Wednesday, January 12, 2011

2011.

I've heard many of my friends and customers comment on how difficult 2010 was for them on both a business and a personal level. And I must concur that the year has presented itself with challenges for me on both levels. So to celebrate and usher in this new year of 2011, I took advantage of the snow days and did some dreaming.

I treasure mapped, meditated, game-planned and basically tried to get my act together. But mostly, I dreamed.

Snowy days lend themselves nicely to dreaming. And although dreaming is good, along with making them reality, one must make changes. I ran across this quote from artist Andy Warhol: "They say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourselves." I've always loved this quirky, creative man who chose to live his life outside the box. And I think what he says is quite prophetic. Change is difficult and most of us resist it on all levels, but if we are ever to make our dreams come true, change is inevitable.

So my friends, I challenge you to stop for a brief time and ponder your life, remember your dreams, and consider making those necessary changes. I hope that 2011 will be a blessed and happy year full of dreams and positive changes for all of us...

Ok, I know you're probably asking yourself, what does this have to do with Ruby Jo's. Well, I hope that you'll decide to come into the shop in the next few weeks and see for yourselves. Ruby Jo's has always been one of my dreams!

Cheers.
Lori

Thursday, February 18, 2010

A Room of My Own.


Business at The Shop has been a little slow lately. I chalk it up all this ugly weather we've been having. However, the weather has presented me with a wonderful opportunity to finish a home project that has been on my mind for some time...creating a room of my own.


I kept a copy of Virginia Woolf's book "A Room of One's Own" on my nightstand for months. And like so many of the books on my night stand, I never finished it. But her message about women needing a room of their own (and a fixed income) in order to have the freedom to create resonated with me. I truly believe that all women need a quiet place, a resting place, a creating place. A place to rejuvinate and recharge. A place to dream or work on making their dreams come true.


Someone asked me what I was going to do in this space, to which I replied,"I guess we'll just have to wait and see." And, so, we will wait, and see. In the meantime, crank up the music, dig through the attic and closet, and get started on making a room of your own.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

The Love List.



Valentine's Day is only a week away and we're already seeing hearts. Below are a few things that have us love-struck this month.

Chalkboards * Needlepoint Rugs + Pillows * Handmade Valentines * Mirrors * Old Farm Tables * Garden Statuary* Old Frames * Wrought Iron Accents * Glass Decanters * 50s Paint-by-Numbers * Grandma's Jewelry * Vintage Clutches*

What are you loving this month?

Sunday, January 24, 2010

New Beginnings.

I've always loved the energy of the word new. And being that we have recently ushered in a new year, a time when most of us feel rejuvenated and excited, it seems only fitting that I feed off that energy and introduce you to Ruby Jo's. My goal is to keep you up to speed with what's new here at the shop, either by way of new merchandise, new ideas for your home or new friends that we meet. And I hope that you'll find some inspiration along the way.

Here's to the start of something new together.

Cheers!

Monday, January 4, 2010

Meet Ruby Jo.

Ruby was my grandmother. Jo Ann is my mother. But Ruby Jo's is more than the borrowed names of two great ladies, combined to create this shop. It's a tribute to the passion we all share for creating a home. A place that is more than a space to rest your head.

My grandmother was the original thrifter. She was forever hosting yard sales and finding treasures in the unlikeliest of places. She was avid sewer and my children spent hours sifting through her fabrics. My mother has always had a talent for mending, for finding old pieces in need of repair and making them new. She does this with furniture, and our family, too.


And me, we'll I'm a bit of both. A third generation thrifter and mender. Whether I'm finding forgotten pieces in garage sales, or breathing new life into old wardrobes with new knobs and coats of paint, or accepting consignments from thoughtful clients, I'm always thinking about how each piece will add to the story of your home. About the bonds it will create and the rifts it will mend. My hope is that you'll find just such a piece here.

Cheers, LoriB.