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







Sunday, August 2, 2009

For the edge

Remember I was thinking french knot beads..............well I had a better idea, or so I thought. I made these little circles with cutwork centres, edged with french knots, they looked so pretty.
When I gathered them up and tied them off though all you could really see was the fabric revealed by the cutwork. (the plain red bead in the picture below) The back though, look at the back! That is exactly what I wanted, so these will be applied in reverse so to speak. I am so happy with these despite the back to front thing, they are so tiny, maybe only 1 cm across just under half an inch but even if they are fiddly in the extreme I adore them. I showed them to my son, handed him half a dozen of them, he loved them, then proceeded to throw them, yes throw them, towards a roll of sellotape, aiming for the centre, a kind of hoop la in reverse! Good job he is 22 or he would be grounded for a month!

I have had such a good day, busy but satisfying. Remember my latest doll, can't be bothered, what's the point? Well my maternal instinct must have kicked in because I have put her together and she is now in the shop. She isn't sitting all neglected and forlorn any more, a flat piece of cloth. Here she is, quite plain yet with very feminine flowers in her hair.

I know that I should spend all of this next week ironing and stuff for my holiday but you can bet I won't. It will all be last minute, rushing around, snapping and stressing. I will definitely be stitching right to the last and don't even ask how I will cope without a computer for ten days......... anyone know a good internet cafe in San Francisco??
I will definitely post again before I go, maybe even twice.......and can you help me, reassure me......does anyone else out there always type ahve when they really want to type have?? I do it ALL the time, it's scary

13 comments:

Michala Gyetvai (Kayla coo) said...

I'm glad you finished your doll she is lovely.x
I always leave packing to the last minute too!

Victoria said...

The doll is so adorable, and the beads... I want to pop them in my mouth they look so sweet! (I can only imagine how long I'd be grounded!)

Joei Rhode Island said...

The dolly is lovely...as are the beads...Stitch some more...housework always is there..but everyone needs more beauty.
Have fun in California!! (My home state)

connie said...

I love the little beads. I have a 19 year old son and he would have done the same thing. But we love them anyway. LOL. I hope you love your trip to San Francisco. I wish I lived closer to San Fran and I would come have a cup of coffee with you. I am 300 miles north so a bit too far for coffee. Have an incredible trip!!! I am looking forward to hearing about your upcoming adventure.

Jane said...

It's not the only word I do it with either!
The beads are divine. Think my boys would have used them as marbles and they are still young enough to be grounded

Ulla said...

The beads look so pretty teh other way round. I ahve been writing many words with twisted letters. When I was working in an office I tried to sell pupms for sewage treatment plants. - Have a lovely holiday! I'm off tomorrow just after 5 in the morning.

Gina said...

The beads and doll are lovely. I always type lokk when I mean look! I do it every time.

Jackie said...

I can't believe you hem the backs before you draw up the thread. They are lovely as is your latest doll.
I hadn't realised your trip was so soon.
Exciting.
Its when you mix up the word verification letters you get in a smse ...mess.

CJ STITCHING AND BLOOMS said...

Hello Karen, Love the beads, Isn't it always amazing that something more unique appears then what we had planned. Another lovely doll. Hugs Judy

Fabric Nation said...

love the french knots, reminds of summer (and I need remindng!)

Chrissie said...

beautiful back-to-front beads - serendipity if ever there was!

Janice / Dancing with Sunflowers said...

The lovely little beads make me think of ice cream cornets with strawberries, and all things summer. Yes I often type ahve, and there are a few other words I do this with too!
Janice.

Jacky said...

Beautiful work and another lovely, lovely doll.
Popped over to see the blog where your commissioned piece was featured...beautiful piece and lovely for you to get such enthusiastic feedback. You are a stitching Goddess to us who follow your blog.
Enjoy your holiday and look forward to visiting when you are home again.

Jacky xox