Tag: Me and My Studio

Posted on by

Kitten in Black and White

Here is my little kitten, with his/her (still haven’t made up my mind) face sculpted and dry, and some basic lines marked with pen. I’m going to use that adorable tuxedo kitten to the left as a model when I paint.

It was bound to happen some day…I’ve been tagged. I may be the last person who hasn’t been tagged yet, ever. I think I just passed my first year blogging anniversary too, roughly. I erased my first post that said something like, “Just testing.” So, no accurate date there. I digress…I’ve been tagged by Annie Oakleaves (I like saying that. It makes me smile.) Here goes… five random facts about myself:

  1. I am an only child. People have always asked me, “Did you miss not having brothers and sisters?” I never understand this question, but I try to answer it politely. The truth is that I never had them, and so I have no idea what it is like to miss having them.
  2. I like to watch campy TV. My dad says that my mom and I will watch anything that “sparkles”. Dancing with the Stars, American Gladiators, Passions, Dr Who…if it has some element of the ridiculous, I’m in.
  3. I hate to buy new sneakers. I will wear them until they die. I’ve been known to strap them back together with duct tape. I really need a new pair right now.
  4. I am a pack rat. I had to reduce the number of my possessions when we moved several years ago, and it still pains me to think about it. I must have saved everything I had ever had, including piles of junk mail.
  5. I usually remember to take the laundry out of the washing machine, but I usually forget to take it out of the dryer.

Okay. Since I can’t believe I am not the last person to have been tagged ever, I will leave it up to anyone who hasn’t been tagged and who would like to be tagged, to volunteer five random facts about themselves. Or even one random fact. I’m not fussy about rules. Even if you don’t blog, you can just leave one or more in the comment section 🙂

Posted on by

Organizing the Accumulation

With all the sales going on, my mom and I have been out stocking up on supplies. I’ve been prewashing, ironing, and stashing assortments of fabric, which I tried to get into some sort of order by color.

I’ve put my quilting thread, ribbon, and Rick Rack away in Ziploc bags, and I’m rather proud of my little box (I got mine at Michaels) of embroidery floss. I wound all the colors around white card-bobbins, and did a slightly strange job of arranging them by color too. If I can get my mind this organized, I think I will be in good shape.
Posted on by

Etsy for Animals: Artists Helping Animals


Mom and I joined Etsy for Animals just recently. This is a group of artists and craftspeople who have shops on Etsy, and who love and want to help animals. Many of them donate a percentage of their Etsy shop sales to animal charities each month.

We will be donating 10% of our Etsy shop print sales (less shipping) to animal charities each month. My mom, along with Max Bailey, can be found at Art from the Studio of A E Ruffing on Etsy, and I can be found at The Art of Elizabeth Ruffing on Etsy.

Incidentally, I’ve also added the EFA links on the right sidebar of our blogs, along with a new categories section on the Ruffing’s blog. Now it is a bit easier to find things…I hope.
Posted on by

Support Independent Artists and Craftspeople

I Took The Handmade Pledge! BuyHandmade.org

I had a lovely dream last night. I was in the company of a bunch of very nice men and women who all liked art and crafts and making things with their own hands. We had gathered in one of those old buildings with the high ceilings and the leaded windows. It reminded me of college. Everyone was talking about things they were making, or things others were making. They were sharing books about dollmaking and beading fabric, and they were talking about dance and galleries and museums they enjoyed. I felt like I had found a niche for the first time in my life.

It came up that my birthday was a month away, and some of them surprised me with presents that they had made themselves, and other handmade items, and pieces of fabric they thought I might enjoy, all personal gifts that I really, genuinely liked. I was so touched by the whole experience, I felt like crying. When it was time for me to leave, I stopped to leave a message for them, which I wrote in chalk around the hem of a vintage dress made of a beautifully patterned fabric. My ride arrived, a pleasant smiling lady in an old minivan. I waved for her to just wait a minute so I could write one more thing, “Thank you.” Then I woke up.

It, of course, struck me immediately that nothing like any of this has ever happened to me, and that I wished it would. Then I thought about it for a while and realized that although this place might not exist in the physical world, it does exist, in a way, on the Internet. There are thousands of independent artists and craftspeople out there, and I read many of their blogs every day. They share what they are making, what others are making, books and materials they enjoy, places they like visiting, and their joys and frustrations. It is hard to be an artist, hard to persevere in what is usually a somewhat isolated work environment, and it is a great comfort to have that connection with other people who are sharing your experience, even if you don’t personally know them.

These people are also worthy of your support, especially in this time when there is such a concentration on conspicuous consumption and cheaply-made, mass-produced wares. Consider buying handmade, directly from artists and craftspeople. Consider supporting Mom and Pop businesses, and farmers’ markets. Consider buying directly from the source.

And one more thing, before I go…To all the people who put their hearts and souls into what they do, and to those who take the time to share that…Thank you.