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







Monday, November 29, 2010

loving white....

Yep, sorry, still addicted to the white stuff. Not snow though, I am sitting here with everything crossed that we don't suffer the same as other parts of the country. I love snow, really love it it's so pretty but it's not compatible with stress free driving or even stress free walking. Every time I walk in snow I do some amazing double pirouettes, ones that would put Olympic gymnasts to shame and I always expect someone to pop out from behind the bushes with a score card....5.9 for gold!! So given the choice I will leave it thank you. We had a little flurry earlier but I promptly gave it the ''stare of death'' and off it popped. Good.
Weather report over now and on to embroidery. Another white one finished and the love of white remains undiminished. Next to me I have a stack of linen, lace, trims and edges waiting to be ironed and folded. Oh folding, love that too.

This one has now joined the others here and if it stays there I don't mind...I get to look at it for longer! I feel as if I have created a lot this weeknd, probably because my car is still sick, (remedied today fingers crossed). There has been more embroidery on gingham, stretching as we speak and this has also been given a little more attention. I did take a photo of the picture I bought myself at the show but being dim and all that I forgot to upload it! Hopefully next time...

18 comments:

Joanna said...

Can't believe I shall be packing my Yaktrax for England as I leave snowy Latvia for errrr snowy England. Yaktrax are great by the way for walking on ice and avoiding the rather embarrassing tumbles.

Jane said...

We've had more of the white stuff this morning, I won't be going anywhere fast!

Angela said...

How beautiful as always! Very befitting of the weather here in west lothian, enjoy the reprieve Karen... while it lasts!! So bad here all schools are closed. Have a good day!

Patchwork Linda said...

What a beautiful little white cushion,I do love your work

Anonymous said...

As you say, Karen - snow is pretty to look at, but does make walking exciting, sometimes!

Elizabeth said...

If white didn't existed before I believe you would have invented in because you do such a perfect job with it time and again.

Hope you will not have as much snow as we have here because it isn't that much fun.

Enjoy yourself with your gingham.

Lois Evensen said...

Hi Karen,

I could never get tired of your work in white. :)

Hugs,
Lois

deanna7trees said...

not much chance of snow here. we go from 30° one day to 70° the next. glad i like variety. white pillows are beautiful. looking forward to seeing more of your throw.

Gina said...

I prefer your white stuff to the snowy kind. Beautiful work as always Karen.

Magpie's Mumblings said...

I'd MUCH rather gaze at your lovely white work as opposed to the yucky stuff outside, so I know how you feel.

gunnelsvensson said...

Your white artwork are always so lovely !!!!

Helena said...

Don't be sorry! Your white work is fabulous!!!
I love the snow, but we don't have it here!
Kisses.

Katie said...

This white series is just magical! I am in awe! Lovely work.

jill said...

I love this cushion, I also keep looking at the way you have ironed your work, it is also stunning for someone who hates it so much. I really must iron a quilt I have made, it will make it so much better. I don't know how you made ironing so good but its worth it.

John'aLee said...

I feel like I am a broken record when it comes to your work. But every time I pull up your blog...I am not only inspired...I am in such awe of not only all you do...but with such perfection. You truly are an inspiration to the rest of us out here!

Karen said...

Hi Jill, I don't iron my work...ever.... I iron cloth before I work on it but once there is one stitch in there it doesn't go near an iron,

Sheeprustler said...

I like your white work best when I see it, and then I like the gingham stuff best when I see that. Which says a lot about me! And yes, I do love to embroider with beads best of all, but that's just me - I am obsessed with them.

I sort of miss snow. Not the slipping sliding bits though.

Ingrid said...

Beautiful pillow!
Hope you are not snowed inn,we are having alot of snow aswell.Love the whiteness:-)