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, June 10, 2011

four...





I now have four of these pieces. My intention was to have five by today, maybe ten by Sunday...hmm. I only got two finished yesterday because other essential creative things got in the way such as ironing, washing, cleaning, cooking. You know, those things that every embroiderer cannot function without?? My ironing pile would keep a Victorian scullery maid in work for months, I kid you not. Big dents have now been made in it though so it's all systems go for the weekend but first....yes, I need to IRON my cloth...the cloth that will be embroidered.
***please note...before I get tons of e-mail querying my use of the hideous implement that is the iron and asking how I can put it near my work. The iron is for the cloth before it is embroidered...once a single stitch has been worked my cloth will never encounter an iron again, no matter how long it lives. Well not in this house anyway!!***
Now that's that cleared up...
I am also aware that my inbox is full to bursting....sorry!! I am planning to tackle that over the weekend too. Promise, promise, promise. Cross my heart and hope to die xxx

16 comments:

Helena said...

Today you have done colour! Have a nice weekend.

Patchwork Linda said...

You are getting so colourful,is this a new you?

Anonymous said...

These delicate pastel shades feel like a new departure. Where will you wander next?

Carol Q said...

lovely Karen. your pieces do so ask to be touched. love the cream and blue knots

Elizabeth said...

you busy bee, but at least there is a plan.

Enjoy yourself with ALL your duties.

Jane said...

I thought I'd have done enough housework and ironing last week for the pair of us! Such a shame it won't do itself, these are beautiful.

deanna7trees said...

oooh,aaah, so lovely. i may have to make a few hexagons.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for saving me the trouble of asking the ironing question!

vintagerockchick said...

Ooh lovely - now you've added vanilla to the mix! x

Gina said...

Ooohhhh...more summer sherbert! Lovely!

Jackie said...

I'm glad you've made a dent in your ironing..do you want to do mine? I do iron my brooches when they are finished only to get the backs on with bondaweb, but as you know I am a recent convert to damp stretching thanks to you. Lovely work. Fineworthy. B.........

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Yep, good thing these aren't fattening! As for the iron? Isn't it just an expensive paperweight??

Tammie Lee said...

ooh ah ooh ah and ooh ah to the previous post too
all eye candy!

Lois Evensen said...

Oh, yes! It is so easy to put off the homestead chores when the creative ideas are running in your head and your fingers are flying. I don't buy much to wear these days unless I don't have to iron it. :)

I love seeing your work. Just gorgeous.

Big Sunday Hugs,
Lois

Suztats said...

Pastel spring colors! They look so sweet!

Linda Carole Bloom said...

Oooh, I love these pastel, candy-colored pieces. The colors remind me of the mints we used to have at weddings! Thank you for visiting my Treasury - and you are so busy right now - writing and sewing and scheming . . . and ironing (lol) Maybe I'll make a candy-colored Treasury next. Hmm, any of these in your shop - have to check. Have to sleep now, just did 12 hours on Crit Care Unit, then helped out in cardiac for four hours and have to go back in 7 hours. Love, Linda