Karen Ruane

Bullion knots

Following on from yesterdays post, I have posted two public videos on my new page today.

The image here is my wrapping cloth, it's almost there. Two more panels and I think it will be ready for backing.

isolating design

Hi everyone, how have you been?

I had a few days in London with my new grandson and then last night ticked a huge thing off my bucket list.....I watched Diana Ross live.

What an incredible experience, one I still can't believe has happened.

Now it's back to embroidery and my plans for a subscription only website.

In the image today I have a viewfinder which I am using to isolate different areas of my stitched work with a view to expanding those areas.

This work is the start of my thought process for my subscription plans.

I have managed to form the basic area of my new site and you can see that here.

The membership levels aren't visible yet as I am still tweaking those but tomorrow I am hoping to post a free video on there as a 'warm up' exercise.

I had hoped to have the membership levels ready for this weekend but I'm not sure that will happen now. Every time I tick something off my list I find I need to add something else to the bottom of the list as this is a huge learning curve for me.

Please hang in there if you are one of the people who has expressed an interest in my new venture.

It's coming, it's definitely coming but I want it to be right.

pleats and a pocket

When I start a wrapping cloth there is no plan. Initially I create rectangles of embroidered cloth, different sizes but generally no bigger that ten by twelve inches, often smaller.

Once I have a few embroidered panels I begin the joining process. I get very excited at this stage by the seams, the possibilities for embellishment.

At the next stage measuring becomes inportant as pieces are created to fill space.

I have been at that stage with this cloth for a couple of weeks now and today you can see the latest panel.

Up to now I haven't measured this cloth but that's not important to me. It will be finished when it's finished.

(I rarely aim for a set size)

the latest panel pinned in place

 

Work is happening in the background for my 'subscription' based online learning idea.

You'd be surprised at how much 'technological' stuff has to happen for these things to go live.

So far I have a home page, screenshot below.

Please ignore the donate feature. I'm not sure I can remove that, the html code for that section is embedded in the page before you begin.

Content for my membership tiers needs to be created along with some freebies which will be offered with the highest tier.

I'm also giving a lot of thought to a 'yearly sewing retreat' which will be offered as an extra.

Meanwhile I am off to London tomorrow for a few days so I'm guessing nothing will be live until at least the end of next week.

I will of course post on here when everything is good to go.

what's new, my latest wrapping cloth.

If you have been following me over the last weeks you will have a very good appreciation of the progress I am making with this wrapping cloth.

The long band I showed you here is now attached with a seam of bullion knots and little clusters of tiny pompoms whilst another seam has been embellished with single pompoms, alternating blue and white.

What's next? Later today I will assess how many panels I need to complete this, how big they need to be and make decisions re the surface embellishment of those panels.

lower edge, blue and white pompoms

lower edge, bullion knots and pompom clusters

pompom clusters, detail.

details

Another panel has been added to this cloth. The seam? I resisted beads and pompoms, I made Suffolk puffs instead.

There's quite a lot going on here. There are half flower garden motifs, padded applique, pleating, embroidered knots and don't forget the beads and little pompoms that are out of shot.

The band from this post is now attached too using a combination of straight stitch and bullion loops.

I will show you that next time.

There are also plans for pompoms on there.

***

Thank you for the feedback re my 'subscription only'  blog question.

I am in the middle of putting something together and will let you know just as soon as it's ready for public viewing.

hand embroidered wide edge binding

My need to damp stretch this piece was greater then my reluctance to cut it up.

This is the binding I mentioned in yesterdays post.

It's now damp stretching in two pieces.

I do have a larger damp stretching board but it's not accessible at the moment and my impatience got the better of me.

It's actually a win too because I now have another seam to adorn when this is rejoined.

You know how I love to adorn a seam.

*****

Now a question.

How much interest is there in a subscription only blog as a replacement for my online classes?

I'm thinking three tiers of subscription, each with appropriate benefits, the highest tier including the most.

If you are familiar with Patreon it would work in a similar form.

Any thoughts will be very much appreciated.

beaded edges and tiny pompoms for a seam

Happy Saturday everyone. How are you?

I'm still suffering from jet lag but hopefully normal service will now resume here with more regular posting.

I have added to this cloth since I got back, there is a seam of tiny pompoms which is clearly visible in the third image running across the top of the little wrapped buttons.

I have then beaded the edge of a pleated white section which you can see laid out in the first image.

In addition to these newly embellished areas there is a new panel with half flower garden applique and some padded areas edged with bullion knots and chain stitch.

Not pictured here is an embroidered band I am working on for another edge of this piece. I hope to share that with you soon.

It's likely that seam, where the band joins the main body of the cloth, will also be embellished with tiny pompoms or beads.

Thanks for hanging in here whilst I have been jet setting, it's much appreciated and don't forget girls from class (or classes) I am here if you need me.

 

prep

I'm back...a brief hello.

I hope you're all well.

I had a fabulous holiday, gained a daughter in law and spent quality time with my babies, (images at the foot of this link)

Now I have a mountain of laundry to tackle and an exciting day on Thursday to prepare for.

My house is adorned with hanging embroidery, all gathered to be taken somewhere later this week.

Normal service will resume here in a few days.