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







Saturday, October 15, 2011

do you like it?














So many pictures for you today.....this is it, my cloth for Helen. I love it so much that I may even tell her I lost it, can't find it or that it was abducted by aliens! She is coming next week and the plan is for her to take it home then...I will miss it...
I had a day off yesterday, a complete day off with no sewing or fabric related anything. I was taken out for lunch and then to buy stuff for my upcoming holiday. Well I am the worst shopper in the world. I throw that female stereo type right out of the window. Zero interest in clothing shops makes it a real chore...throw a sack on me and I am happy so long as my modesty is covered. Fabric shops, vintage shops now they are a different story but clothes...yuk. Anyway, I got two things so I will be travelling light...I did buy two books that excite me but unfortunately I can't wear them....looks like the sacks will be coming to America with me then...you won't be able to miss me.
I have had a few latecomers to the class this week and there seems to be a lot of interest still out there. What  I am going to do is leave it here for another week or so and then close it. Coming late to the group isn't really a problem as you will have access to all the resources until December 24 but I don't want to leave it open much longer as from my point of view the admin is quite time consuming and I don't want that to run into my holiday. So it's almost last chance if you are debating with yourself. 
All the information is here.... you will not miss anything, all the resources already in use will be forwarded to you.
Now I'm off to do teacher related stuff, counting apples and such and I may even hug that cloth a little bit too.....

22 comments:

Catharina Maria said...

Oh , I love , love , love this so much and I believe it is so that you will hold it by your self .
And I am the same likes you , I only will shop for my hobby and books, ha ha .
Love from the Netherlands ♥RINI♥ I am a big fan of your beautiful work !!

deanna7trees said...

you should make yourself a little book of 'Helen's Cloth'. it is fabulous and I am still drawn to that free flowing bit of lace.

Iceni UK said...

Hi Karen, Helen's cloth is breathtakingly beautiful, it's a feast for the eyes to see your embroidery.
I second the suggestion made by Deanna, to make a book of Helen's Cloth perhaps adding examples of all the stitches and pieces of silk/lace you have used, also the story of why you made it. It would be treasured and become a family Heirloom
Take care.
Isabell

dandelion said...

I am going to have to be nice!!! it is so beautiful! i think it would make a rather nice giveaway, it sounds as though helen has far too much of your work already!

Kate x

Jane said...

Love the cloth, loved the class, love the teacher!
Helen is going to have many happy hours with this cloth, so many beautiful details.

Unknown said...

A Masterpiece!

connie said...

Karen, this piece is incredible. I am sure Helen will love to have it but I too would hate to see it go. Have a lovely weekend. So where will your holiday be spent?

Montreat Designs said...

Karen, this needs to go on tour!!!! Wonderful work!

Flaming Nora said...

The cloth looks more like a work of at than a present for one of your nearest and dearest.
Feel as though you should exhibit it some where.

Joanna said...

Some wonderful textures on that cloth, well done.

jennyflowerblue said...

Do you have any vacancies for honorary children- I deserve a cloth too Mummy- whinge whinge jealous whinge! x

Elizabeth said...

Your Helen cloth is just ....., don't have enough words to describe it. And oh boy do I understand your feelings to part from it. Each time when I make something I get way to attached to it and have a hard time to re-home it. But in that respect you are lucky since you still can see and touch it when you visit Helen.

And I noticed that you had another Dutchy commenting!!!!

Have a wonderful weekend with your more than fabulous cloth and I'll catch you soon, even though I am in Holland at the moment.

Miriam Weaver said...

The cloth is absolutely beautiful, she will treasure it! Thanks for the offer of traveling in your suit case, but as your going to the US I don't think it would help you get through security if I pop out of your case. After all your hard work you deserve a holiday!

Suztats said...

Karen, Helen's cloth is absolutely gorgeous, and I can understand you not wanting to let it go. After all, it is infused with love, created with your hands,and designed by your heart. Sigh.

Jacky said...

Looooooove the cloth for Helen, I dont think I could part with it.

Are you going to do a cloth workshop?

Jacky xox

Helena said...

I DO, I DO, I DO, I DO... It's precious.

liniecat said...

Its as if its an act of love, quite literally delicious. the puffs remind me of 'iced diamonds', cute little sweet novelty buscuits we had as kids. My grandson does as I did, eats the icing off the top and gives away the buscuit base away lol
your work is truly eye catching.

Mosaic Magpie said...

What a beauty....I will be glad to hide it for you! Really what a labor of love you have created there.
Deb

Anonymous said...

After all that time, effort, and thought, I'm not surprised you're tempted to keep it. Although, you can visit it and gloat over it every time you visit Helen, you know...!

Tatkis said...

Oh yes, I do!! Adorable!

Hugs,
Tatyana

Janice / Dancing with Sunflowers said...

You did THAT in six weeks?!!! It would take me at least six years. (And you know that's true!) It is absolutely beautiful Karen. I think I would want to keep it just a little longer before passing it on to its rightful owner! :)

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Words fail me (and you know that doesn't often happen!). You have created a piece of art that someday will be displayed in a museum as a perfect example of the best embroidery done in this century. In the meantime I know Helen will treasure it and keep it safe. Congratulations!