When you step into Jewelry with Friends, you’re not just walking into a shop or a studio—you’re stepping into a space designed to reconnect people with their creativity, their community, and their hands.

Founder Ruby Rodriguez opened her brick-and-mortar jewelry-making studio in early 2024, but her entrepreneurial journey began nearly a decade earlier. 

“I started out selling jewelry. But what really lit me up was the conversations that happened around the pieces. I realized the sales process was often more interesting than the making—because it brought people together.”

That insight eventually sparked a bigger idea: what if people could create together? What if jewelry-making became the experience—not just the product?

More Than Just Another Jewelry Store

Located in Grossmont Center, Jewelry with Friends offers open studio hours, small-group workshops, and mobile jewelry bars for private and corporate events. From UV resin and polymer clay to gemstone wire-wrapping and permanent jewelry, Ruby’s studio invites people of all ages to sit down, get off their screens, and make something with their hands.

“We’ve lost something essential in this digital world. If we forget how to work with our hands, it changes who we are as humans.”

Ruby Mean’s More Than Business

Ruby isn’t just building a business—she’s building a movement around creative reconnection. Her space is intentionally accessible, her projects are designed for all skill levels, and her classes are capped to ensure each guest gets quality support.

“We’re still learning what people want. Some want to be guided, others want full creative freedom. Our job is to figure out what kind of maker each person wants to be—and make space for that.”

The Struggle Behind The Sparkle

Like many entrepreneurs, Ruby’s biggest challenge hasn’t been passion or purpose—it’s been capital.

“There are times when you’re just surviving. But those are the moments where you find out who you really are.”

Through it all, she credits her fearless husband, her faith, and her determination to weather every storm.

What’s on Ruby’s Horizon

As she looks to the future, Ruby is focused on scaling her store through awareness and community support. To attract different demographics to the studio to showcase how versatile and engaging the experience can be for so many different groups of people.  Ruby knows that by building relationships and sharing her passion and her story, she can grow her vision.

“I can’t afford a marketing team yet, so I’m building the role from scratch—manifesting it. I’ve outlined everything that position will look like, and I know it will come when the time is right.”

Advice To A Younger Version of Ruby? 

When asked what advice she’d give her younger self, Ruby doesn’t hesitate.

“Don’t wait for someone to save you. You don’t need to have all the answers to get started. The process is figuring it out.”

How the Twine Community can best support Ruby?

Her invitation to the Twine community is simple: come make something.

“Friends be friends. That’s what this is all about.

Connect with Ruby at Jewelry With Friends

• Website: www.jewelerywithfriends.com
• Instagram: jewelry_with_friends_
• FaceBook: Jewelry With Friends
• Address: 5500 Grossmont Center #141, San Diego, California 91942
• Phone: (619) 324-9750
• Email: [email protected]