Ruby Murray-New Linen from Dames of the Needle/From the Cauldron

Naming new products is always a fun challenge.  One does not want to go with the mundane obvious name, but the name should reflect some connection to the product so people will remember it and want to purchase the item.

Here at Dames/From the Cauldron Land-Cheryl (who I always want to keep happy!!!) is always joking that the names need to be one syllable to keep it simple....Well most of you that know me and know that is not possible.  I also have a wicked sense of humor and am always looking for the twist on something...sooo-I have to work hard at keeping Cheryl happy with other things here in Dames/From the Cauldron Land...

That leads us to our new linen color Ruby Murray.  Ruby Murray you say????  Hold on and I will explain.  I was playing around with this color and loved the way it was coming out and it hit me to try it on linen.  After the first piece was dyed, Cheryl and I bounced off ideas for the name.  After a short conversation it came up that it looked like Curry...well that is quite the plain name and that is a color name that is being used by other manufacturer in the industry....so being the anglophile that I would like to be, plus add in being the Google Queen-I did some research and found out that in Britain it is Cockney Rhyming Slang for 'going out for a Curry'.  (Yes, I am aware that-that last sentence is a complete run on and grammatically incorrect, but hey deal with it....)  In Britain, one can say I am 'going out for a Ruby' or I am 'going out for a Ruby Murray'.  So, if inquiring minds had been wondering this is why so many Indian restaurants have Ruby in the name.  The real Ruby Murray was a popular Irish singer in the 1930-50's.  Cockney Rhyming Slang is an organic language that changes with the times.  In the 1970's it became popular to rhyme celebrities with slang.  According to research, Ruby Murray is one of the first celebrities to be used in this unique way.

So....hence....Dames of the Needle/From the Cauldron is presenting you with Ruby Murray a lovely weathered golden yellow color.  It comes in 28, 32, 35 and 40 count.  I am still playing with an Aida version....Please contact your local shops, check out my Etsy or watch my Facebook sales so you too can 'go out for a Ruby Murray'.

Ebeth, Zola and Cheryl.....

Quaker mode

It is so interesting how we evolve.  When I was little my Grandmother Rose and Grandmother Hodges introduced me to textiles in their own way.  If my memory serves me right-there are several chronological years of pictures with me sitting almost in the same spot on my Grandmother Hodges's couch stitching Christmas presents for my family members.

Fast forward to going to University, I had no clue as to what I wanted to be.  I enjoyed art and music so off to University I went.  I ended up majoring in Art and got a BFA.  Interestingly enough I avoided textiles and the only Art History I was exposed to was modern and architecture.  I majored in Photography and Painting....

Fast forward into life.  I always stitched and handled textiles as a hobby.  I really never thought of doing it as a living.  Believe it or not all of the wonderful skills I have and the company I have built has been 'by accident'.  I could down the path right now of how the 'accidents' happened, but I will save that for another day.

As I have moved through my life in textiles I have been lucky enough to attend lectures, classes and read amazing information about this magical world.  I have only skirted around Quaker textiles.  I am lucky enough to own some Quaker and Shaker items.  I lament that I did not become a textile historian, because as I have only lightly touched the surface of Quaker textiles, I have formed my own theories about these items.  I really believe that 'Friendship' samplers came from Quakers.  Look at their amazing Medallion samplers with unrelated initials on them.  I have to come to imagine that groups of girls each stitched part of a Medallion on these samplers with the initials beside their Medallion....but alas, I do not have the time to explore the theories that float around in my head....

So, when I fell upon a lovely antique Quaker pear it inspired me to pull out my velvet and get to work.  The piece fell into place.  So I present to you Pear Needle Keep.  It is a sweet and quick project to make.  It will enhance any sewing basket or curio shelf with its simplistic elegance.

Please contact your local shops for the chart/kit or visit my Etsy shop for a kit https://www.etsy.com/shop/DamesoftheNeedle

I wish you a day filled with pleasure and several enchanting moments with your beloved textiles.

Ebeth