Karen Ruane

piecing a pocket

Because I haven't already got too many pieces in progress, (if you believe that you believe anything), I have pieced the beginnings of a new pocket inspired by a pocket made in pocket class. What can I say, inspired and then some.

This piece and this piece are almost finished. My fingers are stitching at speed in the background. I'm reluctant to share yet. I want to wait a while. I'm hoping everything in progress will come together in one momentous moment, one blindingly amazing day when it can all appear on here together. I usually show things immediately I finish them. Excitement? I'm not sure. Doing it this way is a bit of a departure for me so I am trying to be patient, restrained.

I am being taken here for lunch today. It looks posh but trust me...I will only be having bread and water. When I get back little books will be on the agenda, more pages, more samples, more doodling.

a quick doodle

As promised, the page from yesterday has been added to with a very quick doodle. One simple line which brings it together a little more, connects the other pieces. There is still a lot of blank space on here. I'm not worried. I may not touch this for a couple more days but I'm in no hurry and I already have an idea of what to put there.

I'm having a very mixed day today. It's all good but my ''to do'' list is extremely diverse. This morning I stripped beds, made this video and another video for you for tomorrow. I posted a new set of videos on the ''sampling'' class blog and I want to line a piece of embroidery which is now finished. (I still don't want to show you yet. I'm trying to get a few things finished in order to show them all at the same time)

Also on the ''to do'' list today, clean my sons room.....he moved out yesterday. Re make the beds and work on a few pages for my little books. That should  keep me out of trouble.

(link to the Flickr doodle group I speak about in the video)

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a thread wrapped card....

Another video. You're either spoiled or stalked.....you decide. This is the very first page of an artist book for me, for myself. The blank page fear has been overcome with a little tissue paper and a thread wrapped card.

There is a lot of embroidery going on here,  a lot. I'm just not ready to share yet, I want to progress things a little more first. It may be that tomorrow you get to see more work on this page, on camera.

Class has got off to a flying start. It's not too late if you want to join us. I haven't been to Flickr yet today but if yesterday is anything to go by then class will have overtaken me already. It happens all the time, i'm always last.

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a pocket, gimp and buttons

a buttonhole edge

I'm working on some pieces which are in progress on a kind of rotational basis, changing which piece gets a little stitch each day. I'm hoping that way they will all be finished at the same time......it's a plan. It remains to be seen whether it will actually work out that way but nothing ventured nothing gained.

This one had five tiny applique motifs added over the weekend, this morning it has a tiny half circle pocket edged with buttonhole stitch which takes shape on the video.

If you are registered for 'Sampling for Stitch' you should have received links and passwords this morning. If you haven't received those please let me know. I will begin to invite you to our private Flickr group this afternoon.

wallpaper, a favourite book and new vintage....

A few images from the last couple of weeks. If you consider the wallpaper offcuts you can have an imaginary tour of my house! The pink check, bedroom...one wall. The black and white pattern, bathroom. The ''dabs' .....entrance hall. I suspect you are relieved to hear that I don't have all of these in the same room although that would make for interesting inspiration.

I bought a few delightful vintage pieces, lace and a tiny baby shirt. I have been playing a lot with pages (as you know), and lace too.

The little book is probably my favourite book of all the books I have. It was given to me as a gift years and years ago by the tutor who I credit for awakening my love of all things cloth and stitch. it's a delightful little sketchbook by Sara Midda......you couldn't fail to be captivated by this one. For your Sunday treat take a look at the images here....

composition

Ripping paper, sticking things down, stitching Suffolk puffs to a page, attaching small samples....Friday afternoon at my place. I do love putting these tiny compositions together. Some come together quicker than others. It helps if your stitched samples are already made and you don't suddenly feel the urge to have a scrap of lace embellished with bullion knots which doesn't exist yet and requires making.......Note to self.....get some made.

The very painterly, colourful, gorgeous torn paper here was bought. unfortunately I didn't make that myself, I wish I had. My task for today is to try and make half an hour for playing with that idea.

Sampling for Stitch begins on Monday...yikes. If you want to join us then just go here and read all about it.

a tiny composition for a page

I'm between classes, it's weird. What to do? Thumb twiddle? Watch daytime TV? Housework!!!??? Not a chance on that one.....or play with nice things and put pages together for little books? That's a much more attractive option than something which involves a duster or a hoover or any cleaning products.

I will be doing a little more collage today, bigger sheets to rip up. I might also do a little more doodling with watercolour paints.....to cut up.

two....

Two pocket tops, one moved on more than the other. These are this one and this one with added titivations. One has a new pocket with lilac cloth with little circles, the edge of which is crammed with bullion loops and French knots. There's also a tiny double cloth applique on that one, edged with bright pink bullion loops.

The other, the one that has had least attention now has a length of gimp attached which is secured with multi colour bullion knots....I think I need to work on that one some more tonight.

I have been cutting out pages for little books and collaging scraps of tissue paper with torn paper doilies too. I may show you that tomorrow if I make enough progress....

a pocket with pockets on top

The final pocket from pockets class, a round pocket with more pockets on top. The reverse also has a pocket and two rows of bullion loops. One row is on the main body of the piece, the second row edges the pocket opening.

There is a Suffolk puff securing the back pocket just off centre and there are five more Suffolk puffs adorning the edge. It's one for me, I am at the early fondling stage and have no idea what I will keep in it. (it has a diameter of 10 inches)

If you are signed up for ''sampling for stitch'' you should have received an e mail from me yesterday. If you haven't received that will you please let me know. (it concerns Flickr) Also, I will be sending another mail later today so please watch out for that and if you do not receive it before tomorrow morning, again please let me know.

There was a lot of excitement here yesterday. Some time ago I answered a lot of questions for Inspirations magazine in Australia.  My answers have been translated into a feature about my work  which is now in the new issue (issue 87) I received my copy yesterday and here it is.....I hope you enjoy it...

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Lace cloth, a fabric insert.

This tiny scrap of lace cloth is fast turning into a sampler, little bits added here and there. Today it's the turn of my new circle motif cloth which is added behind an open area with chain stitch decorating the edge....

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