Karen Ruane

Happy cloth.....the end

It's finished! 

 

gimp and bullion knots on a pillow top

Embroidery is happening on one of the pieces of cloth from yesterday. One of the pieces has been cut in two and a piece of silk Dupion has been tacked into the space created. I then added a curly gimp edge secured with bullion knots. So far there is  a single bumpy bit on the silk Dupion...there will be more.

Yesterday I also spoke about my ''octagon'' situation. I ordered pre cut octagon templates. My excitement was mounting. They have just arrived. Only one problem......they sent me hexagons by mistake. Can you hear me crying? 

(I will be calling them)

three pillow tops and octagon lift off!

You might remember I have been wanting to play with octagons for quite some time. I ordered templates...they were too big, (you're right, I didn't read it properly!) So I allowed the urge to rest, basically I didn't so anything about it because I had other things to do and Santa was coming. However, the urge returned with a vengeance so I printed some onto paper which I then stuck to card, my printer doesn't like card. That was a bit of a disaster.....I am glue averse anyway so that didn't surprise me to be honest. Despite this I managed to get one card template cut out which I then used to draw around...result. There are only seven here, that's as far as I have got. I have ordered more pre cut templates...the correct size I hope.....I will play with this a little more when they arrive. It's those little squares which have got me excited...the possibilities for those open spaces.

The cloth? The snippet cloth surfaces? There are three of those each measuring approximately five inches square....not very big. I have plans for those, pin pillow related plans......

Embroidery School opened it's doors this morning. If you registered you should have received mail from me this morning about Flickr and about live videos. If you haven't received those please let me know. 

If you think you might want to join us you can read more here.

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pockets...with pockets on top.

Suffolk puffs as an edge for pocket openings

The drip, drip of images taken of different sections of my happy cloth continues. Slowly this cloth is getting finished, titivation's added when I make a decision on what I want and where. The latest of these is the addition of Suffolk puffs to pocket tops. When this cloth is completely finished the position of these pockets on the surface will be evident in the video show and tell I intend to make for you. Meanwhile I have to decide what to put on edges, how many, which edge, a full edge or a partial edge....so many decisions, such an indecisive embroiderer.

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Suffolk puffs on a page

an edge of embroidered Suffolk puffs

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Thirteen

investigating

I'm investigating, making enquiries....sampling to be honest, nothing more complicated than that. It's not the surfaces I'm sampling or the mix of pattern, paper and cloth it's more my preference for one or more of these. These pieces are hopefully helping me decide what to include in my workshop packs for an upcoming London day of cake.....OK then, there will be stitching too if you insist.

I started this process way back....maybe 6 months ago now and I still haven't decided so expect to see more of this, similar pieces, lace, paper, maybe a little hand stitch too. I won't be finished when I have decided though....then the production line will commence.

A reminder.....Embroidery School opens on Monday.

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it's all about the happy cloth

I am completely consumed at the moment with putting my happy cloth together. It's all I am working on aside from one or two small things for the new class. The back is on, the edges are pinned, I have started to apply the finishing stitches to the edges and I'm deciding on buttons, beads, puffs and toggles to adorn the edges, deciding if I need more of those. 

So these images are of progress with that taken with my phone over the last couple of days. There's also a couple taken whilst preparing for the new class along with one of some much needed new supplies and a little gift of cloth I received. (the sumptuous rust coloured cloth laid under my new threads)

This weekend I aim to finish the happy cloth. There will also be more backgrounds, pages, surfaces created with paper and delicate cloth.

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the reverse of my happy cloth - Karen Ruane

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how paper might sit with cloth

Some of my stitched paper has been stitched to cloth. I wanted to test the idea, to sample, to try it out. Where you can see the pink and red papers here, they are merely laid alongside the stitched piece so I can look and ponder and make decisions on what to do next.

There's mileage here I am sure of it. Not only as finished pieces of embroidery but how about as backgrounds? as pages? as paper and cloth sheets for collage? I will definitely be doing more of this....

If you are registered for ''Embroidery School'', you should have received mail from me today. If you haven't received that can you please let me know.

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ingredients for a pocket

One piece of silk dupion embroidered, appliqued, added gimp, added French knots, added bullion knots. One piece of silk velvet embroidered, appliqued, added gimp, added French knots, added bullion knots. Put them right sides together, stitch three sides and hey presto you have a pocket. This pocket will go in the seam between the front and back of my happy cloth. It's a happy pocket. I will be sewing my front and back together in less than an hour.....I am so excited.

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damp stretched

Here it is, damp stretched, pristine, titivated to within an inch of its life. When my happy cloth is completely finished, edged, adorned, backed I will make you a quick video. 

There's a kind of hole left when a big project like this finishes.....it becomes part of your every day and although this one isn't quite complete yet I can feel that  ''hole'' creeping up on me.

stitched, paper and beads

There is a stitch marathon going on here, working on my happy cloth to get it finished before the new class starts. I mentioned yesterday that embroidery on the front was finished and that section is now damp stretched. Meanwhile I am working on the reverse. I am almost there, almost. Alongside the happy cloth I have been stitching paper and tiny beads/buttons . The buttons are for an edge of my cloth, the paper is a kind of ''warm up'' exercise for the new class and a gathering which is happening in London, in April. 

The paper and beads have been happening in snatched hour long segments during the afternoons...my evenings being devoted to my wrapping cloth. Tomorrow there will be images of the damp stretched, completed front section.

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