Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rebecca Clarke. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Rebecca, appreciate you joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I fell in love with jewelry making after seeing a TikTok of how to make a wire wrapped ring. It was with cheap craft wire and beads from Walmart, but seeing that I could make my own ring intrigued me. I’ve always been someone who could not find rings my size in stores. Seeing that I could make my own had me so excited. It was sloppy, scratched, and eventually turned my finger green, but it was handmade by me and it fit perfectly! I immediately started learning the craft of wire wrapping through TikTok, Insta Reels, and YouTube videos. I started seeing more methods of jewelry creation and found the art of metal smithing! Seeing that I could make high quality, genuine gemstone and diamond jewelry that could last lifetimes was the next step for me! I saw creatives making high end jewelry and it had me dreaming… What if I could make engagement rings or wedding jewelry? What if someone wore my jewelry on the red carpet? This was definitely a jump from wire wrapping, as the process requires precision & hard work. It also meant working with very expensive stones and materials that gave me little room for error. Talk about pressure! I slowly but surely saved up enough to buy the bare minimum of tools to get started and practiced every day. I started with the basics of sawing and soldering. This took me a bit to get used to. Controlling the heat from my torch, applying the right amount of solder, without melting the metal formed was a challenge as a beginner! You know what they say, practice makes perfect! I’d come home from my full-time job, pull up some YouTube tutorials, and get creating everyday. As I began my metal smithing journey, I started to create YouTube videos of my own. I have shared my process of creation as a beginner jeweler, with all of the mistakes & odd, self taught methods included. I consistently started making YouTube videos each week. This pushed me to create something new weekly, trying different methods and styles. From stone setting diamonds, to melting down customers heirlooms, I kept sharing my growth with you. I marked my first year as a self taught jeweler in June 2025 by creating my first engagement ring! It was such a heartfelt moment as this was a goal from the very beginning! I cannot wait to grow my skills each year, creating high end jewelry and sharing every little detail along the way!

How did you learn to do what you do?
YouTube has been a huge help!! I met some amazing people along the way who gave me some tools to start and all of the advice in the world! The jewelry community is a wonderful group who has been so generous with information! I recommend finding people near you or even on social media who is more than happy to share tips with you or help you tackle an issue. Practice as much as you can and get familiar with your tools / materials capabilities. My biggest go to has been YouTube, Insta Reels, & TikTok.

Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? My biggest issue was being scared to start. I was intimidated to use materials of high value, as any mistake was an expensive one! Have no fear, take the first step and allow yourself to make mistakes and waste materials to learn.

What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
My biggest issue (that also ties into speeding up my process) is not being able to afford the proper tools. I’m still saving up for the never ending list of jewelry tools. There are a couple of items that would save me hours and a lot of headache that I have yet to get. An example is a proper rotary tool. I have a cheap one that cannot allow for a lot of the jewelry process such as stone setting. I currently have to stone set by hand which adds a lot of unnecessary time and energy towards the creation. I aim to gather the main necessities in this next year of jewelry creation.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a faith based multidisciplinary artist specializing in jewelry creation!
With every purchase made through Ruru’s Rings, a portion of proceeds is donated to a ministry in need, that current ministry is Street Hope TN. I am a self taught jeweler that creates handmade, wearable art, one of kind jewelry, custom pieces & treasured heirlooms. I have recently opened my shop to the world of wedding jewelry and engagement rings. Whether you find a design on my shop / social media you love and want made it to order, or want to work one on one in creating a piece as unique as your story, I’m your gal!
I can melt down your old jewelry and turn it into new creations that fit your personality & story. I can help you find a unique or funky gemstone alternative for an engagement ring to make your piece out of the ordinary! I can also create you a timeless collection of must have jewelry that will last generations.
Issues & problems I solve include size inclusivity in jewelry. I work one on one with you in the creation process from the overall design down to the color shade of the gemstone.
I give my brothers and sisters in Christ a place to buy from knowing their purchases are being used for the kingdom & glory of God.
Ruru’s Rings allows for people of the faith to buy faith based jewelry that isn’t just cross necklaces. I create timeless designs that have meaning, while also offering one of a kind custom creations for those looking for something a little more eccentric.
I currently work full time as a server, and serve at my church all while running my small business and uploading to YouTube weekly. I have a YouTube channel that I share my personal challenges, creation processes, and more as a self taught jeweler & small business owner.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

As a Christian I am called to do everything in the name of Christ. Whether I eat or drink, refill drinks for my table, or create custom heirloom jewelry I will do it all for the glory of God

&

Exodus 31

This passage discusses when God called artists, specifically jewelers and metal workers to create the breastplate of Aaron and the Tabernacle. Knowing that God uses artists, especially ones in my field is such an inspiring and driving message that keeps me going.

Last but not least, philanthropy. With every purchase made through Ruru’s Rings, a portion of proceeds is donated to a ministry in need. Currently that ministry is Street Hope TN. As stated on their website, they “work to eliminate the sexual exploitation and trafficking of children in Tennessee and provide safe environments to foster hope and healing through Jesus Christ.”

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I give so much credit and appreciation to my parents. My mother, for giving me a perspective of the client. What styles & designs are more desired. She has given me constructive criticism that gets me thinking outside of the box. My father for giving me a priceless entrepreneurial outlook and guidance. My dad has given me very tactical and intelligent perspectives that I would not have understood or seen normally. He has given me an advantage in the world of business. I am so grateful for my parents to have given me these driving factors in my small business journey.
I have gained a lot of jeweler specific knowledge from a podcast called For the Love of Jewelers by Rio Grande. It has been extremely inspiring and informative as a self taught jeweler.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://rurusrings.store
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rurus.rings/
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@rurusrings
• Other: TikTok
  https://www.tiktok.com/@rurus.rings?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Image Credits

All images were taken by me :) also, my apologies, my computer was giving me a hard time and I couldn’t deselect any photos, I accidentally sent 10! thank you<3