Ruby Lane's Creative Hands Newsletter for June 2003

Creative Hands
Ruby Lane's monthly newsletter celebrating the Artisan community
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Welcome to Creative Hands!

IN THIS ISSUE:
o June Featured Artisan: Charlen Williamson
o June Fine Arts and Crafts Show Sampler
o Share Creative Hands With A Friend

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JUNE FEATURED ARTISAN: CHARLEN WILLIAMSON

My mosaic adventure began about four years ago. I am a
Registered Nurse, and at the time I was working 12 hour shifts
in a very busy, hectic, not to mention emotionally and
physically demanding Emergency Room. Exhausted, I found myself
needing some sort of åtherapyÇ, something that would allow my
mind some much needed rest and relaxation.

One day, I took an old rusty patio side table out of the shed,
sanded it, and gave it a new coat of paint. We had some
brightly colored ceramic Mexican tiles that were left over from
when we built our house. I broke them with a hammer, applied
them to the table, and grouted. A mosaic table! I loved it! I
finished my first table, then made another, and another. My
patio table-making marathon lasted about 6 months. I must have
made close to forty tables that I sold to friends and
co-workers. After a while, I found myself limited and bored
with the tables, and wanted to try tiling different things.
That is when it all started. I began covering all sorts of
things: birdhouses, vases, mirrors, frames, crosses, and just
about anything I could get my hands on that had a flat surface!
This simple relaxing hobby had now become an obsession!

I made mosaic item after mosaic item, until my dining room was
packed full. My husband decided it was time for us to reclaim
our dining room, and asked me what I planned to do with these 50
or more mosaic items. I knew I needed to find a way to sell my
mosaics. That is when I found Ruby Lane. I opened my store on
my birthday, as a present to my self. It was perfect!

Now I spend as much time as possible working on mosaics. I
experimented with all sorts of mosaic mediums, anything that can
be glued on: stained glass, china, pottery, pearls, glass
beads, mirror shards, stoneware, marbles, glass gems, river
rock, and stone. I am always looking for new items to cover
with tiles - looking at simple every day items in different ways
than most people, always looking at their potential to become a
mosaic piece! I scour antique stores looking for cracked,
chipped or damaged china, and thrift stores for old discarded
treasures. I love the idea of taking old and damaged pieces of
china and pottery, and turning them into something beautiful!
Recycling the old and making something new and unique; giving
each piece a whole new life, the second time around!

I invite you to visit my Ruby Lane Shop Second Time Around
Mosaics.
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JUNE FINE ARTS AND CRAFTS SHOW SAMPLER

Here's a list of upcoming shows around the U.S. featuring fine
art and handcrafted items:

June 28-29, 2003 LOMPOC FLOWER FESTIVAL Ryon Park, Lompoc, CA

June 27-29, 2003 BOSTON MILLS ARTFEST Boston Mills Ski Resort,
Peninsula, OH

Jul 11-13, 2003, CAIN PARK ARTS FESTIVAL Cain Park, Cleveland
Heights, OH

Jul 21-22, 2003, CAPE COD FINE ART & CRAFT SHOW Grass Lot
Between Cinema and Drive-in, Wellfleet, MA

Jul 26, 2003, CLEAR LAKE ART SAIL Clear Lake City Park, Clear
Lake, IA

Jul 26-27, 2003, NORTH SHORE ARTS FESTIVAL Orchard Road &
Lawler, Shokie, IL