Last updated on 25 July 2010
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Click on the ArtFire banner on the right to enter my online shop! Sale of both my handcrafted jewellery and my jewellery supplies will be conducted through this venue. I have started filling up my online shelves with my own handcrafted market jewellery collection. |  |
Welcome to Ruby Tuesday Beads and Gems - your friendly jewellery, beading and polymer clay supplier based in Newman, Western Australia.
In brief ...
The bulk of my handmade jewellery is stocked by the Newman Visitors Centre in Newman, Western Australia, under the name of Chantel McCabe. If you ever find yourself in Newman, be sure to stop by the centre to check out the local arts and crafts, go on a mine tour and find out about tourist attractions in the Pilbara.
I sell my more everyday jewellery and wire jewellery at the local markets in Newman, plus gemstone beads, beading supplies and polymer clay. I also stock Miyuki Delica and TOHO seedbeads - viewable upon request.
About me ...
Listen to my ABC Radio National interview here http://www.abc.net.au/rn/lifematters/stories/2009/2685044.htm.
My new website ... oh no, not another one! Yola hosts my websites and they recently offered me a free, additional domain name so I took advantage of the opportunity to register http://www.chantelmccabe.com. This site is still under construction but have a look at my home page on that site. It seems to have presented me the opportunity to write more easily about myself as the artist instead of using my Ruby Tuesday alter ego. My rubytuesday.com.au site will remain as my main business site.
About Ruby Tuesday Beads and Gems ...
Ruby Tuesday Beads and Gems has two main areas of activity: jewellery manufacturing and selling beading supplies.
Jewellery Manufacturing
This is turning out to be the major activity in my business. The majority of the jewellery I sell has been made by myself using imported materials. (I rarely sell jewellery that has not been made by myself but it does happen occasionally, eg. plain sterling silver chains.) Some jewellery is (or will be) made out of materials of Australian origin like hematite, boulder opal, South Sea pearls, rainforest jasper, Australian pewter and mookaite.
Be sure to look out for more of my very own handcrafted metal jewellery. I am currently creating original, one-of-a-kind jewellery using copper, fine silver and brass. Goldfill (aka "rolled gold"), sterling silver and Argentium sterlling silver also feature prominently in my work. I'm also planning on using some 9 carat gold sheet , Shibuchi and Shaduko in the near future ... just waiting for the muse to strike.
My goal is to make more "artisan" type jewellery using components made by myself. My metalwork methods include forging, cold connections, fusing fine silver and wirework. I also tinker about with metal clays such as Art Clay Silver and copper clay.
Polymer clay has also started featuring more strongly in my work than before. I have developed a particular interest in making polymer clay canes.
And then there are beads ... and seed beads. As you can see, I have a multitude of jewellery-making interests and skills. I am not at all interested in limiting myself to any one discipline when there are so many fascinating avenues to explore. This all seems to be pointing in one direction: fusion! ... a style of jewellery-making where a variety of techniques meet and the end result is true, original, cutting edge, made from scratch (just about!) jewellery.
I've recently introduced an everyday line of jewellery at my market stall plus wirework jewellery. The more exclusive, labour intensive jewellery is destined for the Newman Visitors Centre. The two lines of jewellery are very different from each other.
The 356 Creation Challenge for 2010
I've decided to some other people around the world in a 356 Creation challenge ... at least one completed piece of jewellery to be created per day in 2010. See my blog page "Ask Ruby" for more details and for photos of my creations to date. So far so good, I have logged 200 items as at 7 April 2010! I will try to catch up with my blog ASAP as I am up to date with my creations but way behind with my blog. Mmm ... that was then, this is now: keeping up with this blog proved to be way too time consuming and as time is one of my most precious commodities, I ended up abandoning my blog. I'd rather spend my time doing instead of blogging about doing! However, I did prove to myself that my production rate way exceeds one item per day. Sadly. the recording of my work has suffered a major setback as I have misplaced my camera ... I hope it is not truly lost as I really do not feel like having to replace it! Update: I now have a new camera! Seems like I lost my mojo along with my old camera. New camera, new mojo: great stuff!
Beading Supplies
Although I am planning on selling beading supplies through http://www.chantelmccabe.artfire.com, these are best bought directly from me. I don't seem to have enough hours in the day to get this leg of my business off the ground. If you need beading bits and pieces here in Newman, ask me! I will endeavour to put together some basic beading kits for my market stall.
Next markets in Newman:
Mulla Mulla Market on Sunday, 1 August 2010 in the Shire grounds from 9am to noon. You will see a selection of my handmade, every day jewellery at the next market. Be sure to check out my earring rainbow where I have displayed the earring I have made in every colour of the rainbow! Look out for my special jewellery luck dips for girls! These are great value.Talk to me about my selection of beautiful Swarovski crystal pendants! New formula Kato polyclay is now in stock plus the blades and rollers you need to make your creations. New mini cookie cutters are in stock too!
I vote for more indoor markets in Newman!
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any queries or special requests on 044 817 6050 or info@rubytuesday.com.au.
Visit my gallery page (see tab above) to see my pearl, Art Clay Silver and polymer clay galleries!
My opal and general beading galleries are coming soon.
Kind regards
Chantel McCabe
Wondering what happened to Newman Online? See http://newman.rubytuesday.com.au to see Newman Online's new look!
With our distinct Australian character we are sure you will enjoy our bead forum no matter what side of the globe you are from. We share our interests in all forms of beading and jewellery design at Beading Forum dot com dot au and hope you will make us your first port of call when you want to have a chat.
Beading Forum Awards
See my main gallery page to view the jewellery in question
