Today we’d like to introduce you to Dana Ruth.
Hi Dana, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Dana Ruth Designs and Atlanta Art Worx Studio + Supply started somewhere back in 2004/2006, and this master craft never fails to fascinate, marvel, and keep me in awe.
Previously, I had a lucrative career in government/high-tech/telecom and started to consider how I was selling my time and my energies. After a blind leap of faith with lots of trial and error, success and failure, practice and progress over the years, fast forward to 2021 and both the working studio and the teaching studio are flourishing; serving clients with bespoke jewelry and teaching students the art + craft of jewelry fabrication. For me, the studios provide opportunities for meaningful experiences in learning, teaching, sharing, and practicing my craft. I have found a way to make a humble living and live a rich, modest life; my time is my own, and even on the bad days I still love what I do more than I don’t. Every day is bring my dog to work day.
On a candid aside, the pandini, and its challenges, has revealed to me the frugality of many things/services we rely on to remain stable, including people. My work in the trades offers me more opportunity for a livelihood that can withstand inclement weathers of life. People will always be getting married, divorced, celebrating milestones and festivating moments. I feel that my trade offers services that will always be needed and sought.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Smooth road? Yikes, no. My lane has always had obstacles, but you have to fix the flats; take the hurdles in stride, learn, and persevere. Starting a business is never easy and the struggle of security and uncertainty always looms. The business runs and flows in real-time along with my personal capital and savings. My job responsibilities can swing wildly from moment to moment, morning til close, adding some extra challenges into the mix. However, I am grateful for my varied skillsets which allow me to wear so many hats in my business. The Supply part Atlanta Art Worx is a retail tool business providing local supply for retail tools and supplies to the community and beyond; a helpful resource for hobbyists to professional trade shops. This is its own microcosm within the business with multiple points of management.
I would like to celebrate the help and support that I have received from friends and family both personally and professionally. These blessings are beautiful strands of silver woven into the story of a ladysmith.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I get to melt, make, form, and forge metal for a living and a life. Jewelry fabrication demands technical skills and depth/breadth of knowledge and I enjoy the challenges it presents. This ancient craftsmen craft has a long history and I am proud to be in the long line of artisans and tradesmen whose tasks and tools have not changed much through the ages…
As a studio jeweler, I create bespoke gold and silver jewelry in small batches. The ability to repurpose old jewelry by recycling it into something new is one of my favorite things to do and a unique, meaningful offering for a client. Another unique offering in the studio is our new on site standard jewelry repair and antique jewelry restoration services. Most repairs same day, on-site.
My work life is quite varied and certainly never dull. As a working trade shop a super neat Viking Antiquities reproduction project came through the studio and it was a rewarding experience to re-create them. I imagine a conduit to peer back in time to the last hands that worked on them.
My working studio, Dana Ruth Designs (https://danaruth.com), doubles as my teaching studio, Atlanta Art Worx Studio + Supply where students learn the art + craft of jewelry fabrication through lectures, demonstration, and hands-on making!
The studio also distributes and sells all of the tools + supplies a working jeweler or metalsmith would need to fabricate, cast, clean, cut, or carve whatever they are making. Local supply, professional service, and competitive prices. https://shop.atlantaartworx.com
Some exciting news, I am creating video tutorials that are the next best thing to being in the studio! Students can learn along with me at their own pace in their own space. Our first lesson is complete and we will be sharing where you access course content as soon as it is launched! Preview coming soon!
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I have lived and worked in Atlanta for over 20 years and I love the diversity in people, spaces, and places, Atlanta really has it all. I love and take advantage of the amazing and plentiful nature around our bustling city. The historic squares are a favorite destination and I get to spend a lot of time on the Marietta Square. I love how the city has so many local and independent businesses to support.
Being able to call my Artisan Resource Center studio home for the last 16 years is a gift; working in and being a part of such an amazing community of professional working craftsmen. I would not have had this unique/rare type of community/environment in many other places. My time here will always be special.
Having mountain landscapes a few hours north of the hustle is wonderful; the proximity makes for a great day trip or destination to unwind and disconnect. While I love the mountains, I wish the beach was closer!! I would very much like to see more progress to make our city was more pedestrian, metro, and bike friendly; to ease traffic and offer greener transit options for residents.
Pricing:
- Jewelry Fabrication Classes $305
- Private Lessons $60/hr
- Forged In Fire Wedding Band Workshop $799
Contact Info:
- Email: atlantaartworx@yahoo.com
- Instagram: atlantaartworx
- Facebook: @atlartworx
- Youtube: @danaruthdesigns
- Other: atlantaartworx.com + shop.atlantaartworx.com
Image Credits:
The Atlanta Art Worx Studio + Supply pictures, are the (3) rings, little green stone ring, silver bar earrings, lady torch soldering, snake earrings, big ring group are all student projects the other jewelry, hot metal, and robot is Dana Ruth Designs.
