Karen Ruane

gimp, embroidery threads and hand wrapped buttons.

Thank you so much for the love for my little stitched notebook! So many views and personal messages...thank you!

Today it's more paper based work, more work on my design sheets for 'creative portfolio', a follow on from this, this and this.

 

 

recording colour

My recent work with surface design is inspiring a few offshoots.

The little button/thread cards aren't part of class, they are just pieces I was led to create because of surface design accomplished in class.

(I am yet to annotate, to add the colour reference numbers)

developing design

Along the top of this design sheet and down the right hand side I am developing my ideas from 'creative portfolio'.

You last saw this work here. Since then we have been focusing on specific areas of our original explorations and highlighting those, presenting them as mini compositions with reference to our ribbons and thread colours.

(to my class, this is spoken of and demonstrated in detail in our new post today)

I also couldn't resist sharing my newly acquired threads and gimp today....in the last image.

buttons as a colour reference

These buttons were created as a means of recording the thread choices for my recent work in 'creative portfolio'.

Basically, each button was created in a colour which has been used for embroidery in that work.

You can see them in situ here and here.

Tonight I need to make more of these for the next design sheet....

extending surface design

I'm still working on this collection of surface design pieces, extending and exploring new ideas.

As this collection grows I am getting more and more ideas, more inspiration from each added piece.

There are more small pieces in progress to accompany these sheets with more ideas noted, ready to go just as soon as I am able to move on.

table

My table these past few days.....it looks chaotic I know but it makes sense to me honestly.

Surface design, sampling, inspirational imagery, threads, ribbons, cords....

I have moved this work on now, new pieces are taking shape.

I will share those with you next week.

silk velvet and gimp

Silk velvet, gimp, net, hand wrapped ball buttons and embroidery, the fabric element of 'creative portfolio'.

This piece has been a long time in the making and it's not finished yet.

There are two layers here, an embroidered silk dupion base with a silk velvet and net overlay, also hand embroidered.

I created the hand wrapped ball buttons as a means of recording my thread choices and next up, a little stitch reference to accompany those.

surface design

I'm a little later than normal today. My schedule is a little upside down at the moment because of family stuff but I made it here in the end.

This work is progress from 'creative portfolio'.

There is appliqued kid leather, stitching on paper, gimp, ribbon and hand made ball buttons. ( I am in love with those and can't stop making them!)

These compositions, these design ideas are very satisfying to create and extend.

There will be more of this.

developing design ideas

Progress. My design sampling for class is developing, being extended.

There is something very satisfying about Surface design and no rules. Fabric? yes if you like. Torn paper? of course. Do I have to draw? Not if you don't want to Karen.

How about paper and fabric mixed? definitely.

Gimp on paper.......oh yes.

I am loving this process, can you tell?

 

a little glimpse into class

It's a little hectic here at the moment but I thought I would let you have a glimpse of what's happening in class.

We are at the very early stages here and I am still trying very hard to channel my inner Lacroix.

Let's hope I get there before class finishes!

(it's not too late to join us, just go here to read more)