Ruby Lane's Creative Hands Newsletter for November 2009

In This Issue

• Happy Thanksgiving!
  
• JEWELRY ARTISAN SHOP SPOTLIGHT: Funky Stones
  
• Birds of a feather....
  
• Join Ruby Lane on Twitter and Facebook
  
• Ruby Lane Jewelry Artisan & Fine Art Shop Owners - Get Paid to Blog
  
• Share Creative Hands With A Friend
  

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

My Favorite Vintage American Indian Glenn Jones Still Life of a Basket, Orange Pitcher and Indian Corn titled Harvest Time





Click here to see a special Thanksgiving message from Ruby Lane, or go to:

http://www.youtube.com

JEWELRY ARTISAN SHOP SPOTLIGHT: FUNKY STONES

What I learned about Rejuvenated Jewels - I started creating artisan jewelry in early May of this year. I have always loved jewelry, but I never wear any, just my wedding rings, a watch and a bracelet. So to make a long story short, I knew very little about jewelry when I went into the small jewelry business.

When I first started, I racked my brain trying to come up with a way to create unique and different kinds of jewelry, something different. One weekend I got up early and went to an estate sale with my husband. He saw this huge suitcase full of antique and costume jewelry. I thought to myself, what a "goldmine!" I started pulling out pieces that I could use to create "rejuvenated" jewelry. I had ideas on how to make the pieces come alive again. There were a lot of broken pieces of jewelry, but I kept thinking that there must be an exquisite bead, rhinestone, or pearl, that I could use in the lot. I figured once I got them home I could take them apart and use the component that I liked. My mind was going a hundred miles a minute. I was so confused on what pieces to buy that my husband convinced me to buy the entire suitcase full.

I had so much fun going through the suitcase once we got it home. There were so many pieces that I could use, but I wasn't sure where to start. I knew I had to use my own imagination to make it over in my own style. Very hard, but lots of fun!

One of the things I learned when looking at jewels for sale is you must consider the repair work required to include the pieces in your new designs. This was the hard part, taking the jewelry apart and re-creating it to make it my own design. I spent an entire day and half separating the jewelry, and bagging the parts that I could use in making my new designs.

So, whatever you do, don't throw away your old jewelry, because each piece you have is significant. There is something on each individual piece that you can use and rejuvenate turning it into to something beautiful to wear. I once read something that stuck in my mind, it's all about giving a new life to old jewelry and transforming them into something unique where no two pieces will ever look alike.

Shari Christopher of Funky Stones

BIRDS OF A FEATHER....

Not just MUSI bows

Brown Tweed Necklace with Bird Pin

Brown Tweed Necklace with Bird Pin Necklace 14" with 3" gold filled chain extension and closure. This feather tailed bird (detachable pin) has its ...

Designs With Attitude

Bird Sanctuary Fused Dichroic Glass Pendant Necklace

The colors in this new design are just exquisite. It glows from every angle and is a very unique piece. A White base is accented with Lemon lime, ...

Retro Deluxe

Original Contemporary Still Life Oil Painting of Fenton Glass Bird by Artist and Shop Owner, Judy Jones

For this original oil painting on stretched canvas I posed a lovely Fenton glass bird with a vintage teapot and a beautifully embroidered cloth. A ...

Exotic Gem Designs

Sterling Silver Amethyst Bird's Nest chain - Necklace

This necklace is entirely handcrafted from Sterling Silver. The Chain itself is also handmade in a modified Byzantine link called a birdcage. The ...

von Walhof Creations

American Robin Bird Pin

The American Robin (Turdus migratorius) is a songbird of the thrush family. The handsome reddish orange breast clearly distinguishes it from other ...

Deb Scott Designs Jewelry

Bountiful Love and Harmony ~ OM Yoga Meditation Necklace with Olive Jade and 24kt Gold Dipped Bird Charm

Bountiful Love and Harmony ~ OM Yoga Meditation Necklace with Olive Jade and 24kt Gold Dipped Bird Charm. A sweet bird in flight, an 8 x 4mm faceted ...

Elioness Designs

Tropical Bird of Paradise, dichroic glass pendant

Tropical Bird of Paradise. This is a gorgeous fused glass pendant in a rainbow of dichroic colors behind the flower. The design is permanently fused ...

Artful Creations By Ruth Welter

Berry Vine Chickadee Hand Painted Original Wooden Art Pendant Necklace

My Berry Vine Chickadee pendant is so whimsical and fun to wear. This sweet little bird is set against a background of purple and sky blue with black...

Spoiled Girl Jewelry

Birds of a Feather - Chain of Sparrows Swarovski

Wonderful nickel and lead free brass Sparrows are linked with Swarovski crystals and 14K GF wire in these long lovely earrings. The birds one ...

The Rose Sword

Blue African Opal Bracelet, Czech glass and Brass Lovebirds SRAJD

The Rose Sword is happy to offer new one of a kind creations by owner, Mary Deis. Each piece is created with loving care from our home to yours and is...

JOIN RUBY LANE ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK

We want to let all shops know that Ruby Lane is now active on both Twitter and Facebook, and we invite you to join us. Both services are free to join and participate.

Follow us on Twitter: Twitter

Become a Fan on Facebook

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?

SHARE CREATIVE HANDS WITH A FRIEND

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