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







Tuesday, September 30, 2008

And the winner is.....

Congratulations to Gina, the winner of the 200th post give away! I'm afraid I didn't use a scientific method, no names written out and put in bowls. I used the method of someone who has spent all day in school. pen in hand, exhausted by 4 o'clock, the lazy method! I asked my son to pick a number betwen 1 and 32, 7 he said, so I counted down to 7 in the list and hey presto!
I have done a bit more work on the paper and pin prick 'thingy'. I am still not 100% happy with this, it's not 'free' enough and feels a little contrived. I will give it more attention I promise but at the moment I just want to sleep! French knots have been added, very therapeutic to do and a little cut back collage, I can't remember the proper name for it. I have also stitched little scraps of lace on too.



I am always like this with design work, pathetic really, umming and aahing forever and getting nowhere. Then I WILL have a revelation, I just hope it happens this century! Enjoy the rest of your week, and thanks to everyone who took part in the give away, sorry you couldn't all win!

10 comments:

ginie lee said...

You're making great progress, I love all the different materials and textures, it's beautiful.
And congrats to Gina , you lucky girl!!

Carol said...

Hey Karen where do you teach? Do you teach textiles? I am a textile teacher in South Wales and teach in a 11-16 school. Never fond a kindred spirit in blog land, a teacher who still makes their own stuff. Love carol T

Threadspider said...

Hang on in there girl..there's always a mid term low and you'll get your second wind!
The pin pricks are intriguing-it's a lovely effect. Check out Heather Smith Jones on my blogroll when you get a few minutes, if you don't know her already. She uses them too.

Jane said...

Congratulations to Gina, she is very lucky. Love the french knots and the lace you have added, gives it all a lovely texture

Gina said...

Thank you Karen... and son. I know how lucky I am to have won something of yours! I'm feeling a kindred spirit here - like you I just want to sleep after a day teaching, like you I'm stuggling with some design work, doing bits here and there that as yet aren't amounting to anything. Although that said your design work is looking beautiful.

Michala Gyetvai (Kayla coo) said...

Yes I think your developement work looks exciting.x

Sue Krekorian said...

Reverse applique? It's looking wonderful: lucky, lucky Gina!

jennyflowerblue said...

Are you o.k? You sound so deflated. May I suggest white chocolate- caffeine, sugar and not too obvious if it goes on your work? Look after yourself. The pin pricks remind me of the pricking of lace patterns, I wonder if this is a reference you've ever explored?

Victoria said...

The work is looking good!

Congrats to the lucky winner! I like your method of picking, and was planning to follow the same method with my current giveaway, (Accept I will ask my daughter as I do not know your son!)

Anonymous said...

I love the collage part myself, it really makes the whole corner of the piece stand out. It is great how you can take the color white, and make it standout so much against itself with your design work!