Karen Ruane

overlaying embroidered circles

This one is moving on, another embroidered paper circle has been added which is the largest so far. I was going to say there wouldn't be a bigger one than this but I'm not so sure actually. I'm not making firm plans for this, I will allow it to evolve.

There could be a good argument for creating a larger circle for the top right hand corner of the base piece.....I'm thinking...

Ideally what I would like to do next here is create some little forthy circular pages to go on the reverse of these pieces which I hope would transform them into 'artist books'.

ledger progress continued

You have been seeing a lot of this ledger recently. It's been getting a lot of attention as I am determined to cram this one. I often get behind in class as I am time restricted, I need to move on to the next post, the next videos often before I have chance to finish my latest demonstrations so with this one I am using 'spare' time to finish pages. Working on this actually inspires too, it sparks ideas for further videos so it's a win win.

The new work here that I haven't shown you before is the prominent page in the first two images on the left.

(ledger girls...this is the page we began in the 'design sheet' post. I had to cut down the page and I will explain why in our post later this week.)

What I am hoping people notice from all these images is the cohesion, how even though new pattern has been introduced as I have progressed these pages continue to follow each other seamlessly.

All this is taking shape over in ledger class, a 12 month study on recording design ideas, stitch, colour, pattern. You can read more about the class here and as a final note can I say thank you to all the girls in class. Your work in our private group puts me to shame.

edges and reverses

My little cloth book has had a little attention over the past couple of days, moving it on in terms of embellishing unfinished edges and embroidering another reverse. The two pieces at the bottom of the first picture are the ones I have been working on. There's a decorative edge of beads and sequins along a header and another reverse in progress with ribbon, French knots, beads and crystals.

If I stop here and by that I mean if I don't create any more pages and concentrate on the backings, the headers and the unfinished edges this little book will have five pages. As the backings, the reverses are embroidered too that's ten pieces of embroidered cloth....probably enough but....I am thinking if I keep going, just keep on creating pages then this little cloth book, once it's all put together will be quite sculptural, will fall open as it's laid down. I'm thinking about that.....

developing design

Developing a page, extending design, recording my thoughts, preserving sampling and filling my ledger pages . This page, which you have seen before in a 'less worked' state is in the process of being extended in terms of surface design. Although this is work from my class 'ledgers, a record of stitch' I am not giving anything away here. We are creating numerous pages over there and the added titivation, the added embellishment is non structured, we all go off in our own directions for that aspect of this ledger journey.

Each of my pages are embellished wholly or partially with process from earlier in class. This enables the ledger to flow from page to page....cohesion. In truth I am playing catch up with the girls, my ledger is progressed much less than theirs so I'm grabbing any spare minute to add to this book and each time I pick it up and add a stitch or a scrap of paper I fall in love with it a little bit more.

needlecase

Did you miss me? No?...... OK then....

I have been desperate to pick up my needle and thread again and as I only got my creative life back late yesterday I needed to touch base with something easy, something to hand which required no prep. This needlecase was there, begging to be stitched. We are working on these in embroidery schoool and I needed to crack on as I still have to embroider the lining and put the whole thing together before class finishes in a few weeks. The long beads were a recent purchase which I had forgotten about until I came across them whilst looking for something else. I think they add a bit of drama here. (the practicalities I am not so sure about but who cares about practical) The ribbon edge on the lace is new too, I added that last night and love how it allows the lace to 'billow'.

In my absence I was in London. I took my dad for a few days and didn't go anywhere near an embroidery, ribbon, bead, fabric, paper shop of any kind. Can you imagine the restraint that must have taken? It was unbearably hot, I almost melted to nothing. As a reward to myself for being so resiliant and restrained I have had a bit of an online shopping spree this morning and am now impatiently waiting for the postman. When my goodies arrive I promise I will show you....

stitching stories.

I'm going away for a few days and wanted to leave you with a glimpse of what's been happening in class...in 'stitching stories' class. I am more than happy with how my little stories are developing although I never know exactly what will happen next until I turn the page. There is more work needed on both of these and I will be on that as soon as I get back.

Miss you already.

embroidered headers and embroidered linings

You have seen this before, it's a lining for an embroidered page for a cloth book. What's different here is the edges are now partially worked and I have added tassels to the seam of the header. There is one row of buttonhole around all four sides as a finishing touch but I need to go round again because I prefer two rows.

I now have two of these cloth pages lined with headers attached. There are linings still to be made for the remaining pages so there's still quite a way to go with this little cloth book.

the third circle

Another embroidered paper circle.....this one was created to further my idea of turning the large embroidered circle you can see here into an artist book. However.....it isn't big enough. How come? well, because I didn't think it through properly, I raced off and began to titivate without enough thought. There's nothing lost though because once I create a piece which is big enough this one can lay over it, be the following page.

This one was created using softer paper with a lace overlay. It handles in a very different way to the other pieces on here, easier to work on I guess but also easier to crease if you're not careful. What you gain in one hand you lose in another lol. I'm delighted with how it has turned out though and with the contrast it gives to this piece.

progress in ledger class

You have been seeing quite a lot of this work recently, work from my online learning class 'Ledgers, a record of stitch'. It's not that this class gets more attention than the others, not at all but I do think it's more time consuming to progress these pages because of the 'fiddle' it requires and for that reason I am tending to spend more time on these pieces.

In embroidery class we are finishing up because that class is nearly finished, mostly the work is white too which is an absolute pain in the behind to photograph but yesterday we pieced a white pocket and added it to the hem of this dress. 

Story class is almost over too, it seems we only just began but that one is only 8 weeks long compared to embroidery and ledger class which are both 52 weeks long. This morning was taken up with story class and this afternoon will be too, progressing my story in order to be ready for the next post. I should be able to share new work from there with you next week but for now here is a little glimpse of what we did last time in class.

This page got more attention this morning and will hopefully have evolved beautifully when you next see it.

considering

The piece from yesterday, the piece with gingham ribbon is still very much on my mind. More pages will be added including below the pages already present. I'm hoping for a multi layered appearance so have had the gingham piece laid alongside finished artist books this morning in the hope of inspiration striking.

The logistics of adding pieces below the circular pages isn't an issue, I already have that figured out it's what to put on those pages which needs thought. I already pulled out some lace and trimmings so will play with those in circular form and just keep going until I'm happy with the results.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Karen Ruane (@karenruane) on Jul 16, 2019 at 4:36am PDT