Karen Ruane

an edge, a seam

Two edges, two seams. Bullion knots, cross stitch, buttonhole lace and a scrap of trimming. This is my embroidery from yesterday evening. The cloth was pieced earlier in the day. I am back on my wrapping cloth for the moment, a day or so as I need a surface, a section to work some applique and cutwork on for video purposes. This cloth could be said to be finished in terms of sections. I am going to hang back on putting it together for now though as I may need to create more if the group needs it.

It's a hive of activity in my front room today, work everywhere. I am busy being organised!! Yes, organised....at least I am until my plans fall apart and I realise  I was just creating havoc for no good reason.

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The Cloth

just a bump and a French Knot seam

more lace

 I succumbed yesterday afternoon. I gave in to temptation and created another piece of lace cloth to embroider. This is the second piece....of how many I don't yet know but my plan is to join them and create a kind of half curtain for my bedroom window. I embroidered on this all yesterday evening...just buttonhole lace edges for now. These edges define the varied surfaces perfectly for me. I think I made the right choice.

This morning I have been up since the crack of dawn. I have cleaned the house and washed dirty laundry, put petrol in the car, delivered my son to take part in a hockey tournament and I have also been playing with my wrapping cloth and taking photographs! No cobwebs on me today. Here is another link for you to the new embroider, embellish, create group. They are working so hard and I would appreciate it  if you took the time to browse.

I hope you all have a fab Easter and if you don't celebrate Easter then I order you to have a great couple of days. Get the kettle on as well because I am coming to visit some time soon! (I will accept an Easter egg in place of cake)

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adding lace to lace

I'm late, I know I'm sorry. I won't go into all the boring detail because I'm here now. A little out of puff from all the dashing and running around and I won't even go into the side of my computer falling off it's far too traumatic. I am going to focus on embroidery and lace and all things beautiful. You have seen this one before. It had the bump I didn't like on it. The offending bump has now been removed and replaced with a more fitting applique piece in a softer cloth. I like it now. There is a new corner too,  a corner of pleated lace which also has applique in non offensive cloth. I like how this is developing.

Later today I want, no NEED to put another piece of this together. The reason? Because I crave it. It's in my head and it can't be ignored. I will pass by the aforementioned piece of technology, missing its side panel which fell off with my eyes firmly shut.

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paper and lace.....

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specks of colour

speck  

/spek/

Noun A tiny spot: "the figure had become a mere speck".

Verb Mark with small spots: "their skin was specked with goose pimples".

Synonyms noun.   spot - speckle - fleck - stain verb.   speckle - mottle - spot

My favourite word today is speck. It came to me last night when I was embroidering this section and adding tiny bits of colour...specks..........

There is new cutwork and applique here along with bullion knots and French knots. Tomorrow it will be lace, but not on this cloth. This cloth will now rest over the weekend whilst I gather my thoughts. Speaking of gathering you can also see my latest scrap of vintage, bought online, tiny yet gorgeous.

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the next thing....(and an embroidery book)

just a bump and a French Knot seam

I'm home...but please don't take your coat off because I am going out again in 5 minutes. Sorry about that, no coffee and cake today. I should be able to get the kettle on and put my feet up tomorrow so please make sure you come back then. This is it for now, a paltry effort I know. One bump and a seam of French knots. 

Yesterday was good. Food, family, flowers and fabric...all the 'F's''. I bought three yards of pure white muslin. Not very exciting you may think but for me it was the best thing I could have bought ever...yes I really do get that excited about cloth.

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Lace....

hand embroidered bullion edge

two hoops....

a pile of cloth....

I'm not here today. I have ventured further into the frozen wastelands of the North to deliver flowers and eat cake. When I get back I will be working on this little pile of gorgeousness.

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The Cloth

loops and a corner

I have been adding titivation's to yesterdays piece, moving it on. Embroidered loops have been added to a seam and there is now a corner embroidered with buttonhole lace and French knots. This cloth is coming together quickly. For once I may even be finished before class. That would be a major achievement for me I am usually last to finish but then again maybe I shouldn't tempt fate!

The dreaded passport photograph was done this morning. I swear I should have just sent in a picture of my mother!!! Twins......honestly. That would be a good thing if my mum was 24 and glamorous but as she is in her 70's....well you know. She looks great for her age but I can't say I am happy to be the mirror image of someone who is 70. I am now off to put a bag on my head and lie down in a darkened room....

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abc loops

just a seam....

My latest block for my latest wrapping cloth. A single seam that I embroidered last night, a double seam of cross stitch and bullion knots. There are French knots along two sides too. Other titivation on this piece up to now consists of one motif and a buttonhole lace edge. It is coming together and I am in no hurry.

Tomorrow I will be removing this class from the shop. We are one week in and it isn't too late to join us if you wish. However it is time for a bit of a tidy up and all trace will be gone in 24 hours so please don't ponder too long.

The lace class is in my thoughts but won't be discussed on here for a week or so now. I want to give my Alchmey group the attention they deserve along with the embroidery girls who also need me to be around and I have exciting things planned for you if you are reading this. You will be getting two posts this week...two lots of homework!!

Tomorrow I have to have my photograph taken so I can renew my passport. I don't know about you but I hate it...I always look like my photo came straight from a police mug shot book. Still, no passport no Vegas wedding.......best get on with it and stop moaning then!

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currently......

These are my current 'in progress' pieces of cloth. The top image shows yesterdays piece in the foreground. Do you see that bump? The white dome thing? That has to go, I will be removing that soon. It just irritates me. Not that I have anything against that process in general. Quite the opposite in fact, I use it a lot and will be showing my embroider, embellish, create girls how to do it some time soon. I just feel that it needs to be made using a different cloth, a more matt cloth, a chalky cloth. 

Meantime I have been pondering the pieces I have accumulated so far for my new wrapping cloth. That is the piece that will get most attention this coming week. Class has started, the flickr group is filling up. I need to be one step ahead of class not twelve behind so I had best get a  move on.

This week is also the very last week of Alchemy. That is going to be a wrench. I have spent the last 12 weeks with those girls and boy will I miss them.  I have a feeling that the girls in eec will keep me on my toes but 12 weeks is a very long time. There is a lot to miss there......sad face here. All is not lost though, it appears that you do want a class about lace and that will come, will be announced in the next few weeks. Meantime my eec group will be getting my undivided attention! Get your pencils sharpened in class.....

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falling into place

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Lace....

Yes I'm still here. Weather put paid to my plans so it's a weekend of embroidery. Nothing to complain about at all and the North's loss is blog worlds gain and my gain in terms of needle and thread. One thing to consider, I had bought roses for my mum and my aunt. Now I have roses....lovely!

I worked a little on the piece from yesterday last night adding a French knot trail and some seams of chain stitch. It would appear that someone wants a class about this, yes, honestly. I talk more about this in  the video so if you can bear to watch six minutes of  my rambling then that is where you need to be. Nothing is decided yet as I am a little confused at the request but hey....it will all become clear.

and I meant to say.....for some reason my computer is doing everything twice. If you get a mail from me  expect two! I'm sorry.....

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