buttons and bling

As you know I am about to get new cabinets in which to keep all things stitch......so....I've been sorting out which mainly consists of moving one pile of stuff to another space and replacing it with another pile of stuff. Whilst shuffling piles of stuff I came across a couple of things which came back from France with me, a blingy pillow and two sets of buttons. They are now in the shop.

I've been embroidering lace cloth quietly for a few days now, for a class related project. Meantime, whilst my mind is wandering to all things sample and portfolio related whilst I stitch  it also wandered back a few years to a past project. I don't want to say too much about that today in case I create a huge mess which I can't share but this afternoon I plan to doodle with that project in mind, alter it, move it on and hopefully it will be the start of something ''quite'' new....by that I mean, same stitches, same cloth (one trick pony here) but different patterning....hopefully....

- See more at: http://karenannruane.typepad.com/karen_ruane/#sthash.QP3PlmI0.dpuf

a pile of pockets

These pockets came on holiday with me to France......then they came home with me. I have been asked to list my unsold items from France in the shop so here you are. I also have a few buttons (not many) and that's about it to be honest. The buttons aren't in the shop because I want to keep those for future work. I know, I'm greedy and selfish :(

I'm still dithering a bit over my dilemma from yesterday...how to mount the pieces in order that I won't want to keep them for myself. I know that probably doesn't make sense but I need to get my head sorted and begin to see my next '''pages'' as not mine, for sale, for someone else. That just takes a little time. For example....all the pockets were made with a view to selling them...now I need to get my head in that mode for my compositions, my page pieces.

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

loose ends....

I hope you're not busy...it could be a long one today. Embroidery, that's what you came for I presume.....well the silk is extended and still in progress. I have added a strip of the 'shisha' style buttons to the edge of the larger piece. Are you with me? You saw it pinned last time...I am now in the process of adding French Knots, more French Knots than you can shake a stick at actually. At the moment they extend to a mere third of the whole edge..a long way to go with this. It was damp stretched last night though in order to show it here looking its best. Unfortunately the photographs aren't the best...terrible cloud today. I have photoshopped them but this is the best I could do...sorry. 

I am also preparing for the start of Embroider Embellish Create in January. A LOT of interest, thank you all so much. The top picture shows some of my progress for that..getting ahead if I can.

as for the loose ends, well that was one of them, a reminder about the class...the others? First of all the give away, remember? It's here and I will be drawing that as soon as I come back after Christmas so if you want to be part of that then pop over and take a look.

The other loose end.....well in case you haven't noticed it is Christmas....so by way of spreading the good cheer I thought I would have a little sale in the shop...yes, the long neglected shop. So if you go over to Contemporary Stitches and put in the code   happydays   at checkout you will get 10% off. Need any floor cloths? scraps of paper for shopping lists or to put under the cats litter tray? sorted.

So I will say goodbye...farewell...I am signing off for a week to partake of mince pies, chocolate, turkey and Christmas cake.

Wishing all of you the most magical Christmas xxx

binding and buttons....

I'm back!! One year older and having consumed more cake that I thought was humanly possible. Can you tell just by looking at me...do I have more wrinkles? No...oh that's good then, phew!! I have had such a wonderful three days....tea party was amazing, so many people, lots of fantastic food, thanks mum! A trip to the cinema in VIP seats no less! A meal out last night and so many presents...books, a gorgeous watch from my hubby, earrings, money, chocolates,  huge hamper of Thorntons chocolate, a beautiful bracelet off my little boy and a delivery courtesy of my little girl of delicious handmade cup cakes! See, too many cakes!! Thanks so much to all of you too, for the messages on here and on facebook, it's official, I'm a spoilt brat.

Consequently there hasn't been much embroidery going on. I have finished binding the edges on two of my collection pieces and I also managed to make some more buttons for you, yes you, my one reader. I have moved from white as you can see. I had a pink moment.... as usual just leave a comment, simple as. Last weeks winner.....under a topaz sky. Sorry you can't all win honestly I am but if I keep giving buttons away every week until I am a hundred then I'm sure you will all win eventually! All you need to do is hang in there with me, we can grow old together!

Well now that party time is over I have a list, a long list. Top of the list? Responding to the 40 odd messages I have...yikes!! That's a full day then. Next on the list....coming up with a new product for the shop. It is so dead over there that I would starve were I not a kept woman. I think it's time to try and get the ball rolling....

blue and white...

I have been uploading to etsy all morning...and I am only half way done so I thought I would pause and do this instead. I made another fragment, the blue and white, reserved I'm afraid but that doesn't mean I will never do another one. I wouldn't do another one the same, I strive to never exactly repeat anything I have done before as I think that maintains the ''special'' place I give my work. Working in blue and white has such memories for me. When I was putting together the final collection for my degree I made a Wrapping Cloth for my daughter and one for my son...in both I used blue and white. The blue is from vintage iron on embroidery transfers, they remind me of my nanna...

When I have posted this I am off back to the shop...more listing. I made more puffs, yes you guessed, blue and white and the pin pillows are now finished too, they will also be going in.

I started the first piece of my new work last night...I am so inspired by my blue and white memories that I am using it there too. I will show you next time no matter if it isn't finished. (which it won't be) you can monitor my progress and if you sense I am slacking you can harangue me to get on with it. BUT...I am very taken with those little things at the edge of the blue and white and I sense a desire to make some of them for toe wrap two...watch this space

right, I'm gone, I will be over at etsy if you need me...

one down.....

The first piece off my waiting pile is now finished and in the shop. I have another three pieces waiting but I'm not sure, I'm undecided. Problem is for some resaon I made two of them in cream silk...I NEVER use cream silk so why I did that I don't know. That is putting me off a little as to me cream silk looks grubby and before you say anything it isn't grubby, honest, just looks that way to me.. back to this one, I made 12 puffs to run along one seam, not an edge but a seam. I like this piece a lot, in reality it is prettier than the camera shows and it's going to be a real pleasure having this lying around until somebody wants to adopt it.

My wedding piece has been put on hold for a day or two. The lady who it is for has sent me some lace that has been in the family for a long time. It is cream lace but I am going to try and bleach it so I can add some to the surface of the silk, a lovely way to put in that personal touch I think. Let's hope it works...

Guess what I might do later.....I am so excited. I've been putting it off because I didn't want the anticipation to end but I don't think I can hold out any longer....I might back my toe wrap!!!! It's scary really, don't ask me why it just is...mind you we are talking about someone who gets scared watching a quiz show incase they get the answer wrong!! When it's backed I will need to over stitch the edges on the right side (for no other reason than I like them that way) and add my puffs and knots so it won't be a quick exercise but at least my feet will be a little closer to being warm!!

don't laugh.....

Do you remember I mentioned chinese knots? Possibly gingham chinese knots? Yesteray I had a plan, make chinese knots from pink gingham. Making these is quite time consuming. First of all you have to cut bias strips, then you have to tack piping cord inside the strips, then you machine stitch the strips close to the cord, then you turn the fabric right way out and you have a lovely tube filled with piping cord....at least that's the theory. Not in this house, not yesterday anyway! How many times have I made these? How many times have I turned tubes? Yesterday my tubes weren't for turning no matter what so the result of a WHOLE afternoon of work is here, pathetic, THREE knots....hey ho...we live and learn and move on...

Despite this little hiccup I had a good day yesterday, I went chtristmas shopping......again...you may remember that my last christmas shopping trip resulted in me buying for me and only me. I think I've got the hang of it now though, ''you buy for other people Karen!!'' That was the morning and you know the results of my afternoon. Evening? Embroidery of course...

Now I want to show you how the ''joining'' of my throw is going. I'm a bit worried that you may be getting sick of this by now. Does it seem you are always seeing the same thing? These are different angles honestly. A quick run through for you, the alpahabet section is joined to a piece of white with simple running stitch. I had a couple of tiny bits of tube left from the knot disaster so I simply turned them into loops and tucked them under this seam.

This side of a hexagon piece is again joined with simple running stitch to another white section at the top and the white section containing the large flower on another side.

 Here the cloth is folded back on itself so that I can see how the lace edge looks next to the alphabet piece and how the row of buttons contrasts with some green gingham rouleau loops.... and I have just realised that you have one picture twice here.....sorry!!

I am going ''up north'' on friday delivering christmas gifts, (weather permitting) so the rest of today I will have to wrap and tag and wrap and tag...I am floundering a bit with my sewing mojo at the moment, don't know why. Maybe it's just a huge list of festive stuff to start ticking off who knows. Is that happening with you?? Just to remind you too that my 20% off finishes on friday. If you are worried about postal deadlines they are all listed in the header of the shop so just look there for that info.
I am also going to put some new links up today, keep your eyes peeled. I visit quite a few places that aren't on here and I feel like sharing!!