Time to Gradually Re-Open My Etsy Shop

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - My Handmade Designs on Bonanza and ETSY and On Fire For Handmade Gift Guide - or Email for a Private Order

Lace Pink Round Coaster Set of 2 with 3D Burgundy Red Crocheted Rose
Pink and Burgundy Red Napkin Rings with 3D Burgundy Red Rose

For those of you who have been reading this blog of mine, they may remember the days when I was selling on Etsy!

Went through some Life Changes in 2012 - and everything I had to sell online was in my Artfire Studio for some time - but now it is finally time to re-join some of my friends on Etsy - including the Interior Design Style people (in an Etsy Team) - and other Handmade Artisans that I have networked with for years!

The first 4 listings that I have started the Re-opening with include the Coaster and Napkin Ring set pictured above - and the other photos below - both in Thread Crochet and Yarn.

All Online Venues for Selling - including Handmade - go through changes - and Etsy has gone through its share of changes since my Etsy Shop was active, including an About Page, which I did for my Etsy Shop!

Over the next few days, I will be adding MORE listings, so I actually have a Shop there again!!

Ah-h-h - the Changes of Life, but I am looking forward to interacting and networking with some of my Handmade friends on Etsy - including some amazing Artisans of Decor from Interior Design Style (formerly Design Style Guide) - and a number of Crochet Artists who I am still friends with on Facebook!!

So, if you're looking for something you've seen that I've made - look on ETSY - or Bonanza - or for links on this blog - to see where it is!

Double Ruffle Yellow and Orange Field of Flowers Thread Crochet Art Doily

Purple and Black Flower Crochet Brooch or Applique with Lavender Beading

Desert Sands Basket and Mat Decor Set

Finding Artistic Handmade Jewelry - Part 1 -- Hand - Designed Necklaces, Bracelets, Earrings

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - My Handmade Designs on ARTFIRE

ARTISTIC HANDMADE JEWELRY??? ~~~ What is it anyway? ~~~  I've been inter-acting with other Handmade Artisans online for some years now -- including those who make different kinds of Jewelry.  

Some make the Beads or Pendants themselves and sell them individually or incorporate what they make into complete Jewelry pieces -- some are Designers who have truly made an Art of combining different components in Multi-Color Designs!!

I'm starting in Part 1 of a 3-Part Series with Featuring 5 pieces of what I see as rather Special, Artistic Jewelry that are Hand-Designed with Care, Thought - and for most of these Artisans - some kind of Creative "Process"!!

Handmade Necklace by Shadow Dog Designs with Tree of Life Pendant

"Shadow Dog Designs" is Catherine Waterhouse - she has her own way of putting together her Handmade pieces of Jewelry - and here is her own words on it:

How do I design jewelry? I get asked that all the time and usually I say "I don't really know".  That's not a flip answer because it's mostly true.  Sometimes, very rarely, I "see" a design in my head; in that case, the jewelry designs itself.  Most of the time I have to play with gemstones, color combinations and textures until the design feels right. Sometimes I have to walk away from a design and let it set for hours, days or even weeks. And sometimes, nothing works and the elements are put away for another day.  For the ARBOL DE LA VIDA necklace, I knew I wanted to keep the design on the rustic side to mimic the gorgeous ancient look to the Gabriel Polymer Clay Tree Pendant.  Over the course of 1-2 weeks, I tried many different strands of gemstones from my stash and nothing worked.  It wasn't until I made a trip to my favorite bead store in Las Cruces, NM, that I found the perfect strand: Earthy Turquoise Magnesite Discs that mimicked the circular bits around the tree and tied into the color of the handmade pendant perfectly. Each disc in the necklace was picked individually to complement its neighbor and provide an interesting flow of color and texture.  I can't tell you how many times, I took off and rearranged the discs until it was right.  Brass Beads Antiqued to a dark color were chosen, once again, to mimic the round bits of the pendant and to provide fluidity to the necklace.  A hand cast bronze toggle clasp from a wonderful artist in Arizona was used to finish the necklace - it was chosen because the pattern reminded me of tree bark.  I absolutely love the ARBOL DE LA VIDA necklace and hope it finds a good forever home that appreciates all the time, energy and positive mojo that went into its creation!!!

*~*~*~*~*

Summertime Blues Handmade Adjustable Bracelet by JNL Designs

Linda of "JNL Designs" designed this Gorgeous Charm Bracelet!  Here, in her own words Quoted from the Artfire Listing, shows how she put it together!

Under "Inspiration" -- I designed this gorgeous around the focal point. I saw this slider and fell in love with it. My imagination ran away from me and started designing this beautiful bracelet. I love blues and turquoise as a color scheme.

Under "Description" -- Antique silver plated flower slider..which I used as the focal (it has turquoise color within). ----- All of the beads have been hand wired wrapped and the attached to the chain for more security. The chain is silver plated and I have attached a lobster clasp so that you may attach it to a link to fit your wrist. At the other end of the chain I have attached to beads to dangle off the chain. A great gift for a March birthday or for someone who loves Spring and Summer with all the luscious colors of these Seasons.

*~*~*~*~*

Dumotierite Gemstone - Copper - and Czech Glass Handmade Necklace by Solana Kai Designs

Barbara  of "Solana Kai Designs" Hand-designed this Necklace when she found the beautiful Copper Beads and Bead Caps - here is how in her own words:

I began stringing “love beads” as a teenager, but didn't take up jewelry making in earnest until many years later.  Most of my knowledge has been acquired slowly and organically, by reading through bead magazines and books, learning from peers with particular expertise, and a good amount of trial and error.  At the moment, I'm taking a metalwork class, which is proving to be very inspirational.
Typically, the way I create is to start by finding one particular bead or focal pendant that catches my fancy.  Next, l explore my “stash” to see what options I have that will best compliment the initial ingredient.  If all of the right pieces can't be found at home, I'll wait until the missing piece presents itself.  I often start out with one intention, only to find that serendipity is at work!  In the case of this necklace, I was at a gem fair and
fell in love with the copper beads and bead caps.  That sent me searching for the perfect accompaniments and voila!  I found these gorgeous deep blue Dumortierite gemstones and Marea AB finish faceted Czech glass beads, all of which complimented each other and brought out the best of each element!

*~*~*~*~*

Handmade Necklace by Specialtivity - Peruvian Pendant with Turquoise - Agate - Jasper

Kathy of "Specialtivity" puts her Heart and Soul into each piece of Wearable ART she makes - in her own words:

My creative process for creating my wearable art usually starts with some sort of inspiration whether it's from the beautiful gemstones and beads in my stash or a dream (yes I actually dream about designing jewelry) :) .  Sometimes I will draw out a plan on my sketch pad of how I would like the piece to look, other times I just start with something that catches my eye as in this Peruvian pendant necklace and let my creative juices flow.  I knew when I purchased the Peruvian bead that I wanted it to be the focal of the creation.  I look at the colours that will be involved and start to pull out beads or gemstones that I think would compliment the piece either texturally or visually or both. Mixing mediums is always a thrill for me, I don't think that a piece necessarily has to be composed of all gold, silver,bronze etc. although of course I think either one of these are beautiful but I also like to mix it up, adding another visual appeal to the creation.  All in all in creating a piece of wearable ART I really do put my heart and soul into each piece.

*~*~*~*~*

Lyre Harp In A Hoop Handmade Earrings by The Singing Beader

Connie of "The Singing Beader" is a Singer who makes Jewelry - And who decided to make Music-themed Jewelry - says:

When I started selling my handmade jewelry, I didn't offer any music themed items. Most of my designs were wire beaded with gemstones and crystals. At that time, I was also a karaoke singer and recording enthusiast. My passion for both singing and beading was the reason I named my business, “The Singing Beader”. With that name, it just made sense to start creating music themed jewelry, and I have been doing so for about three years. I am always thinking of new creations I can make to add to my ArtFire shop section, “Musical Instruments, etc.”. Many of the designs are unique like the “Lyre Harp in a Hoop Earrings” or the “Gold and Blue Beaded Harmonica Necklace”. One of my favorite music themed necklaces is the “Abalone Mother of Pearl Shell Guitar Pendant Necklace”. As with most handmade jewelry, these are one of a kind designs, with only one for sale.

SO-O-O, When you are looking for a piece of Jewelry that is:
-- on a certain Theme --
-- in certain Colors --
-- from a certain Culture --
CHECK OUT THE HANDMADE JEWELRY -- READ THE DESCRIPTIONS -- THE  INSPIRATIONS -- THE MATERIALS --

and FIND SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR THAT ONE PERSON !!!!

Looking For More Creativity In Gifts For Mother's Day

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - My Handmade Designs on ARTFIRE

Lovebird In Heart

Creativity for Mother's Day!

I've joined together with a number of others who sell on online venues such as Artfire.com and Etsy and Zibbet - many of us sell our own HANDMADE that we make or design with our own hands, though others sell Vintage and Antique - or Supplies - or Commercial.

But one thing we all have in common is that we have relatively small businesses - and from the interaction I've had with these sellers - we all genuinely Care about what we sell and about our Customers.

If you buy from us - you may get something Distinctive - nothing like the mass-produced items in commercial stores - and you might get something truly One-Of-A-Kind!

I'm not only joining in - I put it on my own blog here:

Mother's Day Gifts Blog Hop

Each week through this time, it starts with a Blog Hop created by Julie Cleveland of Blue Morning Expressions - links to listings are added by each individual - and some of us, like me, share the whole set of links by doing the Blog Hop, as well as sharing around the Internet - like I have in the PINTEREST Board I set up for this!!

Follow Ruth Sandra Sperling's board Mother's Day Gift Ideas 2014 on Pinterest.

I strongly urge readers of my blogs to take a look and see what we have to share!!

The photos in this post are my 3 Handmade items that I link to in this week's Blog Hop - to give you an idea of what I have to offer that some Mother might like!!!

Woven Celtic Purple Flowers in a Mat

Cottontail In Bush - Nature In Fiber Art

My Shamrocks Nature Crochet Art Doily in Handmade Great Finds

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - My Handmade Designs

Shamrocks 3-Leaf Clovers with Yellow Flowers Nature Art Doily

I designed and crocheted the above Doily - I wanted to do something very specific - to do the popular Shamrock or 3-Leaf Clover Theme, but as they are in Nature.  I had a bunch of "Clover" or Shamrocks in the Garden out front - they had naturally spread and were making great ground cover I thought - especially as usually during the summer months, they had little Yellow Flowers all over them!!!

Most of us think of Shamrocks as 3-Leaf Clovers along with the more rare 4-Leaf Clover.

They are a symbol - mostly Irish and for St. Patrick's Day (I'm not Irish at all - just like some Irish culture).

BUT THEY ARE A REAL PLANT -- and I really like having them in my garden!!  Apparently, there were "... flowered CLOVERED plains ..." mentioned in early Irish literature - and I am not sure if it originally had anything to do with "St. Patrick" or any Saints, but beautiful Irish plains in Nature!!!

So I took crochet patterns for 3-Leaf Clovers and little multi-petal flowers -- and a design for a round crochet mat -- and put together this Crochet Art Doily!!!!

Here are photos of flowering clover from a front-yard garden I had ....

.... and a closeup of the center of my Handmade Thread Crochet 

 And .... On Fire For Handmade decided to include my Shamrock Nature Art Doily in it's "Kiss Me I'm Irish Great Finds" this week!  You can VOTE for it there if you like it!!!

Curating an Artfire Collection Inspired By My Well-Known Love of Forests and All That Lives Within

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - My Handmade Designs on ARTFIRE

Inspired By Love of Forests and Their Wildlife - An Artfire Collection by RSS Designs In Fiber

It was August 2013 -- and I and many others in the world had been watching the Rim Fire in the Central Sierra Nevada - in the Stanislaus National Forest and Yosemite National Park and the adjoining areas - and frightened and even loosing sleep over it, I was worried about All the Life in that Forest and the ramifications to it from the High Intensity Fire raging there.

I knew of people living in the area - actually in Twain Harte, CA - just northwest of the Rim Fire area - the people of the Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center (known as CSERC ), run by John Buckley, who I had met at a Sierra Nevada Framework Forest Service Science Meeting on Old Growth forests.  On their Facebook Page -- and their website, I read first-hand accounts of the Rim Fire.

For me, this was a major event that was significant to me, though I didn't live there or anywhere near the Rim Fire.  But since early 1999 - and I got involved in environmental campaigns about the Sierra Nevada forests ( such as the Sierra Forest Legacy [formerly the Sierra Nevada Forest Protection Campaign in 1999] ) -- and I learned the Global significance of the Sierra Nevada Forests, part of the California Floristic Province, to Global Biodiversity, as discussed on the Conservation International website:  The World's 10 Most Threatened Forest Hotspots - which mentions the High Importance of the California Floristic Province Forests (which Includes the Sierra Nevada Forests, including the Stanislaus National Forest and Yosemite National Park - and the Giant Sequoias) for Biodiversity Conservation, Climate Stabilization - I have been paying a lot of attention to many Events, as I can, in the Sierra Nevada Forests.

In other words, this Rim Fire affected a forest with importance to Global Biodiversity - therefore I see it as we should all be concerned in the Restoration after the fire!!!

So-o-o -- to express my Love of Forests and Their Wildlife and show how others express their such Love, I looked to my some of my friends who do Handmade and Fine Art -- and found various items they had made and were selling on Artfire on that theme -- and created the above Collection.

*******************************************

It is now March of 2014 -- and the Artfire Collection, "Inspired By The Love of Forests and Their Wildlife", has over 1,000 views and a few items have sold (replaced by others I had previously chosen).

I love to see creations based on Nature -- and I totally enjoyed curating this Collection!!!

The Rim Fire is in the past, though some of us are following the Recovery Projects in the different areas of it, such as on the Stanislaus National Forest website and the CSERC website.

In the 402 square miles of the Stanislaus National Forest that the Rim Fire ravaged, I am hoping for recovery based on true Ecological Forest Restoration, like that defined by the Sierra Forest Legacy -- for the health of this Forest -- and for its contribution to Global Biodiversity.  Quote from the Dec. 08, 2013 Sierra Forest Legacy Newsletter:  

We take seriously the Forest Service's commitment to ecological restoration and will be challenging them to demonstrate that their salvage logging proposals are consistent with their commitment.

Note:  after a certain number of the Artfire listings in an Artfire Collection sell, the Artfire Collection "expires" -- and disappears from the Internet.  So, I would like to thank the Artfire Artisans who created the Handmade and Fine Art items I put in this Collection -- showing their Love of Forests and Their Wildlife -- and where you can fine such types of Handmade and Fine Art!!!

Conscience Art Studios

4everbeads

Walk In The Woods LLC

RSS Designs In Fiber

Uniquely Jen Quilt Creations

The Art of Amy-Elyse Neer

Jewelry Art By Dawn

Christie Cottage

Honey From The Bee

Berkshire Bowls

Blue Morning Expressions

Specialtivity

Big Red Heart for Valentine Decor - or Just For Those Who Like Hearts

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - My Handmade Designs on ARTFIRE

Big Red Irish Crochet Heart - Big Enough to Hang on a Wall!



Does a BIG HEART mean more LOVE??????

Only the one with HEART will know!

The above, though, is a Larger piece of Decor I made - made Large for Bigger Spaces or Bigger Arrangements - of one of the most well-known Symbols of Love, Camaraderie and/or True Friendship!

So when Anne Hopfer of On Fire For Handmade put together a "Great Finds" for Valentine's Day, "Cupid's Arrow" - I thought this was a good Handmade Item of mine to Submit - and was thrilled when it was included!!!

Cupid's Arrow Great Handmade Finds

This HEART is done in Irish Crochet with the inside of the Heart filled with 3 Multi-layer Crocheted Roses - in a Soft 100% Non-Toxic Cotton Yarn in Burgundy and Cherry Pink Ombre.  See all the details at the listing !