Angels

[caption id="attachment_2038" align="alignleft" width="224"] My new angel. Approximately 5x12 on old pine barn wood.[/caption]

I'm so glad you stopped by! After my fabulous day of tea parties, I cleaned house today....well, a little. Every time I walked by my studio door I could smell paint and hear my easel calling my name. Cleaning got cut short, and I spent the afternoon in my studio. The really fun part was that Paw Paw came out and painted with me. I can't wait to do his big reveal on his latest piece! You are going to love it. Anyway, while he worked on his painting I was busy painting angels and sheep. I have precious store owners waiting on me to fill a couple of orders and I've been a little slow to get that done. I love painting for gift shops. I love that you can purchase a piece of art for a gift without breaking the bank. I love that you can give a gift that is hand made. I also love to paint angels. For me, an angel is an awesome reminder of God's love and protection over us. Angels are mighty, and they are many. They are God's messengers. Remember when they appeared to the shepherds when Jesus was born. "And suddenly there was with the angels a multitude of heavenly hosts praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the Highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men'" Can you even begin to imagine the incredible view in the heavens that night?

[caption id="attachment_2039" align="alignleft" width="224"] I only have 12 left, email or message me if you want one. $40 First come first serve.[/caption]

As I finished up my order, I had extra paint on my palette and not wanting to waste that, I created a different angel for me. It is painted on a piece of pine barn wood about an inch thick. I cut each piece about 5x 12 give or take a little. I painted each angel with a palette knife and put a hanger on the back. I finished each piece by putting a scripture on back...Psalm 91:11 He shall give His angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways. I have about 12 left. If you'd like one message me or email me through my blog! They are $40.00 and if you live in the United States I will ship to you free. I love thinking that you will have a piece of my heart in your home! Thank you! love love love Ruthie

Wedding Cakes

[caption id="attachment_2033" align="alignleft" width="224"] Peggy McKinney and MaryCam[/caption]

I'm so glad you stopped by. What a fun day MaryCam and I had yesterday! She designed her wedding cake! So fun! She made an appointment with Peggy McKinney of Mckinney Cakes. Peggy is so precious. She met us at the door with a huge hug and a smile and invited us in to look at photo albums full of her gorgeous cakes. We walked in, and I can't even begin to put into words how delicious the room smelled. My mouth began to water within seconds, and I found myself searching the room for cake. The first thing I noticed as I walked in was her pink Mix Master. I love the color pink, and it was mixing stuff that I was hoping to taste! MaryCam was looking through photo albums, and I, of course, was taking in the sights and smells of

[caption id="attachment_2034" align="alignleft" width="224"] We love tea parties!!!!!![/caption]

her "studio." Before I could take it all in, she sweetly served us a plate of cake, cupcakes, and her famous cake filling. She served us water in the most adorable pink goblets from a silver pitcher. With beautiful music playing in the background and indescribable goodies on my plate, I looked at MaryCam and said "I love tea parties!"

I was listening to the radio yesterday, and more than once there was a conversation about young moms and toddlers. I wished at that very moment for just five minutes with each of those moms. I began to think what I would say if I had only five minutes. My mind went back to the days that I had five children under five. As I culled through so many  memories, I thought, "Five minutes, what would I say?" I decided I would say....drum roll......." LOVE every minute!" Yes, it does go by fast, but that's not what I'm saying. I'm saying to enjoy every day, every minute, even the hard stuff. You are a mom. You are amazing! There is no greater calling. Just be a mama and love it. Play with your children. Don't constantly farm them out to other children. Put your phone away and have conversations with your children. Take them with you to the grocery store. Don't dread those things. Make it fun!  Teach them colors, shapes, fruits, and vegetables. Don't hand them your phone to play games and keep them quiet and occupied. Interact with them and nurture your relationships all day long! It's so much fun! Some days are longer than others, but your season of life with children at home is short. Invest your time and your heart into those days, so that big girl tea parties picking out wedding cakes is your honor and joy!

[caption id="attachment_2035" align="alignleft" width="224"] Obviously the cake was fabulous!!![/caption]

MaryCam and I had the best day. It was such a treat to share that time with her. We sat there eating cake like we were in a fairy tale with no where else to be. I chose a cake with white icing covered in stripes and polka dots made from lime green fondant and loaded with red flowers and strawberries. I think my sweet MaryCam is secretly relieved that there is not a "mother of the bride cake!" She did choose a cake that beautifully describes her. It was the most fun morning. Enjoy your morning with your babies. Love every minute! You are a sweet mama! You are amazing!

love love love Ruthie

Picture Frames you can Make

I'm so glad you stopped by! I've been creating fun things in my studio. KK and I saw some frames we really liked when we were out of town and decided to created some of our own. I thought you might like to see what we came up with.



 

First I got a piece of MDF from Home Depot. Now Home Depot will cut it for you, but I decided to bring this piece home and let my sweet husband cut it... quality time!!! I measured my piece to be 8"X12". No reason. I just eyeballed it and liked it.



I sanded my edges just a little and then stained the board. I typically use a light stain on my wood, but I chose a darker color for this project. I want the dark color to show through later on.



It doesn't have to be perfect. But for this project I wanted to be sure my edges were stained well.



Paint your background. Because I had such a dark stain I  painted two coats. I chose green just because it's one of my favorite colors. You could use any color. Don't forget to paint the sides.



The fun part! After the background paint is completely dry, grab a stencil and your second favorite color and paint away! I chose a cream color to stencil and I did do two coats here too.



I love it! I got a piece of sand paper and sanded my edges and a little off the middle to give  it a vintage aged look. It's hard to see from this photo, but the dark stain coming through after I sanded is a really cool look. Let it dry.



Do you love it? I love it! OK, a couple of things you can do here. I was throwing away some old frames and I saved the glass. So this particular project I used that old glass. I used carpet nails and slid the glass right in and the picture behind. IF you wanted to use an acrylic frame you could do that and just glue it in place or use the nails either way. I just like the look of the nails. You can actually see the stain coming through on this pic. I think it turned out perfectly. You could embellish with type or twine or anything really. I just liked it plain and simple this time.



To finish the project, I put a little hanger on the back. You can find them anywhere. They are easy to add. I had an old library card envelope that  I put on the back and put a card in it with my information on it. How fun is that? You could paint the back if you wanted to, I chose to leave it plain. I like it!  Have fun crafting! Send me pictures! I'd love to know what you think! Leave me a comment!                                                 love love love Ruthie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dead Lifts

[caption id="attachment_2016" align="alignleft" width="224"] Derby Girl
Oil on Canvas[/caption]

I'm so glad you stopped by. I was in the gym yesterday with my precious friends Connie and Su Su. We work out together almost every day. When I walked in yesterday I noticed there were dead lifts in the workout. ( Dead lifts are not my favorite...at all) We warmed up and then made our way over to the bars. As I stood staring at my weights, I was trying to calculate how much it weighed. Before I could even add it all up, I turned to the trainer and told him I didn't think I could lift it. He walked past me and patted me on the shoulder and said "You can do it. It's in your mind." I stood there a minute to convince myself that I could do it, then squatted to the bar and adjusted my hands. I tuned out all the sound around me to where all I could hear were my thoughts, my worst enemy. I stepped away from the bar to get it together, again. I was fighting being emotional. After a few deep breaths, I moved in again. I slowly but surely lifted the weight five times in a row. After the fifth time I dropped the weight  and asked the trainer to take off some of the weight. I had 25 more to go and there was no way I could lift that thing 25 more times. He tried to persuade me to leave the weight on the bar. He had watched me lift the weight and he believed I could complete the workout with no problem. I did not believe him. I did not trust his decision and asked him to take it off. He took off 10 pounds and I flew through six rounds of dead lifts, 15 box jumps, and 20 weighted ball slams.

I have to admit, when I was finished, I was a little disappointed in myself. I chose to stay within my comfort zone, a weight I'd lifted 100 times before. I didn't trust the wisdom of the expert. He trains everyday, all day, it's what he does. His job is to train me and make me stronger. Yet I am only as strong as I think I am. In other words, I chose to trust in myself rather than the expert.

Question....Do you know God? Talk about strength! He created the Universe! Maybe you've heard about Him? He knows you, He made you! Maybe you've heard the stories about how He parted the Red Sea, or flooded the earth, or calmed the storm with just a breath. The most powerful thing He did was to send His only son to earth to die on the cross for your sins and mine. He did that because He loved you and me. John 3:16. He is mighty. He is amazing. He lives in me. I am His and I have complete access to His power and might every day all day. Yet, so often I am only as strong as I think I am. I choose to live in my own strength trusting in my own limited abilities. He is power. He has no limitations. He is God! He is enough!  "Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. They shall  mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

Love love love Ruthie

 

 

The Screen Door

 

[caption id="attachment_2010" align="alignleft" width="300"] The Red Barn[/caption]

I am so glad you stopped by! I love this painting. This was a commission I did for a girl in Franklin, TN. The only request was a specific size and a red barn.  I painted the whole thing with a palette knife. When I was done I was head over heels in love. I loved the painting, but I mostly loved the way it made me feel. I am an outside kind of girl and this painting says "outside" in a yummy way!

My family loves the outdoors. Sixteen years ago when we built our house, we put a big screen porch on the back. We love it. We have a million memories on that porch from birthday parties to prom dinners. My most favorite thing about the porch is cooking on the grill almost every saturday night out there. It is like a date night every saturday. However, the other day, I was working in my husband's shop in the back yard, and as I was walking back toward the house I noticed how old and worn the porch looked. I stopped and made a mental list of everything that I thought needed to be done to update it. I had a pretty good list going, from pressure washing to sanding to staining and then my eyes rested on the screen door. My heart flooded with sweet memories of my children running in and out of that door for sixteen years. I laughed thinking about the hundreds of times I must have said "Don't slam the screen door!" Honestly, if you wanted the door to close all the way now, you would have to lift it with both hands and pull it with all your might. The hinges are rusted and the springs no longer spring. We actually use the door as the last hole in our frisbee golf course! If and when that door gets left open, we inevitably encounter stray cats, lost birds, mosquitos and sometimes snakes. Not good!!!!

I can't help but draw a comparison between the screen door and the human heart. My screen door started out strong. The door was once like a strong soldier standing tall and brave against stray creatures and fierce weather. Now because the door was not taken care of, it looks more like a withered old man with a sweet smile and weak eyes unable to fight off even the smallest mosquito. When a heart goes unattended it too will grow weak. However, a heart filled with Jesus has the strength of ten thousand. With Jesus in your heart, He is able to help you be strong and stand firm against all manner of evil. If you are tired and weary, Jesus wants to rescue you! He stands ready to save. Call out to Him today. Give Him your whole heart. Don't leave that screen door unattended.

Ephesians 6:10-11 Finally, be strong int he Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

love love love Ruthie

The Grass is Greener

[caption id="attachment_2003" align="alignleft" width="300"] The grass is greener[/caption]

I'm so glad you stopped by. I missed being here the last couple of days due to technical difficulties. My cable guy fixed me up yesterday so I'm back. I could not wait to share this photo with you! What is your first thought when you see this photo? Let me start by saying that with all the rain we've had the pastures are exceptionally green and beautiful, and it obvious because the girls are fat and

[caption id="attachment_2004" align="alignleft" width="300"] Salt blocks for the girls[/caption]

happy. They have more room than they need to move, and Eddie put out three big salt blocks for dessert. The girls are living in the lap of luxury, yet look at this photo. " The grass is always greener on the other side!"

This is so funny. When our children were little, we used to go to the drive through at Dairy Queen all the time. Eddie would pull up to

[caption id="attachment_2005" align="alignleft" width="300"] Everyone gets dessert[/caption]

the window and order 6 small dip cones. As each dip cone would make its way into the car, little eyes were sizing them up and passing them back hoping the next cone would be just a curly "Q" bigger. The grass is always greener.

Unfortunately the world encourages this concept to build business and boost sales. Every commercial, every magazine cover says you have to have the latest and greatest to be happy and cool. Even Instagram and facebook and the blogging world, as fun and fabulous as they may be, paint this unrealistic picture of a perfect and exceedingly happy lifestyle leaving many viewers discontent and believing the grass is greener on the other side. For example, the beach picture on instagram  didn't capture the nonstop rain or the ocean filled with seaweed. Instead, it was a "color saturated" and heavily filtered photo of million dollar smiles making the rest of the world think their vacation was a wash.

[caption id="attachment_2006" align="alignleft" width="200"] My favorite Cowboy[/caption]

What's the answer? Well, for my cows it was an easy fix. We turned on the electric fence to train them to stay home and enjoy the green grass that was right in front of them. I think in a similar way we should train our hearts to be thankful. We are blessed. We have more than we need. I would go out on a limb and say in most cases, we actually have more than we need. We are blessed, so let's act like it. Rather than wanting what every one else has, share what you do have. Change the way you see your day. Be thankful all day. Say it out loud. Journal ten things you are thankful for before you go to bed. Choose to be thankful. Choose to be content. "Bless the Lord Oh my soul and All that is within me bless His Holy name. Bless the Lord Oh my soul and Forget not His benefits!" Psalm 103 The grass is green in your own back yard.                Love love love Ruthie

Stop! Slow! Men at work

[caption id="attachment_1997" align="alignleft" width="224"] Commission
Mixed Media
8x8[/caption]

I'm so glad you stopped by! I was wondering if you had ever been just a little late to your destination and thought to yourself, "i'll cut through the neighborhoods and get there faster.  Only to find yourself zooming right up to the back of a long line of cars waiting and watching a single lane of oncoming traffic moving at maybe two miles an hour? If you hang your head out the window and squint your eyes, you can see there is a guy up ahead holding a stop sign and a walkie talkie obviously talking to the guy who is in charge of the other lane of traffic. Finally the other lane disappears and the sign then reads "Slow." Honestly, by this time I probably could have walked to my destination and arrived sooner.

This commission I recently finished was a

[caption id="attachment_1998" align="alignleft" width="224"] beginning layers[/caption]

little like the guy holding the stop sign. I adore mixed media projects for so many reasons. Each piece is unique and interesting. My pieces are created with layer upon layer upon layer revealing unexpected surprises every time you look at it. However, with layers comes the guy with the "stop" sign. There is a lot of time sitting and waiting for things to dry and mediums to set, and I admit it is very hard for me to wait sometimes. I get so excited about a piece and can hardly wait to add some element and I end up with what's commonly known as "mud!" It's so frustrating because I know it's going to be mud, but I forge ahead anyway hoping for super powers to avoid the inevitable. It's one of the reasons I have paper towels in my studio so

[caption id="attachment_1999" align="alignleft" width="224"] More layers[/caption]

I can wipe of as much "mud" as possible. The funny thing, I actually have to wait on the "mud" to dry so I can sand it back to where I started. Then I begin again and wait. Can you believe that? I almost always wait twice as long. You would think I would learn from my mistakes the first time. The good part is that after the wiping and sanding and waiting, I have a piece of art that makes my heart smile. It was worth every step of the process!

I don't know about you, but I make "mud" every day. I lose my patience or speak before I think...you get the idea. I am so thankful that God, my creator, doesn't toss me in the trash. Instead, He gently wipes away some of the

[caption id="attachment_2000" align="alignleft" width="224"] Always worth the wait![/caption]

crud, and pulls out the sand paper to get the big stuff. He patiently waits on me and never gives up on me. I love that He never grows weary of working on me. Philippians 1:6 "being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." I cut through the neighborhood the other day and there were no workers present. Instead there was a fabulous stretch of road that was smooth as butter. It was worth the wait.

Love love love Ruthie

Date Night in a Pasture

[caption id="attachment_1991" align="alignleft" width="300"] I love this pic of the girls getting a drink of water.[/caption]

I am so glad you stopped by! I wanted to tell you about  my last date night. My sweet husband came home from work early the other night and stuck his head in the back door and asked if I wanted to go with him to feed the girls. I rarely pass up an opportunity to be with my baby by myself so I answered with a quick "Yes!" I turned off the stove, pushed pots to the side, and told the children I'd

[caption id="attachment_1992" align="alignleft" width="300"] A little love from the tail gate[/caption]

be back soon. I grabbed my boots and my camera and I was off to the pasture with my baby.

I love how the girls know Eddie's truck. Oh my goodness! He pulls up to the gate and they are mooing like crazy and running towards him as fast as they can. The older girls kind of gallop, and the babies are precious as they leap and sprint circles around their mamas. We pull to the middle of the pasture and can hardly open the doors for everybody pushing on the truck and sticking their big wet noses into the windows. It's hilarious. Eddie hollers at them to back up and he makes his way to the bed of the truck. By the time he picks up a bag of pellets they have licked him from head to toe. He puts piles of pellets out and they frantically move from pile to pile eating as though it's their last meal. Eddie and I sit on the tail gate and watch the girls and talk about the day. It's one of my most favorite date nights.

[caption id="attachment_1993" align="alignleft" width="300"] Holiday and baby Rain[/caption]

Once the girls were through eating, they kind of spread out and eat a little grass for dessert. The babies all find their mamas and snuggle up for a little late night snack. That's when Valentine finds her way to me. (If you are new to my blog please meet Valentine in my previous blog. February 2012) She has grown so much in a year it's amazing. She pushes her head on me and licks me all over. It is so sweet. As the sun begins to go down, the girls all move in a pack toward the edge of the pasture. It's really amazing how they all do the same thing. They slowly but surely make their way to the back of the pasture under the trees for the night. The moon was huge, and the stars were like little night lights. We could barely see the girls anymore. Eddie and I decided to call it a night and I got off the tail gate and walked toward the door of the truck. As I reached for the handle, I heard a single moo from across the pasture. Unable to see anything, I asked Eddie if he thought it was Valentine. Unsure I called out to Val. She mooed again. I called and she answered a third time and then I could hear her moving in the grass. I walked toward the front of the truck and she met me there. It was so sweet. We snuggled a little and said our goodbyes and she turned and walked back to join the others. My sweet Valentine made my night.

[caption id="attachment_1994" align="alignleft" width="300"] The Girls[/caption]

I love how Valentine knows my voice. Every time I pull into the pasture and call her name she comes to me. It's something! But what really surprised me that day was that even in the dark, she knew my voice and could find me.  I love that thought. In comparison, I think of the many times that I have been in a situation that I could not see my way, and yet I could hear God's voice clearly call my name. I love that I am His and that He is mine, and I love when He calls me by name. If you don't know Him or know His voice, call out to Him today and give Him your heart. He stands waiting to hear your voice and hold you close. John 10:14 "I am the Good Shepherd; and I know My own, and My own know Me.

love love love Ruthie

 

Guitar Man

[caption id="attachment_1985" align="alignleft" width="224"] I love this pic of my daddy. His bright colored shirt, paint all over his hands and face. Priceless[/caption]

I am so glad you stopped by! I could hardly wait to introduce you to Guitar Man. About a month ago, my son asked my daddy (PawPaw) to paint a guitar man for his apartment. Paw Paw accepted the challenge but never picked up a paint brush. My daddy is a gifted artist. He would argue that point with me, but I would easily win that argument. He is overflowing with creative ideas and has an amazing eye for color. More importantly, he loves it. Art is deep in his soul. However, we all need a little encouragement sometimes, so I invited him to my studio to paint guitar man. He painted, mixed color, repainted, and finally signed the canvas. Guitar Man is done! I love it! We had so much fun we decided to make it a weekly thing. Paw Paw comes to my studio on the same day at the same time every week. I can hardly wait

[caption id="attachment_1986" align="alignleft" width="224"] Paw Paw in action![/caption]

for you to see what he's working on now. He says he loves coming and learns something new every time he comes. Sharing my studio with Paw Paw every week is my joy and my treasure.

Bieng intentional about spending time with someone is indescribable! Think about it. When was the last time you were intentional about spending time with someone? My husband and I are being intentional about cooking with the twins one night a week and discussing specific topics over dinner. Last night the boys cooked and the girls cleaned. Dinner was delicious! They put everything in the fry daddy. What's not to love?! Dinner conversation was fun and

[caption id="attachment_1987" align="alignleft" width="300"] Guitar Man
Acrylic on Canvas
by: Steve Fox[/caption]

enlightening. It was a great night! I truly look forward to it all week. The real treasure is being together and taking our relationships that much deeper.

Being intentional takes time and effort, but the rewards are immeasurable. Be intentional! Plan something out of the ordinary this week. You can do It!!!! Please leave me a comment on how you were intentional this week. I love hearing about you! Thanks for stopping by!

Love love love Ruthie

The Last shall be First

[caption id="attachment_1982" align="alignleft" width="224"] Oil on gallery wrap canvas. Size 16x40. First in the Beach Girl Series[/caption]

I am so glad you stopped by. I am sitting on the porch enjoying my "last" morning of vacation. I'm finishing up my "last" few sips of coffee before I take my "last" jog down 30A. A perfect end to a wonderful weekend.

Our culture puts so much emphasis on being first, that they miss out on the joys of being last. You only have to be in an elementary classroom when a teacher says "Line up" to see it first hand. Children sprinting and tripping and elbowing just to be first only to be faced with complaints of "cutting" in line which leads to lying, arguing, and usually a trip to the back of the line. Contrast that with the child that chooses to wait and be last in line. He had time.  He had time to put his books away, push in his chair, and comfortably make it to his place in line. He avoided the pressure of being first and made it to his destination at the same time as every one else in the class. He completely missed the pushing and shoving and cutting, and ugly looks. Why in the world would you want to be first when there's so much joy in being last? You know what I'm talking about. You have to admit that your heart swells every time you step aside and hold the door for someone else to go first. I can't explain it, but there's a joy that floods your soul every time you put someone else before yourself.

I know we live in a very self centered world, and loving your neighbor as yourself is a foreign concept. However, the bible says the first and greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul and mind. The second is to love others as you love yourself. This challenge will not be easy, but I encourage you to be intentional about putting others first. Slow down, breathe deeply, and discover the joys of being last. I promise your day will be richly blessed when you serve others first. I hope to see you at the back of the line.

love love love Ruthie

 

30 Day Challenge

Happy Labor Day! I am so glad you stopped by! I haven't blogged in a while. My life has been full of my family. I love that! Our lives have been filled to the brim with our children and their friends coming and going. It has been a whirlwind of fun packing and unpacking and packing again. I've sent a couple to college and a couple to high school, but I don't really commit to the "schedule" until after labor day. So we decided to check the children out of school and head to the beach for a long weekend. Real life has to wait.



One of our favorite places to visit is Seaside. There is always a fabulous T-shirt to purchase!



I also love that everything is a bike ride away! Beach time is so fabulous!

Or Golf cart. In Seaside, golf carts aren't used for golfing. The golf cart is first class travel to the beach. They can be found in most any color and design and even decorated.

The Air stream can also be found in Seaside. It is not used just for camping anymore.



This air stream serves fabulous bar b que and really good ice tea. KK loves that they give free refills. 

This air stream is by far the favorite of my family. It's called Frost Bites. Awesome shaved ice. So delicious!



I loved spending the day with the twins. We hung out on the beach, we rode bikes, discovered a couple of trails, wandered around seaside, and ended the day with pizza from Angelina's. A pretty perfect day!



Of course Fox and I photographed everything that wasn't tied down!!!



What is it about being a long way from home that makes conversation richer and dreams bigger? I think that's one of my favorite things about vacation!



Well, my favorite thing about vacation is this man. I live to watch the sunset over the ocean with my sweet husband.

I am always sad when it's time to go, but it leaves me looking forward to when I visit again. I  have loved summer, though I will always argue that it's never long enough! School has started and homework has made it's way back to our house. So to get myself back into the swing of blogging, I decided to challenge myself to blog every day for the next 30 days. I hope you will join me for the next month of blogs. I will be sharing fun things I'm doing in my home and my studio. I"m looking forward to it! I hope you are... I've missed you!

love love love Ruthie