Meet Scooter

Our new to us,

basset hound puppy.

He is one, hard to photograph, critter!
Always moving.

And wants to be where you are-

and right under your feet!

He stays still as long as you pet him,

like Seth is doing here.

The amazing thing about this photo is that Rebecca is eating popcorn and Scooter's nose is not in the bag! He is always hungry. The vet said that's the nature of the breed.

Always willing to eat!



Woo hoo! Life is good for our bi-color eyed dog (with matching blue and brown collar!).
Lucy, our St. Bernard, has her good days and bad days with Scooter.
He has a lot of energy and wants to play, but
she just wants to lie around the house.
Can you see the conflict of interests?

Let Them NOT Eat Cake!

I think honey combed paper is making a come back. So when I found this fabulous, vintage, paper cake centerpiece, in its original, factory sealed packaging, I didn't think twice about picking it up. It's for sale in my etsy shop, Ruby Floy, so you can have it for your next big event!

Asian Poste

Everyone needs a friend like Emily Pruitt, who I know from the Christian Paper Artists group (she doesn't have a blog, or I'd post her link). She recently did some deep cleaning, but instead of merely throwing things out, she emailed me and offered to mail me the booty if I was interested. Are you KIDDING? When she mentioned the words, "Asian stuff", I immediately said "YES!"

The flat rate box arrived today filled with everything from corporate holiday greeting cards (sumo wrestlers sent wishes for a Happy and Prosperous New Year) to a newspaper filled with great layouts like the top photo I posted. There was even an Artchix collage sheet of vintage geishas. Emily also thoughtfully included a bag of trinkety *bling* for Rebecca (not pictured). This afternoon Rebecca and I walked up to the Corder One Stop for a pack of Juicy Fruit Gum, my little shooper decked out in two twinkling bracelets and carrying her 23 cents in a roomy change purse with key chain attachment.

Some of my favorite things in Emily's box were the pop up cards like this one. Perfect, needs-no -further-altering-art, for a pop up page in an altered book.

There was also a catalog of mail order food gifts with gorgeous photos and page layouts. Wish I had some of the food wrappers pictured!

I am not normally into "cutes", but Chinese and Japanese cutes have a wonderful flat graphic quality that speaks to my designer soul.

China elephants and cartoon kids sending holiday greetings. I love how different the images are from American Christmas cards.

One of several menus displaying exotic dishes.

And the kind of art that once inspired the likes of Gaugin and Manet. I have been collecting Asian bits and pieces forever and not accumulating much, in the hopes of one day doing an Asian themed book. I think that day has come. And I've heard that I have more Asian stuff yet to come, from another source, so there will be more Asian eye candy in a future post.

Thank you, again, Emily!

My New Toy

I have NEVER been so excited about a new rubber stamp as today when I picked up my

"Ruby Floy" stamp from the printer!

Now I can remind my buyers where to come back for the good stuff

when they use it up a need more!

And the Winner Is....

Yes, Wendy, it's you!

If you are one of those who says, "I never win anything", you can't say it any more! Ha!

Thanks to all who posted and humored me by responding to my prompt question.

I learned a few things-- rust dying, must try it!

I'll be doing more giveaways in the future.

I have too much stuff and can't keep it ALL.

If you do happen to buy something from my etsy shop, I will add extra things.

Just because I like to do that sort of thing for friends, or future friends.

I don't know many strangers.

Prompt Journal Giveaway!

Prompt /'pram(p)t/ vt [ME prompten, fr. ML promptare, fr. L promptus prompt]

1: to move to action : INCITE 2: to assist (one acting or reciting) by suggesting the next words of something forgotten or imperfectly learned : CUE 3 : to serve as the inciting cause of : urge - prompt-er n

To celebrate the opening of my etsy shop (and already making a sale!!! thank you Cindy! And I hope you find my "book", "useful"!)

I am having a giveaway.

One lucky winner will receive one of my prompt journals

created from

20 library book pocket cards, bound together with sturdy chipboard covers,

and using a lovely patina-ed antique silver wire.

This handy little prompter measures approx. 3" x 5".

Of course, every page has a book title which suggests something to write about or

illustrate. It could also be used for a spontaneous game of charades!

Most of the pages are marked with handwriting and or date stamps for a great altered art base.

The pages are slightly larger than an ATC so creating a little piece of art

doesn't take a huge time commitment.

To be eligible to win one of these unique journals,

please post a link to my blog and/ or etsy shop

(http://www.rubyfloy.etsy.com/)

on your blog and leave a comment here.

Prompt question:

If you had a box of sugar cubes, a jar of rusted nails

and a sock, what would you make?

I'll announce the winner next Monday.

Tell your friends!

Note: Winner is NOT chosen based on how the above prompt question is answered. ;) Winner will be chosen by randon drawing.

Open For Business

I've always had a dream to own a shop.

First an antique store.

And I did, for a little while, sell antique-y and cool stuff on ebay.

Lately though, I've wanted to sell my creations.

And stuff I collect for inspiration.

And the stuff I have too much of--

which my husband says can ALL go.
He's not a mean man.

He's just "had it up to here" living with

a Pack Rat.

(That would be Me.)

So, to save my stuff from the threat of being unceremoniously

stuffed into Black Trashbags and hauled away,

I have opened an etsy shop.

Ruby Floy is now open for business.
Enter here.


My worst fear is selling out of stuff too quickly.

I hope I am not too optimistic.

Come in and browse!

Your purchase will surely

save something from the landfill.