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 17, 2010

purses

The purses were finished last night and have been listed this morning. Boy was it hard putting the crazy patchwork one together. The edges are very thick, much thicker than the silk pieces and my fingers are suffering today I can tell you. Connie mailed me last night and reserved that particular one so although it's listed along with the others I'm afraid it's spoken for.



The first three were photographed yesterday and look at the difference. The last two have a kind of blue tinge to them. It is very sunny here today, as it was yesterday, but it's almost as if someone has fitted the sky with a blue light bulb, very strange indeed.
I am now continuing to embellish the piece of crazy patchwork I showed you last time. At the moment it has prairie points added and a little fringe but that's all I can say for now, no pictures. I am going to keep you guessing until later.
The next two days are going to be a bit busy here. My nephew, he is 17, flies in from Sweden tomorrow and I am picking him up from the airport. He will spend friday night with us and then I will deliver him to my mother (75 miles north) on saturday for a week. I am not sure how much sewing I am going to get through......... I wonder if he knows how to do a french knot???? Can I teach him how to do a french knot????
The extra large frames have arrived too, they are quite big, I would call them handbag size. Now I need to work out the shape and size of fabric it will take to morph them into finished things. I feel a calico template coming on...

17 comments:

Janice / Dancing with Sunflowers said...

The purses are gorgeous, Karen, as is your crazy patchwork below. I hope you and the family have a lovely weekend. I think the Swedish nephew should be fine with the French knots. Or at least with some cross stitches on gingham. After all, you did have the one-day 'apprentice' with you a few months ago (can't remember his name) and he got the hang of it all!

Jane said...

Absolutely wonderful. At least the driving will let your fingers recover, lol

deanna7trees said...

The purses are elegant. Love the patchwork one the best. I'm not surprised it has already been snatched up.
deanna

Diane Cransac said...

Those are just adorable Karen, what wonderful work :)

Gina said...

I love them all but the blue striped one and the white with lavendar flowers especially!

Cerejeira said...

The purses are gorgeous!!!

JP said...

they are all lovely

Nina Morelli said...

GORGEOUS!

Rachel said...

They look lovely, but very intricate to assemble - well done!

I hope Swedish Nephew gets the hang of French Knots - who knows, there might be a whole new interest in the offing!

Elizabeth said...

Another job very well done. They are gorgeous Karen.
Enjoy the visit of your nephew.

Bethany said...

Absolute perfection.

Bethany

Tammie Lee said...

Karen,
each and everyone is beautiful, truly.

Jackie said...

Gorgeous, Whats Swedish for French knot?

vintagerockchick said...

Blimey Karen, do you ever sleep?? The purses are beautiful, and I love your style of fabric painting (I've been catching up on the last few post!

Rachel said...

Absolutely beautiful, Karen!

DK said...

They're all so pretty! I like them all and wish I could afford one, but it's just not possible right now. (Wanted to provide a but of support and let you know that I really like your work even though I can't do so monetarily.)

A time to dance said...

Just lovely you are so clever .....