Planet Ruby Starrs

Last Week we had our annual Landmark trust outing,  this time we stayed in the West Block House a mid 19th century fort on the Pembrokshire coast. It was very fab, extremely comfortable - not at all fort like - well not in the living quarters but the battlements were rather splendid and the basements were rather spooky, all joined by a very old totally safe but rusty looking spiral staircase. From the vantage view of the roof top we watched the huge oil tankers and ferry boats sailing and out of Milford Haven - guided by an array of tugs, they seemed so very close.  We had hoped for a big storm - having been warned that in extreme weather the fort is beset by waves hitting the eight foot deep walls and lashing against the windows but in fact we were blessed with amazing weather - some glorious sunshine which allowed us so good coastal walks. We visited St Davids and had a wander around the Cathedral, it was very pleasant almost empty - an excellent opportunity for

At uni we are deep in design development and its great fun, although I am a bit all over the place with so many ideas flying about and so many good resources to draw on.  The intention is to design 6 individual collections of scarves each collection having at least 4 designs and several different colorways - this of course could change to 4 collections with 6 cohesive designs - but....that's the word that's causing me a slight discomfort at the moment they is absolutely nothing reassembling cohesion in my current work at the moment. colourways for men on the moon Some of the imagery is beginning to translate as a collective design but I need to rein in the colour palate or at least make it consistent to each collection.  The collections themselves are at the moment very individual, linked only because I have designed them!! It is early days yet and I will keep experimenting and laying images and producing some lay outs and hope that in the long term the collections will em

Moving house is quite exhausting, first we packed boxes and threw stuff in black bags,it all started quite tidy, boxes labeled bags sensible and then it became a bit of a free for all!!!  Now we are at the other end and unpacking is an interesting experience. It has taken us this long to sort out internet so this is a delayed post... but we are now in a position to eat and cook in a fairly unpacked kitchen - to sleep in a reasonably unpacked bedroom - one where we can walk around the bed - have all our furniture and clothes in and still swing the odd cat if it should dare to venture that far...   We have made the sitting room comfortable but as this is the room we are going to decorate first we are keeping everything to a minimum until that is sorted.   It is however a nice room with a lovely big ornate fireplace and a cosy wood burner so it is still very pleasant to retire to when we are hiding form all the other boxes in the dining room, study , spare room and my new studio sp

I started this blog on Jan 8th 2016 as a task I had to complete for a Newcastle college module when I was studying the printed and constructed textile course there.  It wasn't the right course for me - it made assumptions about learning abilities and suited a younger audience who wouldn't question methods and had little experience of textiles or life in general.. Of course what the younger generation had was computer knowledge and I would never have survived the two years I wasted there without support from the other students sharing their computer savvy!! In among the little teaching we were given, we were expected to devise, implement and write this blog with little or no tuition or any guidance - (yes that is harsh but I had no idea at all and when I sought support it wasn't given at any level) I was very proud when I mastered the technology and programme needed and I managed to put this together and feel quite pleased it has survived for four years!!!  For me this blo

Ok todays the day - I sit here typing and just killing time until we go collect  the keys to our new home!!!! Its very exciting... I cant wait to start this new project and have our own place to do what we want with and have the garden to work with.  We are very lucky the house has been well kept and is ready to move into - We just need to address some decorating issues really to make it our own space - and this will take time and thought.  The garden is already amazing and I'm looking forward to seeing it grow and transform over the next year - it has been much loved and I expect it to have surprises every month!!! I have space to set up a new studio and Dr Fred has a nice study space to make his own - we are sorry to leave this lovely little house it has been a great space for a while but we realized it could be an an option for the long term... Dr Fred is really looking forward to a proper sized bedroom instead of the box room we use now of course the views are not quite s

Belated new year greetings I wrote this post and then was carried away by festivities - actually we had a splendid evening with friends and their family watching The Railway Children (classic film)  and then a few tunes.  It was very nice indeed but here is to next year ... Pack up your troubles in an old kit bag...and put them in the cellar, or under the stairs, in the eaves (not much room in mine..)  Give yourself a break... soon like all stored items they hopefully will be come less problematic possible forgotten and even in some cases resolved... but at the very least they are shelved  until you find calmer times, more positive energy and space to confront them with solutions and even laughter.  When they emerge some time later they may seem less important less valuable and sometimes even irrelevant... so with that plan in place embark upon the the new year with glee..positive energy - remember to sing and dance a little every day, talk to strangers and use less plastic.  If we a