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, July 8, 2009

New doll....eventually!

At last! This is the little lady who will be going with me to Kent this weekend. What do you think? We have had funny light these past few days so it has been really hard to get good images, I hope these are o.k. They are the best of many. Can you see the flower garland in her hair? She is much prettier ''in the flesh'' so to speak, trust me.



I have started another doll and here she is, all damp stretched and ready to go. My plan is to finish her tommorrow but I'm not sure. I have so many things to do still. Lots of labelling, lots of packaging, lots of pricing and finishing off. I will try my best though, three dolls will look better than two! My house is still a mess, in fact it's worse, more stuff laid all over, boxes everywhere, total chaos. Hey ho, no pain no gain! and I am so excited now that I don't care, the house can fall down so long as my work remains unscathed!


When I come back I will have lots of pictures of the ''do'', all the stalls and all the gorgeous stuff to show you. There won't be any of me though, I HATE having my picture taken, so all you ''do'ers'' reading this...be careful where you point your camera! I could have a breakdown!! Next week I have only three days to work and then I am off for seven weeks, can you believe that???? Seven weeks, oh my goodness I need a lie down. I intend to spend my hols making up for being a terrible blog friend and I shall be stalking you all, you will be taking out restraining orders! If you haven't heard from me in a while please be patient, pretty please. It really is hectic here and I promise to make it up to you.
Now I am off to package some more stuff for saturday...wish me luck! x
Thursday p.m. I don't really have time for this but I couldn't keep her to myself! I finished my other doll and she makes me so happy, have a look here.

17 comments:

méri said...

Very very pretty doll!
And good luck dear Karen! Im sure you'll be a success Your things are so beautiful!
And during seven week will you be without net?? Not even a day in the middle of time???
I'm joking...I'll be here when you come back.
(here things are a little hectic too...)

GOOD LUCK, Karen!

Jane said...

She is beautiful, and I love that fringe. Have a great time

connie said...

I love the garland in her hear and the fringe. She is lovely. I really like the yellow you have added to the pink in the almost doll. Good Luck and I look forward to hearing all about your DO...

Becky said...

What a beautiful doll,and stitching.

Dolores said...

Beautiful doll. Lets hope you don't have unexpected company dropping in. I hate cleaning up in a rush - stuff gets somewhere else and it takes a long time to find it again.

Joei Rhode Island said...

Oh, Karen she is lovely! I just wish I was closer so I could go to the 'Do to see your beautiful things. Have lots and lots of fun! And do try to relax!

Jackie said...

Absolutely gorgeous and what a LOT of work. I can see the enjoyment in every stitch. It would be interesting to work out the Karen:vintage ratio which seems to be changing with more and more of your handwork.
I really wish you the very best of luck for the makey do. Your work is gorgeous I hope you get the 'right kind of shoppers.'
x

meplusmolly said...

B E A U T I F U L!!!!!!!
See you saturday! ;0 X

Victoria said...

So pretty, and her hair garland is delightful!
Good luck and have a great time!

jennyflowerblue said...

I won't take any pics of you if you extend the same courtesy in this direction! So glad someone else is running it close to the line and causing domestic chaos!

Ulla said...

Lovely new dolls, I hope they will find new homes this weekend. Have a good time!

Elizabeth said...

Hej Karen,

The dolls looks drop gorgeous. Hope you will almost ready to get to the do. Maybe you already left. Have a great time, enjoy yourself while you dolls and other superstuff will find a new home.

Lajoni said...

your dolls are adorable, I love them but there again I absolutely love everything you do I think, I can't see anything that I dislike....you are so very talented well done x

Gayle said...

Both dolls are beautiful!

Janice / Dancing with Sunflowers said...

Beautiful, Karen - both of the dolls. In fact all of the stuff you've shown us for the Makey Do. I'm writing this on Sunday evening so it will all be over now and you'll be on your way back from London. I hope it went brilliantly and that you had a great weekend in Canterbury and with your daughter. Now countdown to end of term. That's what my sons are doing too! The last week is always so frantic, isn't it!
Janice.

Fabric Nation said...

Hi
It was lovely to see your stall at the Makey Do - hope you had a good day. I wanted to look more but was doing the brooch making and I would have spent ages looking at all your lovely work! gx

CJ STITCHING AND BLOOMS said...

Hello Karen, I love this doll very much she is gorgeous. Thr fringe is very neat. Hugs Judy