Tuesday, July 09, 2013

Ruth's creative life

Ruth,  nearly 80, has a house full of art and craft, much of it produced by her in her TWO  -- yes, not one but two -- studios, and much  of it collected over her years in Mountainair, New Mexico and all of it on display in her house that is a work of collage in itself.  Above my two daughter, Rachel in background and Leslie (back of her head) admire just a tiny corner of a rather capacious house as Ruth leads us to yet another discovery.

She studied doll making (the dolls are all over the house) and currently makes patterns for a famous doll maker. She paints -- and has painted the walls, inside and out, of her house in the folk colors of the Southwest.  We were privileged to spend a night at her house and to wander through rooms full of delight. I will never get over the envy of her space for creating and will always be inspired by her open spirit. 

We met 17years ago on a trip to Tibet -- at that time she wore gold sneakers and had orange hair.  When she was widowed she left her home in Los Angeles and moved to New Mexico near a sister who is also a creative person. We kept in touch with letters every few months and I have told her that she was my inspiration for moving from a large city to a small town and making friends, living a full creative life.  Before we left the next morning she took us to the homey coffee house in town which has become her social center, where she decorates for Christmas and helps out a bit when needed and always meets loving and interesting friends.

4 comments :

Folkways Note Book said...

June -- I can understand how you two hit it off on your trip to Tibet -- both creative minds.

I really enjoyed reading about your friend -- very good post. Don't know why I read Mexico rather than New Mexico in July 7 post.

Your header on 7-0 is beautiful.

-- barbara

June Calender said...

Thanks, Barbara. I came home wishing Ruth and I lived within visiting distance.

Ladydy5 aka: Diane Yates said...

Now you know h ow I would love to be your neighbor.
How great was that!

June Calender said...

Dy, the country is just TOO big -- but it's also kind of wonderful to have good feelings towards people in far-flung parts of it.