Fabulous Friday Features: Rose Works Jewelry!

Welcome to another great installment of the Fabulous Friday Features, where I feature a great Etsy artist each week! If you have an Etsy store and would like to be featured, or know someone who does, leave me a comment at the end of this post!

This week's featured artist is Ruthie from Rose Works Jewelry. She has a store on Etsy and also on Artfire.

~Ruthie and Her Husband on Their Wedding Day~

1. How did you get started?

I grew up doing different "crafty" things, my Mom has always been into doing craft projects, and she shared that love with me at an early age! I first started learning to make jewelry as a freshman in high school, and I slowly picked up different techniques over the years. I didn't really get passionate about it though until a couple of years ago. At that point my friends and family really started encouraging me to sell my work. I dreamed, but didn't really pursue it until I got really sick in the Winter of 2008. I found myself needing to spend hours sitting still being restful, and I slowly started to fill some of that time with bead weaving. I continue to struggle with severe health problems, and having my jewelry business has given me a new purpose in life and helped me to stay sane through it all!

~Wind Dancer~

2. What are your inspirations?

I don't even know where to start with this! I love seeing other jewelry artists work, but I'm also inspired by nature, artisans from completely different disciplines, and just about anything you can think of!

~Earth Walker~

3. What are your favorite pieces?

I really love my elements series. Here are the links to the two pieces that are unsold right now:

Wind Dancer (The first jewelry piece shown at top):

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=230308

Earth Walker The second jewelry piece shown):

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=367416

I'm also really proud of my piece "Set Me Free" because it was an incredibly challenging journey for me (the third jewelry piece)!

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=241685

~Set Me Free~

4. Are you involved with any animal or other charitable organizations and how did that come about?

I'm currently working on making a baby blanket to donate to the local Pregnancy Resource Center (http://www.prcvancouver.org/). I used to work in a local shelter - and I'm thinking about setting up to donate a portion of my sales to them, but I don't have it quite set up yet. http://www.sheltered.org/

~Scroll Bracelet~

Thanks Ruthie, what a fabulous artist you are!

And to my Little Studio Photography and Jewellery Followers, please remember - ONLY 3 DAYS LEFT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MY 20% OFF SALE!!!

Melodious Monday - I LOVE Plurk!

Okay , okay, when I first heard about Plurk, ANOTHER site to social network, I thought my head would explode. Honestly, aren't I on enough sites already??? (See yesterday's posts for that). But after reading RoseWorksJewelry's blog post on how it is similar yet different to Twitter, I thought I'd give it a try. To me, it seems like a great merger between Twitter, Facebook and MSNChat. You can easily follow conversation threads, or ignore them. You can easily find your current friends, or make new contacts by following other's friends. Want to see people's lives but don't want to chat with them? Instead of becoming theyr "friend", become their "fan". You can't message each other, but you can see what the other is up to. It can automaticall post your updates to Twitter and Facebook as well, to save you posting time ifyou are into that.
Yup, I love Plurk! I've already met some cool people and I've gained 10 new followers to this blog in the past 2 days - welcome to all the new people, thank you for following me here!

Until next time, remember to enter my monthly contest by adding your name and email to my monthly newsletter (You have to sign up there first to be eligible to win!!), see the full contest details here.

Melodious Monday - I Won an Award!!

Ruthie at RoseWorksJewelry sent me a comment yesterday saying she had given me an award and I must say I am incredibly delighted. Her jewelry and blog are fantastic and I highly recommend you check her out, and treat yourself to one of her many gorgeous creations, guaranteed to make you feel like a million bucks.
Now, what is this award, you ask? Maybe you didn't ask, but I'll tell you anyway, since I'm bursting a few buttons from smiling so much :)
This is the Premio Meme Award and I need to tell you 7 things about myself. I'm not very good at this so I'll give it a try:
1. I'm 26 and disabled with Fibromyalgia (okay, okay, you knew that already)
2. I used to compete in horseback riding and was trying to be a professional show jumper (before the money ran out, LOL - not being rich in that sport is a definite drawback). I still want to get back into riding though, it was the best time of my life :)
3. I am addicted to books. Period. I have to keep buying new bookshelves because I fill up the ones I have so quickly, despite trying (unsuccessfully) to give away or sell my older books that I no longer read every year (yes, I read my books over and over and over...I like them, okay??)!
4. Hubby tries to keep me away from Amazon.ca because of #3...he's not always successful though ;-)
5. I love people commenting on my blog or Etsy store - it really does make my day.
6. I do actually cry a little bit from happiness at every sale I make; the fact that someone chose me out of all the other thousands of jewelry artists for their needs is the best feeling I can possibly have. I know, it is cheesy but true. I'm trying to embrace my 'softie' side!
7. I love gardening - even the weeding! It might be difficult when I get so sore, but there is nothing better than pulling a bunch of weeds to rid you of frustrations, and make you feel like you really accomplished something when you look at that small patch of weedless soil. Plus, I feel like the flowers and veggies thank me afterwards with their wonderful blooms and produce :)

Now I need to pass this on to 7 people, so here goes:
1. Louise from Fireseed - she never ceases to amaze and inspire me with her lamp work glass creations
2. Barry from An Explorer's View of Life - he is fighting the battle of his life and still maintains his humor and witty writing style.
3. Audrey at Stage 3 Who Me? - smart, capable and strong, she is also quite artistic and you'll love her.
4. Renee at Circling My Head - the strongest woman I know, and a blessing to all who read her blog.
5. Daisy and Harley at Daisy the Curly Cat - they always make me smile, and quite often laugh out loud at their outfits, expressions and antics.
6. Kathryn, Dobby, Franklin and Tasha at Mishkat - creative, funny and positive, there is always something to smile at or learn, or both. Despite not selling her art quilts, Kathryn is very talented and artistic
7. Sonia at the Dark Raven's Nest - starting to come out of her shell artistically, she is witty, funny and very creative. Always fun to read and be inspired.
Well that's all for now folks, tune in tomorrow for a new pair of earrings in my NeoAmour Collection!!