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Martha Kines is the author of a brand new book called Ivy Briefs: True Tales of a Neurotic Law Student. She is also a wife and mother living here in Scottsdale and has a blog called The Random Muse.
Her blog and her writing style were so entertaining and compelling that the publisher actually contacted her about writing the book!
Martha had a signing at our local Barnes and Noble last night. It was a standing-room-only crowd. She read several excerpts and signed copies for her fans. What fun. I had three of my boys along - they are always happy to hang out at "The B&N."
I started reading Ivy Briefs last night and it is hysterical. Congratulations Martha.
Well you know I had to purchase this pair of kitchen towels. I mean come on! They are red AND they have rick rack. I made them up into bags, but I've never used them or sold them. They're lined with red gingham and have pockets. So when Barb announced her first purse challenge, I knew that this would be my entry. What do you think?
This is a fabulous book! It contains essays from mixed-media artists. I haven't read the entire thing but last night I read "Purging For Peace" by Marilee Fosbre. This is exactly what I am doing. Purging the things from my home and my life that no longer bring me inspiration and focusing on the things that provide it.
It took Marilee two months to clean out her studio. I'm doing the entire house. I hope I can finish faster!
Tomorrow we have a charity pickup. I have three bookcases, one bed, one dresser and several boxes of household stuff on the front porch. Also the recycling bin is filled to the brim.
I received my new bookcases from Ballard Designs on Tuesday. They look fabulous. They're in the living room and I've already filled them. Also I've hung some artwork. Sorry - someone borrowed my camera for his golf outing and drained the battery.
Meanwhile, here is a link to the website of one of my favorite artists, Sheri Rice. See the fourth picture - the one with the Mona Lisa in the top left? I own that and I just hung it in a NEW SPOT in the entrance where everyone can see it!
More books to the library today and three more boxes of sewing stuff for the high school sewing club! I also dumped another ton of magazines in the recycling bin. BUT the best news is that I have my machine up and I am sewing again. I had a repair to a customer's bag that had been sitting for two weeks. What a relief to have it finished!
We had to pull everything out of the garage in order to have the walls painted and so now that everything is beautiful and clean we are going to have the floor coated and some cabinets installed.
Things are moving along here.
Also, I had some inventory left over from Summer 2005 and I didn't know what to do with it. There were some fruity skirts and some scarfles that I discovered in a bin under my bed. It's funny because although they did not sell (I just made way too many) they are still fresh and bright and unworn. So they aren't exactly "used," but not exactly "new" either. Anyway, I took them to Buffalo Exchange and they bought EVERY SINGLE ITEM. I got $136 cash - not a lot but better than nothing.
Tomorrow my new bookcases arrive!
At my mom's house after her death I was kind of surprised to see how much STUFF she has kept. Although only my mom and dad are living in the house she has every single room, closet, drawer and cabinet completely filled with stuff. The garage is incredible. I especially noticed that she had at least 1000 books on shelves and in bookcases in every single room. There were paperback novels, hundreds of self-help books and tons and tons of cookbooks. In the garage there were bins of magazines that honestly were too heavy to move. The one that I opened was all Christmas magazines.
This is a four-bedroom house and my sister's former room seems to be exactly as she left it when she went to college 20 years (or so) ago. Her record albums are in the closet along with her prom gowns and pompoms.
My mom had about 300 bottle of vitamins and "supplements" in cabinets in the laundry room and kitchen. She also had an entire garbage bag filled with vitamin bottles. Now - the vitamins I suspect were the result of Mom's generosity. She was a target for any of her friends who decided to sell Amway, Shaklee, Melaleuca, Arbonne or any of the others. I am sure that if a "friend" suggested, "Why not order a 1-year supply?" she would.
Mom also had a thing for "new" clothes. Whenever she traveled she had to have new clothes for the occasion. She didn't even really like to shop - she usually just mail-ordered. So... every closet is filled with her clothes.
I also discovered that mom apparently never threw out a single Christmas decoration in the 48 years that she and dad were married. Also any picture (photo or artwork) that ever hung on her wall was stashed in various closets.
None of this is 'bad' or 'wrong' - it is just how she chose to live - BUT it caused me to look around my own house. I realize that I have WAY too much stuff as well.
I am guilty of saving magazines and books. And fabric. And neckties. And vintage laces. And buttons. And quilts. My shelves and niches are "decorated" with various vintage knick-knacks and antiques items which were quite charming when I started out, but now have become too much.
So I have embarked on the de-cluttering-and cleaning journey. So far I have donated about 300 books to my library, filled the recycling bin twice with magazines, made three trips to Goodwill and one to the dump. And best of all - sent ten cartons of sewing supplies to the high school "textiles" department.
As long as I am pulling everything out I though we should perhaps paint the house a new color - so it is now a warm light taupe. (Bland yes - but I am going for something more neutral and calm.) I also had all of my cabinets stained a cherry color. They look great with the taupe. I have cleared my niches and shelves of all "accesssories" and even sold a lot of it to an antique dealer!
Of course I am nowhere near finished. I'll keep you posted.
Can anyone use any neckties?
Leah's kids are completely adorable. It was really great to be able to spend some time with them. We went to a birthday party and to the park and we got haircuts and mailed packages and did errands and went to a piano lesson at Miss Arlene's. In other words it was a "normal" time in a busy household. Isabelle is seven and loves American Girl Dolls. (Just like Kaitlin did - once upon a time.) Gray is four and plays t-ball. Stanton (Actually Peter Stanton named after our father) will be two in July and his vocabulary increases daily. Instead of "no" he says "mo." He loves his orange crocs and wants to wear them 24/7.
Things are improving. Thanks for your comments. 
My mom, Nancy passed away last Tuesday on March 6, 2007. It was completely unexpected. She was in the back bedroom, which she had been redecorating. She was sitting up in the bed with a phone in one hand, her Amex card in the other and a mail-order catalog on her lap. Her eyes were open. We still don't know the cause of death. What could have happened?
My dad started wondering where she was when she didn't come out for lunch and he and Michelle (his health care worker) went looking for her. My brother Jeff had also arrived for lunch. They discovered her body and knew she was dead. They called 911 and went through the motions of attempting to revive her but it was too late. The paramedics came and left and then the detectives. I wasn't there but I have the impression that this took a very long time, with photographs and questioning etc.
I arrived in Florida the next day to help with the "arrangements."
My entire family is shocked and devastated by this.
The service was on Sunday afternoon and I returned to Arizona on Wednesday evening. My oldest son Matthew stayed behind to help my dad.
I feel like things will never be the same.
What a privilege it is to sing with the composer of some of my favorite songs! Keith and Kristyn were last here in November of 2005. It's about time they came back!
Although "In Christ Alone" has been recorded my many artists including Avalon, The Newsboys and others - there is nothing like hearing it as the composer intended. It is evident that the song was written not as a showcase for the vocal ability of the artist but rather as a thoughtful meditation. It is very interesting to hear the song with the phrasing, the dynamics and the tempo that the composer intended. Here is a link to the story behind the song. Of course we did more than just "In Christ Alone." We also sang "There is a Higher Throne" and "The Power of the Cross." Kristyn treated us to solo performances of "Jesus Draw Me Ever Nearer" and "Speak O Lord."
It was a great morning in beautiful Scottsdale, Arizona.
Yes, I have been sewing, but mostly I've been singing. Several months ago I did some background vocals for Paul Hillebrand's latest CD called "Journey to You." The CD is out now and sounds really great.
More recently I did some singing (along with several friends) on a project for Marvin Matthews. I'm still a little vague on the details for this one but I will keep you posted!
These are the awards for the "Best" blogs of 2006. We are nominated in the "Best Entertainment Blog" category. It's a competitive category because it is in with all of the celebrity gossip blogs. We are like the TVGuide in the supermarket aisle next to The Enquirer and The Star and all of those. No flashy headlines at BPR, just solid information about the show "Project Runway" on Bravo.
I would really appreciate your vote! Thanks everyone!
No matter how many bags I make for Kaitlin, she always returns to this one. So I thought I would do a new one in her new favorite shade - marigold! What do you think?
I'm still learning the features on my new camera but I wanted to try to post something right away. Remember you are keeping me accountable.
The stockings are small - ornament sized. Two of them are monogrammed. They are trimmed with vintage laces and buttons. The angels are also ornaments. They are made from scraps of an unfinished vintage velvet quilt top. Do you remember the other projects that I made from the same quilt?
Click here for the backpack and here for the messenger. At this point I only have scraps left from the quilt, but I am making the most of them!
My friend Tilli has an 8-yearold niece named Sara. Sara is learning to sew and is very artistic! Sara made this stuffed version of a sugar glider with just a little bit of help from her mom. Isn't it great? Here is a photo of Sara with a butterfly project that she made. Adorable.
Thanks for sharing, Aunt Tilli!
The local news reports that Britney Spears is here in Scottsdale staying at the posh Sanctuary Resort. I wonder if she is wearing her new clothes!
Have fun in Scottsdale, Britney!
Hi Laura,
This might seem a little weird b/c you don’t know me. But I found your Rick-Rack-Ruby blog online and wanted to write you. My name is Christy and I’m 23, I live in Springfield Missouri w/my husband. We just got married in October and I received a sewing machine as a wedding present, I have always been crafty and love fashion and was so eager to be able to make things for myself and friends, so I went online to find ideas, I found a pattern to make a tie purse and was so excited that I went thrift shopping the same day so I could get started. Even though it looked a little home-madeish (b/c my technique was lacking) I was still getting lots of compliments, so I went back online, for more and that’s when I found your blog, I immediately fell in love w/some of your projects, I love that you use vintage fabric, so I added you to my bookmarks, a few weeks later, I was surfing again and I realized that you were the one who posted the pattern for the tie purse I found. -So, I just wanted to say thanks, for posting such great ideas. The tie purse was my first project since Jr. High Home Ec class, and you made it very easy for a beginner, I’m getting better now, and excited try new things! –also can’t wait for the new season of Runway starting soon! I hope you don’t mind me emailing you, and I hope you keep posting!
-Christy
My daughter, Kaitlin works at Anthropologie in the Scottsdale Fashion Square. On Saturday night, December 30, 2006, Britney Spears entered at about 8:00 PM. She was with two other young women.
Britney selected several items and tried everything on. She brought her choices to the front counter. Kaitlin noticed a marigold-colored dress and recommended this bag to go with it:
Of course Britney added it to her selections. As she was preparing to check out, another girl asked her for an autograph. Then someone suggested that Britney pose for a photo with Kaitlin. Britney suggested that they go and sit on a bed for the photo. This is a polaroid which is now on the bulletin board in the backroom of the store. Britney's total bill was $2900.00.
Please be on the lookout for this bag. Wouldn't it be great if Brit was actually spotted carrying it!
Now here is the funny part.
Kaitlin and Lynn were wearing these Burger King Dance Dance Revolution Feet Beat toys on their shoes. Britney heard the beat as Kaitlin was walking and asked about the sound. Kaitlin explained that they were a "Happy Meal" toy and suggested that Britney "Get her butt to McDonald's, sister!"
Oops, Britney if you are reading this - they're actually from Burger King!
It's hard to wait for another season of Project Runway. So I (along with my fabulous BPR Team) am tackling a new show. It's called Top Design and it debuts on January 31st on Bravo. I've seen part of the first episode already and it is a lot of fun. And I am all about the fun of course!
Maybe this show will inspire me to decorate MY house! We shall see...
Like 99.9% of the bloggers out there I am pledging to be a better blogger in 2007. Oh sure my Project Runway blog was very busy last year, but what about Ruby? Poor Ruby is so neglected.
I know I've said this before but this time I REALLY mean it.
Here are some additional resolutions:
1. Sewing for fun again - not for sales.
2. Sewing more gifts. When I look at the gifts that I purchased for the girls in my family, I am certain that they would prefer my handcrafted ornaments and bags. I pledge handmade gifts for all next year. Actually there are some women in my family who literally BEG me for angels and vintage stocking ornaments. What is wrong with me? I can certainly make these things again.
3. Not so much garment sewing. Maybe even a moratorium on garments. Kaitlin has enough clothes and I have a box of stale inventory that will probably wind up in the charity pile.
4. Time to re-decorate this house. Talk about stale! We moved in about eleven years ago and most of the furniture is in the same places that the movers placed it when we moved in. Mom gave me a beautiful painting for Christmas and I could re-decorate the entire house around it!
5. Who will hold me accountable?
