Karen Ruane

keeping in touch

Despite a lot of gingham chat lately I still have more than one eye on this, developing my ideas, creating new samples.

Alchemy 2023 begins in just over a week and I want my recent explorations in Surface design to be an integral part of what I create over there.

(if you are registered for Alchemy 2023 you should have received an email from me this morning. If you didn't receive that then please let me know)

These samples are a reflection of what is happening on my main design sheet and there are five in total.

Paper and ribbon with more ribbon....

Paper pages embellished with snippets of ribbon to hold embroidered ribbon on ribbon samples.

I was assessing my page needs in this post and it seems that need has now grown.

Not only do I need more pages for my ribbon samples, I need more pages for these too.

sampling ribbon

If you read this post and also this one you will find the explanation for my sampling with ribbon.

It's hoped that this sampling will lead to further works around this theme.

Another large design sheet is called for I think, taking snippets of what I have here and combing them into something which holds even more information.

sampling and gingham

There are a few things going on here....gingham, the newest piece the one which is just web stitches, 16 0f them to be precise.

Also, several small four by four inch samples of embroidery, you saw three of them here, there are now five patterned ones and three white ones.

At the top of the first image are two as yet unworked pieces on paper waiting for hand stitch.

I don't think my brain is working though. Take away the gingham for which I have a purpose in mind and the other work.....well I wish I knew.

These are pieces of the collection of surface design I have been building but I'm no clearer on where that is heading.

Does that matter or am I just being impatient?

collage and stitch 2

My play with paper, collage and stitch is continuing.

This is number two. It's far from finished.

I'm not sure number one is finished yet either.

(for reference these are A3 size)

I am enjoying working with this size.

exploring

This piece has been in progress for almost a week.

It's baby steps, the first dip of my toe into a plan to try something new.

OK, there's pin pricking and my usual embroidery stitches, they will most likely be ever present but what I'm hoping to achieve is progress with a different type of composition, a cohesive body of work created to generate new ideas.

Like I said, baby steps for now.

(some images aren't loading for me...are they loading for you?)

sampling stitches on white

Sampling embroidery stitches on lace cloth with added silk velvet.

There are French knots, bullion knots and a little Turkey work.

I'll be cutting these out and mounting them elsewhere, watch this space.

(if you click on the image it should enlarge)

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.

sampling for a sampler's cloth

Remember I said here that I was going to put flowers on this sample? Well here they are.

There is also a little applique and some small cut outs, token like pieces which have been embellished with hand stitch.

The base of this piece is a vintage hankie and it has the feel of a vintage nightgown when I am stitching into it, it's beautifully soft.

As I said last time you saw this, the extra edge has been machine basted around the outside to allow for damp stretching. That will be removed when the piece is finished.

This sample is practice for my new class 'a sampler's cloth' which will be all things hand embroidery.

I am going away tomorrow and won't be back for ten days or so.

I'm visiting Stanley and spending time in London.

There will be cake and there will be shopping.

Registration for a samplers cloth will remain open here.

 

 

paper, net, embroidery...a new sample piece

This is the start of my next embroidered paper sample. It's a continuation of this work.

There is an area at one edge that is yet to be embellished and then I'll decide if I am going to add to this, allow it to grow.

If you are registered for 'Creative Portfolio' you should have received mail from me this morning.

If you didn't receive any then please let me know asap.

Keep scrolling for a Stanley update!

Stanley Edward. 13 days old. Be still my heart.