Read all about it.....
Monday 7th September,
Summer spent in Ibiza has been the best year yet for Rubyruby. The culmination of the hot summer season ends on the 22nd September at an exclusive invitation only fashion show for Kurru Kurru, the most glamourous brand in Ibiza. Kurru Kurru perfectly epitomises the gorgeous style of Ibiza, the island of beautiful people.
The fabulous designer Marinela Cifteli embodies all that is glamourous and beautiful and this is reflected in the Kurru Kurru designs.http://www.kurrukurru.com
Rubyruby is over the moon to be invited to showcase the bags on the catwalk at Atzaro. I will be designing a capsule collection just for the fashion show and they will be for sale at 50% discount on the night only.
I am so excited about working with this fantastic label, and feel very priveleged and honoured to be chosen for this event. I hope that we will be able to work closely together for the future.
It will be held at the gorgeous luxury hotel and spa, Atzaro in the heart of Ibiza.
Nicky Clarke is the guest hairdresser and the event will be filmed by Fashion TV.
Wednesday 29th July,
Ibiza Now magazine has mentioned Rubyruby bags being for sale in Dalt Vila! Click here to read the article!http://ibizaa-z.com/ibizablog.php?name=1523
Monday 27th July
Life just gets better for Rubyruby! Just returned from a whirlwind two weeks in my favourite place in the world, Ibiza. Met some beautiful people there that have really helped me to find wonderful new homes for my Rubyruby bags. Ylfa who designs the most magical clothes and has a shop in Sant Carles and a stall on the legendary market at Las Dalias, loves Rubyruby bags. They go perfectly with her ethereal and beautifully handmade clothes like peaches and cream! She gave me her contact in Dalt Vila where she sells her dresses, Anisya, and off I went with four Rubyruby bags and some heart felt necklaces.
Anisya loves my Rubyruby bags and immediately put them for sale in her wondrous boutique. The boutique is next door to the world famous, La Ventana hotel, at 19, Sa Carossa in Dalt Vila. Gorgeous one off handmade clothing, beautiful pieces of furniture and other object d'art abound in this stone clad Aladdins cave. Beautiful boutique and lovely friendly owner, when I left I felt like I have known Alisya for years!
I am back in Ibiza on the 18th August until the 3rd September, I have appointments with other boutiques whilst I am there. If you wish to meet up please contact me via the contacts page, it would be lovely to meet you.
Sunday 28th June
Gosh! What a whirlwind six weeks I've had! Sold another gorgeous felt and vintage fabric bag in Pearl & Hemingway in Whitstable. Lesley the owner is so lovely and welcoming and they have a great selection of vintage clothing next door. I'm sure that 'I'd like to spend the day in Ladurees' has gone to a very loving home. My bags in Cache, Rye are off to the Goodwood Revival in September with Tonya Bastyn (original designer for Whistles and then went on to set up the hugely successful and gorgeous Press & Bastyn). So if you are going, please go and say hello. They have some divine dresses for sale there! Four of my Rubyruby bags have just been despatched to Ibiza, 'Belle Epoque' a beautiful black merino felt and vintage lace creation, 'My heart races when you are near' vintage fabric baguette, 'Blissful kisses on a summers day' vintage fabric and handrolled felt bag and 'Soul meets soul on lovers lips' felt clutch. They will be spending the summer on the 'White Island' falling in love with their buyer!
I've also been designing a beautiful Ibiza inspired bag for a new delicious drink being launched this summer. It's gorgeous, with a beautiful felted gecko iridescent in sequined splendour.
My Rubyruby bags will be moving from Chatham Nucleus gallery next week so if you are in the area go and have a long last look as they will be moving around to either Whitstable, Rye or Ibiza.
I'm currently promoting Ibiza inspired designers and artisans on my website. The items have been handpicked by me, if you wish to purchase then you soon will be able to through paypal. The item will then be despatched directly from the artist. The artists will change on a regular basis so you will always be certain to discover a new and original treasure that no one else has!
All is good in the Rubyruby camp. ;)
Sunday 10th May
Had a wonderful day yesterday. My son and I boarded the Hythe to Rye bus and had a wonderful jaunt through the gorgeous Kent countryside. We passed yellow fields of rapeseed set against the clear blue sky. The eco friendly windfarm just outside Rye looked majestic as they silently and beautifully created energy from the wind brimming across the coast. We drove through Lydd, waving at the wedding taking place outside the ancient church and on past Camber Sands, kites blowing in the sea breeze. Rye is such a lovely historic promontory and when we disembarked from the bus we headed straight for our destination, Cache, on Market Rd.
Sarah, one of the delightful owners, met me with open arms and a huge smile. I had an appointment with her to show her some of my bags. As I opened my large customised bag covered in antique and vintage lace rounds, she gasped with admiration as I opened the leaves of tissue paper surrounding each one.
I took five of my bags, three felt and vintage materials, and two completely vintage and antique materials. She loved all of them. They will go fabulously in there, as they have the most gorgeous dresses I have ever seen. Tonia Bastyn who designed for Whistles and then set up her own label Press & Bastyn is the sister of one of the owners. Her beautiful vintage style dresses look perfect next to the vintage elements of my Rubyruby bags.
Rye is a fantastic place for my handbags and I think they will do really well there. If you're in the area please pop in.
Cache, 5a Market Rd, Rye, East Sussex, TN31 7JA
Wednesday 29th April
My friend, Karena Callen, phoned me today to tell me that as she was leaving her favourite shop in Rye, Cache, the owner called out to her to stop. Sarah, one of the owners rushed up to Karena and stroked her Rubyruby bag, begging to know where she had got it from. Karena replied that it was a special commission from me and offered to get me to contact her.
I telephoned Sarah immediately and she told me that she thought the Rubyruby bag was amazing. Very unusual and perfect for the shop. Please could I come in to see her.
As I've been busy distributing my bags to Rochester, Chatham, Whitstable, Folkestone and New York, I only have two samples available. So I immediately started rolling some felt for three new bags in different colourways. As it takes about a week to make just one, I know that I will have to really burn the candle at both ends to get them finished in time.
Wednesday 22nd April
Today I have busy uploading some gorgeous new heart felt corsages. These little beauties come complete with velvet or organza ribbon so that you can wear them as an elegant choker, longer necklace or remove the ribbon and use simply as a pin to adorn whatever you like. They are embellished with vintage buttons, beads and crystal AB beads and each one is of course, unique and original to Rubyruby. Hope that you enjoy wearing them!
Monday 20th April
I will be putting four of my handbags, one felt and three recycled vintage materials into a beautiful gallery in the heart of the creative quarter in Folkestone. The gallery is called 'Chimaera Gallery' and is situated opposite the brand new Quarterhouse venue on Tontine St. Wendy Van Halderen Moss has curated a wonderful exhibition which runs from 24th April. Please contact the gallery for opening hours http://www.chimaeragallery.co.uk
Sunday 19th April
What a lovely weekend I've had. Just completed an interview for Louise from Catwalk Threads...what a lovely lady!!!
To read my interview http://catwalkthreads.wordpress.com/2009/04/19/unique-handmade-accessories-from-rubyruby-boutique/
I do hope you enjoy reading it and finding out more about me and my creations!
Tuesday 31st March
Just to let you lovelies know that I have one of my felt and velvet clutch bags in a fantastic exhibition in Chatham at the NAC. It runs from Saturday 7th April to Saturday 4th May is free, (I think!!) It is profiling the artists who exhibit at the Nucleus gallery that was in Rochester High St and has just moved to new gallery space next to Dickens World at the Historic Dockyard in Chatham. This will be a fantastic exhibition and a chance to see some never before seen work from very talented artists. The clutch that I will be exhibiting has never before been seen on either my website or any boutiques. It is called, 'All love is sweet, given or returned' and is a quote by Percy Bysshe Shelley. It is made from merino handrolled felt, vintage silk velvet, antique silk embroidery panel, simply dripping with semi precious stones and vintage buttons. Please go and have a look. It's at the NAC, 272 High St, Chatham.
Saturday 21st March
Another busy few days! A delightful shop in Whitstable wishes to sell my bags. Pearl & Hemingway is situated on Harbour St with a lovely red door and is packed with fantastic vintage clothes and amazing finds. The wonderful owner, Lesley West, champions individual artists and designers giving them precious space in her jewelbox of a boutique. She has only had the bags a few days and has already sold a pretty messenger bag called 'As I walked out one midsummer morning.' An ode to Laurie Lee, it was a beautiful conconction of pale pink cobweb felt, vintage buttons and a sweet cotton lawn handle and lining. Another lady is interested in buying 'I could spend the day in Ladurees.' So I am very happy that they are getting good homes in Whitstable. A new feature of my handbags is the new introduction of dustbags. They are all individually hand drawn onto vintage cotton pillowcases. Original and eco friendly!
Thursday 12th March,
New launch of the Nucleus gallery in Rochester. This art gallery showcasing the best local artists, has now re-opened next door to the Dickens World in Chatham Dockyard. This beautiful space has lots of natural light and beautiful, desirable creations and artworks by some extremely talented people. Three of my handbags are available to view and purchase here, two from the Ibiza collection and one from my new clutch collection, 'I'd rather have roses in my hand, than diamonds round my neck.' The gallery is now open at weekends for your pleasure.
Tuesday 24th Feb,
Wow! What a whirlwind weekend I have had! After offering feltmaking courses at my home I have two days fully booked. Please watch for a list of dates to be listed if you are interested. You will need to live in Kent to attend. Also, I am very happy to report that I am supplying two fantastic boutiques with my handbags and other creations. One in New York called 'On a Pink Cloud' a Handmade boutique. They run short courses in various crafting and it is a real haven. The owner Marci, is fantastic, a real inspiration and just the place I love my handbags to be. http://www.imonapinkcloud.blogspot.com
The other boutique is a wonderful place in the north of Ibiza, in Sant Carles, a beautiful little town which hosts the world famous Las Dalias market. I'm really happy to be selling my handbags here in Lottie Bogotti as the delightful owner, Hannah, works tirelessly to promote vintage and recycled goods. Her boutique is beautiful and the pieces she sells are not only amazing but ethically sound. My creations will fit in like ducks to water! http://www.lottiebogotti.com
I am really excited about these two new boutiques as outlets for my work and can't wait to pop over to Ibiza to deliver the goods in person. I will be sending the bags to New York, though, I can't manage two trips abroad in March, much as I would love to meet Marci.
Thursday 19th Feb,
I'm very happy today as I have sold a bag to a lovely talented friend of mine. Her website is www.zaracarpenter.etsy.com if you want to check out her beautiful work. She's off to a wedding in May and was browsing through my website and fell in love with one of my new collection bags 'Kiss often'. I was overjoyed as I knew that they were made for each other! She received it this morning all wrapped in tissue and ribbons, a beautiful treat to herself. Why not go and have a look at it and see how lucky she is! I also have just started a hit and miss blog called 'Arsenic and old Lace' my blogspot address is www.rubyrubyhearts.blogspot.com if you want to see what I'm up to. Currently being very heavily influenced by the fabulous glorious technicolour films of the 50's and 60's. The costumes and the colours are fantastic. I'm having great fun watching and sketching!
Monday 9th February,
Been dreaming of returning to Ibiza and getting my handbags for sale on this beautiful island. Every time I go I take a little sketch book and some watercolour pencils and simply sketch what I see around me. Ibiza is just such a magical place to be and fantastic inspiration is around you everywhere. Take my 'Wild thing' bag for example, this was inspired by the red ochre earth that Ibiza is made up of, and the wild geckos that run wild scurrying underfoot where ever you walk. The countryside is beautiful and the colours in the sun really stand out. At the top of the island is Portinatx, a gorgeous cute little resort with three sandy beaches where you can hire pedaloes and pedal off exploring crystal clear seas where you can clearly see fish and the famous reeds that float about at the sea bed, filtering the water and giving it its clarity. Right at the very tip of Portinatx near to the stripy lighthouse, there is an amazing lunar landscape, all blisteringly white pockmarked rocks and rough seas, if you are lucky enough you might get sprayed by the salt water.
My felt handbags that have been inspired by Ibiza come with a little booklet detailing the inspiration behind its creation, including photographs of the places that I sketched before it was created. This hopefully will give you more of a story behind the handbag, that it's not just been cobbled up in my studio, rather it is a reflection of nature and the body and soul that the creative process injects into it. I do hope that you will feel energised as you use your new Rubyruby bag and bask in the compliments that will come your way.
Saturday 31st January
This week has flown by! Popped up to the Nucleus gallery in Rochester High St to replenish the stocks there. They have sold two of my glorious handbags and I took in some smaller clutches. Small but beautiful! It was a beautiful winters day but with the faint glimmer of spring in the air, I love days like that. I even had the chance to wear my handfelted merino jacket which took the chill off the crisp morning.
I took a quick detour on my way to the gallery to pop into an amazing shop. The beautiful welsh cape in the window took my breath away and I just had to go in and look around. Fieldstaff Antiques is the sort of shop that you could easily lose a few hours of delicious browsing without noticing the time. From elegant 40's furs to silk beaded embellished gowns it is vintage heaven. My magpie eyes flitted from piece to piece with unstifled gasps of delight. I met the delightful owner, Jane, and her mother Ann, who immediately commented on my jacket. I was thrilled that it had been noticed and told them about my rendezvous with the gallery, they promptly begged to be shown my new creations and oohed and ahhed over them as I produced each one from my voluminous bag. I have put a link to their glorious shop in my links section, so please do check out their website and their shop at your earliest convenience.
I have just purchased some rather exquisite pieces of antique lace and will be making them into some new clutches soon. My clutches have been selling extremely well, they are just the right size for an evening out and look pretty enough to display on a shelf when not in use. I am really looking forward to making some new felt handbags too, and am currently designing a cream merino and silk chiffon dress which will be warm yet light and oh so gorgeous!
Barcelona
I went to Barcelona two weeks ago with my scrumdiddleumptious husband of 18 years! We had a wonderful time browsing the tapas bars and bending our necks looking up at the most amazing architecture in Europe. Gaudi is very inspirational and as I had done one of my textile pieces a few years ago based on his 'Casa Mia' it was nice to actually see it in the flesh. Although, I did not pay to go in we just stared at it from below, all lit up in all its wondrous glory. I did buy some rather wonderful shoes though, red and green, with a amazing felt and suede heel and a couple of pink felt cherries on the toes! I will be posting a pic soon.
xxx