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, May 6, 2011

additions...

Progress has been made with the white on white piece. I finished the ruching of the second long silk strip and added french knots to both edges. Next came more lace, Liberty lace, with one edge buttonhole stitched and the other given an edge of french knots. Ruched silk is also being applied across this but as yet isn't complete so I'm afraid you will notice some crude tacking stitches here and there.




This leaves me with a strip of blank off white cotton on the right side of the piece which will need to be embellished. I haven't decided what I will put there yet but once I do decide and then actually do it the third piece will be finished. All of these pieces will have to be presented with bound edges. Well I say they will have to be, not sure if it's compulsory or whether it's my OCD but they WILL be presented with bound edges. I have been considering this for ages and have decided to try and find some silk binding. I would rather have that ''as soon as'' because it is going to be much better to do them as I go along rather than be faced with thirty to do at once.
A note about my button give away now, whoever wins will get both buttons. It won't be two winners and a button each. Thanks so much to everyone who has commented and mailed me. With the best will in the world I won't be able to reply to all of you personally but rest assured that all your names will go in the hat along with a couple of others who have mailed saying they were unable to leave a comment. Anna is having a weekly give away of her gorgeous tape and that has led me to think I may do the same....with buttons. I haven't decided for definite yet, that will depend on how much time I have this weekend. I am thinking that maybe if I can get six buttons made by sunday I will have three weeks worth, we shall see. As for the rest of today...I have a long list, a humungous list so I had better get off the p.c. and start ticking things off.....

14 comments:

Jane said...

I've gone off lists, mine is too long for today, been one of those weeks.

The picture of your stitched piece rolled up, reminds me of the old cotton nightgowns or blouses, very pretty

fabriquefantastique said...

as busy and productive as ever I see

connie said...

This piece is incredible. I am always impressed with your work. These photos are some of your best! Good Luck with your list. :-)

**EYE-SNACKS** said...

I love this piece...you are a really busy bee :)
I had one week holiday so now i can visit you again.

Elizabeth said...

I'm glad you aren't too busy, haha.
Didn't know that you knew another Dutch girl? Learned something new.

Anonymous said...

Delicate white lace and ruches - what could be better?

Gina said...

The last photo, the way it is staged, looks like the sleeve of something. Who knows? Perhaps a tunic or coat or a lovely formal dress!

deanna7trees said...

these pieces are very regal looking. i see the sleeve of a gown in that last image. magnificent.

Jan said...

Oh what a feast ,you have as usual been busy ,please put me in the raffle, I have been busy I made a cushion for my neice;s 40th andhave been busy with residents meetings AND I did a blog entry after 7 months ...love Jan xx

Helena said...

What a wonderful addiction!
Good weekend.

Tammie Lee said...

oh my gosh, this is serious eye candy!
Again, wow to the lucky winner of your buttons, just imagine.... it might be me ;-}

Suztats said...

This is absolutely gorgeous, Karen, and when I saw the last pic, I thought of a wedding gown sleeve! I love it!

Anonymous said...

The last photo makes me think of the under sleeve of a Renaissance dress; fitted round the elegant wrist of an Italian lady. Fabulous!

Yvonne Moxon said...

I would just like to tell you that I love to read your blog and see your work as you progress through it. It is all so exquisite and beautiful and takes my breath away thank you for sharing it.