Happiness Coming across the Pond - A Package is on the Way!

Just got a post from Karen Ruane that she finished the pin pillows that several of us purchased from her and mine is in the post from England. The excitement builds!

One of the lovelies here is going to be mine.
http://karenannruane.typepad.com/karen_ruane/2013/08/titivated-packaged-and-posted.html

Check these out they are exquisite!

I have been taking some on line work with Karen over the last couple of months and have learned lots! but my work still does not compare. Can't wait to get my hands on one.

Nancy

Making Weeds - In threads and fabric

Spent the afternoon working on creating an overlay of weeds for 3 quilts that I am making for the SAQA Earth Stories exhibition. Using a technique I learned in the Simply Stitch class with Karen Ruane, it is free motion embroidery on the sewing machine using scrim as the base.

In Karen's class that was not a class according to her, we used white scrim and white threads with bits of lace and delicate prints to create a froth to add to our embroidery work.

I am adapting the technique to indicate something much more rough and ready -- a weedy over grown area that kills plants who need light.

Your feedback will be greatly appreciated. Does this look weedy to you? What would you suggest? 

Nancy

Where Did My Parsley Go?

Late this afternoon, I went to the deck to take some photos of recent embroidery work and noticed that my parsley mainly consisted of stems, few parsley leaves were in view.

If the deck were not on the second story, I would assume it were the dang blasted %*##?! deer who eat everything to the point that I only try growing plants on our deck.

Here is what I found.

Notice the stems in the top of the photo. Once I figured out the dang blasted deer had not climbed up the deck steps to strip my parsley I knew what it had to be: a caterpillar- specifically for the Black Swallowtail butterfly.

Here is a close up:

Isn't h/she beautiful? It is nearing maturity when it reaches this color. Love the stripes and the yellow dots are just too much!  But the plant is unlike to keep this one going until it is time for it to become a pupa. I am going to buy some parsley tomorrow.

Do you like butterflies? how about caterpillars? 

Nancy 

Adventures in Embroidery

The past six weeks has seen me stitching in very different ways than usual. I am taking a class that is not a class with Karen Ruane on Contemporary Embroidery. This is one of a series of classes in embellishing fabrics for me. Most recently I created my first fabric book to contain samples of earlier stitching. Some years ago I completed a series of samples of all the ways I could think of using the Fly Stitch and wanted to contain them in a book.

If you have the time, please let me know what you think.

The opening page. A scattering of fly stitches looking like a feather stitch on top of pink Angelina.

There is drawn work on the left sample. It has layers of fly stitches with a variety of different thread weights. The page on the right has fly stitches inside fly stitches to create a more solid surface.

More layers of fly stitches on the left with some purple gilding underneath. A scattering of fly stitches on the right. Pages are bound with bias hand dyed ribbon.

Left page has layers of fly stitches over fabric appliques. The page on the right has fly stitches and more drawn threads.

The outside of the book with hand embroidery, beads and a jeweled closer.

Details of the cover showing running stitches, fly stitches and beads.

I have a couple more small collections of embroidery samples. I am pulling fabrics for them as well.

Do you like fabric books? This was my first and I had a lot to learn - and still do.

Nancy

Blue Copper Butterfly - A New Experiment

Tried my hand with doing a butterfly yesterday. Creating this 6 inch square was a full day of work including some of the work done by my intern, Callie. It was terrific to have some company and assistance in the studio. Callie used some photographs to create the pencil drawing I used to create the piece.

A bit of hand stitching marks the body and puts the white dots on the antennae. Love the dots!

Once I began looking at the butterfly, it is amazing how many different blues there are on it.

Thanks for reading, and if you have time and inclination, please leave a comment. Comments help me know that I am not talking to myself.

Nancy

My First Attempts at Contemporary Embroidery

As noted in earlier postings I am enamored with Karen Ruane's work in contemporary embroidery. Having a collection of vintage laces and textiles, and years of experience in embroidery I am trying my hand. Here are photos of my first attempts.

Detail area of work in progress

full size image of work in progress

We are going through our home and getting rid of "stuff". Some of it brings memories of the original lace makers or collectors and seem too precious to simply discard. So finding a way to honor these women of my family seems very special. My thanks to Karen Ruane for the inspiration.

I am thrilled to be taking a class from her this summer called Simply Stitching.

Please leave a comment if you have the time and inclination. Really appreciate comments as they help me understand that I am not just talking to myself.

Nancy

Karen Ruane Contemporary Embroidery

Here is the contact for Karen Ruane Contemporary Embroidery
http://karenruane.blogspot.com/

It is worth checking out.

Oops, that was her old blog. Now check this one for more recent work and information.
http://karenannruane.typepad.com/karen_ruane/

Nancy