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







Wednesday, May 2, 2012

coming home....




Coming home to white. Colour is wonderful too, I enjoy the difference it makes to a piece of cloth but my heart belongs with white. Because of the new class I am back to 'wrapping cloth' creation, a white wrapping cloth. I am also making Rouleau loops and prairie points again. Alongside those there will of course be knots, bullion and French, a lot of hand stitch, applique, cutwork and everything else that enhances a wrapping cloth.
Yesterdays piece is now stretched, squared off and ready to be finished. Tomorrow? I really hope so. I will do my best, promise.


12 comments:

Jane said...

I shall look forward to following the progress of the class.
Hope you're not putting your eye under too much strain and that it's healing nicely

Helena said...

You always do!! I love white, you know, I can look your work for hours!!! Kisses.

deanna7trees said...

i love seeing the detailed pictures. so much inspiration...a field of possibilities.

Harpa Jónsdóttir said...

You do such wonderful work. I have just discovered you blog and will have lot's of fun reading and looking at you beautiful photos.

ersimarina said...

Whenever I see your work I wish I could hide inside the folds and cuddle there for hours.

deanna7trees said...

oh i love what ersi marina just said. so cozy.

Elizabeth said...

I'm amazed about the amount of work you can get done in such a short time. and it is drop gorgeous too!!!!

Unknown said...

I hope your eye is better Karen. Please be careful not to work too long at a time. Your eyes are as precious as your work!

Lois Evensen said...

Those are exceptionally gorgeous. There is just nothing like white on white. Wow.

stitchinglife said...

You need to add a 'like this post' option. I was here liking.

Anonymous said...

You can do more with white than some of us can do with colour - lovely work, again!

Magpie's Mumblings said...

I made goo-goo eyes at my hubbie today so he would succumb and buy me some white hankies in the thrift store (I, not being of sound mind, didn't bring any cash....or then again, maybe I was really thinking ahead?). Anyhoo - I blame you for my current obsession with white. It's so nice of you to keep posting such wonderfulness that just feeds my obsession.