Welcome to CreativeSpiritRuth.com
I have created this website to share my silk ribbon and crazy quilt creations with you. I derive much joy and satisfaction in designing, creating and giving these unique works of art to friends, family and now with this website, for you also. I hope that as you browse my website you will be inspired to commission a special creation for yourself.
Crazy quilting and silk ribbon embroidery are Victorian era crafts that have made a dramatic comeback thanks to innovations by Judith Baker Montano. Her work was, in fact, the initial inspiration for my own foray into needlework. It all started in March of 2001 when I found Judith's book entitled "The Art of Silk Ribbon Embroidery." I saw her gorgeous "Take Off & Landing Kimono" with its cascades of exuberant color and I was stunned! I was (and still am) captivated by the beauty and originality of her work, and particularly her innovative use of color. I was determined to teach to myself how to do silk ribbon embroidery, so I read everything I could get my hands on, signing out books from the library and visiting websites and studying photographs of the works of other needle artists. It was thrilling to discover that creative ideas in me were just awaiting this vehicle for expression. What started out as a way to occupy my hands has turned into a full blown creative endeavor.
As a needle artist, I want to share my own creations with others and the resources that have inspired me; both the artists and the books they have written. There are now many resources available, but I have featured just a few of my favorites whose signature styles and techniques have influenced my own work. Links are provided so you may access them also.
This very large (26"X22") hanging sampler below was my first endeavor. With this piece, I taught myself all the basis stitches and experimented with different fabric weights, materials and threads. This composition was the beginning of what has become a lifelong pursuit. Close ups of detail follow.
This pillow came into being quite by accident. The exquisite lace doily was made by a great-great grandmother of my dear friend Susanne Arthur, who was ready to discard it because there was a big hole in the linen. I asked to keep it, to figure out a way to salvage it. This posed an interesting design challenge; my solution was a continuous circular floral embroidery which beautifully conceals the hole. The deep red satin roses on the lower right cover the hole. Now this gorgeous antique lace is a family heirloom.
The flowers featured are damask roses, wild roses, hydrangeas, asters, vetch and daisies, all blooming in my garden at the time. I prefer to do my embroidery from life. I just bring the flowers in a vase and keep them beside me as I stitch.
The antique lace doily was appliqued by hand onto mauve linen. The back and piping are done with mauve silk taffeta.
As my skill improved and with it my confidence, I created this framed piece for my friend Carol Kuntz. Her favorite color is blue and she loves violets and roses, so they figure prominently in this floral composition, along with honeysuckle, clematis, hydrangeas and sweet peas.
It is worked on a cream linen ground with the ornate "C" made of ruched organza edged with blue silk thread and couched with gold metallic thread. Beads were sown in for added sparkle.
I found the antique frame in a thrift store and painted it with a gold/bronze patina to complement the antique look of the composition.
The idea for this design came from a book entitled "Ribbon Basics" by Mary Jo Hiney and Joy Anckner.
Multi-media seascape:
"Underwater Garden"
Crazy quilted background, painted and dyed antique lace, layered with Brazilian embroidery, couched ribbons, variegated feather stitch, shells, beads, pearls, and fishes sown into design.
What you see is the finished version of an antique crazy quilt piece given to me by Patty Morgan, who found it in an antique shop in West Virginia. I decided to finish it and return it to her as a gift. Since the fabrics were very old, I used only antique stitches, designs and motifs. Many of these I found in the Carol Samples book "Treasury of Crazy Quilt Stitches". This book is an excellent and complete resource for stitches by category or just for inspiration. Another resource that provided inspiration as I worked on this project was J. Marsha Michler's "The Magic of Crazy Quilting."
I included the traditional spiderweb and spider motif (the Victorian symbol for good luck), cherry blossoms for love and daisies for friendship. Antique lace and antique trims add further interest to the composition which is framed in black velvet. I signed it with my name, adding two pairs of eighth notes. I have incorporated this into my signature since I'm also a singer and flutist.
This composition has an interesting back story. I created this piece for my friend Karen Hritz.
While I was still teaching myself the basic techniques of embroidery, I was invited to teach a class on silk ribbon embroidery and crazy quilting at a local Michael's store.
I used this piece as a teaching tool for that class. I asked each student to create their own composition, replicating the flowers using traditional embroidery techniques like couching, spider web roses, French knots, detached daisy stitch, ruched and appliqued wire ribbon leaves and Japanese ribbon leaves. The resulting panels were as individual as each woman who created it. It showed me just how truly personal the creative process is.
The focal point here is the sunflowers, but roses, butterfly weed, violets, clematis and sweet peas also figure prominently and provide the color balance to the huge sunflowers.
The sunflower center has many different shades of brown knots to depict the seeds at various stages of ripeness.
