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







Sunday, June 19, 2011

paper and cloth


Paperwork one with its new handmade lacy edge is waiting for its fastening. The cloth is embroidered and damp stretched so waiting for the haberdasher to open is the stage we are at. Paperwork two is waiting for me to decide what to do next. I am hoping that will come to me in a blinding revelation sometime today. Paperwork three was started last night...who knows how that will finish up, not me, not yet.


Today I am home alone...it is so liberating. Don't get me wrong, I love them dearly but there is something special about knowing there is nobody to feed, no meals to prepare. I will just eat when the stomach starts to rumble! I will also get my sewing machine out later for more stitching on paper. I am not a fan of the sewing machine but I have to concede that it has its uses when paper needs embellishing. 

14 comments:

fabriquefantastique said...

lets see what your alone day brings. Super ethereal work pictured today

Jane said...

I still have just under a week before the boys come back, so I fully understand how you feel about today.
This is amazing, the combination of the paper and fabric is inspired

vintagerockchick said...

Ooh - that's a conincidence, I was making holes in paper at the Bobby Britnell workshop I just did - but I was using one of those little roller pattern markers. Did you free machine yours?

Karen said...

no free machining of holes going on...all done by hand....mention of the machine was obviously misleading, these holes are all handmade, the machine was to stitch on paper, which I have done but binned it off as it doesn't add anything to these pieces.

deanna7trees said...

i'm thinking that these paper embroideries would make great book covers with some kind of protective covering over them. when you publish your first book (i've been waiting), you could use one of these designs as the cover.

Lois Evensen said...

I so understand how nice it is to have quiet time without any outside demands so your mind can be creative. I, too, get ideas on waves and have to make notes and play with yarns while those ideas are hot.

Very lovely!

Elizabeth said...

The first picture is my favorite and I love the boarder you did there.

Deanne, you are absolutely right. An embroiderybook by ms. Karen would be an assett to my library especially if it has such a gorgeous cover!!!!

Tammie Lee said...

absolutely gorgeous and so creative of you~

Flaming Nora said...

Lucky you having some quiet time. Nothing better in my book.
These ones kind of remind me of some embroidered 18th C waist coat fronts I saw at the V and A. Not sure why think its something to do with the scale of the embroidery. Beautiful (as ever).

jill said...

wow just visited your blog again after what seems like ages. Your work is looking stunning and I love the sketches and paperwork. Your drawings are exquisite as always. I also had some people free time and enjoyed it. Speak soon

Helena said...

Passed by to see something beautiful and to wish you a good week.
After a weekend in familly to celebrate my husband birthday, I'm ready to a difficult week.
Kisses, kisses.

Magpie's Mumblings said...

See? I'm not the only one that's waiting for your book! Your work is incredible and deserves to be out there for people to see. So....how about it?? Got you convinced yet??

Suztats said...

I am reminded of beautiful tiers of iced wedding cakes with perfect royal frosting designs!

Anonymous said...

Any quiet time to create is welcome!