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, May 7, 2012

on my table.....




If you have taken one of my classes you will know that there is a table I use.....a lot. It is always covered with stuff, in progress, finished, cloth, pins...you know. Well this is another table, yes there's two. I take over the whole house basically. It wouldn't make  a difference if I had a huge studio I would still take over the whole house. Not that there's any chance of a studio here, house as small as a cupboard and believe me I still lose stuff. Don't know how I would cope with 20 rooms....
Yesterdays surface has cutwork now, it is worked on a small section of the piece along with some crossed bullions.
If you are wondering where the May newsletter is then I will point out that it is still May. I have weeks....What's holding it up? My fingers are what's holding it up. I will have an announcement but I can't stitch fast enough...

8 comments:

deanna7trees said...

love those bullion stitches standing at attention.

Suztats said...

Lovely, lovely!
An announcement? I'm in stitches (oh, yes, lame, but it's what came to mind..lol) waiting to hear the news!

Jane said...

love the cutwork fillings

Lois Evensen said...

I love seeing that is on your table(s). ;)

I'm glad I am not the only one who covers all surfaces with my projects!

Hugs,
Lois

Peggy Holt said...

Oh my goodness....I have been away from your site for just a few days and I come back to more gloriosity...(spell check doesn't like that word...gloriosity!)

Your photographic skill is only exceeded by your needle skills.

Now I see lace upon lace, knots upon knots, layer upon layer of exquisitness that thrills my heart. (Spell Check doesn't like that word either...no matter, they both express my feelings.)

And I always drink in your sketchbooks, trying to see what you see, and dream as you dream.

But the final straw? Those tiny needle woven stars! "Oh my stars and garters!" (That's an old southern expression of amazement!)

My stack of beautiful white fabrics continues to multiply, and one of these days I will surprise myself by actually stitching on some of them.

Thank you,Karen for making such a glorious start to my week.

Elizabeth said...

You probably would move into your studio because you just can't part with your needle and other dears. :)

Dee / Cloth Company said...

can there be enough tables? we've taken to eating on our laps in this house...

Magpie's Mumblings said...

ooooh - an announcement? Hmmm...do you suppose it might be that you're doing the book we've been nagging you about? Keeping fingies crossed here!!