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







Saturday, July 31, 2010

white

See, I wasn't kidding when I said I had white on the go, white on white be still my beating heart! An absolute nightmare to photograph though these aren't too bad hopefully. I felt like I had come home when I was working on this, these kind of things somehow feel more ''me''. Maybe it's because I did so much of this in the days when I was frightened of colour. I initially used all white many moons ago when I started working on the theme of mother and child. White to me symbolises the purity of that relationship. My colourful work has it's place in that theme though, for me it references the colourful embroidery our grandmothers would do on domestic linens, often transfer printed, the flowers and crinoline ladies bright and fresh. This piece to me is still a form of crazy patching, the cutwork, the pleating, the small areas of hexagons. I also have a suspicion that it was an excuse to do more of the edge I have become obsessed with lately! It is now listed although that was probably a complete waste of time as is this post. Has anyone else noticed how dead cyberspace is at the weekend?Now for the winner of my give away! No independent adjudicator sorry to say, you will just have to trust me. Look at this face, is this not an honest face? Congratulations Connie! Let me have your address and your gift will be winging it's way to you in no time. I actually don't really like these things. I always feel really bad for those of you who don't win. What can I say? When I win the lottery I promise you will all get a gift, how's that?
Have a lovely weekend x

22 comments:

Jane said...

Today has been the first day in ages I have been able to do some proper browsing, though not all needlework related. The boys have gone out and left me the computer, lol. I love the white on white, so relaxing. I've really enjoyed looking at that stitched edging

deanna7trees said...

stunning.

connie said...

Yipeeeeee!!!! I feel like I just won the lottery! Karen thank you so much for drawing my name! I love your work. Your stitches are so beautiful. I can hardly wait to see what will be coming my way. I just emailed my address to you.

Much love and admiration From one Mommy to another. By the way this new piece is exquisite!

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Not winning isn't a bad thing you know, provided we get to see exquisite work like this piece! Eye candy is *always* special. (Congratulations Connie!!)

meri said...

White or colour work yours is always wonderful!

Congratulations to Connie!

fabriquefantastique said...

I'm reading it....lol....as usual. Really pretty!

Gina said...

I always think white work is elegant. I love your color work too, but color is largely a personal preference thing, whether it is a single color or color combinations. Some things work and some don't, but white always does.

And I wonder obsessively sometimes, how DO you keep it so white? LOL!

Anonymous said...

Lovely Saturday evening treats here, and congratulations to the lucky Connie. Look forward to you winning the lottery, K ;-)

Tammie Lee said...

I hope you win the lottery ;-)

white on white is so fine!

Heather Woollove said...

I think I'm most partial to your 'all white' pieces, too.
We weren't online, 'cause we spent the morning at this 'fine craft fair': http://www.pacrafts.org/5878102111313867/site/default.asp
I bought two amazing cast pewter pieces-a sheep for my felt studio and 'molly cat' for my bf http://www.rosaliesherman.com/modules/smartcontent/page.php?pageid=1&keywords=sheep and http://www.rosaliesherman.com/modules/smartcontent/page.php?pageid=7&keywords=molly+cat

Elizabeth said...

Congratulations Connie!!!!

Karen, you made a stunning white piece again. You are right, it is like there is not so much happening in cyberspace these days. I have this feeling already for a couple of weeks. I blame the holidays and the beautiful weather, although that doesn't explain everything.

Still, I wish you a wonderful saturdaynight and I'll see you soon.

Jan said...

Congratulations to Connie ,lucky girl ,I just love all your white sewing ,so many features on one peice of work ,wonderful ...love Jan xx

helena said...

Everybody know I love white embroyderie, but I had no much time to do so. And I like this piece. It is beautiful!!!
Congratulations to the winner and a lovely sunday to you!

Jackie said...

It is lovely to see the white again. I don't know why you think the photos are bad, its difficult to photograph anything in the eternal greyness that is the Northwest.
I agree about the deadness of cyberspace, maybe other people with better weather are out and about .
I haven't been reading blogs..I've been ironing...mainly for my son..and in my book that references the love a mother has for her child because there are few things I hate more than ironing.
(I miss quiffhead too.)

A time to dance said...

Your work is beautiful so neat and clean... there is such a feeling of serenity...I love the white..

Rachel said...

People are beginning to go on holiday I guess..
I love the coloured pieces you do, but the white on white is something there aren't so many people blogging about, so we are always particularly fascinated by it!

Jill said...

Karen I love your style - the combination of the beautiful discplined stitching and the apparent free-form combinations of shape is magical.

Lois Evensen said...

Just beautiful, once again. :)

sylviesgarden said...

Here's hoping that you win the lottery!
Lovely work again.
x

vintagerockchick said...

See, this makes 20 comments. We're here and we're reading xxx

india flint said...

i too work white on white
but
sooner or later
the work is bundled around a pile of leaves
and everything changes

meandering pearl said...

the white is so beautifully serene!!! lots of loveliness