Permanent FREE / REDUCED SHIPPING SECTION in my Etsy shop

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items In Fibers


Holiday Shopping - Sales - Special Deals - This is usually the time of Year for them!

For Sales or Special Deals in my Etsy shop, I usually offer either FREE SHIPPING of FIRST CLASS MAIL PARCEL to the USA and CANADA --

-- or REDUCED PRIORITY MAIL on items over 13 ounces to USA Addresses --

-- or REDUCED INTERNATIONAL PRIORITY MAIL with Insurance on all shipments to countries other than the USA and CANADA that I can and am willing to ship to (I reserve the right to not ship to certain foreign countries).

But I have decided to PERMANENTLY have a "FREE / REDUCED SHIPPING SECTION" in my Etsy shop. The items in it may change periodically -- usually some seasonal or current holiday items will be in it.

Here is the link to this Section: http://www.etsy.com/shop/RSSDesignsInFiber?section_id=6561481

And Here our the current items in it as of Today:

I also offer upgrades in Shipping in my Etsy shop -- anyone, who wants to get a shipment mailed either PRIORITY MAIL or EXPRESS MAIL, can request it for an additional charge -- if it is an item in this "FREE / REDUCED SHIPPING SECTION", the upgraded rates will be REDUCED from the Full Shipping Cost.

My aim is to please the customer to the best of my ability.

Any customers can always contact me by email on Etsy (an Etsy conversation) - or off Etsy to the email address for the Etsy Order.

I appreciate all the customers who have bought my Hand-crafted pieces. I put a lot of detailed work into everything I make and I endeavor to make what my customers will like!!

Adding SPARKLE with GLASS BEADS

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items In Fibers


When I crochet, there are times when I want to add SPARKLE to what I am making.

There are different ways of doing that, as I have discussed in posts here on my blog, but one of the ways that I like to do it is with shiny GLASS BEADS in different colors that SPARKLE!

My most recent BEADED item is this one -- a big white snowflake with CRYSTAL IRIS GLASS SEED BEADS crocheted in on the last round. The photo may not really do it justice - you will have to take my word for it - the 336 GLASS SEED BEADS on the outer edge really add a SPARKLE to it!!




I am not really into glitz that much - but I do like to add that SPARKLE to some of my items - especially on the edges, where the beads won't interfer with using the piece for displaying something like a vase or bowl or basket or figurine.

Just the right touch of SPARKLE with some complimentary glass beads can really add that "something" to the piece that makes it really special!

I have a few Beaded Thread Crochet items currently in my Etsy shop and you can find them HERE!

To give you an idea of more THREAD CROCHET items that I have made with GLASS BEADS and sold over the years, here are a few photos.

HOLIDAY SALE this Friday through Monday "BLACK FRIDAY to CYBER MONDAY"

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items In Fibers


For the famous BLACK FRIDAY through the newer CYBER MONDAY, I am offering Special Holiday Shipping for all Orders through my Etsy Shop, RSS DESIGNS IN FIBER, or confirmed Custom Orders made privately during these 4 days of Friday, November 27th through Monday, November 30th - that TOTAL $10 OR OVER! That means that 4 small items with a combined sales total $10 or over qualifies for this Special Holiday Shipping and any shipping charges will either be refunded or I will send you a modified invoice/money request.

The Special Holiday Shipping is:
-- To the USA and Canada - all shipments that can go USPS FIRST CLASS MAIL PARCEL will be free.
-- For heavier items (over 12 ounces) to the USA and CANADA - REDUCED PRIORITY MAIL FLAT RATE (OR BY WEIGHT IF CHEAPER) WITH INSURANCE WILL BE REQUIRED.

I DO COMBINED SHIPPING - FOR THE HEAVIER ITEMS, IF EVERYTHING FITS IN A FLAT RATE BOX OR ENVELOPE (IT MAY NEED TO BE FOLDED), REDUCED PRIORITY MAIL WILL BE KEPT LOW and some shipping charges may be refundable.

ALL ITEMS IN MY ETSY SHOP $10 AND OVER WILL HAVE THESE SPECIAL HOLIDAY SHIPPING RATES ON THEM FOR THESE 4 DAYS starting at 12:01 am EST Nov. 27th. Items less than $10 still have regular shipping charges on them - a combination of items in one Etsy Order totalling $10 or over may require that I give you a refund of shipping charges or a modified invoice/money request.

THE ORDERS IN MY ETSY SHOP MUST BE DATED AND TIMED WITHIN THIS PERIOD TO QUALIFY. ALL PRIVATE ORDERS MUST BE CONFIRMED AND/OR PAID IN ADVANCE WITHIN THESE 4 DAYS.

I WILL TAKE PAYMENT AFTER THE 4 DAYS OF THIS SALE -- I PREFER PayPal BUT WILL TAKE USPS MONEY ORDERS. SHIPPING WILL BE DONE WITHIN A FEW BUSINESS DAYS OF RECIEVED and CONFIRMED PAYMENT AS MY SCHEDULE ALLOWS - CERTAINLY AS FAST AS I CAN AFTER RECIEVED PAYMENT CONFIRMED.

Here on my blog are images of quite a variety of items I make. You can always check my ETSY SHOP -- or if you are interested in doing a private custom order, check my PUBLIC PHOTO GALLERY OF MY HANDMADE ITEMS and you can email through my ONLINE PROFILE to ask about one!!

Some little things I make are really great as Stocking Stuffers -- or as small gifts for those 8 days of Hanukkah!! Here are some examples of the little things I make - each photo links to its listing on Etsy:

HOLIDAY DECOR COLOR THEMES -- Today BLUE AND WHITE is Featured!

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items In Fibers

I've been reading -- BLUE and WHITE are a rather popular Decor Color Theme. I have seen books about it! From Elegant to some Country Styles to Nautical and Beach Themes, as well as the Jewish Themes, BLUE and WHITE is a well-known color theme -- though it can be in different shades of BLUE!!

These BLUE and/or WHITE items pictured in this article, Hand-Crocheted by me, are some examples of work I have done in this color theme for decor. Each photo links to the item listed in my online shop, RSS DESIGNS IN FIBER.

But -- if you look through this Slideshow of my PUBLIC PHOTO GALLERY of my Thread Crochet Items, you will see more of a variety of items I have done over the years in BLUE and WHITE (as well as other colors).




The following 4 images reflect my ideas of how to do designs in BLUE and WHITE!

DESIGN STYLE GUIDE on ETSY has some wonderful Home Decor, just to give an example of what you can find there, I have chosen the last image to showcase BLUE and WHITE Table Decor that is co-ordinated -- A Blue Pottery Vase: "Together Vase" by Glynt Pottery.

You can find various Thread Crochet HOME DECOR from ETSY THREAD ARTISTS in BLUE!

And - you can find other Home Decor from DESIGN STYLE GUIDE in BLUE !

3D Sparkling Flower Design in Fall Color Theme

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items In Fibers






I've been planning and working on this project for a while.

It has 3-dimensional flowers done in a particular way - 8 petals on each of 3 layers - and each petal is edged with gold-copper blending filament added -- giving the flowers a sparkle!!

The 3-dimensional flowers sit in tan lace. There are 6 motifs with the flowers - the seventh center motif is totally flat for putting "things" on -- perfect for vases, bowls, figurines.

On the border of each motif, I added more of the gold-copper blending filament to give more sparkle!!

This is truly an Artistic Fine Thread piece - perfect for Home Decor on any table. If you really would like to, you could also turn it into Wall Art by mounting or framing it.

It is for sale on Etsy - here.

But, I ALSO DO CUSTOM ORDERS - I can do this in a different size - in different colors - with different flowers. If you don't shop on Etsy, you can contact me here about Custom Orders!

My Idea - Cluny Lace Doily with 3D Roses

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items In Fibers

I was working on the Fall Color Project I showed the motif of earlier, when I had a new idea and just had to try it!

I have some designs of Cluny Lace that I really like -- so I took a look and could envision these 3D Roses around it.

I crocheted the Cluny Lace piece and then figured how big the space was for the flower.

I have quite a lot of crochet thread in different sizes -- I chose the size 30 thread in the variegated thread of cream, light green and light-medium pink. I did a 3-layer, 8-petal round Rose - and added a 4th layer with slightly elongated petals in a dark green.

With the contrast of the light 3D flower on the dark green larger petals - around a cream doily, it looked just as romantic as I wanted it to!

For sale here - in my Etsy shop!

Thread Crochet - Preview of One Motif of Work-In-Progress

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items In Fibers





Here is one Motif of a soon-to-be-finished project.

I have done this one in a special way because I wanted it to be, well, special!

In the center of the Motif is a 3-dimensional 3-layer flower made with a DMC Pearl Cotton variegated thread in dark oranges (almost organge-red) and lighter oranges and yellow - with some orange-gold blending filament on the edges of each petal for sparkle. Those small glistening gold spots in the photo are the orange-gold blending filament showing.

This 3-dimensional flower sits in a lace pattern of a tan brown thread - and on the outer rounds of this motif, you will see more of the glistening gold spots - more of the orange-gold blending filament.

6 of these motifs attached around a center flat motif will make up this round centerpiece - with the motifs, the finished piece will have more of a scalloped round shape.

The flat center will make it good for a centerpiece on a table where you can put a bowl or vase or other pottery or even a small statue or large figurine.

I hope to have this finished and up for sale in my Etsy shop within a few days.

The DMC Pearl Cotton, with its wonderful colors and "pearly effect" -- and the orange-gold Krenik blending filament are what makes this Special!

WALL ART on Etsy

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items In Fibers

TREASURY: WALL ART to Brighten Up Any Room

I have to admit, even though I have been selling on Etsy for some time, I am still surprised at some of the artistic items I find there.

Pleasantly surprised!

I decided to look for some Wall Art -- and found the items in the Treasury above.

I love the paintings by Elizabeth Graf and Slavko!

I like owls and was delighted to find them by Bululu Studio and tanjasova!

And I love the perspective of Gary Heller's photograph!!

This Treasury is made up of items from my 3 Etsy Teams:

Design Style Guide
Eco Etsy
Etsy Thread Artists

Such fun - Enjoy!

From The Nature Conservancy -- What Eco-Issue Keeps You Up At Night!

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items In Fibers


The Nature Conservancy, one of my favorite organizations on the planet, has come through again - this time on their blog.

I don't know how it is for most people -- I admit -- I was brought up from the early 1950's by a father who was an active environmentalist (including anti-nuke) before it became the popular thing to do.

I heard about it all the days I was growing up. Books on environmental subjects were all over our home. I was taken to wild places like forests from early childhood. Recycling and Reusing we just a normal part of our everyday life.

I remember being on one of my first hikes in a Forest Preserve in Chicago, IL and being shown what poison ivy was by a camp counselor -- I have never forgotten, always recognize poison ivy and therefore have never ended up with having a problem with it! Existing with and respecting Nature!

Some of my favorite places I have ever been have been in the "green worlds" of canopied forests.

So, when I saw the post by The Nature Conservancy in Facebook, I jumped on it and went to their blog to the post: "Open Thread: Which Eco-Issue Keeps You Up At Night?" - left a comment there and in Facebook -- and I will reiterate it here:

"What keeps me up at night is actually 2 things, but connected. When are enough
of the people and governments on the planet going to realize and act on the fact
that we have to live our lives in such a way as to preserve the web of life the
best that we can — or are we going to keep negatively impacting our own habitat
to the point where it is not habitable by humans? Part of this — and a big part
of this for me — is I worry about how much of the forest that originally covered
the planet has been cut down and is still being cut down; we need to preserve
existing forests and plant trees that grow qucikly and strongly enough to grow
canopies/root structures in 15 to 25 years that keep the land cooler and
moister."

I have a whole section on my blog devoted to "forests" -- because they are so important to me.

What is important to you?

What, if anything, keeps you up at night?

TO LIFE!!!

FALL DECORATING - What I Have To Offer

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items In Fibers

It has been a number of years now that I have been making Home Decor items (Yes, I mean Handmade!) -- and much of it has been seasonal.

Above is a video of some of the Decor in Fall Colors that I have made over the years.

Pictures rarely do any of my Handmade items justice, but they do give a visual idea of what I have made and can make and will make ....

If anyone is interested: I DO CUSTOM ORDERS!!

Here are a few items that I currently have in my Etsy shop now:

An Etsy TREASURY To Brighten Up Our Winter Days!!

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items In Fibers

Never sure which holidays people celebrate these days -- sometimes get surprised actually communicating with some about it, but no matter the holiday or any time, many of us enjoy decorating our homes and work spaces to brighten up our days -- and Red and Green -- colors in Nature as well as popular winter holidays -- certainly brighten up those shorter winter days inside!!

So, I searched on Etsy from my Etsy Teams, Design Style Guide and Etsy Thread Artists, to see what could be found on Etsy in these cheery colors -- and I managed to find a few items I really liked!!

All Handmade!! Yes, people actually carefully make these rather unique beautiful items with their own hands!

The image above is of a TREASURY or Member-Curated Gallery (curated by me) of these Red and Green items I found listed on Etsy. You can find it on Etsy here - until it expires at 11:58 am Tuesday morning.

In the real one on Etsy, the images link to the listings they represent, but after Tuesday morning, it will be gone.

Here on my blog, the image will stay though it will link to "nowhere" - but you can still find these items or similar ones on Etsy!!

I was a Winner of A GIVEAWAY!!

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items In Fibers






Thank You to Kenna Foster of Beholden To Nature and Fine Art, Nature Conservation Photography by Kenna
-- for holding her "Vow NOT To Recycle" Giveaway -- for 2 reasons!!

First of all, I so totally support REUSING and using REUSABLE CONTAINERS over using plastic bottles that have to be recycled (or heaven-help-me -- thrown away into our overfilled Landfills!!!).

It has been some time now since I signed onto the "Break the Bottled Water Habit" Campaign --- and I am really doing it!! I have 2 stainless steel bottles that I use both around the house - and when I go out - for water and other beverages; I also have a PUR water filter on my kitchen faucet rather than buy bottled water.

I just don't buy bottled water any more unless I am backed into a corner and I think that happened once in the past year. Otherwise, I just carry my trusty stainless steel bottle with the screw-on top (which has the added bonus of not leaking) everywhere I go and I love it -- water, tea, coffee -- it serves me so very well and I don't have those disposable/recyclable bottles to worry about any more.

I also managed to find a somewhat insulated travel cup with a stainless steel inner cup that I take with me when I stay out overnigt because I can use it at the coffee bar at the hotels or restaurants I go to usually. Don't have to take their disposable cups and the drinks stay hotter in it, too!!

And, Second, by gosh -- I was one of the Winners of Kenna's Giveaway and I am getting the photo pictured at the top here!! It links to Kenna's listing in her Etsy shop!! (photo used by permission)

Maybe using the RESUSABLE CONTAINERS and not even having to recycle, let alone throw away, will help preserve the beautiful nature spot in the photo -- Havasu Falls in Arizona!!

REUSE! -- REUSE! -- REUSE! -- REUSE! -- REUSE! -- REUSE! -- REUSE! -- REUSE!

Crochet Threads I Use and May Have Available For Sale

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items In Fibers

Here is a Slideshow of a few of the Crochet Threads that I use in my crochet (and sometimes knitting) projects from my Picasa Web Album. The captions are the name, size and color description of each thread. (You can always check this Picasa Album online to see if I have added any pictures of any new colors.)

Though I use a variety of crochet threads - what I can find in specific colors - for much of my crochet work I use DMC Crochet Cottons -- and these 2 are the ones I use the most:

DMC Pearl Cotton Balls - sizes 5, 8 and 12 (DMC Article 116)
DMC Cebelia Cotton Crochet Thread - sizes 10, 20 and 30 (DMC Article 167G/167GA)

The above links are to the online DMC Color Cards, where you can also find links to Color Descriptions and other Quick References.

I have my own stock of the colors that I usually use - but I have access to all the colors through a DMC Distributor.

I sell only through my Etsy shop -- and I am looking into putting in an order soon. I can do custom, reserved orders of combinations of colors and threads through my Etsy shop.

DMC Pearl Cotton has the most beautiful "lustrous", "pearly" sheen of any thread I have used -- and I often use it as an accent or main thread in my Thread Crochet projects! Size 8, which I use the most and comes in hundreds of colors including 30+ variegated colors, works up extrememly well with size 20 crochet threads -- but can be used for Flowers, Embellishments and Buttons on almost anything!!

If anyone is interested in getting some in any of their colors, you can contact me through my Etsy shop (Etsy Conversations) -- or leave a comment here with an email address.


Here are a few examples of my Thread Crochet using these DMC Threads -- and all of them have DMC Pearl Cotton in them!!

ARTISAN FEATURE: Debby Arem Designs Three Ring Circuits

Ruth Sandra Sperling

It was shortly after I joined my first Etsy Team, Eco Etsy Street Team, that I discovered Debby Arem's Designs and her repurposed circuit board creations - and loved them!! I have told my pro-environment family and friends about them with very positive responses!! So, here on my blog, I am finally doing a Feature of these great repurposed circuit board creations!! Some of them make me laugh and the rest of them I just think are really great -- one of these days I am going to get one of her clocks I think .... !!

Debby of Debby Arem Designs Three Ring Circuits

Question: What is(are) your Craft(s)/Art(s)?

Answer: I use vintage circuit boards from the 1980's that have never been stuffed and repurpose them into many many different products! Since 1992, I've been making earrings, pins, and necklaces as well as men's cuff links and tie tacks. -- I also, along with my husband, make a variety of green office products such as clipboards in all sizes including magnetic ones for your fridge, bookmarks, key chains, pencil boxes, pill boxes,business card holders, magnets and rulers. -- In addition, we also make sun catchers, clocks, picture frames and last year we introduced a menorah for Hannukah! I've probably forgotten to mention something as our line has expanded so much in the past 17 years!




Question: Are there places you sell your Craft(s)/Art(s) on the Internet?

Answer: I of course have a shop on Etsy: http://DebbyAremDesigns.etsy.com
- as well as on ArtFire: http://ThreeRingCircuits.artfire.com
- on Da Wanda: http://en.dawanda.com/shop/debbyaremdesigns
- on Cosa Verde: http://cosaverde.com/store/debbyaremdesigns/
-- and my own website: http:// DebbyArem.com !!






Question: Are there places you sell your Craft(s)/Art(s) off the Internet?

Answer: We currently are selling a variety of our green office products at the gift shop at Chicago's Museum of Science and Technology, the Newseum here in Washington, D.C., and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill's book shop to name a few.

Question: What/Who has been the inspiration behind doing your Craft(s)/Art(s)?

Answer: I have a degree in Fine Arts and a background in silk screen design.
I was and still am a bead artist ( you can see some of my work at another one of my Etsy shops http://ForeverInStyle.etsy.com as well as my own personal website http://DebbyArem.com). -- I wasn't intending to start another company, but one day in the early 1990's, I literally wandered into the back room of my husband's company which manufactured PCBs and saw a circuit board for the first time in my life . I was immediately hooked and I remember thinking "These circuit boards have the most fabulous patterns - what great jewelry you could make from these!" -- I love to do custom work for people and have even combined my 2 lines and made necklaces using all vintage beads as well as recycled circuit boards! Here is an example of one of these custom designs.

Question: Can you briefly explain to our readers how you do your Craft(s)/Art(s) (methods, skills, materials)?

Answer: After a number of years of trial and effort figuring out how to ' cut' huge circuit boards down to size, we figured out the perfect method which still remains a secret to everyone else but us! ;-) I then add recycled metal from scrap metal facilities, vintage beads, and many times recycled old electrical components to create the pieces we sell. I use wire, jump rings and industrial epoxy to assemble our various products.


Question: How did you learn or develop your Craft(s)/Art(s)?

Answer: After LOTS of trial and error, cut fingers, and broken fingernails, my husband and I figured out how to cut some of the larger circuit boards that we salvaged into smaller more usable sizes. None of the circuit boards that we ever use have ever been 'stuffed' so they're all very smooth. -- People are always asking us this - especially in the case of a clipboard because they want to know if the surface will be smooth enough to write on and the answer is 'yes'! --- We were most fortunate because at the time, we had a neighbor who manufactured circuit boards and any prototypes that had imperfections had to be disposed of so we had plenty of material to work with to perfect our trade. We always joke that we were 'green' before it was a movement back in 1992 and our neighbor was wonderful and let us acquire circuit boards from her before they would have otherwise ended up in a landfill.


Question: Are you continuing to study your Craft(s)/Art(s) - and, if so, how?

Answer: I would say that I'm definitely still 'studying' my craft because I'm always coming up with new products to add to our Three Ring Circuits line. My husband is wonderful as he's the one many times who figures out how to execute my idea. We work as a team many times to bring the product to the marketplace!

Question: What is your personal history in your Craft(s)/Art(s)?

Answer: I received my B.A. in Fine Arts from American University here in Washington, D.C. and have been an artist for almost as long as I can remember!
I got my first big break in the early 1980's when I had begun stringing and knotting beaded necklaces for friends. I feel like a dinosaur in that respect because I knotted all my necklaces and still do (which protects the beads and gives a nice finished look.) --- Nowadays, most people merely put the beads on wire which of course is much less time consuming. --- Anyhow, I approached the buyer at Bloomingdales' jewelry department to see if they might be interested in carrying my line which I was in the process of developing and that's when I got my first break - a trunk show! --- From there, I moved on to trunk shows at Saks Fifth Ave and a number of other upscale dept. stores all over the country and ultimately sold my necklaces through the Smithsonian's museum shops and mail order catalogs on a regular basis. When I began Three Ring Circuits, since I already had an 'in' at the Smithsonian, I was able to approach the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum who began to sell my recycled circuit board products.


Question: Are there other interests in your life that you would like to discuss here (hobbies, charities, other careers, etc.)?

Answer: When I'm not designing jewelry, my husband and I both volunteer with 2 rescue groups for dogs. We're always trying to educate people to 'spay and neuter your pets' and we try to help out as much as possible doing home visits, vet checks etc. I also am an avid knitter and gardener and love to cook!


Question: To anyone aspiring to do the Craft(s)/Art(s) you do, do have any suggestions or recommendations?

Answer: I'd say to definitely try to find circuit boards that aren't stuffed or you'll spend hours trying to remove everything!


Please Note: Features on RSS Designs In Fiber are based on the artisan's answers to questions I give them and the photos they send me or choose or approve -- I give all artisans I Feature full editing rights.