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







Tuesday, June 5, 2012

needlework tools and white....








Lots of pictures for you today...that's because I am having a day off tomorrow. My niece is visiting from Sweden, staying on the homestead 75 miles away so I will be trundling up the motorway as opposed to being on blog duty. I hope you don't mind? There are four different sections of my cloth here, placed alongside paintings of 'old' embroidery tools and some alongside the real thing. These paintings were done way back, I haven't just churned them out. It has actually surprised me how well the showing of painting has gone down on here...can you tell? It seems to be a theme at the moment but I like to make you happy!
My inbox is stacked, I am hoping to get round to answering you this evening...you are not forgotten. Alongside being busy I have taken some time out to be with the Queen, in spirit anyway but now it's back to reality and mail needs to be answered.
To my embroider embellish create girls.....I will be giving you a little video tomorrow before I set off on my journey...you get special treatment.





14 comments:

Lois Evensen said...

Lovely whites and I enjoy seeing the tools, too. :) Have fun tomorrow!

Rachel said...

Looking good! The paintings complement the embroidery beautifully!

Jacky said...

I'm loving your little paintings Karen ... delightful! And I never ever tire of your beautiful whitework.
Lots happening here.
Enjoy your visitor.

Jacky xox

deanna7trees said...

love seeing those old needle packs. i have some that my aunt gave to me many moons ago. the paintings are wonderful with the real thing in the picture as well. love that long, thin pack. look like dp needles. enjoy your day off.

Tina said...

Karen-stunning paintings, really very nice and alongside the real thing-very cool!
Do give my regards to the Queen. I am enjoying seeing bits of the Jubilee.
The cloth is so beautiful.
Safe travels

henrietta (aka ani aka zani) said...

well i've never known anyone to just trundle along - more of a jet stream out there...the paintings are joyful to see - a different, charming glimmer. Yes do give my best to old Bess - and give Philip a cheer to get on his feet quickly - poor chap just can't keep up the pace like he did...she must be missing him. cheers.

Peggy Holt said...

I never tire looking at your artistry...needle and thread, paint and paper, camera....all show your artist's eye.

How I wish I could print off some of your photos to hang in my home...

Ingrid said...

beautiful white! Have fun:-)

Joanna said...

I like the combination of the needlework and the painted items. Works very well!

Gayle said...

Have you ever considered designing fabrics given your talent with painting?

Tammie Lee said...

Oh!
beautiful whites
and
sweet paintings!

stitchinglife said...

Wonderful pictures. Enjoy your day off :-)

Linda Carole Bloom said...

What a nice tableau! I love your work next to the vintage tools. I have posted a new section of cloth on my blog - it's very busy! Hmmmm. I will put them on Fliker. Love, Linda

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Seeing these bits of old needlework pieces makes me wish I had inherited more of the things my grandmother had in her sewing room. I know that the majority of it was thrown away. How I wish I'd been there to retrieve the treasures. I got a few things but I know there were a LOT more.