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







Thursday, September 1, 2011

a bit of this closely followed by a bit of that






First of all today I want to say thanks. Thanks for the response to my last post. Apparently I made a few of you cry, I really didn't mean for you to cry and I'm sorry. I must admit though that when I talk about those pieces in any detail I do get a bit choked myself. Following on from that I will give you an update on the status of my 'little people'', the ones I wanted to wrap, envelop and basically lock in their rooms forever. My daughter went off to University and NEVER lived at home again after that day. She came for visits of course but immediately after graduating she moved to London. ( we are 250 miles away) where she in now enormously successful in a high powered job and we are extraordinarily proud of her.....but......I would still like her to be here....
My son, he went off to university too but (phew) he came home again!!! Result!! Where he remains up to now. Maybe not for much longer but I enjoy having him here while it lasts. We are also extraordinarily proud of him too. Our son, the musician....
So there you have it. Cloths won't hold them, shackles were probably the better option.
Isn't it a good job that I am so busy and don't have time for wallowing in motherly loss......I am working on my white pieces for the class and I am working on toe wrap two. Sometimes I wonder which is next and I'm sure at some point I will get so muddled that my white on white piece will find itself covered in red spotty applique.
It is going to be difficult for me not to talk about the class on here. It is becoming such a huge part of my days that I am doing very little else. I don't think that's a problem though as long as the online resources for my group remain protected. I believe some of them are blogging about the work they have done so far and we have a dedicated flickr group which I would like to direct you to. The images that are up so far show real dedication and a definite understanding of where I am coming from in terms of my embroidery. They're also a very talented group in terms of embroidery, composition and surface design. As their ';teacher' I am very proud although I am sure most of them have been practising embroidery for longer than I have and I really cannot claim too much credit. So if you have a minute pop over here and have a look at the things that are taking shape.
I have missed coming here every day but in truth I am not producing enough at the moment to sustain daily posts on here. I am determined to get back into that habit though so must make some firm plans for work to extend and develop. Don't give up on me.....I may be back tomorrow if I can actually get myself in gear for making!

11 comments:

Jane said...

I love what you've done with the red spotty fabric,
Today has bee the perfect day, a proper night's sleep, all chores done out of the way, and the rest of the day spent with needle and thread. Almost finished the first piece and already looking forward to the second one

Suztats said...

I love this and that! And lace! Coooo!
Off to check the class pics.

deanna7trees said...

i'm loving the class and am stitching away.
i'm sure everyone would be just as happy looking at older pieces in a new light over here on your blog. no need to always post something new. we forget easily so it will be new again to most of us, i think.

Joanna said...

Do you have a link for the Flikr group then Karen? :o)

Lois Evensen said...

I'm checking in, of course, to see what you are making today. :) Lovely, as usual! :) I'm always so impressed by your talents.

Elizabeth said...

Just popped by to have another glimpse of your beautiful work.

Orna Willis said...

Your work is so wonderful, it makes me smile. It's contemporary and respectful of heritage at the same time. Fantastic!!

Mosaic Magpie said...

Good my eyes are dry today! Although the thought of a daughter so far away did make me a little sad. My oldest daughter is in Ireland right but only for a few months. I am off to enjoy the class photos.
Deb

Linda Carole Bloom said...

Hi Karen,
I just went over to check the class pictures and there is some beautiful work! Aren't you so proud of your students! I hope next time (and I assume there WILL be a next time) I can take the class. Love, Linda

Anonymous said...

You're so busy it's hardly surprising that something might have slipped!

More interesting textures in today's photos!

Magpie's Mumblings said...

I just visited the class photos - wow! Everyone is doing lovely things. I really hope there's going to be a 'show' at the end?