Bullion knots for a seam. A short video.

 

I love embellishing a seam!

Creating a wrapping cloth means lots of seams.

Today, bullion knots.

A short video. 

 

Gimp and prairie points.

 

There has been progress with the embroidered pieces from this post.

Two of those have been joined and gimp has been added running across both pieces to 'draw' them together. 

The other has been joined to a piece you didn't see in that post. 

Prairie points have been added to the joining seam as you can see in the image today. 

I'm very busy at the moment with a new project for class.

I hope to be able to share a little of that with you soon. 

189 bullion knots

 

The right hand edge of the large silk piece...189 bullion knots.

I do love a bullion knot as you can tell!

More pages including the silk piece which was rescued from the 'pile' I mentioned yesterday.

 

bullion knots over piping cord

This piece of work hasn't been touched for almost a week. I rectify that today, adding piping cord and embellishing it with bullion knots.  This piece won't form part of my 'sample portfolio'. It is too big and I really don't want to cut it down. Instead it may be used to form part of a larger cloth as I mention in the video.

There haven't been any decisions made yet about the queries from yesterday.....I'm just leaving my mind empty of that, continuing to create little compositions, hoping the light bulb moment will arrive without any help from me.

- See more at: http://karenannruane.typepad.com/karen_ruane/#sthash.BzftaP69.dpuf

a pillow pocket

This week is becoming a ''finished pieces'' week.....that's a good thing which means it's been a good week.  Two wrapping cloths are finished, (this one and this one) a white silk pocket is finished and now this one is finished. This pocket has a pin pillow in one end....on the left in the top image. It's going to be hard to part with this......and the white silk one...and almost every other piece I have finished recently. I do however get to keep the wrapping cloths, I have had that conversation with myself and it's non negotiable. 

Back to this one, there are lots of Suffolk puffs on here, I am beginning to think they may be my new obsession. The pocket section opens on the right in the first image, a pocket big enough for folded cloth...sigh...If I were keeping it that's what I would do with it.

- See more at: http://karenannruane.typepad.com/karen_ruane/#sthash.VfP9idTh.dpuf

four days later

You last saw this one here four days ago. Not a lot of work for four days you might think but I've been doing other stuff too....honest....

Four days ago this had a single, solitary bumpy bit. Now it has three rather large bumpy bits and five tiny ones along with stems, French knots and bullion knots. There will be more tiny bumpy bits, white ones, applied to the patterned cloth here before I begin a titivation marathon for the other areas. It's all planned out in my head, all that's needed now is an ironing board, an iron, some scissors, thread, cloth and sewing needles.....

- See more at: http://karenannruane.typepad.com/karen_ruane/#sthash.xVbdjPlr.dpuf

Prairie points, piping cord and a bump

A new pocket taking shape, the early stages. So far it has three oversize prairie points, one bumpy bit and a strip of piping cord. The three fabrics pieced together here compliment each other I think although the very open pattern on some of the Broderie Anglaise might present a challenge further down the line in terms of embellishment. I may add applique on the surface of that area...or perhaps create a few buttons to decorate that section....or Suffolk puffs......who knows. - See more at: http://karenannruane.typepad.com/karen_ruane/#sthash.i8AGW9dA.dpuf

Pieces for a pocket

Do you remember this post, this red and white pocket? I said in that post that this pocket would look a lot different when it was finished and here are two more pieces of that puzzle, two pieces which will alter how you might expect that pocket to look when it's finished. I can' t say any more at the moment and this one may not be finished for a couple of weeks. There is stitching to add to these surfaces and then there's the lining to make before it's all put together. 

In terms of stitching I need another two bumpy bits and possibly more Suffolk puffs.....the lining will be embellished too and let's not forget the button....

http://karenannruane.typepad.com/karen_ruane/

Pink gingham....flowers

Another pillow top is taking shape, pink gingham flowers, silk background, lots of bullion knots and a a little chain stitch. This one will hopefully have oversized funky puffs too, somewhere to stick the pins!!

There is a lot going on in the background here, all being photographed and recorded to share with you at some point. Final titivations are needed on some things but tomorrow I hope to show you a little white ''thing'' I have just finished.

As you may know I have been listing a lot of past classes as ''work on your own'' where there is no interaction with others on the private class blog and no interaction within a private forum on Flickr. I realise that a lot of people prefer to be part of an active group, a group where ideas can be shared and support is freely available as opposed to working in complete isolation. For that reason I will be ''rerunning'' some classes with new Private blogs and new Private flickr groups. All videos will be those used in the initial classes but the difference will be the access to a wider group and regular appraisal and input from me. (this does not happen with work on your own classes) (and....the price will be the same as that for the equivalent ''work on your own'' class. ....extra features....no extra charge)

If you took part in any of these classes first time round there is no need for you to register now...Video content is exactly the same as that posted in the initial run of the class.  These ''rerun'' classes are for those people who have not taken these classes in the past.

There will be more news on the first class to be posted as a ''rerun'' on Monday.

- See more at: http://karenannruane.typepad.com/karen_ruane/#sthash.zWv7c68G.dpuf

layer upon layer of hankies

Compare these images to these images......it's come a long way. The upper surface now has complimentary strips of silk habotai, metallic silk tissue and lace secured and embellished using gimp, bullion knots and French knots. This piece is slowly evolving over in class, one of many things evolving over there including buttons and pin pillows.

There is still quite a way to go with this one though. Two seams here still need bullion knots added and another panel is being embellished in the background to add to this later. It will then need to be backed...with what? and there is also a lining to consider.  It might be a good idea to put the kettle on....

titivated

I doodled on white silk....then I added applique and hand embroidery, voila, a pocket. The reverse is embroidered, the lining is embroidered. It's finished but it's not finished if that makes sense? It doesn't? Sorry, there's one more thing to add but that's been held up because I need to order a vital component......more of that when it happens.

I love it, I do. It's for France. It's the first finished thing for France and if I get my act together and stop getting my colours mixed up I should have a couple more pieces finished quite soon.

This morning I was surrounded by lace and hankies.....I was drooling......more pockets, online learning......I do believe I am quite organised. The first post is ready for the morning and half of the next post is done too. It's not difficult to motivate yourself when you get to play with lace and hankies all day.

- See more at: http://karenannruane.typepad.com/karen_ruane/#sthash.P2Xq2dSk.dpuf

bullion knots and chain stitch

A little relaxing embroidery today. We are in the middle of a storm, this is the calm within the storm. It's windy, it's wet.....I'm not leaving the house. 

These two pieces are both ''in progress''. The pink and white piece I pick up an put down every so often. The silk piece, the ironing board piece I showed you yesterday. Later today I will be making lists....in an effort to sort my life out. I need lists for clarity and to fill the spaces in my always forgetful brain. What will I sew later today? I haven't a clue....another reason I need a list. If I don't get blown away I will see you tomorrow.

the lower edge

The lower edge of 'cameos' now has an edge. Lace and scrim have been added and secured with bullion knots. It is so white, so soft but it isn't finished. I have placed these images on my new blog by way of a first post. Nothing is official yet, that will come in my newsletter but meantime you can go have a look over here. Remember I only just moved in so things are a little disorganised...I will get there in the end but for now, the next day or so this is still home.