Ruby Farias

As one of eleven children born to a close knit Hispanic family, I began my life as an artist with my senses immersed in the loving whirlwind of my dynamic “familia”. The reason I do what I do today and who I am, is rooted in some of my earliest memories. My mom was always crafting and she loved her garden and flowers. I stuck by her side to learn as much as I could. She taught me to sew and to love nature. Of course, the fact that I was the youngest of 7 girls and there were hand-me-downs was one thing but there were times when my Mom would create dresses for me and I will say that I absolutely loved that she made them just for me. It was in the 7th grade that I ventured to make something of my own. I created my own pattern for a pair of bell-bottom pants... and I was very proud, especially with the smiley face I embroidered by hand at the bottom of one of the pant legs. I laugh when I think about that... In high school I was touched by art and began producing large abstract murals on walls and ceilings in my home and those of friends. When I moved back to the mid-west, I began to seriously study drawing and poetry while working as a model in Chicago. A move to Boston, Massachusetts, took me to the renowned cultural enclave of the east coast, and it was there that my artistic life began to flourish. I opened my first business, Ruby Heart Jewelry, showing my handcrafted beaded jewelry in a number of art fairs throughout New England. I also produced fashion shows in Boston while maintaining a pulse on my art. It was during this period that I traveled to Europe and visited a number of influential museums and galleries to feed my soul. In my mid-twenties I decided that it was time to find a professional career and after a number of years that idea brought me to Phoenix, Arizona where I received my Bachelor of Science in Business Management degree. After a 15 year hiatus from my art, while seeking a new business opportunity, I decided to purchase some canvas and paints to see what would happen. I painted, loved every moment of it and questioned myself why I had ever stopped. That year, 2001, was one of the toughest years of my life, but I vowed to myself that I would never put my brush down again. I have returned full-circle to my original love for painting and fashion. It is a dream come true to create my work-of-art on clothing and accessories. I create custom pieces of clothing for those who want to stand out in the crowd, are bold and want something especially made for them. I believe it’s important to give back to the community and have given my time and talent to a number of non-profit organizations in the Valley of the Sun.