bubble cloth

OK....so no cross stitch, French knots won the day. (I'm talking about what I said yesterday) Disregard the fact that I used the wrong colours ( I was supposed to use the same colours that are in the white cotton piece with the lettering) Yes, disregard that fact and also disregard that these look more like raspberries than roses and it's a winner. It's a winner in my eyes anyway because even though I can't use it with the lettering piece it is still a rather nice piece of cloth which will be useful for something.....just don't ask me what yet.

There is lace cloth here too, made some time ago and created using the correct colours. The lace cloth makes a beautiful overlay but I'm not after an overlay, I'm after a side attached companion. Never mind, I will make more white ''lace'' like cloth which actually looks like bubbles to me (hence the title of today's post)....I will then endeavour to choose the correct colours for the roses. Note to self......choose your colours before it goes dark Karen.

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

paper to compliment cloth

Still inspired by this body of design work I have moved temporarily to paper. Hopefully the paper compliments the cloth and vice versa. I'm going to have to be careful here  though. It occurred to me that I could easily, accidentally begin things here, (publicly) which should  be private for my class.

The difference though, which I hope will stop me from doing that....over in class we are using a children's book both to embellish and for inspiration. Here with these I am using early sampling and my head....... and will almost certainly be mounting these on a plain background.

I added cross stitch and some bullion loops to the cloth piece last night as well as titivating the paper piece. I can't see myself making anything 'usable' for the near future in terms of pockets etc. I am minded to mount all this work in a book, on sheets, make a big song and dance about them on pages. The only thing I can see ''wrong'' with that is the fact that I then probably will never want to part with them meaning there won't be anything new in the shop for around 50 years!

- See more at: http://karenannruane.typepad.com/karen_ruane/#sthash.WJy2AUd6.dpuf

alphabet

Yes....I know my ABC...phew! After last weeks little brain lapse I was wondering.... This time I counted correctly for stitch placement and the 'b' comes before the 'c' which I am told is the way it should be.

This piece is the very last section of my wrapping cloth, not long now.

I am getting so excited about the Ledger class which starts next week. There is work going on, pages are being created and I am loving it. I can't show you until the girls have seen it but as soon as they have had  their ''first view;' I think I will have to put some of that on here as I don't have much else....I am consumed by Ledgers. Of course this forum will be limited to images...no instruction but I am sure I will have things to talk about, providing I leave the house occasionally and live a little beyond the world of embroidery and titivating.

June news letter??? I am hoping so but very little has happened that would interest you. I could post my weekly supermarket receipt...that would keep you entertained for hours and perhaps I could take pictures of housework. (not that there's ever much of that going on) I could chat about the cost of Roman Blinds...you could finance a small Nation for that so consequently I haven't ordered any. Thinking cap is firmly on......let's just hope that something exciting happens and soon.

a small mistake.....

Can you see it? This is a very small piece of white cloth, 2 inches by 8 inches measured precisely to fill a gap on my cloth. It was going to be a simple alphabet section...only thing is the 'c' is next to the 'a' because I didn't count correctly meaning there wasn't enough space to fit the 'b' at the top and then when I had decided it didn't matter and I would do up and down letters I worked out that by the time I got to 'h' or something the same problem would come up again. Such is life, nobody died, change of plan. I just left the letters where they were as an illustration and reminder of my incompetence and cross stitched little stalks and leaves which were then finished off with French Knot flowers. From disaster comes triumph...OK triumph is a little over the top but at least I have a (passable?) piece of embroidery.

sampler....

A little sampler for you today, part of the reason I can't continue with my other piece at the moment. It may be small; but it is very useful. That's because it isn't finished yet, it will be added to, enhanced, embellished. At the moment we have mirrors, French Knots, Bullion Knots and Cross Stitch...who knows what will come next?....wait and see.....

A reminder too that the next Wrapping Cloth Class Embroider, Embellish Create starts soon...you will learn how to do all this (well apart from the mirrors) and much more besides. Embroidery stitches, manipulation of cloth, beautiful edges....it really is a huge and comprehensive package. If you want to read more then just pop over here for all the details.

cross stitch hearts and a pocket.....

A row of running stitch and a row of cross stitch hearts have been placed alongside my mums pocket...My pieces are slowly coming together. One or two sections on one or two panels are waiting to be embellished and I am working my way through them steadily. The girls are doing great things...really great things. The proof is here so please take a look.

I wanted to clarify a couple of things regarding the new class, Extending Embellishment. This class is NOT a continuation of the Wrapping Cloth class. I will not be making a wrapping cloth. That's not to say that you can't if you want to, I will guide you whichever way your work develops.

I will be making two 'art' pieces. The 'extending' will be in the form of creating surface for hand embroidery using fine cloth and delicate paper. It will be in the form of adding tiny mirrors to cloth, of manipulation methods involving ruching and withdrawing threads. It will be in the application of embellishment in unexpected ways....

If you sign up you will receive a suggested equipment list within 24 hours along with more detail on the class format. The class forum will go ''live'' one week before the start date giving you access to a video in which I discuss and consider options for finished pieces.

To get a sense of the things we are likely to cover you can look here , here and here. To sign up and read more go here. To view feedback from precious courses then go here....

phew! that should keep you busy!!

cross stitch...

Cross stitches are rapidly becoming the new French knots round here.....

Due to demand I have re listed the Button Class. This will be available on an ongoing basis, no start date, no end date. You will have access to all demonstration video for three months from date of purchase. Delivery will be in the form of all PDF documents and e-mail in one fell swoop. I have left it like that so that you have a ready made timetable spanning three weeks if that is how you wish to work. If you do not wish to follow the timetable established in previous groups then you can dip in and out as you wish over the three month period. For more information have a look here...access to me will be permanent.....

The new class, Extending Embellishment, will be taking shape over the next week or so, keep checking back here for more details as and when I have them.

Have a lovely Friday!!

cross stitch....

Cross stitch.....some new on silk and some not so new on cotton and silk. I love, love, love cross stitch.....in fact thinking about it, if there was a gun to my head I don't think I could choose between cross stitch and French Knots...love for a stitch...yep that's me. The simple things in life are the best.

My main reason for troubling you today though...not to dribble over cross stitch but to unleash you on my girls. The flickr group for the January embroider, embellish create class is looking amazing and I wanted to direct you over there to drool over the amazing work....and remember...week one isn't even over. For some it's only day two.......check it out here....

my pocket....part two

My Pocket from k a ruane on Vimeo.

external link

http://vimeo.com/34889176

A video view of my pocket...I was disappointed with my images yesterday and I hope this makes up for it.

my pocket...

My pocket is finished...long and thin...24 x 3 inches....61 x 8 cm....now I am going to find a home for it. I need it to be visible and I know it will be in my bedroom, but where?

pocket and paperwork...

Embroidery on my pocket is now complete. I added cross stitch in ''sampler'' form to the large lower area that was plain white Egyptian cotton. I think it works..... This will be lined with silk and some attention given to the edges before it is finished. I haven't made a final decision on those edges yet, maybe some tiny hand made ball buttons. That will depend on me getting my act together and actually making them....If you could see my table you would run away screaming in horror, stuff everywhere. Wrapping paper, gifts, ironing, similar to the worst boot sale you ever went to! In truth I doubt this will get any more attention before Christmas. It will be safer ''put away''.

Whilst I was working on ''paperwork'' last night I noticed how similar that is to my embroidery...well it is to me at least. Today when I was photographing this I placed some ''paperwork'' alongside...it is blindingly similar don't you think? Now I'm going to try and figure out what that says about me?????

So far this week I have finished ALL video demonstrations for the Stitched workshop!! (top right side bar) I am so relieved about that. Thursday I hope to upload them all and tick that box as well and truly done. Tomorrow I venture ''up north''; bearing gifts....and on the home front...I am still taking registration for 

Embroider, Embellish, Create 2012 which starts on January 9...

no rest for the wicked.....

cross stitch, web stitch and bumpy bits

It's moved on hasn't it? I honestly did do all this last night, what a transformation. It is damp stretched but not finished. I have the patterned fabric above the pink cross stitch to embellish but it's nearly there. This is probably the first of three pieces I need to finish toe wrap two. It is all starting to come together now. 

Tonight Helen is coming home and collecting her cloth. I am so looking forward to seeing her yet she will be gone all day tomorrow, visits in Scotland but then I will have her to myself all day Sunday and Monday. Monday we will venture up north, not as far as Scotland but Grandparents to visit and all that. This morning  I performed my weekly ritual of handing over copious amounts of cash to the supermarket. I swear they would go out of business If I stopped going. This afternoon it is teacher stuff to do. A few apples to count and some instructions for homework to titivate. Best get on with it then......

a single pink cross stitch...

A little diversion...to take my mind off the pain...(hold on tight, I am going to be milking this for days...) Despite my suffering I used pink last night. I made some tiny pink beads...only six of them but they are very cute. A single pink cross amongst white crosses...these are now in the shop....I am also working on more paper, different paper, well slightly different anyway. This one has a cut away (or perforated away) section with embroidered silk behind. It needs more work but I am getting there.

In all seriousness the arm is still sore. I have only had three horse pills so far and I know it will take time. Thanks for all the sympathy and advice and orders on what not to do I appreciate it. Please don't stop...I am loving the attention!!

If you want to read more about me......there is a little interview with me here. It's a gorgeous blog that I have just added to my blogroll and if you really, really don't want to read about me you could still go over there and have a look at all the other gorgeous stuff. You will be happy you did!!