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







Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Prioritising? Not sure.....

Well the brain ticked for a while and I picked up these beautiful silk threads that I had bought for the failed competition piece. I was only playing really, no specific finished piece in mind, just enjoying working with these pieces of silk loveliness!! I drew circles on the cloth with tailors chalk, blue this time and spent an evening purely enjoying going nowhere. These threads are so beautiful to work with but aren't really ''my'' colours, so tragically I will have to buy some more!! What a hardship! I want off white, pale chalk, pure white and on and on.... In the past people have e-mailed me about my work, suggestions, ways to make more ''sellable'' things, suggesting I illustrate how my pieces are used, placing things in frames. For me it's merely enough to have these pieces, they don't need a specific use, they just are what they are, things which give me pleasure. I have real fear of putting my work in a frame behind glass. It kind of removes the gentleness and emotion in the piece yet I know not everyone thinks like me and for a while I have been toying with the idea of mounting small pieces, perhaps on canvas, no glass. With that in mind I got out ''my'' colours, white on white and started a small piece with the intention of mounting it when it's finished. It's only a work in progress at the moment, damp stretched part way through. When it's finished I will ''play'' with a mount and a canvas, I will post about it and I will want your opinion, so don't fall asleep!!
I really do want this to work but more importantly I need to be content with what I create, yes it's that important to me. At the moment I love this piece.........will I love it mounted on a canvas? That remains to be seen but I hope so.
Now on to real life, the daily grind. First week of work going o.k. I would rather not be there but I have to say I love those kids! They're ace, really, a pleasure to be with. Having said that, I'm totally exhausted. I know I'm such a lightweight! I'm off now until monday (I know, like I said, a real lightweight!!!) so I will come see you all over the next couple of days, I just need to put my feet up.

16 comments:

Elizabeth said...

Your work is never boring. It is so attractive, there is so much to see. Look forward to seeing your work on a canvas.Hope this experiment works for you.

méri said...

Do you know what I'm going to say?
do you?
Your embroidery is lovely, all is lovely - enjoy each stitch, in that way we all can enjoy your work! Exquisite!!! :)

qwerty said...

How *stunning*! Perhaps my favourite piece of yours so far.

I'd love to see how it would look, especially mounted on canvas.

Beata said...

Beautifull pieces! Beautifull new colors! They are so simply, so artistic and so fascinating at the same time. I love visiting your blog!

Jane said...

Might not be your colours, but it does look good.
Please don't put it behind glass, the whole thing about your work is it's texture, they are such tactile pieces

Lajoni said...

Your work never fails to amaze me and this takes my breath away.....simply beautiful ....one day I hope to purchase a piece...it is something that could quite easily be passed down through generations to come xx

Joei Rhode Island said...

Tactile Textiles...I don't particularly like textile pieces behind glass either...but mounted on canvas....some are lovely.
I like your new colors, too.

Michala Gyetvai (Kayla coo) said...

It's exhausting getting back to the school routine!
I'm with you on stitching to make you happy.
lovely as ever.xx

Jackie said...

I don't like pieces behind glass either and would like to leave my pieces as shapes for pleasure.
I just sometimes have to think with the mind of a potential customer who may not necessarily feel the same.

Jackie said...

Sorry I forgot to say how lovely these pieces are.

connie said...

I like the fact that you make what you like and how you like it. I love all of it. I do really like the piece you are currently working on.

Cerejeira said...

Yes ...EXQUISITE!!!!
As for me I love color, green and purple with the silkeness of this tread is just perfect.
But I can tell you I love even more the white!
If you read back on your post you will see what identifies you as an Artist.
Loveded

Gina said...

I know what you mean Karen - the pieces are beautiful as they are. I often think about framing the piece of work I won in your giveaway, or turning it into something but then I think not and just keep it to look at and admire and enjoy!

Jacky said...

I just adore your white on white piece...perfection Karen. I am definately going to buy some of your work down the road a bit (desperately saving to go and visit my son in Switzerland next year). But your work is at the top of my list.
The coloured pieces are beautiful too, they have an appeal all of their own.
As for displaying....it is a hard decision as yes behind the glass you would lose some of the lovely texture and emotion of the pieces. Maybe for preservations sake a little window box frame that doesnt interfere with the piece? They are such treasures.
Looking forward to seeing more of the white on white piece soon.

Jacky xox

Victoria said...

I agree with you... I think the work (should) and does stand alone. I get very tired of the notion that everything must be mounted or put behind glass, and truly appreciate when textile artists show the work pure. Having said that I appreciate the dilemma, most consumers seem to like things framed. Keep working your magic, it never fails to take my breath away. xo

Art4Sol said...

IF SOMEONE WANTS TO FRAME ONE OF YOUR PIECES, THEY CAN CHOOSE TO DO SO...IT'S A PERSONAL PREFERENCE. I HAVE SOME VINTAGES PIECES THAT I'VE FRAMED AND OTHERS I USE HERE AND THERE.