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







Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Immersed...

embroidery....constant....all day...all evening until the early hours....stop to eat, maybe......stop to sleep, sometimes.....having fun, most definitely, this is how I should be living all the time, day in day out, no breaking for ''work'', dream on Karen......but I can, dream that is, we all need a dream. I have had so much fun so far this week and look how much I have done. This is another cushion for Sparkle,

and here are the three cushion fronts I have made all together, do you like? I had intended to complete these today but I lost my will a little as I had the whole floor taken up with my damp stretching board on which I had my Sparkle cloth, almost finished I might add, stretched and lovely. Being dumb however I neglected to take photographs of the stretching cloth, I was far too concerned with not standing, tripping or falling over it. Anyway completing the cushions went by the wayside as attempting to ready a sewing machine on a large table for the construction of cushions doesn't quite fit with a house like an obstacle course. (admitedly one of my making but hey we have to damp stretch!)
and then there is this, ( I am giving myself a huge pat on the back here, excuse me for a minute.....I am just so happy with the progress I have made) The patchwork and lace fragment is now finished with the addition of some pleated silk and a little utility stitching.

Now, hold on tight because there's more!! Despite the fact that I didn't complete my cushions....I made edges for them, trims. Now I love edges as you know and I adore making them, maybe I am a frustrated haberdasher from a former life, who knows. I just know that I find this part of making anything the most exciting and was nearly jumping around with delight when these came together. You can still see some tacking stitches, they have to stay for now, sorry!





Then I remembered I had promised to show you once how I fold my prairie points so here we are. You fold the bottom edge over and press into place as shown here. (there are two in this pic)


Then you fold that pressed edge into the middle from both sides as shown here. This is a very traumatic process for me. I am loathe to have an iron anywhwere near my work EVER. Unfortunately it's necessary for this, the soft, fluffy, CLEAN, white towel is essential here. Pressing the stitching face down into it helps to prevent the embroidery flattening. I would never ever recommend ironing embroidery but IF YOU MUST, then please do it this way, it will at least stand a fighting chance.


Now I'm off to work on my next fragment and who knows, I may even go to bed tonight.......then again..................

17 comments:

Victoria said...

I am in awe with all that you are able to accomplish! You definitely deserve that pat on the back!

Ingrid said...

WOW Karen,you sure have been a busy girl,stunning work as always!
Love the prairie points,thank you for showing us how to make them!

Joei Rhode Island said...

Oh..Oh...and OH!!!
I wish I was lucky enough to see all this in person at Sparkle...
Lovely Karen....just lovely.

qwerty said...

Oh my - super pretty!!! Love those colours, too :)

connie said...

I don't know where I have been, but I missed your last post. I love what you are working on. I really think your photography is some of the best. I hope you get a lot done but at the same time get some sleep. Now mind you this is coming from someone who LOVES to sleep. Take Care......

Jane said...

Yes, we like! I love the edging pieces, these cushions are going to be fabulous. Good to see you having so much fun

Jackie said...

don't know what to say. they are all beautiful. The colour combinations in the last piece with the PPs are beautiful-est.

leilani said...

As usual, I am awed!

BTW, be certain to show pictures of the stretching process next time. That intrigues me.

Gayle said...

LOVE the prairie points...I thoroughly enjoyed the photos of your remarkable work.

Threadspider said...

I come to your blog to be refreshed and inspired and you never let me down. What sublime work-and what a skilled artist you are. Thank you for posting these pictures and yes, we like.

Polkovnik (Kadri) said...

I love people who has passion. I've been redaing Your blogg for some time and I can see a lot of passion. Just lovely.
It is great feeling to do something in non-stop program. Finally your are tired but very happy.

Michala Gyetvai (Kayla coo) said...

Wonderful stitching again,how I understand your passion.x

Janice / Dancing with Sunflowers said...

Wow! Karen, those cushion edges are BEAUTIFUL!!! Don't mind the tacking stitches one little bit! Thanks for the prairie points tutorial - the bit about the towel is very useful to know. (Although my own embroidery is not of the same archival quality as yours so a little flattening of the stitches wouldn't be the same sort of disaster!) Above all, I can't believe how much you achieve! It would take me a whole evening just to do one of your little blanket stitch rings!
Well done you - and here's hoping Sparkle gives you the success you deserve!
Janice.

JP said...

absolutely gorgous

Jacky said...

Love your prairie points (and everything else...of course). Thanks so much for the tutorial.

Jacky xox

jennyflowerblue said...

Bliss! You have produced so much beautiful work- this not sleeping idea sounds like a really good one. xx

Catharina Maria said...

Your work is so beautiful , it is so nice to see your white cushions !
Love from the Netherlands Rini