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







Saturday, October 11, 2008

Playing happily

A few eyelets have been added to my 'swaddling band', just randomly to see how they fit. I have a feeling that the biggest transformation of this piece will be in the finishing, the edge. That has led me to a little bit of playing around with different things,
I have made some tiny loops, labels, folded thingy's, call them what you will.
Where these will find themselves at the end I don't know, but I enjoyed making them and they are definitely the start of something.


Reading back what I have just written....It seems a bit confusing , or is it just me? I am so tired this weekend and cannot wait for my half term holiday, only two weeks, yipee. I have more ideas for swaddling bands but they require me to stand and measure, stand and cut, stand and iron fabric. I just can't find the energy. Lets hope it arrives before this evening then I will have a post for monday or tuesday. Have a lovely weekend, full of energy!

10 comments:

méri said...

I appreciate soooo much your work in progress!
I would like to have your imagination and skill :))

Jane said...

It must take so much courage to stitch then cut. Looking forward to seeing where these pieces will find their place

Michala Gyetvai (Kayla coo) said...

Hi Karen,
I know how you feel,I start flagging up to half term week.
I so look forward to sewing time.
Your work is so delicate.x

Victoria said...

Looking good! I really like the stitched eyelets. Also like the loops, and look forward to seeing how they will be applied!

hens teeth said...

Hello Karen,
Your work is meticulously beautiful, as always. The time and patience and skill that goes into each piece is really quite something.
Stroll on half term, ehh!

Gina said...

Sometimes you need to listen to your body and take it easy. Have a restful weekend Karen.

gunnelsvensson said...

Yes, I agree with Gina, take care Karen!
Your embroidery are so wonderful and I can understand that you want to do soo much ;-))

jackie said...

Lovely work. I like how you are developing your ideas on paper. Enjoy your break.

Anonymous said...

Well you have really inspired me! I have always been fascinated with your work...embroidering something and then cutting it up!! Seems counterproductive...or crazy! But the end result is always so beautiful...anyway, I'm working on a little halloween embroidery - tea-dyed fabric with black threads...and the plan is to cut it up, then resew it and see what happens...so I'll be "channeling" some of your creativity and GUTS to do this...but the idea of it has me so intrigued! I'll post a picture when I'm done...now back to work! xo, Nan

Sara lechner said...

these little bits of something are already art in pieces. like an art piece scattered somewhere for you to enjoy each one of its components.