create something that has the capacity to positively alter the reality of other people – usually, complete strangers – to feel something wonderful, or smile, or feel more beautiful; to enter that person's life and become part of her history and "place in the world". It is a wonderful feeling – to create something from random, seemingly simple materials, and touch people's lives in a positive way. That, to me, is the essence of handmade – the ability to put one's heart and soul into a project and create something unique – something truly from the heart. Galina Kirman



JAZZITUP DESIGNS: My Circle of Love and Life

As a child I have always loved art and crafts. It began my circle of love and life. I still remember my best Christmas gift ever - a John Gagney Learn to Draw Kit. And, making pot holders for family and friends was the bomb.

The teenage years and early work commitments somehow put a temporary crimp in the circle. Marriage and children came next, where I found myself at home during 70's in a state of perpetual pregnancy - four children (all girls) in 10 years. As they grew our time included lots of hand craft work: clay, art, beadwork, sewing, knitting, and more, straightening out the crimp for a while. The children grew, developed their own identity and eventually moved out to continue their own circles.

Alas, it's back to me again. I discovered the art of jewelry about 10 years ago starting with vintage costume jewelry, which my husband's Mother left behind. I simply fell in love with it, which lead me on to create my own works of jewelry art. I love every minute of creating with my hands. The "crimp" is back, but now as a technique used in the creation of my pieces, and the circle goes round and round. Linda Baldwin



ARTISTIC CRYSTAL JEWELRY - What Drives my Passion and Motivates Me

When I was asked to write for the Creative Hands Newsletter about "Messages from the Heart" I knew immediately that I'd write about what drives my passion for making jewelry and what keeps me motivated to continue on. I'm often asked what inspires me to come up with such unique designs in jewelry. I always tell people that designing jewelry is a passion for me – it's something that I absolutely love to do and it is truly a passion that comes from my heart. Making jewelry really started out as a hobby, something to keep me busy years ago while my daughter, who is now nine years old, started Kindergarten. I remember when I first started making jewelry I could fit all of my supplies into one small plastic box that sat on my kitchen counter. Each morning I'd take my daughter to school, come back home and sit down with my box of beads
and create. Well, here I am, four years later, and needless to say, I've moved out of the kitchen and into a custom designed office, and that one small box of supplies has now grown into an endless treasure trove of incredibly luscious beads, gemstones and precious metals.

It is the uniqueness of those beautiful beads, whether they are gorgeous gemstones or the remarkable handcrafted Balinese beads, or any type of bead that continues to feed my desire for making jewelry. It is the idea of my jewelry being worn all over the world, including the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, Australia, Canada and other countries that fill my heart with passion to keep creating. It is the excitement I get, even after selling online for several years now, every time I receive an order from a customer that continues to nurture my zest for making that one-of-a-kind piece. But most of all, it is those incredibly expressive customers who lavish me with generous compliments about my jewelry that make me pour my heart and soul into designing. It's their enthusiasm for my jewelry that keeps my work fresh and creative. It is the message from their heart to mine that fuels my constant exhilaration for this wonderful craft. Renee Francois



LONE ROCK JEWELRY - Heart, Soul, Passion

The theme "Messages from the Heart" for this month's Creative Hands could go in so many directions, but I've only got a short space to summarize what it means to me. The reasons behind why I make jewelry
have everything to do with heart and soul issues - jewelry making is an outward expression of what I feel, where I want to go, what I want to do. My dream studio/shop would be a little cottage by the seashore with a dramatic mountain backdrop and year-round warmth. And then there's reality, which is a table crammed with all sorts of storage containers in a room with a pleasant view of some pines outside the house. Not quite the ocean, but you learn to appreciate and make the best of what you've been given.

For me, the creative juices flow from from the inherent beauty of the stones, colors, and textures I see. I feel privileged because I get to use bits and pieces of what God already created and blend them into my own version of beauty. One way to describe it is like making music - visible music. When making a longer piece like a necklace, I sometimes think of it in musical terms like movements - one segment flows into another, harmonizing with and complementing the segments surrounding it. Making jewelry is also "escapism" - a way to make my world a little better. I get engrossed in seeing something take shape, the hours pass by, and there's no watching of the clock. I love doing this, and I'll do it for the rest of my life if I'm able... Sometimes there are deadlines to meet, but it never feels like work.

I rarely design with certain holidays in mind - February is the month for Valentines, but I feel no need to limit oneself to the traditional heart shaped
objects as that's a prerequisite for expressing love or care for someone else. The thought behind giving matters more than the gift itself - the gift is a reflection of what you feel about another person, so you try to choose something that has meaning to the "giftee". When you make a purchase, you are also giving me a gift along with that purchase - a validation of why I do this, a confirmation that my creations can touch the hearts of others as well as my own, and the encouragement to continue. And for that, I am deeply appreciative. Jane Hash

FINE ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: DENNY PLESEA

Denny Plesea is not reluctant to speak excitedly about the artists that influence his artistic fervor. He is motivated and influenced by the works of Paul Klee, Jean Miro, Picasso, Braque, DeForrest, Kandinsky and Gary Larsen. Denny's aim rather than to settle with a comfortable notion of his artistic language, is to explore the astounding diversity of his own style. If all of his works were simultaneously hung in one gallery, one would think they were viewing a group show of no less than four artists.

His strong graphic depiction of life are incorporated into inventive and illustrative pieces that are both heartfelt and thought provoking. Life's dramas, classic rituals, labors, history and everyday occurrences are reinvented while maintaining enough of the original forms to induce a sense of mystery and timelessness. His dreams provide him with abundant material yet convincing method. His works are whimsical characterizations of the human condition. The humor acts as a stress release valve to alleviate the cumbersome foibles of our reality.

For Denny as for most artists, his art is a development of his self awareness and the insights shared through the individual and universal existential experience of being.

RUBY LANE RANKED #1 SITE FOR SELLERS IN RECENT AUCTIONBYTES MARKETPLACE SURVEY

Recently, AuctionBytes.com, an independent trade publication for online merchants asked online sellers to rate 15 e-commerce marketplaces to find out which were the best venues on which to sell. We are pleased to report that Ruby Lane came in first place across the board – receiving the highest ratings in every survey category! It is very meaningful, and a great validation, to have such wonderful praise from our shops. We will continue to place our customers at the forefront of our business and will strive to provide our very best service to both buyers and sellers.

Check out the complete Auction Bytes survey, Auction Bytes survey results, and related comments, or go to:

http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abu/y210/m01/abu0255/s02

RUBY LANE JEWELRY ARTISAN & FINE ART SHOP OWNERS - GET PAID TO BLOG

Jewelry Artisans and Fine Artists of Ruby Lane we invite you to express your creative writing 'side' and submit topic ideas to be considered for publication in the Ruby Lane blog, Notes from the Lane

Need topic ideas? Here are a few to consider:

* Topics relating to artisan jewelry and contemporary fine art * Your personal stories (not self-promoting infomercials) * Your selling or show adventures * Your observations on the state of the marketplace * Your artisan jewelry or fine art craft and how you do it * Your artisan jewelry or fine art studio set up * Opinion pieces relative to Fine Art & Artisan Jewelry * How to succeed as a seller in the online marketplace * Best and Worst shows for your medium * What's hot, what's not * What is a "Call for Entry" * What you are doing to go 'Green' * Any other suggested topics are welcomed for consideration * (Video submissions are also welcomed)

Before submitting a topic idea for consideration, please read the guidelines for submission in the Shop Owners Blog section of the Knowledge Base FAQ. What is the Ruby Lane Get Paid to Blog Program?

HEARTFELT LOVE INFUSES EVERY PIECE FROM THESE FINE ARTISANS.

Red Tabby Designs

Sterling Silver Copper Flower Chain Maille Bracelet

Copper jump rings add a touch of color to the Sterling Silver flowers in this lovely chain maille bracelet. The heart shaped toggle clasp is ...

Gelsey's Grace Designs

Venetian Glass Petite Heart Vintage Glass Lariat Necklace

~ PASSION ~ These small lariat necklaces are always a big hit at the craft shows we participate in...this series features petite Venetian glass heart...

Amy Danielle Designs

Hot Pink CHALCEDONY Faceted BRIOLETTES Chunky Necklace ADDjewelry

This Briolettes necklace features Faceted extra large Hot Pink Chalcedony Briolette drop pendants, Hot Pink Chalcedony Briolettes, Pale Pink ...

MilliJoolz

Large All Wired-On Centerpiece Necklace in Swarovski Ruby Red Crystal and vintage brass filigrees and flowers, 'Lady In Red'

This centerpiece was so much fun to create. When it seems to be all coming together the way I have pictured it in my head I start to feel almost ...

Bright Moon Jewelry

Opulent Golden Citrine and Circle Gemstone Earrings

Attention all Divas!.....If your destiny is calling you to center stage then these bellisima jewels may help turn more than a few heads in your ...

Earthlights

Gorgeous Faceted Garnet and Sterling Silver Pendant

This gorgeous oval pendant is made of sterling silver, set with faceted garnets in all shapes -- oval, round, square rectangular! The pendant ...

Crow Creek designs

2 Color Maple ring

This ring is composed of 3 bands of maple. Two bands are made from dyed green and one is a natural maple band. We use stainless steel inserts for ...

EthnicArtGallerie

The Way to My Heart! LTD ED Giclee on Canvas

ADD A SPLASH OF COLOR AND SOPHISTICATION TO YOUR HOME OR OFFICE WITH THE GORGEOUS WORK OF ARBE! The sensual color and deep emotion of this piece will ...

Vintage Jewels Antique Haven®

Hearts,Hearts and MORE Hearts,Sterling Silver,Pink,Swarovski Crystal

I started with a hand full of lamp work heart beads and a sterling silver 'Hearts ' chain. First the little powder pink Swarovski 4mm bi cone,added ...

Jewelry Fanatic

Dragonfly Gears Pure ( 999) Silver Reversible PMC Pendant

This piece was inspired by Hadar Jacobson (fabulous artist and teacher). This pure (.999) silver piece weighs in at about 22 grams. The pendant ...

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SHARE CREATIVE HANDS WITH A FRIEND

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