tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11644544645563755022024-03-13T08:58:18.054-07:00Ruby RitzA blog about life, art, and shopping...Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15075165004522265810noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1164454464556375502.post-11729158522204653062013-05-11T22:08:00.002-07:002013-05-12T07:38:34.425-07:00Gatsby<br />
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17px;"> The Great Gatsby 3D was a big, enormously overdone, flashy spectacle, like a video game where you can't tell if the characters are actors or animation. It's F. Scott Fitzgerald's Great Gatsby on steroids.</span></div>
Which is ironic, because the book itself was so slim, crisp, and compact. But it was well cast, and Leonardo DiCaprio was a perfect Jay Gatsby. His love for Daisy is what drove him to be hugely wealthy, filling a vastly oversized mansion every weekend with hundreds of people that he didn't even know. He wore the most beautiful shirts that Daisy had ever seen, was 30 years old, handsome and rich beyond anyone's dreams, and his whole life was a lie. He would never be what Daisy and Tom were, old monied aristocrats. He was a bootlegger, born poor as dirt. Carrie Mulligan was wonderful as Daisy, desperately love with Gatsby....but in the end stayed with her cheating, bully of a husband. Tom Buchanan was played by Joel Edgerton, but I think that Bruce Dern in the 1974 version of the movie defined the role. Toby Maguire was an excellent Nick Carraway, the narrator of the book, and its heart and soul. In many scenes he reminded me of F. Scott himself. There are a few changes made for the sake of story telling, like Nick writing everything down from the Perkins Sanitarium, named for Maxwell Perkins, Fitzgerald's editor. I liked this device because actual phrases from the book were typed up on the screen, including the beautiful and memorable last few sentences.<br />
If you're a fan, you need to see this 2013 version. It's completely over the top, like all movies are now, and there are way too many car chases and party scenes, which seem to go on forever. The houses are too big, the editing is extremely stylized, and the 3D almost makes you dizzy. The scale of it seems out of whack. But the core of the book and the movie is a great story, and seeing it just makes me want to read it again for the umpteenth time. The soundtrack by Jay Z wasn't as bad as I expected, which was a relief, and there was even some Gershwin sprinkled in. I loved the opening credits, which were from the 1926 Jazz Age silent version of the film. Below is a lobby card from the original:<br />
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Ruby Ritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934226670353398038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1164454464556375502.post-54835074758229755802013-05-06T07:45:00.001-07:002013-05-06T19:24:56.767-07:00The Great Gatsby<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, was published in 1925. It's considered to be The greatest American novel, and is truly a masterpiece. Elegantly written, it is a spare 180 pages long, depending on what edition you read. It's narrated by Nick Carraway, who spends a summer on Long Island with his beautiful cousin Daisy and her husband, Tom Buchanan. They are old monied, East Coast upper class; and their neighbor, Jay Gatsby lives a lavish lifestyle that comes from bootlegging. Gatsby, who has been in love with Daisy since before the war (WWI) buys a house across the water from the Buchanans. The green light at the end of their dock on the North Shore is an image for the status that Gatsby could never attain.<br />
The Great Gatsby only sold 21,000 copies when it was published, and by 1937, it wasn't on a single bookstore shelf. Currently, it is the Number 1 book on Amazon.com. It is taught in just about every high school in the United States, an irony that F. Scott would deeply appreciate. By the time he died alone in his apartment in Hollywood in 1940, his royalties for the year totaled $13.30. He was a broken man who couldn't even sell a script.<br />
There have been several movie versions of the book, and the current one, which opens on May 10th is in 3D, and stars Leonardo Dicaprio, Tobey Maguire, and Carey Mulligan. I will definitely be there, and am hoping for the best. I hope it's a dazzling testament to this brilliant book.Ruby Ritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934226670353398038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1164454464556375502.post-53222489873196171582013-04-23T15:05:00.001-07:002013-04-24T10:45:42.519-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I haven't written in such a long time! <br />
Last year at this time I was working on my Ruby Ritz ebook, and trying to figure out how to get it in the correct form for publishing on Amazon. Then, I had to scramble to design rubyritz.com. I was working for about 9 months on sketches and illustrations for a children's book, and now the whole thing has to be designed. And then it has to be shopped around, so we'll see what happens....<br />
Right now I guess I'm in one of those percolating phases. The above is a page from my sketchbook. There's a left side to it, which I did first, but I like the way this one came out on it's own. I like the mix of the watercolor & the collage elements. I would love to get some illustration work, and am trying to find a representative. I'd also love to get some DESIGN work, like picnic sets--plates napkins, and tablecloths. It's so difficult to get to all these publishers and art directors and companies with one's portfolio, and it would be great to get some representation. I've never had a rep before, and have never really even tried to get one. But, it's such a VERY long shot. In the meantime, I'm going to do some new paintings, and I need to organize Ruby Ritz into print form.<br />
Last weekend I went to a wonderful Arts Workshop, called ROC, at Drew University. It was presented by Morris Arts. My husband David gave a workshop on Writing, and I went to one on Animation. It was given by Martha Colburn, who's an AMAZING animator and filmmaker. It was so inspiring seeing her very hand done films that all had big subjects, like war and addiction. The artwork was great... she used cut outs from magazines and books that she painted and made into puppets, and she also painted her backgrounds. I had been thinking about animation for some time, and now I really want to get a camera, and just make a one minute movie. Just something silly and light and fun to watch.<br />
<br />Ruby Ritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934226670353398038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1164454464556375502.post-11115220801728094852012-05-13T12:53:00.004-07:002012-07-19T14:27:30.548-07:00Kids & books<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYnB4o8OH_JKy3i4tjClrWu-mPAUzjN3pQazzUWfoJpVNH0-HqdeYY9x_xQU9qO2FVzDQth51sDVORaEFsIXsPNVLTN-O0-WORprypLH8B6uLP3Qjtkxt2zl6SjI-9UalHa-Ic07OFtY/s1600/Ramona-The-Pest_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYnB4o8OH_JKy3i4tjClrWu-mPAUzjN3pQazzUWfoJpVNH0-HqdeYY9x_xQU9qO2FVzDQth51sDVORaEFsIXsPNVLTN-O0-WORprypLH8B6uLP3Qjtkxt2zl6SjI-9UalHa-Ic07OFtY/s400/Ramona-The-Pest_.jpg" width="263" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-M_lLKoh1rGPY_SE-D919SUR_CCNV76YmvGAk1smSBAvLs8PfdrIBY38fLyCD5VS8K2nyv-f83U6bvSqi8ca-EJ_bnocTRsSQUp_-ShVIDa4a5OMNeYnJl5cK0DFmSi5l6Dm3kjOrqg/s1600/Henry-Huggins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-M_lLKoh1rGPY_SE-D919SUR_CCNV76YmvGAk1smSBAvLs8PfdrIBY38fLyCD5VS8K2nyv-f83U6bvSqi8ca-EJ_bnocTRsSQUp_-ShVIDa4a5OMNeYnJl5cK0DFmSi5l6Dm3kjOrqg/s400/Henry-Huggins.jpg" width="308" /></a> </div>
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I'm always fascinated by what kids are reading, and lately, they're all reading The Hunger Games. On one hand, it's great that kids have a book that they're really hooked on, and that they're not just sitting around playing Call of Duty. (And plenty of kids DON'T read at all, and ARE just sitting around playing video games.) On the other hand, they're reading a trilogy that's a very dark and disturbing, futuristic story. I can see high school kids reading it, but elementary age? </div>
However, I know one boy in 4th grade named Jose`. He's very bright, and does extremely well academically. And guess what he's reading? He's devouring Beverly Cleary books, starting with Henry Huggins. So here we have a Hispanic boy in 2012 reading books that were written in the 1950s about kids that lived and played on Klickitat Street. He's basically reading about my childhood, and that world really doesn't exist anymore.<br />
When my son David was 2 months old, I started reading to him....or rather just showing him pictures in very simple children's books. When Ray came along, David was 2 1/2, and we were reading lots of stories, all the time. So being the second child, Ray was always along for the ride. Basically, books became something to comfort them, because reading was such a peaceful & cozy activity. We read great children's literature while they were growing up....what's wittier than A. A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh? What illustrations are more elegant than those of Babar? What's more exciting than C. S. Lewis's The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe? The boys loved all of E.B. White's wonderful stories, and so did I. Ray loved all of the hilarious Ramona books, even though he was a boy. (She was my favorite childhood character). And when Harry Potter hit the scene, David and Ray were right there, in line with all the other bookish kids waiting for their copy. And of course since their dad is a writer, the boys grew up going to book signings. Portrait of a Bookstore, owned by Frank and Julie von Zerneck in Los Angeles was their home away from home, and they always felt welcome to just read and browse. Now that the boys are in their 20s, they always have a stack of books by their beds, or one stuck somewhere in a backpack.<br />
I feel bad when I see kids that have no interest in all these great books and stories....does it just mean that they were never read to, and therefore don't have that association of total bliss and coziness?<br />
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I'm collecting vintage children's books now, and am trying to get as many different copies of Black Beauty as I can. It was my favorite book growing up, and I truly think it formed me as a child. I just got a brand new, gorgeous Penguin edition of it to add to my antique copies. In her forward, Jane Smiley says, "What I got was what every reader of Black Beauty gets: an experience of almost uncanny empathy that went so deep into my memory that even now, after fifty years, I almost cannot read Anna Sewell's novel or think of it without tearing up".<br />
I just think readers are lucky because they're never, ever alone. Most are always in the middle of some book, and thinking about the next one...and have a story that they're just dying to get back to. So no matter what you're doing or working on during the day, you know that your book is there waiting for you...maybe at the top of a stack by your bed or favorite reading chair.Ruby Ritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934226670353398038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1164454464556375502.post-76843673192730163702011-12-16T13:53:00.000-08:002012-01-15T05:36:39.376-08:00Sketchbooks<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">My niece Samantha Sheehan, </span>and her boyfriend Michael McDermott gave me a beautiful moleskin sketchbook when I was in Napa for my birthday. They're wonderful books because the paper is heavy watercolor stock, and you can paint or collage, and do whatever you want, and it really holds up. Today I was working in the art room at Morristown High School, and I brought my sketchbook with me. There's always something interesting going on there, and I get inspired just soaking up the atmosphere. The last time I was there, about a week ago, I spent a lot of time looking at a beautiful book about Frida Kahlo's journal/sketchbook. Of course, her journal was in Spanish, but it was soooo incredible. Really loose watercolor drawings and her beautiful handwriting. It was jam packed. I've been thinking about working in a new way lately, and wanted to try some stuff out. A sketchbook is the perfect place to experiment. Also, I had recently put together an online portfolio, and want to do some new samples for it. So I thought today would be a good time to fool around a little. I just found some pictures in different magazines, and did some simple watercolor and pencil portraits, and then collaged and did some hand lettering. I'm so tired of computer generated images, and really want to do some stuff that looks hand done. Now I think I may even put in a "sketchbook" page for my portfolio....Ruby Ritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934226670353398038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1164454464556375502.post-53939264807714069222011-09-22T11:13:00.000-07:002011-09-23T05:41:25.477-07:00Cow crazy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDDbZ1YBAOcLIdpmrheHOKziTC84r-7ea2pvKd4ZHnvgrTfOs5HFTdWNr0QMrk4k-cDXgLY7kHAwim3xYv8KRPaBAu68NpiWbIZ8bbwiUckuvxkODXIODAMuyXtwN4qG7zpRkrUliaP9_/s1600/Farm+design.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDDbZ1YBAOcLIdpmrheHOKziTC84r-7ea2pvKd4ZHnvgrTfOs5HFTdWNr0QMrk4k-cDXgLY7kHAwim3xYv8KRPaBAu68NpiWbIZ8bbwiUckuvxkODXIODAMuyXtwN4qG7zpRkrUliaP9_/s640/Farm+design.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinl_5QGknjU4Zpe7BTD-5WBTBTI7fzIBzrpvOMKhS0C8vpOMgKyHIY7R5zGNJr8wyPxR5kJSvWpl9obD5g7aK6u9P52hnYIRIInS6jSLkEgc0JKuHElzfPTX8rJtp_fOFho2gdTmzxGONz/s1600/checkerboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinl_5QGknjU4Zpe7BTD-5WBTBTI7fzIBzrpvOMKhS0C8vpOMgKyHIY7R5zGNJr8wyPxR5kJSvWpl9obD5g7aK6u9P52hnYIRIInS6jSLkEgc0JKuHElzfPTX8rJtp_fOFho2gdTmzxGONz/s320/checkerboard.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I don't know what's come over </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">me! </span>My mom &<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span>I went to visit my sister Linda and her husband Bob in Napa. There were vineyards everywhere, and wonderful restaurants full of organic and farm fresh everything. There are shops where you pour your own olive oil into bottles, and cork them. The labels are actually hand stamped. Everything looks old fashioned, but modern at the same time. Artisanal cheeses and chocolates, scrumptious coffee, fresh herbs in everything you eat. Petaluma has an antiques store on every corner, and St. Helena has the most gorgeous shops, with beautiful things that you just don't see anywhere else. Or do you? Everything there just looks so fresh and well designed. Letterpress cards, scarfs that look like little stitched quilts, handmade pottery....even the smallest cafes have a French kind of feel. Francis Ford Coppola's winery, Rubicon, is an elegant estate, with a beautiful view of the Napa Valley, and a wonderful collection of Hollywood memorabilia. The Hess Winery, way up in the hills, has a stunning collection of modern art. Not to mention the fact that everyone in Napa looks so attractive and a little artsy. It's Northern California. The minute you land in San Franciso and walk out into the terminal you feel the difference. Even the airport is sophisticated. There are murals everywhere, and a museum quality exhibit on the history of television! I guess the effect my visit to the epicenter of food and wine had on me was that now, all of a sudden, I really want to design a line of tableware....plates, napkins, tablecloths, the whole deal. So I think I'll start with farm....can't you just see it, with a bottle of fresh white milk on the table? Maybe a platter of fried chicken, and a big serving bowl of mashed potatoes? A big supper to be eaten on the porch...and perhaps the stars and stripes will be hanging outside. It will be very vintage Americana, with a folk art kind of bent. Red, white and blue, or black?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15075165004522265810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1164454464556375502.post-41622576319924860392011-09-02T10:37:00.000-07:002011-09-02T10:54:48.721-07:00Long Beach Island<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3p3zLDnREpY2hSuJm2aRGOp47yKKIEc60NwK0L5DgV_YnfGTjd-js2YQAtBp4Pma8ukyra-dHCdjjfsLQcqKFM9IlwcpW13Nz1rH_H5UTQDa5NFgpHzOwTjOl-5q58E54q1mLEVllAlFg/s1600/Barb+at+the+Beach.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3p3zLDnREpY2hSuJm2aRGOp47yKKIEc60NwK0L5DgV_YnfGTjd-js2YQAtBp4Pma8ukyra-dHCdjjfsLQcqKFM9IlwcpW13Nz1rH_H5UTQDa5NFgpHzOwTjOl-5q58E54q1mLEVllAlFg/s400/Barb+at+the+Beach.jpeg" width="280" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I can't think of a more relaxing place than the beach. </span>This summer our family spent a few days at Long Beach Island, right before Hurricane Irene. It was beautiful there....sunny and warm. Marie Line Noonan was there from France with her children, Edward, Tess, and Zelda; and all the cousins had a great time hanging out, lying on the sand, swimming, eating at the local places, and going to the amusement park at night. And they never stopped talking! My son Ray's friend, Patrick Chabot was there from Virginia, and he fit right into the Noonan mix. Of course, we all had to flee early because of the approaching storm, and no one had quite enough gas in their tanks....there was none left on the island, to add to the stress. Everyone made it home, and we continued the party at our house the night Irene was to hit. But for a few days it was sunny and relaxing, and luckily I had brought my watercolors with me. Barbara (top) and Marie Line (bottom) sat and read while I did some quickie little paintings of them, and we had a great time chatting. It was so windy that day that sand got in all the paints, and is stuck on the paintings. I feel so lucky to be in such a big family, and I always tell the boys how fortunate they are. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimc3mQiRvt9R1hJho-Zu-u8lp4lqMJAAzs3jmTf1jlEF_D3cZthyAIiCwzODE-kWf9wbTlYEfiNhNvHwWBxkNXwEcsGk5lKbur9GLk7ykSHaZcf8Kq85spTWMRTStAJEn4jW750IjOl2MR/s1600/ML+at+the+Beach.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimc3mQiRvt9R1hJho-Zu-u8lp4lqMJAAzs3jmTf1jlEF_D3cZthyAIiCwzODE-kWf9wbTlYEfiNhNvHwWBxkNXwEcsGk5lKbur9GLk7ykSHaZcf8Kq85spTWMRTStAJEn4jW750IjOl2MR/s400/ML+at+the+Beach.jpeg" width="280" /></a></div><br />
Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15075165004522265810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1164454464556375502.post-32931729413632682872011-06-10T07:47:00.000-07:002011-09-03T08:55:03.983-07:00Journal Fun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_8Nj7wnnZehadzt-X8Y5o7-_10fazTdWE3wMcjKNP-Ov9iWMncnxK1Yec75wJI0VpXlPnR5vqSRIvo__T2Yt2SYMxg-vnHNtyxB3XUBZJ1CN7f09O_A_J_HWQkqgvaKqpMeDAZNEN1yMk/s1600/Journal+page.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_8Nj7wnnZehadzt-X8Y5o7-_10fazTdWE3wMcjKNP-Ov9iWMncnxK1Yec75wJI0VpXlPnR5vqSRIvo__T2Yt2SYMxg-vnHNtyxB3XUBZJ1CN7f09O_A_J_HWQkqgvaKqpMeDAZNEN1yMk/s640/Journal+page.jpeg" width="460" /></a></div>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguG6lp__0j-TtS9A2AK9uYLDc4Fca5QkX_FZePL57lrca60ZhaH_heGmozXvhPZrDV3qBj75sZSXMugoHVqNGIbGeg6SkbCQClE6EgT2yCDOyTV3MyFDjSkRSQfgMft0jZFWU3CX1794JA/s1600/Journal.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguG6lp__0j-TtS9A2AK9uYLDc4Fca5QkX_FZePL57lrca60ZhaH_heGmozXvhPZrDV3qBj75sZSXMugoHVqNGIbGeg6SkbCQClE6EgT2yCDOyTV3MyFDjSkRSQfgMft0jZFWU3CX1794JA/s400/Journal.jpeg" width="295" /></a></div>This particular journal was started in January 2008, when I was teaching art at St. James School. While it was enjoyable, and I really liked the kids and the staff (my sister in law Barbara teaches 7th grade there), I missed being out in the professional art world. I decided it was time to do an whole new portfolio, and I would take it out to textile companies. I was a freelance illustrator for years, and before that, had worked designing fabrics. And when the boys were small, and we lived in Los Angeles, I did my own line of hand painted children's furniture, which I sold through a wonderful store--Imagine That. They were so hugely popular that they had three branches--West Hollywood, Santa Monica, and Sherman Oaks. It was a great outlet for me, and I loved working with them. But when we moved back East, I could never duplicate what I was doing out there--the market was too different. So, I started working as a substitute teacher, and then got a job teaching art. But it was as if I lost part of my identity, not doing my artwork. Not that I ever stopped doing it, but I wasn't selling it. So this journal kind of reflects that period of time when I was putting together my new portfolio, and getting ready to go out with it. I set my sights on Michael Miller Fabrics, and that was my goal---to work with them. I ended up doing my Modern Home collection for them, and my Old West collection.
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHkf3SGuDZfGsvb21wQ1sn9RXG2-cDDVZJjYCOiIIqOMHiEQIj3c3a1sN-Yg76chdh-7a2Uftu5YnrbO9D2iFOv3bUJW0KeO_eoCkolYQIlMGjn1Ugt50vEXc3Y7rvmngeFKbMZSahCH5Z/s1600/Journal+fun.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHkf3SGuDZfGsvb21wQ1sn9RXG2-cDDVZJjYCOiIIqOMHiEQIj3c3a1sN-Yg76chdh-7a2Uftu5YnrbO9D2iFOv3bUJW0KeO_eoCkolYQIlMGjn1Ugt50vEXc3Y7rvmngeFKbMZSahCH5Z/s400/Journal+fun.jpeg" width="292" /></a></div>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA654ckkSLXwQK5XS63zAeMS_Z8J8qd3JpllIjusXzOLK1cdMc6hu4vFqsafi1rmdBrjqU_hLNLnftLHagDTX6Y_mDNmvBzhXetsXlZfZcbpENvrNsfrhBGpNTvz4Pbu79IbLaB06zMdMN/s1600/Inspiration+doodle.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA654ckkSLXwQK5XS63zAeMS_Z8J8qd3JpllIjusXzOLK1cdMc6hu4vFqsafi1rmdBrjqU_hLNLnftLHagDTX6Y_mDNmvBzhXetsXlZfZcbpENvrNsfrhBGpNTvz4Pbu79IbLaB06zMdMN/s640/Inspiration+doodle.jpeg" width="489" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;">Fooling around</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">:</span><div>These are two doodle pages from last year, just done on notebook paper. I'm in the mode right now of making books of everything. I just organized all my vintage scrap that I've been collecting since our flea market -going- days in LA. I had it all in different folders, in this filing cabinet in the basement. But now I put everything in acetate sheets, and made a book out of it. I also made a decor-inspiration book, which was all my favorite pages of the now defunct Country Home Magazine, and Country Living. Pictures of rooms decorated with vintage, garage sale, side of the road items with chipped paint and rusted patinas. I had STACKS of these magazines going back to 1996, when the whole Shabby Chic cottage style started. And I'm also trying to archive all my Ruby Ritz material, and see what kind of form I can get it into. Lulu.com is a website for self publishing, and they have all kinds of sizes and formats. So we'll see what happens...maybe I'll just get some made up for gifts. What do you call it when you're just trying to organize all your material? Anyway, if you're not keeping a journal, I advise starting one!
<br />I stick everything in mine, and it's a real hodge podge of stuff. You can take any notebook that you think will work, and paint over the cover, or decoupage something on it. It's nice if you have one that has a combination of blank and lined pages. Use any kind of supplies that you want: colored pencils, cut outs, rubber stamps, paint, old photographs (or better yet, copies of them), and even pieces of fabric. The more texture the better. I also buy antique books and glue the old, yellowed pages into my journal. Then, paint, stamp, or do whatever right on them. I like the idea of a journal being a sketchbook and an experimental place for new ideas. xoxox
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4YA5TLCdKCy3KxTh0OfRA8NeL1u6xMADjjy5QdBazf0xoCOuOjp6grr-8U71weULOy8kKRyKDseywqeAy2qrVIIw4tiyxvl24r8pLSu0h-StuqfU7GjI-GpaEsOx4ohDaQIM6kHrupQUi/s1600/Roses+doodle.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4YA5TLCdKCy3KxTh0OfRA8NeL1u6xMADjjy5QdBazf0xoCOuOjp6grr-8U71weULOy8kKRyKDseywqeAy2qrVIIw4tiyxvl24r8pLSu0h-StuqfU7GjI-GpaEsOx4ohDaQIM6kHrupQUi/s640/Roses+doodle.jpeg" width="488" /></a></div></div>Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15075165004522265810noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1164454464556375502.post-87640099563505031552011-05-03T10:34:00.000-07:002011-05-03T11:02:36.756-07:00Pop-Up Art Show<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheG0GGpiJur4XZGW0OItIDgbkttHYHNsY1_fakc7A3qCaGacqRf03D2xkqlECgL3R6H1yRDhNDp06BhqBpbI1xKVT7lP4R3V8dkeGhNMQF-yMjCRrA8YJ1Z19u9zHiR52JxzREiOx3KTk/s1600/IMG_2359.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 321px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheG0GGpiJur4XZGW0OItIDgbkttHYHNsY1_fakc7A3qCaGacqRf03D2xkqlECgL3R6H1yRDhNDp06BhqBpbI1xKVT7lP4R3V8dkeGhNMQF-yMjCRrA8YJ1Z19u9zHiR52JxzREiOx3KTk/s400/IMG_2359.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602548358777548386" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This past weekend we put on a fabulous Pop-Up Art Show! It was held in the space for the proposed Morristown EcoCenter, and it was sponsored by Sustainable Morristown, and the Arts Council of the Morris Area. It was a huge success--and we had live music played by Morristown High School students, and we had yummy food and plenty of wine + beer. It was truly a blast! The fun part was that my husband David and my son David both put paintings in the show. The one to the left is called Death, done by David Noonan sr. The True Cost of War is mine, and of course, so is Natural Beauty. Tearful Killer is done by David Noonan Sr, and Secret Star (the one with the little Mario figure in it) is done by David C. Noonan. He wanted to be in the show, and was so inspired when he was there helping us hang it, that he went home and whipped up his own painting. It's the first art show for both David's. An art show is a wonderful thing to put on, and the energy is very catching.....everyone works so hard to decide what goes where, and when something unexpected comes in that just pulls the whole thing together, it's truly inspiring. We have to do it more often! I can see how having a gallery would be an absolute blast. Hmmm...a gallery-bookstore-antiques shop-coffee house? Is that a possibility in the not so far future? We certainly know enough people who could contribute.....</span></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiG86Vbhq5siZIIrtHGgRYKqzn8TZABDzocQP0xED11IAuGWg4qUcy5Pn-dECdFqQBdiwbX4kPqPxo0CRCi1mXgc7EqkWdrWytSE4wtMOh781nT8KFMz9K3vdL_k7iG6T_mkx90YajQfo/s1600/IMG_0015.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 395px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiG86Vbhq5siZIIrtHGgRYKqzn8TZABDzocQP0xED11IAuGWg4qUcy5Pn-dECdFqQBdiwbX4kPqPxo0CRCi1mXgc7EqkWdrWytSE4wtMOh781nT8KFMz9K3vdL_k7iG6T_mkx90YajQfo/s400/IMG_0015.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602547282107942338" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRB_0ibU3qhv_qWFfy3e7-X99ekEl1I3V2lTma_MnQOlr2nZETcW2Da8G32-_cw1k1eM4ZF4abYijY84mFlzXc_AD5dNW1CY4rfesUpYG4pfjD6ukD4SinMU4RwJR6x-nrC7UuKezBiPw/s1600/IMG_2363.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRB_0ibU3qhv_qWFfy3e7-X99ekEl1I3V2lTma_MnQOlr2nZETcW2Da8G32-_cw1k1eM4ZF4abYijY84mFlzXc_AD5dNW1CY4rfesUpYG4pfjD6ukD4SinMU4RwJR6x-nrC7UuKezBiPw/s400/IMG_2363.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602546825196621106" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3c7ADuAJQqi_6Ttepwkidhsu7pa1qhyqNUjxr2kR4KCNmbSWg3zG6pFvSueDaT5Hjo2Y1syelZXWIcyboYIQOAARnyqCJmDd_NpKq8S3kF92XEsso6MJvhi44BO56bmxcwft8sn25WQw/s1600/IMG_2361.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3c7ADuAJQqi_6Ttepwkidhsu7pa1qhyqNUjxr2kR4KCNmbSWg3zG6pFvSueDaT5Hjo2Y1syelZXWIcyboYIQOAARnyqCJmDd_NpKq8S3kF92XEsso6MJvhi44BO56bmxcwft8sn25WQw/s400/IMG_2361.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602546776378297234" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM7jty5ptFQyjAjyKSkDkKDAxtkbsiCKn85WAsgVV3VaHKGdeheHSfiqDS5n4-kHGL6KHAhvrVeDkqLKy10aHCbXyJPKq0BssWy8PQs4VQSQ5AtIZXOf-zCW_9Y1rcaKHKBLQA7TWJfv0/s1600/IMG_2353.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM7jty5ptFQyjAjyKSkDkKDAxtkbsiCKn85WAsgVV3VaHKGdeheHSfiqDS5n4-kHGL6KHAhvrVeDkqLKy10aHCbXyJPKq0BssWy8PQs4VQSQ5AtIZXOf-zCW_9Y1rcaKHKBLQA7TWJfv0/s400/IMG_2353.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602546358132567522" /></a><br /><div><br /></div>Ruby Ritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934226670353398038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1164454464556375502.post-50678173654349424772011-04-17T10:09:00.000-07:002011-04-17T11:37:01.849-07:00More collecting<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRh4QCh9_LuZAc-WR-7wTQqVsPv8V2rPITTeTmn5u8ziwrCBFpUBkTVsJdo27CeJmiVHqvHAzNGsXC5dcmzUkMMIxyuG7WK8KYXslGXm9LgRJZp-gKss6F5Q4L3xExJcnANLPX4LlfoM/s1600/Penmanship+3.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 304px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRh4QCh9_LuZAc-WR-7wTQqVsPv8V2rPITTeTmn5u8ziwrCBFpUBkTVsJdo27CeJmiVHqvHAzNGsXC5dcmzUkMMIxyuG7WK8KYXslGXm9LgRJZp-gKss6F5Q4L3xExJcnANLPX4LlfoM/s400/Penmanship+3.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596602073911329986" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUB_SE6E159BBSn8FSs6OCLZX9R18m8U8OgIBmP0lKW-o706SiFRvrLDJE94Kf7bE02e1ei2HcW829H-q65J6pQQTBCaXDMvN-YCDpGk7VpWTZ3XUPlpjobg2X4vOSiBr72Y4B-ln4s6I/s1600/Penmanship+4.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 312px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUB_SE6E159BBSn8FSs6OCLZX9R18m8U8OgIBmP0lKW-o706SiFRvrLDJE94Kf7bE02e1ei2HcW829H-q65J6pQQTBCaXDMvN-YCDpGk7VpWTZ3XUPlpjobg2X4vOSiBr72Y4B-ln4s6I/s400/Penmanship+4.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596601833944424354" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVps559aj86aYQxl_zvzv4v28j7Ec_-IheQ39MT19i5PRynGnXE4SDkbB5FOShuHxsTs4He1jAXC-OkRVhy-IVbKZIaG19VjxnseyyW_GMrL9cCBuB4hlSYWh3ymT_nh-CjjkUiHgYc4/s1600/Penmanship.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVps559aj86aYQxl_zvzv4v28j7Ec_-IheQ39MT19i5PRynGnXE4SDkbB5FOShuHxsTs4He1jAXC-OkRVhy-IVbKZIaG19VjxnseyyW_GMrL9cCBuB4hlSYWh3ymT_nh-CjjkUiHgYc4/s400/Penmanship.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596601663885008210" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPVA6N6U5SSgezOiFPCnIRr_aS3yc9F7V9C4k07-67-Jf650zK5v-tcuIE-BQ-A89tIeJX-7FTL5-ccHyt_1OL02rhmtapEuWFqUZkUJxi0KCjzrvTOnfxfKHZJuxfxTQySFfwJSE74U/s1600/Penmanship+2.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPVA6N6U5SSgezOiFPCnIRr_aS3yc9F7V9C4k07-67-Jf650zK5v-tcuIE-BQ-A89tIeJX-7FTL5-ccHyt_1OL02rhmtapEuWFqUZkUJxi0KCjzrvTOnfxfKHZJuxfxTQySFfwJSE74U/s400/Penmanship+2.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596601485141611330" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwoBOhEBeDTgdLr3LED2q8PNWkhHi51oIEtvYcxAS3VMhz6VRQMCg8ZzceFB-ikS96mEElhtqi5BaiZHp-ORW3WSTUXzEgMVFx6C6Yx7fLSgMh9IVqPGb9_Y2Q8zOnxZsDHVLjkIwzOFQ/s1600/Penmanship+5.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwoBOhEBeDTgdLr3LED2q8PNWkhHi51oIEtvYcxAS3VMhz6VRQMCg8ZzceFB-ikS96mEElhtqi5BaiZHp-ORW3WSTUXzEgMVFx6C6Yx7fLSgMh9IVqPGb9_Y2Q8zOnxZsDHVLjkIwzOFQ/s400/Penmanship+5.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596601281335654818" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWhq_Cy40klVZFfUR735bMPp31xOP5Gz5D-pxCiRfA4HfTkcI9483vmrDFdoqvMQdwqhwbT0ufFQFCFyO9i-_Vdi3Vw6nSSuD3_gr1Nadjz-2IdeZJken3YczIRU2pK2HwFcw0pr9_ak/s1600/Penmanship+6.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 221px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWhq_Cy40klVZFfUR735bMPp31xOP5Gz5D-pxCiRfA4HfTkcI9483vmrDFdoqvMQdwqhwbT0ufFQFCFyO9i-_Vdi3Vw6nSSuD3_gr1Nadjz-2IdeZJken3YczIRU2pK2HwFcw0pr9_ak/s400/Penmanship+6.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596601136566843586" /></a>Ahh...the lost art of Penmanship! In this Collier's Encyclopedia from 1882 there are several chapters on writing and penmanship. They even have illustrations showing the correct way to sit and hold one's pen, as I guess now there are manuals on the proper way to sit at a keyboard. Posture perfect! But look at how beautiful the writing was...it was truly an art form. All the flourishes and swirls, and even the difference between a "Ladies hand", and a "Standard" one. And this book was 50 cents at a barn sale! More reasons to head out on a chilly & rainy saturday morning in April. David's cousin Bobby Cramer & his talented wife Holly have a wonderful old house and a barn they painted blue...and it's full of great stuff. Bobby does restorations and has a magnificent garden, and Holly makes all kinds of quilts, creatures, painted boxes, and jewelry. It's always inspiring to see them and their talented daughter Leigh, who writes stories and paints. Family fun!Ruby Ritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934226670353398038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1164454464556375502.post-6400276035668983652011-03-12T07:40:00.000-08:002011-03-14T07:22:29.721-07:00We Love Old Books!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVd2iYAwBqSprlKV5ZCJw0LrDmQvpnA0Iu6Qh8eM9Mh6dlENyECsS2M_ZA5wxHvwccyVgPWJ6WPbV17jC8Jfk-gjm8YltYwvnC5gMFAhJk-RtXE5B6sou_EfqEyIU0SemsigiJGLjNr9Zm/s1600/Children%2527s+Book+1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVd2iYAwBqSprlKV5ZCJw0LrDmQvpnA0Iu6Qh8eM9Mh6dlENyECsS2M_ZA5wxHvwccyVgPWJ6WPbV17jC8Jfk-gjm8YltYwvnC5gMFAhJk-RtXE5B6sou_EfqEyIU0SemsigiJGLjNr9Zm/s640/Children%2527s+Book+1.jpeg" width="433" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">And, we love bookstores.</span> In our family, they've always been a major destination for us. Our boys grew up going to author's signings, and in Los Angeles, we would hang out at our friend Julie Von Zerneck's Portrait of a Bookstore for hours. My husband David has always bought books on the street in NYC, and has a pretty amazing collection. He has an early paperback copy of the Sun Also Rises, called Fiesta. I've been collecting vintage children's books. Yesterday we were at a local used bookstore where we always find a treat. I got the Burgess Bird Book For Children, which is in perfect condition, and it was published in 1927. At this shop, the older the book, the cheaper it is. This beauty was only $7.50. Of course, you can get any book on ebay, but there's something special about picking through the stacks at an old bookstore,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"> a library sale, or a flea market. At one time I worked at a middle school, and the librarian had carts full of young adult books that she was "deleting". Some of them were incredibly collectible, with stunning artwork on the covers. One was an edition of Black Beauty, my favorite childhood book, that must have been from the turn of the century....it doesn't even have a date on it. Another was a Robert Heinlein book from 1951, called The Rolling Stones, in fabulous, mid century condition. There's something so innocent about the way these old children's books are written, and of course, the illustrations and design are just to die for. We have one room in our house that's a library, but it seems like every other room has shelves or just plain piles of books. Can you have too many? We're debating that question constantly. I think my favorite things are old comfortable chairs, books, flea market treasures, and of course, a great cup of coffee. Put all those things together, and you have a perfect environment, don't you think? Our friend Julie in LA has just that. Portrait of a Bookstore on Tujunga in North Hollywood is connected to the Aroma Cafe, and she has great books, fabulous antique finds, and even a terrace outside to enjoy it all. It's a winning combination!</span></div>Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15075165004522265810noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1164454464556375502.post-61851601094358323772011-01-23T16:24:00.000-08:002011-01-23T20:11:48.963-08:00January<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dNyiSAZOhN5d1ELIHzrMMHDznBBUCBE0mOmZdlNlH07aGLbVO2PzwEtH8-kWYbKft-Xqr82jcxkfTkHoUNgxQv8f6AD4Lc0B6Cugc_fDmVjNry7HLxpxiVlw8du6heNo_n4YO_xqRuE/s1600/TP-Peacock.JPG"><img style="text-align: center;float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 335px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dNyiSAZOhN5d1ELIHzrMMHDznBBUCBE0mOmZdlNlH07aGLbVO2PzwEtH8-kWYbKft-Xqr82jcxkfTkHoUNgxQv8f6AD4Lc0B6Cugc_fDmVjNry7HLxpxiVlw8du6heNo_n4YO_xqRuE/s400/TP-Peacock.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565596240235822034" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb7vB0vKvjUAzxljfR_uHo3oS69FYFnU_lXkQAXbSnyjP-V0UFICt4q0vzML_4MAFaONauKIZViXfi8jkR0oX3zQkaLKpOkFNdRyztHR0Hsqh4EqTrRyKcZQnfEuohTBpQ1gENfOcOeD8/s1600/images.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 192px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb7vB0vKvjUAzxljfR_uHo3oS69FYFnU_lXkQAXbSnyjP-V0UFICt4q0vzML_4MAFaONauKIZViXfi8jkR0oX3zQkaLKpOkFNdRyztHR0Hsqh4EqTrRyKcZQnfEuohTBpQ1gENfOcOeD8/s400/images.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565595038574276066" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxjupWP4i3_ugHwXWGVGEoes5CIRLElcUkyoN_hte0DbTvVVlDZuG5VYBovLPZORVZPKjhQIEW1OYznhu67Uk0ILyKQWRLYekFOz47BHnm-9Xx9kbIuh2tAaKcpbev3ozcrZnx9zHIYs/s1600/l-7g3yvksab2rce5.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 304px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxjupWP4i3_ugHwXWGVGEoes5CIRLElcUkyoN_hte0DbTvVVlDZuG5VYBovLPZORVZPKjhQIEW1OYznhu67Uk0ILyKQWRLYekFOz47BHnm-9Xx9kbIuh2tAaKcpbev3ozcrZnx9zHIYs/s400/l-7g3yvksab2rce5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565594947353270546" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJJzvusvjvGXuW9i8Yfu6CY-XSUb21kgmrdH-VuLO18P1z4WS6tNBZT9L5kXaJ9LchFuzY5fwnOSETf_d5xrCWK9XRRoWgGmLiACV0_kX87qdaMdLYy5e6LJ4foTJMnEVYUsXVORTZsBs/s1600/il_fullxfull.146474718.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 343px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJJzvusvjvGXuW9i8Yfu6CY-XSUb21kgmrdH-VuLO18P1z4WS6tNBZT9L5kXaJ9LchFuzY5fwnOSETf_d5xrCWK9XRRoWgGmLiACV0_kX87qdaMdLYy5e6LJ4foTJMnEVYUsXVORTZsBs/s400/il_fullxfull.146474718.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565594853515180690" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLqaLUSpNL4i7Rmj4dGzI_bW37ODFzgfuAN74HBzgqJ8hhqYjPDzxy3DO1StCRrMyVdihhs_6OoLrentSDH2rUDfNKGXSWjQWamr2m3b1TSbcQQaFvIROTMFe8u9JH-7hlQac7vhEjg0/s1600/vintage-tv-set-thumb5619628.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLqaLUSpNL4i7Rmj4dGzI_bW37ODFzgfuAN74HBzgqJ8hhqYjPDzxy3DO1StCRrMyVdihhs_6OoLrentSDH2rUDfNKGXSWjQWamr2m3b1TSbcQQaFvIROTMFe8u9JH-7hlQac7vhEjg0/s400/vintage-tv-set-thumb5619628.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565592695929729762" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcE26TiYCkUcrmPf4F1cvhVYqkwjmIxfapS6jV1G7GbMRTDCd9hscRuNPFhcaFT7y-4Qmn4EYZ4WiyrYGsN4BI-2Aw36mDs0i2zkj6jGmr5mQYo_4Pa6b7fGG-W6QlpFruFZMWcPh4M4/s1600/4202611387_aabafa9d18.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 258px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcE26TiYCkUcrmPf4F1cvhVYqkwjmIxfapS6jV1G7GbMRTDCd9hscRuNPFhcaFT7y-4Qmn4EYZ4WiyrYGsN4BI-2Aw36mDs0i2zkj6jGmr5mQYo_4Pa6b7fGG-W6QlpFruFZMWcPh4M4/s320/4202611387_aabafa9d18.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565541969451552482" /></a>Do people watch more TV in January? It must be the #1 month for cocooning. It's BITTER cold, we've had snowstorm after snowstorm, no one has any extra money or energy, and we're all in that post holiday funk. It must be why American Idol premieres with those two 2 hour episodes a week. Right now it's Sunday night, and my husband David is watching the Jets game and America's Funniest Home Videos. And Jim Gaffigan is on one of the comedy channels doing his hilarious bit about bacon, so David's watching him too. <div>I grew up in a TV family. My brother & sister & I watched it CONSTANTLY. We would get up at 6 on Saturday mornings and watch it till noon, and every day after school. We would watch it at night after homework till our bedtime. Our dad had a store that sold all kinds of electronic equipment, so we had one of the first color TVs, and everyone came over to our house to watch it. I read books and comics all the time, but I watched a lot of TV.<div>We have two flat screens in our house. One's in the basement, and the boys can play games on it, and our big one's in the TV room right off the kitchen. It seems like if we're home, it's always on. The HD quality is amazing. This afternoon I curled up in my corner of the couch and watched Hannah and Her Sisters on TCM. It was such a relaxing thing to do on a freezing cold Sunday...watch one of my favorite movies under a quilt. I guess there are people who still claim not to watch any TV, but everyone I know, especially family members, watch a ton of it. And plenty of junk, like The Jersey Shore (which I do watch) and Biggest Losers (which I don't). Mad Men is top tier TV, as is Curb Your Enthusiasm, and documentaries like American Masters, and I guess Million Dollar Money Drop is pretty close to the bottom. But right now it's too cold and snowy to do much else....( there are under 60 days till the</div></div><div>First Day of Spring)....so I'll probably be under my quilt in my corner of the couch watching something or other.</div>Ruby Ritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934226670353398038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1164454464556375502.post-68234669907129868452010-12-28T08:28:00.000-08:002010-12-28T11:05:41.873-08:00Bob Dylan In America<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlU_6Duyaod_QQ7tsALe-ldmpYoZUNXkNN5i6PMH3uj1fWy_t3ApeInCb8P-a6QaTipU1KMOGqwc89ADa2482qZYzIZZdrNjY9lzKxRZDZpCfGWxhseVUsy-Db-__hRNcTJE8H5-N_l3h/s1600/Bobby+D+1965.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlU_6Duyaod_QQ7tsALe-ldmpYoZUNXkNN5i6PMH3uj1fWy_t3ApeInCb8P-a6QaTipU1KMOGqwc89ADa2482qZYzIZZdrNjY9lzKxRZDZpCfGWxhseVUsy-Db-__hRNcTJE8H5-N_l3h/s640/Bobby+D+1965.jpeg" width="336" /></a></div>I'm reading the new Sean Wilentz bio of Bob, a Christmas present from my husband David. It starts out tracing the roots of the liberal-lefty-Commie elements of American folk music, and surprisingly, it goes back to Aaron Copland. (In 1934, he won the Communist Song Award!)<br />
It also turns out that Copland's young protege was Leonard Bernstein....and Clifford Odets and Elia Kazan were all part of this left wing group.<br />
Pete Seeger's father, Charles was a folk music collector, along with John Lomax and his son, Alan. Pete Seeger dropped out of Harvard, and worked with Alan at the Library of Congress, where the Lomaxes created the Archive of American Folk Song. Alan discovered and recorded a young songwriter named Woody Guthrie, who then teamed up with Seeger and a group of folk artists to form the Almanac Singers. They promoted union organizing, racial justice, and other left wing causes. In the late 1940s, the Almanacs evolved into The Weavers, who had a number one hit with "Good Night Irene", which was a 1933 Leadbelly song discovered by the Lomaxes. The Weavers introduced the younger generation and Bob Dylan to the music of Woody Guthrie. Of course, Pete Seeger was named a "subversive", and the group was blacklisted. (The 1963 cover of Bob's album "Freewheelin" features him and his girlfriend Suze Rotolo, whose parents were New York City intellectuals and Communists, as well.)<br />
This was all kind of news to me, the American Communist connection with folk music...though I knew about Pete Seeger & The Weavers being blacklisted. I wonder what it was about Communism that was so attractive during the 30s and 40s to all these artists, writers, and musicians. I guess it sounded good at the time...<br />
Recently I was up late, and watched (for the 3rd or 4th time) the Martin Scorcese documentary "No Direction Home, which was divided in two parts so perfectly, and I was really primed to get this new biography. We just can't seem to get enough of Bob, from his folk period through his going-electric-mid-to-late 60s. It's all so brilliant, and he was just exploding with creativity. Was anyone ever as cool? No one could wear a checked suit & a top hat with more style. But then, I love his Rolling Thunder Review phase too, where he tours with Joan Baez, Roger McGuinn, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, and others. He was really our spokesperson, whether he liked it or not--we grew up with him, just like we did with The Beatles.Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15075165004522265810noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1164454464556375502.post-65808018591997010352010-12-10T21:58:00.000-08:002010-12-12T19:33:41.022-08:00Collecting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzXu8-9AypFMJkRmAXoxP94py1EchfAS7cnzIAw5y5xqlwGjdzv_ri27G99a35gb0N5r_cj160uf6rRr4mduwPlxGHHDzcFwDNgIfCK2uXVVGz2BQPlvkP2QgbnUahGDsqn-wO02H3aoZK/s1600/Vintage+Christmas+1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzXu8-9AypFMJkRmAXoxP94py1EchfAS7cnzIAw5y5xqlwGjdzv_ri27G99a35gb0N5r_cj160uf6rRr4mduwPlxGHHDzcFwDNgIfCK2uXVVGz2BQPlvkP2QgbnUahGDsqn-wO02H3aoZK/s640/Vintage+Christmas+1.jpeg" width="502" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> I love vintage cards!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">These are the latest score from a Poughkeepsie junk shop on Route 9, and I got an entire box for $1. For some reason, they're easy to find, and they're usually really cheap. These are from the bottom end of the Christmas card market, and are kind of cheesy, but who can resist them? The Santa ones are all covered with dusty red flocking, and the kitten on the sled is a little pathetic. I like the dry brush style ornaments, they look very late 50s to me. The cards are all done by Whitman. I have some vintage paper dolls, and the Whitman ones are all done using this technique. I guess it was the style of their in house illustrators. Another detail: all the vintage Christmas cards I have are done on paper, as opposed to card stock, so it's pretty amazing that they've lasted this long, especially the ones from the 40s. And the box that these came in was from an old massage vibrator. It was so awful looking, that I actually decoupaged over it!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0kKGF1nK2qXH-R9Jz_qTFosFtPW4y7xh_QZA7BAj2sLrcUZnfG3i1eXZcI4AHc7we1CblmU6NU3PEZ6Cp9xd88GTh8d2VwV55EOJckfX7QhZND_h_yyXn9I3zR5XUdv9E1i6mMLkH_In/s1600/Vintage+Christmas+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0kKGF1nK2qXH-R9Jz_qTFosFtPW4y7xh_QZA7BAj2sLrcUZnfG3i1eXZcI4AHc7we1CblmU6NU3PEZ6Cp9xd88GTh8d2VwV55EOJckfX7QhZND_h_yyXn9I3zR5XUdv9E1i6mMLkH_In/s640/Vintage+Christmas+2.jpeg" width="524" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">But, I do like the Eloise Wilkins style children dancing around Santa and riding on his sled... they're really pretty sweet.</span>Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15075165004522265810noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1164454464556375502.post-1356401260538067882010-11-29T07:52:00.000-08:002010-11-30T06:28:58.668-08:00Collecting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4BLYJYJjUA7RpZfDhxli-iBNsPZnz5_tt29tg7xioIPk1terScwvyz0INQtqbZ4IcZlExNj_fby32i5Ksz8E_x1hJorYuRvTqoQJErt66Gjdi5Q5N1TsXeHUGmydtYN60al3EyMsVSFn/s1600/IMG_1779.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4BLYJYJjUA7RpZfDhxli-iBNsPZnz5_tt29tg7xioIPk1terScwvyz0INQtqbZ4IcZlExNj_fby32i5Ksz8E_x1hJorYuRvTqoQJErt66Gjdi5Q5N1TsXeHUGmydtYN60al3EyMsVSFn/s640/IMG_1779.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">This is our Wall of Icons.</span> When we lived in Los Angeles, David and I started collecting them. We began going to the incredible flea markets around LA, and there was a different one every Sunday. Our first one was the Elk's Club, and in 1987, painted Monterey furniture was cheap, and just about knocked our socks off. We would go with our East Coast friends who were living in LA at the time, and we were all completely taken with Bauer pottery, vintage cowboy stuff & Western paintings, vintage fabrics, lamps from the 40s and 50s, and wonderful old, peeling furniture. It was a magical time, getting to Pasadena in the early morning when they were unloading trucks with primitive Mexican furniture that was painted in shades of green and turquoise. The winter sun was always shining and you were surrounded by mountains. Eventually, we started going to the Rose Bowl, Pasadena City College, and Long Beach...all filled with the stuff of Old California. We bought a big sturdy Mission armchair (now recovered using a Mexican blanket), dark green Adirondack chairs, vintage textiles and clothing, McCoy Pottery, sets of dishes, stunning oil paintings, and we hauled most of it back to the East Coast. Our house is filled with found objects have been refurbished, garage sale stuff, and lots of our old flea market purchases. Now of course, a painting that you bought in 1992 is worth ten times what you would have paid then. And the icons above are one of the things we went wild for in LA--where you would see a jeep with a Virgin of Guadelupe tire cover hanging off the back, driving around the Valley. I'm so nostalgic for our LA life lately...the boys were little, and we had a wonderful group of friends, many of them from New York, like us, who were there for a period of time. My sister Linda & her family lived around the corner, our wonderful friend Julie Von Zerneck had her lovely Portrait of a Bookstore (and still does), our dear pal Brett Brdas lived down the street, our neighbor Lilly Holden and her mom lived across from us. LA was an incredibly inspiring place for us---it's a city that has so much creative energy and such gorgeous terrain--mountains, desert, beach, and all that Old Hollywood history.<br />
PS--the cool peace sign is made by David!</div>Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15075165004522265810noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1164454464556375502.post-12207681963348649932010-10-23T08:29:00.000-07:002010-10-23T08:47:28.994-07:00A Girl's Favorites<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5ghHmvnrrdGLE3T0CaNz5QiCMTo9394T4yq0gRi9UfZlvv4H_dv751IQPkjuiLGNBDVlDxbEYHew9BYpaA6seOEdjW_LuN_Ap1oVjnYzxbdr72kRGDRW08aiFoJD09nvVobrAbYqjtve/s1600/A+Girl's+Favorites.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5ghHmvnrrdGLE3T0CaNz5QiCMTo9394T4yq0gRi9UfZlvv4H_dv751IQPkjuiLGNBDVlDxbEYHew9BYpaA6seOEdjW_LuN_Ap1oVjnYzxbdr72kRGDRW08aiFoJD09nvVobrAbYqjtve/s640/A+Girl's+Favorites.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">This is Ruby Ritz's new fabric design, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">with all the things she holds</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">nearest and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">dearest to her heart. Shoes, lipstick, perfume, a ladylike handbag, her grandmother's pearls, and of course, a good strong cup of coffee and her cell phone---which she could never be without! And that hard-to-find perfect moisturizer. We thought a soothing pastel palette would become her and calm her nerves. She has so much on her mind these days, and is <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">stressed to the max</span>....but aren't we all? Money, money, money...that's all anyone can think about. And you're either working too hard, or hardly working. I guess we should have put a TV on this design too---a nice HD flatscreen--as it seems that's how Ruby's spending a lot of her time. Watching TCM & HBO. Wondering how she's going to make it through the winter without Mad Men....Betty's outfits, Joan's snappy career gal wisdom, Sally's directness, Roger's cool, Don's flaws, and Peggy's resilience. And the spot on, perfect art direction--how about poolside 60s LA in the final episode? They even got that slightly faded polaroid color just right.</span>Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15075165004522265810noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1164454464556375502.post-39802692736676798902010-10-11T13:07:00.000-07:002010-10-11T19:26:30.497-07:00Photoshop Fun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7u-ZaZ9acA8dQ0Cy63cFm-CyV_EeWQ_quhR5TC3bf24glS8u1aYPdEHfZrGyjKXO9lMh8KB0GP2t2kdgkBOPdPoyeHHLHUQrQVQkzzgn3kpG5pY4Ft2LxSmfa85pks-j88BCslTHyiAR5/s1600/Atomic+Fruit+repeat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7u-ZaZ9acA8dQ0Cy63cFm-CyV_EeWQ_quhR5TC3bf24glS8u1aYPdEHfZrGyjKXO9lMh8KB0GP2t2kdgkBOPdPoyeHHLHUQrQVQkzzgn3kpG5pY4Ft2LxSmfa85pks-j88BCslTHyiAR5/s640/Atomic+Fruit+repeat.jpg" width="640" /></a>I just learned this weekend how to put a design in repeat in PHOTOSHOP, and I think it's going to be a huge life changer! Now, these repeats, as you can see, are basic side-by-side style. I have to figure out how to do a half drop repeat, which will give a different look. But still, I can take a design and instantly turn it into a repeated one...so it's really exciting. And of course, I have Danika to help me if I get in a jam and am stuck. And my son David is a Photoshop pro as well. I have a lot of designs in my portfolio that are painted and finished, but not really in repeat...this way I can make them more fully developed, and maybe get them printed up. I found this website called<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> SPOONFLOWER </span></span>that I had read about last year, and forgot the name. You can upload designs to them, and they'll print them on cotton fabric. You can get samples for $5 a yard, or actually order yardage for $18 - $32 per. So, it sounds like it would be worth a try! I'm not sure what digital quality is like on fabric, if the colors are a rich, but I definitely want to look into it. </div><br />
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</div>Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15075165004522265810noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1164454464556375502.post-22563070724881684652010-08-22T03:53:00.000-07:002010-08-26T04:41:51.017-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">These are some more of my fabrics</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;">printed by Michael Miller. You can get them online now at the Fat Quarter Shop website, as they're sold out at MM. Clotilde made dresses out of the cream colored one, which is called "The Old West". They are adorable, trimmed with a brown & white gingham. The red design is called "Ropin'"</span>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNbCAbBrpcBrlqEsOj6Chy70NRYAGZfyPXMPl613oAebRBrO2CPS69KJC07HrMjRUiisTcN_MPdzpX4J5L8SZUouUhPRgAX6RhDEZ7mdpMy0ZagCrkfGXFey1eL0e5XcsUJEYmwsqcpAmu/s1600/MM-CX4135-CREM-D-450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNbCAbBrpcBrlqEsOj6Chy70NRYAGZfyPXMPl613oAebRBrO2CPS69KJC07HrMjRUiisTcN_MPdzpX4J5L8SZUouUhPRgAX6RhDEZ7mdpMy0ZagCrkfGXFey1eL0e5XcsUJEYmwsqcpAmu/s320/MM-CX4135-CREM-D-450.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;">I have to say, it's so much fun to have your paintings made into fabric...there's just something about it that's so tactile....it's very different than having it just stay flat, like a painting on a wall or a print. It moves, folds, drapes, and molds into whatever shape you put it on, like a chair. It's a totally different experience.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30cdtlrRywYHP7FYxE2RCeklBppm4urIiUrw-SgZlwKaUbz3YRHAUTf4seVldjFJrsxwFUcs_rCy4fUY-67qCHfZ4vkFxSVCaVSSUK4S2zsftEVMDCLS_LC_DFiyCdao3CReBlUHyiA2c/s1600/MM-CX4136-REDX-D-450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30cdtlrRywYHP7FYxE2RCeklBppm4urIiUrw-SgZlwKaUbz3YRHAUTf4seVldjFJrsxwFUcs_rCy4fUY-67qCHfZ4vkFxSVCaVSSUK4S2zsftEVMDCLS_LC_DFiyCdao3CReBlUHyiA2c/s400/MM-CX4136-REDX-D-450.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15075165004522265810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1164454464556375502.post-1580756684908488852010-07-31T12:12:00.000-07:002010-07-31T20:09:40.860-07:00Jamestown sketches<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUAhbmyBlyx0R9lZJGUE5w3IKhSjjW_WIrKNjJ5VcxOcIZ2VpL6UV2mNBmOruyPm_s3leeZKMpY0F3AaBfsdP0vbi-zMDCMAgzdyUIudbwH-AVh2FiObq5fvw43Mt029XI_xB9uH8uDw4e/s1600/Jack.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUAhbmyBlyx0R9lZJGUE5w3IKhSjjW_WIrKNjJ5VcxOcIZ2VpL6UV2mNBmOruyPm_s3leeZKMpY0F3AaBfsdP0vbi-zMDCMAgzdyUIudbwH-AVh2FiObq5fvw43Mt029XI_xB9uH8uDw4e/s400/Jack.jpeg" width="286" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: x-large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaiopPBh6_2PurX1sqijRHwayJfpdw58Q9foB5KJRzn0R-2xh5e_hTAjXFvCgXRBfHOXjmKYNrNiKDCC22wceI_6ZyLZJg42bFQAfopfKGKTrJ7CaG0je34qSUHs6S8dxKNwl5Dbc5ypTR/s400/Ray+%26+guitar.jpeg" width="300" /></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">We spent the last two weeks in Jamestown, RI.</span></span> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"> We were house sitting for Marisa Quinn& Jay Sisson, watching their two Labs, Maq & Gillie, and their cat, Samson. It was very relaxing, and I spent a lot of time drawing, just using colored pencils. We went to the beach, and hung out in Newport and Wickford, just poking around. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Here are some pics of Jack Romano, Ray Noonan, and Patrice Arundale. Jack made a trip to Mackerel Cove while recuperating from spinal surgery. He looks fantastic, and is about 8 inches taller! Ray, of course, is never without a guitar, and was plinking away while watching some tv show. And Patrice was nice enough to sit in her yellow & white striped suit while we were at the beach one late afternoon. The next night she made us a fabulous dinner!</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVCzNFd2be_wybO3keYE9mWofKjEfjmezaTHIvudBYzRTBgBWQzXAQkRqraJeqPDEDefKVlv_RCjK4LTGTvg75BpDPzVtxRtx-jfQ0oGg12dRl40JhWjj3DJZ-ps6aQnQQde-ZbVJsxg6/s1600/Patrice.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVCzNFd2be_wybO3keYE9mWofKjEfjmezaTHIvudBYzRTBgBWQzXAQkRqraJeqPDEDefKVlv_RCjK4LTGTvg75BpDPzVtxRtx-jfQ0oGg12dRl40JhWjj3DJZ-ps6aQnQQde-ZbVJsxg6/s400/Patrice.jpeg" width="291" /></a></div>Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15075165004522265810noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1164454464556375502.post-44807837679820739202010-07-13T06:59:00.000-07:002010-07-16T05:55:45.186-07:00Ginty Pool<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNTAYM5MR_PZLUUFcseAEtaYIq8gncx8RjMTg_tzFNk3dDKK6NF993eZyhmyH5TBKZ3iJFOprmLqetlidesOXnxRQd70WZYk_TI1pVgcj6mGjCvwoMQ5dmpOYJT_1jGD7vkoZTt3AKkE5/s1600/pool+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNTAYM5MR_PZLUUFcseAEtaYIq8gncx8RjMTg_tzFNk3dDKK6NF993eZyhmyH5TBKZ3iJFOprmLqetlidesOXnxRQd70WZYk_TI1pVgcj6mGjCvwoMQ5dmpOYJT_1jGD7vkoZTt3AKkE5/s400/pool+1.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">This is my son David</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span>reading yesterday at our lovely neighborhood pool. I brought my colored pencils along, and he was kind enough to sit for me, in between dives. It was a hot & steamy July day, but we were cool as cucumbers in the shade. It's a beautiful setting; there's always a breeze and Ginty's a perfect pool. It's big and clean and turquoise blue, with lanes for the swimmers, and a deep end for diving. It's surrounded by trees, so by late afternoon it's all shaded over. They actually have a given time every hour for "adult swim"...so anyone over 18 can have a quiet break from the jumping, splashing, shriekingly adorable kids. They couldn't be having more fun. There's nothing better on a summer afternoon than bringing your chair & a book, and taking a swim. David's brother Ray met us there with some cousins in tow: Tess, Zelda, & Edward Noonan from France, and Michael Tatlow (NJ) + Emmett Noonan (RI). David recently graduated from Vassar College, and was a Biology major. This summer he's doing volunteer research on Zebra Finches and their songs at Rockefeller University's Upstate NY facility. Ray, who is pre-med at Vassar, just finished an intensive EMT training course, and has joined the Morristown Volunteer Ambulance Squad.<br />
David is most likely meditating on his future here.......plastics?Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15075165004522265810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1164454464556375502.post-6030879567684311402010-06-16T07:36:00.000-07:002010-06-16T08:28:36.618-07:00Vintage book covers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2tytmGfzdOGu4JK3-8-v6QsXb3xyVoTShhTD_EhNqsNSNzdtaPzgHETXwEDttADZzcA_zxwBUplVKInIeUy2Ge4TOtyI31R2Dcp42n_r-2MW9F4Mvk9vKl7ZxfuH4A1z6-aTrJDRgOxhF/s1600/Jean+and+Johnny.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2tytmGfzdOGu4JK3-8-v6QsXb3xyVoTShhTD_EhNqsNSNzdtaPzgHETXwEDttADZzcA_zxwBUplVKInIeUy2Ge4TOtyI31R2Dcp42n_r-2MW9F4Mvk9vKl7ZxfuH4A1z6-aTrJDRgOxhF/s400/Jean+and+Johnny.jpeg" width="262" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjvGrgJ65TXlccrzMZHXLm-p3kGOynUPopytn595EkPmoBtGj2-zechbA4qa2yC-CUV95NewPTkTLV6BV_usJE_XakFLhlc5sNtg-jL6tFJqGLPIMRdscYUN_1fQ3F6FAg-63oS4EcLfV/s1600/The+Luckiest+Girl.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjvGrgJ65TXlccrzMZHXLm-p3kGOynUPopytn595EkPmoBtGj2-zechbA4qa2yC-CUV95NewPTkTLV6BV_usJE_XakFLhlc5sNtg-jL6tFJqGLPIMRdscYUN_1fQ3F6FAg-63oS4EcLfV/s320/The+Luckiest+Girl.jpeg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">These are two </span>of my favorite book covers ever! I've been collecting vintage books, especially Young Adult ones, because the cover artwork is always so amazing. I read Jean and Johnny in 7th grade, and totally related to the shy, bespectacled heroine. Of course, Beverly Cleary was one of my most beloved authors growing up, and I remember being so happy to find her in the Junior High library. I adored Beezus and Ramona, Henry and Ribsy, Henry Huggins, Otis Spofford, and all the books about the kids in their neighborhood. Ramona was my absolute all time favorite story book girl...does anyone remember the description of her art teacher and the class? She was so difficult, and I just couldn't get enough of her & her sister. Jean and Johnny was published in 1959, and The Luckiest Girl was published in 1958. I guess I kind of was hoping I looked like Jean on the cover....I had the same harlequin glasses...until my mother insisted I get contacts.Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15075165004522265810noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1164454464556375502.post-35911953035180988842010-06-09T07:19:00.000-07:002010-07-06T05:48:15.731-07:00A bit of Emily Dickinson..<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKqDtaHa7yKS-jtLas1V-YfK4VrpSg-ecDcVTbzoCmdxpqtu25q52PK2ASs-3P5RJ-OK3psLCswSF0c_ORNVDq7lEsU8-zzZBZj566XLIDSZ2PGi071b0mQJzyjWpNkLZ7n2LSsnNCerW/s1600/Dragonfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKqDtaHa7yKS-jtLas1V-YfK4VrpSg-ecDcVTbzoCmdxpqtu25q52PK2ASs-3P5RJ-OK3psLCswSF0c_ORNVDq7lEsU8-zzZBZj566XLIDSZ2PGi071b0mQJzyjWpNkLZ7n2LSsnNCerW/s640/Dragonfly.jpg" width="513" /></a></div><span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Summer</span><span style="color: #660000;"> makes me think of the poetry of Emily Dickinson</span></span><span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;">...bees, flowers, robins, the sun, the grass.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;">This is just a little poetry "card" idea. Wouldn't it be nice to receive a note or card in the mail with some poetry on it? I so admire poets...just playing with words and thoughts in a cryptic way that one has to read over & over until maybe you can figure out what they're trying to say. But you're never sure if you're getting it or not. Emily Dickinson never married or had her own family...she lived in her parents home, and wrote constantly about that world. The summer really makes you appreciate how she could write an entire poem about a leaf, a bee, or the colors in the sky.</span>Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15075165004522265810noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1164454464556375502.post-51443254291762885492010-06-02T07:43:00.000-07:002010-06-28T12:46:36.378-07:00Poe Nevermore, Poe Chardonnay, and Littauer Chardonnay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60-5k3xakM7QQDpyRNUiVDn4zvGN6FEAiBAsWcUfM_30Rh7t0ppKDE6CYo2lPgAHmh2nk3htORs1ONvGUr70K0zmmAaKYLfPoTLGS1FeilB-CSB6WT06AuKlPsoAkOqhFY1ZNGpEEi00i/s1600/Poe+Chard+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60-5k3xakM7QQDpyRNUiVDn4zvGN6FEAiBAsWcUfM_30Rh7t0ppKDE6CYo2lPgAHmh2nk3htORs1ONvGUr70K0zmmAaKYLfPoTLGS1FeilB-CSB6WT06AuKlPsoAkOqhFY1ZNGpEEi00i/s320/Poe+Chard+1.jpg" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA721tbYTu8nC-XVu15HW8ixX6K-rqd6eDSn0FQj1K8oCKVwsAyiLB2KPAGutfM4NE1ZGA3i1EUkJqFTCvowfyuJpXkIykW-GiLI1ddxuQCkVIsw02A8aIfedMxuY2037bzbVNrptibbve/s1600/littauerwinesImg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA721tbYTu8nC-XVu15HW8ixX6K-rqd6eDSn0FQj1K8oCKVwsAyiLB2KPAGutfM4NE1ZGA3i1EUkJqFTCvowfyuJpXkIykW-GiLI1ddxuQCkVIsw02A8aIfedMxuY2037bzbVNrptibbve/s320/littauerwinesImg.png" /></a><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">These are the labels I designed </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"></span>for<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span>Poe "Nevermore" and Littauer Chardonnay. Littauer was bottled last Fall by our nephew, Trevor Sheehan, and Poe is an up and coming Pinot Noir which is being produced by his sister Samantha. As you can see, the labels are very different, and will appeal to different tastes and types. Littauer is doing extremely well, and is getting rave reviews. Sam & Trevor are both living in Napa, and Samantha is working at a winery, learning the business from the ground up. Their parents, Linda & Bob have recently moved up there as well from Los Angeles. They're all loving it, and the entire family is involved in the wine business. I can't wait to go out & visit...maybe at Christmas? PS...The Poe Chardonnay label is the latest addition to the line. It may be coming out this Fall.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBguVCSk8Qxi-kCiqZTwbQvNzCXIKUeUpibtoDeWRwcHgm3mfuNRt8x7pKp6WYk-7nJeLAB4LbTYCXO37pQ3HT3Qk0cuFbBXT0hft0_ya8jUpwbDQkePP2Om_scEjXg6n5UeeO-0scKyUa/s1600/Final+Poe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBguVCSk8Qxi-kCiqZTwbQvNzCXIKUeUpibtoDeWRwcHgm3mfuNRt8x7pKp6WYk-7nJeLAB4LbTYCXO37pQ3HT3Qk0cuFbBXT0hft0_ya8jUpwbDQkePP2Om_scEjXg6n5UeeO-0scKyUa/s400/Final+Poe.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15075165004522265810noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1164454464556375502.post-27437380441375706202010-05-09T13:31:00.000-07:002010-05-09T15:29:06.231-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7BPrQBIxtmhX58nFW7pX__5UZzcKNi9v4smM-VK1nNAx0HESha-sHs9rkk8CRVNCJIamjsD7xL6-m2VU5aJh4laA2EUlh1Iuiwz0FSNRQ8gUMSl2opr1YRfRdImJbccHq5DW1PJgf6dM/s1600/Barbecue.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7BPrQBIxtmhX58nFW7pX__5UZzcKNi9v4smM-VK1nNAx0HESha-sHs9rkk8CRVNCJIamjsD7xL6-m2VU5aJh4laA2EUlh1Iuiwz0FSNRQ8gUMSl2opr1YRfRdImJbccHq5DW1PJgf6dM/s640/Barbecue.jpeg" width="464" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">It's almost barbecue time!</span> This is my fabric that has actually been made into dresses by Clotilde, our favorite designer. It was printed by Michael Miller Fabrics, and has also been made into oil cloth, so that you can cover your picnic table with it. I can't wait to cook outside on the grill, and to serve up some sides of baked beans, potato salad, and corn on the cob. Hmmm...of course our grilling has become kind of problematic, with David still following his vegan diet. So it's delicious grilled veggies for him, and burgers & chicken for the boys. I can go either way, and get the best of both worlds. And where will we be doing our grilling this summer? Are we moving to Westchester, staying in NJ, or will we just keep going back and forth for a while? The thought of packing up is so overwhelming to me....I think it's time to just get a dumpster, and heave everything in it.</span>Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15075165004522265810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1164454464556375502.post-56730433862928914662010-02-24T04:59:00.000-08:002010-02-24T04:59:40.905-08:00A swatch of Modern Home!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0DjqApxuX92XS0L23HCfSvmdFkP6Xf0EXZQ7TuvG64O0vmrFmjpfVrKWxp7CUNSm5KVp0E3z8Bpv-g9fE3Gkl0b_eiRiRPz4vaW33XRVKOZJQcYfZ4_wKSRr756bCzmXTdEkQRMu_5eNz/s1600-h/Large_CK-419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0DjqApxuX92XS0L23HCfSvmdFkP6Xf0EXZQ7TuvG64O0vmrFmjpfVrKWxp7CUNSm5KVp0E3z8Bpv-g9fE3Gkl0b_eiRiRPz4vaW33XRVKOZJQcYfZ4_wKSRr756bCzmXTdEkQRMu_5eNz/s640/Large_CK-419.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15075165004522265810noreply@blogger.com1