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

cloth and titivations

Yesterday afternoon....creating lace cloth on the sewing machine, measuring, pressing and marking silk and patterned cloth for buttons and Suffolk puffs. The buttons and Suffolk puffs were embroidered last night. I now have ingredients for goody bags.....not many goody bags as yet but it's a start. 

Other cloth pieces here are from my stash, my stash of things I have made, I have stitched or doodled and then had printed. If you have watched any of the videos posted on here about putting my little books together you will know that I embroider pieces of cloth, paint sheets of paper, doodle on paper in order to build a stock of pieces I can use in my artist books....just like in this video which I chose at random. Now that stash is coming in handy for goody bags.....who knew.

- See more at: http://karenannruane.typepad.com/karen_ruane/#sthash.EpG9RlJ4.dpuf

titivations

Titivations, buttons, Suffolk puffs.....thinking which of those two things would look better on the surface of this embroidered and appliqued silk piece. Maybe they would work together, buttons and puffs? I'm leaning towards puffs though, they're softer, gentler....

There is very little surface embroidery left to do on this. The next decision, for miss indecisive 2015 is whether it should be a pillow or a pocket? I'm thinking pocket.....what about you? 

- See more at: http://karenannruane.typepad.com/karen_ruane/#sthash.kh2GnIKT.dpuf

a page

Last night was one of those nights....you know the one. The one where I can't be bothered getting the sewing machine out. Instead I got out my tiny sketchbook and filled a page in there...a worthwhile exercise I think if only to add a little more attractiveness to that corner of my home where this lives...it now has titivations...dangly things as Deanna calls them.

Today the table is a mess of all kinds again. I am edging, I am binding, I am sewing on THE machine...no excuse today. There is a even a little bit of pink laying on there for demonstration purposes. It's good to have a little pink sometimes...it brightens and cheers. 

I am tired today too...I waited up for my son to come home from his break in Amsterdam. It was his birthday you see and I had to see him on his birthday...so I am yawning....I guess yawning is preferable to the screaming I was doing as he arrived in the world back then.....I have no shame however and am willing to admit to being told to scream quieter by a midwife as she couldn't hear herself on the telephone.....yes that's me....lightweight softy!

to register for May 2012 embroider, embellish, create click here

titivations 4

You can all breathe a sigh of relief.....today is the last day of titivations..for now anyway. I have finished on edges and am moving to more concrete finishing, backing, binding and such. No doubt there will be more titivating going on but as part of other things, complimenting other things.

The sewing machine will be out this afternoon for a few little things that require its use...I'm not the biggest fan of the sewing machine as you know but have to concede it has served me well recently.

Can I remind you about a new group on flickr...pretty please. It isn't for a class or anything to do with me really. I did start it up but only because there was a need...I couldn't find a group for embroidered knots. For specifically French knots yes but not Bullions or other knots...Colonial for example. If you want to join then just go here and request an invite and that's it...totally free, no obligation, it won't be policed by me or anything...well unless of course you put woodwork pictures in there! I am certain there must be more people than me addicted to knots and we all need somewhere to put them don't we?

titivations 3

Yes, there will be a number 4....tomorrow.....don't say you weren't warned. There was great excitement last night. Did you miss it? Well don't worry because I will share now. I created my first EVER newsletter! If I have you in my address book it will have popped into your inbox already. If I don't then you can read it here.. I am hoping it will become a monthly thing but don't hold your breath...nothing much exciting ever happens here, there may not be any news next month but I will do my best.

Now, it's Easter Sunday.....chocolate to eat and white silk to stitch (yes, i'll be careful).....have a great Easter!

titivations 2

Sampling has turned to edges, has turned to embellishments. What can be created to enhance an edge? What can be created to adorn an edge? Is it worth it? Does it have the desired effect? Is it really you? Sampling is the only way to find that out.....

titivations....

I have edges on my mind......

to register and read more about the next class of embroider, embellish, create please go here

titivations....

Unfortunately these aren't edible and as I have a very poor relationship with any kind of cooking implement I am not inspired to take them forward into sweet little edible delicacies, sorry about that. They are merely a toy, a plaything, a kind of worry bead for me to fiddle with once toe wrap two is finished and adorning my cold feet. Prairie points, Rouleau Loops and funky puffs...what more does a cold foot need.

I have also assembled the first of two pieces I need to complete the surface. When this one is embellished and the second one too I will be able to back it...can't wait!!

Right, can't hang about today I'm afraid. My son returned from the USA this morning and I am about to be buried under an avalanche of dirty washing!!