Free Printable Patterns

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Today, I wanted to share with you some prints I designed a few months back. Feel free to download  any of these files and frame them or hang them on your fridge, bulletin board, or wall.  Maybe you can even make some wrapping paper with them. Hope you enjoy!

Wedding Day

Today is the big day! My cousin, Samantha, is getting married! I am really excited for her and her soon to be husband! Marriage is an amazing thing!  I am so grateful that I was able to travel home to Chicago for this wedding!

 photo of my wedding 9.4.2010. Photo taken by Gray Photography

Liebster Award

Kara from Nest Candy has tagged me for the Liebster Award. I am super excited to participate in this award. I know, I know, it's a little bit silly, BUT, I have connected some really amazing bloggers via the Liebster award. Here's the backstory....

What's it all about?
 The Liebster award is given to upcoming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing and welcome.

What do you gotta do?
1. Each person must post 11 things about his/herself

2. Answer the questions that the tagger set for you, plus create 11 questions for the people you've tagged to answer.

3. Choose 11 people and link them in your post.

4. Go to their page and tell them you've tagged them.

5. No tag backs.

And with no further ado. . . 

1 I am actually afraid of the dark, like for real!

2 My husband is a super handyman. He can fix anything! And he looks hot doing it!

3 I am an only child.

4 I used to be a dental assistant (for 10 years) Now, I am an apparel designer.

5 I went back to college at age 24 (almost 25)

6 My 13^th birthday was on Friday the 13^th.

7 #13 also happens to be my favorite #. It is not only my birthday (October 13^th), but my folks were married on November 13^th and my husband’s baseball # is 13

8 I dance when nobody is watching. Like A LOT. I sing too.

9 I am pretty basically obsessed with anything retro. I love me some avocado green and harvest gold.

10 I am a Christian.

11 I am fluent in American Sign Language.

1. What is your go-to confidence boosting outfit?

High waisted , wide leg trouser pants! Oh yeah!

2. What kind of books or magazines do you like to read?

I have a subscription for whole living on my nook. Oh, and I read blogs :)

3. What is your favorite type of craft?

Sewing! I also really have a new found love to designing prints.

4. What's your favorite season / time of the year?

Summer! Always Summer. I’m from Chicago and my husband and I recently moved to Texas. I have really enjoyed the hot summer days. It’s a nice change from a foot of snow and blistering winds!

5. How would you describe your design style?

Simple, eclectic with maybe a little retro flare.

6. Where did you last go on vacation?

Does Chicago count? Or how about hiking trips? My last hiking trip was to Palo Duro Canyon near Amarillo Texas. But, my last real vacation was our honeymoon 2 years ago in Zihuatenjo, Mexico.

7. Where do you get most of your recipes?

I like to make it up as I go! NO really. When I'm surfing sites like Food Gawker I just make a mental note of the dishes I want to prepare, as well as the general ingredients. I don't bake much (which requires a bit of measuring) so, things usually turn out pretty well! You might say I have a knack for cooking...

8. What is your favorite clothing store?

The thrift store and Anthropologie.

9. Do you workout at home, in a gymn, in a class...etc.?

Home. We have a Nordic track Elliptical and a Bow flex. It’s a pretty sweet set up I must say.

10. What are some of your favorite blogs to read?

Lifestyle blogs!

11. What are some of your blogging goals?
My {entire} family and I live 1,000 miles apart, blogging is more than a way to give them a glimpse into life in Texas, My blogging goals seem to bit a bit more personal. I hope that through blogging I learn to think, act, speak, and live with intention. I hope that I learn to engage with people on a more personal level. I hope that I can learn to thoroughly document daily life and I hope through that I can learn to live in the here and now and appreciate THIS moment.  Right now.

1 What makes you most Nostalgic?

2 Where are you from?

3 What is your least favorite chore?

4 Pizza or Pie?

5 Why do you blog?

6 What’s your daily routine like?

7 The Beatles or Elvis?

8 What is your “dream” job

9 What was the last concert you attended?

10 That's a funny story ______ (fill in the blank)

11 Movies or TV?

11 Blogs I am tagging....Ready...Set...GO!

1 Envynde

2 The Clothes Minded

3The Hippie Memoirs

4 Bru about town

5 Miss Plebian

6 Neha Made

7 Gypsie Sister

8 Coffee Beans and Bobby Pins

9 Seeking Style

10 Eat Blog Pray

11 District of lights

<3Ruth<3

Chicago Bound

<3 Sophee <3

Leggings/ belt/ tank dress (Old Navy) Cardi (Target) 

Necklace/Bag (Sam Moon) Shoes (Similar)

Today, I am feeling comfortable. But, sometimes you have to step out side your comfort zone! Today, I am Chicago bound. Yes, Sweet Home Chicago. I am traveling home for my cousin's wedding!!!!
I am super excited, I just wish my husband and Sophee were coming with me.....

I wonder if being comfortable is a good or a bad thing? And, I'm not just talking about what I'm wearing, which actually feels exactly like wearing pajamas.

So, the real question is.....If we get to comfortable, will we ever take any risks or go on a spontaneous adventure? On the other hand, feeling comfortable gives us a sense of safety. Today, I learning to finding that perfect balance between comfort and adventure!

<3 ruth <3

Fly that Flag

Okay, okay. I know the "flag" thing has been done. Way, way over done. However, I was just feeling like I needed to add a little pop to my living space and the flags are cute, right? I had these faux suede fabric swatches and decided to put them to use. I decided to share my process with you!

Supplies
Fabric
Cord
Sewing Machine
or
Needle and thread

1. Cut fabric swatches to size. I used pinking shears to avoid any frayed edges (I know, your probably thinking 'But, Ruth, that looks like suede.') And you'd be right. I just really like the way it looks!
2. Fold over top edge to desired size and pin in place. Make sure you leave enough room to string the flags!
3. Straight stitch (or hand sew) in place. Do the same for all of your 'flags'.
4. String all flags onto string. I used a suede string to keep the theme, but you can really use just about anything from hemp/jute to a strip of fabric. Also, I used that nifty sewing tool to string the flags, but you can use a safety pin, or if your openings are big enough, the string should slide through easily.
5. Evenly space flags and pin in place. 
6. Sew flags in place to avoid any slippage.

I cut fringe into my flags because I am currently obsessed with fringe, but, you can do all sorts of things to embellish your flags. Add ruffles, embroidery, your last name, paint, the possibilities are endless!

Tip: Hang the flags with dressmakers pins to avoid any obnoxious holes in the wall!

<3 Ruth <3

Homemade Granola

In my option, the perfect breakfast consists of yogurt, granola, and strawberries (not pictured :) 

A few years back, I thought I would try my hand at homemade granola. This is what I came up with. I must say, it's a delight!

Granola

·  3 cups old-fashioned oats

·  1/2 cup chopped nuts *

·  1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

·  pinch of salt

·  1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

·  1/4 cup vegetable oil

·  1/4 cup honey

·  1/8 cup maple Syrup

·  1 teaspoon vanilla 

 * I prefer pecans

  

Preheat oven to 300 F. Mix dry ingredients in a bowl; oats, nuts, brown sugar, salt and cinnamon. In a small pot, heat the oil and honey, then whisk in vanilla. Pour the liquid over the oat mixture. Fold with a wooden spoon. Spread granola in baking pan or cookie. Bake 30 minutes, stirring carefully every 10 minutes (if you don't do this step, it will burn!) 

Cool completely. Seal granola in an airtight container or self-sealing plastic bag. It will store at room temperature for about a week or freeze it for up to 3 months!

Places and Spaces; Pieces of you

Places and Spaces, a new feature, where I post photographs of a my favorite places and spaces. 

I might post photos of my favorite spaces within my home, or one of my favorite places around the DFW Metroplex. 

Enjoy! 

<3Ruth<3

Caprese, The Summer Salad

This year, my folks have decided to test their green thumb and start a garden! They started all of their fruits, vegetables, and herbs from seedlings and they nurtured them until it was time to place them in their beds. They have 6 raised beds in their back yard (below and before it began to flourish) and a wide variety of plants.
Well, when they came to visit, they just had to show off their skills! My mom brought fresh basil and tomato 1,000 miles just to make us a Caprese Salad! It was fresh, light, and delicious. The perfect lunch when it's 100 degrees!

Beginnings of my folks garden in Chicago, Illinois

Caprese Salad

10 Fresh Basil leaves

1 large Tomato

Sliced Motzarella

1 tbsp. Olive Oil

1 tsp. Balsamic Vinegrette

Salt/Pepper to taste

Assemble and enjoy! 

<3 Ruth <3

Feathers and Fringe

Top (Target) Boots (Minnetonka) Feather earring (on necklace) and earrings (Sam Moon) 

Jeans (Home made)

What can be better than feathers and fringe. When I purchased these boots, my husband could not help himself and asked if I thought I was Pocahontas.........
My necklace is fashioned from a chain purchased at Hobby Lobby and a few feather earrings from Sam Moon!

<3 Ruth <3

New beginnings...

Photo taken & "Photoshopped" by Ruth at Cross Timbers Trailhead. Flower Mound, TX

Wow, have I taken a hiatus! A 25 day hiatus to be exact! In those last few weeks we've had a 4 day visit from my husband Mark's family, and 8 day visit from my parents and granny, I've started a new job (which I'm loving!), and we are in the process of looking for a new place in Dallas!

Wow! Life has been crazy! I very much enjoyed spending time with our families. The one thing about living 1,000 miles away from home is that you can't just hang out anymore. Phone calls and Skype just cannot compare to bike rides, lawn chairs and drinks, home cooked meals, and fun adventures with the fam. With all that said, I absolutely love living in Texas! I miss my sweet home Chicago everyday, but boy do I love it here!

At this point in my life, there are a lot of new beginnings. A year ago, my husband and I, moved here! It was like the second I got that diploma, w/in 2 weeks we were on our way to Texas. Crazy. I spent 10 years, my 20's, as a dental assistant.  Then, poof, all the sudden I'm an apparel designer. Well, maybe not all the sudden, I did spend 4 years in College. However, it has been worth it. All the changes, all the growth, even how different I am now than I was "then". It's all been amazing. I am so blessed to live in such a great place, have a great job, a loving husband, and an awesome family.

Today, I encourage you to count your blessings.

<3 Ruth <3