Karen Ruane

the cloth book

Do you remember the cloth sample book? You can see more about it here. I had left it to one side for a while as it kind of overlaps in a lot of ways with the hankie class but I began another little sample to add to the pages last night. It's not finished, more embroidery is needed on the surface and I want to bind the left hand edge but eventually it will live happily in my cloth book along with the other samples already mounted in there.

An update on my hexagon pouch......

Both pieces, the outside and the lining are completely finished embroidery wise and as of this morning are both damp stretched. Now I just need to put it all together. Don't hold your breath. I'm not very good at that bit. I panic for a few days. I count to ten for a few days and then I manage to somehow cobble it all together. As soon as it's done you will see it.

 

 

A post shared by Karen Ruane (@karenruane) on Oct 31, 2017 at 4:05am PDT

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waxed paper

I was looking for something yesterday....it wasn't waxed paper with embedded sequins though. This paper fell out of the top of my wardrobe. (clothes? who keeps clothes in a  wardrobe? Paper and cloth storage is the purpose of every wardrobe I am acquainted with)

I had completely forgotten this paper, these sequins. It was purchased years ago, years....that must be where my current sequin obsession comes from. Anyway....I just had to stitch on it, to test it. It's been joined with silk velvet and a sheer silk before being lightly titivated. As an experiment I would call it a success. I could add more hand embroidery, the possibilities are endless. For now though I will merely stare at it randomly over the coming days and allow it to rest whilst my brain ticks.

 

Hankie class started this morning. If you are registered for that you should have received an email about our first blog post and an invitation to our private Flickr group. Please let me know if you haven't received those. I hope you are all frantically embroidering on hankies as we speak!! 

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one bullion knot, two sequins.

Something new I started last night because I haven't got enough things ''in progress'' already lol. If you get the urge you have to act on it otherwise it will niggle away at you and irritate until you satisfy the need. Another pouch in the making. Pink gingham and sequins. Sounds familiar? It's OK, it won't look like this one. I know there are similarities, gingham, sequins, strips but trust me....first of all the gingham is different, as are the sequins. It's a start, two small details which differ from the first one.

I made you a quick video this morning, a couple of bullion knots and a little chat. This is an embroidery blog after all.

 

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126 stitches for the lining

The central area is now embroidered meaning this piece from here is finished and waiting to be damp stretched before being lined.....when the lining is complete. As you may recall the pouch has 290 stitches around the edge. The lining will have 126 stitches around the edge, spaced differently to the outside. I have started that process (second image). I just noticed too, (in the last image) that one of my little clusters is missing a green French knot! Did you notice that? I best rectify that....the sooner the better.

 (I really wish I had an open mouthed emoji to put here) 

Now for a reminder.....Hankie class starts on Monday. We will be making pretty needle cases and bags. You can read more about that here. If you are already registered you should have received sign in details for our private blog yesterday. If you didn't receive those please let me know.

And London.....a live workshop....you can read more about that here.

It's dark as night here and pouring with rain. I hope the sun is shining for you and if it is please send a little my way.

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London Workshop

Following numerous requests and following two successful previous London Workshops I have been working hard behind the scenes putting London 2018 together.

(10 & 11 February)

Over two full days in February we will be working on an ornate pin pillow similar to the one shown here....and/or a paper based design sheet similar to the one shown here which could also be used as an insert for an artist book. Workshop kits for both pieces are included in the cost.

Space is limited and refunds cannot be issued unless I can fill your space.

All the details are here but if you want to know more then please don't hesitate to mail me.

contemporaryembroidery(at)hotmail(dot) com

 

London 2018

A two day embroidery workshop in the heart of London. During this two day class you can choose to work on an ornate pin pillow or an exciting paper based design sheet or both. A substantial workshop kit with materials for both items including cloth, stitched papers and other embroidery notions is included in the cost. Workshop kits will be presented in a hand stitched ''pocket''. 
Beginning at 10 am on Saturday morning we will discuss the projects we are about to work on selecting fabrics and embellishments from the kit provided and our own pieces of cloth, buttons, beads, trims and other adornments. Embroidery and chat will continue until evening, there is no cut off point for finishing on Saturday or Sunday. We will continue until we stop having fun or get hungry whichever is soonest before beginning again at 10 am on Sunday. 
Tea, coffee and cake will be provided throughout both days. Please bring your own lunch. 
Each day will begin at 10 am and continue until the early evening. 
Think of this as a stitching party, a meeting of embroidery addicts to chat, stitch, drink coffee and have fun.

***refunds cannot be given unless I can fill your space***

More details will be sent upon registration. 
Please allow 24 hours for receipt of email workshop information.

Register here

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edges for handkerchief class

The past couple of days have been about preparing for handkerchief class which starts on Monday where we will be making pretty needle cases and layered bags or pockets or whatever you want to call them. 

(If you are registered for handkerchief class you will receive an email some time tomorrow with sign in details for our private blog)

I am not giving any secrets away showing you this work although I will be using these pieces in class. You have seen this before, in a less embellished state. Last night I added the silver bells. Suffice to say....these are the early stages of layering and who doesn't love a little layering of cloth and lace.

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just embroidery

The hexagon pouch.....I mentioned yesterday that more embroidery would be added to this piece before it was finished and today I work a little on that on video. There are web stitches and French knots to mirror the embellishment along the edge......to mirror the two hundred and ninety stitches. I am trying to crack on with this as I am excited to see it finished although that is still quite a way off especially if I am to add embroidery to the lining too.

A reminder.....handkerchief extras (embroidery, embroidery, embroidery!!) begins on Monday. You can read more and register here.

 

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290 stitches

Two hundred and ninety stitches around an edge. That's fifty eight web stitches and two hundred and thirty two French knots. This is a circular drawstring pouch in the making. There will be more web stitches and French knots scattered across this surface before I begin the lining......there will be web stitches and French knots on there too. There may even be hexagons, not as many as you can see here but I might be able to fit a single ''flower garden'' piece in there somewhere. I would like this little pouch to be titivated to the n'th degree.

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pre class hankie play

Hankie class starts next week! Practice, practice, practice....an overflow of ideas not only for my online class but for my ''possible'' London workshop early next year. I have a new idea for this piece, not a needle case, not a pocket or pouch or bag...wait and see. Who knew the simple handkerchief could be so versatile, have so many possibilities. You last saw this piece here....it was almost ''naked'', not any more.

New Class

Begins Monday October 30th. 
6 weeks. Minimum one hour of video per week. 
Private password protected blog. 
Private Flickr group.

Access.... Unlimited. Forever.

Materials required.... List sent upon registration.

***No prerequisites, suitable for beginners and the more experienced.***

You do not need to have participated in any of my previous online learning programmes to take part in this class.

Handkerchief extras, needle cases and layered pouches created from pretty handkerchiefs and adorned with ribbons, tapes, beads, sequins, tassels, buttons and hand embroidery.

Comprehensive demonstration will be given during the six weeks of this programme on the creation of delicate and pretty needle cases and an embroidered pouch created using layers of handkerchiefs and cloth.

***the use of handkerchiefs is not essential. If you do not have handkerchiefs it will be possible to create these pieces using plain cloth.*

Register here

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online learning

Registration has now reopened for ''artist books'' 12 month subscription blog and ''handkerchief extras'' embroidery class.