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







Thursday, July 30, 2009

Slow progress...

This is how the piece for my bedroom is looking. I know, it looks just the same as it did last time but trust me it is bigger. I have created more cutwork and Marimekko to go behind the hearts and it is growing steadily, should be damp stretched and edged by the weekend, (fingers crossed). Here I have placed some patchwork text cutouts alongside it. It is in my head to make a narrow strip of patchwork, longer than the heart piece, and then cut into that too, perhaps with lace revealed, no colour. These two pieces will not be joined, just placed next to each other somehow. (haven't quite decided on the complicated bits yet!) My only worry is cutting into the patchwork strip, I'm not sure how stable it will be, will it be up to a lot of handling? will it damp stretch as the patchwork pieces will only be joined by hand? Lots of will it won't it, only one way to find out! If it turns out to be a disaster I promise I will still show you then maybe we can all learn from it.Now, do you remember this? I said if I told you what it was for I would have to kill you?? Well I can tell you now. This was all for a very prestigious embroidery for fashion competition, could have meant giving up the day job, could have been amazing, fame and fortune.............................well, I didn't get through. To be honest I am not really suprised and not as dissapointed as I might have been. I had the entry form and brief since last november and what with work and everything I didn't start anything until the end of June with a deadline of July 31st, not very organised or professional. I have seen some of the work that has made it to the next round, there is some really amazing stuff there and some pretty average stuff too but what they have that I don't is substance, research, back up material. For instance, I designed and created a pocket, it's here, last image. What they have though is a design for say a dress collar, actually placed on a completely hand made dress. I didn't have time to make a shirt, jacket or anything and I am not sure I would know how so the plan is..... get next years forms in November, start working on it in November.
What do you think anyway? There is nothing lost, I still have these lovely samples in my portfolio and I did get a lot of pleasure following the brief even though I didn't spend nearly enough time on the whole thing.



Now I have to give a lot of thought to the edge of my bedroom piece.......I like those french knot beads.......................the brain is ticking!

12 comments:

Lajoni said...

Honestly your work is amazing ....I really can't get my head round it and how it is done ....it must take an absolute age to do as the work looks so intricate.
Its brilliant coming and seeing your work which is so different to anythhing I've seen before.
Bloomin gawjus :) XX

Jane said...

The pocket is absolutely gorgeous. It is wonderful to see it as a whole and can only dream what the garment would have looked like for this to go on.
Lovely to see how your bedroom piece is evolving too

jude said...

i love the heart eyelets.

connie said...

Your work is always amazing... I have gotten a new appreciation for embroidery from looking at your work. You are inspiring many of us!!! Thanks

Simply Me Art said...

Your Work is so so Beautiful. I just drool over each and every photo on flickr. Wow..Jamie

Diane Cransac said...

What a beautiful piece Karen, so sorry you didnt make it to the next round. I understand the procrastination thing though. It's an easy trap to fall into. Lately with me its been excuses of how Im not feeling well, but I know many a time when I spent hours working even when I was deathly sick. Sorry I havent been visitning lately,I really HAVE been ill, procrastination aside *grin* The two pieces for your bedroom look lovely beside each other, cant wait to see a whole. Now I am on to reading the rest of your blog that I have missed!

jennyflowerblue said...

Sorry that you didn't get through, but well done for trying something different and openeing yourself up to it. You are right; all that work will inform your future pieces I am sure. Good luck for next time! xx

Anonymous said...

I love these pieces and I can imagine the french knot bakks hanging from it but you will do your own thing as you should. Sorry about the other thing, just thinking what about 'Art of the Stitch' to enter
Jill

Janice / Dancing with Sunflowers said...

Hi Karen, sorry you didn't get through but now you have more information and you can be better prepared for next year. It certainly isn't the quality of your stitching that let you down, that's for sure! Looking forward to seeing your completed piece for you, too. Janice.

WandarArt.Stitch said...

Hi Karen , your work all beautiful , and my lovely -live ,
warm greetings,

Gina said...

Your pocket is beautiful Karen.

CJ STITCHING AND BLOOMS said...

Hello Karen, Your stitching is always stunning and very unique. What kind of fabric is in the "Gold" soo glitzy. Love it. Hugs Judy