Karen Ruane

bits and bobs.....

I thought I would give you a break from my current veil obsession and share some tiny samples that I have created in my efforts to evolve into a good teacher. I also wanted to explain my absence...a future absence. My daughter and her new FIANCEE are coming today...note the fiancee word! I will spare you a definition....for today anyway. We are then travelling ''up north'' to a family wedding on Saturday. I will be gone for two days...shocker!! (you know you will miss me) I will be here tomorrow...I think...but may be slower than usual in replying to mail etc. Begging forgiveness in advance......

BUT......if you do begin to pine....there are videos here and here...

different

It is different I promise. If you watch the video you will see. The video is only 2 minutes long....

I have decided to call this my veil...not cobweb. I have an aversion to spiders. I am not talking about veil in the wedding sense either. You will see that I am indulging my love 0f definitions again but with a reason. Note the alternative definitions.......

veil

  [veyl]  Show IPA

noun

1.

a piece of opaque or transparent material worn over the facefor concealment, for protection from the elements, or toenhance the appearance.

2.

a piece of material worn so as to fall over the head andshoulders on each side of the face, forming a part of theheaddress of a nun.

3.

the life of a nun, especially a cloistered life.

4.

something that covers, separates, screens, or conceals: aveil of smoke; the veil of death.

5.

a mask, disguise, or pretense: to find fault under a veil ofhumor.

 

           

white, frothy, soft, in my hoop....

Remember I said you would be seeing a lot of this kind of thing...the white lace/scrim/embroidered/festooned thing? Don't say you weren't warned. Last nights effort was cutwork, delicate lace in the holes and a little extra buttonhole stitch to create the softer, looser edges. This will continue this evening too so goodness knows what I am going to show you tomorrow. It may be time to scavenge for old sketchbooks or something...look back through my old blog for images I can hope you have forgotten about. Perhaps I could re visit the past in a nostalgic way...... just re post and old post. Would that be cheating? Most likely yes.

I could always just not bother tomorrow I hear you say...not a chance. I get withdrawals...you know I do!

I also fear that it's time for the naughty step again. I couldn't possibly tell you what time I went to bed last night you would recoil in horror. Safe to say I was late getting up this morning so my plans have gone awry. Thing is I love to stay up late but I NEED to get up early to get things done. I think it's time my little boy came back from his travels...my commitment to get him to work in the morning means I have no choice but to get myself out of bed....come home James...pretty please.

can't keep away.....

Don't be fooled...I am still up to my eyes in it. Well at least I should be. I made good progress yesterday when I was gone but there is a lot of ticking off the list left to do. I am on it...honest. I even have a lot of housework I want to do, yes WANT to do. It makes me feel good if I manage to do a little of the domestic too.

I really missed you yesterday though so that's why I didn't disappear for longer. I am such a sap......a proper wuss. This is where I am up to with my ''festooned'' cloth...it's coming along very nicely. I am more than happy.

 

 

and please pop over here to see what the girls are doing...they would love that.

An Embroiderers Ledger

An Embroiderers Ledger, the online learning programme is starting again in September for the second time. Today I thought it would be a good idea to make  a short video about some of the things we will be doing, a few peeks at my own ledger and a little bit of chat about the class.

There is more information here and you can also go here to read more and register.

For the next three days I have solitude....a lot of time to spend alone and get through numerous things that I am really looking forward to.  Most of it creative, a little admin and titivating of pages etc and a lot of e mail answering. I may take some time away from here.....at the moment making that decision frees me a little to get more done, in my head at least.  That's not to say that I won't get through my list quicker than I imagine and be back tomorrow...who knows. But if I do disappear at least you know where I am, incarcerated alone, beavering away and loving every minute.

 

           

love.....again

Yes...I'm in love again. No it's not David Beckham it's cloth....this is what I want to do...all day every day. These are for my festooned cloth....they will either form a section of it or they will inform what comes next. Basically who cares....they can hang a round here without a purpose for as long as they like.

 My weekend is planned, more of this and then more of this.....

little bumpy thingy's....

I am adding little bumpy things to the second part of my cobwebby festooned cloth...along with more mirrors. I do have another process I want to use on this piece but I can't share that yet. You know the drill, the girls have to see it in school first. I will show you tomorrow I promise and I absolutely love the pictures so am hoping you will too.

I can't stop playing this....at least ten times already today. It makes me want to weep.....

questions, question, questions....

In my quest to transfer from the old place I have added a new page today...questions and answers. Just look up, it's at the top under the picture. It is quite long...you may grow a beard but hey just read until the boredom sets in.

In the embroidered world......this piece is now finished. You will be seeing a lot of this kind of thing from now on as I have a plan. A wrapping Cloth created from sections of this...at least that is the ''plan''...fingers crossed that I can pull it off. I envisage a cobweb like structure, light, airy, glittering with mirrors and festooned with bullion knots....

fes·toon   (f-stn)

n.

1. A string or garland, as of leaves or flowers, suspended in a loop or curve between two points.

2. A representation of such a string or garland, as in painting or sculpture.

tr.v. fes·tooned, fes·toon·ing, fes·toons

1. To decorate with or as if with festoons; hang festoons on.

2. To form or make into festoons.

 

Maybe I haven't used the word in it's most exact form...but I like it and it's my blog.

What will I do with it when it's finished? Haven't a  clue......but I will have it, it will exist, that's enough.

 

 

and I almost forgot...this is now in the shop.

doodling

It's a funny day today...anyone would think I had nothing to do. Remove a child and I become a dropout...late hours, gone midnight before I get into bed. Consequently can't get out of bed at a decent hour of the morning then don't get dressed until lunchtime.......I'm a disgrace, hanging my head in shame as we speak and as soon as I have posted this I'm off to sit on the naughty step. Meantime I've been doodling, on camera. A five minute video for you.

external link

http://youtu.be/UAWqB44hyEk

 

three pieces and a delicate sample

Three pieces, two of which are finished. The other is a sample and may not get any more attention. The middle piece will find its way into the shop sometime this week. So far today has been about finalising video, taking pictures, creating PDF's,  a little housework and a few cups of coffee. Later I will be drinking peppermint tea whilst I embroider.

On normal week days I take my son to work and pick him up again in the evening. Our wonderful public transport system doesn't cover the area he works. Now that he is away on holiday I find myself with more time. That's a good thing but also strange...