Karen Ruane

playing with pattern and colour

Work on this collection is continuing in class.

Examining pattern, thread colour, fabric designs.

Seeing what works with what, which combination I prefer.

(no, I haven't decided yet)

There's still a long way to go.

 

Design exploration

We're looking at some design basics in my monthly subscription class. This is a follow on from Artist Book work.

Consequently my table has been in dissaray for most of the past week as I look at past design work for inspiration.

This helps my brain to tick....

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Karen Ruane (@karenruane)

progress

This is how my table looked after yesterdays post.

Lots of cards waiting to be stitched and embellished.

I'm starting with torn paper.

pages, inspire, design,

Past work, past design exploration and sampling.

I am looking at this hoping it will inspire this and this.

I think it's working.

A quick flick through for you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Karen Ruane (@karenruane)

stitch and presentation

The large hanging tags from this post now have stitch added.

Simple stab stitch secures the torn paper strips whilst the embroidered fabric has been tied to the background.

I'm now considering how to present and preserve these pieces.

Torn papers have been stitched to pages in a simple notebook and I will play around with the idea of securing these large embroidered tags onto those pages.

Extending design exploration

I am having so much fun with this project.

It started here and now I can't stop.

These pieces are born from a desire to extend and develop this work so I am sampling colour, sampling pattern, sampling mixes of both.

There is embroidery to apply to the larger tags and I'm also thinking about how to present this collection.

I'd like that to be decided before I carry out more sampling, more colour and pattern matching.

I will keep you posted.

Two inch square swatches, design exploration.

Yesterday I needed thinking time.

This is how I've spent that time so far.

Allowing for that time to consider next steps really does work.

I now have a much clearer idea of where I am going with all this and have plans for more swatches which will help me with final design decisions.

 

Inspiration, folded pages.

Gathering has been happening.

Design sheets, colour swatches, tiny stitched collages.

Moving on my 'folded pages' exploration...hopefully anyway.

I need thinking time.

More tiny stitched collages are on the way and whilst I'm creating those?

Thinking time.

a glimpse of progress

I've been developing design ideas in my 'folded pages' artist book.

At some point I would like to move these ideas to fabric and my brain is working oveertime on that idea.

Meanwhile I will continue stitching pages and moving this work on.

folding pages

We've been folding pages in class.

Working like this with your artist book pages opens up more possibilities for pattern placement and can inspire ideas for fabric manipulation.

If you like to draw or paint this process would also inspire using those media.

I have a lot more plans for this work and am already considering how these ideas will transfer to cloth.