Today Only! Save 25% Storewide

So you know Christmas is RIGHT around the corner (WHERE did this year go?), right? Thanksgiving is in a mere 3 days, then Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and then just plain craziness until Dec.24th. This time of the year came SO fast! But then again, I think it does every year, no?

I'm starting off the holiday season a little earlier than Black Friday or Cyber Monday. I'm going to have daily specials in my Ruthie's Girl Designs shop for the next couple of days, so be sure to check out the goodies I've got for you. I even posted a few Christmas card sets.

Today I've got 25% off STORE WIDE! Take advantage of this great deal, along with free domestic shipping until 12/31.

OMG! I'm a Featured Seller!

Well well well...

after years of selling online at various venues, I was finally chosen as a featured seller! I am featured at Zibbet, and I am truly honored. If you'd like to read a little bit about me, you can find it here.

I'm running some great deals this week also, plus free domestic shipping until the end of the year! I mean, really, how can you beat that?

This weeks' specials:

Save 15% on Purchases of $200 or more! Save 10% on Purchases of $100- $199 Save 5% on Purchases of $20- $99 *Shipping Excluded ENDS NOVEMBER 20th!

Check out my shop, you might find a great gift for the holidays or something for yourself!

This Week's Specials!

Starting today - Free Shipping until Dec. 30th, at Ruthie's Girl Designs, as well as this weeks' great

deals:

Save 15% on Purchases of $200 or more!

Save 10% on Purchases of $100- $199

Save 5% on Purchases of $20- $99

*Shipping Excluded, deductions automatically post at checkout.

ENDS NOVEMBER 20th!

Plus additional markdowns in store!

It's just not always easy to stay encouraged

I just wanted to post today that I was really down this week, almost ready to give up what I love to do most, and that's to make things. In this tough economy I was really feeling guilty for buying supplies to make things and was about to throw in the towel. I expressed my feelings to my husband and a very good friend of mine, who both know how much I love what I do but also, how much I HATE to whine. Well within the 24 hours after those two conversations I have had two really good sales and some wonderful comments about my work (from people that don't even know me), and I just wanted to tell everyone who's trying to make something of their own and sell it to not give up and if you know someone who's trying to grow their business to ENCOURAGE them! It's really hard to keep going sometimes and outside encouragement is much needed! Keep up the good work all of you, and thank you to my wonderful husband and my dear friend for peeling me off the wall and reminding me that what I do is a gift from God and that it's what I'm made to do! God bless you!

GIVEAWAY!!

Ok, so I am having a giveaway!

This is the item I'll be giving away for this week's contest. It's a beautiful Crystal and Fire Agate Bracelet, accented with rhinestone spacers and a gorgeous magnetic clasp. If you'd like to participate in the giveaway, you can find the details here. Just guess the answer, get it right and win this beautiful handcrafted bracelet from Ruthie's Girl Designs. Post your answers on that page and do NOT reply to this post! I'd like to go to one place to see everyone's answers! Good Luck!. Giveaway ends September 30th! Good Luck!

This is a $40 value so don't miss out!

***Giveaway is closed! Congrats Tamra for guessing the correct answer!***

Caribbean Blues

I've been into making cluster bracelets lately. I like them big, chunky, and beautiful. I bought some really pretty turquoise-y blue agate in varying sizes and paired it with beautiful cognac and amber crystals. Here is the result.

I've also acquired this love for Magnetic clasps. I found some nice round ones at the last bead show I went to and they hold much better than the cheap ones from craft stores, and they look pretty darn good as a finishing piece.

Cluster bracelets are pretty popular and have been for decades, but every time I pick up one, the beads are made from plastic. I'm not a lover of plastic beads. At.all. I'm also not very fond of elastic bracelets, as they do tend to stretch out and lose their shape. They are also made out of a chain with beads added to the chain, but there's never enough beads on the bracelet for me and more often than not, the chain tarnishes. And the beads usually rattle around, and that sound just plain drives me nuts. One should hear music, not clanking jewelry.

I should have this listed at Ruthie's Girl Designs before days' end, if I can bring myself to quit admiring it and take it off.

I Made This Today

I wasn't quite sure where I was going with this one, but I sure like where it ended up.

Fabulous Finds

You know sometimes you just have to give back in any way you can. I can type, and I can post photos and give another artist their props.

When I was selling on Etsy, I met a handbag maker by the name of 1MadWoman in chat, and we became fast friends. She's funny, witty, and above all , extremely talented. She works with PMC and makes beautiful pieces, but like all artists, has many talents. Not only does she make jewelry and soap she also makes these really cute clutch purses for Bridal Parties. I think they are just delicious. She uses the best quality linen, satin, silks, and chiffon and creates them in custom colors to match any bridal theme. Stop in and pay her shop a visit, and if you are into handmade soaps and PMC creations, stop in to her Heartsabustin shop and browse a bit. Her French Vanilla Soap is wonderful. I picked up a few bars for myself.

Be Inspired by Yourself

Sometimes I spend too much time looking at other Paper Artist's work for inspiration and sell my personal ideas short. After thumbing through numerous paper craft magazines looking for "SOMETHING" to inspire me, I came across a simple sheet of Rose Shimmer Cardstock in my stash and the ideas began to flow.
I've been loving Damask patterns a lot lately, and textile trim (if you saw my stash you'd probably die) and incorporated both into this card design.

To make this Shimmery Pink Birthday Card, I took a piece of 4x 6 pink shimmer (or petallic) card stock and ran it thru my big shot using the damask embossing folder by Cuttlebug. The card stock is actually what they call "cover" weight so it embosses just nicely. I love it. I then took some pretty Venise lace trim I had and placed it on the edge of the embossed piece, creating a very feminine border. I took some other satin edged organza trim I had and hand stitched (gather and pull!) a pretty flower, centered it with one of my many vintage looking pearl center buttons and made "leaves" out of some matching organza ribbon. I printed the sentiment on my printer, inked the edges with Brilliance Pearlescent Opal, and stacked it on glitter card stock.

Where the Heck did March go?

Pearl and Crystal Cluster Bracelet

I mean, it's already the 24th. I haven't posted an entry since the 19th of last month! I'm slacking big time.

Lets see...what's been going on with me for the last month? Well, I've picked up a few more sales, both online AND offline, which is good. I like selling online but I also like the personalization that selling person to person brings. I get to talk about my product, answer questions directly, and sometimes, get custom orders. I've also been told that it's much easier to buy my products after seeing them physically, because the quality just doesn't show well online (those are not my words, but a customer who had no issues purchasing over $250 worth of items from me at my last show.) I've also been selling with the help of Face Book. Don't roll your eyes over the aspect of Social Buying. I think for individual sellers, it's one of the best tools out there. I know that had it not been for me marketing my items on FB in their open venue I'd be out two sales. And I'll take them from any place I can get them. Anyone who overlooks this valuable resource will surely be left in the dust. Social Buying IS the wave of the future, like it or not.

My Etsy Shop is slowly winding down. I think I have 7 items left in my shop, which is just fine with me. I plan on moving over permanently to Zibbet and I have informed my repeat customers that after my shop is empty, they will have to buy from me via Zibbet. I'm flexible, however, and have no problem invoicing someone if they are not comfortable or ready to join another site. I think I'll be OK with the transition. My repeat customers are mostly from my paper line who still like to order invites from me. Being that I have no problem wearing many hats, I will definitely fulfill any invitation or card orders that come my way. It will be a nice break from what I'm doing at the time (There ARE perks to Adult ADD LOL).

I miss my friend Belinda. I wish I could just pick up the phone and cackle with her and act stupid like only she and I could do together. I truly think a part of you dies too when you lose someone so important to you. My Homie.

Things have been going well...sold two leather cuffs, a bracelet, a necklace, and two guitar straps so far in March, all at over $100 each. Hubs has really been getting into his guitar straps. He's doing a great job. I"m really proud of him.

I'm going to have a jewelry party next month and showcase pearls. I just bought 10 strands and I hope they get here in time for me to make a few samples. At least I can make and deliver after wards if need be. I'm loving pearls. Seriously lately. I'm gonna concentrate on that obsession for a while.

Drug Overdose Prevention

A few facts about Drug overdoses from the Harm Reduction Coalition:

Unintentional drug overdose is the second leading cause of accidental death in the United States, just behind automobile crashes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 1999 and 2004, the number of overdose deaths in the United States rose 77 percent, to almost 20,000. The CDC attributes the 62.5 percent rise in drug overdose deaths between 1999 and 2004 to a higher use of prescription painkillers and increasing numbers of overdoses of cocaine and prescription sedatives.

I know of three people who overdosed recently. One was the daughter and niece of two women I know. Too tragic, and senseless. I am donating 25% on behalf of Drug Prevention for the items in my Proceeds section that are purple.

Coupon Codes

Here are some coupon codes that have only been published in select places for Ruthie's Girl Designs. Take advantage of these great savings while you can.

Save 20% in my Earring Section when you use the Coupon Code SAVE20
Save 15% in my Leather Cuff Section when you use the Coupon Code SAVE15
Save 10% in my Bridal Section when you use the Coupon Code SAVE10.

You can also take advantage of my 40% percent off section for additional savings.

In honor of my friend

This necklace is nothing but pink roundels and bicone crystals with silvery pewter bead caps and clusters of silver flowers. The silver toggle clasp boasts tiny pink embedded crystals. The pink heart pendant has a bursting pink flower in the center and reminds me of the love that my friend had for so many.

This one of a kind set is on sale in my Zibbet shop. 25% proceeds will go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

I miss you, Girl. I hope you like it.

Fabulous Find- Eclectic Oddities

I'm supposed to be doing fabulous finds every week, but as you know my friend died this month and life's been soooo mumbo jumbo. I am sure it will all pass in time.

I love the unusual. Cookie Cutter gets SO mundane after a while.
This one perked me up right away.

Look at this brooch made by Eclectic Oddities over at Zibbet. This brooch is listed as OOAK and is made from the side of a brass zipper and wool felted beads in 4 bright, summery, beachy colors and sells for $40USD. Tre Cool.


EclecticOddities has done a great job photographing her items and her artwork is fittingly Eclectic. You will find Handbags, Mixed Media, and Wearable Art sections. There's a lot to choose from, so stop by her shop sometime and check out this Waterbury artist.

And the beat goes on

My husband is becoming quite the lover of leather. It benefits me because I get to get the first of all creations. I like the perks.

I showed my girlfriend this Sunburst cuff one night and she immediately said "hey, this looks like it would be from Brighton!" It hadn't occurred to me until she said that to me. I find that to be an ace compliment. This one's available in Brown or Black in either heart shaped or round sunburst pattern and you can find it on sale in my Zibbet shop.

Forever, my friend

January 19, 2011 will forever be one of the darkest days of my life. I lost a lifelong friend to breast cancer.

Belinda, pictured right, was my best friend for many years. Only it didn't start out that way. We, for reasons that are irrelevant now, did not like each other for many years, but by the time we were sophomores in High School, we had become fast friends.

We played sports together, competed together, worked together, partied together, laughed, cried and laughed some more together. I watched as she had her only child and bravely faced raising him on her own. She and her son were blessed with a wonderful man who loved them both, and the three of them created a life of happiness that only they could have created together.

Strong willed, stubborn and a control freak, Belinda could always do it all. IT. ALL. Everything but beat cancer.

Yesterday, my life got a whole lot emptier.

I'm so sad, I thought I was done crying. I mean, she's at peace. She's no longer in pain. There's no more suffering. Well, at least not for her.

I hope when she was in and out, and almost gone, that she heard me tell her I loved her. I really hope she heard.

Earlier this month, I urged all to educate themselves about breast cancer, treatments, exams and proceeds to help battle cancer. I don't want to lose anyone else to this terrible disease if it can be prevented in any way.

Love your girlfriends, tell them, and tell them often. Tell them even if they won't speak to you (the power of text and email) or if the friendship is so shattered that it cannot be repaired. You know you still love them. So TELL them. Tell them while they know who you still are. Tell them every time you hang up on the phone with them. Tell them every time you part ways with them.

I love you, Belinda, and I will weep for you bitterly. You will always be a shining star, and I will always remember the day this photo was taken and all the memories we shared. It was one hell of a ride. Thanks for taking me along the way.

Giving Back- A New Year

Up until 2010, no one I knew had been affected by Breast Cancer. Then BOOM...4 people diagnosed, and one of them, gone. Gone too soon.

Over the next year, I'll be adding items to my Proceeds Section over in my Zibbet shop like these earrings and will be donating 25% of each sale to the specific Foundation or Cause. If anyone has any suggestions, please feel free to reply them to this post.

Ladies, GET YOUR MAMMOGRAM, and get it YEARLY, and without fail. Schedule it around the same time as your yearly Pap Smear. Mine is so that right after I leave the GYN's office (who provides me with my yearly sheet to get my mammogram) I can go down two flights to the imaging office and get it done. Even if you can't conveniently do what I do, do it anyway. And, in all frankness, FUCK insurance if you don't have it. Just get the test done and pay the bill off a little at a time if you have to. I watched someone die from Breast Cancer, and let me tell you, it isn't pretty to watch, and I am sure it's even uglier for families to have to endure it. Get the boobs smashed. Quit making excuses. It really doesn't hurt! The only issue I have with it is the confinement (cause once the device has prepared you for the slide, you ain't moving NOWHERE!). It takes less than 10 minutes and if you go to a nice imaging office like I do, they even put you in little rooms while you wait that have TV's and a tray of cookies in the lobby. Ah. Modern Conveniences.

And Men, don't think you are out of the woods, either. Yearly physicals SHOULD include breast exams for you as well. No, you won't have to go through the plastic vise grip, but you should still have your doctor check you for any lumps.

And this goes without saying for everyone, self examination is also crucial at any age once breast tissue starts to form (I once worked with a young lady who was diagnosed at EIGHTEEN). If you want to learn more about breast cancer or make a direct donation, visit the Susan G. Komen site for valuable and life saving information.