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







Friday, October 22, 2010

pretty and delicate....

It's extremely delicate and pretty here today, well that's if you don't notice the sneezing, nose blowing and coughing like a trooper that's going on! It's kind of going sneeze, stitch, blow, stitch, cough, replace tissue and on and on. Anyhow, bugs, germs and hacking cough aside I have been making pretty, girlie things. The white cotton piece is also for my throw, lazy daisy stitch, don't you just love it. I just had a need to make something simple yet effectice and I do think that when the whole thing comes together it will work really well, a simple section, unfussy yet prominent.


My little hexagons are now joined. Do you know what these remind me of? It came to me in a flash earlier.....prison issue uniforms that I saw on Alcatraz! It doesn't really fit with the 'domestic' theme does it!! It isn't the hexagons fault though, it has more to do with my brain and the way it works, or doesn't.



I am also busying myself with my 'private' project and then there are favours. We have reached the magic 50, well 52 actually and I am about to embark on a marathon backing, stuffing and edgeing session. Then I figure when they are finished I can have a day at my public embroidery, a day at my private embroidery and so on, progress should be a little quicker then.
Have a lovely weekend x

19 comments:

deanna7trees said...

there's something about stripes that i love, especially when they are going every which way. delightful photos. they have brightened up a very dreary, rainy day her in Austin.

sylviesgarden said...

So, so lovely and delicate. I can't wait to see it all put together and finished.
I hope that you are feeling tickety boo soon. Nasty germs!
Take care my lovely.
x

Suztats said...

Oh, I do like your lazy daisy piece! Very cool and spring-like to me. Get well soon!

Jane said...

I love lazy daisys. I can see a beautiful bedding set in that pattern.

Anonymous said...

You seem to be juggling well!
Hope you feel better soon :-)

Anonymous said...

Sorry to hear you are under the weather, Karen - could you maybe rest at the weekend and concentrate on getting better?

Looking good, though - collections of delicate colours. Like sugared almonds!

Gina said...

Very pretty! I hope you feel better soon.

Gina said...

I ADORE that delicate pretty pastel embroidery! Feel better soon! It's no fun drooling through the nose.

Sara lechner said...

sometimes I think your day has more hours than mine! such extensive wonderful embroideries in such a surface. the throw is becoming extremely nice. I imagine your home being in these light colours....

Elizabeth said...

Your embroidery is gives such a delicate feeling, just stunning. And I do agree with Sara, your day has more hours than ours.

Lois Evensen said...

Beautiful work as always. I hope you feel much better very soon.

Hugs from afar,
Lois

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Alcatraz? Prison uniforms? I seriously doubt that prisons would be dressed in anything half as pretty as these!! So sorry you have the snuffles - take care of you - lots of tea and honey.

John'aLee said...

I am in love with that fabric you are creating. What a great idea. Your hexie's are adorable too.
I sure hope you are feeling better soon!

jill said...

I get the alcatraz thing for some strange reason, it must be a memory of your photos as I have never been there and yes they are far too pretty to remind anyone of alcatraz.

Jackie said...

It really is sooooo pretty and delicate there.
I hope those wedding guess get a detailed description of how the favours were made.

jennyflowerblue said...

I really love the way you have dotted that fabric with the darling sprigs and whipped wheels. The stripes are saying Milly Molly Mandy to me, perhaps she ended up in clink? xxx

Helena said...

Pretty sweet flowers!I love your hexagons, Alcatraz or not!!!

Karen said...

Hi Helena, I still love them too, Alcatraz or not! thanks for the comment.

Tammie Lee said...

I have to agree with Sara, I think your day has more hours than mine.
love your girlie things!