Tuesday, May 21, 2013

big and little..

I was so happy to be able to get one of Karen Ruane's little pin pillows because it lets me see the stitching of a master.  Right up close and personal.

Her pin pillow on the right....my own block of fabric on the left....















Her photos of her works are amazing and she definitely gives all the information we need to complete beautiful projects...her videos are fun and full of detailed explanations...  and she does the best job of instructing, but, it still just isn't quite the same as being there.  How I wish I lived close enough to be there watching her in person and seeing the sizes, the fabrics, the textures .....  even watching her hands flutter daintily around her fabrics isn't enough to give perspective on size.... and, believe me, I've re-watched things umpteen times in my own attempt to copy her stitches.

Yesterday I did some buttonhole lace stitching ... "Karen size".... on one area that was perfect for testing it.  What a difference it makes in the overall appearance ... not that my original stitching is bad or poor or does't look perfectly acceptable on the size of the block....but, just to see some stitching done in the same size she does on my own piece produces a whole different look.

That unfinished edge of the broderie Anglaise, next to the ruffled ribbon, ..  just above the fan shaped bit of lace is where I am talking about.















I'll be using different sizes of the exact same stitch in different areas now....and of course, on the day I make my very own tiny pin pillow.... tiny stitching will be perfect...

Here is a sample of my original buttonhole stitching.... and below it...the new area of tinier buttonhole stitching  ....















See?  It looks like a whole different stitch doesn't it? ... and gives a totally different look to the edge.  I love it.

7 comments:

Draffin Bears said...

Hi Vee,

You must be enjoying making the little pin pillow and yours is looking lovely. Would be great having one of Karen's to see it up close.

Enjoy the week
hugs
Carolyn

Creations by Marie Antoinette and Edie Marie said...

I think your work is beautiful Vee!What is a pin pillow? I don't know what they are used for ,but they are both so cute.
i see you are doing work again.How are your ailments?
i'm doing fine.My knees hurt...LOLas long as its not my hands,I'll be a happy trooper.
You take care Hon,
XXOO Marie Antionette

Mary Ann Tate said...

I love what you are doing. It looks like so much fin:) I just discovered so many examples of her work on Pinterest so I thought I'd make my own board too.

Shashi Nayagam said...

Your stitching is lovely. You are getting to be an expert

Twiglet said...

Oh that tiny buttonhole stitch is just perfect - well done you!! It's all looking so lovely. x Jo

karen said...

I appreciate your constant praise but really....there was nothing wrong with your work...there IS nothing wrong with big.....and how do you know I would let you in!! lol....x

Lynn Holland said...

I'd never even thought about size Vee. How big is Karen's pin pillow, I imagined it to be say 3"x3" ?