Karen Ruane

Book work 2.

Last time I was here I spoke about my recent 'looking back posts'. I mentioned that artist books would take more than one post to cover so today is day two.

I think I could go on forever with this theme but as I was studying these past posts I came across ledgers which are different to artist books so they may be next.

This is a really good 'refresh' and inspire exercise for me personally and if you aren't a long time visitor to this blog a lot of this will be new to you.

In the background here I am very focused on work for sewing circle and am limited with what I can post here so am grateful for this opportunity to examine past work with you.

 

book work

Recently I have been clicking through groupings of 'old work' on this blog. It's a 'refresh' excercise which is proving invaluable.

Today was going to be 'artist books' but there are so many images on that theme. Instead I decided to cover this one over a couple of days and today is the first day of that.

Another thing...help! Everything appears to have disappeared from my right hand side bar and placed itself at the foot of the blog. How do I remedy that? any ideas? or can you see it on the right hand side and it's only me having trouble? (all looks in order when I view it on my admin page)

four inch pages, an artist book

I finally finished this little artist book. The pages measure four inches square and are now crammed with embroidery, buttons, ribbons, patchwork, beads and pom poms.

It's now available to buy here.

Tomorrow my  'sewing circle' will get together for the first time. I am more than excited at the prospect of spending the next twelve weeks stitching and chatting with this group, sharing ideas, inspiration and a love of hand stitch.

If you are considering joining us it is not too late, not only can I guarantee you will have the best time, you will also be supporting this small business of mine.

Thank you to everyone who is already registered. It means a lot.

You can read more here.

piecing papers, stitching pages

Piecing papers and stitching pages, hand stitched seams, ovelapping weights of lace paper, patterned paper and soft tissues.

I'm hoping these pages will be the perfect resting place for my net samples, lace samples and investigations for my next project.

There are three pages here each measuring approximately eleven inches by eleven inches.

I need to make more of course and am hoping to stick to that size as far as I can.

turning pages

This is how my table looked a few days ago. I was speaking to the Alchemy group about artist books, suggesting ideas for covers and easier ways of working your little stitched pieces into these.

I never said it wouldn't be fiddly!

It was good to have these out just for 'me' too. I never tire of looking at them.

It was also a reminder of the few empty pages which still need work.

 

buttons, beads and patchwork

This little book has had more attention over the past couple of days. A tiny book, (only two pages) has been added to a page, a book within a book.

The patchwork is a sleeve to hold and protect this. It's becoming a struggle to get it over the piece now as the pages are becoming ever more crammed, the book expanding every time I add something new. Maybe I will have to make a bigger one. We'll see.

Ledgers, artist books will take a back seat for a week or so now as I have begun a new wrapping cloth.

It's for me, very simple, relaxing to work on. I hope to share some of that next time.

A new class was listed earlier this week. You can read about that here.

renewing the ledger

The ledger/sketchbook/design exploration shown in these images was created sixteen years ago. A lot has happened in those sixteen years. For one I am more experienced, at least I like to think so, I would certainly hope so.

Recently, in Alchmey, I spoke about how my 'old' design work might look if I were to do it today. Vastly different is my guess.

The disaster that befell my white ledger a couple of weeks ago proves that even after a short period of time ideas develop, improve.

With that in mind, I am going to rework this ledger.

This work will remain 'untouched'. It's role will be to lay in front of me and prompt new ways of expressing these ideas.

At least that's the plan.

Technically the hard work is done. The design work is here, on each of these pages. All I have to do is interpret these designs using 'fresh eyes'.

Famous last words.

If you would like to join me the listing is copied below.

A new feature with this online learning programme will be regular video feedback on any images you upload to our private image sharing group.

This will not take the form of a 'critique', an Alchemy critique but will hopefully be so much more than a few written comments.

Renewing the Ledger.

Begins Monday February 8 for 12 weeks.

Suitable for the beginner and the more experienced creative.

Ledgers, sketchbooks, journals and design works have been integral to my creative life for almost twenty years.

Over time my knowledge and experience of creating these pieces has grown and developed.

During the course of this twelve week online learning programme I will look at past works and 'renew' them with fresh eyes, more experience and new process.

Without altering the actual physical historical ledger, I will use that ledger as a starting point for renewal, examining each page and recreating that work, refreshing those pages.

The basic design ideas presented in the original ledger will be preserved, my concern will focus on elevating that work with a new approach to documenting that information.

You do not need to have a completed sketchbook or ledger to participate in this class. Process demonstrated can be carried out using a collection of found images or a favourite illustrated book. I will provide guidance on those choices should you wish.

Techniques used and demonstrated in this online learning programme will include a selection of the following,

hand embroidery stitches,

patchwork,

applique,

paper manipulation,

paper embellishment,

pin pricking,

tracing,

basic doodling.

There are no deadlines, no set tasks.

Video and images will be hosted on a private, password protected blog.

Access will be given to a private image sharing forum where discussion can be facilitated amongst group members and where I can view and appraise your works in progress.

***New***
Verbal, video feedback will be provided on works uploaded to our private image sharing group on a regular basis.

There are no compulsory requirements to my online learning programmes. If you prefer not to become involved in online discussion or image sharing that is O.K. My only wish for you is that you learn and have fun.

My online learning groups are a place of friendship amongst like minded people who share a love of cloth and thread.

Images here are details of the ledger I will be examining and renewing during this programme.

Register here.

 

salvage

There was a little mishap with my ledger for Alchemy a couple of weeks ago.

I say mishap, that is down playing it. It was a disaster of epic proportions which I am not emotionally strong enough to go into ha ha.

Anyway, the rescue began last week and this is the result.

You can see pre disaster images here and here.

I actually prefer it now.

I am inspired all over again.

pages

I'm playing the long game with this one, there are too many pages for it to be rushed.

That's entirely down to me, I did make the book after all.

Another double page spread is finished but there's a lot of thought going into the remaining page edges which I spoke about here.

The edges of pages are just as important to me as the work which fills the pages.

 

 

wrapping

The act of wrapping something with cloth is very soothing, relaxing, satisfying.

The wraps shown today were created for a specific body of work, embroidered pages, a loosely put together artist book.

It's been used this week for demonstration in Alchemy to illustrate how the simple act of wrapping with cloth is perfect for protecting work, for recognising its importance, for acknowledging its status as something deserving of protection.