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







Thursday, March 18, 2010

slowing down....

The past couple of days have been really calm. I made a conscious decision to take it easy, slow down, take stock, think, make difficult, important decisions. This was a great way to rid my head of the frivolous, to enable concentration on specific stuff, ripping and pasting paper, or collage as it's more commonly known. I think I am being brave putting this on here, there are so many flaws, well things that I can see that I'm not happy with but this is literally all I have done this week and I don't have anything else to ''declare'' so it will have to do! I doubt I am finished with it yet it will probably grow and grow, I have a taste for it now. Will it inform my work? Probably not but I have enjoyed it and that's all that matters!

I do have a little bit of news though, I nearly forgot! I have opened another shop on Big Cartel. I am trying something different, adding things to the package. Pop over here for a look I would be interested in your thoughts on this.
And friends.....good friends.....don't they just come good right at the time you need it? Look at these beautiful things I got in the post this week from a very dear friend of mine. I adore them, they're exquisite and it really made my day.

I have no embroidery ''on the go'' at the moment. Can you believe that? I think I will do a little more collage, a little drawing, see where it takes me. Who knows what will be on here next time?? I am suprising myself daily!

10 comments:

Jane said...

so glad you are enjoying yourself with the collage, I like it. It sounds as if it is quite therapeutic

jude said...

i love the sketchy quality of this.... looks like we are all gathering over at big cartel.... i find it easier to use.

meri said...

A quiet post.
I believe I'll love your ripping and pasting paper works, for sure.
I do like the new shop.
Feel good, relax and take care :)

hens teeth said...

Hello Karen,
Blimey, no sewing on the go???
I like the sound of ripping paper and just seeing what happens...it is very refreshing and I do so like your collage. I hope you can clear your mind of any clutter and have a good strong direction very soon. x

vintagerockchick said...

I love the collage - and still very much you! I'm going to email you the sea urchin drawing I did that reminded me a bit of your work.

Marion said...

I'm sure the paper collage will suggest new directions. Exciting.

Rachel said...

I'm glad to know you're having A Bit of Calm. I can see the same creative sensibility behind your collage as your stitching - interesting to see what a different medium of expression reveals..

Cyndi loves to stitch said...

am loving the embroidered buttons and the blue flowers with grey stitching. keep creating, no matter what medium!!!

Janice / Dancing with Sunflowers said...

Hi Karen,
I love the new shop and think it's a good idea to have as many outlets as possible. Also am loving the collage, and you deserve a rest, so whatever takes your fancy!!
Janice. x

Francesca said...

LOVE this! really wonderful stuff. x

p.s. i like that your daughter lives around here somewhere. i wonder if i have passed her in the street...a little mystery.