Karen Ruane

hand made books, two in progress

Pages have been present on here quite a lot lately. They are time consuming to create, (never an issue, it takes as long as it takes and I love every stitch).

The paper pages with collaged flowers are tricky to stitch, the torn images are quite thick so holes are made before I thread my needle.

Those pages will eventually be bound into an artist book as I think I have mentioned before and they will be used alongside other pieces from that collection to inform my work for Alchemy 2023.

The Liberty print and gingham pages, which are double sided, will also be bound into book form similar to these.

That work is not as pressing however, that work is something I pick up as and when I have a few spare minutes.

finishing pages

Artist books, notebook stitching, embellishing paper.....

This little book is very much 'in progress' and will continue to be going forward.

The double page spread here was started in one of my Zoom get togethers and I managed to finish it last night.

There is collage, there are French knots and bullion knots, there are simple stab stitches and tiny pom poms.

The left edge......oversized white sequins.

Artist books 2023 begins in on March 7. You can read more here. 

 

2023 Artist Books.

It's almost three years to the day since I held my last Artist Book class.

I reckon it's time for another, for more exploration, a refresh maybe.

Details below.

***please note, this class is completely seperate from my monthly subscription online learning. This is a 'one off' stand alone class.***

*****

2023 Artist Books.

Begins Tuesday March 7 2023 for 8 weeks.

Join me in my first artist book gathering for three years.

Always a popular class, this eight week learning programme will hopefully inspire you to new ways with pages, new approaches to artist journals, to the creation of unique books in which to record your thoughts, your stitches, your sampling, your explorations.

Also included, live Zoom discussion, feedback and overview in our final week, times scheduled to cover all time zones.

Think of this as a 'refresh' if you have previously taken an Artist Book class in any setting.

***please note. I have only basic book making skills. I extend these skills by 'testing' various forms of page binding using paper and perhaps cloth too. I am happy for you to be experimental and adventurous with your own books. I encourage the pushing of boundaries, the exploration of idea and thought.***

My role will be to demonstrate the creation of collaged, textured and folded pages of paper and embroidery, to illustrate the creation of stitched scraps for pages and to then share how a page can be adorned in order to enhance the presentation of your sampling before investigating and testing ideas for finished book forms. This in turn will lead to the creation of unique ''artist books'', a library of ideas and inspiration and a valuable resource for the future in terms of design and the extension of embroidery sampling.

In addition to a private class blog where all video and images will be hosted you will have access to a public, invitation only Flickr group for class members only with a private discussion area where you can upload images, view images from other group members and participate in discussion re the course, suppliers, relevant exhibitions, artists etc. You will also be free to begin your own discussion topics.

Images of my own ''Artist Books'' can be seen here. From viewing these images you will gain an appreciation of what can be achieved during this programme and beyond.

karenannruane.typepad.com/karen_ruane/artist-books

No deadlines. Access to all learning resources is pemanent......forever.
Work at your own pace.

***No prerequisites, suitable for beginners and the more experienced.***

You do not need to have participated in any of my previous online learning programmes to take part in this class.

A welcome mail detailing suggested supplies for this course will be sent out within 24 hours of registration.

Register here.

details

I've been adding little details to the embroidered pages you saw yesterday whilst also working on a three piece page.

The three piece page, the work with sequins, isn't finished. I'm considering where to go with that one.

Meanwhile I am stitching more scraps for the embroidered pages with gingham.

I'm on blue checks now.....

page play

Do you remember my stitched papers?

I've been playing with them, trying to generate new ideas for pages, for artist books.

The piece today is one of three so far, the others are still works in progress.

At the moment I'm leaning towards this particular stitched paper with the silk velvet and silk tissue added being my favourite.

I need to test it more, test how it responds to folding and rolling too.

a white pocket

The white pocket from here is finished.

The early stages of this piece can be seen in this post.

It now holds an artist book, a safe space.

recents

The embroidered pink gingham is new here, this one is 306 squares as opposed to the 567 squares from this post.

I actually messed up with the blue one. I could kick myself.

That piece was damp stretched and some of the gingham framing the embroidered area became a little 'stretched' and non uniform so I cut it off.

That's ok you might say but.....it's now too small to fit in my hoop and almost inpossible to embroider without creasing so it won't get finished.

I should have left the cutting until the embroidery was finished.

You live and learn.....

Zoom stitching

The left hand page of this double page spread was started in my live, monthly Zoom embroidery get together earlier this week.

The basics were covered, composition, stitch choices, colour choices and I have progressed it since then to a point where it's almost finished.

I will then have to work on the right hand side and I have ideas for that so no worries there.

The book is a simple notebook, produced for making notes etc and stitching into the pages is quite a challenge but as you can see, it's doable.

favourites

A few of my favourite images of artist books.

I have artist book plans which is also the reason I have been stitching these papers.

I'll say more when I make progress with my stitched paper pile.

embroidered paper to complete my artist book

The final page, the last embroidered paper piece which will complete this artist book.

I'm tempted to start another one....hmmmm.

First though I need to finish the pocket I am embroidering to keep this one in.

My monthly embroidery video subscription learning continues.

If you'd like to be a part of that you can sign up here.

You will also get access to a free, past class and access to all the monthly videos for the subscription learning which have been posted to date.