lace and beads

Lace cloth is now in rolls...as opposed to coming out of my ears like I said earlier in the week. I love how it looks rolled like this, it also makes me realise how little housework I've done lately....stitch and housework can't be done in unison. (my house is like a bomb site...I'm not in the least bit bothered...please don't judge me)

The puffs, the padded Suffolk puffs....I was going to say they are the final thing I am making to take with me but I'm not sure they are. I have an overwhelming desire to make a piece of white lace cloth....pure white.....I obviously haven't formed an aversion to creating lace cloth after the past weeks marathon which is  good thing. I now just have to search for the spare couple of hours I need to actually satisfy that urge.

- See more at: http://karenannruane.typepad.com/karen_ruane/#sthash.3p0OmNon.dpuf

little bags of titivations

In addition to having lace cloth coming out of my ears I also have a titivation production line going on. Suffolk puffs, fabric beads (padded puffs) and other such things for adorning edges and surfaces are being created in abundance. I'm thinking little bags of mixed things, a combination, flat and padded.......like little bags of sweeties or candy. 

There was a point in time last week when I thought I was going to lose it, to become so stressed that I couldn't go on. That has passed, calmness has descended again and although my ''to do'' list remains long it's not unachievable. My days from now until next Sunday...flight time 9.30 am.....will be filled with finishing touches, labelling, packaging, packing boxes to pack into suitcases. I will not be making any more ''large';' pieces such as pockets or wraps or pillows, there's no time left, it's the little things which I need to attend to now.

Yesterday was a ''day off'' of sorts. Thanks so much for all James happy birthday love. I think he had a good day??? We went to Manchester to eat and I left him there with his dad so they could go and see a band and do other manly things....I drove home through snow, yes snow. I wasn't expecting that. 

The video below is a brief overview of my new class ''stitching a story'',  first posted on here a couple of weeks ago. I will be closing the shop before I go away and will re open it on April 25.

- See more at: http://karenannruane.typepad.com/karen_ruane/#sthash.lN92CN7g.dpuf

the second one from the unfinished pile

You saw it here, unfinished.....it's finished now! I backed it and added oversized prairie points along with a few more puffs. Including this one, that's two quite big pieces finished in the past week or so. I am so pleased I completed these two cloths, they languished for far too long. Watch the video and see what you think.

On my ''to do'' list for the rest of the day....make more lace cloth, finish this pocket, doodle on some silk, start putting goody bag things into piles and maybe put a couple more pages together in my little books.

Patched pocket girls....stand by your computers.....there's a video coming!

- See more at: http://karenannruane.typepad.com/karen_ruane/#sthash.rZcEJz28.dpuf

especially for you.....

As If I could neglect you.....I promised I wouldn't and I won't. Remember the last thing I made for you? The 'paperwork' with pink? Bet you thought I'd forgotten.....well I hadn't. I drew the winner this morning and it's Jackie!!  For some reason....as if life wasn't complicated enough....Blogger won't let me post the link in the usual way so Jackie has a wonderful blog, Dog Daisy Chains (link in my sidebar)...check it out!! Woo, Jackie...I live so close to Jackie that I probably don't even need to post the paperwork, could deliver it by hand!! And it wasn't fixed.....never the less, too busy for visiting....postal details please lovely Jackie.

This week I have made you some beads....five pretty silk beads with lovely, delicate lace peeping through cutwork holes. I am going to leave the tails on these, it makes it easier for you to attach them to your work..as always, lack of imagination and innovation continuing...leave a comment...thank you!!

In other news, the class is filling up fast and there are literally only a couple of places left...best hurry up. Can't link to that either....oh blogger you drive me mad!!! There are however plenty of links on here so scroll down to the last post or click on the picture top left....It's closing tomorrow...

soft white beads.....

A little something different.......for the weekend and for you. Soft, white fabric beads. Little windows of lace behind silk. Five of them to be precise. Created lovingly, by hand, by me....a comment.... a measly comment....a nice one... a not so nice one...I'm not fussy or easily offended....

Last weeks winner.....the buttons...Joanna. Who by the way only gave sympathy reluctantly in my hour of need. If any proof was needed that this is not fixed well there it is.

And then there is this... strips of cotton cloth. Different weights, different shades of white. These are being embellished to within an inch of their lives...I hope to damp stretch them this evening and then they will become part of the next piece of paperwork. 

Don't forget as well, tomorrow, my article. I am so excited I fear I will not sleep....

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!!

pretty.....

Well here it is, or should I say they are, anyway, the end result of my titivating from last time. Pin pillows and don't ask why I'm calling them pin pillows as opposed to pin cushions, haven't got a clue but as that's what I called them on facebook and flickr I guess I should keep the theme going over here. They are now in the shop along with many more images so pop over there if you want to see more but if you don't then that's o.k. too!! I must say that I am more than a little pleased with these and am thinking about making some more for christmas gifts. They really are the cutest and I don't normally do ''cute'' so I am making the most of it whilst it happens!!

I am not going to hang around chatting for long today. I am feeling a little time pressured. I have been out, yes out, most of the day and I have visitors coming sunday, more of that in a minute!! In the meantime I have zillions of e-mails to answer and then there is the small matter of packaging wedding favours individually so I shall have to stuff them in some old paper bags at some point if I can get my hands on any old paper bags that is. No, I'm only kidding, I have bags and ribbons but that is a task that needs doing pronto. Now for sunday...baby Lydia is coming to see me. Unfortunately she has to bring daddy, can't come on her own but I am going to take pics and if daddy says it's o.k. I will show you. That means that Lydia will be the first person to ever appear on here!! I am excited, she is probably underwhelmed...