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, June 7, 2010

crazy patchwork

There has been a bit of a crazy patchwork fest going on here since friday. I just love making these pieces. I want a huge one, I want to make these all the time! I finished the colourful one and then had a hankering for white so ta da! a white on white piece of crazy patchwork too. Colourful one first though. I used some of my painted cloth in this one and then just for that little bit ''extra'' I made some tiny prairie points and added them to one seam. I am really pleased with how using my own painted cloth adds that little extra originality to my colourful pieces so I am definitely going to paint some more, it's on the ''to do'' list!

As for the white on white piece, well first of all I have to thank Jude and Deanna for making this happen. Despite appearances I have very little lace and vintage white cloth and some of what I have used in here has been gifted to me by them. I spent what seems like hours trawling the internet on friday looking for lace but sadly was unsuccessful. Any links anyone?? This piece was crying out for extras too so three tiny rouleau loops were made for one seam and one edge is fringed.






I have listed both these pieces this morning so they are now in the shop. I really want someone to ask me to make a big one, a very big one. I don't feel as if I can just make one for myself, why is that? Maybe I can, I should just go for it. There are more purse frames on their way so I have started work on some embroidery for those. I haven't really done anything book wise, thought about it a little bit but haven't come to any firm plan yet. In the meantime I am being wined and dined this evening! No cooking, excellent!

9 comments:

Rachel said...

So many lovely textural variations!
I shall keep looking out for lace for you!

Mette said...

It's beautiful! I better start a new project soon.

Jane said...

Have a fabulous evening.
Love the fringing, hadn't expected that as I was scrolling through the pictures

Maya Sara Matthew said...

wow! that's great. most inspiring.

Anonymous said...

Like lovely little flower gardens in summer and winter. Love the tiny prairie points and fringes!

JP said...

gorgeous pieces - i just love them all - I envy your fantastic workrate - i feel very idle!

jude said...

such fresh work!. lovely. lace is harder to find these days, i inherited all that i have....

oklyous said...

This might be an odd question.. But what is it for? Is it meant as art to hang, or?
Loving the white one - I soo love lace:)

Jackie said...

Great crazy stuff...but did you just 'ta daaa!'?