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







Tuesday, May 4, 2010

germs? patchwork?

Couldn't decide on the title for this post. I couldn't decide which of those two things was on my mind the most. I have brought some bugs back with me for sure, streaming eyes, sore throat and the worst headache in the history of this house. Can't do much, don't feel like going anywhere, it's just as well my favoured pastime takes minimum energy, effort and movement, the joys of embroidery! I seem to have been productive though for someone who is less than 100%. Once again I got my machine and my pin tuck foot out. This surface is so refreshing, it's because of the pale blue ticking I have added to the silk I could get to like this and start adding all kinds of strange things, watch this space!!
The first thing I used it for was this piece. The top section is patched, you can't really tell from this image but would I lie to you? Trust me, it's the piece on the right with the knots that has been added. Then I embroidered onto some vintage lace, covered a button, made a little rouleau loop as a fastening for the top piece and hey presto, Karen style patchwork.
The three pieces from my last post have been stitched together, crazy patchwork Karen style, to another piece of lace (from the same cloth). I have had this lace cloth for so long and have always loved it. It did have badly damamged areas but I have enjoyed using the salvageable parts so much and now I am running out....I am really sad about that actually.
and here are all my 'patchwork' components together. It's quite suprising how they all come together in the end and how they all seem to work as a whole. Is it strange that I am suprised by that? I get so lost in my thoughts whilst I am making that I really do get a shock sometimes at how it seems to come together.
Now it's my plan to create two books with these. Two little books of Karen style patchwork. There will be three pieces of work in each book but these will have to be slightly more expensive than the others. There is so much more work in these pieces and with the best will in the world I can't work for nothing. In my head though, if these don't sell it won't matter becaue they will always be a valuable resource that can be studied again and again, a worthy addition to my design files. However, because these may be a little too expensive for some people I have already started some more pieces for little books of colour , same price as before, which will be ready soon.
So a lot of pictures for you today, a lot of words and I hope you didn't catch anything off me!
I think I should go have a lemsip or something because I must be fit for thursday.......yes thursday......I am so excited!! General Election, voting, up all night watching it all unfold, I love it really I do. I always quite fancied a career in politics but unfortuantely I may have too many skeletons in my closet!!
If you are in the UK please vote, I don't care who for (well I do, but it's up to you, that's the beauty of democracy) but please, please, please participate, remember the Suffragettes!

12 comments:

Jane said...

I bet your skeletons are beautifully covered in embroidery! The germs have made it here too, I am not happy! I love the patchwork with the button, these books are going to be really interesting.

deanna7trees said...

Looks like the lace is bobbin lace. Love the blue ticking and the coordination with the button and lace piece. Hope you get to feeling better. Have some tea with honey and think happy thoughts and I will send happy thoughts your way.

Gina said...

Beautiful work Karen. I couldn't agree more about voting although really am struggling to make up my mind! Hope you feel better soon.

Cerejeira said...

Beautiful work.
Take care!

Diane Kelsey said...

I totally agree about the voting. I had words with my 22 year old daughter yesterday, along the same lines. She said that she was too busy to vote, the polling station is only a mile from our house. At the end of the discussion, she agreed that she would vote.

Joei Rhode Island said...

Always such a joy to visit....your pictures your words..your humor..even when you are not 100%

Gina said...

Oooh...you always make me want to run home and start stitching! Of course, I have other projects in the works but these will stick in my mind until I do something. :-)

Anonymous said...

Beautiful work, as always - and delightful photography.
Absolutely agree about voting, particularly for women. More about the skeletons in your closet please! ;-)

jennyflowerblue said...

Sorry you are poorly and hope you are well enough to fully appreciate the excitement of Thursday night! (I am so with you on the voting thing- it gives me a real buzz!!)

CJ STITCHING AND BLOOMS said...

Hello Karen, You have such a wonderful imagination when it comes to fabric Manipulation. All your bits look absolutely fantastic. Sooooooooooooo who do you think will be the new Prime Minister?? Hugs Judy

Jacky said...

More of your little beauties and I love your pin tuck foot (must see if I have one of those).

Hope you are feeling much better.

Jacky xox

leilani said...

You amaze me - how can you be so creatively productive when you are ill. You put me to shame.