Karen Ruane

bumps, pleats and knots

 

 

 

I was going to say there isn't much happening here today but that wouldn't be true. There is a lot happening here today, yesterday, the day before but not much to show for it in terms of embroidery. This morning has been like a whirlwind. Up at 8, shower, quick emptying of the kitchen sink, (cups and teaspoons from late last night), taking photographs, converting videos, uploading videos to you tube, posting class, getting my hair cut literally 30 minutes ago. Cleaning up the hair off the floor, changing clothes....again.

The kettle is on now but my feet won't be getting ''put up''. I have a welcome mail to compose, more pictures to take. So it's hectic.....but I love it....wouldn't have it any other way and then, later, me and my new haircut can sit.....and embroider.

five minutes with my hoop

 

 For the first part of yesterday evening I was putting pin pillows together. Once that was done I worked on this a little, an alphabet sampler which will become part of my sampler cloth. My sampler cloth is very much on my mind at the moment, it needs attention, it demands attention and will definitely need more time spent on it from here on in.

At the moment there are lots of pieces on my mind....samples, sampler cloth, pin pillows, tabs...a new piece I have been asked to make for someone that I can't talk about yet. Then there is lace cloth....I feel a list coming on.

I made a list yesterday....but not an embroidery list, a shopping list. Yes, today is cabinet shopping day and fabric shopping day and ........well who knows. It depends on how restrained I can be. All I will say is that I have a lot of space to fill in this little place I call home. When I get there, to the shops, I will be putting things I love on Instagram and facebook....stand by....

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hoops

four hoops

 

 

 

 

 

These are the constants in my life at the moment, creatively and otherwise. It doesn't matter what I am doing, housework, cooking, supermarket, these are ever present in my thoughts. I love all of this work equally. Silk embroidery samples which will one day become a bigger cloth, a sampler cloth and a new pouch. The pouch is a gift, I can't say any more on here as it is a surprise.

The pink gingham is here as it is so pretty I always want to pick it up and add a stitch or two. That will be slow to complete but I'm not in a hurry.

I feel as if I am late today. I tackled the supermarket earlier and I know that I was longer there than I hoped to be. The girls in simply stitch are waiting for me...I am coming honestly.....and there are one or two chores outstanding but I think as it is such a gorgeous day I am happy to be slow....er....than usual.

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cross stitch and patches

patches.....

in the hoop

 

 

 

 

This is my work from last night in all its unstretched glory. That doesn't happen very often....me putting unstretched work on here. Stretching wasn't on my list and I am sticking rigidly to that list. I am nearly at the bottom of it actually and feeling rather pleased with myself.

So that's it. I leave you with a piece of substandard embroidery. Sorry about that but if I deviate I get lost and all the plans become muddled. I will be back on June 11......not too far away.....and don't forget you can follow my travels on Instagram and facebook. Links over on the right.

Miss you already........x

more human....

I am feeling a little more human today although I still can't stray too far away from the tissues. Yesterday I slept again.....so much sleep. Does that mean I will be able to stay awake for days now? We shall see. The dreaded supermarket was tackled this morning, with help. Phew. Now it's a weekend of not very much except embroidery.

The lace girls got their last two videos this morning. The piece you can see here that isn't in the hoop is from one of those videos. It pains me to say that they are making so much more progress with their lace work than I am. I am a little green at all the amazingly gorgeous things they are making. My focus is on pin pillows at the moment, one in particular....TB...your pillow so I can send your pouch. You must think you are never going to get them. I am on it honestly.

 Aside from embroidery I plan to do some internet surfing at the weekend. I may well stop by your place so make sure the kettle is on and don't forget to have the tissues handy either. I am also eyeing up all the blank ledgers I have, being tempted to doodle and excited deciding which one I should use for 'simply stitch'....maybe I will use more than one? I have a ''thing'' for ledgers/journals/sketchbooks and buy way too many of them, never use them but they are lovely just to look at. At least that's what I tell myself.

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Simply Stitch....a new class...back to basics.

untitled

hoops

I have been gathering cloth in hoops. There's a lot, a lot in progress and even more planned. Did you see how fast the pin pillows and the pouch disappeared yesterday..wow...thank you. I may make more, I am deciding. You know what I'm like, takes me a week to decide anything....Miss indecisive 2013. 

This morning has been weird. My routine has been disrupted. I suddenly realised that as I had been away the cupboards had emptied and we didn't have any food. I was forced to do my Friday ''big shop'' today, Tuesday, prepare for more confusion on Friday when I should be going and realise my cupboards are full. Heck I'm confused already.

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a hoop full of bullion knots and another corner...

pin pillows and a pouch

just this

 

 

 

 

I'm running a bit behind today. I had to do the dreaded supermarket run this morning as I won't be here tomorrow. Happily I have finished the embroidery on my pouch too and it is damp stretched ready to be put together and finished when I get back. So today is a tying up of loose ends day. I will clean the house leaving it spick and span and leave the laundry basket empty.

Tomorrow I will be here, spending the night and on Saturday I go here until Tuesday night. I will be posting to Instagram and facebook, images of food, shops, landmarks, goodies I might buy.....maybe even wedding dresses!! Take care of yourselves......I miss you already.

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the second pouch

a hoop full of bullion knots and another corner...

I finished another corner of my veil/festooned/lace thingy last night. I only have around 4 inches of the edge to complete now but I am searching for the right piece of lace to fit in there. I can't just add any only tat can I. I didn't feel like rummaging last night, I was cosy and chilled on the sofa so I picked up my wrapping cloth and added a zillion bullion knots to a seam...I think someone asked me what I was going to use this veil thingy for. The answer is nothing. It will just sit beautifully on my bed.

I feel slightly 'un focused' today....does that make sense? Like I need a challenge...like I want something new...not that I have a clue what I need or want or am searching for. The answer? Probably to put the kettle on.....

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adding lace to lace

two hoops....

Lace....

two hoops....

There are two pieces in progress at the moment, two very similar pieces, both lace and titivation. One has cross stitch the other doesn't but that's not to say it won't at some point. Last night whilst I was watching the new James Bond...under sufference...against my wishes....yearning to stick pins in my eyes rather than be made to suffer James Bond and Skyfall.......I added a lot of bullion knots. (I have to say.....and keep it to yourself, just between us....I surprised myself and actually enjoyed Skyfall. What is happening to me???)

My favourite, favourite, favourite part of these? The tiny little ''fence'' or ''gate'' of knots that you can see between the two hoops in the top picture and just below my name in the last picture. I intended them to look like that, it worked, I love it.

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alphabet strips and other titivations

the next thing....(and an embroidery book)

process

The process of thread wrapping for embroidery, in progress and applied to my cloth. This hasn't been damp stretched yet, there is still embellishment to be added but I am more than happy with the way it is finding it's place within my 'muslin wrap'....'muslin bag'....muslin holder'. What did I call it yesterday? I can't remember so take your pick. I think I prefer 'muslin holder' though.

The big news of the day is the start of Alchemy 2013. I am so very excited and I already have amazing feedback two hours in.  You will be able to see the work I produce for that on here regularly so please keep coming back for that. I am also looking into the possibility of running 'embroider, embellish, create' again before spring. There will be further information on that posted here when things are finalised/decided.

OK...I have a crammed inbox, best get replying to some mail. Have a lovely Monday x

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Alchemy 2013