It's almost barbecue time! 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.

A swatch of Modern Home!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Ruby Ritz wishes you a very
Happy Valentine's Day!
It's one of her favorite holidays, and 
February 14th is her BIRTHDAY! 
She loves chocolate, and absolutely adores flowers (especially vintage paintings of roses and pansies).
And let's not overlook the beautiful and fresh colors of this special day.....red, pink, and white....they're so cheering, especially in the middle of a rather 
dreary month. But really, what could be sweeter than telling someone dear to you how much you care, and how much they mean to you? And Ruby believes that this holiday isn't just for lovers, it's for friends and family too. It's a holiday to celebrate LOVE...and doesn't it make the world go 'round?

Heart for Haiti

Artists and photographers from all over are donating works of art to raise funds for the earthquake victims. Gallery MacEgan and the town of Madison, NJ has put together a project to print valentines to sell to local schoolchildren, and this is a collage I did for the event. I used pages from an old book, cut out letters from a newspaper, house paint, and acrylic. 

It's heartbreaking to see the footage and read about these poor Haitians, who are not only without shelter, but starving as well. Supposedly anyone who can come up with a meal is obligated to share with as many people as he or she can.....and that can mean as much as twenty others. Most folks don't even have the 15 cents to buy a plate of rice and beans. It's so sad. I wish I had the skills needed to go down and volunteer.

Happyhappyhappy...

Happy New Year!! I know many who aren't sorry to see the end of 2009. It's been a challenging year for everyone, our family included. The passing of John Noonan last May was unbearable, and then to add to that, our nephew Kyle Noonan was diagnosed with Leukemia. Kyle was in Memorial Sloan Kettering all summer, and is doing so well after his bone marrow transplant. He's an amazing guy, and has had so much love and support from our community.  My friend Mac McPeters has also been battling cancer since last Spring, and after surgery & chemo & radiation, he's back to work at Morristown High School and doing fantastically. And I'm not even going to go into all who've lost their jobs recently.... it's been a brutal year, and I want to wish all my friends and family members a happy & healthy 2010. There are better days ahead, for sure.     xxxxxx's to all!

Super Hero?

Ruby shows that even during the most mundane and primitive tasks---shoveling snow--one can look  chic and stylish. No need to put on some hideous puffy parka and a pair of 10 year old snow pants that your college age son has left in the corner of his closet! Get out that cat suit covered with zippers, and accessorize with a lovely scarf and a snappy pair of boots. Instead of grumbling about having to do this awful task, approach it with the hey-this-is-really-a-good-workout-attitude. Those biceps & deltoids will be moving for hours...and afterwards you can relax with a nice cup of tea or hot chocolate. It wasn't so bad, was it?

Ruby's Favorite Holiday

Ruby loves Christmas! It's the only time of year when all-out shopping is not only okay, it's required! The commercial excess of the season depresses some, but puts Ruby in the best of moods. She's flying high going from store to store, and mall to mall. This year however, she's especially conscious of the economic downturn, and the high percentage rate on her credit cards. She doesn't want to be caught off guard in January, so it's cash only, and sales only. She's also finding great stuff at the top of the line discount store, Target.