Christmas Tree Earrings

We're getting in the mood for Christmas early this year. I guess I'm always in the mood! So, I couldn't resist making this pair of Christmas Tree Earrings.

These earrings are made from tiny beads from The Czech Republic. They are quite slow to make, but the end result is great fun. I just love putting the tiny ornaments of the tree. So cute!

If you'd like to order your own pair of sparkly earrings go to
http://www.glamorouschic.etsy.com

We'd love to have you stop in for a visit!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope that you all had a fun and blessed Thanksgiving!

We survived the usual boring dinner at the funeral home.
We had a few extra people this year which made life more interesting.

The Lord has truly blessed us this year.

I am still alive and able to walk some
even though my doctor says that I should be dead.

Ray has been laid off almost two years now.
We had health insurance through last month -
though at a very high rate.

We have had the time to plan for a new business
where we will be totally self employed.

I have had the opportunity to plan some new beadwork.

May the Good Lord bless you and your family!

Ruth Ann

Free Beaded American Flag Pattern

This is a free pattern for an American flag bracelet.
It is worked with 11/o delicas and be finished with a purchased or handmade clasp.

Enjoy!
Ruth Ann

Art Beads Muse Contest IV

The 'Use the Muse' kit 4 beads and treasures were mailed today. I expect to receive mine Thursday or Friday if the Post Office doesn't get it hung up somewhere along the way. I think my mail lady enjoys my beading magazines, because quite a few never arrive.

Except for County and State fairs, this is the first contest I have ever entered. I know there are far better beaders out there, but I'll try not to embarrass anyone. ;o)

If you should see a strange woman hanging onto her mail box, it will probably be me!

Ruth Ann
beads@bledsoe.net
http://r2swanger.etsy.com

About RaggBaggs

Name:

Ruth Ann Swanger

Business Name:

RaggBaggs

Website:
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com

Home:

Southeast Tennessee

What is it that you design and create?

bead weaving, embroidery, designer purses - I have also published 2 cookbooks with afternoon tea recipes

What is your favorite part of the design process?

Taking someone else's pattern and creating my own design from it. We live in an area with no bead stores for about 200 miles, so I buy kits to be sure that the beads co-ordinate.

How did you come up with your business name?

I started out making limited edition embroidered purses. After a serious accident, I was no longer to keep up production, so I switched to beadwork (which I've been doing for more than 40 years) as my main source of income. RaggBaggs was well known, so I just kept the name.

When and how did it all begin?

I've loved craftwork all of my life. Mama taught me to embroider by hand before I started kindergarten. Daddy taught me to knit and crochet. I learned beadwork in 4-H. My mother-in-law taught me to quilt. I learned to do machine embroidery in the 80s. Kumihimo is my latest learning experience.

Who or what inspires you?

I just love to make things. I have never been able to sit down and do nothing. There is always a project close at hand.

What advice would you give other independent artists who are just starting out?
Find something you truly love to do and do it. Except for very special people on very special occasions, never give your work away. Make pieces that you really love and keep them if you want to or have to. Never undersell your work.

Make your husband feel like he's the most wonderful person on earth (mine actually is!) so that he'll do most of the housework while you play. Uh, I mean work. Yeah that's it. Work!

What music are you listening to?

Live Irish Radio

What TV show are you hooked on?

Anything on the food channel.

What was the last movie you saw?

White Christmas

What is your favorite food?

I love our local southern food, but I'm always game to try something new. We went to Atlanta and had Lebanese food the other night. The prices were outrageous, but I can't wait to go back. We love Chinese food here in the states, but spending a month in China just about starves us to death. We have great passions for Indian, Mexican, Irish, and Portuguese cooking.

What is your favorite candy or treat?

Coconut pie loaded with meringue.

Coffee or Tea?

Cappuccino

What store could you walk around in for hours and be happy?

Any bead store. Every jewelry store in St. Thomas!

Any pets?

Our 10 1/2 year old Shih Tzu named Poppett.

Favorite place to visit or would like to visit?

My favorite thus far has been Ireland, but I'm itching to spend a year in Greece!

If you could be a superhero, what would your name be and what superpower would you have?

Super Traveler!

Celebrity crush?

Higgins from that show that took place in Hawaii. Can't remember the name of the show, but Higgins was so well mannered and elegant. Not to mention so very British!

Favorite holiday?

Hallowe'en and Christmas.

If you were a shoe what shoe would you be

Woolly Mammoth Crocs.

What do you secretly wish you could do or be?

A world traveler with an unlimited budget.

Favorite piece of clothing?

Any type of formal wear that's both comfortable and elegant. Tea with Her Majesty anyone?

Do you speak any languages or want to learn one?

I speak English fairly well if you overlook my southern accent. Any country we visit, I learn to ask 'where is the bathroom' and 'how much does it cost'. Ray learns to order beer and to say 'that's too much!'

Plans for yourself/business?

I buy lots of unusual jewelry components and focal pieces when we travel. I buys lots of fine fabrics. I eat lots of exotic food. So my plans are to travel a lot!

Have a great evening!
Ruth Ann
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com
http://www.raggbaggs.blogspot.com

Loveland

The 2010 Loveland Valentine's Card Remailing Program

Each year, thousands of people bundle up all of their Valentine cards and send them to the Loveland post office, where they're stamped with a special poem and cancellation mark (this year's stamp is at left). This is the 64th year of the program!

If you want to get in on this neat event, send your bundle of cards and letters to Postmaster, Attention: Valentine's Postmark, 446 East 29th Street, Loveland, CO 80538-9998.

For cards within U.S. and outside of Colorado, your cards should be in Loveland by Feb. 9; for within the state of Colorado, your cards should be in Loveland by Feb. 12.

Show your Valentine how much you love her with a special piece of jewelry from
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com

Have a great day!
Ruth Ann
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com
http://www.raggbaggs.blogspot.com

Orientation to Beads

I just found a fabulous site for learning about beads, threads, wires, metals, etc. Be sure and click on:

http://www.blog.landofodds.com/orientation-to-beads/

to read all the details. Fabulous!

Ruth Ann
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com
http://www.beadkits.etsy.com

Southwestern Bracelet

Clasp is turquoise and mother of pearl set in silver.

This spiraled bracelet brings out the fabulous colors of the southwest.

Perfect with jeans and a t-shirt, a denim skirt, or a shimmery silk dress.
The leather color will greatly enhance your favorite boots!

It is available at
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com

Beads and Beading Supplies

I have been asked by several people what beads, tools, stringing materials, etc. are needed to start a business.

Let me tell you, you are treading on dangerous ground! I am a beader with no bead shops. How sad! The closest one is about 200-250 miles away. I have only had the opportunity to visit 4 bead shops in my entire life. So, my answer to your questions is to buy everything you can get your hands on. Know what the online shops have and look for it in stores so you can see what the bead really looks like, then buy online because the prices are so much better.

I like to buy my focal pieces from shops, so I know for sure what I'm getting. I'd hate to tell you what my bills are at one of the shops! Thank Heavens it's 600 miles away and doesn't have a web site.

For tools, buy one of the kits at Hobby Lobby or Michael's. Use these until you know which tools you really need and like, then buy the best you can afford.

For delicas, I try to keep about 50 colors on hand, but there are still some that I need desperately and have to order. The same with the Miyukis. For gem stones, I rarely know what I'll need, so I try to keep lots on hand. I would much prefer to buy them in person, even if they
do cost more, but this isn't a viable thing for me to do.

The Best of Luck to You - and your bank account!

Ruth Ann
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com

Happy Valentine's Day

Good Morning and Happy Valentine's Day!
Ray got up early this morning,
did his exercises,
and fixed my breakfast -
Smithfield Bacon
and
Orange Danish Rolls.
Yum! Yum!!!

My gift was storage compartments for my jewelry components.
The compartments were stuffed full of
Valentine M&Ms
and Valentine Reese's Hearts.
Yum!!!
Of course, we'll have to eat until it's empty before
I store my beady things.

It was a lazy day for all of us!

My two most favorite people in the world!

Peanut Brittle Recipe

2 cups sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup water
2 cups raw Spanish peanuts
1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. butter
2 tsp. baking soda

Heat and stir sugar, syrup and water in a heavy 3-quart saucepan until the sugar dissolves. Add salt. Cook over medium heat to soft ball stage (234 degrees). Add peanuts at 250 degrees. Cook to hard crack stage (290 degrees), stirring often. Remove from heat.

Quickly, stir in butter and soda. Beat to a froth for a few seconds. Pour at once onto 2 well-buttered 15-1/2x10-1/2x1-inch pans, spreading with spatula. If desired, cool slightly and pull with forks to stretch thin. Break up when cold.

Yield: About 1-1/2 pounds of peanut brittle.

I usually use the specified
Spanish peanuts
for this delectable recipe.
For special gifts,
I use mixed nut.
And if I'm feeling really extravagant,
I use cashews.

Experiment and enjoy!
But don't blame me for all those extra calories that you consume!


Ruth Ann
http://www.raggbaggs.blogspot.com
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com
http://beadkits.etsy.com

Before
the voices
of the Earth's
choirs were raised
in praise... there was
a silent night. Before the
strings of lights were wound
around the world, and tinsel
strung... there was a single star.
Before the wide eyed wonder of a
child on Christmas morn... Before
the gifts... there was a child, born in
Bethlehem, who showed the world
the greatest
gift of all is
LOVE

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Warmest wishes to one and all for
the happiest of holidays and a
prosperous new year.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ruth Ann
http://www.raggbaggs.blogspot.com
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com
http://www.beadkits.etsy.com

Christmas Dinner

W.C. Fields once said, “I cook with wine. Sometimes I even add it to the food.”

Muddle headiness and laziness has lead me to spend the morning
learning about wines to serve with
Christmas dinner.
Christmas dinner being the semi-private dinner that
Ray and I host for just a few close friends.
The dinner is rarely on Christmas Day.
(On Christmas Day, we tend to goof off,
playing with the new toys that Santa brought!)

Christmas Dinner includes a mix of friends.
Most don't drink, but don't object to a bottle of wine
being served.
Since we have a group of wonderful, religious friends,
our parties don't usually include alcohol,
so our private dinner is one we look forward to all year.

I will offer more notes and recipes for our
special Christmas Dinner
as time allows -
and when I find the camera!

Ruth Ann
http://www.raggbaggs.blogspot.com
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com
http://www.beadkits.etsy.com

Muddle Head

"My dear, if you could give me a cup of tea to clear my muddle of a head, I should better understand your affairs."

~ Charles Dickens ~


I had read this quote by Dickens before in

Mrs. Lirriper's Legacy

but was reminded of it this morning
while reading the blog from
La Tea Dah
at
http://www.gracioushospitality.blogspot.com

It seems that it is my own head that is muddled this morning.
Too many hours with too many doctors
with too many tests yesterday.
The Albuterol that was required for one test has made me shaky.
Driving over the mountain twice and
walking from one office to another
has made me tired.

As for a muddled head,
most of you who know me
realize that I'm muddle headed
most of the time.

The camera with vacation pictures
is still missing.
Poor Ray is trying to do all of the laundry
and put everything up by himself.
How blessed I am to have that wonderful man!

I have made several custom jewelry orders this week
and had hoped to put up pictures,
but, alack and alas...................

The weather is a warm 53 degrees
and there are storm warnings out.

We plan to put up our Christmas tree tonight
without our cheerful fire.
Rain and strong winds are expected for the next several days.

I have more jewelry to make today,
which thrills me.
Maybe I'll do some embroidery, too.

But first, a cup of tea to, perhaps,
clear my own muddled head!

Ruth Ann
http://www.raggbaggs.blogspot.com
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com
http://beadkits.etsy.com

Ahab, the Magnificent

My dear friend,
Jo Ellen Huskey,
made this purse for me as a bespoke piece.
The work that she did is incredible!

The are beads, bells, and tassels everywhere!
There is an African design on the inside
along with my name.
The designs were designed, digitized,
and embroidered by Jo Ellen.
She also constructed the purse.

I own several of her purses
and never leave home without
one of them.

Her work is magnificent!

Jo Ellen and her designs
can be found at
http://www.huskeyembroiderydesign.com/

If you own one of her designs,
you are very lucky, indeed!

Freeform Peyote Bracelet - 1st Piece

This is my first bracelet done in freeform peyote style.
Those little bright orange beads are cubic zirconia.
I hated the price, but loved the brilliant addition to the bracelet.

Stringing Beads

While a major embroidery project stitches on my machines, I have decided that it's time to return to one of my first loves - jewelry making.
I found some of my older beads that I had stashed away and have bought quite a few more.
My how prices have gone up!

This ring was one of my best sellers in the 'old' days and I had enough beads left over to make this ring, so now I'm addicted again.
I have purchased a few gemstones in the past week and I can't wait for them to arrive!
My mind is swirling with new ideas!

Someday you might see some of my creations on my Etsy site,
but, for now, I'm just having loads of fun!