Karen Ruane

the final two pieces

The final two pieces which complete my wrapping cloth are finished.

The pleated floral section will hopefully extend from the edge once the backing is in place.

The other piece here should just slot in the final space and as soon as my backing fabric arrives I should be good to go.

I am still undecided as to whether I should add a soft layer in the middle of this, between the front and the reverse. I think I will play with that idea and see how the embroidered top piece responds to that.

I've had a couple of querys about the subscription service to this blog. My usual subscription service has closed but I spent some time setting up a new one a few weeks ago and there is a link to that on the right hand side of this page (the envelope)

You can also use this link.

Also, I am starting to post regularly on my new Ko-Fi site. That place won't replace this blog but you might like to pop over there sometime and take a look. You do not have to subscribe to my online learning to access that page, you can merely follow me for free and be notified when I post new content.

That link is here.

Going back to my wrapping cloth....I was wrong when I said I'd be good to go as soon as the backing cloth arrives. I still need to embellish a few seams so that's what you will most likely see next time.

pleats and a pocket

When I start a wrapping cloth there is no plan. Initially I create rectangles of embroidered cloth, different sizes but generally no bigger that ten by twelve inches, often smaller.

Once I have a few embroidered panels I begin the joining process. I get very excited at this stage by the seams, the possibilities for embellishment.

At the next stage measuring becomes inportant as pieces are created to fill space.

I have been at that stage with this cloth for a couple of weeks now and today you can see the latest panel.

Up to now I haven't measured this cloth but that's not important to me. It will be finished when it's finished.

(I rarely aim for a set size)

the latest panel pinned in place

 

Work is happening in the background for my 'subscription' based online learning idea.

You'd be surprised at how much 'technological' stuff has to happen for these things to go live.

So far I have a home page, screenshot below.

Please ignore the donate feature. I'm not sure I can remove that, the html code for that section is embedded in the page before you begin.

Content for my membership tiers needs to be created along with some freebies which will be offered with the highest tier.

I'm also giving a lot of thought to a 'yearly sewing retreat' which will be offered as an extra.

Meanwhile I am off to London tomorrow for a few days so I'm guessing nothing will be live until at least the end of next week.

I will of course post on here when everything is good to go.

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!!

pleats, spots...cutwork, progress

The surface embroidery on my spotty pocket is finished. I added pleated cloth, cutwork and bullion knots. I've folded it here in a couple of the images to see how it will look when it's all put together, finished, lined, titivated. It gets folded like this before I even start, so I can get an idea of how to distribute the patterning, the stitches and anything extra I might add like buttons and puffs....I love it when a plan comes together. Now I need to line it....I'm thinking spots......that can't happen for a few days though. Never mind, I have that to look forward to.

A reminder....''an embroiderers ledger (extended)'' starts in just over two weeks. You can read more here. Also, it's not too late to join us for ''wrapped and bound in stitch'', ( I showed my work in progress from that class yesterday). You can read more about that here.

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an edge of cutwork

I promised

gimp....

a human sized pocket

I never tire of this piece and it's very appropriate that I continue to work on it during the current pocket class. This, the body bag, this is going to be a human sized pocket....appropriate. Despite the fact that it is getting very regular attention at the moment there is still a long way to go. More silk panels require embellishment, more muslin needs to be pleated, more tabs need to be made and embroidered. There will be applique petals, applique circles, patches, bumpy bits, bullion knots, French knots, cross stitch.....a long,, long list........

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two applique flowers....

continuing....

the first pocket from class

gimp and lace

Tabs in action....

As promised yesterday, tabs and how they work, where they live, how they fit into the body bag. Tabs lay across the pleated muslin, they represent binding, wrapping, holding, keeping safe. They adorn the muslin panels, enhance the pleats whilst mirroring the embellishment on the silk panels.

I need to make quite a lot more of these, my guesstimate is ten but that could be wrong. Truth is I don't really know for certain until the body bag nears completion, nearer to completion than it is now anyway. Later today I will be adding pleated muslin panels to the main piece along with a new tab, the one from yesterday and perhaps another finished silk panel. It is growing. I don' think we are speaking in terms of months until I have a finished body bag. I think it will be weeks.....I hope it will be weeks....

pleated muslin and a tab....

We're focusing on the body bag this week over in swathed in stitch. Panels are being joined, (after I have decided which piece I want where. I change my mind a million times before anything is actually stitched down!) These pieces, the pleated muslin and the tabs are an integral part of the body bag too. I can't have one without the other. The tabs bind the muslin, lay over the muslin panels as if securing them. Tomorrow I will show you this in action so to speak. I will photograph those sections of the body bag where this is evident. I hope it will become a bit clearer then.

Just a word of warning now. I feel another list coming on. Later today...I need some clarity of thought. I need some kind of plan. I have ideas coming out of my ears. I have pressing things nipping at my heels. I need to prioritise. I seem to float along for a few weeks, lost in my own little world of cloth and thread when suddenly reality jumps in and reminds that this tiny corner of the world isn't all fluffy and pretty. Well, it is but not exclusively. Some of that fluffiness and prettiness needs a little order from time to time, a little more focus maybe.

the body bag

I've been working more on the ''body bag''. It had been put to one side for a while and now it's calling me again. Yesterday I introduced it to the girls in ''4'', they will most likely be seeing quite a bit of it from now on, a change from blue and white. The blue and white will continue but with this as a companion. Speaking of ''4'', I have been asked if it's still available. Well it wasn't....but now it is, here.  ''4'' will actually continue through to August so due to ''demand'' it is listed again. You really want to listen to me until August? I admire your resilience! You will jump straight in, have access to it all from day one, no catch up, no deadlines, just cake...

If you're not familiar with the body bag, just click the link in the category list over on the right and it may become clearer but basically this is going to be a bag, a human sized bag....hence, ''body bag''. It's not going to be a prop in the next series of CSI. Well actually, if they asked?

The newest section is laid on top here....a patch, some hexagons and a large applique circle partially edged with bullion knots. It needs more.......I feel some lace cloth coming on.

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the wedding bag. progress 2

The White Pouch

Special. (progress)

strips and cords

large applique circle, medium applique circle, small applique circle....

finishing off

 

 

 

Things are nearing completion over in SS3. Well I say that but there is still quite a lot of titivating to do on this. It will take a few more videos for class before I can finally say it's finished but the end is in sight....not that I'm in any particular hurry but technically we finish tomorrow. It's not going to happen, we will run into next week. I don't mind, I just hope they're not getting sick of me!

I hope you can get a sense from these images of the amount of surface embroidery on this piece. There are layers and layers of silk, lace, lace cloth which I made myself. There are bullion knots, French knots, running stitches. There is pleating and tying and folding. More tying, more stitching, backing, lining all need to be added. Hooks and eyes will most likely make an appearance. There is a paper piece to consider which will live with this too....phew....I'm exhausted......in a good way.

What next? Who knows. Simply Stitch 4 will begin with simple exercises and I will take it from there....

There is a reminder for you here.....

***you do not need to have participated in any of my previous online learning programmes in order to take part in simply stitch four. There are no prerequisites for simply stitch four.***

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Simply stitch 4 has no deadlines, no set tasks. Groups which are formed through my online learning programmes are communities, friendly, interactive, supportive communities. It is my hope that each individual course takes place within a relaxed, informal and ''comfortable'' online environment. 
You are welcome to dip and and out of our experience as and when it is convenient for YOU. Access is permanent....forever.

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Access to a private blog with regular, minimum twice weekly blog posts which will be created specifically for this group included. These posts will NOT appear on my public blog, they will be exclusive to this group. Video posting fortnightly minimum.

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Commencing Monday February 24 for SIX MONTHS Simply stitch 4, a gathering of cloth and embroiderers is my latest online learning programme born from a desire to get ''back to basics'', hand stitch at it's purest. This online creative experience will take the form of a very relaxed and gentle gathering of cloth and embroiderers, those who have an affinity with handling cloth, working with cloth. We will gather together and embroider, I will discuss my plans, my inspiration, the preparation and creation of embroidered cloth. I will demonstrate technique and process throughout. I can guarantee that there will be embroidery, embellishment, manipulation of cloth. I will share thoughts along with the more tangible sources which drive me. I will doodle, you will be encouraged to do the same.

It is my hope that you bring your own work along with you, to share and discuss with the group. We will guide and support each other, sharing tips and process, a gathering of girls for ''online'' afternoon tea.

You are welcome to continue and /or begin your own projects within the forum of this class. You are also welcome to observe and plan work around the pieces I create. If you do not wish to embroider then that is fine too. You can just follow along with us as I record my personal, creative process. You will be given access to me, my day, my embroidery with demonstration, discussion and instruction throughout.

*** There are no deadlines. There are no set tasks. This is an informal and relaxed process which is purely concerned with enjoyment and companionship.***

Video will be hosted on our private pasword protected blog and there will be a dedicated flickr group where you can upload images and interact with your peers by means of private discussion.

To register go here

lace cloth, pleated muslin, embroidery

 

 

 

 

Do you remember when I said I wonder if a few panels of lace cloth would enhance the body bag? Well there is only one way to find out so this morning I have been creating lace cloth and laying it next to my body bag pieces....I think it works, I think it will enhance. What do you think? It will be hard to get a final idea until I have created a larger piece of the lace, a piece that is a similar size to the embroidered and pleated sections but that should be tended to later today.

The wedding is getting ever nearer......I leave two weeks tomorrow, on October 24. The wedding is October 29 and as well as playing the role of mother of the bride, (I am far too young. I think there has been a terrible mistake) alongside that I will be doing a little visiting of other American places about which I am very, very excited. I will be posting on Instagram...... obsessively.....you have been warned.

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pleated muslin and embroidered silk continued......

adding lace to lace

Alchemy and Lace...