Karen Ruane

falling into place

It's amazing how things just come together when you need them to. I have been doing a lot of laying things together, looking at unfinished pieces, looking at doodles of edges and things. Last night I finished this piece which had been laid on the table with other work. A lace edge has been added and embroidered with buttonhole lace where the two pieces meet. I have a bigger plan for this and will show you that very soon.

Today I will leave you with a reminder.....the very last ever embroider embellish create begins on March 18, just over one week away. If you would like to know more about that then just go here. That doesn't mean I will not be having any more online classes. It merely means that embroider, embellish create, the wrapping cloth/hand embroidery class will not run again. There will be others and you will hear about them on here as and  when the information is ready.

Have a lovely Saturday

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everything part two

Today it's the turn of the sketchbooks to be glanced at every so often, pages turned. Despite the fact that this exercise was born from desperation I am quite enjoying it now. You don't realise how many resources you have until you gather them like this. I didn't realise I worked so hard...must have a nap!

You will be delighted to hear that it clicked too. That thing in my brain, it just switched itelf on again, it's all systems go now.....

everything

Not everything I own. Not everything I have ever created. This is everything I have to hand, close by, within reach, all laid out on my table. I walk past and glance every so often. From experience I know this is the best way to be inspired, to find a boost, to see that tiny piece of information that won't show up on its own without prompting.

Meantime I am cross stitching, more cloth to be cut up and used as embellishment, as strips, as pieces for applique because I appear to have fallen in love with how that looks.

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hand embroidered bullion edge

Don't be fooled by the neatness, order and apparent focus here. Don't for one minute imagine I know what I am doing here. This work, my current work is driving me to distraction. It isn't doing it for me. I am trying, changing things, making new pieces, putting stuff together and then taking it apart again. A creative hiatus is happening....maddening, frustrating.

I was focused last night whilst I was embroidering an edge of bullion knots for a new piece of paperwork. The loops are all bullion knots, hand embroidered, damp stretched and added to paper. It works as an edge but that's as far as it goes for now.  If you are doing Alchemy then I have a mini breakdown over this piece on your next video....an advance warning, it happens in the middle. No tears, no none of that, just a lot of verbal angst.

This will pass, I know it. It happens all the time. Tomorrow everything in the garden will be rosy....

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abc loops

 No, you're not imagining it I am early today.  No particular reason apart from a sudden burst of organisation. Last night I added loops to my piece of lace cloth. A raised, 3D element was needed and that was the solution. The only problem now is that I have used strips I was saving for embroider, embellish, create and will have to make more. Why is that a problem? It means I now have to embroider a large piece of cotton with cross stitch. Not a problem for me but you may start yawning as soon as you arrive on here if all you get to see is cross stitch day in day out. Please accept my advance apologies if that is the case. Who knows, I may be able to muster enough creativity to vary things....that will depend on Father time.

If you would like to examine this piece in more detail then as if by magic I have a little video for you....

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paper and lace.....

I love it when a plan comes together. I am not quite there yet but so far so good. The cloth, the lace piece needs more embellishment and I haven't finished with the paper either but there's no rush....I am having fun. I have actually put another cloth piece together this morning, how's that for being prepared? and I've been out to buy printer ink. Today I am being exceptionally good and I hope someone notices!

I have had a few mails about embroider, embellish create. Yes...this will be the last ever one. No, that doesn't mean I won't be running any more classes it just means that particular one has ran its course. This one, the last one, starts on March 18 and if you are wondering then just go here to read more. I am leaving this one open a bit longer due to it being the last one...never to be seen again.

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tiny

two hoops....

There are two pieces in progress at the moment, two very similar pieces, both lace and titivation. One has cross stitch the other doesn't but that's not to say it won't at some point. Last night whilst I was watching the new James Bond...under sufference...against my wishes....yearning to stick pins in my eyes rather than be made to suffer James Bond and Skyfall.......I added a lot of bullion knots. (I have to say.....and keep it to yourself, just between us....I surprised myself and actually enjoyed Skyfall. What is happening to me???)

My favourite, favourite, favourite part of these? The tiny little ''fence'' or ''gate'' of knots that you can see between the two hoops in the top picture and just below my name in the last picture. I intended them to look like that, it worked, I love it.

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Friday.....

I'm late, running behind, list not ticked, I haven't even been to school yet and checked in goodness knows what's happening over there. So It's a quick one today, a peek at what was happening here yesterday. Boxes being rummaged through in order to create more cloth, putting bits together, a little stitching, a little wrapping, a lot of thinking and a huge amount of planning. Today, what's left of it, will be a little housework, reading mail, checking up on class and a take away. Who has time for cooking?

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Last night I appliqued some petals, some flowers on to my new piece of cloth using the cross stitched piece I showed on here yesterday. There is a certain satisfaction in creating a piece of embroidered cloth and then cutting it up to provide surface embellishment for another piece of self made cloth. It is the fact that it all belongs to you, is personal, created by you every step of the way. 

Imagine you densely embroider a six inch square of cotton. You then use it for applique or cutwork, patchwork even. Then ask yourself could you have bought anything that unique. Perhaps you could but I would guess it would cost you an enormous amount of money...so my motto, DIY!

Thanks so much for all the comments and e mails yesterday re my appearance in the book. I consider myself told now.......it won't be put on a shelf it will reside on a table! As for that enabling visitors to see it, one important thing to note...I never have visitors. (not a problem, I prefer a solitary, reclusive existence)

Finally for today (I am on a roll creating my own lace based cloth, itching to do more) thank you for the continued passion for embroider, embellish, create. It is filling up nicely now and I can confirm that this will be the last run of this class....ever. So another big THANK YOU before it bows out.

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mostly white