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, March 7, 2010

212 (106 hooks/106 eyes)

Yes it's true, 212 hooks and eyes the last of which was stitched firmly into place at 11.20 p.m. saturday night. Believe it or not I actually enjoyed it, I have a massive sense of achievement today. Friday was spent pinning and tacking, the evidence is here. The hook and eye stitching started around 7 p.m. friday. It was so hard to photograph this piece. No matter which way I had it, placed it, manipulated it I just couldn't get good images of the whole thing. I will try my best to get a good shot of it in situ at the weekend so you will have to come back and see if I managed it some time next week.
The pocket containas text, a quote from my research. I am hoping that when I have this hanging there will be some kind of drape/droop going on to show the pocket at it's best. I won't have it fastened all the way up I want people to see the pocket and be tempted to have a peek inside.

This post is a kind of tying up loose ends kind of thing. I doubt I will be back before I go away. I have work monday, tuesday and wednesday. In the evenings I have a little embroidery to finish, price tags to sort out, hanging rings to bind, business cards to stuff into packets, shopping to do so that my son doesn't starve whilst I'm gone, clothes to wash and iron, packing to do, wrapping cloths to inspect, labels to make and probably other immensely important things that I haven't even thought of yet. I have made another one of these. You sick of them yet?? I had hoped to have six of these in total but it's not going to happen, never mind.



and I just had to show you these.....I am so proud of these.......all with bound edges and card headers don't they look neat, tidy, pristine even? Proof if any were needed of my OCD.

Obviously I don't know whether this weekend will be a success but I do know that things are going to change when I get back. Things have to change, I have to make things change. I am definitely going to push myself to some kind of resolution re the workshop thing, I am going to re evaluate what I sell. I hope to take a little time out to examine what I make, maybe change some things, investigate more, more research and experimentation. If you have a group, a guild or similar and you would be interested in having a workshop with me can you please let me know. No strings attached but that way I can guage the demand and make decisions. If you can manage to get to Teddington at the weekend it would be great to see you, please say hello.

13 comments:

Elizabeth said...

It is stunning work, you have worked very hard. congratulations on very thing you have achieved.
Good luck with the upcoming weekend and all the loose ends for the week to come.

xoxo Elizabeth

Tammie Lee said...

I wish I could come see your embroidery in person! This post shows the beauty of your art so well. I often find myself wondering about some of your art, the kind where it appears you trip your fabric close to the embroidery and it appears not to be hemmed. I feel concern that it will unravel after all the hours of time you put into a piece. Is there a trick to it being safe?

Yesterday I tried your damp stretching for the first time and it came out so beautifully. Thank you for sharing this technique!

Jacky said...

The hooks and eyes are the perfect finish to this piece, no wonder you are feeling proud.
All of your pieces in readiness for the show are gorgeous and I wish you well. Such quality.

Jacky xox

Joei Rhode Island said...

These are simply beautiful. Would that I lived across the pond and could take a workshop/class from you. I'm sure I would learn much.

jennyflowerblue said...

It all looks so polished! I can't believe all those hooks and eyes- did you start dreaming them? I do hope all goes well, I will pass your details to our guild speaker-booker-lady but I know they book a l-o-n-g way in advance. I'll be thinking of you. xxx

Rachel said...

It's all looking great, Karen - testimony to some dedicated and careful work. I hope the weekend goes really well1

Laura said...

I have recently discovered your work and I think it's absolutely beautiful. All the best for the weekend!

meplusmolly said...

See you at the weekend lovely lady! ;0 x

Jello07 said...

Hello Karen,
I want to wish you good luck at the fair. May there be many sales
I really wish i could be there and see all you work who knows one day.
take care
groetjes Erica

Anonymous said...

A new fan. Found you tonight on Flickr. Your work is stunning, and I do believe you must be THE most patient person on earth. All those french knots!!!!

Janice / Dancing with Sunflowers said...

Hi Karen,
I hope it all goes well at the weekend. All these photos are beautiful, as usual. 212 hooks/eyes seems like a nightmare to me but I'm sure they look wonderful!
Good luck!
Janice.

Jane said...

Wishing you all the best for the weekend, I wouldn't be able to resist a peek in the pocket

meandering pearl said...

this is one of the loveliest pockets i have everseen...im sure if i saw it in person i wouldnt be able to be pulled away! just beautifully exquisite!!