Thursday, June 28, 2012

Ribbon Bracelet Project

HI! I am so glad you stopped by! I have been so busy in my studio painting, cutting, sewing, glueing...you name it. Today I made a very cool bracelet to give to one of my girls. It turned out so cute I am probably going to have to make two more for my other girls. It was quick easy and fun! All you need is a little ribbon, needle and thread, beads, charms, scissors, and sewing machine if you choose, and you're good to go! So watch this video and make a bracelet this weekend! I have so many of you tell me that you've tried a lot of my projects, but none of you have posted me a picture. So this time, make it and send me a pic! I'd love to see what you come up with! I will post in the next couple of days a few more projects that I'm working on in the Holiday Studio, so stop by again soon! Leave me your comments, I love hearing from you! Love love love Ruthie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vp6wCtLsvs&feature=youtu.be

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Loads of Laundry




Hi! I am so glad you stopped by. I love thursdays! This is my day that I try to keep completely open and stay home all day. I love it! It's one reason I posted this painting today. I love it. I love the color. I love how loose and easy it is. It describes my day today in color. I sold this piece and have no idea where it lives, so if you read my blog an own this piece, let me know! I'd love to know where it lives!

Anyway, so my day began with a long slow seven mile jog. (Thank you KK for going with me! I could never have done it without you!) Everyone has gone in different directions today so I have a good bit of time to myself today. MY goal is to be in my studio for a long time! I'm making a gift for my daddy for his birthday. I will definitely blog about it in a couple of days so check back in to see the finished product!

However, before I make it upstairs to my studio, I have to clean my house. I enjoy my time in the studio so much more when my house is in order. MY children are great to help out and do their part, but I have to say I can sometimes do it all a little faster when I'm by myself. The crazy part is, I'll disappear to my studio and when I come down to fix dinner there will inevitably be another load of clothes to wash, cups on the counter, shoes everywhere, tennis rackets on the table, and socks in the den. How does that happen? Seriously? My house is spotless when I go upstairs and when I come down it looks like a tornado went through it. If we're being honest, It kind of undoes me.

Today as I was jogging with KK and we were talking about our day, I admitted to her that I dreaded cleaning up but I looked forward to getting to my studio. I thought to myself I could just skip cleaning, or maybe just do a little bit, or maybe just do it all really fast and not as well.Then I told KK that I was so thankful that the Lord didn't see cleansing my heart as a chore or something He could put off until tomorrow. I'm so  thankful that He promises in 1John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  I am so thankful that God is not rushing off to His art room, but instead rushing in to restore His relationship with me. I am human and I fail everyday, but God never grows weary of me and He never lacks forgiveness. Lamentations 3:22-23 says His mercy never fails, Great is Thy faithfulness. I love that!!

So when I'm picking up socks over and over and over again, or collecting tons of shoes from all over the house, I pray He gently reminds me of His overwhelming patience and tenderness for me. So today while I'm doing my fourth load of laundry I will be smiling.

Enjoy your thursday! Love love love Ruthie

Monday, June 18, 2012

Bring on the Rain

Thank you for stopping by! I've just returned home from a week at the beach with my family. It was heavenly! I didn't do my phone, computer, email... nothing but my family! We laughed, read books, played games, exercised, fished, ate,...did I leave anything out? When I'm there, I never want to leave, but the closer I get to home I can hardly wait to be in my own bed!

One of my favorite things to do is exercise. I do, I love it. I also love the beach so the two of those things together are a pretty awesome combo. I so enjoy jogging while I am at the beach. To make it even more fabulous, KK jogged with me everyday. We had a really good thing going! We would jog three miles to Seaside and get a large unsweet tea with lemon and a chocolate muffin, people watch, window shop, and then Eddie would pick us up in the car.

One morning we talked fox into riding the bike with us while we jogged. There was a fabulous breeze and the temperature was a little cooler than normal. Once the three of us were on the bike path on 30A, we gave Fox the job of telling great stories and keeping watch behind us for bikers and runners that may need to pass. He was barely into his first story when he informed us not to look back. Of course we both immediately looked back and saw the sky was completely black. As the adult, I contemplated turning around, but the sky in front of us was gorgeous and that Ice tea had my name on it. So we decide to make a run for it!  The first two miles were fabulous, no rain, a little thunder, and we had wind pushing us making us feel like we were running a five minute mile. Then a streak of lightning hit and I immediately pulled over and asked Fox to call Eddie. While Fox was on the phone, KK and I decided the storm looked like it was going to blow over so we decided to keep going. So with a little over a mile to go we thought it would be fine. It began to sprinkle and people were clearing the bike path pretty quickly. We kept asking Fox to entertain us with stories and keep checking behind us. When the rain started to fall significantly harder, Fox laughed when we asked if anyone was behind us because we were the only people on the bike path. We were a solid half mile from our destination when the skies opened up rained so hard we could hardly see a foot in front of us. It really was fun. We laughed wondering what people were saying as they passed by in their cars. Fox still can't believe that no one asked us if we needed a ride. Believe it or not, we finally made it to Seaside, and that tea was so good and the muffin never tasted so good!

Last night on national news, some guy was being interviewed about a book he was writing on doubting the existence of God. He said no one can prove that God exists. He has obviously never run in the rain, or seen the sun rise, or seen the sun set over the ocean. My heart aches for that man that he doesn't trust God Almighty!  Isaiah 40:26 says "Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these stars. The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power; not one of them is missing."

God is great! All the time! Have you ever lost your breath watching a sunset or sunrise? Leave me a comment and tell me when? Love love love Ruthie

Friday, June 8, 2012

Party Banner

Hi! I am so glad you stopped by! Today is friday, my favorite day of the week, so I thought it would be fun to share a project with you that you can do at home! Do you ever walk into a store and refuse to buy something because you know you can make it...but you never do? Or maybe you attempt to make it and you wish you'd bought the one in the store? Well, truly the story of my life. I always walk out of a store empty handed because I am so positive I can make it myself. I am not kidding, for the past four years I have refused to buy an Easter dress because I KNOW I can make it. How many years will it take for me to realize I should definitely purchase that Easter dress? I had a speaking engagement in February and one of my sweet friends was asking all about my topic and then as girls do asked me what I was going to wear. To be honest, my clothes are usually an afterthought whatever I do. I looked at her and said I think I will make myself a skirt and throw on a cute little sweater with it. She knows my track record with the Easter dress thing so she gently recommended I have a backup plan. Anyway, the night before I was to speak I am on my sewing machine determined to make my skirt. I finished it, put it on, modeled it for the family, and then threw it in the trash. When will I learn to have a backup plan?

  I had a graduation party for my niece this spring and I wanted to decorate the house with lots of color and fun. I had noticed that the "banners" were in every store I went. So of course I refuse to buy one and make it myself! I saw tons of banners made out of all different kinds of materials from plastic to fabric. I decided for mine I would use paper. Mainly because I had it on hand and I knew it would be easy to work with. So I took some photos of myself making it so you could see how easy it is and actually make it yourself! I made 5 flags with paper from my local craft store and covered it in paint, stamps, and gel medium or mod podge. I sewed 2 flags together with batting in between the two. ( I actually used polar fleece fabric I had left over from a previous project) Once all five flags were sewn up, I sewed glitter ribbon to the top of each flag. This was a blast! You need to try it! Then hang it up at your next party! Decorate your flags with text or holiday themed stuff! Really the possibilities are endless! Let me know how yours turns out!     Here is the link to the video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKg0Ooi7rxM&feature=youtu.be

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Stuck in the Studio

I am so glad you stopped by! Thank you for all your sweet comments on my new site! I am excited about it! I've got lots of cool projects this summer, so definitely check in and see what's happening in the Holiday Studio!

Speaking of my studio, I was in there a long time today and accomplished nothing. Do you believe that? As I turned out the lights to leave, I had the thought cross my mind that I can't paint. Heading down the stairs, I thought I can't believe I even have this incredible studio, I'm no artist. Once I reached the last step, I turned to shut the door to the stairwell, and I realized I had a choice. I could surrender to those thoughts or I could take them captive and believe otherwise. Have you ever been there? The mind is a powerful thing! It can take you to incredible heights and help you to overcome tremendous challenges. Yet that one small, simple, negative thought can hurl you to the depths in less that a second. What is that? It's wrong is what that is. It's wrong that we allow the lies to take hold and destroy our day. It's wrong that we surrender to the lies and allow them to grow insecurity. It's wrong that we choose to believe the lie.

So today, when I shut the door to my studio, I chose to say no to satan, the father of lies and believe God, the creator of the universe who created me in His image. I took time off from my studio this afternoon to reflect on God's sweet blessings in my life. He gently reminded me of His goodness and His grace, and He affirmed my gifts that He so graciously gave me. Don't succumb to the father of lies. Instead, listen to the One who created you and filled you with Himself. Praise Him from whom all blessings flow.

I have loved being with you today! Leave me a comment on a time when you listened to lies and struggled to believe truth. I'd love to hear! And may I remind you that you are fearfully and wonderfully made! Love love love Ruthie