Karen Ruane

altering pages

My Alchemy work is taking place on sheets and in this little notebook.

The latest ideas are being worked on altered pages, it gives a different perspective.

These pages aren't finished, lots more stitching to do....

 

stitched paper as an embellishment for surface design

We've been stitching papers in Alchemy, adding thread to printed backgrounds.

These textural paper scraps are so useful for enhancing a design sheet or pages in a sketchbook.

It's quite addictive. I hadn't done this for a long time before this week and now I am itching to do it some more.

Today I started to use it in my work for class and am more than excited to progress those new pieces.

(can't show you those yet, maybe next week)

Notebook stitches

I've been absent, sorry.

Why? Well I have been stitching my fingers to the bone for class.

My work has moved from large sheets of paper to this notebook.

Stitching into notebooks is a completely different process. It's fiddly, it's more time consuming too because although you have to take care stitching onto large paper sheets they are usually thicker than notebook pages which can crease very easily.

Going forward I am unsure how much more stitching will happen in this little book.

That's because the needs of my group are changing and I will be responding to those needs over the progression of my own body of work.

That's a good thing.

It's what's supposed to happen.

creative space

After my recent break I have been playing catch up with all things Alchemy.

This morning I was making videos and putting together our class for next week. This will continue later this week.

I've also been playing catch up with and giving nanna kisses to these two little beauties.

During my time away I went to Portugal but prior to that I taught a three day residential course on 'lace cloth'.

It was a fabulous three days with some wonderful work produced.

The images are of my space, my things because unfortunately I forgot to ask permission from the group to show their work.

 

patchwork on my mind

You have seen this work many times, it's my current work for my Alchemy online class but today I have tried to isolate the relevant areas, the patchwork areas.

Some of the patchwork you can see here is paper, some is ribbon.

It's the ribbon I'm focusing on now, the finer strips of loose ribbon on the right to be exact.

I'm hoping to create a little randon patchwork with those later today.

stitched and pleated paper

The latest addition to my Alchemy design project, pleated and stitched paper.

The large sheet here needs more work and I may try and squeeze something else onto the notebook pages too.

I'm signing out for a couple of weeks.

I'll see you on the other side x

assessing progress

It's a busy Tuesday.....I'm assessing my progress with my Alchemy work and also refreshing my memory.

I've been away for three days and it's surprising how a music gig along with a trip to Liberty and Fabriano can clear your brain of works in progress.

Mainly I'm trying to decide where to go next with this.

What's new to you in these images?

The two inch square collage and embroidery cards.

The ribbon piece with embroidered ribbon snippets stitched to the surface.

OK Karen, time to get your brain in gear.

continuing........Alchemy 2023

More progress with my work for Alchemy 2023.

These pieces are developing well and since these images were taken they have altered again. 

There is more to add too, I am working on that at the moment.

Alchemy

Today, a glimpse at my early explorations from week one of Alchemy 2023.

Also, my Sunday table.

My Alchemy work has moved on from what you see here and I promise I will show you soon how this is developing.

The lace on my Sunday table.....it was the ball buttons that atracted me, I can't resist a ball button.

When this arrived it was very yellow but with some careful laundering it looks almost like new.

Alchemy Monday

It's a big day today. It's the first day of Alchemy 2023 and a return to teaching for me after a break of a few months and boy did I miss it.

The image is of my work from previous Alchemy classes. My work however takes a back seat once we are up and running as going forward demonstration is created to fit with the needs of the group.

Our first videos are posted, our private Facebook and Flickr groups up and running and I have a to do list a mile long.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

Registration for Alchemy 2023 is still open.

If you would like to know more then just go here.