Ruby Lane's Creative Hands Newsletter for April 2006

Creative Hands
Ruby Lane's monthly newsletter celebrating the Arts & Crafts
community
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Welcome to Creative Hands!

IN THIS ISSUE:
o ARTISAN SPOTLIGHT: Carol Evans of Purrrls
o Ruby Lane April Fine Art and Artisan SHOP SAMPLER
o April FINE ART and ARTISAN SHOWS
o Share Creative Hands With A Friend
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ARTISAN SPOTLIGHT: CAROL EVANS OF PURRRLS

Nine years ago my sister came to me and asked, "Do you want to
take a beading class with me?" My first response was "NO WAY!"
I did not want to get involved in yet another 'crafting
project.' But, against my better judgement, I went with her and
things have certainly snowballed since!

I never considered myself to be the 'artistic' type. Both of my
sisters are wonderful artists and crafters. I took some jewelry
making courses in college but never went any further with it.
I've dabbled in the usual tole painting and rubber stamping/card
design crafts. But none of that compares to my love for jewelry
making. It's brought out an artistic side that I never knew I
had.

So, I took those beading classes, bought some basic supplies and
got busy! My first projects were with base metal wire and glass
beads. Then I went through a phase of crystals, then, almost
exclusively, pearls. Since then I've found my niche primarily
with sterling silver and semi-precious gemstones. I still love
pearls and Swarovski crystals and often incorporate those into
my designs. But gemstones are absolutely fascinating to me.
The cut, the texture, the color, and frequently the designs
within the stone are some of the things that catch my eye. Many
of the jaspers and agates have such intricate designs within
them that I'm in awe of what our Earth can produce. Each stone
is like a little work of art!

Since my first encounter with learning the craft of
beading/jewelry making my styles have naturally changed. I've
never been one to be swayed by current 'fads.' I like to create
original pieces that appeal to my eye, and hope that they appeal
to others as well! I may start a piece with a specific idea in
my head, but as I'm piecing it together I may change my design
completely. It just has to look and feel right to me. That may
mean scratching my original design all together, but I just tuck
it away in my design book for another day.

My designs are inspired by a variety of things. My environment,
colors, textures, even my mood! Last year I took a trip to the
mountains (with my jewelry stuff in tow, of course!). I was so
uplifted by the green surroundings, so full of life, that I
created a whole line of jewelry completely inspired by the
greens of the Aspen trees and vibrant colors of the Alpine
flowers. On another occasion I planned on showing some of my
jewelry pieces at a beautiful home on the coast surrounded by
stones of rich browns, golds and earthtones. The colors
themselves inspired yet a whole other line of jewlery in the
earthtone colors.

Once I get inspired I tend to create somewhat frantically ~
laying out strands of gemstones and pearls all over my creative
space to find just the right combination of color, texture and
shape. I find a style that I like and want to re-create it in a
multitude of colors. I may go to the wholesale gem shows with a
'shopping list' of items I need for designs I plan to make, but
often I'm distracted by all the beautiful gems and pearls I see
and end up with much more than I planned. It just brings on new
inspiration for different designs. And this usually brings on
one of my 'frantic' design episodes! Sometimes my inspiration
will be the stones themselves. I may come across something so
stunning that I want to showcase it. That requires that the
piece be just right so as not to have the stone 'lost' in the
design, but be enhanced and complemented by it.

Sometimes designing a piece of jewelry takes a lot of thought
and trials, other times everything seems to just fall together
perfectly. As I hope you've gathered, my pieces are lovingly
thought out and crafted. I make my jewelry for the creative
process itself, not simply as a business. I don't like to 'mass
produce' pieces just to make a sale. Most of my pieces are one
of a kind ~ individully inspired and crafted. It's relaxing to
me to spend time making jewelry and fullfilling to let my
creative juices flow. It always seems to validate my excitement
about my craft when someone buys my creations and especially
when I have return customers. I'm fortunate enough to be doing
something that I really love and be rewarded for it at the same
time!

We invite you to visit Carol's shop: Purrrls.

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RUBY LANE APRIL FINE ART AND ARTISAN SHOP SAMPLER

We invite you to visit these Ruby Lane Fine Art, Artisan and
Artisan Jewelry shops:

Designs With Attitude: Fused Glass, Lampworked Beads Jewelry &
Art Pieces All individually crafted with precious metals.

Mona Designs : Original Designs in Jewelry and Accessories, All
Hand Crafted

Denny Plesea Art Gallery: Original Etchings and Watercolors by
Denny Plesea

Siah Designs Artisan Jewelry: Jewelry for the Woman who creates
her own Destiny

Soli Creations Unituqe Beaded Jewelry : Exquisite, Original,
Hand-Made Beaded Artisan Necklaces, Bracelets, Earrings and
Anklets
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APRIL FINE ART AND ARTISAN SHOWS

Here is a list of fine art or artisan shows throughout the rest
of April:

April 20: Main Street Fort Worth Arts Festival, Main Street,
Downtown -- Fort Worth, TX

April 20 -23: Art & Craft Show, Sarasota Square Mall --
Sarasota, FL

April 21-23: Spring Festival, An Arts & Crafts Affair, Qwest
Convention Center -- Omaha, NE

April 21-23: Sugarloaf Art Fair, New Exposition Center -- Novi,
MI

April 21-23: Hampton Spring Crafts Festival, Hampton Roads
Convention Center -- Hampton, VA

April 21- 23: Handworks, MS Trade Mart, State Fairgrounds --
Jackson, MS

April 21-22: Pompano Beach Seafood Festival, On the Beach --
Pompano, FL

April 21-23: Two Women & A Show, Embassy Suites Hotel- Booth fee
includes 2 night stay -- Independence, OH

April 21-22: Artisphere, Downtown Greenville -- Greenville, SC

April 21-23: Art & Craft Show, West Towne Mall -- Madison, WI

April 21-23: Art & Craft Show, Hickory Point Mall -- Forsyth, IL


April 21-23: Olde Town Artisan's Fair, Living History Park --
North Augusta, SC

April 21-23: Fresno State Vintage Days, Fresno State Campus --
Fresno, CA

April 21-23: St Augustine Spring Art & Craft Festival, Special
Events Field -- St Augustine, FL

April 22-23: Cherry Hill Art Blooms Craft Festival, Challenge
Grove Park -- Cherry Hill, NJ

April 22-23: Alpharetta Arts StreetFest, Historic Downtown,
adjacent to 4th Ave,Tour de Georgia US Cycling Race --
Alpharetta, GA

April 22-23: The Buyers Cash & Carry Wholesale Mart, Royal Plaza
Hotel & Trade Center -- Marlborough, MA

April 23-23: Springfest, Main Street -- Nyack, NY

April 23-23: 4 Bridges Arts Festival, First Tennesse Pavilion
Site -- Chattanooga, TN

April 22-23: Carrabelle Riverfront Festival, Marine Street --
Carrabelle, FL

April 22-23: Ponte Vedra Beach Art Festival, Sawgrass Village --
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

April 22-23: Georgia Strawberry Festival, Downtown -- Reynolds,
GA

April 22-23: Mainsail Arts Festival, Vinoy Park -- St
Petersburg, FL

April 22-23: Spring Craft Show, University of DE -- Newark, DE

April 22-23: Fiesta Arts Fair, School Ground -- San Antonio, TX

April 22-23: Chain of Parks Art Festival, Downtown Historic Park
Avenue -- Tallahassee, FL

April 22-23: Cassadaga/Lake Helen Waterfestival, Lake Colby Park
-- Cassadaga, FL