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, September 18, 2010

sorry, it's paper again.....

Am I boring you yet? Driving you to distraction with the same old same old? I do apologise but you know me...when I start something i've just got to steam right ahead until it's done. Therefore I give you more paper. Not just any old paper mind, pricked paper, embroidered paper, painted paper, collaged paper even graph paper and lined paper. For these books I am going to add ''subtle'' and ''subdued'' graph and lined paper so that there is another form ready to use as an expression of whatever. More to the point it will be easier to write, doodle, deface these books, subtle and subdued are less scary than bright and colourful and cheery and pretty.
No excuse now not to make your own marks on these.

This last picture shows how I group the pieces together before putting them in my books, moving things from one pile to another, swapping and changing. I think this is how it will stay now, I am happy with this arrangement.
Looking back through this weeks posts and being in a completely empty house, apart from me of course, It suddenly dawned on me that you must all think I live like an incarcerated hermit! I wish! No seriously I do get out and do other stuff occasionally. This morning I went to the Art shop, I then went outside to hang out some washing...o.k. my own garden doesn't count. Thing is there are lots of places to go, an Antique Textile fair tomorrow that quite takes my fancy, a visit to the fabric shop to stock up is badly needed. I quite fancy the idea of being wined and dined this week and I am sure I could be if I asked nicely enough........but.......I am being good, self sacrifice is going on because 2 weeks today I am going on my holidays. So I am trying to save my pennies for all the gorgeousness Sweden has to offer. Do you blame me??
This afternoon it's paper cutting for pages, wish me luck!


13 comments:

sylviesgarden said...

Hey, don't apologise, I love seeing what you are making.
I'm very jealous that you are going to Sweden.
Hope you have a good weekend.
x

deanna7trees said...

love those little bits and pieces.

connie said...

These are beautiful. I just love sewing through paper. The sound is so cool!!
Have fun in Sweden, my baby is there and he says it is an incredible place! We are hoping to visit come spring.......

Jane said...

Love the texture of all these pieces, I am sure you will have fun putting them together

meri said...

beautiful, as always!
Have a great weekend, Karen!

jennyflowerblue said...

I likey like the paper v-e-r-y much, and of course I know that you aren't a hermit, honestly hanging the washing does count as getting out more ;0)

Gina said...

I know what you're doing. You're giving us a steady diet of your creativity so that we will miss you all the more while you are gone!

Truly, I really enjoy all the entries. It's an entirely new way of looking fabric and embroidery and paper, etc. for me so I'm far from bored. Although I saw you had referred to books you made in the past since I found your blog, this is the first I've seen them in progress and so it's all fresh to me.

Rachel said...

Fascinating to see the pieces grouped together in the last photograph. Enjoy your paper cutting!

Jackie said...

I agree with Gina. You'll be missed.

Magpie's Mumblings said...

You're going to Sweden? Lucky you - that's one of the places in the world I would love to visit. I bet you'll come back with all sorts of new ideas to entice us with.

Dolores said...

Doodle away. you seem to be having fun with these.

Gina said...

I love what you are doing with the paper Karen. Certainly not bored with seeing it.

Lois Evensen said...

How wonderful. I learn so much by reading your blog.