For centuries women have used cloth as a tool of comfort and as an expression of beauty within their homes. Creating cloth for warmth, cloth for shelter, our female predecessors embellished these linens with hand stitch using laborious and time consuming techniques thereby enhancing the functional beauty of objects which enveloped and protected their families. Inspired by these women I hope my creations pay tribute to and recognise the devotion expressed in cloth by our female ancestors .







''the use of traditional often time consuming process alludes to the devotion of a mother''. c K. A. Ruane 2007







Sunday, June 8, 2008

Giving Up???

I wasn't aware until friday that I had telepathic powers. When I mentioned on thursday that I may have a nightmare, creatively speaking, I didn't realise how apt a statement that was. A zip, yes a zip, nearly had me in floods of tears, on the point of giving all this up and going to work in a fast food take away. I am doing more of this,



wondering how I can make all this effort appeal to the buying public, I am after all trying to scrape a living out of this. That is where the zip came in, a new idea, a new product, enthusiasm and all systems go. By nature I am not a quitter and the thought of smelling of chip fat for the rest of my life spurred me on. I conquered the zip yeaterday, after maybe 16 hours of tantrums, stress and tears so it's all systems go again. No finished product to show you yet, but a slightly better motivated maker writing this.





I am enjoying making these little colourful pieces, they are really refreshing and the feedback I get is positive, encouraging and even gushing at times, but I am starting to miss this,



This is where my heart is.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

The perseverence has paid off, and it's looking beautiful. I would love to be able to do what you have done

jennyflowerblue said...

No zip fetish for you then? Very intrigued as to what you are making to tempt us with! I think the cloths are definetly fine art and not everyone finds critical acclaim at first. I'm sure Satchi will soon be a client for your cloths and maybe Nigella will be zipping up one of your new products!?

Ruby Hoppen said...

Great job at conquering the zip! Gosh, isn't it a great feeling when you know that you can do something else!
Beautiful photography, by the way. xxx

syko kajsa said...

It is a struggle. I would like to do less zippers and more quilting, but one got to live and zippers are better than burgers. I am sorry you had to fight with the zippy for so long!

Mrs.French said...

Oh goodness, I hope you are feeling better now. This, unfortunately, is why I quit sewing. I cried...a lot. Everything pictured here is absolutely beautiful!

Victoria said...

Zippers completely intimidate me!
Your work continues to amaze and inspire!
Never abandon it for a fast food job!

Sara lechner said...

I understand when you say that your heart is in the white pieces. they are more you.

Jesse said...

I have the same problem with zips...I'm glad you managed to persist with it!