I Give You My Heart

A background in geology long led Rick Ruggles to notice and respond to nature's patterns and shapes. During the fall of 2000, his eye for detail led the artist-photographer to an unusual heart-shaped pothole, sparking a Valentine's Day idea for his girlfriend. Inspired by that single image, Rick began seeing hearts in leaves on the ground, in clouds in the sky, on telephone poles along the highway. Hearts, hearts ¿ everywhere!I Give You My Heart reflects the results of that seeing, searching, and recording of heart-shaped images from the ordinary world around us, a collection that now numbers well over 1,000. Each "heart" is photographed exactly as Rick found it, and all capture a sense of natural serendipity that many regularly miss.In I Give You My Heart, delicate images from Ruggles's Found Heart collection are paired with gentle words to create a truly unique keepsake book. The text is organized so the emotion builds from tentative and hesitant to bold and passionate, reflecting the natural course of an evolving relationship. "I give you my heart ¿ blushingly ¿ bashfully ¿ willingly ¿ faithfully ¿." The result is an original and thought-provoking presentation that's both captivating and inspirational. This beautiful gift book is perfect for couples, nature lovers, photographers, and anyone who appreciates the creative spirit, wherever it may surface.

Rick Ruggles sidestepped his college geology studies to launch a career as a designer and builder of energy-efficient homes. Following 12 years in that field, Rick made another dramatic career turn and began designing metal jewelry, belts, and home accessories (www.rickruggles.com), now displayed in galleries, retail stores, and specialty catalogs across the country. It was during this time that the Found Heart collection was born. Today, Rick's "heart art" series encompasses natural as well as urban and architectural images, and even heart-shaped foods. He lives in Washington, D.C.