Karen Ruane

new embroidery thread

I was lucky enough to get a full set of new threads for Christmas, these ones all pretty and beautifully presented in their own tin. There hasn't been a lot of time for embroidery with visitors and me playing domestic goddess but I have managed to use them, to briefly test them on this little piece.

My verdict so far? I'm not sure? I don't think I have sampled enough. They are very fine and I have found they break easily but that could just be me being too heavy handed. I do like the little sparkle they add when used as a highlight but I'm not too sure about how they respond when used on a bigger area. Don't take my word for it though, as I said, I haven't sampled very much yet and I'm not getting paid for this review...these are my initial observations.

I have the rest of my life to try them out so I'll let you know how I get on as and when I use them.

(They have been used here across the top of the Suffolk puffs and for French knots which are dotted randomly at the upper edge of the cutwork circle.)

little pink circles

This piece needed 'something' on the wide, plain sections. I dithered for a while and came up with holes, cutwork holes which remain open (as opposed to having cloth or lace laid behind them) and which were then embellished with little sequins. This is a fun piece, a happy piece, bright and fresh. I think the pink sequins add to that, enhance that theme.

Initially I bagan this piece and other similar pieces for use as overlays. Now I think I may combine them all into some kind of artist book, a reference of surface design ideas which I can look at in the future for inspiration.

not applique

Yesterday I spoke about adding applique to this piece.....I changed my mind, a woman's prerogative. Cutwork won over applique, cutwork with inserts of silk and trim and little clusters of French knots and beads. 

I hope I don't shock you now but I'm bored....bored with this. I like it, I will finish it but for some reason I need a new challenge today. I haven't a clue what, I'm completely blank on that but I will pull some stuff out and play around for a while and see if that sparks something.

Next week I am going on holiday. I'm going here and here. You may remember I taught at the Nantes show two years ago. This time I'm going as a visitor, I can browse, I can shop, I can wander round aimlessly, I can be a tourist, I can be a fabric and thread addict, I can be inspired and in awe.....

The shop will close on Monday so if you wish to sign up for the new class or the 12 month 'artist book blog' bear that in mind.

Wish me luck with my afternoon of play, of searching for inspiration.

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an added strip - Karen Ruane

still sampling

I'm wondering if I should change what I call myself from 'embroiderer' to 'sampler'. Recently I am sampling a lot. I guess it's because I am inspired by many things around me and that leads to questions and wondering and thoughts of 'maybe this would work', perhaps that colour would be perfect if used for that stitch'.  Then I create something like this from Sunday and I begin to wonder if it might need a little friend to sit alongside it, to be applied to the edge, to be laid down somewhere as another idea, another extension of the sampling.

(the piece from Sunday)

So that's where the gingham piece today came in, a possible playmate for the Sunday piece. It also gave me a chance to use some new Swarovski crystals I bought and before you faint they weren't that expensive. I haven't won the lottery unfortunately. Sadly they don't glisten here like they do in real life but if you look closely at the top image in between the French knots and the web stitches you just might be able to spot them. 

Now I am compelled to sample more, to see if I can make these two fit and if not then to make something else which might fit and on it goes. Meanwhile I can't stop looking at these.....do you see why I can't stop?

a front for a new needle case

This came together quickly...adding the extra cutwork, hexagons and sequins. Now I'm wondering where I can add something ''dangly''. I like dangly. I'm thinking it will need to go on the inside now though. I am going to put that together this afternoon.

The little cutwork motifs appeal to me a lot here, how they rise a little and take on the appearance of little pockets....as you know I like a pocket. (and dangly things too)

This was embroidered last night after I had spent a couple of hours working on these for London. My London prep is progressing well, really well so I'm able to relax a little with that from time to time and after creating pieces for class, feeding class work, extending class work I am able work on something like this little needle case.

Now I'm off to look for something which dangles!

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early stages - Karen Ruane

early stages

It's the start of a new needle case. (like I've got time to make a new needle case???) I had to. I had to do something anyway because my order of this came yesterday and it was too tempting, I had to work with it straight away.

It will have to go away for a couple of days now though....I have embroidered workshop folders to finish for London. There are stitched papers and fabric combinations to be made for the same workshop packs and I have lots of pages to embellish for the ''artist book 12 month blog''. 

There is plenty of time to do all this so long as I don't allow myself to be distracted.....famous last words.

Embroidery School 2018. Begins Monday January 15.

More information here. It's going to be amazing!

the next cloth book

You saw a glimpse of this yesterday, in the embroidery hoop with the cutwork in progress. Since then the cutwork has been completed and it now has a row of delicate beads along with an applique motif and a single pink, vintage button.

This is going to be the cover for my next ''sample swatch book''. The folded strips you can see on the left of the first image with the buttonhole edge form part of the spine. I will embroider both sides of this cover, front and back. 

This morning I have been finishing a bag for Hankie class. I have been stressed beyond belief. I am useless at finishing ''technical'' things like linings.  I just want to say to the girls....the video count up to now is over one and a half hours and I haven't finished yet. Prepare yourselves.....(It will most likely be posted on Friday) I will be returning to it as soon as I have finished here....and then I will need a lie down in a darkened room.

Another reminder.....''embroidery school 2018''. 

You can read more here.

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white and sequins

I reacquainted myself with some stitched pieces from way back when yesterday.....this one stood out, it was crying out for sequins. It was. I could hear it. When this piece was embroidered sequins never figured anywhere in my life, creatively or otherwise so I am mixing ''new me'' with ''old me'' here. I'm not sure where it's going, whether it will go anywhere but I'm happy I mixed the old and new because think about the possibilities.

You may have also noticed I am developing an unnatural love for a dangly sequin. I'm constantly looking around me and wondering what can have the dangly sequin treatment next. I have resisted up to now with needle cases although the layered pouch already has some and will certainly have more before it's finished....

edging a cutwork sample

A few samples were created during the initial, early stages of ''studies in stitch''. I'm now beginning to give them a little attention starting with the cutwork. I think there are only three of these in total, three pieces of cloth with cutwork samples worked on them but they should still make a good ''swatch book'' when they are titivated. 

If you are new here you can see more swatch books here and here then you will have an idea of what I mean.

A bound edge has been added to this one with buttonhole lace and sequins to secure and embellish. The reverse is getting attention too.....sequins to follow there

Embellishing the reverse of pieces, samples has become important to me. I see it as giving recognition to the work which is visible there, the knots, the working threads because where would we be without those.

 

 

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a finished collection of embroidered pieces - Karen Ruane

- Karen Ruane

a very large button and a folded pocket with cutwork.

The second ''collection'' from class is coming together. Surface embroidery on a folded pocket is almost complete. There are still one or two hexagons to add and a small patch of cutwork to create and apply to the surface. Once those things are done I can begin to line this one before finishing it with a few folds and some titivating of the edges. 

The button, singular....for this collection is also made. There's mileage in this and I have plans for more buttons inspired by this one with a few ''tweaks'' here and there. For a start.....I missed a trick with that unstitched area of silk fabric didn't I?

There will be a pin pillow too. That is pinned, that's all, just pinned. It's top of my list for serious thinking this weekend.

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- Karen Ruane

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