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Came across these this morning.

So happy I did! 

Reference, inspiration.

 

I often speak about how past work inspires and informs and consequently am a big advocate of never throwing anything away.

The books, ledgers, sketchbooks here are old, some older than others.

The red one for example was made 30 years ago.

These pieces and others are referred to regularly.

Having references like these is invaluable and I feel fortunate to have resources like these literally at my fingertips. 

 

two from France

Two of these little stitched and titivated artist books made it home with me from France. If you want one they are now in the shop.

It seems I am consumed with all things ''ledger'' at the moment. We are working with ledgers, books, illustrations in ''stitching a story'' and I have plans which excite me regarding ledgers in another form...same principle, different presentation, different approach. It's quite possible I will begin work on that idea later today.

To all of you amazing, wonderful, patient people who have stuck by me through my silence, my non response to e malls and comments through the hectic weeks leading up to France....thank you. I am hoping to make a start on replying to you all later today. If I don't get round to you today it will definitely happen this week. Thank you a million times over for your willingness to keep turning up when all you get in return is zero...zilch....it's appreciated and then some.

Finally...if you are registered for Stitching a Story you should have received sign in information etc this morning. If you didn't receive that will you please let me know.

- See more at: http://karenannruane.typepad.com/karen_ruane/#sthash.C3XMERcy.dpuf

in the evenings I embroider.....

Embroidery takes place in the evening as the daytime is chaotic. Books strewn everywhere, sketchbooks and samples. When I embroider I like to think I am serene and calm...not during the day....

I am working on some new designs, not necessarily inspired by these 'old' designs but there is a link in terms of presentation and approach.

My new work cannot be revealed yet...it is for my new class, 'an embroiderers ledger' for which mails have yet to be prepared, blurb has yet to be created. I am hoping to make huge strides with that later today but perhaps I should tidy up first.

books

You may have noticed that I have been pondering sketchbooks lately. Well as you know I am off on a little trip imminently but I wanted to say that when I get back I will dedicate a whole page on here to sketchbooks, bring all the video together, make new videos of as yet unseen sketchbooks. How does that sound?

Meantime there is a little video here for you to browse. Some of you may have seen it already...in that case just turn off. If you haven't then enjoy...and be good whilst I am gone.....

external link

https://vimeo.com/35008203

sketchbook pages

I'm spring cleaning.....allegedly. I keep getting distracted by things I find, some of them I haven't see for ages...Painting...me painting...yes I really did. There's no embroidery at all in this post and it feels wrong somehow. Please accept my profuse apologies for getting you here under false pretences. Everything will revert to normal tomorrow....providing I actually get some cleaning done....

inspiration?

I'm feeling a little strange today. I finished Helen's cloth last night, the one I made along with my class on 'embroider, embellish, create' and it signals the end of that little chapter. Now I'm a little lost, not sure really, floundering maybe. I think that does tend to happen when a major project is finished and you are faced with a huge expanse of time to fill. What to do? What to make? Nothing isn't the answer, not an option. I can in no way imagine myself without anything to embroider....no way. Never mind withdrawals, it would be a nightmare.

So in order to gain a little inspiration the sketchbooks are out...just looking for now and pondering, yes quietly pondering. I do have this to finish and of course I am making buttons for my new class but finishing the white cloth for Helen has left a massive hole that needs to be filled.

I think the rest of my day will be spent in quiet contemplation, gazing at sketchbooks....

just for you....

Hi!! I am so happy today, in such a good mood. That's because I had the best weekend ever. Both my kids at home, a delightful christening, a beautiful baby. I listed my books, I was amazed at all the brilliant comments I got over on my guest post. I'm feeling a bit spoilt truth be told...So, this morning, agonising over what to post because I have done zero stitching at all since thursday!! Yes, thursday...I came up with an idea to spread the love. Don't worry, I haven't gone all gooey all of a sudden, I will be back to my miserable self in no time at all but if I was you I would enjoy it while it lasts!!! Anyway....babbling again...do you know this is my 561st post!!! I didn't celebrate number 500, very remiss of me, so in an effort to compensate and fill todays blank page I thought I would give something away..

I put this little design sheet/ sketchbook page together. A tiny scrap of vintage embroidery, some wrapped thread to colour match the cloth, a little stitched paper, a composition.

Whoever wins this can either leave it as it is, mounted on high quality watercolour paper, they could use it as an additional page in their own sketchbook or it would be usefull as a scrap of old rubbish to write your shopping list on... a multi tasking mini design sheet!! All you have to do is leave a comment, simple as that. AND...now don't pass out or faint or anything, tomorrow I am giving something else away!!

Back to yesterday and the weekend and the christening and all that. Those of you who were around last night will have seen that I posted pics from the christening, scroll down and you will get a look at the three people who light up every day for me...

that's enough gooey stuff for at least a year, back to misery tomorrow...see you then...

books and a guest post!!

Good morning everyone! Yes I'm here, even though I have visitors of the daughter kind. The reason?? My guest post over here. I want to say Hi to anyone who has come over from there and also ask you all to go have a look and maybe leave a comment. Who knows, if you do that then they may think you like me!!

Today is also book day....they're all put together now and in the shop. Actually, there are only three available, the other three were reserved but go have a look anyway and don't forget my little tutorial, right hand side with tips on how these can be embellished.

These are slightly different to the last ones. There are really good images of my work in these, a little extra inspiration maybe, something to look at and maybe spark an idea. The pages are still made with very high quality Bockingford watercolour paper and there are also extra leaves of graph paper for doodling and notes.

Now I am off to spend time with my little girl, to make lunch, have a chat, maybe go out somewhere. Don't forget I won't be here tomorrow, It's baby Lydia's christening. Sorry it's short and sweet today but I just want to say thankyou once again to Madame Samm for letting me loose on her amazing blog. See you monday!

seven....

The final seven pieces, finished and damp stretched last night. Sorry there aren't as many pictures today, the light is against me and the insanity encouragers are doing their worst. I hear it more in my dining room where I take my pictures you see, the brightest room in the house and I just can't bear to be in there any longer than I have too. I don't really have so much to say today either, well not anything that won't send you to sleep or cause you to yawn uncontrolably, perhaps even allow you to grow a beard...

For the rest of the day I will be mounting these thirty little pieces, cutting pages for the books, printing graph paper for extra leaves, printing pictures of my work to put in too. By tonight I hope to be able to start assembling....

You may remember that I mentioned baby Lydia's christening on sunday. It means that tomorrow my little girl comes home for the weekend. It also means that I need to sort this hovel that is my home out. There are beds to change, floors to wash, food to buy....but I wouldn't change a thing, Helen is coming home.

more....

Yes, more tiny pieces. Another three to be precise so that's seven left to go. Don't think that because I'm counting down like this that this is a chore, far from it, it's a pleasure...all these little pieces of embroidered cloth lying around. It's like some kind of old fashioned haberdashery in here at the moment. I went and bought all the paper this morning so I think I'm on track to have these little sketchbooks finished by the weekend. It's also unusually quiet here too....I am delighted to report that my telephone is broken....bliss....may not have to go and live in that cave afer all. I will buy another one honestly, just let me enjoy the peace a little longer....please.

Wedding favours are almost finished, three more to stuff and then hand sew the edges.  Tomorrow I will show you those providing we EVER GET SOME SUNSHINE. It's like living in perpetual darkness here...didn't realise I had moved to the North Pole.

In other news.....secret mission finished, complete, ticked off my list. Guest post...half done, should be finished tomorrow. This sunday is baby Lydias baptism...bless her she is soooooo cute!! The downside...I have to find something to wear.....and if the wedding is anything to go by that won't be an easy task...wednesday is marked down for that so roll on thursday!!