The Ruby & Sue Studio

My husband and I moved into our home about 6 months ago and I was lucky enough to get the third bedroom all to myself! I love being able to make a mess, shut the door, and leave the mess behind - it's the best feeling! So grab a cup of cocoa, get comfy, and enjoy my studio 'tour'.

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When you open the door, you immediately see my dress form. I would love to recover and paint her, but I don't even know where to start.

 Please ignore the serger cover & the Minnie bag in the background...

 I have a total of 4 desks that I work at: a computer desk, a sewing desk, a work/production table, and a cutting table. Since I get distracted on my laptop, I keep the computer desk on the opposite side of the room. 

Sewing Desk: The desk itself is from IKEA. I keep my elastic, ribbon, and extra shop supplies in the top 3 drawers. The bottom 2 drawers hold sewing tools, accessories, and half-finished projects.

Assembly/Production/Work Desk:This desk rarely has a clean top...you will always find bows on it! Underneath the desk, on each side, is a metal drawer unit (from IKEA). The one on the right holds supplies by color; the one on the left holds finished product by item, then color.

Cutting Table: The only thing I would change about this table would be to make it counter-height. I find myself hunched over all the time when I cut... The metal drawer unit holds my daily supplies: glue sticks, felt pieces, millinery flowers, pins, hair clips, and no-slip-grips. On top of the drawer unit is my new pink timer (!!!), my time-management-index-cards, and some vintage lotus nesting bowls.

I keep scissors, rotary cutter, and cutting rulers hung up on the wall shelf. I have an 18-month-old who is fascinated by scissors right now so I try to keep them up high. I have new & favorite fabric cuts on top of the shelf and an owl friend. The 3-tier bin holds precut bibs, burp cloths, and bows, while the super large jar holds random fabric scraps.

Underneath the cutting table is where I keep the majority of my 'small cut' fabric. Basically anything under 1 yard goes here! As of right now, there is literally no room left...I stuffed it full of fabric goodness :) It's a drawer unit from IKEA and I've had it for years.

On the opposite side is my hutch. I LOVE this hutch and was lucky enough to receive it from my mother-in-law. I don't have a big enough dishware collection to put in it holds my next best collection - FABRIC. The middle and bottom shelf hold all of my {color coordinated} fabric yardage. It's more than 1 yard, it goes on a mini bolt and goes here! My sewing books & manuals are also on the bottom shelf. The top shelf holds magazines, printer paper, extra bolt-boards, and my Silhouette starter kits.

Last stop? My computer desk! I try to keep it clean, simple and pretty at the same time. If I don't like how it looks, I won't want to sit there. My chair is just begging to be painted but I can't decide on a color. Indecisive much? Next to my desk is my IKEA Raskog cart. I got it for my birthday last year and it's one of my favorite things in our entire house! I've filled it with different things over the months, but I like how it is right now. I have shipping supplies on the bottom 2 shelves and extra desk accessories (papers + chalk) on the top shelf.

See all that pink-polka-dotted goodness? I just received Ella's curtain fabric - all 10 yards of it!

Above my desk is my fabric-covered cork board. If you follow me on instagram, then you might remember it from a couple of months ago - it was gross... but now it adds a pop of color right where I need it and keeps all my favorite pictures in one spot! We are currently renting so I can't repaint...any extra wall color is greatly appreciated over here.

The clips boards have chalkboard vinyl on them and are perfect for writing my to-do + to-buy lists. I use a chalk pen and can easily take the board with me when I run errands.

And that's my office! I hope you enjoyed yourself! If you have any questions please comment and let me know :)

Introducing: Flea Market Chic

With the Spring season fast approaching, I wanted to add a little something different to the shop. I had already introduced some spring-themed bows but I was hit with a new idea: an eclectic & shabby chic line! I gave myself a personal goal of using what I had on hand and mixing vintage + modern fabrics with yarn + felt. I was so excited with how everything turned out and I love every piece!

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Dear Ella { 18 months }

Dear Ella,

Daddy and I still can't believe that you've been in our lives for 18 months! You are so incredibly happy and love to be the center of attention. You're my errand-buddy and always ask to go "buh-bye". While we're running errands you make sure that everyone knows you're there and are constantly saying "Hi" to those close by.

You usually wake up around 7am but play in your crib until I come get you. You're still not a breakfast eater! I think you inherited that from me... We always watch Minnie (Mickey Mouse Clubhouse) while you drink your bottle and you continue to ask for it throughout the day. Minnie is your absolute favorite and she goes everywhere with you (along with your blankie)! Daddy and I think it's just the cutest thing ever. You love to read your books and play with your toys. We started a toy rotation and it's definitely one of the best things we've done with you. Your favorite books are from the Babylit series - you could play with them all day if I let you!

Your vocabulary is growing! I used to worry about it, but not anymore! You can say:

Daddy   *   Mommy   *   Mama   *   Gramma   *   Nana   *   Poppa   *   Poppi   *   Baxter   *   Doggy

Kitty   *   Me   *   Bah-Bah (bottle)   *   Cookie   *   Cracker   *   Cheese   *   Minnie   *   Daisy

Mickey   *   Na-Ni (night-night)   *   House   *   NO   *   Water   *   Peas (please)   *   Shoes

Tank oo (thank you)   *   Coat   *   Bankee (blankie)   *   Walk   *   Uv oooo (love you)   *   Bye

You're also a pretty awesome eater - as long as it isn't breakfast time, you'll eat anything I give you. Your favorites are chicken nuggets, cheese sticks, and mandarin oranges. You love water and milk but you won't drink juice...and you ONLY drink milk from a bottle...

You've mastered the stairs.

You beg for bathtime!

You know the way to Grandma's house and cry when we pass it.

You dance as soon as you hear any type of music.

You also clasp as soon as you hear clapping. TV shows with studio audiences are fun to watch with you...

Church Nursery is your favorite and you love being with all the other kids.

Even though you're well on your way to the 'terrible-twos', we love you so much! It's hard to believe that you'll be 2 in just a few months...

Love, Mommy + Daddy

{ COLOR } Emerald

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One Word Resolutions

I stopped making New Year Resolutions when I was in High School.
I never saw success with them but that's probably because I never followed through with them.
My resolution had always been to lose weight or to be more organized.
That's all changing this year.
Last year, I read a lot about creating 'One Word Resolutions'. They're supposed to easier; easier to remember, easier to do, easier to succeed with.
I can do easy.
So I picked my one word. I probably picked the hardest word out there for me.

Simplify.

Simply my life. Simplify my priorities. Simplify my time. Simply my stuff.
It's similar to organizing, but it's still different.
I want need to simplify my life and my home.
We have so much stuff that I'm starting to feel claustrophobic. You would think, with how often we have moved, that we would pare ourselves down the bare minimum. Boy are you wrong!
Nostalgic Husband + Spoiled Princess + Home Business = VERY crowded home.

Here's to a successful 2013!

2012

It's fairly safe to say that I'm looking forward to the end of 2012.
This was an incredibly rough year for our family. It was definitely one of those years where I counted my blessings daily. Praying for better but knowing that things could always be worse.

We moved - twice - and had to readjust to new surroundings. Who know what I hate about moving? Trying to become familiar with the neighborhood grocery store. Even the Wal-Mart is set up differently.
We've said goodbye to friends but have yet to say hello to new friends.
Ella finally met her Great-Great-Grandpa. They're officially best friends.
Steve was - and still is - unemployed for the majority of the year.
Steve and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary.
Got my own office when we moved for the second time. I love being able to make a mess and then close the door! A good sense of accomplishment.
Steve went back to school and is working towards a Computer Tech Degree. It makes him happy and that makes me happy.
Ella found her voice and jabbers all day long. She also has no sense of "Stranger Danger"...
Drove to Arizona to attend our best friends' wedding. Best. Wedding. Ever. And Ella was a champ on the 11+ hour road trip!
Steve and I both became iPhone users and I'm addicted. I can't speak for Steve though...
I can't wait to see what the future has in store for us.

I have high hopes for 2013.