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







Friday, September 11, 2009

Secret's out

Well the dreaded magazine article is out, here it is, photo of me strategically covered up. The eagle eyed among you will be able to see which magazine it is but it costs £5 so take my advice, keep your money in your pocket my image is not worth £5! Unless of course you want to put it on the front door to keep the burglars out, pretty good investment then. As you can see they made a big deal about Goldwork. That stems from the fact that they were very interested in the pieces I did for the FAILED competition, benefitting from failure has to be a first. Seriously though I am quite pleased with it. I wouldn't necessarily have picked the images of work that they picked but I would be stupid to pass up any publicity wouldn't I so it's a kind of half thumbs up from me. Now I'm off to go live in a cupboard.
Right, the canvas situation, the cause of insomnia and angst. Whilst lying awake sweating and shallow breathing with stress I recalled that I had toyed with the canvas idea a long time ago and had actually made some stuff that I was going to put on them. I rooted and searched and here it is. Two pieces that were intended to be stretched and completely cover a canvas. I never did it, I think because the corners were too difficult and I am so pleased I never because that isn't what I want at all now. I'm not sure what I will do with this work now but it has definitely been useful in informing me of what I don't want to do canvas wise.








What do I want to do canvas wise? Ha, well, I have finished the white piece, I have made another white piece to go alongside. Now I know what I want to do but it's quite risky and it will either work or be a disaster. It's a chance I have to take but I'm not quite ready yet. I promise I will do it tommorrow and failure or success I will show you on sunday. Wish me luck!

13 comments:

gunnelsvensson said...

Congratualtions Karen! And beautiful stitching! (as usual)

Dolores said...

Karen, I am confused. Are you tooting your own horn or not? Cut out the negativity: blow a horn or two, shout, jump, smile and yell. Congratulations! Now lots more people will be able to appreciate your work. I am so pleased for you.
I love the hooks and eyes, hooks and eyes, hooks and eyes...

Cerejeira said...

What about that!!!!
Congratulations!!!
Now could you tell the name of the magazine so that I could go to W.H.S and have a look ...rsrsr I am soo curious...

Joei Rhode Island said...

Congratulations from me, too!
I look forward to seeing the success(I doubt serious it will be a failure)on Sunday.

Jane said...

ooo, hooks and eyes! It was a piece you did with hooks and eyes that got me hooked onto your blog in the first place.
Can't wait until tomorrow

dark horse said...

Congratulations! You seem to be a wonderful woman, you should be proud of yourself! Very inspiring pictures and your work is beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

Victoria said...

Everything about you is good and worthy of praise and celebration! Enjoy and Congrats on the feature!!

Jacky said...

Congratulions Karen...your work is stunning and you are too modest! How exciting to be featured in the magazine (and also to get on the front cover!!!).
Love the piece you did for a canvas with the raised embroidery, sort of like a trapunto effect...looks great!
And of course the white work...just love it!

Jacky xox

CJ STITCHING AND BLOOMS said...

Hello Karen,

How absolutely "Wonderful" to be published in the magazine. A huge congratulation. You are MORE than worthy of such praise. Everyone loves your lovely embroidery as I do.

Hugs Judy

jennyflowerblue said...

Well done you, what a lovely article. I will be buying a copy of the magazine and enlarging the picture for my shrine to the goddess of rather lovely embroidery! xxxx

Ruth O'Leary said...

Congratulations! See, it wasn't so bad, was it?

FeltLikeStitchin said...

I saw your article in Cross Stitcher mag - well done!
I'm so happy I found your blog and your beautiful embroidery - it's gorgeous:)

Janice / Dancing with Sunflowers said...

Aha! I have THE MAGAZINE and despite your desire to be faceless, I am delighted to be able to see who I've been talking to these past few months! Of course, there is never just one magazine that attracts your attention in WH Smiths - so it cost me £10.98, not £4.99 to get to meet you! The article itself was really interesting - I hadn't realised that your interest was sparked (or at least cemented) by the issues you outlined. I'll write more by email.... Janice.