Karen Ruane

embroidery, silk and patchwork

This is new work inspsired by past work.

The inspiration for this comes from doodles I created during the online class 'swathed in stitch'.

There is a screenshot from one of the class posts at the end of this post for reference.

I still have all those doodles. It definitely pays to never throw things away.

These drawn papers were inspired by domesticity hence the ironing board in the screenshot and also pockets, pockets to keep things safe, pockets for protection.

At the moment I am playing with the patterns I have whilst thinking about more pocket shapes.

Hopefully I can mix and match what is here with new shapes through overlaying on my light box and a little bit of doodling.

The pattern on this piece was hand drawn onto the silk. As yet I'm not sure if this one is finished. It might be nice to leave a bit of the pen visible.

Whilst I decide I have started another piece, more hand drawn pattern on silk, patchwork and hand embroidery.

a little book of needlework

It has been such a pleasure to create this little book. Twelve mini compositions, hand embroidery, hand finished, hand bound edges.

To be honest I can't put it down and will find it hard to part with.

It is however now in the shop here.

In other news.....I have started a new piece which I hope to show you in a couple of days if not sooner.

I am still embroidering onto silk dupion but on a slightly bigger scale.

So far there are hexagons and plenty of hand embroidery stitches.

embroidered silk pages

More embroidery on silk. Silk pages for an embroidered silk book.

I'm almost there with this one and will be sorry when it's finished.

It's almost as if I have rediscovered my love of running needle and thread through silk dupion.

I'm going to stick my neck out and say you will definitely be seeing more embroidered silk on here.

presentation

I've been collaging board with torn papers in an attempt to create new backgrounds for presentation but these aren't doing it for me.

I have an overwhelming urge to stitch the seams where the papers meet in the same way as the papers here but it's impossible to stitch through the boards.

They look unfinished to me like this.

If I could solve that little problem I could definitely work with these collaged pieces.

I have considered stitching the papers first and them collaging them down. Maybe I should try that.

handwork

This little book is growing every day.

Are you bored with it now?

I do hope not. These things take time, many hours of measuring and hand stitching.

It's more than worth it though.

Each time I post about this I am showing you something new, a new page or new pages which are now joined with buttonhole stitch at the edges.

Simple embroidery for sure, but more than simple pleasure for me.

hand embroidery on silk

Progress, more hand worked pages, hand embroidery, hand sewing onto silk, a new little book of stitch in progress.

These little pieces make me happy. They are a joy to stitch.

You can see more of this kind of work here, here and here.

 

 

embroidered silk and hand made buttons

This is what I have been busy with, more hand made buttons and embroidery onto silk. The web stitch is making another appearance. In this post I spoke about how I could go on and on stitching these little things.

hand stitched edges

My new wrapping cloth is finished. The final panel was added before the backing cloth was attached and each edge hand closed.

The last threee images show the final panel before it was attached to the body of the main cloth.

If you are registered for my new class, 'renewing the ledger', you should have received an email from me earlier today. Can you please get in touch if you didn't receive that. x

 

adornments

I've been taking a little time to build my stash, to create buttons and other things which will be useful and hopefully perfect for future pieces of work.

The buttons could be used to adorn a page in an artist book or the edge of embroidered cloth.

The Suffolk puffs I think will find their way into my new wrapping cloth.

Renewing the ledger, online learning begins next monday. Read more here or watch this short video.