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, June 24, 2010

In Progress

This piece is very much in its infancy. Minimal embellishment so far and lots of tacking going on. I have also made some knots and beads that will most likely find their way onto this at some point. It is likely that this blog will become a crazy patchwork blog for a while. I have a request for a crazy patchwork purse so I will have to buy more purse frames. They, as you know, come in batches of five so I may aswel make five and then my larger handbag size frames have arrived too so they will probably finish life as crazy patchwork handbags. My advice.......hang on tight and get ready for the crazy patchwork roller coaster! At the bottom of this sequence of photos you can see the end result of the piece I was working on last time, a pincushion in a specific requested colour, turqoise. It is actually nicer in ''real life'' we have terrible light today, a photography nightmare actually.




At some point today I am going to have to make a nod to domesticity. the house has been neglected, cleaning is needed and sorting out and putting away but never fear, I work better and faster when I am deluded that the house is clean, it kind of invigorates me so I should have lots of prepared pieces to show you next time. Tomorrow I am doing the reverse airport run, taking my nephew back as he is going home, his week is over. Then there is sunday.......the ''f'' word again. Yes I know we won but I get so stressed, it gives me no pleasure at all just a headache but.......I have to watch, I have to put myself through it. The agony of being a football fan. The medication is ordered but somehow I think sedation would be more appropriate!

17 comments:

Jane said...

lol, the opponents won't make it an easy game to watch either. Let's hope they wear the red strip again!
This is going to be a very interesting piece, like the "barred" piece

lillalotta said...

This must be my favourite piece ever. I so love the feel of it and the numbering. You amaze me with your never ending patience, and passion. Beautiful work as always. Very unique and very you!

meri said...

At last I understood your "f" word!!! :)I was ashamed to ask...

Amazing your work - usually I'm not a crazy patchwork fan, but I love yours!

Diane Cransac said...

I dont mind the crazy quilting...you just go right ahead. You have a captive audience :)

vintagerockchick said...

I love that piece, bad lighting or not!
I know what you mean about the football - I'm glad I'm not a real fan - I couldn't take the stress either - but I did enjoy yesterday. (NEVER thought I'd find myself sitting on my own watching football from choice!)

deanna7trees said...

Me too, Meri. I had no idea what the f---l word was until today.
I absolutely love the patchwork piece. It looks like it's hiding lots of secrets and revealing very little of what is actually there. It opens up the imagination.

Elizabeth said...

Your patchwork-child is wonderful in its own way.

Enjoy your soccermatch!!!!

Rachel said...

I've been hiding out from the football, being a sort of anti-fan...

Love the variety of textures in this piece, with laces and stitching and knots!

Diane Kelsey said...

I love crazy patchwork, and really like the idea of using your knots. They look really fiddly though.

Jan said...

Delicious delightful delovely ,...domestic !!Durr Ive gone deaf ...love Jan xx

JP said...

this piece is just so lovely and vry labour intensive!

Gina said...

I'm just like you with the footie... it's such agony but I have to watch. I was almost relieved that I had to work on Wednesday so couldn't see the game.
Lovely work as ever.

Ingrid said...

this piece is beautiful,love the old feel of it,I never get tired of your crazy patchwork,have a great weekend:-)

Cerejeira said...

Hi Karen,
The Giveaway is yours!!!
I tryed to send e-mail but failed so could you send me the postal details please.
Best Regards.

Threads of Inspiration said...

Karen, I really enjoy your blog. I have linked you on my blog.

Lois Evensen said...

You do very lovely work. I'm glad I stumbled across your blog.

Best from across The Pond,
Lois

Amelia said...

my cleaning has become neglected too! Absolutely love the work at the top Karen! I have just posted some 'new' stitching work in it's infancy, as I am working toward my first solo show - if near london on the dates, do pop by. Busy stitching away for it!

Amelia.x

PS you have 3 columns - yay!!!