Karen Ruane

stitches and circles

Spotty cloth, circles, five minutes and a few stitches....a video. I extended this stitch last night, another ten minutes or so. As I was doing that I thought wouldn't it be wonderful to have this embroidered cloth in yardage, a full yard of it to cut up, to patch, to piece. I played  a little on photoshop this morning, (not my strong point as you can see) just to get an idea of how it might look pieced with a check....it works for me.

This little sample will go in my sample stock, my sample library, my snippet for books pile, my handy little pieces pile for when I need something special to finish a design sheet or  a page.

(re photoshop. It's not that I couldn't do better if I put the effort in. It's the will that is missing, the desire....I am not a technologically minded or passionate or even interested person, I'm a stitcher.)

five mirrors

This little white piece started life here. I can't remember what the plan was back then but there is definitely a plan now...more on that when I get nearer completion. Last night I added five tiny mirrors to one seam. You might notice there is a small applique circle on that seam too, a little out of place perhaps. I added that some time ago and decided I didn't want to continue with those. That one will stay there as a reminder of that decision.

This is almost finished in terms of surface embroidery. There is a row of bullion loops to add at the top of the lace strip and then it's good to go, to be transformed into something special for someone special......shhhhhhhh.

I've got  a hectic week ahead of me, not much time for intensive embroidery so I see videos in your future, a little doodling perhaps and a little stitch.......watch this space.

Related articles

a pocket, gimp and buttons

lace cloth, another page, a video.

half back

My table this morning......(I'm back by the way. Did you miss me?) I woke up today itching to get going but couldn't locate my stitching brain, where to start? Get everything out, that will do it.....not yet it hasn't. Never mind, it will come. I had a great holiday, very little jet lag...wow...that's definitely good news. California was hot and then some...hot hot hot.....a stunning view at every turn however  helps you to forget the fact you are melting. There are pictures here and it's definitely worth scrolling down the page.

Now I need to go find that starting point. Class are expecting me. The shop is open again, classes abound in there including ''sampling for stitch'',  the current one which starts again tomorrow.

I will be more ''with it'' tomorrow.....said with fingers crossed, more stitching, great conversation...(OK, that may be asking too much) but I will definitely be less fuzzy headed, more in tune with my stitch, stitch, create brain. I really did miss you.....

pink and gingham and lace and bullion knots....

I'm going away tomorrow....will you miss me?  I'll be back in around two weeks.....make the most of the peace and quiet. Today is the last day until I come back for you to sign up for ''sampling for stitch''.  These images are a glimpse for you of my pieces from that class. I am going to miss playing with lace and pink gingham. If you do sign up there are 36 videos for you to watch whilst I am gone with another 8 weeks of class to come when I get back. You will also have my two weeks away to familiarise yourself with the group in our private forum.....and a very friendly bunch they are too. If you want to read more about sampling class just go here. (the shop will be closed later today)

Earlier today I managed, against all odds and with more than a little bit of stress and sweat to secure tickets for this again. There was a massive sigh of relief and an unbelievable feeling of luck and gratefulness.....phew....

Meanwhile, the pillow for my hairdresser (it's a long story that you can read here) has more bullion knots, pink ones and green ones...

I'm off to pack....miss you already x

a ledger for my holiday

Yesterday I said I had an idea, something which got me a little excited, something to take on my holiday....well here it is. I put together a little ledger crammed with scraps of paper. I'm thinking I might doodle a little bit whilst I am away, keep notes, a record of what I am doing. I've never done this before, honestly. There have been times when I have been away on holiday and I've been itching to make a note of something or scribble a rough pencil mark  which represents something inspiring....I hope I can keep it up, that I don't come back with a book full of empty pages....a doodleless ledger.

 

a new pin pillow

I had a visitor earlier this week....the lady that cuts my hair. (yes, she comes to me, I'm not a beauty salon kind of girl) She has been cutting my hair for almost 20 years and not once have I given her a gift. Not because I don't like her, it's just not that kind of relationship although I do like to think that I care about her. She probably doesn't feel the same about me however as I am a very bad customer. I have a 'thing' about getting my hair cut, can't abide it, don't know why, just detest the whole process. My son used to cry every time he got his hair cut when he was a little boy....I wonder if there's a connection there.? Anyway....what on earth has this got to do with embroidery I hear you cry.....I will tell you. Every time she comes she scans the room for whatever I am working on, looks, touches, (if she is allowed). This week she was very taken with the pin pillows in the last image which are in my cabinet. Obviously she had never noticed them before. So......and here's the embroidery bit, I am going to make her one, a surprise. The top has been put together and a little of the titivation has happened. What do you think? I hope she likes it. It will be five weeks before she comes again but I will let you know whether she was delighted or underwhelmed. (and just in case you were wondering, she doesn't visit my blog, doesn't even have internet so we are safe)

I am going away on Monday night, holiday time. The shop will be closing on Sunday night so if you were wondering about signing up for any work on your own classes or even our live class, Sampling for Stitch then please be aware that nothing will be available after Sunday. If you do sign up for Sampling for Stitch you would have the two weeks I am away to catch up. (although catch up isn't compulsory as you have access forever)

I am determined to doodle a little whilst I am away. With that in mind, I got a little excited earlier about an idea I have had. I will share that with you tomorrow.

decisions

The knicker elastic from yesterday is consigned to history.....(well it's gone in my snippet jar which is almost the same thing) and while we're here I would like to assure you that my own underwear is very boring, not a frill in sight. (that one is for those of you who were asking)

I played some more last night, cut up an old piece of embroidery, added some lace. It's got a long way to go and I need more lace, different lace in order to vary this surface so this morning I held an impromptu audition.