Ruth McMonagle
LightNews LightNews
banner
ruthmcmonagle.bsky.social
Ruth McMonagle
@ruthmcmonagle.bsky.social
750 followers 500 following 1.2K posts
Textile artist. Nature lover.
Saving the planet, one stitch at a time.
She/her. Aotearoa New Zealand

#art #textile #fabric #recycle #reuse #quilt #sew #stitch #craft #thread #climate #MTB #travel #adventure

Lover, mother, friend.

ruthmcmonagle.net
Posts Replies Media Videos
ruthmcmonagle.bsky.social
#SecretSantaAoNZ
Cake, Whittakers with no nuts or fruits, vanilla ice cream, for morale.
Favs; seasonal fresh fruit esp cherries. Cheese, cheese, cheese, cheese, & more cheese, but not blue cheese.🤮
Least fav; hamburger. Cant eat capsicum.
Snacks; Peckish chill, salt & vinegar crackers.
witchnwords.bsky.social ☽✮..Jaide Dee ..✮☾ @witchnwords.bsky.social · 1d
Time for another question #SecretSantaAoNZ
What are your favourite foods? Least favourite? What can't you eat? What are your go to foods FOR MORALE?
Quote or reply with your answers.
Getting to Know Ya Fav foods? Least fav? Any dietary restrictions? A teaser of an announcement graphic. Red background with pohutukawa like holly across the top of the square. Text in white. Across the bottom are 6 cartoon versions of the Secret Santa team and the hashtag #SecretSantaAoNZ
November 13, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Reposted by Ruth McMonagle
colnz.bsky.social
Reminder for anyone who needs it about Assoc Prof Siouxsie Wiles’ fundraiser - she was there for us through the worst of Covid, let’s return the favour
November 13, 2025 at 5:29 AM
Reposted by Ruth McMonagle
museumbums.bsky.social
One of our all-time favourites (for many obvious reasons 😍, and not least because it's the first bronze statue of a manual labourer), William Hamo Thornycroft's "The Mower", 1882-1884, at Liverpool's @walkerartgallery.bsky.social
👍🏛️🍑 #MuseumBums
A bronze statue of a figure standing in contropposto, with one hand on their hip and the other holding their scythe The same sculpture but from a different angle
November 13, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Reposted by Ruth McMonagle
itsafronomics.bsky.social
I am shooting my shot.

I love writing op-eds.

@teenvogue.com was my main outlet, but if there are any others (especially independently ran) that are looking for a contributing writer on race, gender, and the economy, I'd love to work with you.

Signed,

A Black woman who writes for the public
November 13, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Reposted by Ruth McMonagle
midnightpals.bsky.social
Musk: joyce carol oates? she a very meana lady!
Musk: she usa too many semicolons!
Mortal Kombat Announcer: FINISH HIM
Oates: i hear you have a cool daughter
Oates: a normal dad would be very proud
Mortal Kombat Announcer: FATALITY
November 12, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Reposted by Ruth McMonagle
orthanc.nz
I learned a little bit about how do do link cards, and now this works

secretsanta.nz
Secret Santa NZ
Sign up before 19th Nov. Send by 5th Dec. Opening day 17th Dec!
secretsanta.nz
November 11, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Reposted by Ruth McMonagle
blackwallmancer.bsky.social
idk whether anyone finds this is as amusing as I do, but while I'm cleaning out my photos, here are some pics of my Blackwall ami that I took while figuring out how to build up his face. Clearly, he's a looker at every step of the way 😌

#Blackwall #DragonAge #DAI #crochet #amigurumi #wipshots
A crocheted doll in progress, with the shot focused on the face, which is being shaped at this stage. The nose has been stuffed and sewn on, and where the eyes will be are indented. The cheeks have also been hollowed out. The head is largely featureless, and also bald. Another WIP photo of the same crochet project (Blackwall Dragon Age). In this shot, I've begun adding hair, both brushed out yarn and intact yarn strands, as well as have kind of roughly outlined where I'll want the eyes and brows to be, which I've done by loosely needle-felting yarn onto the face. It's mostly guidelines at this stage. Also, he has ears now. Another shot of the same crochet project, but with a bit more done. The facial hair and uhh hair-hair are pretty much done at this stage, though I go on to fill and shape both a bit more before the project is finished. The eyes have been given the shape I want them to have, along with a lash line, and are awaiting the irises and pupils (so hard to get them perfectly placed). The face has been shaped a bit more, mostly with needle-felting in lines beneath the eyes and above the nose, along with high up on his forehead. A shot of the completed project, focused on the face. The hair has been filled out, shaped, and detailed with lighter colors, the eyes have irises, pupils, lower lash lines, creases on the outsides, and highlights in the center, the brows have been thickened and shaped, and the nose has been lightly outlined to make it pop more, as well as shaped a little better. Some color (chalk pastels) has been added to around the eyes, nose, lips, and cheeks so the piece isn't flat.
November 11, 2025 at 5:04 AM
Reposted by Ruth McMonagle
lizewings.bsky.social
Today’s nudi:Chromodoris luterosea. Lovely purple and yellow blob. I used mostly watercolor with a little colored pencil and a little gouache.
#nudibranch #nudivember #sciart #chromodoris #oceanart #marinebiology
Purple and yellow watercolor painting g of chromodoris luteosea nudibranch
November 10, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Reposted by Ruth McMonagle
resad.bsky.social
Hopeful news. Let’s get diagnostic tools and therapeutic options out to desperate Long Covid sufferers affected with the debilitating symptom called brain fog. 🙏❤️😷
November 11, 2025 at 5:05 AM
ruthmcmonagle.bsky.social
If... by chance you notice me following you, it's because I have seen you in the #secretsantaAoNZ feed.

Looking forward to seeing you all unwrap your gifts in December.
#secretsantaAoNZ

Have fun!
November 10, 2025 at 5:59 AM
ruthmcmonagle.bsky.social
#SecretSantaAoNZ
I’ve signed up for the best random acts of kindness section on Bluesky and Mastodon.
Do you want to sign up too? #SecretSantaAoNZ
Secret Santa Aotearoa is kicking off.
I've signed up and so should you!
#SecretSantaAoNZ

App: secretsanta.nz
November 10, 2025 at 5:55 AM
Reposted by Ruth McMonagle
larissacomments.bsky.social
It’s TODAY! Sign ups are open.
You have until the 19th of November to go to the app and register. Secretsanta.nz
Don’t miss out.
I think we all need some Christmas joy this year.
#secretSantaAoNZ
November 10, 2025 at 4:57 AM
Reposted by Ruth McMonagle
silverpebble2.bsky.social
Daughter climbing a huge ancient willow tree earlier👇🏼.
Her: ‘This could be our tree’
Me: ‘I think it already is.’
We took a blanket & sat in our willow nest till an hour after sunset, ate chocolate in its branches and made eachother wreath bracelets from two of its slenderest twigs. 🌿
My younger daughter climbing a huge ancient willow tree at dusk A wreath bracelet she made me from one of the willow tree’s twigs
November 9, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Reposted by Ruth McMonagle
vibeke.bsky.social
The bioluminescence on Palm Beach Waiheke Island has been insane the last two nights. Amazing atmosphere with many people swimming and splashing in the surf. Magical night. Never seen a traffic jam like it though on our sleepy little beach! Pics by Indy Bombuwala.
November 9, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Reposted by Ruth McMonagle
suzirose.bsky.social
I think my sign-up has worked
#SecretSantaAoNZ

Let the party get started!
Did sign-ups open at 12:01 on the10th of November? I think they might have!!!! #SecretSantaAoNZ
November 9, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Reposted by Ruth McMonagle
michellejonesart.bsky.social
#Nudivember Day 7: the starry night nudibranch!

I had to use my Van Gogh paper for the background of the collage
Two blue nudibranches scattered with yellow stars, and purple gills and rhinophores. The background is a grayscale image of Vincent Van Gogh's distinctive curling brush strokes.
November 8, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Reposted by Ruth McMonagle
cousinronnie.bsky.social
Currently obsessed with this Victorian wax seal fob. The falcon has sapphires for eyes and the smoky quartz seal on the bottom has a carving of a bird flying out of a cage and the motto “how sweet is liberty”
A Victorian wax seal shaped like a falcons head The bottom of the seal, a smoky quartz intaglio that reads “how sweet is liberty”
November 9, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Reposted by Ruth McMonagle
saimihanma.bsky.social
I thought today's #Nudivember would be more fun, but I spent so much time on it I don't even want to look at it anymore.
A watercolor illustration of a very complex nudibranch that has a lot of cerata, all striped with three colors, a visible foot that's gray and blue, two long oral tentacles and two other weird tentacle things I don't even know what they are
November 8, 2025 at 11:01 PM
ruthmcmonagle.bsky.social
Fabulous introduction.
This is great for a smile. The cat at the gym!

#tinyjoys
thatwriterguy.bsky.social Mike L Tilford 📚 😺 @thatwriterguy.bsky.social · 5d
In 1972, a cat commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. These kittens promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government they survive as soldiers of fortune.

#cats #kittens #caturday
November 9, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Reposted by Ruth McMonagle
phil-tanner.mastodon.philtanner.com.ap.brid.gy
The front of the Christmas tree.

The back of the Christmas tree.

#secretsantaaonz
Photograph of a man in a white suit, light blue shirt and tartan tie. He's facing the camera. Second photo to the right is the same man, photographed from the back. He's effectively naked, with no back to the suit jacket or shirt, no back to the trousers, merely thin strips of material to keep the shape of the garments correct at the front.
November 8, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Reposted by Ruth McMonagle
nakimushiart.bsky.social
“Covid isn’t that bad” No, noo not at all, it’s not that bad, I’m just using a asthma inhalator for the first time in my life after literally never needing one and needing one only now 5 fcking years after getting Covid cause it decided to make my body deteriorate invisibly. But it’s not bad. No.
November 8, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Reposted by Ruth McMonagle
disarmonia.bsky.social
All I’ve been reading online for years is how we’re not really suffering compared to whomever. You don’t even understand the scale of destruction in Ukraine. But guess we’ll stop irritating you soon after the rest of our electricity is gone and we’re silenced and freezing.😘
November 8, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Reposted by Ruth McMonagle
disarmonia.bsky.social
Don’t know if it even made the news outside Ukraine.

Three combined heat and power plants fully stopped working after last night’s enormous attack. Unclear if anything can be fixed, millions of people are completely without electricity, heating or running water. Before winter.
November 8, 2025 at 9:22 PM
ruthmcmonagle.bsky.social
Is this real?
Do I click on the link?
@support.bsky.team
A screen shot of a "we regret to inform you that your Blueksy account has been temporarily suspended due to security-related restrictions'" etc.
November 8, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Reposted by Ruth McMonagle
jeremie.com
One of my favourite Iowa farm kid experiences growing up was hunting morels every spring. I got to meet lots of other wonderful species both during those adventures but also just from spending most of my free time wandering in the woods 🤩 1, 8, and 10 were my top: picturemushroom.com/region/Unite...
This image shows a small cluster of morel mushrooms growing on the forest floor among dry brown leaves. The mushrooms have tall, cone-shaped caps covered in a distinctive honeycomb-like network of ridges and pits. Their color ranges from light tan to golden brown, with creamy white stems. Sunlight filters through the surrounding leaves, highlighting the textured surfaces of the morels. A few small green sprouts nearby in a springtime eastern Iowan woodland setting.
November 7, 2025 at 5:29 PM