Karen Ruane

filling up my little book

This little book is getting more attention although it is getting harder to work on the pages as it's so crammed. It's also getting very difficult to photograph too because it insists on falling open on the centre page. A few strategically placed paper clips solve that problem temporarily and I wouldn't change that aspect of this piece because in addition to being really happy with each page I love the sculptural qualities which emerge as you work on these little books.

The latest page was worked to try out an idea I have for joining pieces, connecting pieces using tiny hand embroidered button loops. So far so good

a table full of stitch

Gathering, browsing, commiting this to memory so I don't repeat myself in the next run of embroidery school. These pieces, (including my needlecase) were created in the last embroidery school and I'd hate to be boring and make the same things again. There is more than this, this is just a selection. The more is similar, there are more buttons, more braids and more charm squares. The charm squares are the embroidered pieces with the floral patterned cloth discs.

I'm hoping the girls from class do this too, gather together their stitching. It gives you a really good overview of what can be accomplished in a set time scale. You should do it too, it's very satisfying.

the jury is out on the pom pom

You have been seeing this cloth book evolve for quite some time now. As each page has been lined I have shared it here. It's now stitched together and is another cloth sample book to add to my collection. These pieces are more valuable than I can say. They inpsire regularly, they are a record of my practice. They are a resource for learning. They are invaluable, priceless.

The pom pom? That was an urge. It came from nowhere, a desire to add a big fluffly ball to the lower edge. I can't decide if it works. It doesn't matter, it at least doesn't offend and I can always take it off if I finally decide it's innapropriate.

Yesterday my basics post was so popular!! Because it's evident some of you found it useful I have given it a page of it's own at the top of the blog, just look under the header image and I have also added a link in the sidebar on the right, just cast your eyes over there. My only fear now is you all dash off 'en masse' and order every strand of thread available leaving none for me....oops. Good thing I put an order in last week.

September embroidery school begins in less than two weeks. Embroidery school develops as it progresses, I can't ever pin myself down to a srict aim on what we will create because as you know one thing inspires another, ideas pop up from nowhere. Obviously I need a starting point and this time it's buttons, buttons which are new to me and I have a hankering to embellish a small garment piece too, a section of a garment. However.....(if you are already signed up don't panic, your supply list won't change)....however....I now have an idea fermenting for a 'sampler' pin pillow....there will be a lot to get through but we will do it, we will crack on and also address anything else which pops up and whilst we are creating the buttons, the pillow, the garment piece 'embroidery school' will not lose it's 'fly on the wall' roots. There will almost certianly be unexpected work, the introduction of varied creative exercises and an awful lot of chat.  You can never have too many ideas or too many beautiful pieces of stitch. (you've got to provide your own cake though)

If you would like to read more about September embroidery school then just go here.

my essentials

I often get emails asking about my favourite threads, which needles to use for a particular stitch, about which thread is best for which process. In order to answer some of those questions I have created a very short video covering most of those things. I hope you find this helpful.

 

(I have been told by a couple of people who are signed up for the new class that they haven't received a welcome mail. Welcome mails should be received within a few hours of signing up to class. If you haven't received yours please let me know asap.)

extending pattern choices

The latest work from ledger class....extending pattern options. We are looking at shape and colour alongside proportion and how to mix all that up in class. At the same time we are recording our ideas in our ledgers and I have to say...round of applause please....mine is getting pretty full.

I think I'm in danger of seeing this as a 'create a pretty book' exercise rather than the design exercise it's supposed to be. Ooops! Don't worry, I will give myself a good talking to, rein myself in.

(If you are registered for September embroidery school you should have received an email from me this morning. If you didn't get that can you please let me know asap.)

embroidered samples, cloth books,

 

First of all I would like to apologise for the last image being a bit blurry. I'm having image upload issues...camera to computer ones and I'm not technologically savvy enough to sort it out. (I'm silently crying but just ignore me)

Embroidered sample books....sigh. These were out yesterday as I was using them in a video demonstration. I forgot how many samples I actually have...wow...have a lie down Karen, take a break, no wonder you're always running out of thread. Flicking through them there wasn't a single one I didn't love, didn't want to work on some more or take further. Too much inspiration? Too many distractions? You bet. Maybe I should hide them.

There's soon to be another, the large one I've been working on that you have seen probably more times than you wish...this one....what can I say, I'm stitch obsessed.

continuing page embellishments

It's hard to describe how much I am enjoying working in this little book, it's becoming addictive. These pages aren't quick to work, it's not that I'm getting instant gratification but just handling the fine paper and working in to it with cloth and embroidery is very satisfying and when it eventually comes together I'm itching to get going with the next one.

The paper in these small, bought sketchbooks is very thin in comparisson to other paper I have used in the past, it is much more at risk from creasing so I need to be extra careful but the finish is much gentler, softer, more delicate. Heavier paper can, if you're not careful take away from the delicate nature of the cloth you are using or the fineness of the thread. I think I will try and work with this type of paper a little more in future, perhaps creating my own little books from it when I finally figure out what it is I need to buy.

September embroidery school begins two weeks tomorrow. There is a lot of sampling for that going on in the background here and I am getting really excited......you can read more about that here if you think you might want to join me.

cramming stitch into embroidered books

The important bit here, well the new bit I should say is the area of delicate white bobbly things with pink beads on the top. Those were worked yesterday afternoon along the edge of a page in my latest ledger. It isn't actually finished yet, that edge as I ran out of time but I got to thinking how page edges, embellishing edges can take longer than working on the page itself.

I'm hoping you can see how it's so, so worth spending that time from these images. Very often it's the edges I love the best, the droplets, the tangle of ribbons and trims and stitch and beads and sequins. My table this morning, prepping for these photographs made me happier than I can say. I'm not so sure I can say the same about the mess I made in my studio when creating for my online classes. (last image)

lupin

I acquired three of these pretty little vintage cigarette cards a few weeks ago and have just been enjoying them up to now, admiring the detail and imagining their history. I do have more of these, a few that I have had for many years but the latest three came with their original little paper cards crammed with information about each flower, my others don't have those.

When I started to put this page together I was determined to include the card too.

This tiny sketchbook is getting crammed already, splaying open rather than closing neatly. That's a win in my opinion. To remind you...these are the other pages already worked in here, not many at all. Imagine how this little book will look when it's been worked on some more.

 

pom poms, seed beads and stitch

This is the final page for the cloth book I have been working on over the past few weeks. You last saw it here. This book has been taking shape over in the current 'embroidery school' class and when it's finished will mark the end of that class. I'm reluctant to embroider the edges of this, to finish it completely as that will bring the end of class too close for comfort. I get attached to my groups, to my classes, to the amazingly creative people who inspire me throughout all of my classes and I'm rubbish at goodbyes.

Nevertheless....I must crack on and finish this, then I can put the book together with the group. As I have said before this particular cloth book will be formed of four pages. Four pages of embroidered samples and I guess the linings, the reverses qualify as samples too. It's weighty when all the pages are together and it's quite large too, with each page measuring around 22 x 15 inches. Tonight I will embroider the edges of this one, finish it with some buttonhole lace......

The new run of embroidery schoool begins in September. You can read about that here. I'm sampling buttons and making detailed notes for our first few weeks of that one and who knows where we will end up creatively when our 12 weeks is up.