Ruby Lane's Creative Hand's May 2009 - The Green Issue

Creative Hands - The Green Issue

This months Creative Hands newsletter highlights Ruby Lane jewelry artisans who practice the 'art of green' by using recycled, repurposed, reclaimed materials and found objects in the creation of their unique designs.

In This Issue

• GREEN INITIATIVE - Ruby is the New Green
  
• GREEN SHOP SPOTLIGHT: Jewels by Jazzy
  
• REPURPOSED: Vintage Component Jewelry
  
• RECYCLED: Vintage Paper Jewels
  
• RECLAIMED: Metal Clay Jewelry
  
• FOUND OBJECT Artisan Jewelry...
  
• Ruby Lane Shop Owners - Get Paid to Blog Program
  
• May Bead and Jewelry Shows
  
• More Green Jewelry Artisans
  
• Share Creative Hands With A Friend
  

GREEN INITIATIVE - RUBY IS THE NEW GREEN

Antique, vintage and artisan items are green. We champion these items as a means to reduce production emissions which adversely affect the health of our planet.

Green Listing Day: Donation To WWF On May 1st, 2009 Ruby Lane held a "Green Listing Day" where all items listed on that day were only charged 10 cents instead of the regular 30 cent listing fee. On May 5th, 2009 all of the proceeds from those listings were donated by Ruby Lane directly to the World Wildlife Fund. The total donated was $428. Ruby Lane plans to conduct several Green Listing Days throughout the year.

Shops Voted We asked all shops to cast their vote for the organization that should receive the funds. The World Wildlife Fund received a whopping 43 percent of all of the shop votes tallied. We thank all shops who voiced their choice of organization to receive the donation. For more information visit WWF

For more information on the Ruby Lane Green Initiative visit Ruby Is The New Green

Everyone counts! We can all live a greener life. It's easy to feel as an individual or small business that you are too insignificant to make a difference in protecting our planet. Don't believe it – everyone must do their part.

The Team At Ruby Lane

GREEN SHOP SPOTLIGHT: JEWELS BY JAZZY

I was inspired to create 'upcycled' jewelry after purchasing my first jewelers saw a few months back, to fill a longing to design jewelry in another medium. I wanted to practice with different sized saw blades on something other than expensive sheet metal and thought that used gift certificate cards, expired credit cards and old membership cards would be the perfect medium since they are 'free'. Also, from what I read, plastic doesn't break down in a landfill, so if in my practice sawing, I could turn them into something cute, that would be a bonus.

My first attempt produced really cute and colorful components for earrings, so I started sawing away (with proper protection: safety glasses and a mask) to create other items.

The Go-Go Green Girls were inspired by one of my students' passion for fashion design. She has a really cute Klutz craft book that allows her to create designer outfits out of scrapbook paper. I thought how cute it would be to make the outfits come to life with people wearing them. I drew outfits smaller in size (suitable for a necklace) and cut them out from the same plastic cards that I used for my earrings and designed for different events (Ex. The now sold, 'I'd like to thank the Academy Go Go Green Girl' who is wearing a black designer 'Starbucks' evening gown and long silk, well plastic, gloves). I then added a bead head with wire doodle hair, 'upcycled' colorful telephone wire arms and legs (taken from a construction demolition site from my real estate development days) and the Go-Go green girls were born.

I am thrilled by the fun comments and happy smiles they bring to all ages. I recently had a wonderful lady in PA purchase one of the Go Go Green Girls as a gift for her niece in Chicago. She asked that I mail it to her first in PA, so that she could show it around to all her friends in a club that she belongs to, before sending it off to her niece. That made ME smile. My supply of recycled gift and credit cards is never ending. Family and friends provide me with their old credit cards and gift cards on a regular basis. The gift cards are the most fun to work with, as they are brightly colored with fun patterns and designs on them.

I donate a portion of the sale of several my 'green' jewelry items to Stop Global Warming www.stopglobalwarming.com. They have great links to information sites to educate people on climate control, causes, risks, and other factors associated with climate change.

Jazzy a.k.a. Janis Steel of Jazzy - You'll Love Your Jewels by Jazzy

REPURPOSED: VINTAGE COMPONENT JEWELRY

Terry O'h of Out of My Mind ~Mosaics Jewelry Designer, Whimsical, Inspirational, Collage, Asymmetrical, Assemblage One of a kind Artisan pieces

'Going Green'.....a term that was not in use when I started creating some years ago. From the beginning, my passion has always been in the repurposing of material to make something of beauty and use, to breathe new life into bits and pieces destined for the landfill. It wasn't as much a conservative effort as it was a fascination with the beauty I found in these discarded elements....an appreciation for the work and effort that went into their original creation....the imagining of the history of that vintage bauble. Who wore it?....Where did she get it?....Was it a gift?....Was it precious to someone?....What was it's journey that allowed it to end up in my hands? Fascinating!

However it has come to be....the chicken or the egg....I'm happy to be a part of a society that is no longer complaisant in the waste of our resources! I have finally landed fully on a Band Wagon! Enjoy!



Gale McCarthy of Vintage Fancys ~ Artisan Jewelry Designer Artisan Recreated, Recycled Revived Antique Vintage Jewelry ~ SINGULAR SENSATIONS!

All of my jewelry is created using either pre-worn or unsold, over-produced, new stock from defunct factories - mostly pre-1950. Originally, my main reason for this type of work was because I've always been more attracted to antique and vintage jewelry, and in my opinion, I consider the workmanship and interesting elements usually far superior to most of today's pieces. Plus, there is such an abundance of spectacular pieces that have been overlooked and disposed of, due to the need for a bit of repair, or possibly the lack of knowledge of what great art went into the making of these very special parts - generally far more tedious than with today's machine manufactured parts. There is also something special and somewhat romantic in wearing a beautiful vintage or antique piece that connects us to the past.

Also, I'm a very strong believer in recycling in every way possible for us and our future generations to come, so it would seem apt that this was my choice of materials. We have so much at our fingertips already, if one is willing to look for it.

Kathryn Schreiber of CopperTina's Unique Designs Very Unique Art Pieces Using Metals, Vintage Pieces and Mother Natures Jewels

Everything I list is designed and created by me. I incorporate many vintage pieces and metals into my jewelry designs. Either may have very small imperfection which comes both with vintage pieces and metal. I make every piece as if I were making it for me or a loved one. I metal bond all my pieces and do not use glue to hold them together. My art is crafted from quality materials with quality workmanship..

RECYCLED: VINTAGE PAPER JEWELS

Holly Spruch of Pretty Vintage Pretty, vintage things to adorn you and your home!

Holly's use of vintage postcard images and other vintage component pieces are perfect for bringing back memories of glorious yesteryear!

Steven Dobrovitz of Jewel Art Studio Pieces From The Past, Transformed Into Heirlooms for the Future

I have been designing and creating unique and eclectic Wearable Art, Altered Art, and Collage Art jewelry pieces for over 16 years. Much thought, care and love go into the creation of every single piece. I use many vintage component pieces and images which I have been collecting for quite some time in my jewelry designs. Each piece is a totally one of a kind creation, and no one else will ever have it! :)

RECLAIMED: METAL CLAY JEWELRY

Precious Metal Clay is produced using recycled silver from old xray's combined with water and an organic binder. When the material is heated to a high temperature in a kiln, the metal particles fuse together to form .999 fine silver.



Holly Thompson of Jewelry Fanatic

Off My Rocker Pure ( 999) Silver PMC Pendant and Sterling Chain

Jan Carpenter of Red Tabby Designs

Lava: Fine Silver Pendant, Sterling chain and clasp

Andrea Danner-Schultz

Home Sweet Home - Birdhouse and Little Bird Fine Silver Necklace

FOUND OBJECT ARTISAN JEWELRY...

SEA GLASS Soft Matte White Genuine Sea Glass Mini-Sculpted Pendant by Contemporary Concepts

and SEASHELLS Jool's Golden Shell Necklace by Jools by Julie

and POTTERY SHARDS Sky Blue Sea Pottery Necklace Sterling Silver and Leather Cord by Alicats

and BUTTONS Aqua and Silver Wire Wrapped Button Ring by Sanna Designs

and KEYS ... Key Bead Necklace - 001 by Prima Donna Jewelry

RUBY LANE SHOP OWNERS - GET PAID TO BLOG PROGRAM

The Ruby Lane Get Paid to Blog program allows shop owners to express their creative writing side and ... they are paid for participating! Approved articles are published in the Ruby Lane blog: What is the Ruby Lane Get Paid to Blog Program?

MAY BEAD AND JEWELRY SHOWS

• May 8-10: Marlborough, MA - International Gem & Jewelry Show, Royal Plaza Trade Center
  
  
• May 8-10: Columbus, OH - International Gem & Jewelry Show, Veterans Memorial
  
  
• May 15-17: Grapevine, TX - Bead Renaissance, Grapevine Convention Center
  
  
• May 15-17: Sarasota, FL - Frank Cox Productions Gem, Jewelry and Bead Shows, Municipal Auditorium
  
  
• May 15-17: Sacramento, CA - Gem Faire, Cal Expo, Building A
  
  
• May 16-17: Atlanta, GA - Intergalactic Bead & Jewelry Show, Gwinnett Center - Hall C
  
  
• May 22-24: Rosemont, IL - International Gem & Jewelry Show, Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
  
  
• May 29-31: Las Vegas, NV - Bead Renaissance, Palace Station Hotel/Casino
  
  

MORE GREEN JEWELRY ARTISANS

Still Fabulous!

Romance of the Ages Hearts, Emerald Glass, and Mucha Lady, Asymmetric Necklace

Romance of the Ages is a one of a kind, asymmetric necklace, with a lovely rectangular brass pendant featuring a pensive Mucha lady. There are a ...

Whimsy

Australian Half Penny with Kangaroo: Vintage Coin Earrings

These earrings have been hand-crafted from vintage Australian Half Pennies dated 1947 and 1957. A Kangaroo, with its dynamic energy, embellishes the ...

Theresa Mink Designs

Monarch Butterfly - Real Butterfly Wing Preserved for Eternity in Sterling Silver and Glass - Pendant and Chain Necklace

This will be a great addition to your wardrobe! And none of your friends will have one! The neutral colors of the Monarch Butterfly would look great ...

MuyiFabu

Green Goddess pure Silver leaf Necklace with Dichroic glass and Swarovski crystals

This one of a kind necklace was created using precious metal clay with a green dichroic glass cabochon. Precious Metal Clay, PMC, is an exciting ...

Pilula Jula Artisan Handcrafted Jewelry

rockferry Pilula Jula Chrysoprase Peridot Garnet Boulder Opal Necklace

Amp up your vamp factor in a freefall of stoneage... neck nuzzling ala Jula Jam©~ bustled tasselation necklace~ distinctively designed from the ...

Synergy Collectibles

Vintage Black Bauble Charm Bracelet

Reminiscent Of Antique Slider Bracelets, This Artisan Jewelry Creation Is Fashioned From The Delightful Vintage Trinkets Found In Grandmother's ...

Alison Phalan Antiques

Artisan Brooch Made From Vintage Parts

I made this from vintage Haskell parts. I added an old piece of art glass that I had from a Victorian pin. It measures 4 inches long by 2 inches wide....

Floradora Charm Bracelets

Rose et Noir Floradora Charm Bracelet

I have a sentimental affection for things Pink Black, going back to my girlhood in the 1950's. This was a startling, and somewhat daring color ...

Madonna Star Jewelry

Miss Lucy Honeychurch ~ Aqua Rhinestone Artisan Necklace with Antique Subtlety

An altered vintage brooch with aqua rhinestones and plastic seed pearls is the offset focus of this asymmetrical necklace. It's upholding a linked ...

Winterberry Jewelry

Personalized ID bracelet - have your name or favorite saying on pure silver ID tag on sterling silver chain - custom made for you -- adult sizes

This bracelet features a hefty silver ID tag made from pure silver. The name tag is handcrafted and you can have it customized with any name or ...

SHARE CREATIVE HANDS WITH A FRIEND

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