I'm back from my latest trip up the M6...boy am I sick of the motorway. Hopefully that's it for a while. The next couple of days will be slightly hectic getting ready for Monday. I have clothes to wash, clothes to iron, clothes to pack. I have a house to clean ( if you saw the image I put on instagram this morning that is only a tiny area of a much larger mess!!) Thankfully it's a glorious day and the washing is drying beautifully on the line. I don't have my car either....garage....that needs to be collected later. Oh well......embroidery will fit in somewhere I will make sure of it.
The tick in the title relates to these two little things....they are ticked.........not finished but almost....My plan is to finish them tonight and mail them in the morning. So that's me....my chores for the day listed here and my plans for embroidery too. I will be here tomorrow. What will I show you? Haven't a clue but I will be here!!
Two more tiny pieces have been added to my current white piece. This surface is becoming embellished more speedily than I thought. Looking at the second image gives a good sense of that, of the area still left to embroider, to add to, to titivate. It's filling up quite nicely isn't it. What do you think? I have decided that this will definitely be a pouch, for the shop. I won't use it as part of my daughters new ''bed'' size cloth. That will be started during simply stitch but not started first. I have a plan for my first simply stitch item. A plan that excites me. Not a completely new item as such but a special item, with new additions. I am being cryptic, sorry. I will shut up about it now.
On the holiday front my brain is working more efficiently. I have a mental list of things to do, things to pack, so I am half way there. My currency is ordered as is my taxi to the airport. I have also been talking to my phone provider, my mobile, (cell) so that I can photograph Sweden to death and share with you on Instagram and Facebook. So really I am taking you with me.......I'm too nice. You can pay for your own room though!
More work on unmentionables today, along with more tabs. I had hoped to have these all finished before I went away but sadly I don't think I will, sorry. Two are almost finished, I will be mailing a couple of you before the week is out so stand by your computers!!
I want to comment a little on yesterday. You are all so kind worrying about my stress levels. I have to say though that you can all relax. I am not at all stressed, I wasn't stressed yesterday. No, not stress, more yearning.....a desire to find some time to completely immerse myself in embroidery, no distractions, no outside things and stuff to attend to. And yes I know...we could all do with that. Trouble with me is I have to say it, to verbalise my inner most desires. Be relieved that they are limited to fantasies of the embroidery kind!! It could be so much worse.....
Now I want to share with you a little intertview I did for British Cream Tea website. It must be all my talk of cake that attracted them....enjoy!
Share a Pot of Tea with...
Karen Ruane
I am so excited about today's guest! When I first sat down to make a list of who I would love to introduce you to, Karen was one of the very first names that came to me so I am thrilled she is joining us today ;)
I first discovered Karen's ridiculously gorgeous embroidery years ago and was awe struck by her intricate white on white pieces. Patchworks of lace and embroidered cloth and monograms scattered liberally with bullion knots and teeny tiny flowers...
seriously...whats not to love??
so this afternoon, my lovelies, lets sit back and savour the fabulous stitches of Karen Ruane's Contemporary Embroidery...take it away Karen ;)
For centuries women have used cloth as a tool of comfort and as an expression of beauty within their homes. Creating cloth for warmth, cloth for shelter, our female predecessors embellished these linens with hand stitch using laborious and time consuming techniques thereby enhancing the functional beauty of objects which enveloped and protected their families. Inspired by these women I hope my creations pay tribute to and recognise the devotion expressed in cloth by our female ancestors .
All my hand embroidery takes place on the sofa, in front of the TV or listening to the radio. I find it impossible to hand sew anywhere else....on a plane, train, in the car....at someone else's house. I have to be in ''my seat'' in my home
As for my favourite pieces....my wrapping cloths, the cloths I first created as a representation of my desire to shield, protect and envelop my children.
I really hope you have enjoyed this mini romp through Karen's work and that you adore her pieces and fabulous stitching as much as I do.
If you want more information about her work you can visit Karen'sblog...though be warned, once you start flicking through the photos time will run away and you will find that hours have passed in a flurry of bullion knots ;)
And finally, in my usual method of saving the best for last...
"Twice weekly, sometimes more, we will gather together and embroider. I will discuss my plans, my inspiration, the preparation and creation of embroidered cloth. I will demonstrate technique and process throughout. I can guarantee that there will be pockets, pouches, pin pillows and more. I will share thoughts along with the more tangible sources which drive me. I will doodle, you will be encouraged to do the same."
A seat on her course will be my treat to myself if next week's Artisan Market goes swimmingly...so you have to join me!
I got this gorgeous little book, or should I say dictionary off my son for my birthday. I love it. It's small, precious and crammed with snippets of information and wonderful little illustrations. This morning I thought I would have a look, check, to see if I knew properly what lace was. Do the things I call lace actually fit the definition. You will be pleased to hear that they do...loosely at least.
It's been a whirlwind this past week. It's been amazing but I'm exhausted. I feel completely out of the loop in an embroidery and online sense, floundering and with so many things whizzing around in my head that I need to do and want to do. I am going on holiday in 7 days so there are things to do for that. I have a family situation to attend to on Thursday which will take me away for the whole day. I feel a list coming on.....I must make a list then at least as I tick it off I will feel as if I am getting somewhere.
I pieced this cloth on Friday. Yesterday I began the embroidery, (no pictures sorry) This is the cloth for the final batch of unmentionables. There is silk dupion, silk tissue and lace. It is a gorgeous surface....very soft, almost quiet and also gentle. I will show you the embroidery but I can't today. Why? Because i'm not here. I am ''up North'', a birthday visit to my parents so they don't forget about me. There will be cake and presents....yes, more presents. And then this little angel is going to be 3! To celebrate that I will be going here....I will behave myself, let the kids go first....honest.
Yesterday I promised you white and here it is.....I adore white. It's almost as if I forget how much I do adore white when I'm not working with it.
There is bright sunshine today which in theory should make the photography easier. Somehow it doesn't....too much sun. That isn't something I am used to saying. I think these are OK though....better than they would have been if it were raining.
I speak more of this in the video, a better explanation of the cloth along with some imagery of my latest vintage acquisitions.
I'm late today aren't I....I don't actually know why. I was up at 6.30, parcels were wrapped and dispatched, (I'm not mentioning the parcel contents. I said the other day that I wouldn't mention them again for a long time). I have tackled the supermarket run....and he we are...late. I have looked for the time that disappeared and I can't find it anywhere so I will just let that one go.
Today's pictures are of the latest ''things I won't mention''.....tomorrow I have white. Hopefully that's worth coming back for. It is actually a rather nice piece of white that I am loving......layers and ruffles and edges and such things...wait and see.
I had a wonderful birthday, lots of presents, (I told you I had been good!), gorgeous cards, cake, good food....lots of good things. Thank you all for the amazing good wishes and the mails and the e-cards...I love those e-cards...thank you for the flowers....you know who you are and the chocolates. I feel as if I should be giving an Oscar like acceptance but honestly....I hope you know how much I appreciate everything.
I don't normally do ''current affairs'' on here but today I have to. I feel a huge need to speak of the sadness that appears to be engulfing everything in my days at the moment. My heart is broken after Wednesday. I had to say it....
Sorry...yes, sorry. I was going to apologise because all my planned pin pillows have been taken, reserved. I was mailed and asked by several people and as there really never is a guarantee that anything will sell I feel as if I can't turn down a concrete request....ever. But then I had a panic attack.....I get like this at times. What if someone didn't ask in time? Am I being unfair? I don't know. You decide. So because of that I have decided that the two here will not go to a reservee but will go in the shop.....later today...in around half an hour...If nobody wants them they won't languish.....a reservee will get theirs a little bit quicker.
If you are a reservee.....and you know who you are....don't buy one of these as I am going to start yours tonight. After that I won't mention pin pillows again. (well not for a couple of weeks anyway!) Phew....I feel a little less heavy in the conscience department now, I will sleep soundly tonight.
Tomorrow I am having a day off. I am being wined and dined and given cake. Tomorrow is my birthday. Behave yourselves whilst I am gone....see you Friday....x
Proof that there is more going on here than pin pillows. I have been examining old work. sparking ideas centred on going back to basics for simply stitch. (don't panic if you are registered for that. You don't need to do any of this. This is merely what I do when I plan on a change of direction)
Simply stitch is for me to re connect, to go back to my inspiration in its most basic form and that was....and still is...domesticity (my own) wrapped up with my Grandmothers, the women of the past, utility stitching, traditional stitching. That is ever present in my work now, be it pin pillows or wrapping cloths. It is the patterning that has changed not the motivation. Now I want to alter the patterning, the technique...hence this exercise.
By coincidence Fiber Art Now highlighted a piece of my work yesterday..... that piece is here, 5th image down and can also been seen in some of today's other pictures. The significance of this work is the ironing board, (domesticity....or slavery depending on your point of view!!) specifically my own examination of the ironing board in previous work. This morning I have been looking back at that and combining that previous design work with familiar patterning and older patterning.
Are you keeping up? I hope so.....because remember the other day when I said I saw hexagons in my future? Well there are a few of those here too and see those viewers....the rectangular card things? I also see some of those in my future....except they will be hexagonal ones.
Aside from playing and reminiscing I went out this morning to buy essentials for my holiday. I say essentials....I mean clothes. They are pretty essential I suppose but to me clothes shopping is akin to being banned from embroidery for a year. I detest it. I don't like shiny.I don't like sequins. I don't like huge prints or sugary ribbony girly things. Basically it's white and various shades of black. Actually give me a sack....that will do. Anyway.....I returned after two hours torture with.....four packets of envelopes, two packets of white tissue paper and some toothbrush caps. Successful? You decide.
Please don't panic on my behalf however. I can assure you that all my important bits are well covered.......with tat!
I have had this jar for a long time, a very long time. Last night I had a flash of inspiration and thought how it might be lovely to keep all my little snippets of cloth and lace in it. I can't remember where I got it.....I wish I could because now I want some more. I will have to keep my eyes open. I have also been doing a little work on this white piece which will become a pouch. I say little....perhaps tiny would be more apt. A small piece of wrapped and embroidered cloth is now attached and the best thing about this piece is that you get a rest from the pin pillows.
I'm making good progress with this work, with these 7 inch embroidered squares for a new cloth book of embroidery. The paper piece featured in my last post and I...
