Pinterest

I have been stalking Pinterest for awhile now and trying to do the neat crafty artsy stuff that is often featured.

Some are great and work out perfectly, some don't.

For the Christmas season I found some great wreaths that I wanted to make. I don't have any wreaths, I don't have much in the way of Christmas decorations so this year I wanted to remedy that.

Here was my inspiration:

I thought it was beautiful, especially against my blue door.

Here's mine.

All it took were some silver glitter snowflakes from Big Lots, an embroidery hoop, some silver paint, a ribbon, and a lot of hot glue.  I'm really pleased with the way it turned out.

Here's my other try at a Pinterest inspired Wreath.

I thought it was perfect because 1. I love candy canes, and 2. it's unique.

I found out that it was much harder than I thought.

I used the Bob's candy-canes in cherry. Which are my most favorite in all the candy canes and I have tried many. I had tried to avoid using hot glue since it would melt the candy and make it inedible, but alas, it was the only thing that would hold. I also used way too many ribbons in way too many colors. I changed the design too much and it just didn't look right after I finished.

In the immortal words of The Bloggess...."Meh, they're not ALL winners."

I'm not convinced that this candy cane wreath can't be done, I just need to re-think it some more.

Until then,
Ruth

Muppets are AWESOME-Artists of whom I am extremely jealous

I was looking at Drawn today and they featured this super duper wonderful blog featuring a muppet alphabet.

http://muppabet.tumblr.com/

Yay!!!

All above are property of David Vordtriede

Lullaby Book-Toora Loora update

So, I've been embarking on this adventure of re-working some lullaby illustrations that I just wasn't happy with. The last one I had left was "Toora Loora."

Here's my most recent one. I changed themes completely. I originally had a landscape of Killarney, where the song mentions, but it seems landscapes aren't always my forte so I chose to do the Snowdrop the unofficial flower of Ireland.

Illustration by Ruth Krueger

Here's my first one.

All in all I'm very pleased. Now, to see who could print these out for VERY cheap.

Ruth

Lullaby Book-Rock-a-bye Update

I didn't like my first version of Rock-a-bye baby. And yesterday, all those pictures of cats in cravats got me thinking. Hmn, why not a cat?

So here is my updated version of Rock-a-bye baby. It's modeled on my cat Mr. Moostache.

Here's the first one I did.

I like my most recent one better. Now, next up is the revamp of Toora Loora Loora and I can finally get his printed in book form.

Ruth

ps. Here's the pic of Mr. Moo that I used.

Mr. Moo

Artists and Illustrators of whom I am extremely jealous-Heather Mattoon

Today when I was over looking at Nicole's Balchs blog "Makingitlovely.com" she posted this amazing collection of super neat paintings by Heather Mattoon...

Property of Heather Mattoon

All I can say is, Dang, those are some dapper looking felines. If you peruse through her Etsy account, she has some really sweet and fluffy paintings of birds. I love those too.

Good Job Heather.

What I want to know is, how did you get them to sit still in those outfits for so long? You are truly the cat whisperer Heather.

Lullaby Book-Brahams Lullaby Update

I have been sitting on the Lullaby book project for awhile. I just wasn't happy with some of the illustrations. I finally got back into it again and re-did Braham's Lullaby.

Here's the new illustration.

Brahams Lullaby Illustration by Ruth Krueger

Here was the first one I finished.

I didn't like that one either so I did it again.

Even after adding owls I still wasn't happy. They look kind've cross eyed and strange. I like the third one better definitely.

Well, hope you like it. By the way, I made up these words. The only ones I could find were in German so I made these up on my own and decided to stick with them. There the ones  I sing to my son.

Ruth

Painting the Door

11/10 update

So I painted the door today!!

It's BLUE. It was supposed to be Navy, and that is the color of spray paint I bought, but somehow, it is a much more vibrant cadet blue. No matter....it's all done now and I like it. I probably should have used a gloss instead of a flat but lesson learned. I like it. The seat cushions on my rocking chairs are a bit too blue now. But, easily remedied, because I can always take them off or match them to my door!!

ps. I did paint my bench seat and the window alcove. Still smells like paint but it's nicer, much nicer.

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Lately I've been in a painting mood. It started when I was considering painting the bench seat at my window because it is in horrible shape. It looks like it has mold acne. So while thinking about paint I thought about my front door. It's a metal storm door, with molded panels and and little arch cut out window. I think it needs some sprucing up.

Here it is.

Here are some inspiration photos I found.

I think I'm veering towards the navy blue. What do you think?

Kilt

So, My brother asked me to make him a kilt for this race he's running called "The Warrior Dash." It's a 3 mile run and obstacle course. I don't know why he wants to wear a kilt or why he's doing it....I think it's a guy thing.

Here is the pattern I used.

It's a costume pattern but the only one I could find. It asked for 5 1/2 yards of fabric. Which is a lot of fabric. I can only imagine what a 'real' kilt would call for. I've hear it takes upwards of ten yards. That is a LOT of pleats. I found some very cheap, cotton yarn dyed plaid. I cant believe the printed plaid was more expensive. But there you go, life is strange.

Here is the finished product.

Seawolf standing at the apex of my dryer, my water heater, and my deep freeze.

It's being modeled by SeaWolf, my size 12 women's dress form. It's a bit low on her since she's not a 35" waist but she was the only person who was willing to model it. I apologize for the bad pictures. I do not have a great camera, ( I use my phone), I do not have photography skills, I do not have a backdrop, or lots of natural lighting. I do most of my work in the garage where my sewing "room" is. There is no light in there. I sometimes lament that my blog doesn't have great pictures of my work like Making it lovely, or crazy mom quilts, or Anna Maria Horner. But they have the aforementioned things I do not. Instead of spending money and time on acquiring them, I just spend my money and time on doing the things I love. Which is sewing, and quilting and blogging in less than stellar studio space. That being said, if someone wants to come to my house, make me a studio, with gobs of natural light, excellent space, a great camera, and give me a ton of lessons, I would be willing to accept them. Until then, my blog wont be a glorious as those others that I mentioned. More's the pity.

Back to the Kilt, it was a very easy pattern, and simple to complete. There's very little construction past ironing the pleats, and then constructing a waistband. The most time consuming part is ironing the pleats, and then pulling out the threads on the hem to give it a "distressed" look. Other than that, it was a piece of cake. (Now I'm hungry) The problem with cotton plaids is that eventually the creases on the pleats will fall out. The only way to make them permanent is to have a synthetic fabric heat set. But, since this kilt is going to be worn in a race that ends in mud, I don't think my brother will have an issue with less than knife straight pleats. I only made the kilt, not the accompanying spats or drape. Which saved me at least 2 yards. Now I have two yards of a pretty plaid. Another piece of fabric for my collection. Sigh.

Ruth

Witches Broomsticks-marshmallow caramel candies

So, I have an addiction to sweets. I don't have a sweet tooth, I am a sugar mutant.

Growing up I fell in love with some caramel, marshmallow and chocolate candies they would make at this small candy shoppe in the Padre Staples Mall in Corpus Christi. I have been searching for them ever since. Nothing has ever really come close to the wondrous taste of those candies.

So, on honor of one of the many candy filled holidays we have here; namely Halloween, I tried to make some of my own for Halloween.

Here they are, Witches Broomsticks. Or caramel, marshmallow chocolate candies.

I'm a bad cook so I took pre-made caramel squares, mini marshmallows, and some dipping milk chocolate that you heat up in the microwave. I got some toothpicks and started my candy making journey. I cut the caramel squares in half, squished a mini marshmallow on top and stuck a toothpick through it. I proceeded until most of the caramels were gone. Then, I heated up the microwave chocolate, and used the toothpicks  to dip the whole thing in milk chocolate.

I'm letting them cool as we speak.

 These are my ingredients. Toothpicks, caramel squares, minimarshmallows, and microwaveable chocolate for dipping.

This is me halfway through the process.

I ate one before the chocolate cooled and it was great. Not quite what I grew up with but trying to match a memory is impossible, because as my Grandmother said, "You can't recapture a rapture."

Still, really good success for this aforementioned horrible cook.

The reason I'm calling them witches broomsticks?

Well, look at them:

Look's "kinda" like a broomstick, and witches ,well, Halloween is tomorrow. 

MUST HAVE PRODUCT

I have a bad habit of forgetting things. I'm absent minded, flighty and just a bit confused most days. I learned early on about writing lists. But then I would forget or misplace my list. So then I started writing on the back of my hand. It seemed to work. It's a habit many tried to get me to stop because it's a little childish, but so is drinking out of a water bottle, really, it's just a sippy cup for an adult. Which I desperately need because I tend to spill on myself...often.

But, on Swiss Miss today I found this..

http://www.swiss-miss.com/2011/10/post-it-note-watch.html

It is GENIUS.

Love it.

Newest sewing project

I have taken a unplanned hiatus from sewing. Mostly because of other things getting in the way. I have had many home improvement projects going on which took most of my time and effort. Plus an little "I'm 30 and want to feel young again" project.

This is my newest sewing project which is really just a small project that folds into the "I'm 30 and want to feel young again". Actually, it's the biggest reason I'm not sewing.

I'm not sewing much because I'm dancing. In the Nutcracker, for the zillionth time. I took a long Hiatus from performing on pointe, seven years. There were always dance classes, but I stayed off pointe. There was too much pain in my achilles tendons. But this summer when I started going back to class something happened. Well, the director asked if I could dance in their Nutcracker. I'm fifteen years older and about 40 pounds heavier than the other dancers, but I wanted to get in shape and dancing all the time is a good way to do it.

So, onto more pointe shoes. I must sew the ribbons and elastics on these shoes. And then break them in, perhaps pour some glue and wax to harden the boxes in my special spots. I've got a bruised toenail and a lot of sweaty leotards. 

I'm dancing with Ballet New Braunfels, in of course, New Braunfels, Texas. Dates are December 16th at 7pm and Dec 18 at 1:30 and 7pm.

It's at the Brauntex. I'll be the old fat dancer in snow and waltz of the flowers.

Hope to see you there.

Ruthie

Artists and Illustrators of whom I am extremely jealous-Vic Chhun, Leyla Kaddoura, and Nicolas Ughen.

I found this on Drawn.ca today. So sad, but beautiful.

http://www.vimeo.com/30230507

This is just a screen capture, I cannot imbed the video, please go to the link above.

New project

I've been wanting to do a spider web quilt for some time.

So here it goes.

I first saw this quilt on Crazy Mom Quilts, and subsequently used the tutorial she used.

Here's a finished look at Amanda Jean's finished spiderweb quilt.

Amazing isn't it? I hope mine turns out as well It will be much smaller, only 5 feet by 6 feet at most. But I hope it will be as nice.

Ruth

Alpha-saurus

I recently made this for my sister who's having a baby boy this coming month. I thought I would share it with you guys.
I drew it out with pencil and paper, and then transferred it into illustrator where I finished it up.

Hope you like it:

I feel now, that the bottom is a little bare, and the top a little busy. I may have to change this if I print it out or use it again.

Ruth

love du Lait

I was at the gym, where a good amount of my reading magazines happens, and stumbled upon this picture.

At first I thought it was Sofia Loren and fell in love with the picture and the dress. I now don't think it's Sofia Loren, but a lovely woman otherwise.

I adore this dress. I'm thinking of using this idea on a skirt or a dress. But maybe with a contrast ribbon like texture.

Hmn, things to do, things to do.

Help me critique this...

I have finished all the illustrations for my Lullaby Book but some of them really need work.

Let me show you the ones that are great, in my opinion.

These next ones are the ones that I think need help.

So...HELP me. Give me some constructive criticism about the layout, the copy, the whatever. I'd appreciate it. Somehow these next ones feel meh...lackluster, like they are missing something.

Let me know what YOU think it is..

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Ruth

Oh My Robot Love

I have themed my son's room in Robots. Wish I had this when I originally decorated. Actually, I would just settle for a scrap of this wallpaper and just frame it as a poster.

How adorable.

Go here to find this product.

Ruth

Wow

Take a look at this repurposed billboard turned into a swing set. I loved swinging as a kid and if they would let me I'd do it again. (But those pesky children always get irritated if an adult is hogging the swings).

Go HERE to learn more.

Ruth

Toora-Loora-Lullaby Book

Here's the last illustration for the lullaby book. Toora Loora.

I'm not sure what I'll do now that I've finished the illustrations. Maybe I'll have them printed out and bound. Maybe I'll just let it live on my blog. Maybe I'll sell them on Etsy. Who knows.

Illustration by Ruth Krueger

Original Sketch for Toora Loora

Now that I'm finished that free's me up for more self imposed projects!! It looks a little heavy on the left side, maybe I should change the placement of the text. But many of these illustrations need some tweaking until I'm happy with them. Maybe then I'll print them out and finish this Lullaby Book. 

Ruth