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, October 6, 2011

final titivations

tr.v. tit·i·vat·ed, tit·i·vat·ing, tit·i·vates. To make decorative additions to; 






Today is about titivating...yes the titivating that is slowing me down and holding me up. That however is a good thing, at least I think so. I love a bit of titivating and if a cloth is worth doing then it's worth doing properly. The top picture is the most important one today..why I hear you cry? Well, I shall tell you..
top piece of titivating, NOT damp stretched.
Lower piece of titivating DAMP STRETCHED.
See the difference? It is amazing, now maybe that obsession of mine is understood a little better.
And....especially for Deanna...also in the top picture, the section with the needle sticking in it....I have been practising bullion knots for Monday........
So...and I did say I was going to nag until we start. If you want to know how to titivate buttons and brooches then join us on Monday...more info here. Oh I just love using that big type tab!!

12 comments:

Tina said...

Beautiful! I love buillion knots-I am practicing making sailboats with buillion knots! Oh so many things you can do with them!

Lovely cloth and in the Karen's school of embroidery we have learned that damp stretching is our friend!

Thanks! Hope you day is great!

jude said...

what a great word.

barbara l. hale said...

Titvate! I learn so much here. Beautiful work as always. BTW, thanks for the b-day greeting for my son. I guess it's best to just embrace the getting older thing.

Mosaic Magpie said...

Karen---also known as---Queen Mother of Titivation! I see the difference in the cloth, before and after damp stretching. All those beautiful stitches show up!
Deb

Gayle said...

Now that is a wonderful new word! Beautiful post!

deanna7trees said...

ooooooooooooh....I'm so excited and I can't wait to learn bullion knots. I'll be there Monday with bells on.

Magpie's Mumblings said...

My goodness, not only do I learn tons of things heretofor never known about embroidery BUT I'm getting lessons in the use of big words too! How I wish I could see a picture of Helen's face when she sees her cloth. I know I'd be in tears!

Sheeprustler said...

Og god, I know how to damp stretch in theory but now I;m going to have to do it in practice, too! And remember how to do bullion knots. Looking forward to it!

dandelion said...

titivating is my most favourite thing! I would love to do one of your courses but have no time!! Hope you'll be doing some in January as that's my sleepy time

Kate x

Anonymous said...

It makes a real difference, doesn't it!

Unknown said...

My mother and myself always use the word titivate. My husband is convinced it is something we made up ourselves! Now I have proof that it is actually a real word. HA! Thank you. And your titivation is really beautiful. As always.

Mary said...

Great visual. Really shows the differences before and after!