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, May 13, 2010

crazy patchwork

This is what I've been playing with for the past day or so, a kind of brain mover. This kind of piece just allows my mind to wander and (hopefully) spark ideas and plans. I have a little basket at the side of my chair where I tend to stuff all my offcuts from whatever I am working on. Believe me it sometimes overflows because I am too lazy to put away properly or can't bear to part with some of even the tiniest leftovers. I found the colourful, patterned cotton cloth in there, quite a big piece actually maybe 12 inches square. I painted that cloth, by hand, a long time ago when I was making a piece for my degree. I painted around 2 meteres of it, all by hand with dylon fabric paints into the early hours in order to create a huge enveloping cloth. You have seen it before but just incase you cant remember it's here. Thing is, I remember how much I enjoyed painting on fabric and have a hankering to do some more! I am becoming more and more distracted by the minute. This piece isn't finished yet and I have something else on the go that may be completed soon if I get on with it but there is something else on my mind too.





Books, yes books. First of all I got a comment on my last post along the lines of 'where did I get the idea of creating books? Why do I create books?' The answer is I have always created books since way,way back, centuries ago when I did my city and guilds. Also I have received a lot of mail telling me that there is no way people are going to draw in my books!!! Why not???So both these things have sent me off on a new direction, on a mission. Firstly I am going to gather together some of the books I have made in the past, some VERY old ones and some a little bit old.....Then I am going to make a new book for myself, the same as the ones I am selling. I am going to draw in it! Shock, horror!! You will be suprised to learn that the world won't end. I am going to work in it and I am going to show you how much they can be enhanced with your own input and your own bits and pieces.
So my next post will be book focused. A tutorial of sorts on how to use my books and a little show and tell of some books I have made before. I will also have a little bit of news for you but don't get too excited as I would hate for you to be underwhelmed!!

15 comments:

Jo said...

Sooo pretty. I just loooove the way your delicate stitchery shimmers with such magic. Even the most tiny and potentially 'discarded'snippets seem to be transformed in your hands, into something of beauty and worth once again. Inspiring!!
Hugs :0)

Jacky said...

Wonderful, quirky cloth.... like this new tangent and I'm looking forward to seeing your books!

Jacky xox

LOVE STITCHING RED said...

Your cloth looks fun, I can see that you would be able to think about stuff while working on that ... a thinking cloth!

Look forward to the books!

Joei Rhode Island said...

I like your busy-fingers piece. Almost flowers of Spring colors. And I can't wait to see your books. I just love little books. And yours are wonderful.

Gina said...

I'm looking forward to seeing how you work in the books Karen. I've had a couple of ideas but haven't got around to them yet!

Unknown said...

I love your books, but I also thought people would find it to precious to draw/write in. I would love to see the ones you've enhanced. Maybe you can ask the people who bought the books from your shop whether they enhanced theirs and if they did to send in photos. It would be interesting to see how other people interpret your work, and to compare it to your own work...

Jane said...

lol, I was thinking the same. It would have to be something special inside to compliment the embroidery. Looks like you had great fun creating that painted cloth.

Anonymous said...

Excellent idea; I'll look forward to the book tutorial - and to the news :-)

linda said...

Wow, beautiful work...just love all the details. I am just learning how to stitch and need to learn more :)
linda from andfeeling.com

Rachel said...

Isn't it strange that sometimes we simply forget how much we enjoyed doing something? Then pick it up again and say "How could I have forgotten this?"..

deanna7trees said...

You answered my question from facebook here...painted pieces...they are lovely. I, too, look forward to seeing your old books and how you would enhance them. Your work always inspires...

DK said...

I am really looking forward to the book post. I very much like the idea of making books to use as part of a creative process, but I am honestly unsure how I'd go about using one.

CJ STITCHING AND BLOOMS said...

Hello karen, Your Creative Books are very lovely and unique. I have always want to make a fiber CQ book but have never taken the time to start it. Maybe you posting will motivate me to do this. Your Crazy Patchwork is great and colorful for you. It is always a joy to looking at your stitching projects. Hugs Judy

Cerejeira said...

I like the ideas coming up!
Also thought that perhaps you could use the books as a journal with spaces for an odd picture ... just a thought...
I am looking forward to the tutorial.

hens teeth said...

Hi Hun...it's all looking rather gorgy around here...I trust you are feeling good?