Karen Ruane

this week

A glimpse of the past week from my phone, from my instagram uploads. There doesn't appear to be much variety here....oh well, I haven't been back for very long, can't quite have got my roll rolling....

Related articles

finishing and fiddling

titivating

a table full of everything

I went out this morning. When I came back I did this. Gathering, looking, making a list, ticking things off another list. I love all of these individually. I love them more all together like this. You don't realise exactly what you have until you get it all together like this. Then you think, ''oh yes, I forgot about that''. You think ''that one makes me want to do x, y or z, that other one makes me want to do a, b or c.'' That's how your plans become thwarted. Doing this helps a lot in terms of planning but it also distracts, sets you off in a different direction for which you just don't have the time. Write it down then.... another list....you will forget if you don't Karen....

Related articles

the table....

two......

bound, wrapped, tied....

Don't worry, I haven't gone over to the dark side and developed an interest in bondage...well not in that sense anyway. This is all about wrapping, binding, swaddling in order to protect and keep safe. It has evolved over in Simply Stitch 4, part of a theme, swaddling bands. To be honest it looks like a shroud to me. Having said that I don't see that as a negative, I find it quite fascinating because if you think about it we swaddle newborn infants, we wrap them in cloth and then when it's time for someone to leave us we wrap them in cloth too.......a circle of being wrapped in cloth.

This particular sample is created from pleated muslin which has been bound with torn cloth strips and then embroidered. To add a little delicacy I have partially edged one side with little dangly things. I made the buttons for the edge too but I'm dithering over those, undecided. There's no rush, it's not finished, I will take my time.

 

If you have registered for Lace, paper, cloth and stitch you should have received your first installment this morning. If you haven't received that then please let me know as soon as possible.

Related articles

a strip of cloth.....

what's new....

process

embroidery school.....

hand bound buttonholes

adding to my doodly thing

I played a little with my stitchery doodle thing last night. I was a bit weary for some reason and wanted something simple, something relaxing, something soft and gentle. There was a little moment of anxiety, one area tore as the cloth is so fragile, it's vintage, it's older than me. I patched that area, (bottom image, left, running stitch and bullion loops). It actually adds to the piece so wasn't quite the disaster I first feared.

Aside from that emergency repair I have added partial seams of bullion loops, tiny seams of tiny cross stitches and some running stitches to highlight pattern within the cloth. Really, seriously, I have more pressing embroidery to attend to but you know what it's like...you do, I know you do. Sometimes simple is all you need.....

 

 

if you are registered for Lace, paper, cloth and stitch you should have received mail from me this morning. If you haven't received that please check your spam/junk folder and if there is no sign of it let me know as soon as possible.

Related articles

an edge, a seam

stitchery and doodles

stitchery doodles....

finished

Since I came back last week I have been finishing this pouch as well as working on my stitchery doodles. It has been backed, lined and edged with buttonhole lace. I think it's quite lovely....I also think?? it's spoken for??? We shall see about that one. If it isn't then it will go in the shop at some point.

Yesterday I went to London, a quick visit and an even quicker turn around. We moved our son down there to start a new life. I am now childless, it's quite liberating really. In total I have driven 1000 miles over the past two weeks.....it may be some time before I leave the house again.

This morning has been about catching up with class, videos for Alchemy and preparation for Lace, paper, cloth and stitch which starts on Wednesday.....later today it will be about cleaning and laundry, domestic goddess mode. It won't last long though, I give it 5 minutes!

 

OOps, I do apologise. This isn't spoken for after all so it's now listed in the shop.

Related articles

stitchery doodles....

new lace

hexagons, a single buttonhole and newly pieced cloth

stitchery and doodles

The Whi

stitchery doodles....

 

I know, I know, I said Monday. Just goes to show you can't believe a word I say. This is definitely it until Monday though. I am moving my son to London this weekend. Sadly there will be no visits to Liberty or other exciting places either...insert sad face :( 

I have been trying to get my brain in class mode whilst being desperate to stitch. In order to get the juices flowing I have been doodling with my needle on something which is purely frivolous, putting scraps of vintage white together alongside the tiniest scrap of colour. I have no idea what I will do with this but neither do I care. You probably know already that just ''having'' these pieces is enough for me.

Related articles

stitchery and doodles

process....the doodling part.

doodle doo continued.....

doodles and bumps

Doodle doo continued part two

shhhhh

shhhhh.....don't tell anyone you saw me. I'm technically still on holiday. Trouble is I can't keep away. Normal service will be resumed on Monday but I wanted to say hi!! I also wanted to let you know what is on my mind and it isn't holidays....first off there's Lace paper cloth and stitch which has now been re listed in the shop. Then there's Alchemy and SS4....I daren't look at what they've been up to. Actually, I have homework for both those groups, sit up straight and pay attention....

pretty please can you mail me and remind me what I said we were doing when I came back...I know...useless teacher...couldn't teach water to freeze...incompetent....I do have a vague recollection, vague being the essential word......help....

In my defence I've been partying here for almost a week. You can see pictures of that here. I survived mud, I survived floods, I even survived an inflatable mattress popping at 4 am!! I was the only teetotal person amongst 150,00 drinkers.....that's a lot of people to take care of.

Having said all that......I LOVED it. I'm going back. I want to go back now. Acquiring tickets is a lottery. I was lucky this time....I'm scared I won't get them again. Think good thoughts. Send positive vibes. Bribe someone.......October is sale day......I'm limbering up as we speak.

Related articles

adding lace cloth

paper page with a bullion edge