Planet Ruby Starrs

The first term of college in finished - Christmas is looming FAST!!! I have given it little of no thought concentrating on getting final designs finished so I don't have to fret too much over the holiday period and can try and relax!! I have achieved this mostly, the serious essay is pretty much written and I have most of my final scarf designs in the bag so to speak.. they need hemming and I'm going to try to hand roll them, a long and tedious process but a much nicer finish on the end product. I also want to try and do a couple more in different colourways.... But in the mean time I'm going to crack on with Festive fun... We braved the Metro centre for almost the most last minute Christmas shopping I have ever done!!!  We managed to get it pretty much done in one swoop - thats the beauty of lists, organisation and Dr Fred not being able to bear shopping for more then 15 minutes!!!  Just shows what can be done when needed!! I finally baked the Christmas cake

My tutor has found me some fancy torso wall hanging mannequin torso thingies to display my latest designs on and they are looking quite snazzy...  I've got seven different designs in the process of being worked up in this collection - the working title currently being the Bowes Bonkers Collection... module hand in day is looming - its actually after Christmas but I want to try and have some down time over Christmas without too much college work on my mind.  These designs started with hand drawings inspired by some of the porcelain collection at the  Bowes Museum at Barnard Castle.  The drawings were part hand coloured and then scanned into so the overall design could be finished digitally allow me to colour manipulate and place the images as i wanted to with ease.  I'm very pleased with myself regarding Photoshop skills!! I think finally this time round it has stuck and I feel quite proficient and even can troubleshoot to a degree.... of course I still have to ring

With little over a weeks notice the 2nd year students were invited to have a stand at the Hartlepool Art Gallery Christmas Craft and Art Fair.  It was quite impressive the way quite a number of people rallied and managed to produce some really lovely prints to sell at such short notice. We organised the day and arrived to set up the stand with a pretty brilliant display of prints, cushions and scarves and it looked really splendid, colourful inviting and individual.  We had a good spot in the thick of the fair right opposite the coffee bar and we had high hopes for some Christmas pocket money. Sadly it didn't happen.... we had quite a bit of interest and we did sell a number of prints and people were really friendly and often very chatty but just weren't up for buying the goods.  Shame really as they were quality limited edition prints and gifts but it just wasn't the right market. It was disappointing - but in all fairness it was a dreadful day weather wise, a

Lovely Sunday a couple of weeks ago spent learning a new skill and creating very wonderful little  birds and some crouching leaping hares out of wire.  It was a very clever and relatively simple but effective process and I really enjoyed making these creatures.

Excitement in the print room... I finally got designs for two scarves prepped and ready for printing and consequently had the honour of being the first fabric to go through the new sublimation printer at college.  It was a giddy experience!!! There are pros and cons about using this printer the main advantage being for cash strapped students its considerably cheaper then digital printing and also its on the doorstep (although I reckon the third floor doorstep took some doing ...Its giant bit of kit) so a relatively quick process.  The main disadvantage is because it is a sublimation printer in only prints on to synthetic fabrics.  It's a heat transfer process giving amazing colours - vibrant and striking but only works on surfaces that it can adhere to. I have always preferred to work with natural fabrics, I do use synthetics in places for additional decoration and applique but I have never made a complete sample using them before.   The fabrics we have at college for sale are