Planet Ruby Starrs

I didn't post my Christmas present from Dr Fred he seriously excelled himself this year... In Gateshead there are a couple who make the most amazing mirrors using reclaimed china, mirrors, and wood.  We have seen them at the market Quayside in Newcastle and now they have a Gallery in Gateshead  - really worth a visit.. http://cotfieldmirrors.co.uk/ We saw them at the Festival of Thrift at Redcar where they had some stunning designs, so many different ideas and wonderful ways of recycling. Its a ship on the high seas with treasure down below.  Its very beautiful made from cut pieces of mirror and cut up pewter treasure.  Its difficult to get a good photograph as it reflects everything really magnificently - its very sparkly, and bright and wonderful - looks lovely in our room. There a wee secret little box with a scene from Amble (well I think its Amble) hidden away in it and and a fully working pocket watch as part of the treasure! I feel very sp...

We went to the Festival of Thrift.  Its a pretty amazing collection of everything you could think of to do with recycling, reusing and reducing in general.  Its an annual event and this year was held in the Mighty Redcar - a place I have some fondness for as I worked there for a few years in my previous life as a daily grinder.  I'm not sure but I think its very much a Northeast event and is held up here rather they being a national thing- I hope so because its good to see something so positive happen in an area which often get neglected when it come to culture.. (yes I know that is up for debate but compared to the south it is poorly served). cardboard art The traffic approaching the area was terrible but there was plenty of on site parking and in the end the event was worth the waiting in lines along the the A174.. I don't now how the festival organisers could change that - its just a testament to how popular the event is!!! The festival was much bigger then I ...