Karen Ruane

paper, stitch, crystals and a zip

Paper work continues in 'sewing circle', the piece with the zip fastener being our newest sample.

Hopefully you will notice I am continuing the run of embellishments on the outer surface of the lift up section.

The run of crystals is unfinished as I have ran out of those.  (they are on order now)

There is more pin pricking to do before this one is complete.

The piece with the row of web stitches is one of three pieces that I have mentioned before, this being another.

I'm aiming to begin finishing this three section piece in our videos next month.

(A word on the background in these images.....white is difficult to photograph especially when the weather is gloomy. Laying white on a background with colour and pattern helps with the photography. I have used this ledger a few times recently for that purpose and you can read more about it here.)

paper, zips, loops and lace

Zip open, zip closed, I can't decide which looks better. Perhaps neither of them, they are equally as appealing. This is the third and last sheet from doodle class. Paper and lace, titivated, embroidered, zips added, stitched by hand, stitched on the sewing machine.

This piece along with my others from doodle class and more from the past couple of years are now safely put away ready to come to London. I want to make more of these, smaller, a series. That might not happen yet as I'm pushed for time at the moment but it's noted, it's written down, it's on a list.

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the body bag and a pocket top

the lower edge (and a little play with paper matching)

just bling.....

gathering....

I'm trapped, I can't do anything of substance. I can't make videos or get my sewing machine out. I can't clean the house. I can't really leave the house. So I have just been gathering bits together and looking. The only new piece here is the zip piece, created in Alchemy earlier this week. The other pieces aren't new but they do inform in new ways when laid out like this.  Three very different online classes yet put them all together and they fit, like pieces of the puzzle that is my brain. 

If I print these images and look some more every so often then a new body of work would form. So rather than this being a futile exercise it has been an informative exercise.

For the rest of the day I will work some more on this....hand embroidery....I can't do anything else.

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embroidery and cloth

embroidery school.....

gathering blue and white

two

Two piles of stuff from this mornings gathering. I have a plan for each of them, a different plan. I gave myself a good talking to, pull your socks up Karen, ignore the chaos. I am ignoring it mostly but the fact that it lingers in my head, even in the smallest way is blocking me a little creatively.

But...I can't stop. I'm not one to twiddle my thumbs. So the plan....work with these today, make progress for Alchemy and ''4'' before I disappear for a couple of weeks.

twiddle your thumbs

to have nothing useful to do while you are waiting for something to happen

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I just had to do it

still sampling

an interview....

a ledger show and tell

 

 

As promised, a short video show and tell of the ledger from last week....it is very dull and dreary here today, no sunshine at all so I apologise for the lack of brightness in the video. 

The work at home, the sorting out and moving around is coming along. Most of it is done now, just my bedroom to sort out and change a little. This morning I took three huge bags of unwanted things to the charity shop...one mans junk is another mans treasure and all that. I ache a little today. I wasn't created for furniture moving. I am sure I was created for a purely supervisory role in that situation. Thankfully nothing of a furniture nature needs  moved now, that aspect of the current upheaval is finished. I am hoping that everything will be back to normal by the weekend......

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lace and ledgers

An Embroiderers Ledger

a pocket on a page

I finished this small pocket last night. I gave it a flounce, a vintage cloth edge that is almost as big as the pocket itself. The vintage cloth also forms the back and the pocket has a lining. This one is a gift...shhhh...can't tell you who for I would have to kill you. There is no connection to this page from doodle doo...I merely thought it made a rather nice background.

I am looking forward to the rest of the weekend. I know that we established last week that I don't like Sundays but this one will be different, it is showing promise. I have the whole place to myself. My plans include the titivating of pin cushions, putting homework together for the girls in class and getting the second piece of my pocket from yesterday put together. In between all that the kettle will be on overtime...a coffee or two may be consumed along with some lovely new tea I want to try.

Technology is very trying at the moment...typepad still insists on putting comments in the spam folder. If you leave a comment and can't see it don't worry, I am checking the spam regularly. This morning my facebook page has gone all ''strange'' on me...not sure what's happening there but it definitely doesn't look the same as it did when I went to bed last night...anyone else noticed anything? It's a conspiracy...I just know it....

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this weekend

titivating

thinking.....

Following on from my thoughts in yesterdays post...I have changed my plans slightly. I don't think I want a side zip but I do still want a zip. Two thirds of the way down from the top, not central but the back meeting the front on the front. Does that make sense? Last night I pieced the back, I tacked the back and I embroidered on a small section with cross stitch. The back is actually quite big...bigger than the front as it needs to come over to meet the front. 

As you look at these pictures the mainly white, creased, not damp stretched piece is the back in progress. Don't be fooled by its 'dogs dinner' appearance it will be titivated to death before it's finished. This pocket, pouch, is going to be large. I like that it will be big. It will be useful and very satisfying to have to hand with my muslin inside. I think this will be the best Christmas gift I have ever given myself.

If you have signed up for Alchemy then expect a mail and a video before Monday. If you have a hankering to create a beautiful wrapping cloth then keep your eyes peeled for news regarding embroider, embellish, create running again quite soon.

(keep your eyes peeled....not a pleasant thought)

 

P.S......I just had another buffet...that's not the news though, sorry. Drum Roll.....I have a new toy... a lot of buttons along the bottom of the post. You would make me very happy if you could see your way to clicking the facebook one every once in a while...thank you x

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doodle doo continued.....

I embroider.....

stretched

this and that......