Make Your Easter Special

Spring is my favorite season!  I wanted to share some images of the things that make Easter extra special. When preparing your food and decorations always remember "devils in the detail." The little details on your table are going to be the most important to really make your holiday unique.  Choose a color scheme and stick to it.

The top photo shows some hard boiled eggs I dyed using rubber bands and dye.  Boil the eggs, wrap the rubber bands around the eggs, and dip them in dye until you've reached your desired color.  It's a really simple way to make a fun, quick pattern - very fashion forward!  Next to the eggs is the famous "butter lamb."  It's so cute.  I always feel bad cutting him. The butter lamb is a big hit in the Buffalo, NY area. I've never heard of them anywhere else.  You can buy them at most grocery stores around Buffalo or for the hardcore Easter fans you can make a trip to the Broadway Market. At the Broadway Market you can buy some chocolate, platcek, pierogies, and kobasa.  Next to the butter lamb are handmade chocolates.  I always make some chocolate using my grandmother's chocolate molds.  It makes me feel closer to loved ones who have died carrying on their traditions.

Spring flowers are beginning to bloom!  A sure sign that warmer weather is on its way.  Easter wouldn't be  complete without the aroma of lilies. 

And of course my favorite part of the holidays is sharing the day with my family, friends, and loved ones.  Hope you found some of my tips helpful. 

HAPPY EASTER!  :-)

Luck of the Irish

Some people don't believe in luck, but I do.  Since I'm Irish, I was raised to believe success is part hard work and part luck.  There's this element of chance in everything we do.  We can plan and set future goals, but there are always surprises along the way.

In honor of St. Patricks Day...an Irish blessing for you

May there always be work for your hands to do
May your purse always hold a coin or two;
May the sun always shine on your windowpane; 
...May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain;
May the hand of a friend always be near you;
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you. 


Happy St. Patrick's Day! Wishing you the luck of the Irish today.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Today I have chocolate, bouquets, and pretty dresses on my mind.  Do something special today to show the people in your life how much you care.  Also, don't forget to add a little glamour!  I'm tutu crazy right now.  I love this classic photo of Marilyn Monroe in a tutu.  xoxo

A LACEY Valentine

With Valentine's Day around the corner my mind is on lace, tulle, and bridal accessories.  I was recently asked by a friend in Washington state to design her bridal veil.  I'm so honored and excited to design for her special day.  She's a strong and gorgeous woman AND she's a great person.  I'll keep you posted on the design progress! Check out www.ricerafferty.com for more information. 

Speaking of Valentine's...I'm seeing tons of lingerie ads EVERYWHERE.  I'm not a huge fan of Victoria Secret and Frederick's of Hollywood Lingerie.  They focus a little too much on objectifying women.  They focus on women with perfect bodies in their advertisements which perpetuates bad body images for women and the lingerie isn't very exciting.

I recently came across an independent Lingerie Designer on etsy - Ohhh Lulu Lingerie and Apparel.  I LOVE her vintage inspired lingerie and photographs.  To me these items are much sexier.  If you're looking to buy some special lingerie I strongly suggest something like this.  The vintage inspired look is so lovely!


Ohhh Lulu
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ohhhlulu?ref=seller_info

Letter to Miss Valentine

 

Valentine's Day is coming up soon.  It's a day that should be celebrated by everyone.

It's a special time for couples, but it's also a time to show anyone you love just how much they mean to you.

Show your mom, best friend, or someone who just needs a little love how much you care.  February always has me craving chocolate fondue with fresh fruits like strawberries, bananas, and marshmallows.  Have a girls night enjoying sweet desserts and chick flicks or enjoy a home cooked meal with your sweetie!

Rice Rafferty designed a hair accessory inspired by Valentine's Day - Letter to Miss Valentine Hair Clip

All of our designs has a story of course; hidden in this special hair accessory there's an address.  It was hand written by my grandfather to my grandmother while they were dating.  My grandmother's name is Velma; she was also nicknamed Val.  My grandfather wrote a letter to her around Valentine's day so he addressed it to "Valentine."  I thought it was such a romantic and sweet gesture.

Details

***Unique, hand dyed silk adornment.*** Hair Accessory with clip - clip in hair or on purse. Add a fun and feminine chic touch to your hair! Perfect for Valentine's Day or weddings!

* silk screened handwritten address to "Valentine" for Valentine's Day

* hand dyed layers of silk and hand dyed tulle

* up cycled gold sparkle mesh netting

* paper mache, gold painted bead

* Colors: orange, yellow orange, gold, pink brown

* Measuring roughly 4-5" diameter

* Made in USA

All designs are handmade; each item is unique wearable art. The inspiration for this piece was old hollywood - flappers, vintage, pearls, weddings, elegance, glamour.

***Please contact us if you would like multiple hair adornments made for your bridesmaids. Each one is unique and one of a kind. You can choose other colors if you would like it for your bridal party or prom. We can make hair adornments with a comb, pin, clip or all three. Just ask!***

To learn more about this hair clip and more items look at our shoppe:
http://ricerafferty.etsy.com

Goodbye 2010, Hello 2011

I think it's safe to say 2010 has been a difficult year for all of us - job losses, sickness, bankruptcy, deaths, break ups, breakdowns and the list goes on...  I believe 2011 will be better and brighter.  The adversity in our lives and the difficult times only makes us stronger.  It is during these challenging times we have the greatest wisdom to learn.  Problems won't disappear, but we can navigate a new path to make things manageable.  Lets look forward to a new year with optimism of new good things to come.

I wish you health. And more than wealth. I wish you love. 


Happy New Year!!!

Christmas in Vermont

This year my family wanted to do something different for the holidays.  My brother gets a place in Killington, Vermont for the skiing season every year and he graciously invited us to come stay with him.  The scenery was absolutely gorgeous.  The snow covered mountains and wooded bridges were so charming.  We checked out the skiing resort, the quaint small town Woodstock VT, and hung out at his house by a famous trout stream.  We kept the wood-burning fireplace full stocked.  As we were driving across New York State into Vermont a billboard read, "Yes, even gas stations are nicer in Vermont."  I thought it was pretty funny, but it's seriously true!  Christmas night was spent stargazing.  The darkness in the woods surrounding the house was free of light pollution so we really had an amazing opportunity to enjoy the winter sky.  I had an amazing time with family - old and new.

What's the best gift for the holiday season?

KINDNESS!  This is the kind of gift that doesn't cost anything, you can give it everyone, and it keeps giving.  It's limitless.  The other day I was brushing the snow off my little 1997 compact car after work.  It only takes me a minute because my car is so small. After I was done I realized the women next to me in their 40s-50s were still trying to clear the snow off their cars.  I quickly jumped right in and started brushing the snow off.  It brought me such joy to see their reactions.  They thanked me and smiled.  It's these little actions that make us feel like a community and help to spread joy to everyone around.

Healthier Gingerbread Cookies

Above are some of my gingerbread cookies - freshly cut out dough.  The aroma of gingerbread fills the air when you bake these babies.  I used a Betty Crocker gingerbread cookie recipe but substituted honey for brown sugar and used whole wheat flour instead of white.  Instead of using sugary frosting I used raisins to decorate the cookies.  This is a guilt free way to enjoy the holidays!  mmm delicious!

The Gingerbread Man Story
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnAgA1aZGkY
Run Run Run as fast as you can
You can't catch me
I'm the Gingerbread Man

To make cookies from scratch:

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup honey
• 1 stick butter or margarine, softened
• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 3 3/4 cups whole wheat flour, plus more for dusting work surface
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

Cream the honey and butter until thoroughly combined. Add the eggs and molasses and mix until combined. Sift together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and combine with a spoon or spatula.
Remove the dough from the bowl and wrap in plastic wrap; place in the refrigerator until firm, about 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Allow the dough to sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes, until pliable. Take about 1/2 cup of dough at a time and roll onto a floured board until about 1/8-inch thick. Cut out with gingerbread boy and girl cookie cutters. You can re-roll the scraps. Using a spatula, transfer the cookies from the board to the prepared cookie sheets.
Bake for 10 minutes, until just beginning to brown at the edges. Transfer to wire racks to cool.
To decorate, add three raisins down the front of the cookie to serve as buttons.

Happy Holidays from Rice Rafferty!

Do you have any fun plans for the holidays?  The holidays can be a magical yet stressful time.  Try to remember nothing is perfect and to make the most of every moment! Are you baking any special treats?  To me the food makes the holidays.  I made some thumbprint cookies and plan to make gingerbread cookies and spritz.  I love the traditional recipes passed down in my family.

Have you wrapped any gifts yet?  Here's an eco friendly gift giving idea - try wrapping your presents in fabric this year to eliminate waste.  You can use the fabric again and again.

We have lots of new hand dyed velvet devore skinny scarves on our website.  Don't forget our devore is completely homemade, so your scarf is one of a kind.

www.ricerafferty.etsy.com 

Make Thanksgiving a Part of Every Day

Happy Thanksgiving from Rice Rafferty!  I have so many things to be thankful for this year.  We hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday. This four day weekend was action packed.  I cooked the Thanksgiving dinner for five people and I went with an organic, free range turkey (mmm mmm worth every dollar).  The more I make Thanksgiving dinner the easier it gets. 

Throughout Thanksgiving day I switched between making dinner and creating more accessories!  We're getting ready for our holiday sale at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA.  Dec 4 - Woodland Road, Mellon building 1st floor, between 1-4pm.  Pittsburgh is our hometown so we always enjoy going back for a visit.  We have designed new handmade headbands, bib necklaces, and earrings.  The bib necklaces now come on a board for easy hanging or wear if you dare.  WARNING:  When you wear a Rice Rafferty accessory you will get noticed. 

Our accessories are completely one of a kind - made from up cycled materials, hand dyed, and designed for you with love.  Hope to see you there!  If you can't make it you can contact us directly or visit the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts or Burchfield Penney Museum gift shop.

www.ricerafferty.com

History of Halloween

Are you ready for Halloween yet?  Halloween comes every year on Oct 31, but do we know why we go trick or treating, go bobbing for apples, carve pumpkins, and decorate with bats?  Halloween is between two seasons - fall and winter.  It's a time between life and death. 

Most of our traditions for celebrating come from ancient Celtic practices, Catholic, and Roman religious rituals and a blend of European folk traditions.  Halloween was believed as a time when the dead can return to the earth.  Ancient celtics would wear scary costumes and gather around Halloween bonfires to ward off these ghosts.  While gathered around the bonfire, bugs would be attracted to the light which would bring bats hence the bat imagery for Halloween.  People would decorate their window with Jack O Lanterns to keep the evil spirits away too.  The Catholic holiday of All Saints Day also influenced our modern holiday. 

In the 19th century Halloween became more of a children's holiday, but we adults still look for our fun by dressing up and going to parties. What are you going to dress up as for Halloween?

Looking for some places to visit for Halloween?  
I recommend:
Sleepy Hollow, NY (tale of the Headless Horseman and Ichabod Crane)
Salem, MA (home of the Salem witch trials)
Lilydale, NY (a village of psychics and inspiration stump)
Savannah, GA (tour the city as well as the cemeteries...there are many ghost stories)
Lake Ontario (The Lady in White legend)

I wish you many warm nights as the days grow shorter and the nights get colder.  Happy Halloween!

Happy 4th of July!!!!!

Happy 4th of July weekend to my American friends! xoxo


The above cake is an angel food cake with layers of whipped cream frosting, strawberries, and blueberries.  It's a very light, healthy, delicious cake for a holiday party.