Ms. Ruin's Playthings


"The imagination imitates. It is the critical spirit that creates." -Oscar Wilde

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Winged Things

I’ve been thinking about the print(s) that I will donate to the No Tie Dinner.  As most of you know, I am not a fan of butterflies.  Someone once made the mistake of calling me his “raven haired butterfly” –I did not take kindly to that.  Anyway…but I know that butterflies are peaceful insects and they represent new beginnings, a new life.  So I’m thinking this is going to be one of the prints for auction.  This image is currently unedited so I might do something creative with it.  Then I have to decide if I want it printed on canvas or if I want to do mattes and frames.  Hmmmm.  Maybe I can do one huge canvas?  I dunno.  I’m on the fence.


Artists should support other artists.  And I have really fallen in love with this print.  It’s sooooo me.  I’m thinking of buying it for my studio.  I’ve been thinking about it for a while now so I really need to quit dragging my feet and just buy it already.


I’ve been thinking about the print(s) that I will donate to the No Tie Dinner.  As most of you know, I am not a fan of butterflies.  Someone once made the mistake of calling me his “raven haired butterfly” –I did not take kindly to that.  Anyway…but I know that butterflies are peaceful insects and they represent new beginnings, a new life.  So I’m thinking this is going to be one of the prints for auction.  This image is currently unedited so I might do something creative with it.  Then I have to decide if I want it printed on canvas or if I want to do mattes and frames.  Hmmmm.  Maybe I can do one huge canvas?  I dunno.  I’m on the fence.


 
Got feedback from the girls at TCS last night on being the guest designer.  I was feeling a little overwhelmed when I opened the package with all of the products in it.  But I have a little better direction now so phew!  And I have two weeks to complete so I really need to get busy.  The most challenging part of it all is probably the zippers.  What the heck does one do with zippers?  LOL.  I do actually have an idea already –I know you’re not surprised.  :D

Artists should support other artists.  And I have really fallen in love with this print.  It’s sooooo me.  I’m thinking of buying it for my studio.  I’ve been thinking about it for a while now so I really need to quit dragging my feet and just buy it already.


 
Well, back to work.  It’s been crazy busy today.  I have production to finish up for a lawsuit that is due at close of business so away I go!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Head Shots

Working on head shots for to be printed on canvas sheets with my bio.  They will then be adhered to the back of actual canvases that I design.  Here is one from a month or so ago...not sure what look I want to go with.  I like this picture but not crazy about my eyebrows in this one.  More to come.


Monday, February 21, 2011

A Ruin original up for auction!

Great news!  I have been asked to donate one of my photos for the no tie dinner and auction to benefit the AIDS Services of Dallas!  How cool is that???!!!???  It will be so much fun to see people bid on my piece of work.  Woo hoo!

So now I have to figure out which print to donate and what to wear! 

Friday, February 4, 2011

White Winter Hymnal

It's been kind of a depressing evening.  I love the imagery of Winter, but I'm ready for the sun...I'm ready for Spring.  I'm ready to pack a bag, my camera and travel.  I'm ready to capture sunkissed moments.  But for now I'll make the most of the Winter weather.  K and I were talking today about the Fleet Foxes.  So here is a little F Squared...a tune for the winter images I've captured this week.












Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Glam Cam!

Yes, I did see Paramore in concert.  No, I'm not kidding.


Counting the days


Cut me
Cut me deep
Break through ground with your arms
Arms that pierce the Earth
Soak it up
Drink me in with a thirst of a voracious Summer
Kiss me
Kiss me deep
Kiss me like only you can
Scorch the winter with your heat
The walls of this bud are weak from your touch
Rip me open
Tear me up
Penetrate through the cold that clings to my bones
I’m ready for you
Ready for you, my beloved Spring

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Thank you gifts

This past weekend we celebrated my birthday by having dinner at one of my favorite Dallas Restaurants --Mariano's Hacienda.  My plan was to make place cards but you know me, I decide to go bigger at the last minute.  So the night before the dinner I went to Michael's and bought gifts for 25 people.  I decided to make tags with their names on them that would be attached to the gift bag and then placed on their plate.  :)  Yeah.  So this is what I did...and all for about $70.


I used the striped tags for the men and the "other" patterned tags for the women.  I used a glazed pen to write names on the tag to give them an embossed look.



I also purchased these felt confetti pieces to decorate the tags.  It's important to use fabric glue when working with felt.  The fibers in the felt can be stubborn with regular adhesive.  I am not a HUGE fan of FabriTac but it does get the job done.  Okay, it's kind of growing on me.




I also purchased shred to go in the cellophane bags...it just adds some flair to the gift bag.



These were the gifts...silky eye masks and these very awesome smelling large fizz balls for the women.  Oh, the fizz balls had birds on them of course.  :D  The men got mini bottles of Maker's Mark Whisky.



So here they are all done...



I love the ribbon too...





I'm sure you are wondering what all I got for my birthday so here is a quick list:  Money from my parents, money from my inlaws, money from my hubster and an alien skull for my fish tank, a gift card, CD's, a tote and handmade card from Kaets!  My Tennessee mama sent me a knitted red hat, a candle warmer holder thingie, socks, hmmm - and some other random and cool things.  My friend Jennifer, also in TN is knitting me an entire blanket in my favorite color - purple...she said she'll send it to me as soon as she is done.  Lots of love from that state.  :D  Saul and Tracye gave me a photography magazine AND a remote for my new Nikon D90.  Great, more things to learn to how to use.  LOL.  Cathy gave me a pallet of Two Faced Eye Shadow.  I love Two Faced!  Nicole, Bryn and Brad gave me a gift card to Ulta (ahhhhhhh!).  Melly Bean gave me a gorgeous picture frame, it is what I call printed altered art...I'll have to post a picture soon.  Marion bought me a memory card for my Nikon - thanks, Mar-bear!  And Susan baked me a cake and made me an exploding box of friendship, a canvas, and she also gave me a necklace holder with birds on it.  :D  I think that's about it.  ::thinks really hard::  No, that was it.  LOL.

I stayed home today from work.  The roads were pretty horrid.  I did make the mistake of getting out today - aye - yeah, not very smart.  But at least I snapped a couple of puffy bird pics.  :)


This is my favorite:


Anywho - better get ready for work tomorrow.  Whatever that means.  :D

Peace, love, and birds!