Ruby Lane's Creative Hands Newsletter for December 2008

In This Issue

• Happy Holidays from the Ruby Lane Artisan Jewelry Shops
  
• Julie Rawlings - Blind Wolf Spirit - EST. 2001
  
• Terry O'H - Out of my Mind - EST. 2003
  
• Shelly Merry - Throwin' Stones - EST. 2004
  
• Tammy Taylor - Bead Chic Jewelry - EST. 2005
  
• Megan Cannis - Bel Bacio Jewelry - EST. 2007
  
• Share Creative Hands With A Friend
  

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THE RUBY LANE ARTISAN JEWELRY SHOPS

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

http://www.rubylane.com/search/event/,holiday





CopperTina's Unique Designs EST. 2008 Natures Beauty, Decorative Custom Cuff, Uniquely Delicious

JULIE RAWLINGS - BLIND WOLF SPIRIT - EST. 2001

I will always remember how excited I was at Christmas when I was a child. My mother baked her famous cranberry bread and the house was filled with dates, olives, pickles, and other foods that seemed so exotic to me. We would receive mysterious packages from far-off places like Pennsylvania, New York, and Washington filled with gifts. Our Christmas tree was decorated with ornaments that had been in my mother's family forever; including my favorite little carved and painted wooden birds. We were building Christmas traditions that would live on into my adult life and be passed on to my daughter.

My mother was a single mother and we didn't have much money, so food was very basic except during the holidays. She would put money away all year so that Christmas would be special. We would be so excited to open gifts that my mother would give in and let us each open one gift on Christmas Eve. My mother made Christmas magical.

Christmas is much the same at my house today. I have passed along many of the traditions from my childhood to my daughter. We still open one gift on Christmas Eve and my daughter insists on having a can of olives in her stocking every year. I have one of the carved and painted bird ornaments that I guard religiously in my jewelry cabinet until Christmas. I leave the cranberry bread baking to my mother who still ships loaves to all of us every year.

Traditions from my childhood play a large part in the western themed and wildlife jewelry I make and sell in my shop Blind Wolf Spirit. I have been selling my artisan jewelry on Ruby Lane since July 2001 and hope to be selling here for many years to come. Julie Rawlings

TERRY O'H - OUT OF MY MIND - EST. 2003

Picture it...a frail, elderly couple...arms wrapped around each other in support, emotional as well as physical...watching and waving as the caravan of vehicles and sea of faces disappear around the last bend in the road. The couple wasn't quite so frail, or elderly, just a few short days ago! The events leading up to this denigration of their condition went a little something like this:-

In the beginning, there were phone calls - many phone calls - from those children and family members who decided to join together for the holiday festivities. The joining together would be at the home of the now vibrant and vigorous couple known as us - Terry and Michael, Mom and Dad, Nana and Papa. In preparation for the flock that will be returning home, the week before becomes a rigorous showdown with all that has been neglected for many months before - spider webs, dust, dirt - cat hair, dog hair, even mystery hair - dirty windows - bedrooms and bathrooms to ready - mammoth trips to the grocery store.

After traveling some 800 miles, the flock arrives in the wee hours of the morning, greeted by a much less vibrant and vigorous couple who is nonetheless excited and thrilled to be hugged and mauled by these 18 sets of groping arms!

The following days are filled with talking, laughing, crying, playtime noise and, of course, food! Some traditions never seem to change - there must be a huge pot of gumbo on at least one of those days - Daddy's spaghetti is never to be left out! And a holiday dinner is never complete without turkey, dressing, dirty rice, potato salad, baked beans, sweet potato casserole, and cranberries in the snow!

The frail, elderly couple watches as the caravan disappears - the whirlwind chaos has left them winded and worn out and relishing in the afterglow of yet another positively perfect traditional family holiday!

I invite you to visit my shop and experience the craziness that spills over into my work! Terry O'H of Out of My Mind ~Mosaics Jewelry - Terry has been a Ruby Lane Shopowner since 2003

SHELLY MERRY - THROWIN' STONES - EST. 2004

The holidays have always been my favorite time of year. I was fortunate enough to grow up with a very large family. My mother is one of eleven, so there were many uncles, aunts and cousins around. As a child, Christmas was always celebrated at my grandparents' home. I don't remember the gifts so much but how much I loved being with my family. As my grandmother grew older and passed on my aunts and my mother took over holiday duties. A home was decided on and everyone brought a dish. Needless to say we always had plenty of good food.

The past few years we have had Christmas dinners at my sister's house or mine. This year is my turn to have Christmas dinner. Our dinners aren't fancy and everyone still brings a dish. I can only hope my children and grandchildren will have as many good memories as I have. I feel very blessed having a large family with two more additions this year and am looking forward to all the noise and commotion we will have in our house Christmas day.

The majority of my jewelry is made with genuine gemstones, sterling silver and gold-filled wire. I opened my shop, Throwin' Stones in 2004. It started exactly like it sounds. I purchased a pair of handmade earrings one day and thought I could throw some stones together and make a pair myself. My family and I would like to wish you all Happy Holidays and Love-filled Memories, Shelly Merry

TAMMY TAYLOR - BEAD CHIC JEWELRY - EST. 2005

My name is Tammy Taylor from Bead Chic Jewelry. I wanted to share some of my families Holiday traditions with you. We still have little children around here who get so excited for the holidays and for Santa Clause to make an appearance. Usually we start with Thanksgiving weekend. This is the time when the Christmas tree goes up. We like to go as a family and choose a fresh tree. This year we found a beautiful tree from Oregon, very full and well shaped. The kids love to help decorate it and they put random ornaments everywhere, the same ones together and all in one spot. After they are finished, it is my turn to even things out. We love to listen to holiday music as we break out all of the other decorations and make the house look festive.

I love children's books and have a fairly good collection. We love to read the illustrated children Christmas books throughout the month of December. "The Three Trees" is a favorite as well as "I Believe in Santa Clause". Sometimes we enjoy wrapping up the books and putting them under the Christmas tree. Every night we choose one to unwrap and read together. If we run out of books, we just wrap them up again so we have enough to last us through Christmas Eve. It is fun for the kids to be able to open a gift and they love reading the books. I think traditions like these are a wonderful way to bring family together.

My shop Bead Chic Jewelry has been on Ruby Lane since 2005. Creating jewelry is a passion and we love to select the finest and most unique components we can find in sterling silver, gemstones, Swarovski crystals and freshwater pearl. We wish you and your family a warm and happy holiday season! Tammy Taylor

MEGAN CANNIS - BEL BACIO JEWELRY - EST. 2007

I love holiday traditions, it really makes this time of year special and meaningful. One holiday tradition that my friends and family look forward to is our city's Holiday Boat Parade. Residence of the city go all out decorating their boats, tons of lights, animated characters and music. Although it is a boat parade it does not take place on the water, the boat owners hitch the boats to their cars and drive them down the road to make up the parade. Kids really look forward to the candy that is tossed from the boats, but then again so do I. The parade meets down at the city's center for more entertainment. There are wonderful musicians, vendors selling gorgeous items and delicious treats. It is a perfect way to spend the evening with friends and family and get into the holiday spirit.

Ruby Lane has been a wonderful place to not only display my jewelry designs but also to appreciate all of the amazing talent that is out there. I have been selling on Ruby Lane since 2007 and exclusively for a few months now. I believe that the people who belong to Ruby Lane either shoppers or sellers truly appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into artisan jewelry. Bel Bacio Jewelry Megan Cannis

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