I am fond of all types of Italian jewelry. It is steeped in history and romance and the end result is often breathtaking. One style which is particularly appealing is mosaic jewelry. It is not only lovely, but it also has a story to tell that is very visible in the jewelry item itself.

Mosaics are made of small glass tiles. These tiles are called tesserae. When combined together, they can form an image - as simple as a flower, or as intricate as a building architectural scene.

Shipping anywhere, even locally is arguably the most 'dangerous' part of our trade. International shipping however is in its own league. It is cause for such anxiety and fear among some dealers that many I know, in the continental USA, will not ship abroad, period. I have found though that most of the stress, pain and suffering can indeed be minimized and this blog will try to explain how.

As part of Ruby Lane's 15-Year Anniversary celebration, we have interviewed long-time veteran shop owner Pia Stratton of Pia's Antiques on Ruby Lane. You can hear her story as she reflects on her many years on Ruby Lane:

This is a modern reproduction of an antique Jumeau E12J doll. When molds to make modern copies are taken from authentic antique dolls and copies are decorated by accomplished doll artists, they can be all too easily mistaken for originals.

View the complete listing in The Ruby Lane Repro Shop

There is a very convenient and easy way to mark a special collectible or favorite item when surfing around Ruby Lane… it is called the WISH LIST. The add to wish list function (with a heart next to it) is located on the upper right side of the page under the “Add To Cart” Button. Just click the button and the item goes to your wish list to view later…. How simple is that?

The Blog recently featured a fine article on the importance of originality in design, entitled A few Thoughts about Jewelry Design: Copying vs. Transforming, by Marcia Southwick of B Bold Jewelry for Boomer Girls on Ruby Lane. It brought up some points that are often debated by staff. As you are aware, with a few exceptions, reproduction items are not allowed on Ruby Lane.

Helen Gilbert from Catisfaction's Glass Gallery on Ruby Lane

Oh, how I love beautiful rhinestone jewelry. My love and appreciation for rhinestone jewelry began very early in life. As a child I had, I would say, a natural healthy curiosity about all things I just couldn’t make sense out of. One of these things was the shower in my parent’s bathroom.