What is the inspiration behind your work?
The answer to this is best summed up by the text at the header of my blog,
For centuries women have used cloth as a tool of comfort and as an expression of beauty within their homes. Creating cloth for warmth, cloth for shelter, our female predecessors embellished these linens with hand stitch using laborious and time consuming techniques thereby enhancing the functional beauty of objects which enveloped and protected their families. Inspired by these women I hope my creations pay tribute to and recognise the devotion expressed in cloth by our female ancestors .
''the use of traditional often time consuming process alludes to the devotion of a mother''.
c K. A. Ruane 2007
Do you always design in the form of drawing or similar before starting a piece?
These days I very rarely draw as a starting point to my embroidery. I work to instinct and how the piece feels to me as I embellish. Whilst I was studying however I carried out a huge amount of research that informs what I do to this day. I always feel that is where my ''instinct'' begins, with past research.
What camera do you use?
I have a very old but very relaible Olympus FE 130 which is actually held together with an elastic band!! Once my pictures are taken and downloaded I edit them with GIMP. This is an excellent programme which is downloadable free of charge.
Can I link to your blog?
Yes, please do
Can I use your images?
My images can be used as long as they are credited to me. My images may not be used for financial or commercial gain. I like to hope that my copyright will be respected as I respect the copyright of others.
Do you keep a record of time spent on projects both for sale and those that are personal?
I do take note of time spent on work that I sell but not on work that is for myself.
I am still trying to work out how many hours I have spent on my ''toe wrap''!!!
Do you read all comments that you get?
In short...YES. I love getting commments, feedback and input from other like minded people. It makes it all worthwhile and brightens my day.
I also try to reply to EVERY comment and e-mail that I receive. This is not always possible however, especially for those who do not have an e-mail address enabled on their profile.
Where do you get your fabrics?
I buy staple fabrics such as silk and cotton from a local shop where I have been going for years. The service is excellent and I trust their quality completely. Vintage fabrics, trims and other pieces I source where I can, charity shops, online, markets etc.
Where do you buy your threads?
I purchase most of my threads online and occasionally buy more specialist threads at embroidery shows.
