Karen Ruane

auditioning lace and a bowl of buttons

It's time to add more lace to this piece, a small piece with Prairie points too I think.

The buttons and embroidered puffs? They are from our first day in class, next up for the girls is how to piece a wrapping cloth.

hand embroidered buttons and beads

Hand embroidered buttons and beads, funky puffs, ball buttons, paper buttons.

These are all out whilst I think about the first videos for my new class. There is a comprehensive description of that online learning programme at the end of this post.

It's a little overwhelming, the choice. I could of course cover the creation of all of these.....I'm thinking.

 

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A short 'fly on the wall' experience, a taster, a preview of my teaching and the wealth of information shared in my online learning programmes.

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Begins Monday Monday June 3rd for four weeks.

Online format.... Private password protected blog.

No deadlines. No set tasks. Lifetime access to all resources.

This online learning programme was born from the success and popularity of previous 'fly on the wall' classes.

Regular Zoom get togethers for appraisal, demonstration and a good old chat about embroidery or anything else you wish to share.

Zoom meetings are held twice on one day every two weeks, usually on a Monday at 10am and 7pm UK time to enable attendance from all time zones.

Members are welcome to attend both sessions if they wish.

Paticipation in Zoom get togethers is not compulsory.

(You do not need to download Zoom to your device or pay for a subscription.)

Zoom sessions will be recorded and shared exclusively with this online learning group.

Join me for 4 weeks of creativity, a unique fly on the wall experience. Observe my process, my day to day, my working practice. Who knows what will crop up, what will inspire and develop over this programme. We begin with a blank page of time and fill that page, that time developing embroidered works on paper and fabric.
There may be artist books, there may be delicately embroidered laces along with decorative silk surfaces.
There will definitely be buttons, ribbons, sequins, beads and all manner of added titivation.

In this class I demonstrate my working processes and discuss my ideas and inspirations.

My wish is for you to use this learning experience in the manner best suited to you, to learn in a way which makes you happy and furthers your individual creativity.

You are not required to follow my creative path should you not wish to do so. Please work on any creative piece and use this class as an opportunity for guidance, support and demonstration if required.

I cannot emphasise enough the value of friendships which evolve in these classes. They are enthusiastic, friendly, welcoming, encouraging and invaluable groups of like minded people of all abilities.

Please note, certain tasks within this programme may require the use of a sewing machine.

Also includes access to a dedicated Flickr group, membership of which is exclusive to this learning group along with access to a private Facebook group, again with membership exclusive to this learning group.

Access.... Unlimited. Forever.

Materials required.... List sent upon registration.

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

Please allow 36 hours from registration to the receipt of a welcome email.

***Provisional Zoom timetable***

Monday June 3rd. 10am & 7pm BST

Monday June 17th. 10am & 7pm BST.

Thursday June 27th. 10am & 7pm BST.

Reviews of my online learning programmes can be viewed here.

Register here.

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.

 

beaded edge and box pleats

I've been working more in this notebook, box pleats, a beaded edge, hand embroidery stitches.

I am trying to avoid more sampling for 'a samplers cloth' because if I don't stop my work will be finished before class even begins!!

beading on seams

I have been working a little more on the piece from this post, choosing carefully which seams I want to embellish with beads.

There are more bullion knots too but I think this is still some way off being finished.

applique and web stitch with rows of beads and sequins

Embroidery is continuing on four inch squares of silk. I do hope you are enjoying this little visual of how my smallest stitched sample books evolve and come together.

There are two new pages here, one with applique and web stitch the other studies of stitch, beads and sequins with a row of Turkey work thrown in!

I'm considering adding labels to the web stitches for colour identification......I'm thinking.

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If you are registered for 'interactive sewing circle' you should have received an email from me this morning regarding our live Zoom sessions.

Later today I will be sending another email with more details about our twelve week adventure.

If you do not receive those by the end of the day can you please let me know.

Also, my Guinea pigs.....you know who you are...did you get your invitations to our late night get together tomorrow?

oversized, hand embroidered fabric beads

I've been making adornments, things to titivate edges, you can never have too many of those.

These are oversized, hand embroidered fabric beads, or puffs, whatever you want to call them.

They started life as eight inch circles of silk and now measure approximately four inches across.

I already have a plan for these ones, a lower edge where they will live and I will show you that soon. Meanwhile, although the current run of sewing circle has come to an end I am continuing to finish pieces I started there.

puffs, fabric beads

In my last two posts I have been looking back at past work, first it was pockets, then it was buttons.

Today it's puffs or embroidered beads whichever name you prefer to use. I prefer puffs but I guess it's not very descriptive.

Why am I doing this?  Mostly I am doing it to refresh my memory regarding what has worked well for me in the past. I am hoping it will lead to new pieces, new plans, new ideas.

a beaded seam

Up to now I have been placing lace or vintage trim in the seams of my veil piece as I join newly hand embroidered sections. In this image, where three pieces meet I have added beading instead. I had a need for the repetitive. I'm so glad I did.

(Alchemy girls, your first critique videos are now live on the class blog)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Karen Ruane (@karenruane) on Oct 22, 2020 at 4:54am PDT

adding beads, a patchwork page keeper

I think I mentioned when I made the first patchwork page keep for one of my little books that there would be more.

Here is the second one!

There is a video here of me putting this little book together if you missed it.