Karen Ruane

earlier this week

Class started last Monday, we've already started making pockets, doodling on cloth, stitching pocket fronts and designing all manner of pocket related things...(yes we have....I hope you were all paying attention) There are two images here from our first post,  a little doodling on cloth, creating pattern in a simple way and a glimpse at my ledger which I have to say is at a very early stage and not yet ready to set the world alight.

The top image is of two pouches/pockets which were in the early stages of completion at the beginning of this week. They are both backed but unlined here. One of them is finished now, you saw it yesterday and someone has bought that already...thank you!! The other has yet to be lined and finished....we are doing it in class. They are waiting for me to get my act together and bring all the plans I have for this one together....that's what I will be doing this afternoon.

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Embroidered pockets, human cloth. (doodle, embellish, wrap)

doodle doo and doodled cloth

pink, green and Broderie Anglaise

It has a green lining and a row of green puffs to complete the surface embellishment. It also has two pink puffs on the inside...finishing touches. This is quite a bit different to my white, far removed from the subtlety of white. I have worked in colour before, gingham, spots, stripes yet this is more ''out there'', more funky maybe, brighter...I love it. It's happy, it's sunny, it's cheerful. It's now in the shop.

This morning I ticked off some chores.....mostly duster flicking and a little trip with the hoover. That means I have time to play with cloth later. I began by gathering Brodrie Anglaise, assessing what I have and doing  a lot of folding....there is something very relaxing about folding cloth. You can see some of that here.....Now I'm off to fold it all again and put it away...

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doodle doo and doodled cloth

new.......and old 'in progress'.

petals and gimp

White, white white....I love white. A white pocket in progress. More gimp and a partial flower worked in cutwork with lace cloth filling the cut away areas. I trailed some gimp across it, I couldn't help myself.

I'm running late today. Don't ask why because I don't know. I haven't even been to Flickr yet. Don't worry, I will be over soon. I think it's going to be one of those days when everything happens in slow motion........

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White

blue and white, paper and cloth

a white fringe and surface texture on paper

one piece damp stretched, one piece lined

Damp stretched, lined and pinned, that's this piece, the back of which you can see in the second image. Damp stretched, not yet lined and not yet pinned, the other piece in these images. I do like it.....a lot. That piece will be backed, pinned lined and titivated starting today. The other piece will be finished with the girls in ''embroidered pockets''. I started that process this morning, on camera...there's still a long way to go.

All I need to decide now is what to back the pink and white piece with, choose my fabric and get on with it. The sewing machine is up as is the ironing board. The pouch which holds the cloth choices for backing is to hand and I have pins, scissors and thread. Should be easy peasy.......

 

easy-peasy

iːzɪˈpiːzi/

adjective

BRITISHinformal

 

very straightforward and easy (used by or as if by children)

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new.......and old 'in progress'.

doodle doo and doodled cloth

Doodle doo, I have missed you. It's made an appearance today because I have been asked about these, can I make some more. Flicking through doodle doo is what I need to get the ideas flowing for more little books, it works so watch this space. (although don't expect anything imminently because I've got beds to change and a car to clean and a casserole to put in the oven and a duster to flick)

The fabric piece here...it's finished! Well, the surface is finished. I have big plans for this, an idea that I hope will enhance. All my fingers are crossed as are my toes.....I will be doing this in class but don't worry, you will get to see it when it's done. I have also decided I am keeping this one for myself. 

Remember the queue for the damp stretching board?  This will be going on next, yes that one is finished too. I told you I was working hard, that my fingers are dizzy, positively spinning actually.

Just to say that it's not too late for you to join us in class for ''embroidered pockets''.  This one is a marathon, 12 weeks of class with a two week holiday when yours truly goes partying to Glastonbury. I give you holiday??? I'm good aren't I. Read more here.

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pattern

French knots on doodled cotton

gimp and lace

Gimp.....which looks gold here but isn't...honest. In my house it looks cream, off white....anyway, gimp has been added to the white piece from yesterday, on the lace cloth area. Lace cloth cries out for bling when it's in my hands, it took me all my self control not to put glass beads on here last night. AND the lace has been slightly titivated too, still a long way to go on that one. Also, goodness me I was good last night, also I finished surface embroidery on this. In fact I was so productive that I've got a queue for the damp stretching board....that's a first, unheard of.

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blue and white, paper and cloth

White

You saw me put this little piece of white together yesterday, on camera. It's having an easy beginning, buttonhole lace around the edge of the lace cloth, bullion knots securing a seam with another row of bullion knots half extending across the main body of the piece. That row will eventually extend across the whole piece.....I just ran out of time. 

I intend to play with the placement of folds for this one before I decide on final surface embellishments just like I was doing here. There is a hankering for buttons building with this....big buttons, white buttons....

I am almost back to normal after a great weekend, disruption but amazing company, disruption of the best kind. Helen goes back this evening....I miss her already.

 

(if you are registered for ''embroidered pockets, human cloth'' you should have received passwords and things this morning and you should also have received your invitation to our private Flickr group. If you haven't received any of those please let me know)

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a surface, embellished....

paper and texture

prairie points

plans

Wow......I'm a year older.....allegedly. I feel younger, must be the cake. Thanks so much for all the birthday wishes. I had a lovely day, great gifts, spoilt in fact. I got a new camera, very unexpected. I'm still feeling my way with that as evidenced by the second image today but then again, white is quite hard to photograph so maybe it's not the camera. (the first image was taken with the new camera too, same time, same place)

I still have house guests.....well just my daughter but she is the equivalent of five house guests...a whirlwind of discarded clothing and half drunk glasses of water from one end of the house to the other....but....I am not complaining. I will miss her when she goes back to London tomorrow. There hasn't been much stitching going on so what I'm doing here, on this video, apart from waffling about not very much is putting a small piece of white together and talking about the progression of an old, neglected piece. One of these pieces will have had some embroidery added before I go to bed tonight, I am determined.

 

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three pockets and yesterday captured on camera....

slow progress

the table....

It all happens on the table.....the table is piled with my stuff from morning until it's time to eat in the evening. Basically our dining room is my studio. I have pretty much taken over the whole house, there is stuff in every room belonging to me and belonging to embroidery. I live with the most patient of people.

I'm not here today. Today is my birthday. I am most likely eating cake.

stitch chat and a doodle

It's a fact, my fingers don't move as fast as I need or want them to. I have made progress on this but nothing spectacular, nothing that will stop you in your tracks. Because of that I decided to give you a doodling pep talk. I apologise for getting on my soap box.....it's only because I care about you, honest.

 

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pattern