Karen Ruane

Sunday

this morning,

ironing,

measuring,

cutting,

folding,

pinning.

Prep for this evening's embroidery.

liberty prairie points and more stitch sampling on gingham

Thank you so much for the response to my shop update earlier this week.

I am sorry one or two of you were disappointed to miss out.

(you sent lovely emails though which means a lot xx)

Another little sample book is taking shape and I am stitching as fast as my fingers will allow!

This one is slightly different to this one and I'm hoping it will all work out when it finally comes together.

gingham, Liberty and hand stitch sampling

I last explored the potential of sampling hand stitch on gingham here, in fact if you follow the gingham category on here there is so much more of this. (this post will be first, just scroll past)

There are a few things in progress here and this has just lengthened that list.....too many distractions but that's a good thing.

I'm still working on pin pillows and fitting in sewing machine time where possible for lace cloth creation along with stitched papers.

I will be away for a week now, I'm off to London, a pre Christmas visit with Master Stanley.

Miss you already x

 

web stitch....gingham, Liberty, hand embroidery

 

Gingham has featured a lot on here lately. That's because I have been making a table covering in 'sewing circle' inspired by memories of my nanna's. Those memories include gingham.

What particularly appeals to me in this work is how 'web stitch' appears to be perfect as a filling for those little squares.

(I'm hoping you notice the little isolated squares of web stitch dotted across the open gingham areas.)

The pieces here are 'ingredients' for my next cloth, stitch sample book.

I have one more page to embellish then I can start to put all this together.

Please take a look at my new class which begins in a few weeks.

This one is project specific which may appeal to some but as always in my classes you are free to work on any embroidery project, the guidance and support I provide remains the same whatever you decide to create!

gingham and Liberty, a continuing theme

It's becoming a theme isn't it? Gingham mixed with embroidery and Liberty fabric.

There is my work from class of course but I can't show you any of that.

Meanwhile, in addition to the class work which I can't show you I am creating another of these little books.

page two

The second page of my latest cloth book is now lined with pattern, ribbon, silk dupion and hand embroidery. This one and the one I shared with you earlier this week still need to have the edges finished with buttonhole lace. There are two pages remaining for which I need to piece and embroider the linings before I can put the book together....I'm aiming for the end of next week so wish me luck.

As I have said a lot recently, the current run of embroidery school is coming to an end. The next embroidery school term begins in September. All the information is below. (you do not have to have taken part in the current embroidery school to participate in the next one)

I have had to turn on comment moderation, hopefully only temporarily. There have been a lot of spam comments recently....these people need to pick up some embroidery to keep themselves occupied!

 

September Embroidery School.

A live blog running for 12 weeks from September 9.

You do not need to have participated in any of my previous online classes to take part in embroidery school.

Online format.... Private password protected blog.

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

Staged payments accepted. Please contact me for details.

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

Join me for 12 weeks of creativity, a unique fly on the wall experience. Observe my process, my day to day, my working practice.

Throughout this online learning programme my aim is to use traditional embroidery process.

During the course of the first two weeks I will be playing with beads and buttons, creating unique adornments for use in larger embroidered pieces building a 'stash' of unique embellished trimmings.

Following on from this initial project I hope to create an 'art garment' piece, a purely decorative and heavily embellished cloth garment piece purely for aesthetic purpose, to be hung or draped and not worn. This piece will be embellished using traditional techniques of applique, cutwork and hand embroidery.

In addition, who knows what else will crop up, what will inspire and develop over this programme. We begin with a blank page of time and fill that page developing embroidered works on paper and fabric.

Posting once every week I will demonstraste my working processes, discuss my ideas and inspirations and develop various pieces of work which result from explorations demonstrated in class.

Group interaction will be facilitated within the forum of a private Flickr group where it will be possible to upload images and receive feedback and encouragement from the wider group along with input from me. There will also be the opportunity for wider discussion within the ''discussion'' area of that group. Interaction in this manner is however voluntary. There is no pressure on you to participate within this forum. If you prefer to work quietly, on your own that is encouraged too. 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.

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

Our initial timetable will be as follows as I am going on holiday for one week on September 30.

September 9. Post 1.

September 16. Post 2.

September 23. Post 3.

September 29 (Sunday) Post 4&5

October 14. Post 6.

Access.... Unlimited. Forever.

Materials required.... List sent upon registration.

Images used here are for illustration purposes only. We will not be replicating these pieces during our 12 weeks.

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

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

Register here

 

white, cutwork, hexagons and Liberty fabric.

The cutwork here, (with the patchwork at it's edge) is from something we are creating in class, it will eventually become a folded pocket, a pouch. The other piece? I was compelled to create the other piece as a result of working on the cutwork pocket. There's something about the Liberty print on white cloth which excited me and I couldn't help myself. As yet I have no idea what the new piece with the hexagons will become. I don't even care. I love to sew, I sewed. It may or may not be added to.....if the urge to mix fabrics and stitch gets hold of you then you just have to go with it.

Related articles

a pocket, gimp and buttons

beads, books and Liberty

It's been a week of stitched swatches and artist books, samples for class and creating new surfaces for my next cloth swatch book. I've had boxes opened rummaging for that one thing you can never find when you need it, I've had beads auditioning for space on embroidered cloth and my ironing board doesn't know whether it's coming or going it's up and down so much. (I sometimes work on my ironing board as opposed to my table. it's  a much better height for me, no stooping)

The last image? A gift of Liberty cloth AND a Liberty gift voucher......I'm speechless.

Related articles

Suffolk puffs - Karen Ruane

edge adornments - Karen Ruane

embroidery school edges - Karen Ruane

the third ''Artist Book''. - Karen Ruane

stitching a paper surface, a video - Karen Ruane

Liberty fabric, paper, octagons.

 

A look back at the past week or so....lots of things going on mostly with paper and Liberty fabric. The Liberty fabric is playing a part in ''embroidery school''. Tomorrow I will show you some of my work from there, I've been stitching happily on white with little bits of patterned cloth.

The post man brought me some new threads to play with this week, the memory thread. He also brought me a beautiful piece of lace, a gift...(last image) I do love my post man!

 

a pillow

One of the pillow tops from yesterdays post has now magically transformed itself into an actual finished pillow. Wow.....it all came together so quickly at the end. I backed it, I stuffed it, I hand finished all four edges with running stitch and I then made seven tiny puffs to adorn the top. These are tied on giving the reverse a quilted appearance.

This will be coming to London with me. I have plans to create so many things for London. If I manage to get them all done there is a danger there won't be any room for me in the car. Then again, I may not get half of it done so I'm not panicking yet.

The second piece from yesterday is in the process of being titivated with a little cross stitch. That may be done by tomorrow but the actual pillow will take a little longer because of damp stretching and everything which comes after. Yes, you've guessed it, backing, stuffing and titivating.

Meanwhile......lace. Yes, lace is being created over in 'swathed in stitch'. I'm just a little bit in love with that and hope to share on here on Wednesday.

Related articles

almost finished

the second one

ledger,a page....