Fun While It Lasted

I have come to the decision that I no longer possess the dexterity in my hands to create the jewelry I started to make almost 2 years ago. I picked up my pliers one day about a month ago and proceeded to try to fix a clasp on a necklace that I have had for years. I was able to get the jump ring open, but when I tried to hold the jump-ring with one pliers and close it with another, my hands just didn't want to cooperate. My fingers tightened up and my grip failed me. It was at this point I decided that it was time to destash my collection of jewelry making supplies.

I took out a few of the little containers that I keep everything sorted and labeled in. The beads were so pretty, sparkly, and cool to the touch. But when I thought about trying to string and twist and crimp, my hands started telling me to change my thoughts.

Over the next few weeks I hope to get all my supplies listed and photographed to sell. Not sure which avenue I will take. I may list some select items on Etsy, but most of the bulk supplies will probably go on Ebay as a lot. But I have so much, it is going to be hard to decide which to put where. I do have a lot of Swarovski crystals, Crystazzi crystals and pearls, and other very nice charms and other beads. Some of what I have were purchased with the intent of making gifts for friends and family, but I just never got to it.

I also have a lot of findings, key chain and phone fob elements, head pins and eye pins, spacers, ear wire, bracelet clasps, eyeglass lanyards, and everything in between.

Most (and this is a big portion) of my supplies were purchased from FireMountain Gems, and a good portion is from Michael's (Crystazzi specifically), and another online jewelry supply site that I can't recall the name for. Everything is excellent quality and in excellent condition.

So keep your eyes peeled, I may have something you need to finish a project or get one started. I will, of course, create a blog to show what is listed and where.

This isn't something I wanted to do but I know I can't create the same quality if I don't have the strength in my hands to ensure a solid piece that won't come apart. I just wish I would have put down on paper all the ideas I had when I bought everything!

Reorganized, Rejuvenated, Reinspired....Time To Get Back To Designing!

We've been in the new house for a month now. My desk is finally set up and all my supplies are neatly organized on a repurposed bookcase. Time to start creating again.

What should I make? Earrings? Bracelets, necklaces? Need some inspiration to get started. I have my issue of Bead Style Magazine to get me going, lots of great ideas to inspire me. I have so many beads and other goodies to work with, I have a feeling that I will be like a mad scientist once I get started. Beads will be flying, I'll be wild eyed, arms and hands flitting back and forth from work table to supply shelf. That's the easy part. The real work is in the photography, describing and listing.

I know that once I get started, it will be very difficult for me to stop. So if you can't find me online, you can find me at home busy with beads and wire and other goodies, creating new jewelry and accessories. Call me if you have my number, stop in if you have my address. If you don't have either, call someone who does! And be sure to tell them to feed me once in a while.

Wish me luck!

My Own Domain

Well, I did it. Last night I took the plunge and registered designsbyrukar.com. I haven't built a site yet, still in the idea stage. I plan on eventually having it set up as a full-fledged e-commerce site to sell my jewelry and accessories, and probably some other things, like vintage and collectibles.

But to get it started, I will post pictures of my jewelry with the link to buy it linking to my Etsy shop. Once I get the site tweaked just the way I like it, there will be a shopping cart on it so my buyers don't have to go to any other sites.

I don't plan on closing my Etsy shop. I like Etsy because of the networking and helpfulness of the other members there. I will probably have some of the same items there that I will on my new site. This way if someone wants to buy something without registering on Etsy, they can do it this way. I have a lot of friends and friends of friends that want to buy from me but don't want to register to do it.

Wish me luck!

A Very Profitable Weekend

WOW! I woke up Saturday morning and for the first time in a long time, didn't check email until after my shower and about 2 cups of coffee. I had an 11 am appointment to get my hair cut, then lunch with my mom and maybe do some shopping, so I didn't really have a lot of leisure time to spare. I had a few minutes to check things out while waiting for my husband to finishing dressing.
I first check email, then went to my Etsy shop. I noticed there were 4 less items listed than there were the night before, so I thought I had some things that expired. I looked in the expired listings, nothing new in there. Then checked sold, and I had sold 4 items! It must have just happened after I checked email because there was no notices in the email then, but when I check again after being at Etsy, there was my email from Etsy and Paypal. I was so excited, I almost missed my hair appointment while I gathered the items she ordered to put them aside so I could get them ready for shipping when I got home.
I tell you, this sale really made the difference for me. I hadn't sold anything since January, despite having plenty of views, and I was starting to get discouraged. I now have a renewed ambition to keep on creating.
So watch for new pieces to appear in my shop very soon!

Bracelet Bonanza!

I was busy over the weekend and managed to create several bracelets from a variety of crystals, gem chips and other beautiful jewelry components.
The pictures have been taken and scaled down for Etsy and all I need to do now is upload and list. That's another day, most likely tomorrow after work. For now, I will show a picture of all the bracelets in one image to get your interest!

MARCH MADNESS SALE!

I just marked down almost everything in my shop...MARCH MADNESS SALE!

I plan on doing a lot of designing and creating this weekend and hope to have new pieces listed very soon! Visit my shop to check out all the great bargains by clicking below:

Designs By Rukar

A Very Accomplished Feeling!

Well this has been a very productive weekend for me. I got some new jewelry pieces made for my shop and just finished listing them. There are seven new listings as of today; five bracelets, one pair of earrings (that would go nicely with one of the bracelets that were just listed), and one bracelet/earring set.

This bracelet/earring set was created with beautiful sterling wrapped lampwork beads in a very warm and seductive amber glow. The druk beads are tortoise and complement the lampwork beads very nicely.

The earrings are on surgical steel earwires with silverplate accents, and dangle 2-1/4" from the top of the wire.

The bracelet is linked and closes with a silverplate toggle clasp. It fits to an 8" wrist.

This bracelet was created by linking art glass rectangles in red and blue with glass squares that are a deep rich red tone. The bracelet fastens with a silverplate toggle clasp, and fits to an 8" wrist.

The red squares, on first sight, reminded me of the anise hard candies that my grandfather always had on hand.

This bracelet is a bit chunky but sure to get attention!





The earrings that I just listed were created with fancy jasper and agate semi-precious beads. They are featured on silverplate hoops which are on surgical steel earwires with silverplate details. They dangle 1-1/2" from the top of the earwire.

They also include clear plastic earwire stops that help prevent the earwire from slipping out of the ear and getting lost.





This is a bracelet that is on silverplate memory wire and includes fancy jasper and fancy agate semi-precious beads, in round, faceted square, and disks.
This bracelet is one size fits all and would go with anything. Beautiful earthy tones in the beads, ranging from green to black to amethyst shades.
It would go wonderfully with the earrings above.




I have many other items that were just listed today, and they can all be seen in my shop, at Designs By RuKar

Please visit my Etsy shop, I'm sure you will find something that you just can't resist. If you see something you like and would like a different size, color, or other change, please let me know either by convo on Etsy or email me at rukar@karuss.com. We can work something out for a custom order. And don't forget - FREE SHIPPING on all items to U.S. addresses!! This is for regular First Class mail, but if you prefer Priority Mail, I can do that for an additional charge. Just contact me before sending payment.

PHTD - or - Post Holiday Tree Disorder

Yes, that's what I have. Post Holiday Tree Disorder.

The tree is still up, but hasn't been lit since the day after New Years. The only thing stopping me from taking it down is the lack of storage boxes. They're still in the shed. And I'm not about to go out there after seeing the possum hanging around the shed a few weeks ago.

But not sure if PHTD carries over into other things, such as making new jewelry to put in my shop. Or taking pictures of the jewelry that I already made and getting it listed. The cold has done a number on my arthritis and my hands are so stiff I can hardly hold my pliers long enough to open a jump ring let alone create loops at the end of headpins or do wire wrapping. IB helps but also makes me tired so I don't feel like doing anything! I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't.

I need sun, warm weather, and a good old fashioned thunderstorm! Well, maybe not in that order, and not on the same day. But you get my drift.

I have so many beads and charms and other materials to create with, but no ambition or ideas, although I do have a potential order for two bracelets, and as soon as I get my bead order I will get to work on them. But I am trying to find my niche. Something that is me, not a clone of other things that are out there. It's easy to put a few beads on a wire or pin and attached a clasp or earwire. I want to really get original, but I don't know how or what.

I know what I have to do. I have to psyche myself into thinking that Saturday is Sunday. Because on Sundays, usually later in the day, I sit down and finally get to creating. Once I start I can't stop, but the problem I have is I have to get up for work the next day. If I make myself think that Saturday is Sunday, and get ideas and start creating late in the day on Saturday, I can keep going til the sun comes up because I can SLEEP ALL DAY the next day! Yea, yea, that's what I'll do. I could call it turning my mental clock ahead one day, but only until Sunday night. Otherwise I would go to work the next day thinking it was Tuesday, and be very disappointed when the payroll doesn't get here.

Oh, by the way, the picture...it's not me. That's my husband Russ, the "Ru" in "RuKar", after dinner on Christmas Day at my brother's house. The dog is my brother's white shepherd, Daisy Mae. But this picture pretty much sums up my level of energy the last 2 weeks.

Time To Get Back To Business

I've been slacking off. Not only has it been almost a week since my last post, but I haven't done any creating in a week. I'm not sure if I was on the verge of getting sick or if I was just having an uninspirational week.

Anyway, last week was a really exhasperating week at work, one thing after another went bonkers, starting with no power all day on Monday, no phones Thursday morning, no phones all day Friday, plus my wide-format printer decided to crap out on me Friday.

My husband and I decided on Friday afternoon to run away for the weekend. We had a blast! Went about 2 hours north of home, and holed up in a cozy suite for the weekend. Saturday morning we went out for breakfast and found a bead shop nearby that had beautiful beads from Botswana, Africa, and many other exotic locations. I also found the gunmetal findings that I've been hunting for.

If you're in Illinois or Southern Wisconsin, this is a great bead shop to stop at. Their website is http://www.beadsandreeds.com and they are located in Rockford IL, right on State St, near the Cherry Valley area. The sweetest lady runs the shop and they not only have beads and findings, but also hemp craft items, display products, classes, and handmade jewelry for sale. I have a feeling we will be taking more trips there in the future. The beads I found there are unlike any I've seen before. They have the standards and also some really unique items.

I am hoping work will be less tedious this week so that I have energy when I get home to create more jewelry and accessories for my shop. I have so many beautiful beads to work with, I know that once I get started, I'll be on a roll. So keep your eyes open for new items in my shop real soon! I will post the new items here so if you subscribe to my feed or blog updates, you'll be the first to know about them!