let the beauty we love be what we do

Desk view...

2012-01-28T15:58:00.001-08:00

Sewing this now....

2012-01-28T10:39:00.001-08:00

Desk view

2012-01-28T10:24:00.001-08:00

Desk view...

2012-01-27T14:40:00.001-08:00

Just completed...

2012-01-26T22:17:00.001-08:00

Bracelet reads: A wild patience has taken me this far~

He Loveth My Soul

2012-01-25T00:10:00.000-08:00

This weeks theme for Tag Tuesday is "vintage" and for it I pulled my inspiration form my victorian jet mourning jewelry collection along with a antique mourning dress that I own.

I used black crepe from a part of the mourning dress that is starting to rot away and stitched it directly onto a large shipping tag that I painted black.

With a needle and pearl cotton I attached bits and pieces of jet trim from my collection. I adore the soft brown color that old black fades to ~

I used a pice of old trim that still had some of the fabric it was taken from along with the old threads still attached to the trim.

I attached a small china head doll onto a old steel cut beaded shoe buckle along with the title words from the hymnal: "He Loveth My Soul"

Stitching this now...

2012-01-24T18:28:00.001-08:00

Tag Tuesday

2012-01-17T17:28:00.000-08:00

"WHITE"

White is the theme for this week Tag Tuesday. White truly inspires me, it is my favorite color and
I guess you could even call the color white my muse, its grounds just about everything that I do.

(I made this video so I could share with you all of the layers.)

Music is: l'evidence by Pauline Croze

I once again used the same size tag for my base along with 20 tags in various sizes combined with paint, fabric and thread to create this interconnected collection of altered tags.

Happy Creating ~

Desk view...

2012-01-17T13:34:00.000-08:00

Painted and stitched...

Desk view

2012-01-17T13:19:00.001-08:00

Strips of torn fabric to be sewn on.

Desk view

2012-01-17T12:59:00.001-08:00

Tag Tuesday: white is the object this week. I gessoed all the tags white then stamped on some Titan Buff

Desk view...

2012-01-17T12:37:00.001-08:00

Starting work on my Tuesday tag.

Sewing this now...

2012-01-13T15:40:00.001-08:00

Stitching a border on...

Tag Tuesday

2012-01-12T23:33:00.000-08:00

I have been sick with a cold the last few days so I am behind on my Tuesday tag.

The them was "snow sports and games" and I must admit that I did struggle a bit as I was not sure how to incorporate the idea of sport or fun into my tag with out using a image then it occurred to me that I could us words and colors to represent winter. I once again used the same large size shipping tag as my base.

I free motion stitched snow around the border and a ice covered pond on the bottom I then stitched a poem on to a fabric that I dyed a misty gray and it reads:

My blades gliding on a frozen pound listing to the sound of snow drifting to the ground ~

I also used torn white tissue paper and a layer of organza that I heated up a little with a heat gun to add more layeres to my tag.

I tore strips of fabric and stamped on to the fabrics with ink for a added texture. I also incorporated strands of crystals and pearls to make the side tassel. I used gel medium and added the word snowball onto a crystal chandelier droop that hangs on the side and I used etched silver to make a small tag that dangles from the tassel.

This is that back of back where I stitched my signature directly onto the tag.

Happy Creating!

Stitching this now...

2012-01-12T14:21:00.001-08:00

Thread outlining.

Stitching this now

2012-01-12T14:06:00.001-08:00

stitching the words to a poem I wrote ~

Sewing this now...

2012-01-08T17:31:00.000-08:00

Journal cover.

Sewing this now...

2012-01-08T16:30:00.001-08:00

Stitching some background texture.

Sewing this now...

2012-01-08T16:12:00.000-08:00

Working on journal cover...

Sewing this now ...

2012-01-08T13:07:00.001-08:00

Desk view...

2012-01-08T12:50:00.001-08:00

More journal pages.

Desk view...

2012-01-08T11:58:00.001-08:00

Working on a journal book.

Desk view...

2012-01-06T19:06:00.001-08:00

Working on journal page.

Stitching this now....

2012-01-06T15:52:00.001-08:00

I forgot how much I like sewing on paper.

Desk view...

2012-01-06T13:49:00.001-08:00

Sewing this now...

2012-01-06T13:18:00.000-08:00

Free motion on painted paper.

Desk view...

2012-01-06T10:48:00.001-08:00

Working on a mixed media sewn art Journal.

Desk view...

2012-01-05T18:09:00.001-08:00

Its all about pink.

Desk view...

2012-01-05T14:49:00.001-08:00

Dried, dyed fabric.

sink view...

2012-01-05T14:10:00.001-08:00

Just dyed.

published...

2012-01-03T23:58:00.000-08:00

I will fully admit that I take full joy in creating small little art dress's so it would only seam fitting that Id make a doll to model them...

I am trilled to be in the winter issue of Prim magazine as I am a huge fan of primitive art.

I had so much fun making Dear Prudence, that for me to look at the pages of her in this magazine
its takes me right back to when I was a girl playing dress up with my dolls!

Its fun to think that I grew up to do all the very same things I loved to do when I was a young girl.

you can find this in the

winter 2012 issue of

crystals of frozen water ~

2012-01-03T18:35:00.000-08:00

SNOW:

snowfall, snowflakes, snow...
To fall from the clouds

flakes of frozen crystals

crystals of frozen water

crystal vapors falling from the clouds.

I am taking part in Tag Tuesday this year, once a week a new theme will be posted. I thought that it would be good to help me open up and make something just because. this week the theme was snow and for it I used a large shipping tag as my base along with painted papers and an assortment of white toned fabrics that I layered and stitched together.

I made a small pocket on my large tag and slipped a smaller two sided painted tag into it,

that can be removed to view the back.

Hand stitching and beading where used to complete my tag.

(back of my completed tag)

Desk view...

2012-01-03T13:38:00.001-08:00

Sewing layers onto larger tag.

Desk view...

2012-01-03T13:23:00.000-08:00

Just added golden's pearl mica flake onto sewn layered tag.

Desk view...

2012-01-03T13:16:00.001-08:00

Tag stitching

Desk view...

2012-01-03T12:55:00.001-08:00

Tag Tuesday hora-frost/snow challenge.

white paint over paper and small tag

layers of snow like fabrics to be stitched ~

Studio view...

2012-01-02T12:59:00.001-08:00

Growing into the new year ~

I started "safe hold" early on in 2011, I knew when I walked away from it that we both needed time to grow~ fast forward to the start of 2012 "safe hold" started to talk to me once more and I have decided to placed it onto a larger surface that I will be adding to. The total size is now 44 by 34 inches.

Frustration can lead to inspiration...

2011-12-23T18:49:00.000-08:00

Where does your inspiration come from?

Does everything you make turn out?

For me one thing often leads to another.

When I conceive an idea for the most part it unfolds almost like a dream ~

I become lost in the details and delight in the process ~

I go with the flow and roll with the punches ~

However things don't always turn out as I plan,

Such was the case when I set out to make this dress ~

This story that I stiched onto the dress reads:

she stitched a little story with a needle and thread
she wrote of love and courage and how to take a stand.Around her tiny neck a strand of buttons she knitted...

she said:
"I like making a piece of string into something I can wear."

she was sure that sewing mends the soul~

In the winter 2012 issue of Belle Armoire

I write how it took a mistake to get me to push my art a little more ~

If you want to see how my jewelry inspired my "Sewing Mends The Soul" dress.
take a look at this slid show to see the progression.

Just stitched...

2011-12-19T22:30:00.000-08:00

Published...

2011-12-17T12:26:00.000-08:00

winter 2012

In the current issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry I share how you can can create your own Romantic Buckle Bracelets.

I also have a second article in this issue with some tips on how I like to add a little more when I package my jewelry.

And these little loveys are available for sale over at my etsy shop:

we must always give thanks for what we have ~

2011-11-22T18:43:00.000-08:00

This Year has proven to be one of great change for me. This summer I was diagnosed with
SEVERE RETINOPAT DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA

and as a result I have lost 30% of my vision.
Basically I do not have proper blood flow to my eyes causing swelling to the back of my eyeballs, altering my field of vision and causing me to view things darker.

I have to visit my doctor bi-weekly for eye injections to help control the swelling This treatment will not repair my eyes and it will be necessary for me to continually have these treatments in hopes that I will not lose any more eye sight.

I have been a real mess emotionally over the last few months. But for now my vision has stabilized so I am trying to be thankful for the sight that I do have. I have somehow found peace within myself as there is nothing I can do to change this condition so I have chosen to accept it and move forward.

I have been creatively challenged as things that were once easy for me are now hard as my hand/eye coordination is very off due to the new way that I see things. my life has changed and so has my creative process, in the winter issue of sew somerset I share how to nurture your creativity and how to connect to your creative self.

We all have challenges and things we have no control over in our life's but we must never forget that its our choice on how we let them define us ~

Desk view...

2011-11-17T12:09:00.001-08:00

As to the pure mind all things are pure, so to the poetic mind all things are poetical.

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Desk view...

2011-11-17T09:49:00.001-08:00

Desk view...

2011-11-17T09:37:00.000-08:00

Desk view ...

2011-11-15T19:46:00.000-08:00

this is just a peek at what I have been working on,

I hand sculpted paper-clay hearts where painted then dipped in wax.

nails, beads and wire were then used to complete my ode to a Sacred Heart ~

Desk view ..,

2011-11-03T19:57:00.001-07:00

Paper clay hearts ~

Desk view...

2011-11-01T12:26:00.000-07:00

“The difficulty lies not so much in developing new ideas as in escaping from old ones.”

— John Maynard Keynes

2012 art camp

2011-10-02T07:19:00.000-07:00

I will be teaching along with Terri Brush and Kristen Robinson

at the all inclusive Fall 2012 Art Camp

Come enjoy a weekend

Art Camp is located on the Beautiful Oregon Coast

in a Beautiful amazing home!

with fabulous ladies, home made meals, lovely evening by the fire and 3 full days of art instruction & 4 nights stay.

please go on over here for all the details!

story cuffs

2011-09-26T07:34:00.000-07:00

hand dyed fabrics are stitched with words to inspire~
embellished with antique mother of pearl buttons that have secret story's to whisper.

Last one...

2011-09-24T15:12:00.001-07:00

My hands need a rest!

Listen to the heart...

2011-09-24T14:27:00.000-07:00

Just stitched...

2011-09-24T14:04:00.000-07:00

Good intentions...

2011-09-24T13:35:00.000-07:00

Stitched of flaws:

Just stitched...

2011-09-24T13:06:00.001-07:00

Just stitched...

2011-09-24T12:49:00.000-07:00

Just stitched...

2011-09-24T12:43:00.001-07:00

Just stitched....

2011-09-24T12:35:00.000-07:00

Sewing this now...

2011-09-24T12:27:00.000-07:00

Sewing this now...

2011-09-21T12:26:00.000-07:00

Desk view...

2011-09-20T21:17:00.000-07:00

Desk view...

2011-09-17T11:58:00.000-07:00

Going to make a batch of bracelets to sell at "artis you" in connecticut Massachusetts next month.

Desk view...

2011-09-06T13:57:00.000-07:00

Building it ~

Desk view...

2011-09-06T11:04:00.000-07:00

Lets see where this will take me...

Desk view...

2011-08-24T08:23:00.000-07:00

Hearts  will never be practical until they can be made unbreakable.
 ~L Frank Baum 

Desk view...

2011-08-24T08:17:00.000-07:00

Fragile, but

Just completed...

2011-08-21T15:41:00.000-07:00

Resolve, strength & courage ~

engraved mixed media talisman pin made for Kristen Robinson.

Desk view...

2011-08-21T13:11:00.000-07:00

Resolve~

Desk view...

2011-08-21T12:53:00.000-07:00

Strength~

Just completed...

2011-08-01T22:22:00.000-07:00

Joy ~

Just completed...

2011-08-01T22:01:00.000-07:00

one can never have to much faith ~

Just completed...

2011-08-01T21:40:00.000-07:00

Faith ~

Just completed...

2011-08-01T21:12:00.000-07:00

Love ~

Just completed...

2011-08-01T20:51:00.000-07:00

Kindness, beauty, truth. and faith bracelets.

Just completed...

2011-08-01T13:46:00.000-07:00

I am not afraid I was born to do this.

Just completed...

2011-08-01T13:26:00.000-07:00

Hope is the dream of a soul awake ~

Just completed...

2011-08-01T13:13:00.000-07:00

My heart is pure.

Just completed...

2011-08-01T12:28:00.000-07:00

Poetry cuff reads:

We are the heroes of our own stories.

Desk view...

2011-07-27T08:49:00.001-07:00

I have a idea... I hope it works!

Desk view...

2011-07-26T13:12:00.000-07:00

Assembly time ~

Stitching this now...

2011-07-26T11:07:00.001-07:00

Desk view...

2011-07-26T09:06:00.001-07:00

Loving this color combo.

Desk view...

2011-07-26T08:59:00.000-07:00

Stack of arm wraps;
I stitched velvet and etched word plates that I now need to be assembled.

Just completed....

2011-07-25T17:28:00.000-07:00

Working on things to sell at art unraveled next week. I call these tide pool bling rings.

Desk view...

2011-07-24T21:17:00.001-07:00

Time to put them together.

Desk view...

2011-07-24T21:10:00.000-07:00

Making more rings.

A ring...

2011-07-24T20:55:00.000-07:00

"truth be"

Desk view...

2011-07-24T10:07:00.000-07:00

Desk view...

2011-07-24T09:46:00.000-07:00

where blogers create 2011

2011-07-15T12:19:00.000-07:00

I am taking part in "my desert cottage"

where bloggers create blog hop

(follow this link to see countless creative spaces)

Now I share my studio and my working process all the time on my blog however when I was asked if I would like to have my studio featured in "Where Women Create"in 2009 I said

"NO WAY! I don't have that kind of space" and they said "you have a studio space don't you?" and I said "yes" and then they said "then it will be perfect!" we set up a date for a photographer to come over and shoot my space. (blog posts: here and here)

Autumn 2009

The weeks that followed put me into a tail spin as my studio is always a mess!

(and that is on a good day! on a bad day a search party is needed to find me!)

so I pulled out half of my stuff and stashed it in the other half of the garage so my studio would look

nice and neat...

never mind that this was not the real me, I wanted my studio to at least look like I was somewhat sane and orderly.

but with age comes wisdom and I am no longer afraid of my cluttered approach. I have embraced this part of me and would like to share how my space looks just about every day, we closed off one of the bays in the garage so my space is long and narrow. one wall is sewing related and the other is jewelry

when you come into the space this is the view of the side of my sewing table

this is the outside part where the garage doors open we put book shelves back to back so I could store items that I do not use all the time on the outside part of my space.

my space is not very large so I need to make the most out of every inch, I store vintage fabrics on these little shelves.

and here is my sewing table, I pinned my collection of tattered baby and doll dresses on the window shade, its like a fabric staned glass as it ch]

this is my beloved singer featherweight I call her black beauty (loved that book as a girl)

now I must admit that I have a little hoarder problem when it comes to featherweight sewing machines, I own 2 more: one is white and another black one and when I find the right 222 she will be added to my featherweight collection. But Black Beauty was my first and you know what they say about your first love... well lucky for me she was so sweet that she sits on my desk and I use her often and if you ever take a workshop from me you will get to meet her and even sew with her as she travels with me but most of the time you will find her next to the BIG girl

My Bernina is what I sew on 90% of the time and if your a sewer then you understand how much you can love a sewing mechine (need I say more?)

Now this is my vagabond gypsy mannequin (its a youth size) that I have pinned bits of my cast off art pieces onto it.

Here are some of her details.

she sits on-top of a old RIT dye time where I keep a collection of carded antique buttons and sewing notions.

as well as veracious needles and sewing supply's that I use.

Oh my, now what can I say about all of these wonderful drawers?

when I spied this in an antique store a few months ago it was love at first sight!

I knew it had to come home with me no matter that I had not a bit of space for it!

I knew I could somehow squeeze it in!This make shift peace was built by a crafts person: the hand written labels on it are original and the knobs are all different as the builder was truly cleaver and made due with what they had at hand.
I think of this unit as a piece of art and think fondly of the person who built it.

In side it I house my large collection of antique mother of pearl buttons that I keep sorted out by type and size the draws slid out so it perfect when I need to dig in and find just the right one!

in the lower boxes I keep my sewing attaments, my gloves and scrap fabric that I use when I need to try something out of when my sewing mechine is acting up and need to fix the tenshion.

Now on this wall I keep most of my fabrics and trims

under my cutting table are roll away storage bins that hold dyed trim and lace

these boxes hold small bits and scraps from old projects that are still usable.

these shelves hold ribbon, trim and cording.

the fabric is organized by color most of it is vintage.

this is a small wooden cart that I use for hammering on.

I decorated my little step stool with a old blouse and gave it a ruffled seat and next to the chair is my lovley old wolf dress forum that just happens to be my size! how lucky am I!? she is dressed right now in a Victorian mourning dress with a beaver skin top hat and spool sash. Iuse her often so her attire changes a lot.

I keep my spools of fabrics in a box. and I use a old ladder to display some of my favorite antique linens.

I keep my antique book collection

and my jars of "stuff" collection

This is work table where my beads are stored

the little red box holds head pins and jump-rings and the little green box has my collection of my very small antique mother of pearl buttons.

these beads are stored in floss containers by colors

the boxes above hold wire. leather and string mineral.

This black unit is where I store just about everything,

I have it organized by kepping like things on the different levels

lace and button collection

as well as inks, thread, wire and tools.

so now you have seen my creative space ~

Happy Creating!

(slide show if you want to see a little more)

this is what the cleaned up stuido looked like back in 2009

be near

2011-07-13T08:27:00.001-07:00

be near, originally uploaded by ruthrae.

Just stitched...

2011-07-12T09:50:00.000-07:00

arm romance

2011-07-12T00:32:00.000-07:00

working on things to sell at art unraveled in a few weeks,

I made these bracelets today.

Desk view...

2011-07-11T21:59:00.000-07:00

I have just about worked my self off of my table, because i am to lazy to put stuff away and just about killing myself with these huge supper sharp and pointy scissors cutting very small ribbon and string. guess its time to clean up a little and get some sensible scissors.

Desk view...

2011-07-11T10:17:00.000-07:00

Arm bling

published in...

2011-07-07T09:26:00.001-07:00

July/August 2011

In this issue I share how I create like a child and tell you how you can make your own mixed media wired art.

Happy Creating~

published in...

2011-07-07T09:14:00.000-07:00

summer 2011

Last october my friend Kelly asked me if I would make a witch dress for her for a costume party as I stitched up her dress she created a hat to go with it you can read about the journey.

also in this issue of Belle Armoire

you will get two Rae's for the price of one as my Daughter Sarah-Jeanne Rae (link to her etsy) has her lovely felt hair flowers are featured.

Happy Creating~

published in...

2011-07-07T08:26:00.000-07:00

summer 2011

I share my tips on art quilting and how to make a tint your own resin paper in this issue.

Happy Creating~

Save $50.00

2011-07-04T07:46:00.000-07:00

Art Is You and a July 4th Celebration Offer...

Happy 4th of July! I

I have been cooking the weekend away and hanging out by our pool with friends and family this weekend and will be doing the same today. I hope your all have a great day doing what ever is that you will be doing.

I will be teaching at art is you this september in Petaluma, California September 22-27, 2011

and in Danbury, Connecticut 6 - 11 October 2011

Art is you is offering today only a chance to save so head on over to sine up
using the coupon code JULY4 to receive $50 off your full registration. this offer is only valid for one day – July 4.

Desk view...

2011-06-28T19:50:00.000-07:00

Desk view...

2011-06-28T19:41:00.000-07:00