Archive for February, 2009

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The “Spreader of Love” award

Thursday, February 26th, 2009

Over at The Purple Flower blog, Swati bestowed a “Spreader of Love” award on the Rings & Things blog and me.  Thank you!  A condition of the award is that you go on to recognize 5 more people, who brighten your own blog.

So today, let me write about “who we love.”  Here are the new recipients of the Spreader of Love award: ☺

normal_sweet_penmanship_pen

I thought I'd use the "Sweet Penmanship" project from our Design Gallery, since I'm writing about who Rings & Things loves...

  • Dawno always has something constructive to bring to any conversation.
  • RockCreekCreations is a thoughtful soul.
  • tamdoll is full of truly good ideas.
  • fireseed has generously shared what she’s learned from experience.
  • dani29 constantly encourages us.

I’ve linked to a Twitter page for each of them.  That’s because I feel that Twitter is just as great a place as blogs to connect with people.  And these five award-winners do good things on Twitter, just as they’ve done by joining our blog club.  Go check these folks out!

It was easy to find, but hard to pick, five recipients.  Thanks to every one of you who have visited and commented at Rings & Things’ blog.  Let us reward you for being here!  Read on…

Exciting news: every month, we’re going to hold a lottery right here on the Rings & Things blog. Here’s how it will work:
*At the beginning of each month, I’ll announce a new lottery.
*You enter by leaving Replies, also known as blog comments.  Comment on any post(s) this month.
*At the end of the month, I’ll randomly draw 2 names to receive surprise goodie packs!

Posted in About our blog | 5 Comments »

Green = SMART (awards) at Rings & Things

Tuesday, February 24th, 2009

Since I wrote the other day about “greening our commute” at Rings & Things, I though it would be fun to share more good news…

s_m_a_r_t_decalRings & Things is in the first group of businesses certified by the City of Spokane, Washington for their implementation of green and sustainable management practices.  The Spokane supplier of beads and jewelry components was awarded certification in the categories of Waste Reduction and of Transportation, as part of the city’s SMART Program.

Rings & Things gained recognition for its ongoing efforts to divert as much material as possible from the waste stream both in its warehouse and at community events, as well as for its award-winning Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) program.

The SMART (Sustainable Management of Assets, Resources and Technology) Business Recognition Program is designed to encourage Spokane businesses to adopt policies and practices that encourage good management of financial, built, natural and human capital.  The program was developed by the City’s Business & Development Services Department in partnership with Avista, Eastern Washington University, and the Washington State Department of Ecology.

“When we asked businesses what we could do to encourage them to adopt these practices, they told us that they needed help marketing their commitment to sustainability to their customers,” says Mayor Mary Verner. “More and more people want to do business with companies that share their commitment to protecting the environment and resources.”

Under the program, businesses can apply to be recognized at either a “participant” or “certified” level in a variety of categories, including energy efficiency, waste reduction and recycling, renewable energy, water conservation, green building, transportation/commute trip reduction, and pollution prevention. Businesses also can seek special “innovation” recognition in each of the categories.

“We hope people will see this as a seal of approval for these businesses,” the Mayor says. “We see it as an additional opportunity to grow our green economy.”

This is the only such program in Eastern Washington and third statewide. The other programs are in Kirkland and Olympia.  The City will accept applications later this year from other businesses who want to seek this recognition. A more detailed program description is available on the City’s web site.

Rings & Things encourages other businesses to apply for recognition in this program.

The image above shows a SMART program decal that we now display at our warehouse, which says:

“Spokane Sustainable Business
—- Certified —-
* Transportation * Waste Reduction * ”

Exciting news: every month, we’re going to hold a lottery right here on the Rings & Things blog. Here’s how it will work:
*At the beginning of each month, I’ll announce a new lottery.
*You enter by leaving Replies, also known as blog comments.  Comment on any post(s) this month.
*At the end of the month, I’ll randomly draw 2 names to receive surprise goodie packs!

Posted in About Rings & Things | 6 Comments »

Sterling rings & bails for gluing–exclusively at Rings & Things

Tuesday, February 24th, 2009

You asked for it, and we listened!  By (very) popular request, you can now buy sterling “glue-on” adjustable rings and oval bails — exclusively at Rings & Things.  Glue on your favorite art bead, upcycled found object, or polymer clay creation.

Our new customizable finger rings are sterling silver, 1 to 1.5mm thick. Their glue pad is a textured 7 to 8mm round.  Adjust them to almost any size!  It’s easy to expand and contract these rings to size them.  They come in two styles:

Here’s the “plain” disk finger ring for gluing (item #51-500-02). It’s a 3 to 3.5mm-wide band.

And this is the “wavy” adjustable ring (item #51-500-01).  It’s a hammered-disk finger ring for gluing, with a 3-3.5mm wide band. 

We’ve also added three great exclusive sterling oval bails for gluing.  These have one side smooth, the other textured, and they come in three sizes:
Item #41-592-50 is our small sterling oval bail.  It measures approximately 18 x 8 x 3.6mm.  (By the way, you can convert these numbers to inches…but on most computer screens our item pictures are life-size.)  The gluing surface is 11x8mm. This small bail fits chain or cord up to 2.5mm thick.
The other two sizes of these bails fit chain or cord up to 3mm thick.  Shown above is item #41-592-51, the medium oval bail.  This one measures approximately 24 x 10 x 4mm, with a 16 x 10mm gluing pad. Below is #41-592-52, our large sterling silver oval bail, at approximately 31 x 13 x 4mm. The gluing pad on it is 21 x 13mm.

To attach items to all of these gluable findings, we recommend using 2-part epoxies.  Other adhesives that work well with these rings and bails include:

  • E-6000 glue
  • Super New Glue
    • Exciting news: every month, we’re going to hold a lottery right here on the Rings & Things blog. Here’s how it will work:
    *At the beginning of each month, I’ll announce a new lottery.
    *You enter by leaving Replies, also known as blog comments.  Comment on any post(s) this month.
    *At the end of the month, I’ll randomly draw 2 names to receive surprise goodie packs!

    Posted in New products | 5 Comments »

    Books on wire wrapping

    Monday, February 23rd, 2009

    All around the world of handmade jewelry, we’ve been seeing quite a bit of wire.*  This style has enjoyed sterling* popularity for several years.  You can grow your business by making sure you have the skill to incorporate custom-made wire findings and more into your creations.  How?  Just wrap* your head around some of these fine* wire books, and make wire work* for you!

    Choose from our large selection of wire wrapping and wire working books, including basic wire-wrapping instructions, volumes on a variety of wirewrapping techniques and hints, and advanced books on wire wrapped jewelry how-to’s.  Because these are such popular resources, here’s a quick tour through the library.

    “Findings & Finishings” by Sharon Bateman is a Rings & Things staff choice.  This  glossy, full-color how-to book, appropriate for novice through intermediate beaders, begins with a brief overview of findings and finishings through history. It continues with descriptions of materials and tools, and detailed step-by-step guides that progress from wireworking basics to seed bead caps and bails, clasps, edging and even fringe.

    “Jewelry Making & Beading for Dummies” by Heather Dismore and Tammy Powley is a best seller at Rings & Things.  This easy-to-follow guide gives lots of hands-on instruction in making simple fabulous jewelry.  It includes chapters on throwing jewelry-making parties, turning a hobby into a business and making money.  From wire wrapping and knotting to weaving and polishing, you’ll get all the skills you need to make necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings, pins, key chains and more.

    “All Wired Up” by Mark Lareau is another best seller.  Recommended by pro wire artists, this handbook is based on a series of classes Lareau teaches.  It provides excellent tips on everything from making fancy head pins to avoiding “Quasimodo Syndrome.”  Learn to make clasps, mounts, findings, chains and embellishments. This book features a gallery of contemporary pieces to get your creativity all wired up.

    For many more exciting titles, check out our full selection of great wireworking books.  You may find yourself getting into one of the great jewelry fashions of our time!  When you’ve got the guidance of great wire-wrapping books like these from Rings & Things, wire jewelry is nothing to get bent out of shape* about!

    *For some reason I just had to hammer* away at the wire puns in this post.  A t least I marked them with warning asterisks, but…  Sorry!!  :)

    Exciting news: every month, we’re going to hold a lottery right here on the Rings & Things blog. Here’s how it will work:
    *At the beginning of each month, I’ll announce a new lottery.
    *You enter by leaving Replies, also known as blog comments.  Comment on any post(s) this month.
    *At the end of the month, I’ll randomly draw 2 names to receive surprise goodie packs!

    Posted in Grow your business, Trendspotting | 3 Comments »

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