Ruby Lane's Creative Hands - The New Year - 2010

In This Issue

• RUBY LANE ARTISANS SHARE: 2010 Resolutions
  
• FINE ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Julia Trop
  
• New year, new shops, new items, 'new' places - For a New You!!
  
• 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
  

RUBY LANE ARTISANS SHARE: 2010 RESOLUTIONS

Auraeana Originals Connie Corey

What New Year's resolutions do I have for 2010? None whatsoever. But wait! This is an issue of semantics for me. "New Year's resolutions" sounds like the old way of doing things. Can you even count the number of New Year's resolutions you have made and then broken?

That is why I substitute the word "intention," because when you "intend" something, you set it in motion to happen. Therefore, I intend many things in this beautiful new year.

I intend to be even more grateful for my wonderful customers. I intend to create unique and beautiful jewelry and to imbue it with all the love that goes into its creation. I intend to meet new customers, for the process of getting to know them brings joy to my life. I intend to give the very best service possible, because my customers deserve it. I intend to do a better job of marketing than I have heretofore done. And I intend to learn at least one new technique this year—maybe several.

Finally, I shall set these intentions on the New Moon, in order to solidify them. (The New Moon signifies new beginnings. The Full Moon is the time for releasing what no longer serves.)

I saved the personal best for last. I intend to create a workplace in which to carry out these intentions in my new home on a beautiful island, far from the snow and cold of my present home in the mountains, but still only a click away from all you wonderful people. Aloha and Namaste



Out of My Mind ~Mosaics Jewelry Terry O'Halloran

I usually steer clear of New Year's Resolutions...even the resolution to stick to the resolution! But this year I have one that is more pressing than the "I resolve to lose...uhm...pounds in the next three days"! Because of my passion for collecting everything stray...everything unusual...everything sparkling or whimsical...I have amassed a truly ridiculous amount of 'stuff'! I have enough 'stuff'! So my resolution for 2010 is this: While I remain committed to follow my passion when creating, I resolve to limit the creative curiosity to my own enormous collections of beads, findings, vintage jewelry and equipment that have so cunningly crept into every corner of our home. This resolution will make my husband far happier than me losing those ...uhm...pounds! A Blessed New Year to us all!







H H Jewelry Designs Lorie Hodny and Mary Lou Hertel

Our resolutions for our Ruby Lane shop and our design work in 2010, is to continue to strive to add additional mixed media pieces pieces to our work, and to challenge ourselves with new techniques in lampwork glass. We can't wait to explore this avenue. We vow not to end 2010 without melting some glass ourselves!









B BOLD Jewelry for Boomer Girls Marcia Southwick

Staying Free: A New Year's Resolution

The New Year isn't just about setting goals and making resolutions to lose weight or get in shape. It's also about making a fresh start, with a new sense of freedom from the past. Freeing oneself of old ways of thinking isn't easy. It takes constant reflection and observation of one's thoughts. It takes 'naming' those thoughts to begin to let them go and allow new, more positive inspirational ones to be born. The same is true of conceptual thinking when it comes to art.

Henri Matisse once said, "an artist must never be a prisoner. . . of himself?" That means leaving oneself open to the new. That's what I want to achieve in the New Year. Of course, I need concrete business goals. A marketer would certainly tell me that I'm not doing enough to promote myself. However, I believe that if an artist does what she's meant to do, stays focused on what she loves to create, the rest will follow.

Ruby Lane provides the exposure that artisan jewelers need. If we keep striving for quality, and keep in mind the innovation that caused us to start on this adventurous road in the first place, the rest will follow, and it will be a Happy New Year for us all!




Tea Oranges Kate Chodor

I have lots of plans and ideas, visions of fabulous jewelry pieces are always running through my head! My first thought these days has been Fiber! I've always been a very tactile person and I'm thinking of ways to incorporate fiber and fabric into my work along with, not instead of, the sterling silver and gold-fill that I so dearly love. I've also found, lately, that black works for me as a way to ground my (sometimes) over-the-top designs and the bright, exuberant colors I use in my work, so my Ruby Lane customers can expect to see more gunmetal and Black Silver in my pieces.








Deb Scott Designs Jewelry Deb Scott

My artisan New Years resolution is to look more to nature and the goodness of people for inspiration. As an artist I see this year of 2010 as a fresh new decade full of hope, wonder, an opportunity to grow and deepen my art.

FINE ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: JULIA TROP

Just like many other artists, I've always drawn – I can't remember a day when I haven't. Music and song have also been an escape, and dance has been a passion even though I sound like a crow and am completely uncoordinated. In my mind, I sing and dance perfectly! I was encouraged from a very young age to "see" and be "aware" in more ways than the visual, and at 17, immediately after high school I took courses at the University of Calgary Fine Arts' program. Due to a lack of self-discipline and a somewhat know-it-all attitude (hey I was 17!), I was asked to leave. Shortly after, I joined the Air Force (what else?) and I continued studies at the post secondary level in both correspondence and night school. Retaining the discipline, work ethic and integrity learned from my 12 year career in the military, one of my ultimate goals was finally reached when I attended a full time degree program at University of Lethbridge, receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts with Great Distinction in 2001. In 2002, in competition with 78 other candidates, I was chosen to be one of 6 resident artists in the beautiful, new Rotary Centre for the Arts in Kelowna BC (http://www.rotarycentreforthearts.com). I am still there today.

Since arriving in Kelowna in 2001, I am proud to say I have made a positive impact on the local art community. I've founded a drawing society called Livessence (http://www.livessence.com), and the Okanagan Erotic Art Show (http://www.okanaganeroticartshow.com) with two other artist friends. I train life drawing models, written two books, and am working on my third. I take care of five websites: (the programming, images, everything) my own three, JuliaTrops.com, AboutArtDonations.com, AbstractCharcoalDrawings.com, the two previously mentioned (Livessence and the Erotic Show), coordinate and curate the major fundraiser Evergreen Art Gallery for the Rotary Centre for the Arts, and other smaller local shows. I maintain my Ruby Lane store (http://www.rubylane.com/canadianartist artwork over $100) and I write a blog which deals with some very honest and straightforward opinions and advice for other artists and clients (http://blog.juliatrops.com). I have a Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/juliatrops), and I tweet (http://www.twitter.com/juliatrops) every now and then if I have something important to say or share. In 2010, I will be teaching Drawing for the University of British Columbia-Okanagan in their Continuing Studies program. My work is represented by two local galleries, GalleryOdin.com and HambletonGalleries.com. Somehow, I do find time to create, as since 2004 I have sold over 1000 artworks worldwide.

One thing I absolutely refuse to do, is reproductions/giclees of my artwork. I work with originals only, and this principle has to do with the soul of each work. How can one clone an authentic soul?

If someone were to ask how I describe my work, it could be done in one word, that of Calligraphy. Calligraphy is the dichotomy of free flowing but disciplined mark making. It physically describes energy which communicates a message of form and intensity and expression. Music is calligraphy, whether it is on paper, or played by an instrument or danced by the human form. Even though I can't sing well, I can draw, and musical calligraphic mark-making is how I would describe my work, whether drawing, painting or sculpture. Some have alluded that cave drawings were done as a celebration of honour towards the soul of the beast and the hunters, as well as a prayer prior to the hunt. My work is a tribute to the soul of the female quality embodied by the strength of masculine mark-making, and a prayer which contains the beauty of the line of expression which encompasses both into one.

In Werner Schade's essay titled "Joseph Beuys as Draftsman" he states "Drawing is an exercise far removed from perfection. Often it is obvious where the drawing began and in what sequence the overlapping steps were executed. The process of formation is visible: the superimposition of form, the corrections, the strokes made counter to the form." When I draw, my goal is to make my artwork one and the same as if it magically appeared - there is no beginning, no end, no corrections. It is, as it is, when it is.

In Far Eastern mysticism, yin is the woman, the moon, the night, the valley, the dark and shadowed side of hills and things, the cool colours, the broken lines, the negative, the intuitive and the yang is the masculine quality, the man, the sun, the day, the peak, the sunlit side of hills and things, the warm colours, the solid lines, the positive, the scientific. We live in a world of dichotomies - the feminine/masculine, night/day - but my goal is to see all as one, there is no beginning or end, all just, is.

Lastly, I would like to say a sincere thank you to all my clients for their support and belief. In 2010, my goals are very clear. I will be looking for more quality galleries for representation, and finishing at least two more books in this series of twelve. I will expand my clay and bronze sculpture portfolio by adding stonework. I will be moving my artwork into a more esoteric and metaphysical level. My goal in 2010 is to be limitless. Always, always I am looking at upward motion; I am the archer aiming for the stars.

Julia Trop Canadian Artist Julia Trops

NEW YEAR, NEW SHOPS, NEW ITEMS, 'NEW' PLACES - FOR A NEW YOU!!

Pretty Vintage

Coney Island New York Mermaid Souvenir Charm Bracelet

This is an contemporary souvenir Coney Island, New York charm bracelet. The bracelet measures 7 1 4 in length, has a foldover clasp and dangling ...

JeweLyrie

CRESCENT FLASH Argentium Silver Czech Glass Mod Earring

Amazing triangle Czech glass beads, black on one side, mysterious peacock blue and green one the other, topped with a tiny round silver bead, ...

The Gem Gallery

NEW Artisan Necklace Freshwater Chocolate Pearls 18 Inch

A gorgeous creation of rich-hued freshwater chocolate pearls. Pearls are 9 mm and knotted. Gold filled yellow clasp. Length 18 inches.

Hearts of Stone Earrings

Poppy Art Poppy jasper hearts and tube with copper heart charm

Poppy jasper heart and copper heart charm dangle from a poppy jasper tube, accented with a tiny mocha Swarovski crystal and goldstone heart. Goldstone...

Rhinestone Obsession

Artisan - new - Variegated Earthtone Shell Pearl Necklace Matching Pierced Earrings

This is a very rich and versatile set to have in our collection. The primary color is copper, which is very popular right now. The necklace is ...

Sweetpea Cottage

Necklace Rose Quartz New Jade w Carved Shoe Pendant

And now for something completely different! The artisan shop at Sweetpea Cottage presents a fantasy necklace strung with rose quartz and new jade ...

Winterberry Jewelry

Key to my heart necklace - couples and lovers edition - two necklaces in 22k gold or sterling silver - great anniversary or romantic gift

I have had so many requests to split up my key to your heart necklace into two that I've decided to make it official. This listing is for TWO ...

Still Fabulous!

Deja New Vu Vintage Hearts Asymmetrical One of a Kind Necklace

Deja New Vu! This necklace has several vintage hearts on 3 kinds of silvery chains. Asymmetrical style keeps a modern sensibility while the old ...

Art Studios International

Watercolor Original Painting Magnolia Flowers - Mindy Lighthipe

Title: Magnoalias in the Wind Size: 20 x 24 Framed: No My passion for nature was established at a young age. I was always digging in the dirt ...

Alameda Studio Designs

ALAMEDA STUDIO DESIGNS - Everything Old is New Again - recycled brass and amber colored bracelet

Get out your white suit, your tap shoes and tails, Lets go backwards when forward fails.. - Carole Bayer Sager, Peter Allen - I love everything old....

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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?

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