Etsy Interview with Dana Ruth Designs

I'm the creator of Dana Ruth Designs. I am an ex-corporate/government (high tech) cubicle escapee living my dream! As a self-taught metalsmith. I am forging, no pun intended, a new version of myself and I love it! It is both the most fulfilling and rewarding endeavor and also the scariest and most uncertain time in my life. As the bracelet I wear everyday states - Follow Your Heart. Life sure is short and I am going to ride the ride!!

How and when did you start making jewelry and your other items?

I took a class at my community center y-e-a-r-s ago and was taught the foundation skills of silversmithing. The rest has been trial and error and figuring things out on my own. It was a struggle for me to wrap my mind around the skills and the craft, but something drew me to it and drove me forward to continue on. The is very much a technical skill and ability to the craft metalsmithing/goldsmithing/silversmithing. There is also honor and pride in participating in such an ancient craft and art form. Personal adornment has been part of humanity since we could walk upright. I enjoy being a part of something so old and so much larger than myself. In a weird way, I'll be leaving my mark with the enduring objects I create. I feel my work is at the intersection of art and adornment.

When and how did you originally find Etsy?

I found Etsy in 2007. I think it was a buzz online and also being discussed within the circles of my fellow colleagues. I looked it up and created my store. I maintain my Etsy presence, even though I am casting a wide net over a niche market/buyer, because it gives me the opportunity to connect with a buyer whom I may not, otherwise, had the chance to meet.

What is unique about Etsy and what about the website do you like the most in regards to your shop?

I love the interface on the site. They have made some helpful adjustments on the backend content management sytem that makes inputting your items a breeze and they showcase so nicely on the site!

There is a sense of community on Etsy as well. I'm talking about the real nitty gritty artisans and craftspeople. There are definitely a wide array of items on Etsy. Some are fantastic finds and other leave you with a furrowed brow and a WTF cartoon bubble over your head. Every once in a while you find a real nugget of talent on Etsy and it makes you feel proud to be with other fantastic and fabulous artisans and craftspeople from around the world.

What inspires you the most in regards to your creations?

I am inspired daily by everything I see, think, and feel. I find you always have to be tuned in because inspiration, creativity, and ideas spring forth in the most unexpected things. Sometimes a vision of a completed piece pops into my head and I get to the bench to make into a tangible object. Just the other day my parents sent me a mug and I became inspired by the inside of the styrofoam packaging. In it, I saw the most amazing ring and am excited to get it from my head, to my hands, to a finished creation. Depending on how fabrication goes it may become a series. A broken cooking steamer resulted in a robot for my father. My eyes are always open and the wheels are always turning.

What is your favorite piece you have created and why?

What a tough question! Each piece is literally and figuratively a labor of love. I love each and every piece in its own way and with the challenges each piece presents the completed object has tremendous meaning for me. The apex of the experience is when the piece find its owner and/or the owner finds his/her piece. The exhchange always amazes me.

What do you want to accomplish with your online shop?

My online shop affords me to share my passion and the objects that are created from it with people from all over the world. I always hope for increased visibility and exposure with my online presence both on Etsy and on my Dana Ruth website to build my brand and grow my business.

Do you have any new creations in the works? If so, what can shoppers expect to see from you soon?

Always! I am working on a black diamond series and fleshing out my fine jewelry collection with rings, necklaces, earrings, and sparkly bangle bracelets. With gold sky-rocketing the collection will be fabricated in sterling silver with 14k, 18k, and 24k gold accents with gemmy delights and sparkly black diamonds.

Where can readers find out about more information regarding your jewelry and other creations and possible special offers (including additional websites, blogs, facebook, etc)?

My passion for jewelry design and fabrication extends beyond the bench. I own and operate Atlanta Art Wrox Jewlery Metal Arts Studio where students take classes and workshops in all areas related to jewelry/metal arts.

Atlanta Art Worx Jewelry Metal Arts Studio - http://www.AtlantaArtWorx.com

Dana Ruth Jewelry - http://www.danaruth.com

Dana Ruth Designs on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/danaruthdesigns

Etsy - http://danaruth.etsy.com

Professional Jewelry Tools - http://www.metalsmithingtools.com