Ruff House Art

Baby Food Making Galore!

2010-11-05T13:29:00.000-05:00

I decided long before Mila was born that I was going to make my own baby food. I am not a crazy health nut, although healthy food does play a factor, but there were multiple reasons.

Mila just started eating cereal from a spoon and the doctor gave the go ahead to start other solids. How Exciting! What to make first? Well after reading through a couple of my baby cookbooks I landed on four solid ingredients: sweet potatoes, carrots, apples and pears (not all at once of course). One new item every three days.

I whipped out my awesome Babycook machine and went to town! Now all of these things can be made with a simple pot and blender but we received this handy machine for a baby shower gift and holy cow it's cool! Steams, Blends, Reheats and Defrosts all in one machine!

Here is a breakdown of cost savings vs store bought baby food:
**Gerber baby food from target (bought in bulk): $11.99 for 16 servings - $0.75/serving

***Sweet Potatoes: Quantity 2: $1.03 for 6 servings - $0.17/serving
***Carrots: Quantity 4: $0.50 for 6 servings - $0.08/serving
***Apples: Quantity 2: $1.58 for 8 servings - $0.20/serving
***Pears: Quantity 2: $1.22 for 6 servings - $0.20/serving

I counted 2 ice cubes as one serving (shown in pictures). Now let's take the most expensive item I made which was apples or pears and compare 16 servings: $3.20 compared to $11.99 - How awesome is that!!

There are other reasons to make your own baby food besides cost such as nutrition and helping your baby develop taste for foods but the cost savings just can't be ignored!

10% 0ff all wedding invite orders!!

2010-10-27T12:17:00.000-05:00

That's right foks! Ruff House Art is offering 10% off our entire selection of wedding invites if you book your wedding before the end of December, 2010.

**offer applies to wedding invites only and not additional items such as shipping, guest address printing, etc.

Ruff House launches a sister shop: Ruff House Relics

2010-10-25T14:44:00.003-05:00

Yes, it has been ages since I have had a blog post! Having a 4 month old definitely takes up most of my free time but I am trying to get back on task.

Today's post is all about Ruff House Relics, our new sister site. I have a slight obsession with vintage items and regularly scrounge antique malls for the "perfect" find. Hours upon hours have been wasted away browsing Etsy's vintage site when I finally decided I could do the same thing! With my wonderful husband on board to restore any items that need brought back to their original glory (or better) we are ready to start on our next adventure, as if Ruff House Art and a 4 month old don't take up enough of my time!

Check out our brand spanking new shop at www.ruffhouserelics.etsy.com to see our great finds. We have lots more items coming soon including some great vintage fans, desk lights and type writers! Stay tuned!

Antique Repurposed Clawfoot Bathtub Couch

2010-05-24T21:51:00.009-05:00

Here are a few pics of the latest couches made by Ruff House Art, Ltd.

We were commissioned by American Spirit tobacco company to build these two tubs. These tubs will be part of a traveling exhibit, traveling to concerts and music festivals. These tubs were manufactured in 1925 and 1935, making them truly repurposed antiques. These two were shipped out for Los Angeles for their nationwide tour, so if you happen to see an American Spirit tent, stop and check them out in person.

I need your input: Which design do you LOVE!

2009-12-17T17:05:00.002-06:00

Hello everyone! As the 2010 deadlines approach to get my work submitted to How Magazine and Print, I am looking to all of you for your recommendations. How magazine and Print are two of the biggest design magazines out there! I plan to submit 3 of my invitations to be reviewed and hopefully printed in the 2010 annuals.

How Magazine: I will enter my work to be reviewed for the "Self-Promotion Annual" Issue.
Print Magazine: I will enter my work to be reviewed for the "Regional Design Annual" Issue.

Last year, I was just getting started and I didn't have much to choose from. I submitted one entry and it unfortunately didn't make it into the magazine. This year, I have done over 60 weddings and have lots to choose from!

If you have time, please check out my etsy shop at www.ruffhouseart.etsy.com and tell me what your three favorite designs are. If you only see one that you think is worthy, then I'd love to hear that too! Please leave your choices in the comments section or email me directly!

Thanks for your help!!

Watch Out World! Baby Mo is on the way!

2009-12-03T10:12:00.002-06:00

That's right folks! My husband, Jared, and I are expecting our first little bundle of joy on July 24th! We got to see the babies heartbeat today, which was so exciting! We are about 7 weeks along. Stay tuned for regular updates...

2010 Desktop Calendars Now Available!

2009-10-09T14:23:00.004-05:00

That's right! 2010 is just around the corner! These calendars are awesome accessories to your desk and they make great stocking stuffers! Already have a case from last year, recycle it and purchase the REFILL calendar. Visit my shop for more photos and details on these calendars. www.ruffhouseart.etsy.com

Breast Cancer Awareness

2009-10-05T15:56:00.009-05:00

Imagine life without breast cancer—where your mother, daughter, sister or friend doesn’t have to worry if she will be the one-in-eight women diagnosed with the disease.

In honor of breast cancer awareness month, I have designed a line of postcards that will only be available for the month of October. 100% of profits from the sale of these postcards will be donated to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation. They are sold in packs of 10 for $15. My donation goal is $250 - spread the word!

Visit my Etsy shop at www.ruffhouseart.etsy.com to purchase today. If the quantity you want isn't available, just send me a message and I will update it for you.

Check out the Etsy Forum at http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6307330 to see what everyone has to say!

Some of my favorite Etsy Finds!

2009-07-24T11:26:00.002-05:00

Since today is my birthday and I just found out that someone blogged about me earlier today( inventingweddings.blogspot.com ), I thought I would spread a little Etsy love out there myself! Some of these things I have and some I just want to have!

Magnetic Bathroom Jars : Gneiss Spice : What a great idea! As my cotton balls, hair ties and bobby pins spill out of my bathroom drawers, how great would it be to have everything organized and put away! This is on my "next to purchase" list for sure!

1956 Dodge Hubcap Clock : 8 Mile Creek Designs : I purchased one of these clocks (mustang hubcap) for my dad for father's day. They are so unique and the perfect gift for those hard to buy for men! AND, they are local here in Lawrence, KS!

Custom Dog Collar : Lucky Fiona : These collars are so unique and awesome! My dogs are each currently sporting Lucky Fiona Collars themselves! She will do custom orders for wider collars, which are perfect for our giant breed dogs! Don't spend money at Big Faceless pet stores when you can get such a unique product from Lucky Fiona!

Chenille Burp Cloth : Baby MoMo : So cute, right!? I do not have kids of my own but I have many friends who are expecting! What a great baby shower gift!

Abstract Wall Clock : Uncommon : If you know me, you know I don't generally like anything close to the norm. We are redoing a room in our house that's all retro. We will for sure be getting one of these clocks as it is the perfect style!

Poplar Windowsill Planter : Erde Designs : I have had my eyes on these for quite some time now! What a great way to grow herbs in your kitchen window so you have fresh herbs to cook with! Stylish, Unique, Useful and Homemade!

Reversible Headbands : Precocious : I now have four of these headbands. I absolutely love them! It's like getting 2 for the price of one! And they come in such awesome fabrics! They are usually part of my daily style!

Eco Toes Shoes : Infusion : Again, no kids for us yet, but how can you resist these adorable shoes! I am sure you can find someone to gift them to or even use them for your own kids!

Marilyn Monroe Vinyl Wall Art : Sticky Tatts : I actually have this wall art in 3'x5' size! But I'm not going to lie, I haven't put it up yet as I am wanting to paint the wall where it is going and haven't got around to that yet. It is going in our Retro room that I spoke of earlier. As soon as I get a free moment to paint my wall, this is going up!

And that concludes my birthday list of favorite etsy finds! I hope you all enjoyed and possibly found something you love! Have a happy day!!

Ahhh Spring...

2009-06-04T12:53:00.003-05:00

We moved into our house in late September of last year. Pretty much everything was finished blooming and the prior residents had not kept up with the garden or flowerbeds that summer. Now that Spring is in full bloom we are discovering all kinds of treasures on our property! With one of them being this great cherry tree. We didn't even realize it was a cherry tree until it started forming little cherries! Then, almost overnight it was covered with bright red cherries.

With an upcoming vacation to the lake, I decided to make a cherry cobbler to take with us. I picked cherries for a good hour and only managed to fall of the chair once! Woo hoo! I picked almost an entire gallon ziplock baggie full and didn't even get half of the cherries. Look how delicious!

You may wonder what some of our other great hidden treasures are? Here are a few: a flourishing strawberry patch, an established asparagus patch that grows likes weeds, more rhubarb than anyone could ever eat, an entire flowerbed of daisys and hosta plants coming up everywhere!

We have added a massive garden to the already established fruit and veggie varieties including: three kinds of tomatoes, summer squash, cantelope, watermelon, bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, habanero peppers, chili peppers, banana peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, ocra, raddish, two types of onions, carrots, sweet corn, more asparagus and cucumbers. Whew! We will be eating good this summer. We have more than enough for just ourselves, so if you want some fresh produce, give us a holler!

The five things in my kitchen...

2009-05-29T12:02:00.005-05:00

Today, I decided not to blog about design, weddings or my business. But rather, the five things in my kitchen that get used the most! These are the things I cannot live without and that are always dirty! Let's go through them shall we?

1. Pampered Chef Mix 'N Chop - Unique, beveled pinwheel blades efficiently chop and crumble foods for even cooking and seasoning. Won't scratch your pans and is dishwasher safe! This little gem has endless uses. From browning hamburger to mashing potatoes or mixing guacamole. I'm telling you, it's pretty much amazing!

2. Progressive Onion Chopper - This little contraption will save you tons of time chopping veggies. No more crying while dicing onions! Also great for peppers, potatoes, carrots, tomatoes and just about anything else that needs chopping! It even has a built in measuring cup and comes with two different chopping sizes!

3. Magnetic Spice Tins - So quick and convenient. I keep them stored on the side of my fridge but I have seen people hang magnetic strips on the inside of their cabinet and store them out of sight. Pour and sprinkle spout options or take the top off to dip in your measuring spoons.

4. Le Crueset Small Spatula - Small but mighty! This little spatula gets used more than my big ones! It is the perfect size to fit into cans and jars for scooping out their contents. Also great for those one or two person meals when a standard spatula just seems like overkill.

5. Katana Paring Knife - Last but definitely not least! I never realized the value of a great knife until I had one! This whole series is amazing. I have the set of Katana knives and use them daily!

Now here is the exciting part! Starting today (May 29) through July 24 (why? because that's my birthday!) if you purchase something from my Etsy Shop (www.ruffhouseart.etsy.com) you will be entered to win your choice of one of my five favorite kitchen items. **I feel the need to point out that you will win a NEW item and not the ones currently in my kitchen** The more you purchase, the more times your name will be entered! Purchase recipe cards and a cozy - you are entered twice. Note though, that a set of 12 notecards does not enter you 12 times! ;)

Here is what you get to choose from:
1. One Mix N' Chop
2. One Onion Chopper
3. Five Spice Tins
4. A set of three spatulas
5. One Paring Knife

** Again, the item will be NEW and not the ones currently at use in my kitchen **

I will be drawing a winner on my Birthday - July 24! When you purchase an item, make sure your name and email address are in the "notes to seller" comment box and that's it!

Happy Shopping!

My new toy...

2009-04-28T18:57:00.002-05:00

A couple months ago, I was talking to my husband about ways I would grow my business in the future. The number one thing on my list was to get a letterpress and add that service to my list.

Well last week, my husband sends me a photo of the above press and only half seriously asks if it would be something I would be interested in. I flew off the handle with excitement as he acted half shocked I would even care. Shows you how much husbands really listen to their wifes! HA!

So now we are in the process of figuring out how to get it into our house and get it up and running. It does need some new ink rollers and a good oil job but other than that it should be good to go. I cannot wait to get started on some designs. Stay tuned for my new products once it's up and running!

The Printer Corner...

2009-04-21T21:43:00.004-05:00

I had a fabulous printer. It printed high definition, bright vibrant colors that was sure to impress anyone! But, after thousands upon thousands of prints it was starting to show its wear. The automatic feed was losing its gripping power and the plantable paper had taken its toll I am afraid.

So, I went on a new printer quest. There are so many options out there! I had been so impressed with my last Epson that I decided to go with another one. The Epson Artisan 700. It is a beast! 6 high definition ink cartridges, borderless printing and the whole works. I couldn't hardly believe there would be a better desktop printer out there than my prior printer, but this seems to be showing it up! In addition, I also got a Canon photo printer to handle all of my plantable paper printing. This way, the fibers from the plantable paper won't hinder the print results on regular paper.

So I now have three printers in the works. My old Epson, now solely reserved for household printing; my new Epson for all of my business printing needs; and the Canon to handle the growing popularity of the plantable paper!

The Obsession Continues...

2009-04-20T10:12:00.002-05:00

A little less than a year ago, my husband and I decided to get into golf. We got clubs, shoes, bags and all the gear. We definitely felt like those people you see at ski resorts who are decked out in brand new coats, pants, skis, and boots and are barely making it down the bunny slope. We didn't care though, we were excited. Only to discover that we are terrible golfers. As terrible as we were, that didn't dampen are spirits. We still enjoyed spending the day outside, drinking a few cold ones and chasing that tiny white ball around a giant field.

We finally decided that if we wanted to golf with anyone even remotely good, it was time we take a lesson. So we spent yesterday in a 7 hour lesson with Chris Piedmonte. What a great experience! We learned our grips were wrong, our posture was bad and we had no follow through. So after hitting what seemed like a million range balls we headed out to the course. Even though the course was soaked from the rain the night before, we definitely felt we had improved. Our ball was going in the air, further than ever and straight! Rarely did we hit a right slice anymore!

Overall we counted the day as a successful investment. We can't wait to get back out there!

A New Phase Of Life...

2009-04-18T22:13:00.005-05:00

For years I have wanted to venture into the self-employed world. But is there ever a right time? A right time to give up your consistent paycheck from a full-time job? I never seemed to find that time until the economy decided it for me.

A couple months ago I was a victim of the nation wide layoffs. Instead of panicking, I decided to look at this as the opportunity I had been waiting for. I threw myself into Project: Ruff House Art.

I now feel like I am on the right path. I am happier, more creative and way more motivated. I used to sit in my gray cubicle wondering how this could be what any designer ever dreamed of doing. When I was young and still in school I would imagine finally landing my first real job in the design world and all the great things I would be a part of. Designing the next great ad or being part of a branding team for the latest, ground breaking product. Going on coffee breaks with my co-workers, sitting in brainstorms where the creativity just flies out of people and enjoying happy hour at the days end. Instead, I sat at my desk, in a sea of gray cubicles listening to my co-workers complain about how terrible their job was. I worked on boring newspaper ads, cheap brochures and uninspiring direct mail pieces. I watched my great designs get ripped apart by people way past their prime, claiming that if we made the logo bigger, added a starburst and filled the white space with more call to action words that it would be more appealing. There were times when I would seriously question whether I would be able to design anything good after working on the same stuff day in and day out. I would start new jobs with a fresh face, hoping that this would be the place I was searching for, only to hear on my first day how others wished they could find a better job. Was it a never-ending cycle?

At last, I am here. I wake up everyday excited to work on stuff. I find myself being inspired in the most unusual places - in the condiment aisle at the grocery store, in the ladies restroom at a rustic Irish pub or during a heated game of "my windmill" with my husband. I have so many ideas there literally isn't enough time in the day to get them all down on paper. I can finally work on what I want to work on, on my budget, in my style. I have so much fun designing notecards, wedding invites and calendars. I am even venturing into the sewing world, which has thrilled my Granny, who is an amazing quilter.

So I want to send a big THANKS out to everyone for your support. Business is starting to grow and I am excited at all the future possibilities. . .

Keep up with me at www.ruffhouseart.etsy.com