Karen Ruane

artist book, continuing....

Following on from this post I am continuing to create inserts for the pages in this little artist book.

The latest piece here is just paper, torn papers joined with hand embroidery stitches.

Occasionally I add small pieces of cloth or lace to this work but the piece here really doesn't need any.

There have been a few new people signing up to my subscription learning programme over the past couple of days, thank you.

There is no end point to this new way of teaching, to the videos etc which are provided so it's never going to be too late. You also get access to all learning resources up to the point you subscribe along with access to a complete, past class.

Please read more here.

If you have ever been interested in my 'paperwork' pieces, we are working on that process next week.

(I'm having an image issue my end. If you can't see the images try refreshing the page)

artist book pieces

I've diverted from white over the past couple of days and am working on pieced and embroidered paper to add more to this artist book.

There are another two of these pieces waiting in the wings, almost finished so I'm really pleased with progress here.

free (past) class for subscribers

There was a very unexpected response to my images last time I was here.

There was 'lovely embroidery' but mostly there was 'tell me about the background'.

The images here are from the same body of work as that background, work completed during a past class, 'Ledgers, a record of stitch'.

It just so happens, this work came up in our monthly Zoom meetings yesterday too. (Zoom meetings for my online learning subscription groups)

Because of that, because of the benefit access to this class will obviously add to my groups I am now offering access to this class free of charge with all subscribers at any level on my subscription site.

You can read more about that here.

Now....I have more white to embellish.

embroidery and pages

Paper, folded and stitched pages, cloth, hand embroidery.....so much going on.

I'd like to stitch and fold more pages to be honest but I have a pile of things waiting for a needle and thread and the last thing I need is another distraction.

Have a little self control Karen!

weekend

This was the normal part of my weekend, making a video about notebook stitching and artist books for everyone in my membership tiers.

We discussed these processes again this morning in a Zoom meeting and found a way forward with something completely unrelated! Very productive.

The rest of my weekend? Well....no mains water for 32 hours, major pipe burst, the entirety of two towns waterless on one of the hottest weekends of the year.

I now have water. I'm not sure if it's mains water or water from one of the many water tankers lining the streets and I'm not sure how long I will have it for so if you could all do a water dance or something it would be appreciated.

the next page

The next page in this little notebook is now getting some attention.

It's early days and I'm not keen on the droopy yarn at the bottom so will have to come up with a plan to secure that piece.

I deliberately didn't add bullion knots there but I'm thinking I need them after all unless I come up with another idea.

chat and stash

We held the first Zoom sessions of my new subscription class yesterday. We chatted, we stitched, (we melted in the heat....those of us in the UK) and I produced this!

It needs more work, a lot more embroidery but so far so good.

Today I have been gathering 'bits', small pieces for sample packs which get sent out to those in my 'stash' tier.

These packs are sent on registration and are literally just 'samples'. Those in this tier will receive more substantial pieces of work every 6 months.

For the rest of today i'll be working on my wrapping cloth. I had intended to make lace cloth and stitch papers but it's far too hot to be slaving over a sewing machine.

Stay cool.....

finished, an artist book

This artist book is finished, it even has its own little bag to keep it safe.

I was on a self imposed deadline for this piece which I reached with a week to spare.

Now I am going to concentrate on my wrapping cloth.

I've got the pleating bug....

If you were here yesterday you probably won't be surprised to see more pleating, it's becoming addictive.

This piece will go on another panel for my wrapping cloth.

And do you remember this? The long wrap I was working on in order to finish my latest artist book? That is also laid here, unfinished but almost......

artist book update

You last saw this little book here. It has moved on since then, another page has been worked and the larger piece in these images is a wraparound cover. there is still work to do on that and I also intend to make a little bag for this, to protect the delicate papers.

Once this is finished, ticked off the list it will be back to my wrapping cloth and my vintage quilt repair.

Thank you for the feedback regarding the quilt repair.

There have been lots of suggestions, all of which make perfect sense and some 0f which especially excite me.

Thing is, I think I know what James is going to say......I think he is just going to want it left alone once the binding is reattached.

I will let you know what he says.

(scroll to the bottom for a baby update!)

The light of my days...I wish there was a heart emoji.

Stanley, now 4 months old.

 

Sonny, 13 weeks old.