works in progress

Idea for the headpieces for Waltz of the Flowers. 

I know it looks HUGE, but for costumes you need to make things big. Remember the audience is at least 30 feet away, and under harsh stage lights, "subtle" washes out.

The big brother quilt

I started packing it up before I realized I hadn't taken a picture of it all laid out. Oh, well, here it is almost laid out completely.

Thanks to everyone who helped me, I was in a crazy daze yesterday and was no fun to be around. Thanks for putting up with me. I was at my wits end due to what I consider "crazy pregnancy hormones" and emerging allergies.

Ruth

New Header

If you have noticed, I have updated my header. It went from being this:

To what you see above. If you are wondering why it only has six girls instead of the eight as my title would suggest well here's the deal: there are seven daughters. I am the eighth child. I have always identified myself as the eighth child, but also one of the many daughters. Instead of choosing to call myself the fifth daughter, or the eighth child, I went with something I liked best. I'm a writer I can do those things.

Why still only six and not seven? Well then, the first child and the first daughter is taking the picture. On that particular day I was bout 7 or 8, and my sisters and I (mostly my older sisters) made candy lollipops from candy apple candy. That's repetitive but it's exactly what it is.

We were all outside for I don't know what reason and my sisters was taking photography in college so we were her most readily available and free favorite subjects. We were all (except my sister the photographer) standing in a line of age, oldest to youngest eating our lollipops and my sister took the picture. I guess to see the difference in all our heights, or the length of our hair, or what have you.

I remember that day well. 

Here's the real pic as sent to me by the original photographer, the first child and first daughter, Julie. My big sister.

Maelyn's Layette-Finished

Well, in the midst of finals, final assignments, and the dreaded XHTML coding debacle I have found myself in. I finished a layette for a sweet little girl soon to be born.

Here name is Maelyn.

Here's the picture.

Now some of you may be saying that the use of the word layette is incorrect.  True, it's no clothing, but bedding and other necessitates is involved.

I made a:

Quilt

Crib Bumpers

Diaper Bag

Pillow

I'm pleased with the way it turned out. I just mailed it yesterday so I'm hoping the recipient will like it too.

Now back to my XHTML coding issues.

Whew.

Weighted Blanket Project

I just yesterday finished a project I had been working on for a bit of time. My sister-in-law asked me to make a weighted blanket for her daughters birthday present. I had no real idea of what a weighted blanket was or what it would do. I assumed it was a blanket with some sort of weights in the edges to keep it always looking nice on a bed. So I asked started researching. Well, a weighted blanket is a Occupational Therapy tool for a variety of needs. Some of them are used for adults and elderly who have trouble keeping calm, falling asleep or who need some comfort. The weights are calming, I guess like being held. It's used for children who have ADD, autism, or just restlessness and trouble sleeping. So, I figured, hey, it's a new challenge I'll give it a shot. The beads that are used in weighted blankets are usually polystyrene beads, used in dolls or other fabric toys that need some bulk and stiffness, but also need the ability to move. I ordered ten pounds since the quilt I was making needed to be 6. Size for these blankets are varied depending on the size of the person using it. They also make weighted vests for walking around.

I ordered some very soft yellow minky fabric and tried to come up with how to make it on my own. I found out after I had been halfway through, that there was a much easier way to do this quilt, but alas, my research wasn't very thorough and I really suffered through a much more complicated way at first.

Here's some great info on weighted blankets and a tutorial on how to make one by Craft Nectar. It also has a downloadable pdf pattern that would have kept me from pulling out my hair if only I had found it at first.

The idea was to make an inner layer that held all the beads in 4'x4' squares, to distribute the weight evenly, and then put a soft minky layer, and a satin layer outside it, like a duvet and sew them all together. Here's the beginning of the inner bead layer.

I sewed several strips onto another layer of fabric to make the pouches to hold the beads. I sewed them on one side only, and then began to sew perpendicularly to those stitches to create a grid pattern. 

I began to parcel up the beads per pouch. I did the math and found out that four teaspoons of beads would create the right amount per pouch that would create a 6 pound blanket. 

Here's a photo of the beads after they were sewn in to the pouches. 

I started to glue the sides together after sewing them proved to be disastrous. (broken needles, half filled pouches and a lot of strain and irritation.) After I filled and glued the pouches I waited for them to dry and then sewed them together. I did make a mistake when I tried to use a larger spoon to put the beads in the pouches, I put four teaspoons in the large spoon and the put it in the pouch, after  awhile I estimated how much four teaspoons would be and ended up putting in too many. The quilt became 10 pounds as opposed to 6. It was a bear to sew this thing. The weight was always pulling the quilt off my sewing machine. I sewed thru the bead breaking my needles, and beads, oh the beads ended up everywhere. My house is covered in them. My husband joked that I should have just bought another ten pounds  and just poured them on the floor, since that's what happened anyway. I don't think I will make another one of these quilts, so I really hope this one does the trick.

Here it is finished. It's HEAVY. My husband and I tried in on and it's comfortable and calming, my son hated it. So perhaps there's something to all this after all?

 Here's the back side in the satin. I had to sew the inner layer in to the satin backing to stabilize it.

It's comfy, and the fabrics feel great. But, a word to the wise, if you want to make one of these, do you research, go to Craft Nectar and create the quilt their way, don't do it my way, and take your time and remember it's messy. But, the outcome is great, and if it's what you or your child needs, it's worth it.

You can also buy these quilts ready made, they can go from $100 to $400 depending on size and style. I spend about $80-$100 on materials on this one. So, it may not be cheaper if you choose to make a quilt out of nicer fabric than you can get readymade on the other quilts. Minky is expensive but oh, it is heavenly to touch. It was a good experience for me and I hope it's as satisfying to use as it was to finally finish.

Now onto the lady bug project and back to my lullaby book project. I took a week off during a final for my creating web pages class. I'd show you the final web page that I coded in HTML but it's heinous looking. I am very much a beginner.

Oh well, I guess you can see it. Just don't judge.

http://quiltsbyrudy.webs.com/

It's just the beginning my friends, just the beginning.

Ruth

Artists and Illustrators of whom I am extremely jealous-Stephen Crowhurst

Just found this guy the other day on Notcot.org.

Stephen Crowhurst.

It looks like he's done work for Ford, Diesel, Zune, CB2 and more.

Here are some fantastic illustrations that are just lovely.

Stephen Crowhurst

I can see this as a children's book illustration. There's something about Stephen's work that reminds me of Samurai Jack.

Stephen Crowhurst

I could really love this is a print or a textile. Could you imagine a series of printed fabrics? I would totally buy it. I'm thinking......apron.

Stephen Crowhurst

I want this. It brings to mind 'I dream of Jeannie'.

Stephen Crowhurst

Stephen Crowhurst

Just lovely well crafted work. I hope to see more of Stephen Crowhurst's work going forward. I could see a partnership with Spoonflower the fabric digital printing company, or even a calendar of his work. 

Ruth

lullaby Book-Over the Rainbow

The latest installment of the Lullaby Book-Somewhere over the Rainbow.

I hope you like it.

Over the Rainbow, Illustration by Ruth Krueger

 Here's the original sketch. I had tried to color in the flowers individually, but the file became so large it was unwieldy. So, it became just outlines of flowers in the rainbow and it's just as good. I hope.

Original Sketch

I am hoping to get one of these done a week until I finish them all. Not all the lullaby's ever, but all I have on my list. I think I have 5 or 7 more. I feel a bit insane for taking on this project while I have many many other important (to me) projects. So you will have to forgive me if for a couple weeks I go without posting another lullaby illustration. It might take a back seat to the other more deadline oriented things I have going on, like taking classes, or finishing sewing projects. I do really want to finish this project, for Danny. My little guy. So if you see me lagging behind, make sure to comment on it. I like incentive!!

Ruth

Found this and it made me laugh

I found this today on drawn.ca and it made me laugh.
Anyone who has ever tried to draw a human being has dealt with this.

Hands.

Cartoon by Grant Snider
http://thoughtballoonhelium.blogspot.com/2011/06/drawing-hands.html

Also, a little fun rap about how to do certain important tasks in photoshop. If you know anything about photoshop, it's funny.

http://www.collegehumor.com/video/6365774/photoshop-tutorial-rap

Ruth

Lullaby Book-Hush Little Baby

Update: 6/6/11
Here is the revised version of Hush Little Baby. I think I like this version, where the goat is white and the Mockingbird is grey.

Here is the next installment of the Lullaby Book.
Featuring, "Hush Little Baby".

I never remembered the words to this lullaby, or rather even knew them past the first two verses. I started on this illustration yesterday and hated it immediately. So today in-between dropping of the quilt at the long arm quilters and lunch I finally worked out a sketch I liked, and finished it after putting the little guy to bed.

Here it is. It's much more subdued color wise as opposed to the last one but all the bright colors just weren't working for me.

Hush Little Baby, Illustration by Ruth Krueger

I'm starting to wonder if I should have made the billy-goat white.

Original Sketch

After a very unhappy first draft, I added the rest of the contents of the song: a looking glass, and a cart and bull. I'm happier with the final than with the first. I also perched the billy-goat differently. 

What do ya'll think?

Ruth

Single girl in the batik dress quilt update

I have finished the quilt top for the "single girl in the batik dress" quilt. Which I am thinking of changing to "Devil in a blue dress". Not because it was so hard to do the curves. It was difficult at first but became a breeze quickly. But because it is just more catchy.

I plan on doing a contrast polka dot jacquard in lime green. Because it just was more fun than the other fabrics I found.

Devil in a blue Dress

Lime Jacquard, or Lime Dobby

I'm seriously considering getting it long arm quilted. I dislike quilting a large quilt on my machine. I might take some classes and rent out a long arm, or I might get a professional. Either way, I'm pleased at how it's turning out.

Ruth

Rock Crystal Jewelry

I was walking on the Elliptical Machine at my gym and reading  (staring at pictures) May's issue of InStyle (with Tina Fey on the cover)  and noticed this lovely article about Rock Crystal Jewelry.

Then when I looked online the trend is still there!

Well guess who felt cool then..... I made some rock crystal jewelry this past fall as birthday presents for some of my sisters. The two piece quartz crystal necklace I made for myself. But I'm thinking about separating it into two necklaces. It's too bulky for just one person.

Here's it hanging on my home-made jewelry holder. Yay!! for projects you can make out of foam core board, thumb tacks and a cheap frame.

Here's a necklace made from pieces of Amethyst Crystal. I joked when I made it that it was a statement necklace, Whose statement was "I love big jewelry!"

Anyway, I feel neeto for having been part of a tiny trend. It seems that everyone thinks alike now and then.

Ruthie

Divya Srinivasan

I was looking thru design sponge and found a neeto little link.

http://www.designspongeonline.com/2011/03/sights-sounds-divya-srinivasan.html

The first thing that caught my eye, was the poster, and the note that she was an Austin based illustrator. I thought that was cool. Then the writer mentioned and she didn't know how much stuff she already knew of Divya's work since it's been featured everywhere. That made me curious and what do you know. I have seen her work before.

She is the reason, along with the song, that I fell in love with the band Spoon in 2001. I was in college and was watching a video that was playing on tv on some Austin based show.

It was everything hits at once.

Take a look at it.

Then, I was thinking about at that time the video made me think of this little movie I had a seen called Waking Life, by Richard Linklater. And lo and behold, she had worked on that too.

Here's some other illustration work. He looks so put out. I guess I would be too if I were trying to talk on a pay-phone while holding a guitar.

                                          Divya Srinivasan copyright.

I highly recommend looking at her website.
http://www.pupae.com/portfolio/index.html

Apparently, she's been working on most of the things that have influenced me. So, good work Divya I really like your work. 

Ruth


ps. Looking at the Spoon video again really makes me want to tune my ipod to my spoon mixes and remember being young. 

Hard work

I was perusing one of my favorite blogs: http://blog.drawn.ca/ and found this for the first post:

It's a piece by Brent Couchman and I heartily agree.  Good work takes hard work. I tend to take on projects if they interest me and often times underestimate how much work they will be and how much work I want to do. This lack of accounting sometimes ends with a messy or unfinished product but sometimes it ends with a reworking of the project or idea to fit the time constraints and maybe ends up with a better finished project. Once in a while my old product manager (when I designed jewelry) would tell me that I would over design stuff. Add too much detail, too much extra stuff. And I had to distill it down to a more workable design. It's a good thought. I find that less 'can' be more once in a while.

And I also find, that it's harder than you think to get started, and easier to finish when you have specific time constraints. Like in my case, nap-time. I generally don't work while my little one is awake. I just cannot ignore him for very long. He simply wont allow it. So when I want to get something done without distraction I have about two hours a day in which to do it. You really become better at time management when forced with a small window.

Good work is hard to accomplish. I accomplish less good caliber work than I sometimes think I should in a matter of time. But, one great project is better than several mediocre project. Granted, you (or maybe it's just me), have to work thru a bunch of mediocre projects sometimes to get to the great one.

Anyone else have that issue?