Karen Ruane

stash building and notebook stitching

Embroidered buttons, stash building. These little things, these hand stitched decorative buttons could find themselves anywhere. It could be a page, it could be a needlecase, it could be a pin pillow.

Ok, we know it's going to be a page ha ha. When did I last make a pin pillow or a needlecase?

And my little 3 inch notebook.....what can I say? It's a joy.

It gets fiddlier by the day, more difficult to hold open at any given page......not just to look at but also to work on, good thing I love a challenge.

I am going away for a few days tomorrow. I have cabin fever.

If you sign up to the new class after lunch time Saturday you will receive your welcome mail late Monday.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Karen Ruane (@karenruane) on Jul 31, 2020 at 4:50am PDT

An embroiderers cloth

My 'embroiderers cloth' is finished. The reverse is embellished with ribbon secured with hand stitched French knots and each edge is finished with two rows of hand worked buttonhole stitch.

You have seen the front of this piece 'in progress' numerous times, I hope you like it now it's all come together.

The front side has been embellished with numerous hand embroidery processes and stitches including applique, French knots, bullion knots, running stitch, chain stitch, buttonhole stitch, hand made buttons, hand made toggles. There are also pockets, visible and hidden.

Although this cloth was created for demonstration during one of my online learning programmes it has been a true labour of love and the class itself was a joy from start to finish so I would like to say thank you to the 'embroiderers cloth girls' for being part of a truly incredible, inspirational, creative and caring eight weeks.

 

(this cloth measures approximately 33 x 35 inches)

the inside of a surface pocket

a pocket in the side seam

hand worked buttonhole stitch edges

filling pages

This little thing is filling up! It's my three inch by three inch hand made notebook and it's changed somewhat since you last saw it.

Stitching in this is a lovely diversion, I can lose myself, let my mind wander. Fiddly yes but oh so therapeutic too.

wispy

This weekend I have been playing with new ideas for my lace cloth, looking at ways to develop this process. This piece is wispy, very delicate, held together by only a few threads.

Hand stitch will strengthen and enhance this. The images here show it unstitched by hand and partially hand stitched.

In truth, hand embroidery onto and into this could go on and on. Learning when to stop is an instinct but still not easy at times.

Regardless of the heaviness, the quantity of hand embroidery worked on these pieces I have yet to work a piece which doesn't retain its fragility, its softness or delicate nature.

If you are registered for August 2020 Lace cloth class you should have received a video from me this morning. If you haven't received that can you please let me know.

If you would like to know more about this class which begins on August 10 just go here.

The image below shows this piece of lace cloth without hand stitch

An embroiderers cloth....wow. I have finished mine, stand by your computers girls as I am just waiting for the final videos to download....... you will have them imminently.

That piece of work has been my 'constant' for weeks and now it's finished I feel slighly lost.....I miss it...

Do any of you feel like that after finishing a project?

Later this week I will post images of the finished cloth here for you all to see.

developing ideas, lace cloth.

My fingers are working as fast as they can finishing the hand embroidered edge on my 'embroiderers cloth'. That's an evening project, a relaxing ''in front of the TV'' project.

The days? This coming Saturday and Sunday will be spent developing ideas for my new lace cloth class which will involve examining old work, past pieces of lace cloth, being inspired all over again and playing with ideas for taking this process forward.

(embroiderers cloth girls.....I'm nearly there.....it's a marathon!)

embroidered paper, a wrap for a stitched notebook

This wrap is stitched on paper with buttonhole lace seams and cloth snippets adorning the surface.

It's for my stitched notebook which you can see more of here, here and here.

It has been in progress for a while and you have seen it before in various stages but it's now completely finished and lined, all that is left is for me to actually attach it to my embroidered notebook.

We are almost at the end of my current embroidery class 'an embroiderers cloth'. I am filming each stage of my cloth as I back and finish it, adding extra pockets and hand sewing seams.

Progress images and an overview of my cloth can be seen by following this link.

When my embroiderers cloth is completely finished I will excitedly begin sampling for 'August 2020 Lace cloth', my next class. I will have a couple of weeks break between classes which should allow for plenty of sampling.

You can read about lace class here.

(I will be removing all traces of my free embroidery class, 'embroider our way through the madness' this weekend. If you need to make notes, check anything you best hurry. All the information for that can be found here.)

tiny pages, compositions, artist book,

Ths little three inch by three inch artist book has had a more work.

You might think it'd be quick to fill this one as the pages are so small....ha...no.

If anything it's harder, more fiddly. Then again, as most of my class will tell you I am definitely a fan of fiddly.

In other news.....I am making good progress with the final stages of my 'embroiderers cloth'. If you follow that link there are lots of posts and a wealth of information about that particular piece.

Once class has seen it in it's finished state I will create a show and tell for you.

A reminder about my next class which begins on August 10th. That seems like forever away but I'm prepping as we speak.

If you would like to read more just go here.

To those of you who have registered already I want to say thank you for supporting this little one man band of a creative business. It means a lot.

 

finishing touches

Today will be mostly about adding finishing touches to this before I square it off and add the embroidered backing....it's getting to the scary stage.

Lace cloth, coloured snippets and hand stitch. (please scroll down for latest posts)

Over the last couple of weeks I have been illustrating the versatiltity and unique nature of lace cloth.

My next class, my new class is all about lace cloth, the creation of it, it's many uses as a stand alone piece, an adornment, an overlay, a delicate throw....I could go on but if you read the posts here and here  you will get a better idea of what I am talking about.

Today is about how colour and pattern can add something special to this cloth.

More information about the new class can be found at the foot of this post.

August 2020 Lace cloth

Begins Monday August 10 for eight weeks.

Online format.... Private password protected blog.

No deadlines. No set tasks. Lifetime access to all resources.

Staged payments accepted. Please contact me for details.

Beautiful, versatile, soft and delicate lace cloth. Join me for this eight week creative programme where we will create unique lace like fabrics.

This online experience will take the form of a very relaxed and gentle forum where creativity will occur using cloth, thread and embroidery for those who have an affinity with handling cloth, working with cloth.

Demonstration will be provided on the creation of unique lace cloth and the many ways in which it can be used either as a framed wall piece within a hoop or as a very special addition to other embroidered and paper based pieces.

Hand embroidery techniques onto our lace cloth surfaces and the adornment of plain fabrics such as silk and cotton with hand stitch will also be demonstrated.

This course requires the use of a sewing machine.

Suitable for beginners and the more experienced embroiderer.

Full support is given throughout.

I am available 24/7 for queries, appraisal, guidance and support.

Included is access to a private online image sharing group which includes group discussion facilities and support from other group members.

Required supplies....list sent upon registration.

To register go here. 

a little hand made, hand stitched playtime artist book.

A few weeks ago I showed you the 'in progress' images of this little hand made book. The cover was finished, the book was made and all that was left was for the cover to be attached and it would be good to go.

Ta da......the cover is attached and I have worked on the first couple of pages.

There's no real plan for this one. I'm just going to put pretty things in it as and when I get the urge.

(it measures 3 x 3 inches)