Alison Ruth Designs

Long overdue update from sunny Guelph

2011-12-07T15:31:00.005-05:00

As most of my followers know, Tom, the cats and I relocated to Guelph this year. (And yes we did acquire a fourth cat during the move.) It has been a very busy time, getting our living space comfortable, setting up our office and studio and learning about our new community. We love it here! The arts community is so supportive and the opportunities that have come my way in the short time we have been here are nothing short of shocking.

I am continuing to teach at Bee Modern Yarn and Fabrics. We have added knitting and crochet to the schedule. Monique and Heide are so much fun to work with, and the shop sooo lovely, that if you have not been to check it out or seen the new yarn room you really must make the trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake.

I am also teaching at Triangle Sewing Centre here in Guelph. Classes are going well and we are working on the schedule for March through September. Do drop me a note if there is something you would like added to the calendar.

My jewellery and scarves are available at the Guelph Artisans shop in Old Quebec Street mall. I'm typically in the shop on a Thursday afternoon if you wish to see what I've been up to or just drop in for a chat.

And I've been working on a new line of special purpose totes, bags and cases. First out of the gate are cases and cozies for apples of every kind - from MacBook to iPad to Granny Smith.

At a recent show the latter sold so well that I had to resort to a handwritten note.

More of the same will be appearing shortly in a revitalized Etsy shop.

Hope all is well with you and yours and that you find time during this busy season to enjoy each other's company.

Holiday 2010 Show Dates

2010-11-23T17:24:00.003-05:00

I've been working on retail orders and getting ready for Holiday Shows. You can see my latest work at:

The Handmade Market
Good Earth Food and Wine Co., Beamsville
Saturday and Sunday, November 27th and 28th

SpeakEasy Holiday Sale
Gladstone Hotel, Queen West, Toronto
Thursday, December 2nd

Movies & Makers
Fox Theatre, The Beaches, Toronto
Saturday, December 4th

All three shows are artisan run so please do help us get the word out. With the wonderful vendors that are participating, I'm looking forward to doing some Christmas shopping myself.

And of course I've had help in the shipping department....

I put fresh tissue in the box before sending it out. I do, however, think lavender is quite fetching on Ms. Samantha.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

2010-10-04T21:41:00.005-04:00

Now there is a question. And it is a question I get fairly often. Particularly from design students. Particularly when showing my wool pieces. On Saturday I kicked off my 2010/11 wool collection at Art of Fashion during Nuit Blanche and yes I got the question again. This time it caught me off guard so I fumbled about a bit.

Then today I came across this Seth Godin quote on Scoutie Girl's blog (fab blog btw!)
"If you’re managing a project, figure out what the scarce resource is (it’s not usually money). Climbing Everest? It’s warmth and weight you care about, not how much the sleeping bag costs.  Scarcity creates value." And that got me thinking about what is the scarce resource I am offering through my work. This is what I came up with.

I like colour and I like clean, tidy lines and geometric shapes and I love texture and natural materials. From this starting point, I look at the way women dress today, especially as life gets fuller and busier. I think they need something easy to throw on with classic, quality basics that expresses something about them. I know I do. Something that pleases them and tells others that this is an interesting and vibrant woman at first glance. And I hope that is what I have created - fun, interesting and easy to wear pieces.

Because little girls roll down hills,

2010-09-09T00:54:00.029-04:00

they need special occasion dresses that are hard wearing and allow little girls to be little girls. So, I've created three styles of party dresses that are, pretty, age-appropriate and (moms are you listening?) machine washable. What could be better for a flower girl? These dresses made from 100% cotton are comfortable to wear and easy to care for. All three styles have a bow and are just waiting to be twirled in. Available through About a Bride in Niagara-on-the-Lake, they will be on display at the upcoming Niagara Bridal Show, September 12th, noon to 5:00 at Club Italia, Niagara Falls.

Rose is the classic little girl dress, with a trim bodice, full skirt and short sleeves. It buttons at the back and has a wide waist sash. To make the experience of being in your wedding party all the more special for the flower girl, she can choose the contrast trim for the dress.

The dress is fully lined and features french seams and bias finished edges.

Daisy is a racer-back dress, with a raised waist and A-line skirt. Again the contrast edging can be chosen by the bride or the flower girl.

Fully lined, it closes with an invisible zip and snap at the side seam.

Flora is a sleeveless shift dress with extra fullness in the back. In eyelet with a contrast lining, it has a vintage feel.

The keyhole closure features a button and fabric loop.

The dresses are available in white, cream and soft pastels. A fitting is included in the price of the dress. These dresses will delight bride, flower girl and mom since they are feminine and sensible, just as we hope the wearer grows up to be.

How I spent my summer

2010-08-29T15:04:00.005-04:00

Notice I didn't call it a summer holiday? It has been a very busy summer to say the least. From our first show under the "Who Knew?" banner in late April through to the dog days of August, I've been stitching up a storm. My necklaces and bracelets have been selling well at the Angie Strauss Gallery in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Dressmaking clients have been keeping me busy with pretty summer dresses and stunning (if I do say so myself) evening gowns. And I've been working on a new bridal collection. Ellen Steen of About a Bride in Niagara-on-the-Lake is carrying these exclusive designs, including jewellery, wraps and flower girl dresses. The bridal collection will be on view at the Niagara Bridal Show, September 12 at Club Italia in Niagara Falls. Expect to hear and see more of these collections here as we move into the prime wedding planning seasons of fall and winter.

Much to my relief, the trees in Niagara are showing a hint of autumn. Wahoo! Those of you who know me well know that my ability to be polite about being really uncomfortably hot runs out just as ragweed season begins. Bring on the frost! With that in mind, I'm taking out the wool felt again. My helper and I had a photo session yesterday in the backyard, so expect to see new listings on Etsy in the coming weeks!

That Little Something Necklaces

2010-04-27T17:01:00.015-04:00

Okay, hands up everyone with a solid colour wardrobe. You are not alone. Many of us have pushed prints to the back of the closet or left them on the sales rack in an effort to look professional, elegant and modern. And now, many women have no idea how to put colours together. I see and hear about this often when doing wardrobe consultations. So, while our mothers and grandmothers could pull all the colours for an ensemble from a print, that isn't an option for many women today. And you want to look pulled together and interesting. So what do you do? Well these necklaces are just the thing to get you started.

Designed to sit just inside the collar or neck edge of your shirt they add colour and interest. As for what colour you should have - if you like it - buy it. Odds are it will go with what you have on. It really is that simple!

Retailing at $50 these necklaces make a lovely gift for Mother's Day.

Available in bright, muted and neutral colourways, these easy to wear necklaces close with a sterling silver toggle clasp. The feature beads are glass, stone or ceramic. Plus sizes are available and custom requests are welcome.

And in the run-up to Mother's Day I've made a made a few for little girls - scaled to fit and with a magnetic closure. Because every woman regardless of age likes to feel special and pretty!

Light as Air Felt Necklaces

2010-04-25T19:42:00.019-04:00

When summer comes along, I know I often get dressed and think "well, that is boring" yet can't bring myself to put on a statement piece of jewellery because I'm just too hot and the jewellery is too heavy. These necklaces have been designed to address that very situation.

They are lightweight yet have visual presence. They are completely metal free and slide easily over your head. The motifs are cut by hand. The glass, shell and pottery beads and felt are securely stitched with a strong silk thread.

Available in three motifs at present (circles, diamonds and flowers) they come in a variety of colours. They are just the thing to give jeans and a t-shirt that little bit of polish to show you made an effort.

Versatile enough to be worn year round, they retail for $45. They do co-ordinate with my line of scarves and wraps. Custom sets and sizing are available.

Bonus post for today!

2010-04-24T20:44:00.004-04:00

Thought you might all enjoy seeing my studio and my 'helper'. Meet Oscar - climber of desks and bookcases, batter of beads and pens, chewer of plastic bags and wires and the most enthusiastic chaser of an etsy button you are ever likely to meet!

Bracelets for those who get dressed alone

2010-04-24T20:18:00.017-04:00

Putting on a bracelet can be a very frustrating experience if you don't have anyone to help you. Not a problem with these lovely pieces! The closure is a freakishly strong magnet. While not recommended for anyone that has a pacemaker, the magnetic closure is slim, discreet, secure and so easy to manage.

Just wrap the bracelet around your wrist and click - you are good to go!

These bracelets co-ordinate with the tassel necklaces. They retail for $42 making a lovely set for $90. Custom sizing is available, although very small bracelets may require some design changes.

Fantasselic Necklaces

2010-04-22T17:39:00.021-04:00

Ever buy a pretty necklace to come home and realize you can't do it up yourself? Or find that the chain or beads are grabbing those little hairs at the back of your neck and pinching? Well these fantastic tassel necklaces have been designed to solve both problems!

Beautiful stones form the focal point of these pendants with glass and pottery beads providing the accents. Available in a wide range of colours, they retail for $48.

A soft cord has been used to make the necklaces comfortable and lightweight around your neck. (For the fibre geeks in the crowd - it is soutache from the lovely folks at Mokuba.)

The 'tassel' composed of stone and glass is securely stitched to the cord - right through the cord and through another bead which acts as a stopper. No closure swinging to the front when you wear this necklace!

The closure is easy to manage. Made with a wooden bead or button and a loop securely tied and stitched in the cord. Even stiff or clumsy fingers or long hair are not a problem with this closure. Because really who wants to get to work in the morning and have to ask someone to help you finish getting dressed?

Matching bracelets are available and equally easy to manage. More about them tomorrow!

Welcome to my world!

2010-04-21T21:10:00.000-04:00

As long as I can remember, I’ve been comfortable with needle and thread. Growing up, we were not allowed to watch TV unless we were doing something else at the same time. Knitting, sewing, embroidery in all its forms were just the things you did in our family. You wore handknit sweaters. You made your party dress. Everyone made the art that decorated their home. As a kid, I just assumed everyone had needlepoint tapestries on their walls.

I’ve been sewing, knitting, embroidering and generally messing about with fabric and thread for over 35 years now. I have taught embroidery techniques and accepted private commissions, generally to supplement my day job and to fund more supplies. Highlights include embroidery demonstrations at the Creative Sewing Festival, having my designs published in Style at Home and Fab Magazine, seeing good friends light up when they put on the wedding dress I created just for them, and selling to celebrities through Etsy. (OK, so I wandered about saying “wow” every five minutes, told half the town who my first Etsy customer was, and insisted the women in the post office look at who the scarf was being mailed to… I was excited!)

In the fall of 2008, I decided to throw caution to the wind, leave the corporate world and pursue these creative endeavours full-time. I am much happier, on the whole calmer, and frankly more fun to be around. 2009 was a year of experimenting with designs and materials, testing the market and judging reactions, and investigating venues for my work. Although I still teach techniques and make bespoke clothing, I am increasingly enjoying making limited-edition accessories. 2010 has brought my first retail outlet, and I am looking forward to finding new and exciting audiences for my work. You can find out more about my range of services and contact me through my website.

My intention is for this blog to chronicle my work and my efforts to find those new and exciting audiences. At the moment I am preparing for a coming out party of sorts for a group of local artists and designers. We are calling it the Who Knew? Fashion and Art Event and you can find out all the details at www.whoknew.ca. I will be launching my new line of jewellery at this event and on this blog. The collection has been designed to be not only pretty to look at but comfortable and easy to wear. I hope women enjoy wearing it as much as I have enjoyed making it!