Blue Eyes and Pruney Hands

I've just returned from a trip to Florida to see my dad. I brought along my two youngest, James (age 15) and William (age 10.) My sister Leah also came down from Atlanta with her youngest, Stanton (almost 2.)




This is Leah and Stanton.




Here are William and Stanton comparing pruney hands.

Click Here to See My eBay Auction

After cleaning out a file cabinet of craft and sewing patterns I had intended to give these to charity or maybe to the high school textiles department. Then I checked eBay to see if these might sell. The results were mixed, but I thought I would give it a try anyway. I started at .99 reasoning that if I were going to just give it to charity even a dollar would be nice. So, things are humming along. What a nice surprise!

Vintage Pinks

If this past week had a theme it would have been "Vintage Pinks." I had a lot of fun with a pink handkerchief, pink embroidery, pink buttons and laces.



These little Christmas ornament stockings are fun to make and a great way to use up vintage bits. I made some angels too.



The pinks are put away for now and I am working on something completely different. Please stay tuned. Thanks so much for reading my blog.

Shopping in My Own House

Often when antique shopping I would say "Oh, I think I have one of these somewhere..." or "I think my grandma has this..." Kaitlin may have been tired of hearing it because at one point she said, "Mom, we don't need to shop here. We need to go shopping in OUR OWN HOUSE." So that became our theme. Before we went out browsing the antique show or store we would first try to determine what we were looking for and - most importantly - what we already had!

So I am reminded of this now as I open up boxes and bins that have been packed away. I found this tin in a box on the top shelf of my closet:



I had completely forgotten what was inside, but I did feel like it was something "special." So I opened it up and found a handcrafted pine-needle basket filled with sewing-related ephemera!





What fun!

Also - I now have a scanner. I don't know what I was waiting for honestly. We found a Lexmark X5470 combination scanner, printer, fax machine and photo editor for $89.99 at Best Buy. I was able to replace the fax machine AND the printer from my desk with this one machine that does more.

I have quite gotten the hang of the scanner yet. The photo at the top is my first effort. More to come! Don't you love the bluebird buttons?

Precious Treasure

I read a lot of fun blogs and I enjoy seeing photos of the treasures that others find at the thrift shop or the flea market. Well, this has never happened to me. I have been to my share of thrift shops and flea markets and I have never found a treasure. Never.

I have not been antique shopping since January, but yesterday I realized that this was the last week of school for the kids and I had better take advantage of the time.

Since I have been purging I was determined not to purchase anything unless it was REALLY special. Ha - famous last words, right?

Well anyway, there I was checking out the case at my local antique mall when this little box caught my eye... Does it have vintage Christmas cards inside? Hmmmm... could be interesting....



Let's look inside....



GASP!!!!! My heart begins pounding. I check the price tag... you won't believe it.... $24.95. "I'll take it," I nonchalantly say to the salesgirl. Eager to examine the contents I open the box in the car. Let's look inside....



This is on the bottom. I am still learning my new camera so I am going to experiment with different settings to see if I can get a good closeup. Do you want to see the wreath?



There are about thirty of the little ribbon motifs in the box. Also a couple of yards of the trim. They are completely unused. Many still have the little price-stickers on the back. They are all either $.25 or $.35. Adorable!

Here I pulled a couple of them out:



The background looks a little busy, so I will try a solid:



That's a little better... Let me try to get really close...




Aren't they wonderful? Someone please tell me that you understand....

WIP Wednesday

Things I Hate

Inspired by this post, I have decided to try to come up with ten things I hate... Shouldn't be too hard, right?

1. Men's cologne. It gives me a headache.

2. Spaghettios. Again, the smell...

3. Anything "powder fresh."

4. Shopping at Abercrombie and Fitch. The music is too loud, the place reeks of cologne and the dressing rooms are locked. The people "working" there are too busy talking among themselves to actually help a customer. When it is time to check out the line is 20 minutes long because there is only one cashier. Also, the clothes are worn and torn - even though they are new - and they cost a fortune. Huh?!?! Dan used to like to shop there when he was in Middle School. Fortunately he is over it.

5. Stepping in chewing gun.

6. Cigarette smoke.

7. When I am sewing late at night and I run out of something.

Okay, that's it for now. I'll try to think of more.

Birthday Girl T-Shirt

I've been finding a lot of "buried treasure" during my cleaning out adventure. This "Birthday Girl T-Shirt" was in a box on the top shelf of my closet. I used to make these way back when Kaitlin was a little girl. This must have been one I was keeping "in reserve."

I happen to know a precious little neighbor who is turning six on Jume 20th. Perfect timing!

I actually sold this design to a craft magazine. I think it was "Creative Ideas for Living." I remember being very very disappointed. The editor took some creative license and re-made my design. She invented a boys version of the cake which was horrible and on a khaki-colored shirt. I think it had animal crackers on it or something. She also remade the girls shirt. It was completely awful and it had my name listed as the designer.

Well... at least they paid me.

I'll try to get a photo of my friend wearing this!

Tim Gunn is not the only Author on a Book Tour

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.

My Entry in the Tea Towel Challenge

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?

Living Room Photos

These shelves are on the west wall to the left of the secretary desk. Still working on the desk....


Here are the new bookcases. They are on the east wall opposite of the secretary. I still have some work to do...


I know I like to see close-ups of shelves. Those are my Oz books from when I was a kid. They were my favorites.



For now I am resisting the urge to fill this with vintage beaded fruit.... NO MORE COLLECTING - Purge purge purge.... Hey - "urge" and "purge" rhyme.... I feel a Limerick coming on....

Purging For Peace

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!

Making Progress

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!

Ruby Clears it OUT

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?

Just Returned from My Sister's in Atlanta

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.

Rest In Peace, Mom

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.

Keith and Kristyn Getty Return to Scottsdale

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.

More Singing than Sewing

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!

My Project Runway Blog has been Nominated for a Bloggie!

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!

Vintage Marigold Fabric Bag

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 Have a New Camera!

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!

Ruby <3 Young Crafters!

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!

More Britney News

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!

I just remembered why I started blogging...

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

Kaitlin Plus Britney - BFFs

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!

I Have Another New Blog!

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...

Happy New Year!

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?

Where's Laura K?

It's a Christmas Miracle!

Four of our children are employed! Yes - at this very moment Matthew is working at a ski resort in Colorado, Kaitlin is working at Anthropologie in the Scottsdale Fashion Square, Daniel is working at Chipotle and James - yes James, age 14 - is working at Safeway!

In other news, yours truly is the proud winner of four passes to see the movie "The Nativity." I rewrote "Frosty the Snowman" for Arizona. We have "Dusty the Sandman" here in AZ. A local radio station was holding a contest. Of course I couldn't resist.

Thanksgiving in San Diego

Here are the kids, posing once again on the wall at the Seaport in San Diego. Kaitlin is 21, James is 14, Dan is 18, Will is 10 and Matt is 25.

Just for fun -
here is last year's entry!

Zoot Suit Premiere

Bob, Aaron, Chris, Jerry and Joe in the back and Georgia, Tammy, Linda and I in the front.

We performed at the Phoenix Rotary 100 Black and White Gala on Veteran's Day. The event was held at the Phoenician Resort. It was really really fun. We sang "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree" and "Chattanooga Choo Choo" along with a couple of patriotic numbers and some more current favorites.

We have been rehearsing since June so it was nice to finally perform! I love these musicians. I have sung with many many talented people and these are among the finest. Thanks Linda for your organization and for making sure that every detail was covered. Thanks Joe for writing out all of the parts for the band. Thanks band for your patience with my solo on Boogie Woogie and thanks to the Rotary 100 for inviting us. It was great!

Vintage Wool Bird Pouches

I've been kind of obsessed with zipper pouches lately. And vintage fabrics.

I had a stack of vintage wool squares that I purchased at an antique show. Perhaps someone was planning to make a quilt from them but never got around to it. I washed and dried them all to felt them and then they sat for while. I didn't know what to do next. I had LOTS of ideas of course, but was never quite convinced that I had the BEST idea for them.

Meanwhile I had been seeing little bird pouches everywhere. Mostly in the Japanese Craft books - mostly from calico-type fabrics. I liked them.

One of them had a plaid wing.

And I had plaid squares in my wool stash.

Things were starting to click.... but not quite...

The squares were really too small to make anything big enough to be useful.

So I began sewing them together. The turquoise blue next to the rust reminded me of a bluebird.... and voila - clickeroo!

The first one was tricky. Especially putting in the zipper. (The pouches are lined with 1940's reproduction calicoes.... But after that they went fairly quickly and the next thing you know - I had twelve.

I delivered them to passage and a few days later received a newsletter where the birds were featured:



Four had sold in four days. Whoo hoo!

Who's That Girl?

Why...it's KAITLIN! Modeling for her aspiring photo-stylist friend, Dominique Dawson.

Does Anyone Live Near Tukwila, Washington?

Please e-mail me, Thanks! Kluless7@cox.net.