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







Monday, April 2, 2012

school







A few images for you today of what we are doing in school, no two week Easter break for us, not with our dragon of a teacher!! We are on smocking...of sorts....old pieces from me which I hope will inspire new pieces in the others.
Today I am wondering where the sun went? Glorious Spring like sunshine last week....snow tomorrow apparently! I kid you not...good thing I panic bought my petrol yesterday. Yesterday I went out to eat too...no cooking..RESULT!!! Thing is it's my little boys birthday next week but he won't be here, (sobs quietly, tears dripping on the keyboard) he will be in Amsterdam having more fun than my plans for pass the parcel and musical chairs would provide. So we went out for an early birthday meal and very lovely it was too.....he will still have cake though, when he lands back at some unearthly hour on the eve of his big day...and candles and balloons...

11 comments:

Dolores said...

Oh my, that's some smocking. I've not seen embroidered bits in between smocking. Lovely.
Too bad that once the young ones get older they prefer friends over family on special occasions. Life! At least you got to celebrate early. I hope he has a grand time in Amsterdam.

deanna7trees said...

oh i'm going to love doing smocking after seeing how you embellished yours. nice that you were able to celebrate even though a bit early. birthday wishes to him.

Suztats said...

Wonderful smocking! I love the bits of colour hidden in the folds.....and the white on white? delish!
Glad you had an early celebration....

Rachel said...

Grey and overcast here too, but it's a nice even light for working by, isn't it!

Elizabeth said...

Oh my, oh my you have been busy the last few days and so much to show. Gorgeous pictures with lots of play in them.

Enjoy the time with your girls.

jill said...

This is truly beautiful. I did not panic buy any petrol in the hope I could miss going to work never mind. Happy Birthday James

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Wow - my mouth flew open when I saw these pictures...total awe. I promptly had to snap it shut again because the drool was about to drip on the keyboard. (Happy birthday to your boy).

Jackie said...

Whats this? I leave you for a few posts and come back to glorious technicolour? Well..for you.....
Lovely as always. Glad you got some petrol.
Happy birthday James.

Tammie Lee said...

I am often amazed at home many different things you create! i love it of course. hope you enjoy me sharing you and being inspired (again) by you.... at my most recent post.

sharon young said...

Wow! What an exciting way to use this traditional technique. The colour in the in the centres is, as usual, an inspired touch. Your lucky students.

Janice / Dancing with Sunflowers said...

Every one of these images is delightful, Karen. I love the 'plain' smocking, and I love the colour embellishements too. ('Which is better? There's only one way to find out...' Sorry - I'm sure you don't watch Harry Hill!!!!)

We had beautiful sunshine here yesterday after a vaguely overcats Sunday. Wrap up warm in the snow!