The Northern Lights in nature is a spectacle of color and light found in the northern areas of the world. The wonderful stones referred to as Aurora Borealis in jewelry making also have dazzling display of color and shimmer. They sparkle and have a myriad of stone coatings to give us this nature in jewelry look.

Ruby Lane proudly proclaims “Ruby is the New Green”. It reminds us all to reuse and repurpose anything and everything we can. One of my hobbies is sewing and I find many treasures at estate sales that I can give new life to. Many times the lady of the house had a great stash of fabrics and or notions that she never had a chance to use. The following story reflects just how these purchases become a treasure in time.
 

"The" Tucson Gem Show is actually an amalgamation of multiple trade show organizations, with each organization taking over a complete hotel, sometimes with large tents in the parking lots to accommodate all the dealers who usually are at the same booths each year, making it easier for you to find your favorites quickly.

It’s about this time each year that I find my New Year’s resolutions fading. It’s amazing how they become subject to revision. To keep that from happening, I’ve been making sturdier and sturdier ones every year. Ones that presumably can’t fail. Ha!

The name Emerald comes from the Greek word "Smaragdos " and the Latin  word "Smaragdus" meaning "Green", and is said to be a symbol of love, rebirth and eternal youth.  Known as
May's birthstone, it is also the stone for the zodiac signs of Taurus, Gemini and Cancer and can be given as a gem on the 20th, 35th, and 55th wedding anniversary.

A Notes from the Lane blog reader needs your help in identifying the three dolls shown. If you have a response or question, please post it to the comment sections below.

"I am trying to identify these three dolls. I believe they are Madame Alexander Little Women dolls. They are in sealed packages so I do not want to open them.
Any help you could offer would be appreciated."
 
Thanks
Jill

Think used clothing is shoddy?

Think that only "junk" is to be found at the thrift shops?

Are you " a cut above" anything that is not brand new and purchased directly
from the mall?

Consider this:

All of us are aware of the devastation that recently rocked Haiti. As a company, Ruby Lane wants to do its part to help send aid to those affected – and we invited our shop owners to help, as well. On Tuesday, February 2nd 2010 Ruby Lane held a Ten-Cent Listing Tuesday for Haiti. During this promotion all items newly-listed on the site were only be charged 10 cents instead of the regular 30 cent Listing Fee. Ruby Lane contributed 100% of the fees received on this day to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. We are pleased to report that we were able to donate $502.80 to the fund.

Why do we collect the things that we love? Whether it is artwork, vintage jewelry, antique quilts, or whatever warms your heart, we all have the longing and desire to add just one more to our collections. Put it on display and sit there and look at it! I am not talking about reselling the items, but just acquiring them for personal pleasure. How can we justify doing that in these hard economic times?

One of the worst things that could happen to a person who makes their entire living selling on the internet is NO INTERNET ACCESS!!!

Do you have a plan if it happens to you?

I thought I was pretty well prepared. If there is a power outage I have a generator. If my computer dies, I have 2 more. But if your internet lines are down or the companies equipment fails there’s not much you can do.