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







Wednesday, May 19, 2010

playing...

I said watch this space! Fabric paints all over my house at the moment, what do you think? It's not finished yet but i'm getting there and it's so much fun. I will probably cut this up for patchwork and embroidery which will mean originality if nothing else. The little dots at the side are my colour tests. I got into the habit of doing this at university with any kind of painting, watercolour etc and I really love how it looks so did it here too. There seems to be quite a limited colour range with fabric paints and mixing them can be very wasteful but bright isn't necessarily bad, it can be teamed and matched with pale and subtle so again, watch this space.
There is also embroidery happening too. I am making progress with inserts for more books which I hope to have ready for the end of the week. There will maybe be a maximum of three but they take so long that if I wanted a mega amount like ten or anything you would have to wait weeks.







Breaking news!!!!!!!! I did some housework today!! Then I went out to the art shop and when I came back I thought I was in the wrong house my hallway was so clean!! Thanks so much for all your input on the domestic goddess quandry. Truth is I am a little OCD about a clean house, can't help myself really. Whilst I was working I had a ready excuse to convince myself that it wasn't my fault, now I'm at home I can't use that one anymore but I think I probably can learn to relax a little, especially when the needle is calling. As for cakes, well i'm not a happy cook. I can cook, I do cook, we eat good meals but I really can't abide cooking. I have a coaster that reads 'I only have a kitchen because it came with the house', never a truer word was spoken. I swear if I lived on my own I would NEVER cook. I do however accept gratefully any home made cake that is offered!!
I don't know if you noticed (or even care for that matter!!) that the purse from my last post sold almost immediately. I have had an order for another one and there was a lot of interest in it but trouble is I am finding it really hard to get the sew on purse frames. I only had one here and the place I usually get them from is out of stock. So, does anyone know where I can get them? Not for a stupid price because I have seen some that are way too expensive but if you could maybe point me in the right direction I would be really grateful.
Now I am off to clean my bathroom and paint some more fabric before settling down to an evenings embroidery and in the middle of all that I suppose I will have to make a meal for my family! x

12 comments:

meri said...

OMG!!! Everything beautiful!
And I'm with you about kitchen and cooking - love the coaster message, I have to do a Portuguese version...

Rosa said...

I just love your blog. Love it!
I've been lurking for ages - I cannot describe how much I enjoy your creativity.
The things you make are so d.e.l.i.c.i.o.u.s.
Uhmmm..

Jane said...

Love the fabric painting, those flowers are fantastic. I really like the heart too.

Elizabeth said...

You are having fun and that is the best thing!!!!

Ingrid said...

I dont know where to start......love it all:-)

Rachel said...

I'm fascinated by the fabric painting - are all the motifs painted or do you use print blocks sometimes as well?
Looking forward to seeing what you do with this fabric...

Doreen G said...

I must agree with you about cooking-but as a means to an end so we can eat it has to be done.
My husband is going away today for 3 days and I am going to make a big pot of vegie soup and live on that while he is gone.
Love the fabric BTW.

Michala Gyetvai (Kayla coo) said...

I would always choose stitching instead of cooking, luckily my husband likes to cook!
Your painted fabrics are lovely.

lillalotta said...

Haha! Love this post! Reminds me of myself so much! And I am so loving the fabric paint! Beautiful!

Abi said...

this is the only place i have ever seen them online: http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/accessories_notions_list/99

i do not know if this is a crazy price or not..
also they're in US i think.. I only discovered that site yesterday

^_^

Victoria said...

What a hoot about not recognizing your own house!

I am like you when it comes to cooking, especially if I have to cook for others, (I guess that is why I rarely entertain). And even though you would think I'd be use to it after so many years, each and every evening I am surprised that I am suppose to cook all over again.. I mean didn't I just do that yesterday!?!

As for your painted fabrics.. truly lovely... so fresh and pretty. Great work, as always!

Amelia said...

cleaning? I've forgotten what that is!!

Sounds like an endless round of fun now that you are at home to print, stitch and embroider to your hearts content. I wish I had more than the school hours sometimes I must say. Have just started stitching again and yes, it does feel soooooo good!

Amelia.x