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, April 9, 2010

little things that make me smile




Did you smile? I hope so, I've been smiling for the last two days playing with these little treasures. That's how I see them, tiny treasures, fragile, in need of care and protection. I feel as if I have gone from making things that protect, my wrapping cloths, to creating things that need protection. A big turnaround I think. It's not necessarily a permanent change but for the moment it's good. I am going to continue like this until I have reason to change, or feel the need for something else. Now I am going to search for a way of keeping these together, holding them all in one place. Colour may feature next time I do this but for the moment white is where I like to be.
Today is my son's birthday, my youngest. We have cards, gifts, cake and balloons. It doesn't matter that he is 23, he's my little boy. He will be my little boy and have balloons when he's 99. Happy birthday James. x

12 comments:

deanna7trees said...

Your little bits and pieces are wonderful and yes, they made me smile. Would be great in a little book tied with ribbons. Little booklets would make great gifts to sell.

lillalotta said...

Big smiles for such little beauties!

Many happy birthday wishes, and I hope you will all have a wonderful day!

(our children will always be our little children :) even when they are not that little anymore...)

meri said...

:)
Happy birthday! And congratulations to you, Karen.
Have a nice day

Tomorrow is my daughter's birthday 34 years old! Hard to believe... and she is the youngest too... :)

Gina said...

Beautiful little treasures! They made me smile too. Have a lovely birthday James.

Jane said...

I always smile at your creations, little treasures indeed. Have a wonderful time with James

Elizabeth said...

I smiled at the eye-candy you served on the birthday of your babyboy of 23.

Happy birthday James.

Jackie said...

Yes..Happy Birthday James.
And happy stitching Karen. They are definitely delightful.

Jacky said...

Yes, I smiled .... your *little things* are so fragile and beautiful. I love those little fragments.

Jacky xox

p.s. Happy birthday James!!!

Rachel said...

Yes, indeed - Happy birthday, James!

Those are lovely, delicate pieces, Karen - quite delightful!

Jello07 said...

Karen, what a great idea to make a little book of the little pieces of art.
I love bookbinding I used to make a lot of small books (just with blanc paper). It is fun to do but very time consuming (since there are only 24 hours in a day...)
regards erica

Marie said...

I love making little things!
There is something so rewarding
about it. Rather than waiting
days and days you can see the
result in a much shorter time.
It gives one a sense of accomplishment. I like that!
Your little book is just lovely!
as are all the tiny pieces.
I tell my children they will always
be my babies and sorry that is just the way it is! lol! I have a 24 year old son too!

Cerejeira said...

Beautiful ... I liked them all.