Red Tag Sale

All day today, all shop owners on Ruby Lane are participating in a site wide Red Tag Sale.
Each shop owner is asked to participate by marking down up to 15% of their shop inventory. Mark downs are 30%, 40%, 50% and 60% off the original pricing.

I too, am participating in the sale, please stop by.

 Baroque Pearls and Tiger Eye

The sale does draw lots of shoppers to the site, and helps reduce inventory.
Stop by and check it out! If you are interested in Antiques and Collectibles, here is the chance to pick up some great bargains.
Have a great weekend!

Veteran's Day 2010

THANK YOU!

Have a hugged a Veteran today?

I did, and then he went off to work!

I work in a bank, 

and I get to stay home? 

Calling all Etsy Sellers and other Online Shop Owners!

That caught your attention, did it not? Good. This posting is for all beaders and bead makers who sell on Etsy and who have their own websites. Did you know that Ruby Lane, where I have my shop, has launched Ruby Plaza an exciting new home to individually-owned shops offering home decor, jewelry, fashion & accessories and handcrafted items? 





Check it out, they have opened it up to pretty much anything you want to sell online and you can be sure to reach a market that maybe different to those you reach through Etsy.


To all my friends that create beads and findings, they even have a section to sell components and other handcrafted items.


Ruby Lane says that there are still some Flagship shop slots available, so hurry. What are flagship shops, you ask? Follow this link and check it out. The fees and costs associated with a Flagship Shop are reasonable and well worth it for the marketing that Ruby Lane provides you. Ruby Lane was rated the highest by the 2010 ratings of auctionbyte.com, an independent trade publication for online merchants.
I have been selling my jewelry since 2004 on Ruby Lane and love the site. I would be glad to answer any questions that you might have.


For the sake of full disclosure I am not being paid by Ruby Lane or Ruby Plaza for this posting. I just want to share what I think is a great site with all my beading and blogging friends. I only ask that should you decide to open a shop on Ruby Plaza, please let them know that Sundancegems referred you.

March Monthly Find at Sundancegems

Green jewelry of a different kind for St. Patrick's day.

Every month Ruby Lane lets its shop owners feature one item as a 'Monthly Find', and a randomly selected list of such items is sent out in an email to all its registered shoppers.


This is my monthly find for March ...

The lush rain forest green and earthy brown African Green Opal flat squares and coin, are all connected with corrugated Copper beads to create this bracelet. At the toggle hangs a green Rutilated Quartz bead and a Copper bead charm. The matching earrings are made with the African Opal squares.

This set is currently for sale in Sundancegems, ask me about it. 

Check out the monthly finds from all other Ruby Lane shop owners as well, you never know what you might see, and like and want!

Metallite Beads - check it out!

I used a gift certificate I received for Christmas to Artbeads.com to buy nothing but Metallite beads. What is Metallite you ask? It is a new product made in Korea by ZambaPro and offered for sale by Artbeads.com. With silver prices climbing higher every day, I thought this could be worth checking out.

As I shopped for these beads, what struck me most was the wide selection that was available. There were animal beads, floral beads, alphabet beads, spacer beads and beads in a variety of geometric shapes. Each bead was intricately marked and looked very nice. I made my selection and waited patiently for my white bubble envelope with its little purple packet.

I was pleasantly surprised when I received my beads. The beads were well designed and eye-catching. Very lightweight, after all they are made of plastic. Each bead is created by pouring acrylic plastic into a mold, then electroplating the plastic bead with a metal finish. These Metallite beads sold at Artbeads.com are subject to an extra plating process to produce a high quality product with increased durability. Light weight and light on the pocketbook too, you got to love that.

Because of their light weight, they were great for earrings. If you like large chunky earrings, you could use the metallized beads and still feel no weight on your ears. Look at the two pairs I made. I think they turned out beautiful. They are currently for sale in my Ruby Lane shop, Sundancegems.

Kyanite Raindrop Earrings

                                                                      

Lapis Lazuli and Lemon Quartz Sunshine Earrings

The findings used for these earrings are not of Metallite, only the beads. You can read more about the earrings at Sundancegems.

I think they are also great for long necklaces. We all know how metal beads can add tremendous weight to long necklaces. So I tried one, take a look! The gemstones added some weight to the pieces of jewelry made from Metallite to give it a nice substantial feel. Without the gemstones the pieces would have been too light and feel too much like costume jewelry.

Long Sponge Coral Necklace and Earrings

Metallite provided a nice change from the expensive metal bead and Artbeads.com has now introduced a new line of Metallite beads in gold. (Note to self: get some).

If you are looking for inexpensive gold and silver colored metal substitutes for your jewelry designs, also try out their line of gold plated pewter beads and silver/rhodium plated pewter beads. Besides their beauty and variety, these beads are made in the USA and lead-free!

Disclosure: I am not being paid by Artbeads.com for my endorsement of any of the products reviewed in my blog postings.

A Walk down Ruby Lane

As many of you already know, I have been selling my jewelry at my shop Sundancegems on Ruby Lane since November of 2004. I have enjoyed every minute of it, and I wish I had more time to devote to my jewelry making, but that will come (as I pay off my mortgage?!). I named my shop after the neighborhood in which I live 'Sundance', in case any one was wondering, and added the 'gems' to tell it apart from the more famous Sundance!

I thought I would invite you to a weekly stroll through the cobblestone streets of Ruby Lane to discover quality antiques, art, vintage jewelry and collectibles, and artisan jewelry from all around the world. This then is what I hope to be the first of a series of weekly blogs walking down Ruby Lane and meeting my neighbors.

First to Sundancegems to check out my new additions this week. Last week, with Valentines Day in mind, I added this pair of earrings with a pair of handcrafted Cathy Dailey heart with star charms dangling from the bottom of smooth sponge coral nuggets. I love Cathy's work and use them often in my jewelry.

Let me now introduce you to some of my neighbors...

Holly Cottage Designs - where Judith celebrates the feminine style. My favorite among her new arrivals this week are the fiery red and black earrings. Judith's designs feature beautiful lampwork from artisans around the country.

Graceful Earth Jewelry - Sandi creates jewelry from the earth to grace your spirit. Her moon drop flower earrings would make such a sweet Valentines Day gift. Sandi loves to create with beautiful beads from the earth.