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







Wednesday, July 16, 2008

The excitement of a new project

Pincushions have gone in the shop this morning, that's another beard I've grown!. I think that will be it for a while, it's getting a bit crowded over there, that is unless anyone wants anything specific, just let me know if you do.




Allthough I finished my hook and eye cloth the other day, my need for excitement wasn't satisfied. So, I have started another cloth. I get so excited about my cloths, especially when I start a new one. I can already see it in my head, how it will look when it's finished and it is so frustrating not to be able to show that here yet. You will have seen work like this from me before but I assure you these pieces of embroidery will not look like anything I have ever done before when I am finished. There is going to be a lot of preperation to do for this, sewing different pieces, with different techniques before it all becomes clear. I also need to embroider text onto a huge piece of silk before I go much further, please be patient!
This applique is not yet damp stretched, see how impatient I am, showing you before it's stretched!



I want to say thanks to everyone who has commented on my last couple of posts. There is nothing better than going to an inbox full of encouraging and complimentary comments, to think that when I first started blogging I couldn't buy or beg a comment!!

10 comments:

Victoria said...

I LOVE these pincushions, Karen!
(And I just bought one!)
Yippee! I am so excited!
Now I can drool directly onto your beautiful work instead of onto my keyboard while looking at pictures of your beautiful your work!

(Did I mention that I think your work is BEAUTIFUL!?!)

méri said...

I can't wait for that project!!

Jane said...

And to think you thought no one was reading! Looking forward to seeing this one develop

Gina said...

The pincushions are beautiful Karen. Lovely to watch how you work on your cloths.

Anonymous said...

my goodness, your details are AMAZING!!!! i love how you have the flowers in a "frame" [like your coin purse].... .BEAUTIFUL! reminds me of the vintage hankies my mom finds!!!

you have been utterly busy and your work is so elegant!!!!

Gayle said...

I love these little splashes of color.:-)

Jackie said...

We like your comments too!
I love the damp stretching..its miraculous.

syko kajsa said...

This time of year is all about filling up the shop and corners to be prepared for autumn and Christmas! I'm sure your beautiful creations will sell whee people head back from their holidays!

Jacky said...

Looking forward to the new wrapping cloth - they are absolutely beautiful!!!! Cant wait to see your progress.

The pincushions are so gorgeous!!!

Anonymous said...

I've just started doing some of these...not sure what you call them - the stitching on the cards? I'm hoping to make enough, out of scraps, for a quilt - I take my little baggie of them with me everywhere I go wh en I know I'm going to be sitting for a while - keeps me busy! I love your cloth with the hooks and eyes - so very clever! Everything, as usual, is so beautiful...and don't stress on cleaning the house before you start your job...it will all be there waiting for you when you come home! xo, Nan