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, December 18, 2011

gathering white...




With my 2012 plans in mind I have been gathering together pieces in progress, white pieces in progress to be more precise. I have some vintage lace edged with very fine 'lace' that I have created myself. It is extremely fine, worked on what we know in England as 'scrim', very, very open and so accommodating with regard to fraying and removing threads. It is ideal for creating lace like surfaces.....you can get the best view of it in the top picture lying over a piece of paperwork. I am honestly sorry I am not saying much about this but I don't want to tempt fate and would prefer to wait a while before any firm information is given but hey...you come here to see embroidery and I hope that is what I am showing you....
Thanks so much for all the good wishes yesterday. We had a lovely meal, a really lovely meal......today I have been pottering about, no pressure, just enjoying getting my cloth out and looking and thinking and planning. For some reason I kind of feel like I am on an official break, I can do what I like. Not sure why, most of my days are like that really and if I do get busy it's always self inflicted but I am making the most of it.
Before I go I just want to mention my new page again....you don't have to look but I still have to tell you that it's there!!

13 comments:

Lois Evensen said...

As always, so very pretty. I just love seeing what you are doing, Karen. :)

Anonymous said...

I'd love to see a little more of how you make your "scrim lace"!

deanna7trees said...

magnificent lace created with the scrim. and i love what sits below it. nice to feel free and on a break.

Tammie Lee said...

eye candy~

Elizabeth said...

It is gorgeous.

(i'm still playing detective, lol)

Jeannie said...

The lacework is so beautiful. That is one thing I have not tried and I fear my eyes have aged to the point that it would be a frustration. I love unscheduled days. Like you, mine are only scheduled by my own doing. I tend to think I am Wonder Woman and can do a weeks worth in one day! LOL! Have a wonderful day doing what ever the heart desires.

Peggy Holt said...

You are such a tease! That scrim is calling me....Yoohoo.

Beautiful and glorious work. It gives me such a sense of gentleness and peace.

Today I will make little white bobbles from your button class. No matter that other things need to be done; it is my day of leisurely needlework. (Unless, of course, my beloved calls to say he needs help at the building site where he is creating a lovely new home for us.)

Thanks for sharing with us. Your blog is the only one that I check daily to see what's up in the wonderful world of white work.

Flaming Nora said...

For the first time in months I can feel a story coming on. More of a reflection on my state of mind than your inspiring work!

Suztats said...

Loving your lace! Looking forward to finding out where you're going with this.
Merry Merry!

Anonymous said...

The work on scrim is really lovely, Karen.

Magpie's Mumblings said...

I'm wondering if your scrim is what we call cheesecloth here....hmmmm. When I asked at the fabric store about scrim they looked at me totally blankly, so obviously it's not something that's well known in Canada.

Anonymous said...

Ooo, lovely, light, ethereal and cobwebby. I'm intrigued.

sharon young said...

As usual you have a wonderful collection in your pics, i love the relationship with the loose scrim? lace and the more dense manufactured? piece, and then the paper makes it sooo.......... scrumptious :-)