Planet Ruby Starrs

The motivation to do college work from home has been low, I know that in the light of the bigger picture not having a degree show or a graduation is minor but its still disappointing and also I had under estimated how much I would miss the inspiration, the chat, the support, the camaraderie of my fellow students in our and across other year groups... I'm definitely missing the technical support and wish I could recall more of my one to one session re InDesign - I know its not complicated but its thwarting me at the moment!!!!! Anyway after a relaxing week in the garden - as relaxing as one can be knowing the virus is out there - we are lucky to be safe and hunkered down with plenty to do - I have decided to get as much uni work done as possible.  Its likely going to be a digital hand in and this means less scarves actually printed at this point, but lots of photography especially as my sketch book is crammed to the gills and multi layered and wont look half as good in pictures as...

this beetle inspired by the Natural History Museum features quite a lot in my designs I'll passingly mention the Corona virus as it impacts everywhere - College has stopped all group sessions - the buildings remain open to use the facilities for the time being but ominous emails about handing in digitally are arriving so I expect it's only a matter of time before it shuts until further notice.  For some students this will cause massive problems - fortunately I'm probably going to be ok.  I have pretty much got myself to a place where I can work from home, I have printed several scarves at college using the sublimation printing and heat press, and now its just a matter of embellishment.  My intention is to order a further 6 designs from an external printing company so I can have them printed bigger and on natural fabrics like silk and cotton lawn but his may not happen just yet.  This is at considerable expense and due to purse strings being a wee bit tight - Dr...

Final designs happening at last!!!  I have over a 100 designs to choose from - some more final then others, some which I don't care for at all and some that still need a wee bit of working up, but all were part of the design development journey.  I am going to have 6 scarf designs printed by an external company and have just sent off for some sample prints to check colour and also to try and make a decision between printing on 100% soft cotton lawn which I have done before and it was very nice or 100% silk twill which will make the colours pop and is extremely floaty and perfect for scarves!!  I like the idea of both but just couldn't decide.  Printing the scarves is a huge expense for an impoverished pensioner art student so it needs to be right, so the outlay for samples feels worth it, it will hepl me decide which fabric works best and they will look grand in my sketch book.... and eventually I will make something from all these sample fabrics I've collected over ...

Fun afternoon making a lampshade.  First I had to sort out some fabric, I didn't have long to play about, so I took a drawing I did of Sadel Castle on the Mull of Kintyre and sliced it up and stuck it back in an 'abstract' manner and them scanned it in to further play on Photo shop.  I recoloured it using my colour palate - which incidentally is slightly changing to become a tad brighter... and then prepped the design for printing on the Sublimation printer at college.  Still not really liking polyester fabrics but needs must as time (and money) was a factor I decided to use the synthetic linen as it has a really nice texture - its probably the least synthetic looking fabric.  (the sub printer only works with synthetics).  Once my fabric was printed I then cut it to size and started the surprisingly easy and very therapeutic process of making a lampshade.   I've been so centred on design lately that it feels really nice to be actually making somethin...

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 c...