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







Monday, April 5, 2010

delicate

well the 'pink' piece is finished. Last time I showed you the lace I had made and I was kind of mentally deliberating because I had imagined pockets and buttons. Problem solved, the lace became the pocket and I didn't want to detract from that or the piece as a whole so I just added one button, a very big button. This piece is so light and delicate, it's also really soft, softer than usual for some reason but that could be because the pink in it is a calming, soft shade. This is now in the shop, etsy not big cartel. I have been thinking about that, I may swap some stuff over from one to the other, it's a thought that may become a plan that may become a reality. I have left this piece unbacked so it remains delicate and light in the hand. Because it's silk though and silk frays so badly I have hemmed it, simple hem stitch and a little buttonhole edge around the pocket. My label is at the side again, I am geting to like that look.












Nothing much is happening on the artwork front I'm afraid my mind is a total blank. I put a mood board together last week but even that didn't come up to scratch and I am getting increasingly frustrated. I could do it once so why can't I do it now???? Maybe it's not the right time for whatever reason, maybe I'm trying too hard, maybe it's the lack of some kind of goal, who knows. It is constantly on my mind though. I am desperately searching for the 'thing'. If anyone has an abundance of 'thing' or knows where I can get some please let me know!!
Back to normal tomorrow, easter break over, half price chocolate eggs in the shops. I knew there was a reason to be excited!!

10 comments:

deanna7trees said...

I came across this book 'Contemporary Whitework' by Tracy Franklin & Nicola Jarvis that is very inspiring. It was published in 2005 in London. I think you would like it.

Karen said...

yes Deanna, i have seen it many times. It's quite a big hit over here.

Jane said...

You sound just like my boys, they been waiting for the half price eggs, lol.
The button looks even better in it's right place, delicate is the perfect description for this one

Elizabeth Braun said...

Trying too hard is a possibility, I suppose. Sometimes it just goes that way. At times I'm really pleased with my art and ideas and at others there's only stuff fit to burn! It's kind of the 'you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you meet your prince' translated into the art world - we come up with a load of junk and some masterpieces!! Well, many of us do, anyway!!

I like the pink piece though.=)

Joei Rhode Island said...

Even Michaelangelo had off days for rest. Relax and do something mindless to clear the mind.... it will come to you.
xo
Joei

LOL...my word verification is brain!

Anonymous said...

Your latest stitched piece is so beautiful. Just when I think you can't do any better, there's the next piece, even better and more perfect than the last!
Not so much trying too hard as being too hard on yourself, I suspect. Fun is good. So people tell me :-)

Rachel said...

I'd guess you are trying too hard, Karen. Nothing works fluidly when you try to force it. Go and think about something else - anything else, and the ideas will come bubbling to the surface, furious at being ignored!

Amelia said...

loving the delicate work and the way it stands like that.

Sometimes my mind goes blank, particularly after an event (Landmark?!). maybe your mind just needs a rest.

Sometimes I grab a book, open it at random and look for inspiration there . . . .

Happy half price easter egg buying!! :)

Amelia.x

Jackie said...

The chocolate will help you find the way through...
Do you think its all the same people on Big Cartel/Etsy/folksy/Artfire/Dawanda..etc?

meandering pearl said...

oh its too precious...my very favourite!!! such loveliness!!!