Rebecca Ray Designs emerged as Rebecca Smith of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, began individually crafting handbags to find a sense of belonging. As the luxury equestrian brand has expanded, it has grown into its core values of quality and authenticity.
Rebecca began her career with an undergraduate degree in political science and constitutional law and a Master’s Degree in Education from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. With experience working with high-risk students in the nonprofit sector of education, Rebecca used her organizational skills and passion for the circus life of the equestrian industry to merge her desires into a business.
As a longtime equestrian, she knew that showing horses would not be practical throughout her life, so her artistic vision blossomed into a designer handbag company targeted at busy equestrians.
Read Full Article online starting on page 94: https://worldequestriancenter.com/world-equestrian-center-magazine-volume-ii-2023/
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Visit: www.rebeccaraydesigns.com
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Shop Rebecca Ray Designs at here.
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Originally, bobsleds were used for more than just joy rides. Up until the last half of the twentieth century, a bobsled or sleigh was a necessity in areas that received more than a couple of inches of snow. Many of these looked like piano boxes, and could seat an entire family. I am surmising that the original term bobsled came from the fact that for those bigger sleighs, they needed a team of drafts (with bobbed tails) to haul them through the snow. We still dock draft tails today so that your lines don’t get caught in their tails and so their tails don’t get caught in farm equipment with disastrous results. We simply band their tails with a rubber band at 3 days.
So on Bobsled day, we groom the girls in their heavy winter coats, harness them for a team hitch and load the bobsled with blankets, hot chocolate in thermoses (that may or may not include peppermint schnapps) and plenty or marshmallows and cookies. Where it gets tricky is the weather conditions have to be just right. There has to be enough snowpack for the runners to slide along on the ice or the snow. The best time to sleigh ride on the road is right after a storm before the snow plows get out. But as long as we have enough decent snow in the woods, we can drive along with no trouble. We’ve had almost a dozen people bundled up to ride along with us and always a dog or two. When the sun is shining and you get a few flakes in your face, truly, it’s an exhilarating feeling as the Percheron girls trot along rhythmically and the jingle bells around their neck jingle away. There is no other sound on earth like it!
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Lizzie and Licorice the pony.
Derek, Lizzie and Licorice getting ready for a Lead Line class.
Lizzie driving Licorice as a local show.
Furry friends in our barn.
Rebecca and one of her Percheron foals.
Rebecca driving a team of her Percheron horses.
Hemlock Lane Farms young Percheron Stallion.
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I brought my passion for Dogs to Rebecca Ray with several "Dog Show" collection items as well as a beautifully crafted Bridle Leather Slip Lead.
Lizzie and I at her Miami University competition. Derek and I also rode for Miami.
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Hemlock Lane Farm in the Spring
One of the much used sinks at Hemlock Lane Farm
One of my favorite ways to vase flowers- a canning jar!
One of my favorite spots in Spring, behind the farm house.
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The original Orange Mary Ann Tote Bag.
The Mary Ann Horse Show Tote comes in three different beautiful colorways and two different artwork styles currently.
Although this style is retired, we have many beautiful benchmade Rebecca Ray leather bags available.
Racing Tote Crossbody is coming soon!
Rebecca and Lizzie at the Land Rover 3 Day Event
Lizzie and her beautiful horse
Late fall 2021, Rebecca Ray launched our all-new website that represents dozens of peoples’ combined efforts and talents. I thought, if we are new to you, perhaps you might enjoy knowing a little about the extraordinary team of women who have worked so hard to bring you an even better version of the original Rebecca Ray as the brand continues to grow.
Meet Pam! A chance meeting between Rebecca and Pam ended up a “match made in heaven,” producing some of the most authentic, sophisticated and whimsical equestrian art you’ll find anywhere. Rebecca finds antique art pieces and equestrian ephemera, and Pam channels the designs into beautiful, relevant art using her insane illustration skills.
As for me… well, I’ve been riding since my uncle delivered Peanuts, a naughty little bay Shetland pony that appeared when I was just a toddler. Peanuts and I grew up together, and my love affair with horses just never waned. Many, many horses and hours in the saddle later, I have shown hunters, fox-hunted, and the last 12 or so years my husband Derek and I have been raising driving and conformation Percherons. My husband and I met while both riding for Miami University (Ohio), and now our daughter Lizzie is a highly accomplished equestrian riding for Miami as well. We also raise champion show dogs, and believe me when I tell you that, according to my husband, the movie Best in Show was not a satire but a documentary of our life! But by education, I have always been interested in providing our high school students with innovative, real world skills that teach them how to be lifelong contributors to our communities, and showing dogs is a great platform for that.
Meet Me (Rebecca)! My love for horses began with a pony named peanut, and my passion has only grown since. My passion carries over to the Rebecca Ray Designs Team as I direct, add my creative influence from start to finish, and continue to appreciate quality not only from my breeding operations but from my gorgeous handmade designer line of goods.
The noun Chef d’Equipe’s origins are obviously French, but what does it mean? Rebecca Ray’s roots are deeply equestrian, utilizing the highest quality authentic bridle and harness leathers and hardware to create fashion that’s both gorgeous and functional. That’s where our newest and most popular designer handbag comes in - the Rebecca Ray Chef d’Equipe day tote
A term heard bandied about frequently at the highest levels of equestrian sport is “Chef d’Equipe”, which literally means Team Leader in English. Riders are the only Olympic-level athletes who are only half of a duo, in which the other half is non-human. This creates a pretty intense individuality with equestrian athletes, due to the complexity of moving up the competition ladder with a string of animal partners, to eventually, potentially, reach the highest levels of international team sport. It’s likely this individuality, along with the European influences on equestrian sport, that caused equestrians to call the head position Chef d’Equipe. (There are also coaches for various specialties, of course.)
The Chef d’Equipe organizes and travels with a particular equestrian team (each sport has its own team, of course) to all of the international competitions around the world, as well as the Olympics, the Pan American and World Equestrian Games. Each national equestrian team has a long list of job responsibilities but the Chef D’Equipe is typically responsible for the overall team management for major international competitions and has usually been a competitor themselves at the highest international levels. This “Team Leader'' supervises the training, preparation and well being of the horses and riders in a coordinated effort with the many components that fall into a competitive event and schedule, including stabling, scheduling, flying (horses and people), feed, veterinarians, officials and farriers.
To sum up, the position holds a lot of duties, and it requires a lot of, well, stuff.
The Rebecca Ray Chef d’Equipe tote comes in three luxurious and rich color pallets. All three bag colors feature a stunning red interior - not only fashionable but functional, because you can spot the item you need more easily against a bright background.
This tote is likely the most comfortable tote you will ever carry. Let’s start with its by-hand, benchmade construction on a treadle sewing machine right here in America. The outside is made out of a waxed cotton canvas, just like your favorite Barbour® jacket. That canvas is water-resistant and is easily cleaned with a damp rag. If the patina gets too scratched for your taste, simply re-smooth it with a hot hair dryer until the wax remelts like new. It’s virtually indestructible!
All the hardware is equestrian-grade solid nickel, beautifully paired with narrow, top stitched bridle leather handles that conform to you like your reins, and fabulous details such as a leather interior zipper pocket, three additional easy-reach pockets, a hidden top clip closure, bridle leather side-tightening slips and a bright red canvas interior for all three bag colors. No detail was too small to marry elegance with practicality.
In short, this bag does it all, just like an Equestrian Chef d’Equipe! It’s practical, efficient, it holds up in all weather, it can serve many purposes, go tons of places and stow everything you need, easily to hand. It’s at home at the local market or at the most exclusive ringsides.
Lots! Rebecca just wore hers to her daughter’s horse show last weekend and she effortlessly carried:
A continental wallet
A ruffled silk scarf
Makeup pouch
Tylenol (much needed)
Readers (not getting any younger…!)
Pens
Lip Balm (it was freezing cold!)
Hand wipes
Gloves
Face masks
Hand sanitizer
Hairbrush
Daily Program
Keys
Phone
Computer
That’s some stuff!
The all-new Rebecca Ray Chef d’Equipe day tote is in stock now in all three fabulous colors! As with all Rebecca Ray handbags and totes, because they are benchmade in America, stock is limited, so don’t delay in ordering yours to be sure you get the color - or colors! - you desire.
To keep you stylishly organized, the Chef d’Equipe features a leather interior zipper pocket, three additional easy-reach pockets, and a neatly hidden top clip closure.
Nothing gets a party started like champagne punch, and this particular recipe has been wildly popular every time. Just this past Saturday, we had our annual holiday party at the farm, and I had to make a second batch, it was such a hit!
As you know, we like to get creative here at Hemlock Lane Farm, and one of the best ways to do that with a punch is a fabulous punch bowl, a colorful ice ring made with a vintage jello mold – check out this antique German horseshoe mold! - and of course, a buffet isn’t complete without Rebecca Ray Tea Towels!
1 can of frozen lemonade concentrate - I use pink, but you can also use regular
1 bottle of cranberry juice
1 can of frozen limeade concentrate
1 liter of club soda
1 bottle of prosecco or champagne
1 sliced lemon
1/2 bag of cranberries
1 pint of frozen sherbet - preferably raspberry
Pomegranate seeds
Fresh mint
In a large punch bowl, add all liquids. I like to toss in ice cubes (or make an ice ring out of a jello mold). Add in Sherbet when you are ready to serve; garnish drinks with cranberries, pomegranate seeds and sliced lemons.
For a festive look, use an antique jello mold ring - you might even find a horseshoe one! - partly filled with a mix of cranberries, blueberries, lemons and lime slices, then fill to nearly the top with water or cranberry juice. Prepare and freeze the day before and toss into the punch bowl right before you serve.
How can something this gorgeous (and glorious on the palate) be THIS easy? It’s Mom Miracle I'm delighted to share with you. Serve in a gorgeous crystal bowl, right on the table, for your holiday feast. The deep red is a beautiful complement to elegant Rebecca Ray napkins, and low evergreen centerpiece, decorated with felted animals, antique glass ornaments, or whatever speaks to you.
4 cups of cranberries
1 small navel orange, quartered with the peel left on
1 to 11/2 cups of sugar
4 Tablespoons of Grand Marnier
In a Cuisinart, process 1/2 the cranberries and orange until coarsely chopped. Remove to mixing bowl. Process the other half of cranberries and orange. Add to mixing bowl. Add 1 cup of sugar and the Grand Marnier. Check for sweetness, you may add more sugar to your liking. Seal tight in fridge overnight to let flavors blend. Serve in a crystal or glass bowl (I put mine right on the table in the heaviest crystal bowl I have with a mint leaf garnish.) Best served chilled.
Holiday Sweet Potato Casserole is our daughter Lizzie’s favorite holiday recipe! Most everyone has this recipe on hand, but if you want to know the secret to a version that’s truly over the top… it’s specialty sugars from Savory Spice, a small American business that the foodies on our team are just nuts about.
Pattern the marshmallows as a snowflake or other design, optionally garnish with maple candy leaves, and serve in an antique glass casserole for simple, time-honored elegance.
2 large cans of yams, drained
1 cup of granulated sugar - plain white, whiskey-smoked, or our favorite, pure maple sugar!
1 stick of real butter (1/2 C)
2 teaspoons of vanilla
2 eggs
Topping:
1 cup of dark brown sugar
1/3 C flour
1/3 C of real butter, melted
Mini marshmallows
Mix main ingredients (mash potatoes but leave them a little lumpy). Place in a glass square pan or casserole dish.
Next, mix topping ingredients, and scatter across the top of the casserole. Decorate the top with mini marshmallows (I like to make a snowflake pattern). Bake in a preheated 350° oven for 30 minutes.
It’s an annual treat at Hemlock Lane Farm: Derek’s Sticky Toffee Cake with Decadent Caramel Sauce, presented on a vintage farmhouse platter.
Once a year, for Christmas. That’s the only chance our family has to enjoy this most incredible, delectable, crazy-decadent masterpiece that is my husband’s Sticky Toffee Cake with Decadent Caramel Sauce. Truly swoon-worthy, this is to be looked forward to each year!
Cake:
2 1//2 cups of flour
2 teaspoons of baking powder
1 1/2 cups of water
1 1/4 cups of chopped, pitted dates - we use Dole California Chopped Dates
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 cup (2 sticks), brought to room temperature
2/3 cup of white sugar
4 large eggs, brought to room temperature
2 teaspoons of quality real vanilla extract
Caramel Sauce:
4 cups of heavy whipping cream
2 cups of packed Dark Brown sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
Make the Sauce first:
Bring cream, dark brown sugar and butter to a boil in a heavy sauce pan over medium high heat, stirring frequently to prevent scorching. Once at a boil, reduce heat and simmer sauce until it has reduced to about 3 1/2 cups, stirring occasionally, taking about 6 minutes. Set aside.
If making in advance, you may also refrigerate it, then reheat gently at medium-low, stirring frequently before using.
Make Cake:
Preheat oven to 350° degrees. Combine 1 1/2 cups of water, dates and baking soda in another medium saucepan and bring to boil. Remove from heat. Cool completely.
Butter a 12 cup Bundt pan. (We use a heavy weight cathedral-style Bundt pan I’ve had for years.) Butter cake form carefully so cake releases intact. Whisk flour and baking powder in a medium bowl to blend. Set aside.
Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar in large bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Mix in vanilla and half of flour mixture, then date mixture. Blend in remaining flour mixture. Pour batter into prepared pan.
Bake cake until cake rises and it is golden on top, about 45 minutes.
Pour 3/4 cup of caramel sauce over the cake in Bundt; continue baking until tester stick comes out clean with no crumbs (may have sauce on it), about 15 minutes. Cool cake 10 minutes and gentle turn the cake over onto platter to release.
You can make the cake a day ahead - but allow the cake to cool COMPLETELY before wrapping it airtight and storing at room temperature.
Cover and refrigerate remaining caramel sauce.
To serve: Cut cake into slices, warm up and drizzle caramel sauce over cake slices, allowing sauce to pool on the plate around cake. Real whipped cream adds a nice presentation, but is not necessary.
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The holidays around here are pretty magical! We want to share some of our Rebecca Ray Christmas traditions from our family to yours.
]]>Years ago, when my husband Derek and I were first married, we spent a Christmas holiday in Key Largo at my grandparents' beautiful but tiny cottage on the ocean side of beautiful Key Largo, with the entire extended family stuffed in this two-bedroom home. We suddenly realized we all had to shop for presents for each other, and there was one car and only two shops in town, both with selections reminiscent of the old dime stores. So, the artistic family that we are, we all decided to create a Secret Santa Stocking event.
We drew names and feverishly hid from each other who our recipient was, along with our comings and goings and shopping activities. Almost 30 years later, this tradition endures. Instead of Santa filling our stockings, at Thanksgiving we all draw a name from a hat and we never, ever tell each other who we have, although taking advantage of any weak link in the chain is fair game! Derek has been known to develop spreadsheets where he scientifically collects all the hints, secretive behavior and optimizes whom has whom, to try and guess. (Oh, Derek. You gotta love that man.)
The rules are simple - we all pick a theme (this year is Yellowstone, imagine that!) but we celebrate that the more creative you are with the theme the better. Next, you have to make the stocking and/or container and we spend no more than $50 total. We have spent hours laughing over creative, thrifty stockings, the fabulous presentations and unique gifts - some handmade, some purchased. Now, as the younger generation has gotten older they are able to shop on their own and we have included close family friends in the gifting. It’s truly a highlight of the year.
Another Rebecca Ray Christmas tradition we have is multiple trees and I’m afraid I’m the culprit on that one…guilty as charged. To me, those trees represent the magic and the hope of the season. I collect antique ornaments, animals, feather trees and holiday wreaths and trimmings. Everything we put up has an animal theme in keeping with our lifestyle on our farm, because our animals make our lives so very special. As we like to say, “Animals Aren’t Our Whole Lives But They Make Our Whole Lives Full.” So this year, I’ll go through the arduous but therapeutic process of setting up three live Fraser Fir trees and about five feather trees.
Whimsical Hemlock Lane Farm decorations and robustly decorated trees help tie our home together. What can we say? It adds a bit of magic to our traditions!
But, it’s possible I’m part Elf, as my family teases me that I work like the scene in the movie “Elf” where Will Farrell’s character stays up the whole night decorating for the arrival of Santa. I love to wait until everyone goes to bed and I’ll pull a really late night (not as easy as it used to be), just me and the dogs, eggnog and decorating in the quiet night. Sometimes, I play my favorite holiday album, Mahalia Sings Songs of Christmas (check out her version of Go Tell it on the Mountain).
Vintage Christmas farm decorations can be found throughout our abode - and the more the merrier! Everywhere you turn you’ll be treated with horses, dogs, foxes, frosted trees, garland with twinkling lights, and other farm life adornments.
And late nights leads me to our third family tradition which has been passed down through my mother’s side of the family. There is an old German legend that at midnight of Christmas Eve, the animals in the barn speak to one another. For years, as a child, my mother used to traipse out through the snow, out to the barn at midnight to try and catch the animals speaking. (Of course, we took them carrots and special treats!) The funny thing is, I still am waiting for them to talk, lured by the magical legend. If you’ve ever walked out to the barn to do a late-night check, as we do every night, you learn to believe that isn’t so far-fetched. After all, Christmas on the farm is a magical time.
Usually, the Percheron girls are snuggled up, down sleeping in their stalls and we love to go in and sit with them. They have no worry of being down on the ground with us and I always marvel at how 2000 plus pounds can curl up so neatly with the front legs tucked under them with just their dapple kneecaps showing. As we carefully kneel down beside Lilly, who has been with us since she was foaled, she wraps her enormous head around us and typically puts it in Derek’s lap and starts snoring. In a way, I believe she has just clearly communicated with us, and what she says is “All is Peaceful, All is Bright at Hemlock Lane Farm.”
Best wishes for a magical Christmas and holiday season for you and yours.
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