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







Monday, July 14, 2008

Hold on tight, this is a long one!

I have had a mammoth session stocking the shop this morning. Is it just me or does everyone else grow a beard waiting for images to upload in etsy??? Mightily frustrating indeed!! There are now nine new brooches,

four packs of 'puffs', (note to self, try and come up with a better name), suggestions welcome,

and wrapping cloth eight. I'm not really sure if this is number eight but the last one defaulted to 'hook and eye cloth' no number, so this one is honourary number eight. If there is more than one number eight......well I know which is which.
Just a quick comment on my wrapping cloths, I know they are expensive......
Justify....
regular readers of this little blog of mine will know how long they take to make, will know how precious they are, will know how much of myself I put into them, will know how unique they are, never two the same, could be perceived as couture but that word makes me go light headed, so I hope that explains it for you. Anyway, because of this I have decided to acknowledge current economic troubles etc and have decided that I would accept payment for these in two parts, more details over at the shop.



At the moment I am still on little things, pondering on my next cloth but I hope to get going with that later this week. Panic is beginning to set in re my new job, this house needs a good sorting out before I start, I may even have to do some cleaning, oh my, what have I done!!
And, as if my brain wasn't taxed enough at the moment, In the last couple of days I have received THREE, yes THREE awards, giving a total of around a zillion people I should pass them on to. I'm not complaining really I'm not, it's such a nice feeling to know that merely sitting here tapping away on this piece of technology can gain you recognition and friends, it's eternal gratitude I feel, nothing less. Anyway, never one to follow convention or do what she is told, I have decided to just name a few people and link to them. Please don't be offended if you are not mentioned, I am going to try and pick people who I haven't linked to before or passed an award to, spreading the love it's called!
First off the brilliant blog friends who gave me the awards,
Sara, from the fabric of meditation, check out her new blog on recycling too, it's really good.
Gayle from sparkle jars, just back from New York, lucky thing.
and, Jacky from Art 4 Moi, amazing work and a son competing in the Olympics no less!!!
Now my little links, Hotter Than, Miss 376, Ruby, Thread Spider, and Meri, there, thats five, not bad. These are people who are endlessley encouraging with their comments and this is just a little thank you.
Finally, yes I'm done for today, more pictures from London. The most amazing fabric shop, my idea of my heaven.





12 comments:

Jane said...

Thank you Karen. Appreciate your encouragement too

Nancy McCarroll said...

Beautiful work, Karen. And a lot of time spent which I appreciated looking at!

Victoria said...

Your shop looks great! Everything you do is so unique, and it is obvious the amount of time and handwork that goes into all of it. Your wrapping quilts are magnificent! Museum worthy!

Threadspider said...

I am squealing with delight at being on your list. Thank you so much for you kind comments too. And for introducing me to some great new blogs.
I have just been browsing in your shop, and have so enjoyed the opulence of the fabric but the restraint in the decoration. It's all very very classy Karen

Jackie said...

Hi Karen. I have had a look at your ETSY shop and far from being too expensive I don't think you are charging enough for your larger brooches. I was advised once to have some really expensive things to make people look and then sell the smaller things, so you could even raise the price of the wrapping cloth.You have to think of the money you get for it as compensation for not owning it anymore!
Thats my two pennorth anyway.Hp you aren't offended.

Katy Swift said...

Karen thank you for such lovely words. I'm really touched by the "award" . Cheers.

Where is the fabric shop in London. It looks like a wonderful world of material porn - my kind of place!

méri said...

Thank you so much, Karen!
For me your work is so exquisite that is worth being known and you know, I believe, I'm not saying this for the first time! Thanks again!

jennyflowerblue said...

No need to justify the price of your cloths you are right to value yourself an your work highly. As for the puffs they remnd me in shape of a savoury bscuit/cracker highbred made locally to Mum and Dad called Dorset Knobs....but I'm guessing you'll stick with puffs!

shula said...

That linen just made my head spin.

Jacky said...

Karen those fabrics are divine, no wonder you love that shop!
Your wrapping cloths and goodies in your etsy shop are sooooo beautiful!
I love how you have handled your awards....I am about to go visit some new blogs...thankyou!

Gina said...

I've just discovered your blog Karen - your work is divine! The booches and wrapping clothes are absolutely beautiful and you shouldn't feel the need to justify the prices. The work is unique and beautifully hand crafted. I'll be back!
Gina

jude said...

heaven yes!, too expensive, NOT. hand stitching is just a very big commitment. i KNOW!